Our barn quilt squares greet us every time we make the curve around the driveway. You can't see them from the road, so unless you have been here in person (or online) you wouldn't even know they were there. But that may change sometime this year, as they just might be featured in a book on Barn Quilts. Here is the message I received on Christmas Day:
Susan,
I am writing a book about the many folks who have created quilt squares on their barns. I am working with Donna Sue Groves, who orginated the idea in Ohio in 2001; the book will be published by Ohio University.
I usually Google quilt barns every week or two to see if anything new comes up. I had not seen yours until today. Merry Christmas to me!
Although my focus is on the many community trails, I am also including a chapter on individuals who have decorated their own barns with quilts. Powder Springs, GA has in-town quilt paintings, but you are the first person that I know of in Georgia who has created a quilt on a barn! I may be wrong about that--if so, please enlighten me.
I would love to find out about your project and be able to mention you in the book as someone who created quilt squares without the support of a community.
You may notice that I have blogs as well; I teach high school in Dekalb County (Atlanta suburb) and use Blogger with my students.
I so hope that you will get this message and respond. It would be great to have a personal story from my home state!!
All best for Christmas and always,
Suzi Parron
We have corresponded back and forth several times since then. I directed her to the link on my sidebar for our project so she could see some of the construction pictures. She wanted to know why the girls picked their individual designs, and I sent her these answers I received via email:
I did the pinwheel. I liked it because it was I could combine a lot of colors. I liked the design of it also. So that is why I picked out the pinwheel. :) Madison
It seemed original...to me anyways!!! Love, Your friend, Racheal
(Racheal did the bear paw)
Because it is a mixture of so many different shapes, if you really observe it. The colors I chose reminded me of nature. It went well with where it was going to be placed. ~Sarah
(Sarah did the monkey wrench block)
I of course did some research, found Ms. Parron's classroom blogs. I found lots on Donna Sue Groves, including this one about the upcoming book: The American Quilt Trail is to be published in 2009 by Ohio University.
Barn Quilt Memories blog lists barn quilts by state, leading me to this site about Georgia, Southern Quilt Trail.
She says the book is a year long project, so we will have to wait and see!
