I first heard of barn quilts in the Oct-Nov 2009 edition of MaryJane's Farm Magazine ~ it featured an article about Barn Quilts as Regional Folk Art. If you are not familiar with these, quilt patterns are painted on boards and hung on barns. I found these really interesting and fun to learn about. I think they are mainly in the midwest, but are appearing all over now. There are even self-guided tours, which I saw posted online, for those who would like to see them when traveling or out and about. When we were traveling home from the lake yesterday, I took pictures of some barn quilts on our route in far Southern Minnesota. The barn quilts I have seen are very colorful and graphic...this one stands out so brightly against the white barn...
The horses were quite frisky this day, and thought I would get a few shots of them as well...
This red barn had two quilts...
Here's another white barn nestled in the trees~ this quilt was decorated with names...
This is one of my favorite barns along our way...
You can see in this closeup, how the boards are painted...
It really makes a trip more fun when you can hunt for these...we want to take some back roads trips to see how many more we can find! It's always exciting to see a new one has been painted! If you google "barn quilts" there's more info online! Do you have these in your area?
UPDATE- Check out Suzi's blog~ Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail She has a book coming out in 2011, and a facebook fan page as well! Thanks to Gina of Vintage Junk In My Trunk for sharing this info!
Linking to Brayton Homestead Interiors Barn Chick Blog Party
Until next time...
Linda
Linda, I live in the midwest and I have never seen a barn quilt. I can't wait til I see one!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Yes! The back row in a photo also works!
Have a pretty day,
Kristin
Linda, I live in the midwest and I have never seen a barn quilt. I can't wait til I see one!
ReplyDeleteHahaha! Yes! The back row in a photo also works!
Have a pretty day,
Kristin
I don't remember ever seeing a barn quilt before, but now that I have, I will be on the lookout for more! I am a quilter, so these are really special works of art for me!!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo
I have never seen these barn quilts before. They are gorgeous! We don't have anything like that up here.
ReplyDeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a barn quilt before, and if I have did not have a clue the designs had a name. Very interesting. There are very few farms left but there are some stables not to far so I will check next time I go by.
So pretty!!! I've never seen barn quilts....here in Texas you most often see a Texas flag painted on the side of a barn. Not that we Texans aren't a little obsessed with our home state - but in a good way ;-).
ReplyDeleteBy the way - I think I'm going to steal (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery ??) one of your pictures on your side bar. I have a space on my garage that's empty and I wanted someway to display bird houses - you have a picture of a piece of lattice with birdhouses that would work perfectly!!! Thanks for the inspiration.
I have never seen those or heard of them. They sure are pretty. Now when we travel I will be looking for them.
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, I don't think I've ever seen a barn quilt in our area, I'm sure there are some in Wisconsin-but the ones you showed are beautiful~must make your ride so much more enjoyable!! Thanks for sharing with us, Julie
ReplyDeleteThis is neat! Can't believe I've never seen anything like this before. Tons of barns in the countryside here, but no barn quilts. Such a lovely idea!
ReplyDeleteHi Linda,
ReplyDeleteLoved the pictures of the barn quilts. I have seen a few of them in my travels through the midwest. We are taking a road trip to Mississippi this weekend to take my son to college orientation. I'm going to see if I spot any barn quilts on our trip...I'll let you know.
Jane
That's cool Linda, I don't think I've ever heard of that before. I'm going to Google and find out more. We're driving up the coast to the Pacific NW in a few weeks, so maybe?
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderfull, and bright, and welcoming.Nothing like that here, but we do not have the same history with quilts in Denmark.
ReplyDeleteThanks for showing Linda, you had a wonderfull tour back home from week-end, I can see.
Hugs,Dorthe
oh, those are pretty!!! thanks for sharing!!!
ReplyDeleteLinda, we don't have these around here. I am fascinated by the photos that you have shared here! ~ Angela
ReplyDeleteso interesting that you posted this! We just took a road trip through Indiana and Kentucky and I noticed these barn quilts everywhere. I asked my husband what he knew about them and he hadn't even noticed them, he he.
ReplyDeleteOh, Linda!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful, beautiful drive!! No. we have nothing remotely close. I have never seen anything like it. We have lots of cement. If you head to the coast, that's pretty fabulous, though!!!
xoxo
lynn
Hi Linda,
ReplyDeletethe barn quilts are so neat! I have never heard of them before. don't think we have any in Michigan, though I will keep my eye out! Great photos, by the way :)
Linda,
ReplyDeleteI love Mary Jane Butters, have all her books & mags. I have a secret wish to live on a farm & raise organic veggies while bathing outside! LOL I wish we had cool barn quilts around here, I'd love to see that in the flesh. Your pictures are wonderful. Lisa
I've never heard of barn quilts! How cute! so colorful
ReplyDeletegail
I too love old barns, I see quilt barns more in Indiana and Illinois.
