When I was tearing through the Road to California quilt show in Ontario last week, my heart nearly stopped when I came upon something I have wanted my entire grown up life. A barn quilt.
There was a booth,hosted by "Classic Metal Company", who had displayed heavy weight steel "barn quilt" blocks to use as display on your house or on your walls. These "barn quilts" are part of our heritage, and are a real symbol of Americana. Quilt patterns on barns date back to colonial America. After the colonists became established and had spare income, they painted small patterns on the ends of the barns as a way to celebrate their heritage.
When you travel through the midwest and east coast and get out into the countryside, you do see these lovely works of art.
When I was at Life's A Stitch in Janesville, WI in September 2010, I took the picture above, of a terrific example of a barn quilt. I cherish the memory of that trip, as I was with two of the lovliest friends a person could ever wish for, and we were doing what we love best: shopping for quilt fabric! There is nothing that would forever symbolize and remind me of that amazing experience than having my own barn quilt.
So, with that being said, the reason my heart stopped, was because right there at the quilt show, Classic Metal Co. had this block for sale:
Anybody recognize that block? Yup, it is Sister's Choice!!!
I bought the small size, but will be ordering the large size (24" square) as well. It is going to be the perfect touch to my quilting studio, inside and out. The small one (shown below) will go inside the studio and the larger one outside the entrance under the lamp. I played around with the smaller one today, but clearly I need to Go Big. What a wonderful herald for my studio! I am so excited to have found this. They also had a fun sign that matched that I want to hang underneath that said "Welcome". Think I need that too, don't you?
By all means, check out the website for
Classic Metal Co., they had all sorts of quilt blocks represented: Mariner's Compass, Blazing Star, Bear's Paw, Broken Dishes, Dutch Rose, LeMoyne Star… You could have a barn quilt too!
19 Responses
Nothing could have been more perfect that this Sister’s Choice block to adorn your sewing studio, inside and out!! SCORE, indeed!!!!!! I can just imagine Grandpa smiling as he saw your delight when you found this treasure. 🙂
Yes, the Welcome sign is needed. Does it reverse to a Do Not Disturb message as needed?! 😉
Have you stopped happy dancing yet?
Thanks for the link, too.
Hugs!
yes . . . you absolutely do need them all !! . . . LOL . . . this is so perfect for your studio !!
and I am so happy you are back . . . I love reading your blog every morning while I have my coffee . . .
I so missed you !!
I love barn quilts. We have a county on the Oregon Coast that has barn quilts all through the countryside. There is a tour brochure so we can drive the route and read about each farm and quilt pattern. The central town in that country has picked up the idea and they have over one hundred ‘barn’ quilts on buildings throughout the town. I walked part of that walking tour and hope to go back and do the whole thing sometime this summer. Thanks for sharing these barn quilts. Love ’em!
~Adrienne~
Nicole:
There is a farming county in Colorado that boasts having over 100 quilt squares mounted on barns, stores and different places. I thought you might enjoy these photos:
http://www.dropbox.com/gallery/18727415/1/Leona%27s%20Quilt%20Tour%202011?h=3e34a1
What a perfect find – you were clearly meant to go to that show!!! I can’t wait to see the big one and yes, you definitely need the welcome sign too!
Absolutely perfect. What a find. Yes the bigger one for outside, the little one is lost.
How incredibly perfect! Sister’s Choice even! 🙂 It will be the finishing touch to your studio. I have barn quilt photos for my screensaver, LOL.
Wow! Does it get any more fun than this? Thanks for sharing this incredible find, Nicole. 🙂 *karendianne.
What a wonderful find, and perfect for your new studio. A welcome sign would look fabulous outside under your large Sister’s Choice block. You may not have spent much time at the quilt show, but you certainly made up for it by what you scored.
What a great find! And I love your idea for the 2 sizes. How fun!
So HAPPY you found the barn quilt!! Your studio was calling for one. Hum, do I need one for my garage?!
Fantastic, Nicole! I’ve had my eye on them for a long time, too! I love that it’s metal which will withstand the elements!
Cheers!
That is such a great find!! You were so smart to stop at the show! Definitely, add the ‘welcome’ sign and you’re going to have such a cute entry way!
I think the bigger Sisters Choice block will look very nice underneath the lamp post! And yes, you DO need the welcome sign too :o)
I also saw these at Road 2 CA. They looked nice. It looks great on your house.
Eeeeeeeep! Love it! Need one! ;p
I’ve always wanted a Barn Quilt too, Nicole, and that booth drew me in as well, but I didn’t buy anything. A flyer did make it into my bag though, and I would love to hang one of these on my backyard fence where I could see it from my sewing desk.
Didnt’ think I was missing anything in my life today, until I saw the Barn Quilts and I knew I was in great need of one! My husband may not agree, but I know you do. Belinda
I can feel your excitement! What a great find.