Last week Tom and I decided to drive over to beautiful Adams County in southern Ohio. (This is only about an hour and a half away from our home.) Adams County was named after the US's 2nd president, John Adams.
In 2001 residents of Adams County began painting quilt squares on barns to create the "Adams County Quilt Sampler". The painted quilts are typically 8 feet by 8 feet. There are now at least 40 quilts painted on barns in the area.
Since this idea was first conceived, it has expanded to other parts of our country. Today over 100 counties in 30 states have quilt barn trails creating a "clothesline of quilts". How cool is that?
I read somewhere that it would take two full days just to find the quilt barns in Adams County. Judging from the amount of time it took to find the ones we did, I certainly believe that. Many of the quilt barns are off the beaten track, and even with an address some of them can be challenging to find. Many of the little country roads are not on a GPS. Plus there was a bridge that was closed.
Here are some of the "quilt barns" we saw on our trip.
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| Sawtooth Star |
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| Ohio Star |
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| Star of the East (or Bronze Star) |
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| Nine Patch |
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| Bow Tie |
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| Friendship Star |
Since our return home, I've found lots of photos of quilt barns on-line. Here is a link to photos of Ohio quilt barns, and here is a link to photos of quilt barns in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maryland, Tennessee, and West Virginia.
And here are a few more photos from Adams County.
Tom has been gone all week at a chemistry meeting in California. I decided to use this time to complete a new teaching design which will premier in April for the Sampler Guild of the Rockies in Colorado. Next year they will be celebrating their guild's 20th anniversary. I was honored when they asked me to teach three classes for them--A Needleworker's Sampler Huswif, Long May She Wave, and a new project.
The new project is a Jacob's Ladder style needlebook. I still need to pick out a dupioni silk lining, an overdyed ribbon for the inside, and wool for the needlepage. Once the piece is assembled, I'll post some photos. I may need your help naming the project.
I have once again had to change the way comments can be left on my blog. When I removed the feature that makes you have to type those weird nearly impossible to see letters and numbers, I started getting spam comments--over 25 in a 24-hour period. So I made another change. Please email me if you have any problems leaving a comment. I really want to hear from you. Your lovely notes certainly make my day.
I wish everyone a great weekend. It will be a scorcher here!
14 comments:
I just read Barn Quilts last month. Love them. Thanks for sharing the pics. :) http://astitchersstory.blogspot.com/
What a fun trip that must have been! Yes, there's a book out that is all about barn quilt blocks. I have the blog name if you want it. I'm looking forward to seeing your new teaching project. I have friends in that guild -- I'm envious!
Great pics of the barns Ellen! Thanks for sharing. And how cute is that pig with his snout in the air -- love that pic!! Vera
Great pictures of the barn quilts. The one you don't have a label on is a nine patch. I love the piggy with the pink nose! Looks like it's smiling for the camera. It was great to see you the other night!
Love those pictures of the barn quilts. I should make a trip down sometime. It's probably only about another hour or so since I think that I live north of you. I wish that Michigan had barn quilts - I think that I've only seen one or two.
I loved seeing the barn quilts. I also love pigs. They were so cute and curious.
oooo love those quilts on those barns but ooooooooooo piggiessssss ..lol and the peacock is nice too :)
have stitched the button bag front for a friend for her birthday in pink .... once I have uploaded the photo will send it to you :)
and mmmmm new piece sounds yummy :) love mouse xxxxx
Hi Ellen, I just loved seeing the photos of Adams County . When I lived in Louisville and my sister lived in Cincinnati, we had a girls week-end up there.I wish we could trade just a bit of air! We just can't get out of the 60's. They are calling it Junuary out here.
Love the barn quilts. They make me happy to see them. My favorite picture was the house on the hill. Very intriguing.
Button bag? You have a button bag? How did I not know this?
I've never heard of Barn quilts. Thank you for sharing Ellen. My dream is to get to stitch your Long May She Wave...The people in the guild are lucky. No guild here in Antioch CA.
Lovely photos Ellen!
What a great idea and great pics Ellen.
Thanks for sharing your little trip with us.
Love the smiling piggy. :)
Marilyn
Oh what a fun trip :) I just love all those quilts on the barns, thanks for link.
Ellen - this looks like a fun trip - I love looking at old barns - I've never seen a quilt painted on an old barn on the roadways I travel in FL GA and AL but wish I did - they are so neat. New project - oh oh ! always great to hear of a new teaching project. Hope your week is a productive one. mel
A friend and I were just on a trip and drove through Iowa where we spotted a number of barn quilts along the route we took. It sure made the drive a lot of fun!
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