I have always been fascinated by the Barn Quilt movement and would love to spend a few weekends traveling some of the more than 120 designated barn-quilt trails throughout the country. And I’ve fantasized about adding a little Barn Quilt magic to the Maher casa, although it’s a 1965 ranch house on a cul de sac in Albuquerque, with nary a barn. (Well, okay, there’s a shed, if you want to get technical about it.)
The Barn Quilt movement started in 2001 when Donna Sue Groves wanted to honor her mother, Maxine, and her Appalachian heritage by painting a quilt block on her barn in Adams County, Ohio. Donna Sue talked about her project with others, and later worked with the Ohio Arts Council and other community organizations to refine her idea, which grew into a “sampler” of twenty quilt squares along a driving trail that would inspire visitors to travel through the countryside–a brilliant blend of rural economic development and folk art enjoyment, don’t you think? As these things often do, Donna Sue’s idea grew legs. The Barn Quilt Movement–barns and other buildings emblazoned with large quilt blocks–can now be found in 29 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
The story of the Barn Quilt Movement is really pretty inspiring, and I urge you to check out the full story in Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement by Suzi Parron and Donna Sue Groves (Swallow Press, 2012). For a couple of years, I have obsessed about this, trying to find some Barn Quilts in New Mexico. There are reportedly a few, but there is no organized Quilt Trail. Yet.
The enthusiasm has even caught the fancy of modern quiltmakers, including Heather Jones of Olive and Ollie. She ran a Modern Barn Quilt Paint-A-Long two years ago and got good response. Go here to see images from some of her fellow painters. (Confession: I had hoped to sling paint right along with her and the others, but two years ago was when Jake and I departed one magazine and began giving birth to another–namely GenQ–and, well, things were a little hectic!)
However, I’ve never forgotten Heather’s inspiring extension of Donna Sue’s idea, and recently I was able to take action: Behold, my birdhouse barn quilt!
I had been given a plain wooden birdhouse accented with recycled can lids–chic in a very repurpose-y sort of way–but I felt it needed a splash of color. So I drew a big square in pencil, and with a ruler and random lines, turned the square into a wonky log cabin. And repeated it on the other side. Then I traced over the pencil lines with a black Sharpie, and dug into my stash for paint. (Bonus: I got to toss out about half my paint supply because it was all dried up. Love that stash reduction!)
The final steps were a coat of spar urethane and a chain for hanging…
…and then I hung that baby out there for the sparrows, finches and mourning doves to admire! It adds a bright spot to the drought-stricken ivy. And I have to admit I’ve been scouting for additional barn-quilt locations. Today the bird house, tomorrow the shed?
COMMENT #1
So cute! Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT #2
Very fun! Glad you finally got your own!
COMMENT #3
Nothing wrong with a shed quilt! In my case it would be a garage quilt, but the neighborhood association likely would object.
COMMENT #4
I love this idea! The birdhouses I have in the yard are all falling apart and look really really pathetic. Perhaps it’s time to get some new ones and give my love of quilting a place in the yard by painting bright colored quilt blocks on them. Cool!
COMMENT #5
LOVE it! I have a mini birdhouse from the craft store that will be perfect for this. Thanks for the inspiration.
Perhaps Generation Q wants to organize a “Wee Barn Quilt-Along” for this summer? Perfect mix of quilting, outdoor fun and summertime activity. I’d love to see how others (and perhaps their kids) interpret this idea for their gardens/apartments/patios!
COMMENT #6
Melissa,
My friend Donna Sue sent me the link to this page, knowing I would be interested – NICE JOB! (and i love the roof.) I’ve been doing wren “barns” for several years now and ‘installing’ quilt blocks on them that are replicas of various state quilt trails (KY, IN, OH, TN & AQT.) [Please look under Wren Houses on my website.]They are 3×3 inches and loving painted by my wife. We also make quilt block patterns in various sizes from 12×12″ to 48×48″ – our most p0pular is the small size with room at the top for house numbers.
The website is very limited, BUT may I ask you to check out our facebook page? There are way more examples of my ‘twisted’ garden art – it is Coops D’ Villas. I hope to post pics soon of a weeklong class I just taught at a local Arts&Science camp for grade schoolers – each kid got to ‘make’ their own bluebird house and faerie house.
Be Well!
COMMENT #7
LOVE IT! Now you’ve got me thinking about what I can quiltify. Thanks for sharing.
COMMENT #8
That birdhouse is now tres chic! Wonky Log Cabin blocks are always fun, aren’t they? And the shingles on the roof are terrific too – nice curvy counterpoint to the Log Cabin blocks.
COMMENT #9
I love it! What a fun idea to make a barn quilt on a bird house. Brilliant! I’ve been wanting to make a few more barn quilts for our new place and now I’m definitely motivated to get to work. xoxo
COMMENT #
And Heather, I LOVE the wallpaper purging that you’re doing! You go Girl!! (Jake)