Barn Quilts

I do have my own Barn Quilt!
Madame Samm at Sew We Quilt has put up a great post today about barn quilts. She has design hr own and is going to have her husband install it for her.  What fun!

I have been following barn quilt trails for several years.  Earlier this year I decided to create my own blog about the ones I have seen.  Barn Quilts is where I am posting the pictures.  For some reason the link is saying you have to be invited.  If you go to my profile, you may be able to get to it there.
There are so many interesting barns. It is fun to drive through the countryside and check out the barns, so many different styles. I look at them to see if there is a quilt on it, or would it be a great barn to showcase one.  I have posted about them at different times on this blog.
Have a super great day.
Thank you Madame Samm, you have made my day.
Mary

http://barnquillts.blogspot.ca

Green County, Wisconsin

Charlie has been helping guard my projects!

We decided to take a drive up to Green County, Wisconsin to see a few barn quilts and enjoy a day in the country. We did see few horses.  Love to see the new babies of the Spring.

Some barns and houses are not in the best of shape!

There was a small quilt show going on at one of the barns and I got to meet  The Brodhead Dairy Queen.

It was so nice to see a few quilts.  The day had started out rainy, so they to put the quilts in a barn.

Beautiful Dresden Plate, variation.

Grandpa's Delight, in Monticello, Wisconsin

Star in the Valley, in Monroe, Wisconsin
Love this barn.

John Deere Zilla

Summer Sunday, Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin

Percheron in Monroe, Wisconsin

Mariner's Compass on the Percheron Farm in Monroe, Wisconsin

We saw a beautiful grotto on the Steiner Farm, in Monroe, Wisconsin

A cheese tree at the Decatur Dairy, in Brodhead, Wisconsin

Check out the tree made of iron wheels.

Arrowhead, in Monroe, Green County, Wisconsin

It was one of those days that started out with rain, and ended up with blue  skies.  We actually saw at least 45  barn quilts.  We had a delicious lunch in Monroe, and visited 4 different cheese shops.  It was so nice to get away for the day.
Have a great week.
Mary

This time Southern Iowa

We took a little overnight this week. I had read about a great store in Iowa and told Ron about it. He loves to play tour director. I give him an idea and he runs with it.  This time it was to the Villages of Van Buren in Southern Iowa.   First stop was Kalona.  They have completed the "Quilt Block Walking Tour", which consists of quilt blocks made of bricks in the sidewalks around town.  They have created 42 blocks. The brochure gives the information about the block and who has sponsored it.  Very neat!!

Did made a stop at the local quilt shop, and look they have a mini barn quilt.

On the way south, out of town the Beachy Appliance Barn has a block called Lattice Square on the side of their building.

This Pinwheel Square is on the Colliver Family Barn, south of town.

This is Dog's Tooth, same block, in two colorways. 

Double Aster on the way out of Washington.

In Cantril is the Dutchman's Store.  It looks like they grew and grew. As a store became vacant next door they expanded.  It is now pretty much the whole city block.

It has a bit of everything.  Naturally, I checked out the fabric aisles.  Check out the rainbow of colors.

Looking into the grocery aisles.  Ron had fun looking at all the products they carry.  This store has footware, books, toys, bulk and canned food, a bakery, craft supplies and a bit of every thing else.   Cantril is described as "a town where dreams become completed projects."

We spent the night at the Riverview Motel in Keosauqua.  It is an extension of the Hotel Manning which sits on the Des Moines River.  This was our view from out motel porch.

The next morning we traveled on to Bentonsport.  This is an Iron Truss Bridge built in 1882 for horse and buggy use. It is the oldest and o=longest original bridge across the Des Moines river.  Now it is just a foot bridge.

In Burlington, Iowa we went down "Snake Alley"  It is this one way road down the side of a hill.  There are houses along the "road".  Amazing road work.

We saw barn quilts along the way that are not part of any trail.

Ron was kind to stop and let me get pictures.  We are both fascinated with them.  (It is the closest I can get him to quilting.)

Here is the suspension bridge back to Illinois and home.  We try not to use the expressways.  Taking the back roads is so much more fun and interesting.  You never know what you will come upon.

I got a little bit of hand sewing done on my bow ties.  Now to work on getting that quilt together.

Back to sewing. Seems my son has a project for me.  A Halloween costume needs some alterations.
Happy sewing.  Have a great weekend.

Mary

Barn Quilts Marshall County, Indiana

My husband loves to plan little get aways.  I had heard there was a new barn trail in Indiana, but did not have the information about it.  He got on the Internet and started checking and had some brochures sent.  He planned a little  two day trip.  This was the first barn quilt we found called "Pine Forest".  I love the pine trees and the colors were wonderful. This one was on Union Road in Plymouth, Indiana.

Here is "Basket Collection Quilt".  This one, also had a Plymouth address.  In our searching we found the barn quilts were presented on a variety of venues. This one is on the side of a house, and is probably my favorite.

Here is "Poor Handmaid Heritage Quilt" on the site of Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Clare House in Donaldson.  As you can see not all quilt blocks are traditional patterns.

This is a free standing block called "Gristmill".

"Sweet Nectar"

Here I am in front of the The Marshall County CVB in Plymouth.  This block is called "Indiana Farmer". They had this block represented  in two colorways.  Marshall County Tourism is housed in an old fire station. (Oh, that is me!)

Cori Holzwart is the Administrative Assistant at the tourist office.  She was so helpful in sharing information about the Barn Quilt Trail.  As each barn quilt is set for the trail, a 12 inch block is made and recorded on this wall of blocks!  As I said we found blocks on the side of houses and barns, free standing, in a yard or the end of the driveway.  The Map Key was so helpful in identifying where we might find the block. 

