Barn Quilts

The first weekend in April, my husband Rich and grandson Caleb and I, went to Lexington, KY for Rich's brother Phil's birthday.  Nice weather in KY.  Rich and Caleb played 18 holes of golf in bright blue skys and high sixties weather.

My sister-in-law Peg had picked up a brochure called "Buffalo Gals Barn Quilt Trail" and suggested we go on an adventure.  Quilt blocks were hanging from beautiful barns throughout the hilly country side.  Now in KY, most of the barns are horse barns and a lovely shade of charcoal or black.  The brochure gave a web site where we downloaded the addresses and map of the trail.  Now to be honest, we did not get to all 142 listed properties and we did see some that were not on the list.

Here are some of my favorites:

A gorgeous Ohio star done in red and black on a black barn.  Love the red border that just makes it pop.  This is an 8'x8' painted block.

 

Another 8'x8' block handing on the barn. 

From left to right these blocks were called winter (snowflake), spring (bird), summer (flowers) and fall (pumpkin).  Each painted block was 4'x4'.  This was one of the few white painted barns we saw.

 

 

 Each of the following are 4'x4' blocks.  They were listed as Radiant Star, Arrowhead, Rally Round and Double Wedding Ring. 

 

 The following three blocks were displayed on the wall of the local Pharmacy in Stamping Ground, KY.  The first is a variation on the Friendship Star block, the second is the Labyrinth block, and the third is another variation of the Friendship block.  All were 4'x4'.

 

Another favorite of mine.  I love the way that the American flag is portrayed in this block.  The Ohio star on blue and then the mitered stripes.  I may have to make this block soon.  This is an 8'x8' block.

This last barn has a Carpenter's wheel or Summer's block on it.  I've always liked this block and want to put it on our big red barn to honor my Builder husband and his carpenter great grandfather who built the barn and the house.  Isn't is lovely in the red, white, navy, and yellow?

Before I get comments on the names of the blocks, I shared with you the names that were listed in the brochure and on the maps.  Some of the names I would think they are different but again, I didn't name any of the blocks.  I enjoyed the view and ability to take pictures of so many.

Beautiful day and a great way to spend together looking for the hidden treasures on the barns.  I hope you can go sometime to find a barn trail/tour.  They are so much fun.

Florida Pillows

Another UFO that needed to be finished before I had carpal tunnel surgery on my dominant hand.  My daughter, son-in-law and family are Florida fans and have decorated their family room with Florida memorabilia, pennants and gator themed stuff.  It was only fitting that the pillows for the sofa be made with Gator fabrics.

Both pillows are the same.  I added some backing to the tops to let them be washed often and a zipper for easy insertion and removal of the pillow forms.  My daughter has two children under three and a nine year old.  Pillows get tossed about quite a bit and need washing from time to time.

Sugar Block Club

Blocks for the Sugar Block Club with Amy Gibson BOM.

Finished: Another UFO

I've been trying to spend one day per week completing UFO's (unfinished quilt objects).  This is the latest one to be completed.  A chevron quilt started several months ago for my grandson.  I found the idea/instructions on the http://youhadmeatbonjourblog.blogspot.fr/2012/03/tutorial-modern-chevron-baby-quilt-crib.html.

I had shown some work in progress pictures previously in this blog post.  Thankfully it is now done and in the little hands of the recipient.

Here is my attempt to create the chevron quilt for my grandson, Colin:

 

 

Colin has had severe eczema since birth and does best with soft items.  Instead of doing traditional quilting on his quilt, I backed it with a cream colored soft Minkee fabric.  It was top stitched with a wavy decorative stitch.  He has rubbed his face all over the quilt and seems to like it.

 

Thank you Kirsty for a great pattern.

Quilters Hall of Fame

I've always wanted to go to the Marie Webster House which is now the Quilters Hall of Fame.   I  have been a fan of the old Kansas City Star patterns and re-creating them in modern or new fabrics.  Marie Webster wrote one of the first quilting books and published a pattern company.  Many of her patterns were published in the Kansas City Star newspaper.  So there my fascination began.

I'd also like to see the signature quilts of each of the inductees into the Quilter Hall of Fame.  It's just a piece of history that needs to be experienced.  If you are ever in or near Marion, IN, you should try to stop in and see the garden and exhibit currently being shown.  I can't wait to go.  I think that this is my year.

http://www.quiltershalloffame.net/