Upstate Update

Here it is Wednesday, and I haven't shared the rest of our trip to Seneca, South Carolina. We set out on Sunday and stopped to see a couple of quilt squares; this sweet one was not too far from our motel.


I do love traveling in the country, just to see what there is to see--that is how I got tangled up in barn quilts to begin with. Hadn't seen one of these since my grandma's back yard when I was a kid. Hard to believe that we are no longer ALLOWED to hang our clothes out to dry!



Ah--my favorite pattern, Grandmother's Flower Garden. Just love love love this rendition of it with the black! Sometime I hope to be able to see the actual cloth quilt--I'll bet it's a beauty.



The quilt trail is about people, and I have been blessed to make some wonderful friends along the way. I count Martha File among them; here we are at the Ballenger House after our talks to the Women's Club there.


This was my first signing event, and it was just so terrific to meet the volunteers who have been part of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail and to share the book with them!

Jocassee Jewels

Martha File of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in South Carolina invited me to join her in speaking about the quilt trails. Tomorrow will be my first presentation since the book's release!

Seneca, SC is in such a beautiful area, including a couple of lakes. We are kayakers, so heading up here a day early and hitting Lake Jocassee seemed the only sensible thing to do.

On the way to the lake, we passed this great quilt block--a pair of them, actually. I am not sure which I enjoyed more--seeing this quilt or hearing my sweetheart ask, "Isn't that a Crazy Quilt?" He also correctly idenitified Grandmother's Flower Garden a bit farther down the road.



Martha had posted a photo of this quilt block on my Facebook page; knowing that we would see it at the lake added to the anticipation.



as if the wonderful painting and almost impossibly blue sky weren't enough, just a few steps past the quilt square, this spectacular view is revealed.

The lake was far more beautiful than I imagined. Unfortunately, the 35 mph winds that were forecast materialized, and well--whitecaps on a lake aren't my cup of tea. We have plans to return, though, and will bring some kayaking friends!

Barn Quilting in Georgia

The Southern Quilt Trail expanded a while back from its roots in Powder Springs, Georgia, to several counties to the west. Though only a bit over an hour from home, that area is just a bit too far for an after-work visit, so I'd been waiting for the right opportunity.

A visit to Birmingham this past weekend took us to within a few miles of this batch of quilts, and on the way back, clear blue skies demanded that we make the side trip.

In the charming town of Bremen, we came across this Pine Tree pattern.



Just around the corner on a sweet little antiques shop, we found this gem. The cloth in the Dresden Plate looks so real!



I really appreciate the fact that each of these quilts s accompanied by a sign that provides some of its history:



Of course, I love painted quilts no matter where they hang, but I will admit--as I often have--that a quilt on a barn is best of all. The list included a farm in Buchanan, so we were off for another side trip.

I was so pleased to see this beauty--doesn't it dress up that barn handsomely?




I am so thrilled with the reception that the book has received so far--thanks to all who have spread the word!

Please do take a moment to visit www.barnquiltinfo.com to see maps of all of the quilt trails and loads of other great resources.

My first official book signing is this weekend at Georgia Sewing and Quilting in Buford. Any who are from Georgia, please come by from 9 until 11. I will also be there for the Shop Hop next month.

Ready to hit the road!

With books in hand, I am getting excited about heading back to the quilt trail to see friends new and old. My first stop will be on the 26th, in Seneca, South Carolina. Next, a couple of quilt guilds in the area before the big SPRING BREAK TRIP!!

I am so looking forward to visiting Lebanon, Kentucky, again. There, I will be speaking at the Still House restaurant on April 5. The restaurant boasts the "Still House Star" quilt block, designed by one of my favorite barn quilt artists, Nancy Miles.

Nancy's work has been featured here often; you can enter her name in the search box to see more. Her crazy quilt that hangs in several panels along the fence is just wonderful! She is known for recreating fabric in her quilt paintings, as shown in this closeup of the Still House painting:




I hope to see some of you out and about. I will speak in Tennessee and Kankakee, IL in April and North Carolina in May, with more to come. Check barn quilt info.com to see my complete schedule to date.

Grab an autographed book while you are there!