Blocks on barns?
03-22-2011, 06:35 AM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Owensboro, KY
Posts: 1,420
The idea of Barn Quilts began in with the Pennsylvania Dutch immigrants way back when. Then it kind of peaked and disappeared. In 2001, Donna Groves in WV, bought a farm with her mother and painted one on the side of the barn to honor her mother's love of quilting. That set off a movement to paint them so there would be a trail people could follow. It was an community PR thing. Now there are Barn Quilt Trails all across the United States.
In my home county, our quilt trail was begun last August and we have 15 now hung with contracts signed for another 17. You can see them in Facebook under Daviess County Barn Quilt Trail. Many times an individual will paint one and put them up. Frequently, a local Extension Service through a University will sponsor them, and sometimes a quilt guild will. In our case, the local extension service with some guild members got it started. They order a special metal sign board and special paint through a place in Chicago. The ones that are painted on wood and hung do not last very long. The elements are not kind. The metal ones they are hanging now, should last a long time. I've just loved driving through the state finding the quilt trails. In Kentucky, if you google The Kentucky Barn Quilt Trail, you can find counties maps that tell you exactly where to find them. It's so much fun to see one as a surprise! We charge $300 for an 8' X 8' one. It's sort of become a status symbol in Daviess County, KY.
In my home county, our quilt trail was begun last August and we have 15 now hung with contracts signed for another 17. You can see them in Facebook under Daviess County Barn Quilt Trail. Many times an individual will paint one and put them up. Frequently, a local Extension Service through a University will sponsor them, and sometimes a quilt guild will. In our case, the local extension service with some guild members got it started. They order a special metal sign board and special paint through a place in Chicago. The ones that are painted on wood and hung do not last very long. The elements are not kind. The metal ones they are hanging now, should last a long time. I've just loved driving through the state finding the quilt trails. In Kentucky, if you google The Kentucky Barn Quilt Trail, you can find counties maps that tell you exactly where to find them. It's so much fun to see one as a surprise! We charge $300 for an 8' X 8' one. It's sort of become a status symbol in Daviess County, KY.
03-22-2011, 06:56 AM
#34
Member
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: MINNESOTA
Posts: 7
aahhh so you were up my way, they are called Barn Quilts and is the rage these days. There are several areas across the country where you will find these.
Generally, the block depicts some heritage of the people or the farm.
Joan
Generally, the block depicts some heritage of the people or the farm.
Joan
03-22-2011, 07:40 AM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Rosedale, Indiana
Posts: 2,003
Originally Posted by Retired Nurse
We just returned from a trip to Iowa. Between Caledonia and Hokah, MN we saw several barns with approx 8 X 8 squares, painted, which appeared to be quilt squares. One was a pinwheel, another hour glass, etc. One barn had multiple squares. Is this some type of quilter insignia or has quilting just gone to my head? We also saw one or two in WI.
03-22-2011, 07:47 AM
#39
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DE
Posts: 192
On the way home from Michigan last year, coming through Indiana we spent a half day on their Quilt Trail. We got a map and followed part of it. The map had the location obviously and a little info about the design etc. We tried this in RI, but got to the town to late to get the map and couldn't stay til the next day. I hope my next trail to visit is in Kentucky, got some of their info off the web and it looks like fun. Also a good way to see some areas you might not get to otherwise, (not all in the country on barns either). I'm sure you'll enjoy it if you follow one.
03-22-2011, 07:50 AM
#40
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: DE
Posts: 192
Originally Posted by karenpatrick
Originally Posted by Retired Nurse
We just returned from a trip to Iowa. Between Caledonia and Hokah, MN we saw several barns with approx 8 X 8 squares, painted, which appeared to be quilt squares. One was a pinwheel, another hour glass, etc. One barn had multiple squares. Is this some type of quilter insignia or has quilting just gone to my head? We also saw one or two in WI.
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