Barn Quilt Painting
Barn quilts are popping up all over the country side, and Iowa is no exception. As the editor of American Patchwork & Quilting I worked with the Barn Quilt project of Grundy County to do a story for the magazine. Sac County is also a popular quilt block location. Well, my friend Barb and I have talked for several years that Hardin County should get on the ball and get a Barn Quilt project going. We discussed getting quilt blocks for our own barns.
When Barb called me earlier this week with an exciting proposition, I couldn't turn it down. A couple in Hampton, Iowa, provides all the materials, the location for painting, prep and finishing work. All we needed to do was show up to paint. It sounded too good to be true.
My schedule this week was a little busy (note previous blog posts about the Great Iowa Tractor Ride). But, heck, you all know me...let's just squeeze one more thing in. Besides I couldn't pass up this opportunity to get a quilt block and have fun with Barb! We hope someone in Hardin County gets moving on a county-wide project soon, too.
When we arrived this morning, my 6x6 foot slate was white, with the Hen and Chicks block drawn on the primered board. I used the table runner I made for my 1st Blog Anniversary as inspiration.
This was Barb's second trip to work on her block, so she was working on second and third coats of paint.
Quickly, the block started to form.
And before I knew it everything had a first coat. (The blue really looks grey in this picture.)
I'm going back tomorrow night to finish painting it. Barb and I are already planning the barn block raising...a bbq to follow. Let me know if you want to join in the festivities!
Others had been working on blocks and I thought you'd like a snippet of what will be hung on barns in Iowa in the near future.
When Barb called me earlier this week with an exciting proposition, I couldn't turn it down. A couple in Hampton, Iowa, provides all the materials, the location for painting, prep and finishing work. All we needed to do was show up to paint. It sounded too good to be true.
My schedule this week was a little busy (note previous blog posts about the Great Iowa Tractor Ride). But, heck, you all know me...let's just squeeze one more thing in. Besides I couldn't pass up this opportunity to get a quilt block and have fun with Barb! We hope someone in Hardin County gets moving on a county-wide project soon, too.
When we arrived this morning, my 6x6 foot slate was white, with the Hen and Chicks block drawn on the primered board. I used the table runner I made for my 1st Blog Anniversary as inspiration.
This was Barb's second trip to work on her block, so she was working on second and third coats of paint.
Quickly, the block started to form.
And before I knew it everything had a first coat. (The blue really looks grey in this picture.)
I'm going back tomorrow night to finish painting it. Barb and I are already planning the barn block raising...a bbq to follow. Let me know if you want to join in the festivities!
Others had been working on blocks and I thought you'd like a snippet of what will be hung on barns in Iowa in the near future.
Heidi-Sorry lost first attempt-I love talking barn quilts-I have been planning a barn quilt for our farm in Story Co. You should check out www.barnquiltsiowa.com this is Washington Co. and I have seen 2 of the loops that they talk about. I have family there so get to see the quilts as they add them. They also have instruction guides available. Would like to hear from you on this. Mary Jo
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love the blocks. If I had a barn, I'd be painting one...a multi-point star one that's too much effort to sew!
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I have seen the barn quilts in Tennessee and they are great. Douglasville, GA has several in the old part of their town and hope to expand it to several other counties.
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Hi,
I am writing a book about the barn quilts--not just in Iowa, but all across the country. I just returned from Iowa--I wish I had known that you were starting a project, as I would love to have visited with you!
I did the whirlwind tour--Washington, Grundy, Plymouth, Humboldt, Sac, and others. If you care to, you can read about my trip on my blog. americanquilttrail.blogspot.com
If you would like to let me know more about your project, please drop me a line--americanquilttrail@yahoo.com
The book won't go to the publisher until December, so you will probably have a couple of stories to share.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Suzi Parron
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Hi Heidi,
I will be looking forward to seeing the finished product! I just started painting my own block and plan to hang it on our shop since we don't have a barn! I wish I had known about the place in Hampton, prepping the boards is half the work!
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Heidi!! I talked to Barb at the Supper Club; she said she'd done a barn quilt. Decided to Google, and I picked up your web site!!
Barb said hers was cement board. Don't know about that. What can you tell me about getting materials and finishing??
If you choose to call, I'm 486.2270 I'll need to be deciding on a pattern; I'll do mine first and see how it works, then do Denny's if it seems feasible.
Glad to see your website. Never even thought about it. Looks as if Brett's wedding was cool!
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Hi Kay,
The wonderful part of going to paint our blocks where we did, was that they got all of the supplies together for us. All we had to do was show up and paint. They even sealed it for us. I used cement board, too. Our house is sided with that and it's suppose to last forever! Barb has their phone number.
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