Back to Iowa

Today I am back in Iowa. Not physically, but I am going over that chapter and remembering my single longest--twelve day--barn quilting adventure in June of 2009.

I spent an entire day photographing barns quilts in Fayette County and had interviews set for the next day. Unfortunately, storms and hail came through and chased me east--right into Wisconsin! Fayette has some great barns and quilts, though.

The one at the above left caught my eye because of the silo; I couldn't figure out what the heck it was made of. That information would come later in the week. Above right, though it's a bit hard to make out, is a windmill square--an apt choice for this farm. The last one--I don't know--the little barn, the grass, the sky all seemed just "picture perfect' to me.

Kentucky Memories

I did mean to head out into barn quilt world this summer, but a ruptured Achilles tendon has had me laid up for the past six weeks and left me with nothing but my memories. Good thing I have a lot of great memories!

Scott County, Kentucky has a fabulous quilt trail--a full day's worth of beautiful quilted black barns.

This particular barn has a quilt on each end, both based on the same cloth quilt, which hangs from a railing inside. It seems that the woman who owns the quilt always thought that the pattern was five blocks, so she wanted the barn quilt painted that way. Her husband said no, he saw four squares!

What to do but to have one painted on each end of the barn, in the two different configurations? (Though, to match the quilt, the 4 squares would have to be hung on point)

The barn is visible just outside the window, so you can see both the cloth quilt and the painted quilt at the same time. Guess which quilt square is on the end of the barn facing the house? Well, it's her quilt, after all.

Now Hear This

That's my dear friend and coauthor Donna Sue Groves. Donna Sue was interviewed today during a podcast with well known quilter and author Alex Anderson. I know you will all want to listen in.

It will be a while before you get a chance to read Donna Sue's story, but you can hear it now straight from the source. Just click on the link.

www.alexandersonquilts.com/podcast/shows/AAQCon_ep101.m3u

Another Kankakee Beauty

Who knew barn quilting could be so much work? That quilt is HEAVY! The newest addition to the Kankakee, Illinois, quilt trail was installed at a structure known locally as The Stone Barn. The historic barn has recently become part of the county museum, and a sampler block that reflects some of the history of the area was the perfect choice.




The Lemuel Milk Carriage House, known locally as the Stone Barn, is one of the oldest historical structures in Kankakee County. It was built in 1860 by pioneer farmer Lemuel Milk, who was responsible for draining the “wet prairies” and turning acreage into pasture for herds of cattle and horses. The land was then made tillable and used for grain crops. The barn is on the National Register of Historic Places.

What a beautiful setting for this block. Suppose I could hire their gardener?

I am thinking now of some of the incredible historic buildings across the country that are home to barn quilts. There are so many stories to tell!