From coast-to-coast there seems to be something in the wind. I am adding these two new sites to my Barn Quilt Memories side bar of active Barn Quilt sites. The URLs may need to be changed as these efforts are brought to fruition...
Dateline Tillamook, Oregon
from the pages of the Tillamook Headlight-Herald (3/17/2009)
Denise Porter
Headlight-Herald Staff
Imagine a treasure hunt across Tillamook County's pastoral countryside. A treasure hunt that brings in tourist dollars for local merchants while highlighting this area's arts and agriculture.
Taking a cue from similar projects in the Midwest, members of the Tillamook County Quilt Trail (TCQT) coalition envision 15 old Tillamook County barns, plus other "buildings of character," sporting vibrantly painted 8-foot by 8-foot quilt blocks. They see tourists armed with a driving map following a "quilt trail," stopping at each site to take a photo of the mounted quilt block.
The guide map would point out each building's historical significance, as well as nearby attractions and amenities.
"From the first idea until now, there's been nothing but positive reaction," said Betty Rolston, a board member of Latimer Quilt and Textile Center and a TCQT committee co-chair.
"The amount of enthusiasm has been overwhelming," added Suzanne Weber, a member of the Tillamook City Council and Rolston's co-chair.
Committee member Carol Marie Leuthold said the quilt-trail coalition is a group of citizens representing several area organizations "working as a collective entity. Rural communities flourish by choice," she added. "This is great for Tillamook."
and all the way from the Garden State of New Jersey
The Barn Quilt Project
The Barn Quilt Project in New Jersey is a new project coordinated by volunteers of the New Jersey Museum of Agriculture. This project is designed to celebrate New Jersey’s agricultural heritage, highlighting farms across the state with beautiful quilt blocks. These barn quilts will draw attention to the unique architecture and history of New Jersey Barns and other agriculture related buildings, promote the education of the general public about New Jersey’s strong Agriculture legacy.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Barn Quilt Association of New Jersey is to provide a sustainable heritage tourism attraction/activity while preserving and celebrating the unique agriculture, history, and arts culture of our area through visual combinations of barns and quilt designs, to educate the public and showcase our Garden State.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
If you just don't have the time...
From The Hen House
2117 Old Main Street
Washington, Kentucky
Barn quilts are a unique form of public art. They highlight the rural heritage and the important folk art of quilting practiced by our ancestors. Found in almost every state with many states having driving trails. Weatherproof these can be hung inside, outside on the front porch, garage or barn. Custom orders in 2 x 2, 4 x 4 or 8 x 8 feet with your favorite pattern and choice of colors. Call or e-mail for quote.
33146 263rd Trail
Milton, IA 52570
Prairie Sky Barn Quilts specializes in handcrafted wooden barn quilts, made to your specifications. We handcraft our wooden barn quilts from the highest quality wood, paint with several coats of high quality exterior paint and seal with an excellent exterior sealant. We can handcraft any design you like or you may be interested in one of the designs we already have in stock. Feel free to contact us to design your personalized quilt.
We have over 1500 quilt patterns in our library and look forward to working with you for that perfect design. Barn quilts are not just for barns anymore! These quilts look great on your gardening shed, next to your front door, or on your garage. We can handcraft a barn quilt of any size, from 1 x 1 to 8 x 8. Let's start personalizing your space today!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Spring in New York
Found along the southern shore of Lake Ontario, in the North West of New York State is Orleans County. In 2006, Lora Partyka (Partyka Farms, Inc.) helped to organize the local community of Kendell, NY, and started what is now known as the Country Barn Quilt Trail of Western New York! If you are looking for something to do this beautiful spring day, read the press release sent out this past week (that I have copied below). Remember that these Barn Quilts can be found every day, and maps to the full Country Barn Quilt Trail are available at Partyka Farms located at 1420 County Line Road (Route 272) in Kendall, New York.
Country Barn Trail Part of Seaway Trail Quilt Show March 21-22
Quilts made of fabric are not the only types of quilts being featured at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show on March 21-22 at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor. A special exhibit of the Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail will invite show visitors to explore the Seaway Trail byway and a 22-mile loop tour that features quilt blocks made of wood.
