Star Barn Quilt

I started quilting just a few years ago and I really love it.  I've made quilts for most of my immediate family and I'm always on the lookout for a new pattern.

While out driving on backcountry roads with the hubby I saw a barn quilt.  We have quite a few barn quilts in our area and nearby counties, so it wasn't the first I've ever seen.  But since starting to quilt they have been catching my eye even more.

So finally, this last winter and with lockdowns going on I decided to paint a barn quilt for one of our pole barns.  

I really love most versions of star quilt patterns so I picked a star for this barn quilt. 

I find inspiration on Pinterest for recipes, crafts and parties so also went there for my barn quilt.  Who else just loves Pinterest?! You really don't want to know how many pins I have, it's embarrassing!ple

Here are a couple barn quilt examples from Pinterest.  

    

If you haven't heard there are even barn quilt trails! Hanging barn quilts and signs on barns has been around for a long time and many Amish farms had painted signs on their barns. But in recent years it has had renewed interest and driving tour maps were even created. Now you can drive from barn to barn viewing the barn quilts in most counties in Ohio and in several states! 

"The first quilt trail was created in Adams County, Ohio, in 2001 by Donna Sue Groves. She wanted to honor her mother, Maxine, and her quilting art by painting a quilt block on their tobacco barn. In talking with friends and neighbors, Donna Sue realized that the project had wide appeal and also could be beneficial to the community as a means to bring tourism and economic development. Instead of a single personal tribute, she worked with the community to create a “clothesline of quilts,” which began with an Ohio Star, dedicated in 2001."  

     

So for my barn quilt, I first designed it on graph paper.  I drew it up the same way I design my quilts, with each square on the graph paper representing a measurement.  

For wood, I decided to use a 3/4 inch thick piece of plywood cut 4 feet by 4 feet. An 8 feet x 4 feet piece of plywood was the wrong shape for my design, and using two would have been way too big for us to even handle or be able to attach to our pole barn.  A 4 feet x 4 feet size was manageable. 

After designing the star on graph paper I used colored pencils to decide on the paint colors.  

I then drew the design onto the 4' x 4' plywood, first drawing squares, then marking off the design. Working with just 2 or 3 squares at a time I started painting.  It took me a few days because I had to let the triangles dry before I could paint the ones next to each other. And most needed two to three coats of paint. 

Nearly finished painting

I had lots of touch-up to do

When the painting was finished and dry, I gave the barn quilt 3 or 4 coats of varnish. I also finished the edges of the plywood with a frame made from 1 x 2 strips of wood. 

Adding the frame

Top coat

Once the weather improved and spring was finally here our son Daniel came over and helped my husband hang my barn quilt on our pole barn nearest the road.  And we love it! 

As I do with all my quilts, I gave my barn quilt a name, it's called "Color Wheel Star Barn Quilt"

And all my quilts have labels so I wrote on the back the quilt name, date I made it, my name, and city and state. 

Now that we are nearing the end of summer I'm thinking I may paint another barn quilt for our goat barn this coming winter. That is if I don't find 20 other things on Pinterest to make, haha. 

Hoping you've had a great summer,

Elizabeth  

Modern Baby Quilt

I made my granddaughter Kelsey a quilt called "The Mean Green Hulk" for her high school graduation a few years ago. She is now married and was expecting her first baby so I needed to make her a baby quilt. 

Kelsey being a young first-time mommy, I wanted the quilt to be more modern than traditional and made with beautiful bright colors.  

And I decided to make this baby quilt just a little bigger than a normal baby quilt so it could also be used as a lap quilt later on. 

Texas State Flag Quilt

My daughter Jami and her husband Donnie and their kids moved to Texas for a job in 2009.  

I hate that they're so far away (I'm in Ohio) and that I don't get to see them much. 

But we have taken numerous trips to Texas and we think it's a nice state to visit. We've even been to the Dealey Plaza and the Grassy Knoll in Dallas.

I'm a new quilter, I have only been making quilts for family members for the last year.  I decided to make Jami and Donnie one as a Christmas gift.

Maple Leaf Quilt Block

I'm in the middle of sewing a Farm Girl Vintage quilt using patterns from the Lori Holt quilt book called Farm Girl Vintage. 