Here is "Diva" on Lawrence Lake Drive in Plymouth. Some of the blocks were very easy to spot, a couple not so much.  We put a bunch of miles on the van locating them.  The countryside was gorgeous.  Corn had already tasseled out. We thought were were looking at eating corn, now not so sure.

Here is "Bluebirds".  Ron said the pattern looked like bluebirds before he knew what the block was called!  He is learning.

"Corn and Beans" on the old Lincoln Highway in Plymouth.

"Star of the Fair" on Michigan Road in Plymouth.

We stayed in Syracuse, Indiana, at the Brook Pointe Inn.  It was a little off the beaten path and so lovely.  It is situated on a large plot of land surrounded by woods.  There was a wonderful screened in porch on the back with great rocking chairs. I was hoping to see some deer, but no luck.  The singing of the birds though was so nice. 

Ron found out that there was an old stern wheeler that sailed in the evening.  After a great supper at the Frog Restaurant in Syracuse we were going to take a ride.  Our supper at the Frog was an adventure.  It is right on a canal of Lake Wawasee.  You can sail your boat right up to the restaurant and eat on the dock.  It was so neat to watch the people, boats, ducks and wild swans.  They even have their own pontoon boat that takes people on trips around the lake.  They even help with the Sunday church service on the lake. 

We got to ride on the Dixie Stern wheel Paddle Boat, which sails on the North Webster lake.  We had a beautiful trip around the lake.  Our captain gave us historical and current facts about the boat, lake and people living  around the lake.  It was hard getting off the boat, it was so much fun.  Even though it was 7:00 in the evening, I was glad I had my hat on.  We got a bit of sun.  There were a lot of people on the lake having fun boating and swimming in this heat.  It was still in the 90's in the early evening.

Tuesday we were up bright  and early to resume our back road traveling. I did get to stop at one quilt shop in Warsaw. Now how can you not stop and pick up a couple of pieces of fabric!!

"Farmers Daughter" on Filbert Road in Tippecanoe. There was a bonus one of a " Lone Star".

"Lombardy Lily" was on W 17th Road in Argos.

Ron found this sign and I thought it was appropriate for us quilter's.

It was a great get away.  My Father is not doing very well, and I have been under a lot of stress.  Ron felt it would be good to take this little trip.  I keep my cell phone with me 24/7, which is new for me.  I am one of those that only kept it on once in a while. 

Today I was with Dad as we celebrated the 4th of July.  Instead of an outdoor BBQ it was inside.  It got up to 100 degrees today. The chef at Alden Gardens is positively fabulous.  His chicken and ribs are so good.  I wish I could cook like he does.   Dad called later this afternoon to let me know they were having lobster tails tonight for dinner.  He is in good hands when it comes to food!  Actually, he has a lot of wonderful people caring for him.

Hope everyone is having a great day. 

Mary

Saturday Fun

 Saturday I got an early start, as I had all these places to go, people to see, and things to do! This is not necessarily the order I did everything, but meeting Suzi Parron was the most important.  I attended the the lecture and book signing of Suzi's new book "Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement." The gave a very interesting lecture, and of course I had to have her sign my book.  Suzi and I have been corresponding about barn quilts for a couple of years.  It was so much fun to finally meet her.  When I walked into the lecture hall, we saw each other, and it was as if we had met before.  I grinned ear to ear for the rest of the day with the memory.

 Kankakee has a wonderful barn quilt trail. You can request through the mail for a new brochure each year with the quilts that were added the previous year.  This year they are planning to add 15 new quilts on barns.  Each year they have been making a quilt that pictures the quilts added the previous year.  The quilt above is 2011's additions.

 There was a reception, also.  Look what they did with the sandwiches, pinwheels. How cool is that!

 It just so happened that on my way home I would be able to go by 2 of the newest barn quilts.  Above is Churn Dash, on the Goetz farm in Manteno.

 Here is Rolling Star on the Meyer farm in Peotone.

On my way to Kankakee I had stopped at Sunrise Greenhouse, owned by they Woldhuis's.  We found out about this incredible place last year.  Rows and rows of flowers, shrubs, and trees.  I did pick up a few things.  My husband has not noticed the yellow magnolia tree I brought home.  I did purchase a few perennials and those gorgeous begonias you see in planter baskets.

I stopped and picked up the "food" he wanted from Ambrosino's in Frankfort.  He actually had a list of things to pickup! One being a meatball sandwich, which was hot at 10:00am, and a bit soggy at 8:30 pm, when I arrived back home1  Good thing for coolers.

I also stopped at "Tom Shelf Quilts" in Frankfort. I was looking for a specific piece of fabric. They did not have what I was looking for, but did have a pattern for a cute basket. So got the supplies to make one of them.

Then to top the night off.  I had gone to sleep and just before midnight a noise outside woke me up. Hail!!!! Here is what was outside by the patio in the back of our house.  We could really use the rain, but hail?? It did do a number on the tulips and flowering trees that were starting to loose their flowers.

Tuesday, my husband and I are traveling to Moline and Davenport.  For Christmas, our son and his girlfriend got us tickets to the Adler Threatre in downtown Davenport to see a group of men, Straight  No Chaser, sing.  He also booked a room in Moline for the night.  We have seen these fellows sing on the local PBS station.  I will be back in time for Thursday sew.

We are looking forward to going on the sleepover!

Hava great week, happy sewing or quilting.

Mary