Quilt Barn Trail

The amazing Ginny Schaum has started implementing a Quilt Barn Trail in Schoharie County, NY.  The Quilt Barn Trail is a national movement, started a few years ago, to paint quilt blocks onto 8' x 8' sheets of wood and install them onto barns.  Many states have these trails and you can google Quilt Barn Trail to see the hundreds of wonderful projects.  The idea is to drive the trail and see the quilt blocks and the barns.  This brings an appreciation for rural life to those who drive the trail.

I live in the hamlet of Huntersland, in Schoharie County.  Last August, the area was devastated by Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  Ginny thought starting a trail here would help heal the community.  I agree!  So, the first quilt block in Schoharie County will be installed at my place.
Ginny's husband, Bill, has done a tremendous amount of work in assembling the sign-grade plywood and framing it and priming it, so I could start painting. 

Naturally, I wanted a crazy quilt block.  Had to be!!  I used an antique block design that I had in my collection of Victorian ephemera.  Many years ago, I embroidered (by hand, of course) this quilt block.  See the images above.  I decided this would be a lovely, if somewhat complex, design to paint for the Quilt Barn Trail.  I just finished applying the base coats of paint.  This coming week I will add the floral motifs and seam stitchery in paint.

If you would like to donate to this worthy cause...the wood, paint, framing, etc costs a few hundred dollars per block!  Go to https://www.facebook.com/schohariecounty.quiltbarntrail  and message Sharon or Ginny there.  You could also order a mailbox cover to show your support!

Rose - Herb of the Year

Some of this year's rose bounty from my garden: dried rose petals, rose syrup, rose jelly and rose conserve. (Rose glycerine, rose tincture, rose honey and other goodies are also in the making.)

 

The center portion of my crazy quilt, "Crazy Diamonds".

Crazy Quilt and Roses

This is my award-winning crazy quilt, "Crazy Diamonds" in my garden.  That's an Apothecary Rose to the left.  Apothecary roses date back to at least the 14th century and are one of the variety of roses I use in some of my herbal products.  It has a deep fragrance.  The crazy quilt I stitched completely by hand.  All the piecing, embroidery, painting and embellishments (even the sashing) was done by hand. 

Roses!

Sure, I lost several roses due to flooding from stupid Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.  But, there are many which survived.  Here are some of the roses that are currently blooming in my garden.

Constance Spry, Alchymyst, Paul's Himalayan Musk
Rugosas:  Theres Bugnet, Rubra, Alba
Konigen Von Danemark, Eglantine (leaves smell like green apples!), Mary
Willliam Baffin, unknown, Salet

The apothecary rose hasn't opened yet and there are a few others who will bloom within a few days/weeks.  I do so love roses!

Quilt Barn Trail Comes to Schoharie County

 A quilt barn trail is a series of barns showcasing quilt blocks.  The quilt blocks are painted on 8' x 8' wood and attached to a barn.  The idea is to pay homage to both barns and quilts.  Ginny Schaum, quilter supreme, decided it was high time Schoharie County became involved in this movement.  She enlisted me, Betty Pillsbury, and Sharon Aitchison to help out.

It was decided that I would make the first quilt block.  Of course, I chose to do a crazy quilt block!  I have a nice collection of Victorian era booklets which have line drawings of crazy quilt blocks.  In fact, I have put them together into a booklet that I sell.  Here's one below.

 

Many years ago, I stitched this block.  And this is how it turned out:

 

This is the design I will be using for my barn quilt.  I will prime the wood and block off the patches.  Members of the Schoharie Valley Quilt Guild (of which I am a member) will come up and paint.  Then, I'll go back and add the seam treatments and floral motifs.  I hope it translates to wood and paint as well as it has to fabric and thread!  

My Faux Pearls pattern can now be found on Craftsy.com   Look under the embroidery patterns category.  It is 33 pages of photos and instructions for pearl seam work and motifs that add an elegant touch to crazy quilting or other embroidery projects!!  You can also buy this from Maureen Greeson at www.MaureensVintageAcquisitions.com   You can also buy the pearls from Maureen! 

Best Stitches,
Betty