Oh Glorious “Barn Quilt Raising” Day!

About a year and a half ago, I started painting a barn quilt. These are not just for barns anymore. They are highly popular and there are many barn quilt trails across the United States.

Adding a frame to the back for a stability (to keep it from warping) and eye appeal.

I have a new addiction for power tools! I have used an electric table saw in the blacksmith shop and used a few more power tools on this project.

Thanks to hubby for all his hard work!

“Farmers Fancy” is the name of our block. Of course, I picked the most complicated one to paint!

My Barn Quilt Block in Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Magazine

I am thrilled and honored to have the opportunity to be a part of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks Blog Tour. Volume 10 is extra special because it is celebrating 1000 blocks! Be sure to read this entire post to learn about giveaways and prizes.

What better way to celebrate Volume 10 than getting my ten toenails painted with a special fall design?

Fun, fun, fun!

Above photo courtesy of Quiltmaker’s 100 Blocks.

I had a blast designing this quilt block. I absolutely love creating landscape quilts and adore barn quilts! Finding them reminds me of the excitement I experienced while hunting Easter eggs as a child. When I drive around the corner of a winding mountain road and see one, I hit the brakes and start shooting photos. It is a passion and yes, I will have to admit, even an obsession.

I am really excited about this block as I continue to design the quilt. The center medallion of my quilt will include a landscape scene with a covered bridge and Amish buggy in West Virginia Amish Country. I am in the process of designing fabric from my numerous photo shoots of a Barn Quilt Trail in West Virginia to go in this quilt.

Here is a photo of the barn quilt from which my inspiration came.

This barn quilt trail is in the heart of West Virginia Amish Country, surrounded by breathtaking mountain scenery.

After several trips to tour and take photos of the West Virginia barn quilts, I decided that I needed a barn quilt of my own. Of course, I had to pick the most complicated design. It is not completed in the above photo but now that I am finished, it was worth it!

My Barn Quilt block with pattern directions is on page 38.

If you like barn quilts, you will enjoy looking through the barn quilt photos on my webpage.

I thoroughly enjoy sharing my love of quilting by giving lectures and teaching quilting classes and workshops across the US. Please share my website and contact information with your local quilt guild, quilt shop and especially those who coordinate quilting events in your area.

Visit my website to see original quilt pattern designs, including my quilted couch! You will also enjoy seeing photos of my quilting retreats attended by quilters from a six state area who all say “It’s well worth the drive!”

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Please come back again! I share a variety of interesting quilting subjects, including: Barn Quilts, Tutorials, Quilting Tools, Quilting Retreats, Cooking, Home Canning and other interesting subjects.

Now for the giveaways!

Barn Quilt and Spinning Wheel

My niece is visiting from Kansas and helping me finish paint my barn quilt. It is really looking good!

We also went to visit the Old Church Gallery (art gallery and museum) in Floyd, Virginia. Elizabeth is standing by a spinning wheel used by a spinster in our family, Frances Keziah Allen McNeil. She had no children of her own and spun for her husband’s large family who all called her Aunt Fanny. History courtesy of Old Church Gallery and Clara Martin.

Someday, I would love to try my hand at spinning and knit a scarf from my hand-spun yarn.

Painting a Barn Quilt Block (part two)

Last week, I took a Barn Quilt Painting Class at our local art center.

There were over one-hundred patterns to choose from but I already had my eye on an intricate quilt block, “Farmer’s Fancy”. I hope you enjoy seeing our progress while making this block.

Everyone who took the class had been trying to figure out how to paint a barn quilt of their own. I’m just curious—have you ever had a desire to paint one or do you wish you had one?  If so, I’d love to read your comments.

Most of the students who took the class don’t have a barn to hang their quilt on. One will be hung on a woodshed, another on a springhouse and ours will be displayed above the garage door.

This awesome man is my husband and he’s such a good sport to always tote and carry my stuff!

Jim, the “official taper”, was a big help.

This block is not finished but will be awesome!  I had more fun than should be allowed at the Barn Quilt Painting Class.

Painting a Barn Quilt Block (part one)

On numerous occasions, we have enjoyed traveling the breathtaking, winding roads of West Virginia, to see picturesque country landscape scenes along the Barn Quilt Trail. Last fall my husband asked, “What do you want for your birthday?”

I replied, “A barn quilt”. Neither one of us knew how to go about getting one. I’ve heard of them selling for up to $800. I considered painting one but was unsure about what products to use. I wanted to be sure my barn quilt would last after spending all that time painting and didn’t want to attempt making one until researching the correct products to use.

Recently, I heard about a Barn Quilt Painting Class at our local art center.  Not one to dally, I signed up immediately. The teacher, Bonnie Schropshire, traveled from North Carolina for the class.  She was a great instructor and I still can’t believe she drew our quilt block pattern for us before class!

It was great fun to see the progress of my fellow students’ work. I have taken many classes but the camaraderie among those in this class was extra special. Most students were quilters and we all had something in common—everyone had been trying to figure out how to get their hands on a barn quilt they could call their own.

The chattering ladies planned and talked about a future “barn quilt trail progressive dinner” visiting each other’s homes and seeing our barn quilts hung in all their splendor and glory.

I think you will enjoy the following photos portraying students’ color schemes and barn quilt blocks created by these talented ladies.

Educational and Gallery Programming Director of the JAX painting her barn quilt block.

Enjoy the teacher’s spectacular class samples below.

Did you notice how the teacher outlined her blocks?  It really added a nice touch to finishing out the quilt block.