Another Fabulous Tree-t!

One of the best parts of this project was visiting places I might never have seen, and Neversink, New York, definitely falls into that category.

I was there in fall, but David and Phyllis Moore, who were my hosts on the trip, were kind enough to provide some photos, including a nice set of snow pics.

This quilt is called Timber Trees, and it lives at the Gotsch tree farm. During the season, they added freshly cut trees to create this lovely scene--there are even a few snowflakes floating by!

Enjoy.

There is still plenty of time to order calendars; I am mailing them out daily, so any order before Monday will be there in time for Christmas giving.

Got that tree decorated yet?

This tree would look just incredible with a few lights, I think.

Back to my barn quilts with Christmas Trees theme. This might just be stretching it a bit. OK--I'll admit it--I wanted to sneak in another snow photo.

And that could be a Christmas tree in front of the barn, couldn't it?

This winter scene features the Curry barn in Kankakee, Illinois, with its Maple Leaf quilt block. Those of you who follow me at all probably have noticed that I am partial to Kankakee. And snow.

It's supposed to be about twenty degrees here tonight--but will my world be adorned in white? Nope. Still dreaming, though.

My faithful friend in North Georgia, Susan Tidwell, won the copy of Kansas City Star Book From the Bedroom to the Barnyard in today's drawing!

Susan is one of the few proud creators of barn quilts here in my home state.

I am so excited--I have sent calendars to Australia, England, Canada, and now New Zealand! Pretty darned cool

Stay warm, y'all. And you folks who are enjoying summer right now--pity those of us who are bundled up against the chill!

Let it Snow!!

When we Atlantans sing, "Let it Snow," it is always with wide hopeful smiles, as we just don't get much here.

I will be attending my first holiday party tonight, and we will be out caroling--a dying tradition, perhaps, but one that this particular group has enjoyed for over thirty years.

It's a bit odd, though, to share spiked cider with adults who were the eager children in the front row way back when. Now their kids have become the doorbell ringers!

My theme for this December is Christmas trees with barn quilts. But you have to admit that there is nothing better than a Christmas tree with a barn quilt in snow.

This gorgeous photo came to me from Jo Ann Sadler of Correctionville, Iowa. That part of the country was buried for weeks last year, but at least for now, she can celebrate the beauty here.

"I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" (Just like the ones I've never known . . .)

Oh, Christmas Tree!

The radio waves are filled with holiday songs, so in spite of myself, I have Christmas fever on December 1st!

Over the past couple of years, I have enjoyed many journeys into the foothills and mountains of Western North Carolina. Beautiful scenery with some really extraordinary barn quilts.

On each trip, I ventured a bit farther, and on a clear fall day I found myself passing Christmas tree farms around every turn--each one a wonderful surprise.

This is the perfect combination of barn quilt and setting--the Cline Church Nursery in Ashe County.

If you look to the left of the barn, you can just glimpse the tree-covered hills that stretch into the distance.

These are the Christmas trees of my childhood--I still have most of the ornaments, some older than I am!

If you have never seen 500 acres of Fraser Firs, it's quite the majestic sight.

No decorations needed here--just Mother Nature's beauty at its best.

Cyber Monday

SIGH--Black Friday, Cyber Monday . . . Are there greeting cards for these occasions??

It's late in the day, but I decided to throw a Cyber Monday sale out there.

Two calendars for $20, including U.S. mailing.

This quilt block is one of my favorites from Fayette County, Iowa.

One of my efforts to be "artsy" with my barn quilt photos!

Making Tracks

Mary Winegar of Oswego, IL won the Kansas City Star barn quilt pattern book--my "Black Friday" giveaway. Stay tuned; I have a couple more giveaways just itching to leave Stone Mountain and head your way.

I hope that everyone had a terrific holiday! Here is another Turkey Tracks for those of us who made tracks to enjoy turkey or had folks make tracks to come visit.

This one comes to us from Wardsville, Ontario, Canada. Mary Simpson was kind enough to share this quilt from their project.

For those of you who follow me on Facebook as well--sorry for the overlap. I try to keep things different, but it's late, and I promised to post this tonight!

Bountiful Blessings

I asked everyone in my Facebook group--many of whom are involved in creating quilt trails--what would be the perfect Thanksgiving barn quilt?

Hmmm--I just couldn't think of a thing. Someone finally suggested one, and I felt so silly--and realized that I should have put the computer away and stopped posting while I was still awake. Turkey Tracks.

The pattern is not only a very memorable barn quilt for me, but one that I posted just last week! Yikes. Middle-aged brain fog is not among those things for which I will be offering thanks.

There are a handful of Turkey Tracks photos on Facebook if you would like to see them.

Today after considering the fact that I have hundreds of barn quilt photos, I thought maybe--just maybe--there was still one among them that would be perfect for the holiday.

Cornucopia--in Racine, Wisconsin.

I remember visiting this farm, where Marge Demuth told us that she sometimes receives a call asking for “Mrs. Bomar.” The “Bo-Mar Farms” sign that you can see on the end of their barn stands for "Bob and Marge." The barn was used for livestock until the children left home, and is now an indoor play area, with a basketball hoop, swings hanging from the beams, and wooden pews for seating. I'm told that over thirty family members are often gathered in this spot.

I hope the "Bo-Mars" enjoy a wonderful family celebration and wish the same for each of you.

Last Day to Play!

Reminder--the drawing for the free copy of the Kansas City Star Quilts book, From the Bedroom to the Barnyard will take place Thursday. Anyone who orders a calendar between now and then will be entered!

It is a great book for any quilter--especially one who appreciates barn quilts--with a lot of barn quilt info and patterns to make a barn quilt sampler. The book is pictured in the column on the right side of this page; you can click on the image to learn more.

Good luck!

It's another drizzly gloomy day; I'm just glad that I got home before things got too crazy out there.

I decided to go with a cheerful photo this time--a really lovely scene from Racine, Wisconsin. Jean Jacobson's gardens are just spectacular, and the one that graces the area in front of the barn is just a sample.

Of course, the barn quilt was painted by her garden club. I think it really completes the scene!

Kramer's Quilt

It's kind of a gloomy day today, so this photo kind of fits the mood. Of course, so many of my photos have dark clouds in the background--the luck of the barn quilter!

I paid a visit to Jefferson County, TN, at the edge of the Smokies, early last spring.

Jack and Beverly Kramer braved the winds to display "Kramer's Quilt," which was the basis for their barn quilt.

The quilt dates to the 19th century. It came through Jack's family and was found in their home near Rochester, New York. They didn't know the name that the quilter had given it, so they just used their last name, since it was a family quilt.

One quilter said that it was simply Courthouse Steps with a Flying Geese border. I agree with her with regards to the border, but I am not sure about the rest. Quilters--what would you call it?.Barn quilt calendar 2011barn quilts quilt trail

Grandmother's DollsBarn quilt calendar 2011barn quilts quilt trail

Once again today I am reliving my time in Kentucky. I love the touch of fall colors in this photo.


My day in Rowan County was terrific, with the beautiful and diverse Foothills Quilt Trail and friendly ladies to show me--and Gracie, the traveling dog--around.

Brenda Stamm lives right across the street from her family's tobacco farm where this quilt hangs.

She had not only her grandmother's doll quilt but also the patterns that had been cut out of a paper bag and used to make it.

Though many of us know that pattern as Dutch Girl, this one is Dutch Doll, after the doll collector who passed it down to this proud Kentucky farmer's daughter.
Barn quilt calendar 2011barn quilts quilt trail