I'm making the quilt blocks that relate to my own little farm, like a bee, black cat, chicken, strawberry,  pumpkin, and tractor. 

I have multiple sugar maple trees in my yard and in late winter I tap those trees to make real maple syrup. So, of course, I want a maple leaf block in my Farm Quilt.

Child's Batman Quilt

My recently finished quilt was a request for a one-year little boy's Batman quilt. 

I'm not really into Batman or any superhero fandom so after finding a batman print fabric, I used Google to come up with coordinating colors. 

The original request was just no blue colors.

There are actually a few Batman costumes, with the newest one clad in all black. I'm old school and I grew up with the vintage batman.

                  

Farm Quilt - My Newest Project

So here is what I have been working on for a few weeks.

Recently I discovered a blog called Bee in my Bonnet.  

I found the blog and blogger, Lori Holt while pinning away quilt ideas (and recipes, and DIY's, and fall decorations, and.....the list is endless) on My Pinterest and happened to see Lori's Hen Quilt Block.  I just looove it!  

And then, early this spring I stopped at a quilt shop in Indiana, and there in the shop was a completed Lori Holt Hen Quilt! 

How to Make a Quilt Label

I recently picked up the art of quilt making and I love it. 

I've been sewing and crafting for a long time but just never attempted a quilt.

In the last few months I've made quite a few quilts, like a Patchwork Quilt for our camper, a Large Block Quilt with sashing as a graduation gift for my granddaughter, quilts for two other grandchildren, a Hexagon Quilt (the hardest so far) for my daughter Alexis the beekeeper, and an ocean-themed quilt for my son Daniel. 

Block Quilt with Sashing

 

I started making quilts for the first time in January 2016 and I love it.  I have been sewing for years and years, but never attempted a quilt. (Baby quilts not included).  

My first full-size quilt was a Patchwork Quilt for a Camper Remodel I was working on.  

And after making 5 or 6 quilts either for myself or family, my granddaughter Kelsey asked me to make a quilt for her as a high school graduation gift. She wanted purple and “hulk” green fabrics and NO floral prints.

Ohio Star Quilt Block

I am in the middle of making multiple quilts for family members and one for myself. 

I made my very first quilt, a Patchwork Quilt to go along with our Camper Remodel in January, and have since been asked by most of the kids and grandkids to make them all quilts! 

In between all those quilts, I am trying to make one for myself from the Ohio Star quilt pattern. And I just love how they are turning out.

Making a Patchwork Quilt

I've been sewing various crafts, curtains, pillows, kid's clothes, and Halloween Costumes through the years, but never a full-size quilt.  

Recently I did a Camper Remodel and wanted to use the leftover fabrics from reupholstering the cushions and sewing new curtains in the camper to make a camper quilt to match.

One of the easiest quilts to make and one of my favorites is a patchwork-style quilt.

Camper Remodel, Part 2

This is the second post about remodeling our little camper. 

The first post you can find here: Camper Remodel, Part One.

We purchased our used little camper a couple years ago. We love to tent camp and will continue to do so but I always wanted a little camper. 

I'm in love with small vintage campers and although our camper is not vintage, just older, it works great as our first. 

Our camper box is only 16 feet long but very cozy and just right for us for now.

Camper Remodel, Part One

We purchased our used little camper a couple years ago. My husband Bill and I love to tent camp and have even tent camped all the way around Lake Superior while doing the Lake Superior Circle Tour.  

But I've always wanted a little camper. 

And I just love all the remodeled vintage campers I see, they're so romantic!

Our first little camper is not vintage, just older, but we did get it at a fantastic price, especially for being in like-new condition.

Look What I Found: Antique Handmade Quilt

I like going to second-hand stores, thrift stores, and antique shops whenever possible.

This is my latest find, a beautiful old patchwork quilt!

I know very little about old quilts or dating them, I just like them and collect them if the price is right.  

This is one of my best finds yet at $8.99.

I found this quilt especially interesting because of the quilt pattern and the stitched names.

A patchwork quilt is a quilt in which the top layer consists of pieces of fabric sewn together to form a design. Originally, this was to make full use of left-over scraps of fabric.

If you are reading this post and can shed more light on this quilt I would really appreciate it!