Barn Quilt Class

Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement by Suzi Parron

What a great time I had yesterday! I participated with my guild, Ocean Waves Quilt Guild, Lewes Delaware, in a Barn Quilt class.   I know, sounds confusing…barns & quilts…. No fabric – no sewing machines – no thread or irons were used in the creation of our barn quilts.

First I must tell you about our instructor.

Our instructor was Suzi Parron. Suzi Parron,  is an author with Donna Sue Groves of Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail Movement.  Suzi spoke at our guild meeting on Monday, and stayed to teach a class on Tuesday. If your group or guild is interested in a wonderful speaker, you should consider engaging Suzi. She is an energized speaker and has a great presentation.  Suzi and her husband are traveling the “back roads” of America in their RV.  Her website shows where she is speaking.  Don’t miss out.

If you have never heard of or seen a barn quilt, you should check out her website, blog or Facebook page.
website : http://barnquiltinfo.com/
blog – http://americanquilttrail.blogspot.com/
Facebook page – Barn Quilts and the American Quilt Trail. https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Barn-Quilts-and-the-American-Quilt-Trail/133036866706550?pnref=story
One thing I like about Suzi’s website is the map that keys you into where you might find Barn Quilts in your state or along your journeys.

You can order Suzi’s book right on her website.

Of course, painting barn quilts is not simply limited to quilters. It is a great way to honor quilters in your family, and a fun way to spruce up a barn, garden shed, fence line or garage. Suzi told us about various groups that have gotten the Barn Quilt movement going, and it wasn’t “just quilters”.

For our class, Suzi provided all the materials for making a Barn Quilt and kept us on track while we worked away! We used 24″ x 24″ PLYWOOD squares, painters tape, yardsticks and exterior house paint. Suzi had gloves for us to wear (not me of course); sponge brushes and a variety of colors that she mixed as we desired. (Of course, I had her mixing orange and pink and yellow and blue). You will see us using hair dryers to speed up the drying process. The reds and blues took 4 or 5 coats to get the depth of color and coverage needed. Some students came with a pattern they wanted to use, while others looked at books and designs that Suzi provided. I printed out several blocks that I was considering using and took them along to use and share.

Some of the projects made by our group of students will end up on sun porches, front porches or in my case, near the door to my quilt studio on my garage. I only know of one barn in our group.

Enjoy the photos!

This last picture is my block — I love daffodils. I planted about 1000 of them on our property and always love to see them in the spring. I am no artist, but I did pretty well laying out the tape lines. All ruler work! My master-gardener friend Wendy said if I add a little shading I will have created a Rembrandt Daffodil.  So, I played with the oranges, yellows and pinks. All I need to do is a little touch up and then engage the hubby to hang it on the garage for me.  (After tomorrows snow storm)

Daffodil block

I scheduled the speaker/instructor, I always am concerned that the guild members have something unique and interesting and fun to do. This class hit all the right marks for me. I think everyone enjoyed the class and most took home a finished project. I am waiting to see what a couple of our “over achievers” do with their very complex blocks. They were all beautiful.
If you haven’t seen enought Barn Quilts yet, check out my Pinterest board: https://www.pinterest.com/marydeeter/barn-quilts/
Now, back to sewing……