Traditionally, barn quilts are created using existing quilt block patterns going back many generations. Those patterns may have slight changes in their design, but, you can easily recognize the basic pattern.
On occasion new patterns are created. They may represent a family heritage and, in some cases, they may honor career's of family members. This barn quilt was created by my friend Linda M, from Guyton, GA. She wanted to make this to honor her son-in-law who is a member of the Effingham County, GA Fire Rescue. Linda successfully recreated the colors of the patch that she used as a reference guide to make the barn quilt.
I applaud Linda for her originality and creativity in making a barn quilt that is personal to her.
One thing that I've enjoyed about making barn quilts, is the online friendships that I've made with those that I've made barn quilts for and other's who contacted me to ask questions about how to make them.
I received an email from Linda M who lives in Guyton, GA asking me about barn quilt patterns and whether they are copyrighted designs. I don't ever recall that any particular design was copyrighted. I jokingly told her that she could replicate any pattern except MINE!!!!
We had a nice exchange of emails. She complemented me on my abilities and thought that my barn quilts were beautiful. Linda said that she made several barn quilts for family and friends and wants to to more. However, I got the sense that she thought she was that talented to do them. I asked her to send me some photos of her work. She sent three photos. I found them very interesting.
One thing that I've learned about quilt patterns and paint combinations, is that they all look great. Each one is unique to the others.
I asked Linda for permission to post him here for all to see. I think she did very well and should be proud of them.
The first one she made was to honor her husband's 23 years in the Army.
Photo courtesy of Linda M, Guyton, GA
The second one was made to honor her brother in law from Northwoods, IA who got her into barn quilt painting. This one is called 'Double Canoe's'
Photo courtesy of Linda M, Guyton, GA
This next one was made for her best friend who enjoys gardening and likes the many shades of red.
This one is called 'Double Aster'.
Photo courtesy of Linda M, Guyton, GA
I applaud Linda for her creativity with the designs, using her own color combinations to create a unique barn quilt. I told her to stay in touch and to share her future work with me.
My latest barn quilt was replicated from one that I did several years ago. As a matter of fact, it was the second one that I did when I first started. I had done it on regulat BC grade plywood, the lines weren't the straightest and there was a lot of touch up work to do, due to paint leeching into the other colors. At that time I hadn't perfected my taping abilities. This is a picture of the first one. It has hung on my workshop for about 2 1/2 years.
It still looks remarkably good. There are no signs of aging due to peeling or cracking paint and the white is still a bright white.
The client for the latest one, which she wanted the same as this one with just minor changes in shade of red and blue. This is the one that I recently made for the client in West Virginia.
I really liked the way this one came out. I jokingly tell people that the lines are much straighter on this one, due to having cataracts removed from my eyes several weeks ago!!!
I guess this proves that you can paint a quilt pattern on anything!
A friend at work, who I made a 2x2 barn quilt for her New Hampshire cottage, in the Mariner's Compass pattern, brought in an old piece of roofing slate and asked if I could possibly paint a quilt pattern on it. I have never painted on slate before and told that I would give it a try, but, I would promise anything. I wasn't sure if the paint would adhere to the surface well and I was a bit apprehensive about taping off the different area's. After I painted the white background, I applied a small piece of painter's tape to see what happened. As I had expected, the tape pulled off the paint. I ended up painting the 'card trick' pattern free-hand. I used a nice square cut artist's brush. The results came out very nice, if I do say so myself! You can just make out the border that I painted, which is 'Hunter Green'. After it was finished, I applied several coats of a clear sealant. By doing so, I hope to prevent any unnecessary chipping in the future.
Hanging a barn quilt 'squared' or 'on point' could make quite a difference in the looks of the block pattern. A follower of my blog, 'Sherry', commented on my 4 x4 Christmas Star blog and mentioned about the difference in looks when hung 'on point'. So, I thought that I would post the photo again of the Christmas Star barn quilt that I did several years ago and a photo of the same barn quilt, hung 'on point', and let you decide which one you like best:
Although, the patterns are the same, when hung differently, it gives a whole new look.
Another example is a barn quilt that I made for my sister-in-law, in the log cabin pattern. Now, most of the time, the log cabin in viewed 'squared'. When I did my sister-in-law's log cabin barn quilt, she wanted me to hang in 'on point'. I don't have a photo of it hanging 'squared'. However, the 'on point' photo gives you an idea of the change in the looks of the pattern. I like it hung 'on point'.
Well, I've been wondering when the day would come that I would be commissioned to make a 4' x 4' barn quilt. Over the past several year's, I've specialized in mainly 2' x 2' sizes. It's a convenient size to work on in my workshop. I have an old wooden lazy susan stand that I use when painting them. I'm able to turn the barn quilt, as needed, to complete whatever design I work on. I've always wanted to attempt to do a 4' x 4' and I went out, about 6 months ago, and bought a piece of birch plywood, in that size, with hopes of starting one. The board sat in my workshop since that time. For a while, I've advertised on my website that I do 4' x 4' sizes, but, never received any orders. So, several months back, I removed the advertisement and continued to concentrate on my 2' x 2' and 1' x 1' sizes.
Several weeks ago I received an email, through my website, from a lady who was very interested in have a barn quilt done for her mother and wanted a 4' x 4'.
She liked the Christmas Star pattern that I had done a while back, however, she wanted to change the colors. This is the one that I had done.
She wanted in done in with the white background. The red would be the same dark shade, all the way through and would be painted in the same locations shown in this photo. The green would be replaced with blue throughout. At first, she didn't want a border painted on. She stated that the barn quilt was going to hang on a red pole barn and that the barn would be the frame. Then, she decided to have a border added. Here is the result of those changes.
What has always amazed me when I make two or more barn quilts in the same pattern and change the colors, how different it makes the pattern look.
I was also very surprised how easy it was to work on this size. Although, I worked on this in my garage, as I was limited for space in my workshop, It was a fun barn quilt to do. As a result, I'm adding this size back to my website. I must add one trivia fact to this. I used an entire roll of blue painter's tape a this barn quilt!!!
This barn quilt will now be shipped to it's new owner in Russellville, Kentucky!! For those of you who are familiar with Barn Quilt Trail's, will know that Kentucky has a number of them. I'm proud of the fact that one of my barn quilts will now be display in Kentucky for all to see!!
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