2012 was an interesting year for me. I completed a total of 22 barn quilts, which worked out to be about two per month. I wasn't overwhelmed with orders, so I was able to keep my promise of completing a barn quilt within 2 weeks. I'm still employed full time. My work on barn quilts is done in the evenings and weekends, so the 2 week time frame worked out just fine. Retirement is in the works for 2014!! Then I will be able to devote more time to barn quilts!!
I had a number of 'First Times' in 2012. I had my first order for a 4x4 barn quilt from a lady in Russellville, KY. It was in the Christmas Star pattern. What was challenging for me was getting it packaged for shipping. There are no standard boxes larger than 4x4. I purchased two 'guitar case' boxes from UPS and cut them apart to fit the barn quilt. Although, this brought on quite a challenge, when I received a photo of the barn quilt hanging, made all the sweat-equity worth it!!
My next 'First' was when I received an email from a lady in Great Britain, who wanted me to make a barn quilt, in the Bear Paw pattern, to be sent to her friend in Washington, at the time that she would be there to visit her. The recipient had no idea that it was coming and the following photo confirms that!!
Since I've been creating barn quilts, I've always used existing quilt patterns. I have never taken the time, nor have I had the time, to create a unique barn quilt pattern. Well, a co-worker of mine, who has Puerto Rican and British ancestry, asked if I could create a barn quilt that would honor that. We discussed using flags in the design. This is what I came up with. Of course, she loved it!!
Now that 2013 is well underway, how successful and busy will I be in the coming year. I just might exceed 2012. To date, I've completed 4 barn quilts and I'm currently working on 4 new ones. I will post the 4 new ones, as I complete them. They will be a Mariner's Compass, Martha Washington Star, Love in a Mist and a Bonnie K Hunter design (Easy Street).
Mariner's Compass
1x1 English Rose
1x1 Shoofly (note the difference in color arrangement). My 'Cardinal Rule' is to make no 2 barn quilts exactly the same!