More than 40 painted quilt blocks now adorn the sides of barns in the Town of Kendall, found along the western Lake Ontario stretch of the Seaway Trail between Rochester and Niagara Falls.
Travelers can follow a map or access a cell phone audio tour to find the blocks with names such as The Farmer’s Daughter, Carpenter’s Wheel, Circle the Field and Joseph’s Coat. The phone number to call and a map are available at Partyka Farms Market at 1420 County Line Road in Kendall – about three miles south of the Seaway Trail (Lake Ontario State Parkway Morton/Rt. 272 Exit).
Orleans County Tourism and Partyka Farms Market will have a display for the Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail at the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show. Orleans County Tourism Director Wayne Hale says farm market owner Lora Partyka is among the local farmers and families that have sponsored the blocks on their barns.
“We share Seaway Trail’s innovative use of storytelling as a method of interpreting our cultural, natural and tourism resources. The Orleans County Country Barn Quilt Trail and its cell phone audio narration, the Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show, and the series of Seaway Trail outdoor storyteller interpretive panels placed the length of the 518-mile byway are developing modern-day storytelling traditions that add unique dimensions to the Great Lakes Seaway Trail travel experience,” Hale says.
The March 21-22 show also features more than 90 “Hugs for Heroes” quilts honoring America, her soldiers, and Presidents; quilted works by four international quilting author-artists; and a Viewer’s Choice competition of quilts and wallhangings of “My Favorite Seaway Trail Place(s) for $500 in prizes. There will also be demonstrations and vendors.
The Great Lakes Seaway Trail Quilt Show runs 10am to 5pm on Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22 at the Seaway Trail Discovery Center in Sackets Harbor, NY. The show is sponsored by the Seaway Trail Foundation and Orleans County Tourism. Learn more online at http://www.seawaytrail.com/ or call 315-646-1000. The show is a Yellow Ribbon Event for military families. #
Sunday, March 15, 2009
What a great place... Miss Effie's
Scott County, Iowa is nestled along the shore of the Mississippi River, and I have found no reference on the Internet of any Barn Quilt organization, but I did discover a charming site that is defiantly worth a few minutes of your time. Now in my neck of the woods, it is not uncommon to find a pick your own strawberry or melon patch. We can even find pick your own Christmas trees, but in Scott County they have a pick your own (U-pick) flower farm. I want to share with you the words from the Miss Effie's Country Flowers and Garden Stuff web-site:
Our story...........
and we are sticking to it!
Cathy and Cliff Lafrenz started Miss Effie's Country Flowers and Garden Stuff in the spring of 2002. We started with a 20 foot by 20 foot patch of cut flowers. We have since expanded to almost an acre of flowers. Every spring we plant over 6000 annuals for your cutting pleasure.
When you come to Miss Effie's, you are given a bucket and a pair of clippers and are invited to cut anything throughout our gardens. The flowers change by the season so every day ..... something new blooms. A one gallon bucket of flowers is a bargain at $10.
We love hosting your parties and events on the farm. Our 1948 Behlen corncrib is perfect for a daytime picnic or an evening meeting. The corn-zebo will comfortably seat 20 people. Use of a gas grill is also available.
We are proud members of Quad-Cities chapter of Buy Fresh, Buy Local and we encourage you to look for local options when buying groceries. We are also proud to be the ONLY Animal Welfare Approved farm in Scott County Iowa.
Our chickens gift us with beautiful eggs ....... eggs are available but please call ahead. We also sell jellies, jams, herbs and fresh veggies.
Please come visit and sit a spell.
Now what Miss Cathy didn't share with us on her biz site is her new found love of Barn Quilts. Here is a link to what I surmise to be her first few Barn Quilts, from her personal blog: http://misseffiesdiary.blogspot.com/
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Hurry spring
As the snow returns to the high country, I want to share a few more images from Avery County, NC. (click the images to make them larger) The map-link on their web page has not worked for me for a few days, so you may wish to try this link. (click here)