ReplyDeleteI'm on the lookout for advertsing barns in particular Mail Pouch Tobacco barns, I have a page about them on my blog. Enjoyed this today!
we have lots of barns around here, but none like those! Those are really neat, actually!
ReplyDeleteI've seen a few barn quilts ~ and think it's a pretty cool idea. My brother has a big ol' barn... hmmm... I might have to show him this and spark an idea for him.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen a barn quilt before, such a cool idea. I love old barns and the quilt adds a nice touch.
ReplyDeleteGood Morning Linda,
ReplyDeleteI live in East TN, and Barn Quilts are everywhere around here. I love them, BUT, I haven't seen any barns that look as good as the ones in your pics. They are associated with something in TN, but I have forgotten just what it is! A trail marking retailers, I think antiques dealers. My memory is failing me...
I blogged about one of my neighbors who had 2 barns covered with painted quilt patterns. Am sending you a link...
http://campagnemaison-jacque.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-neck-of-woods.html
This lady has covered the sides of both of thier barns with painted quilt patterns. She quilts and I think she just puts her latest designs up for public viewing, of sorts.
Alot of stores around here will have a quilt design on them too! That, I think goes along with that trail of retailers. Anyway, I wanted to share with you.
I LOVE THOSE VINTAGE BRIDE/GROOM CAKE TOPPERS!!!!
Have a great day!
I can't believe you took those pictures yourself Linda! They look straight out of a magazine. You are quite the photographer!!
ReplyDeletexoxo,
Kim
Linda, I don't remember seeing any barn quilts, and I don't live too far from the Amish in Pennsylvania. Maybe I've mistaken them for Hex signs? I will now be on the lookout for them. Did you see this link? There will be a book about barn quilts!
ReplyDeletehttp://americanquilttrail.blogspot.com/
Gina at Vintage Junk in My Trunk
We are going to Ohio Amish Country on Friday, where barn quilts are often spotted! It's a rushed trip this time, but I'll do my best to snap some shots and post them when I get back. :)
ReplyDeleteBarn quilts are beautiful! I love the colors....they are so fun I bet to look for. I have to say I never have seen one, but will be on the look out now.
ReplyDeleteWell Linda...that's a first for me!
ReplyDeletewe have so many barns around here where I live...in fact I grew up on a farm with one of those large barns and I have never seen a barn quilt! that's beautiful though...
thanks for sharing!
ciao bella
creative carmelina
What a wonderful idea! Beautiful "quilts".
ReplyDeleteCindy
http://www.wheatlessfoodie.blogspot.com
http://www.sidetrackedartist.blogspot.com
I have never seen the barn quilts, and I love them!!! Taking my son to a job in Maine later and I'll be on the lookout for some of these as we take some of the back roads up.
ReplyDeleteI found the strawberry basket holder charming...you found some great items. Best, Vicki
I've never heard of barn quilts, but they are adorable! I'll have to go google them and read up on them. Now I want to paint one on my garage door!
ReplyDeleteWe don't have barn quilts here in the Pacific NW, but I remember seeing them in pictures! They're fabulous, you are so lucky to have them in your area so you can enjoy them! Thanks so much for sharing! Another 'Barn Chick' Debbie @ Cottage Hann~Me~Downs
ReplyDeleteHi Linda, what absolutely beautiful barn quilts and barns! I love Mary Janes Farm too, infact, I am giving away several copies of her newest magazine on my barn post today, would love to have you stop by! Thanks for sharing these precious photos... xoxo Julie Marie
ReplyDeleteHello Linda, I really enjoyed your beautiful photos! Thanks so much for sharing with us.
ReplyDeleteJanet xox
how unusual, never saw quilts painted on barns before, cool/
ReplyDeletethanks for joinng my Barn Chick Blog Party.
Karen
Neat, we do not have these in the South. They are beautiful. hugs♥olive
ReplyDeleteWow!! Thanks for sharing the quilt barns. I've never seen those before...
ReplyDeleteOMG, I love old Barns, I've never seen the Barn quilts before. Thanks for sharing!!! Blessings~~~ Daphne
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful choices! I have never seen the barn wuilts before...so pretty!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy!
Cathy
Never seen this - but now I have another reason to look at barns!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the wonderful barn quilt barns, Linda! The ones I shared for the Barn Chicks Blog Party are from New England, where I'm vacationing. But, in NC, where I live, there are several barn quilt barns, as well.
ReplyDeleteJust joined you as a follower. Hope you come by for a visit.
Blessings,
Liz @ the Brambleberry Cottage
http://thebrambleberrycottage.blogspot.com/
I have never seen any in the central or eastern areas of WI. I might think they would be along the Mississippi River, MN/IA border. Your commenters are helpful as well. Great post. Thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteMaybe do a follow up of some sort in a few months and ask if any of us has successfully found them.
http://dogsmom.wordpress.com