Saturday, December 3, 2016

Looking Ahead



As many of you already know,
AQS has stopped publishing new books.

For those of us with books
already published by AQS,
the future is murky indeed.


* * *


Recently I've notice this phrase in
the book-related print-media ads by AQS. 

"Order now while they last!"



* * *


Given this uncertain future,
if you have been wishing for a copy of
BUILD A BARN,
my suggestion would be to place your order 
sooner instead of later.


You can order a signed copy directly from me.
(see order info in sidebar)


BUILD A BARN is also available from


Amazon.com
(affiliate link in sidebar)

and



And, if you prefer an e-book,
there is one available through AQS.
(see link in the sidebar)













Monday, November 7, 2016

Thank You and So Much More

Photo will supersize if double clicked -
Chris Ballard (L) and Julie Sefton (R)
with the SSOBB Gallery Quilts at Davies Manor


Thank you . . . 

To the Charter Members of the
Secret Society of Barn Builders
for making such extraordinary quilts
for the BUILD A BARN Gallery.

TO our SSOBB long arm quilter
Chris Ballard (on the left above)
for her exquisite custom free motion quilting
on the SSOBB and BUILD A BARN quilts.

TO Nancy McDonough and everyone at
Davies Manor Plantation 
for helping us showcase and share
the Quilts of BUILD A BARN and the SSOBB
one last time before the gallery quilts
travel home to their makers.

TO the publishing staff at AQS
who turned my manuscript
into a beautiful book.

TO the entire AQS Show Staff for featuring  
the Quilts of BUILD A BARN and the SSOBB
at their shows in Chattanooga and Des Moines.

And, most importantly,
to everyone who made the effort to come and see
our quilts in person at any of the three venues.

Your responses, stories, and comments
mean the world to all of us.

Thank you!!

* * *

And do stay tuned . . . 
there are more barn adventures 
waiting in the wings!

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Today is the Last Day . . .




Today is the third day of the 3-day quilt show
at Davies Manor Plantation 
in Memphis, Tennessee.

It is also the last day when
the Quilts of BUILD A BARN
and the Secret Society of Barn Builders
will all be on display together.

Come and see the quilts,
read their stories,
and spend some time
with the quilt that started it all,
SEE ROCK CITY.

The show is open 10am to 4pm today.

$5 admission
includes the quilts on display at Hillwood,
the Manor House decked out with vintage quilts,
and so much more.

What a beautiful day to visit Davies!



Saturday, October 15, 2016

See The Quilts of the SSOBB at Memphis, TN



The Quilts of the SSOBB 
will be on display one final time
November 4-5-6 during the 20th Annual 
Davies Manor Association Quilt and Fiber Art Show.

10 AM to 4 PM all three days

Admission is $5 for one day
or $8 for all three days.

I will be there most of the weekend
with the SSOBB Exhibit
and
signed copies of BUILD A BARN 
will be available
for purchase during the show.


The weekend includes 
contest quilts, quilts, and more quilts at Hillwood
(3570 Davieshire Drive)
plus displays from the Hoffman Trunk Show,
vendors and demonstrations,
guided tours of the Manor House,
 numerous vintage quilts,
food and door prizes.



(click here for the Davies Manor website)

Thursday, October 13, 2016

Brenda Visits the Quilts of the SSOBB



SSOBB Charter Member Brenda Suderman
traveled many (MANY) miles to visit 
the SSOBB Special Exhibit 
at AQS Quiltweek Des Moines.

to read her blog post
and enjoy her photos!

Monday, October 10, 2016

They Saw The Quilts at AQS Des Moines




Two members of the SSOBB 
shared photos from last week's
AQS Des Moines QuiltWeek -

and




See Rock City was there
along with all of the SSOBB Gallery quilts.




Here is Brenda with her quilt -
The Back of the Back 40.




Here is Julie P. with her quilt
Make Life Simple.




Julie P shared this photo of the show floor
and circled the SSOBB Special Exhibit.




The Seasonal Sampler was on display 
in the AQS Author Showcase area.


* * *

Thank you Julie and Brenda
for sharing photos with all of us!

Saturday, October 1, 2016

See the Quilts at AQS Des Moines



The SSOBB Gallery Quilts
will be on display
at AQS Des Moines

October 5-8, 2016





Initially planned to be part of the book,
the gallery quilts have taken on a life of their own.

They were shown at AQS Chattanooga.

They will be on display at AQS Des Moines.

Their final public appearance as a group
will be November 4-6, 2016
in Memphis, Tennessee.




This photo show the gallery quilt TOPS
before they were quilted.

Now, everyone who sees these finished quilts
goes on and on (and on) about  
HOW WONDERFUL they are.

COME SEE FOR YOURSELF
AT AQS DES MOINES.




And be sure to stop by the Shop AQS booth at the show
to pick up your very own copy of BUILD A BARN.


* * *


If you see the gallery quilts in Des Moines,
please take a selfie with the exhibit
and send it to me.
(email link in my profile - see sidebar)

I'd love to share your smiling faces here.




Sunday, September 25, 2016

A Real Life See Rock City Barn


photo will supersize for additional detail


Have you ever seen one of the SEE ROCK CITY barns?

I saw one on our way home from Chattanooga
but it was just off the side of a very busy interstate
with no place to pull over for picture taking.

I've also see the one shown above
 just outside Murphy, North Carolina.



photo will supersize for additional detail


Here it is taken from a bit further away.

Gotta love that Ruby Falls sign.

(both attractions are located on Lookout Mountain)

I also think the chevron design of the barn's 
weathered gray siding is very striking.


photo will supersize for additional detail


This was the view as we pulled off the highway.
(the one that runs along the left side of the photo)

Finding a barn like this "in the wild"
 might not seem exciting to some people,
but it was an awesome experience for me.

If you are out and about and happen to spot
a SEE ROCK CITY barn,
be sure to stop and get photos.

They are such a part of our cultural history.

* * *


to enjoy more 
SEE ROCK CITY barns
courtesy of Google Images.

Saturday, September 17, 2016

AQS Chattanooga - A Recap





Signage for the SSOBB Gallery Quilt Exhibit
at AQS Quiltweek Chattanooga 2016.




From the Chattanooga Show Book.

(double click photos to supersize)




A panoramic look at our Special Exhibit
at Chattanooga.

What a thrill to see our quilts hanging together!






The Seasonal Sampler 
from BUILD A BARN was on display
in the Author Showcase.

It was hanging beside the cover quilt
from Gwen Marston's Free Range Triangle book.





Left to right:


(taken at the end of the all-day class
taught by Lynn on Abstract Quilts in Solids)




Heidi, Cherie, and Julie posing
with fellow SSOBB Charter Member Lynne Tyler'
Honorable Mention wall quilt Too Much Chicken.


* * *

Next stop for the Gallery Quilts?

AQS Quiltweek Des Moines.








Friday, September 9, 2016

AQS Chattanooga -- Come See The Exhibit!

I'll be carrying this tote bag



AQS Chattanooga

September 14-17, 2016




And while you are at the show,
be sure to see our



featuring the SSOBB Gallery Quilts.

* * *

While you are there,
take some photos of yourself with the quilts
and email those photos to me.
(email in profile in sidebar)

The SSOBB would love
to hear your reactions to their quilts
and see your smiling faces.


Thursday, September 1, 2016

Inspiration Photos From Eunice

double click to supersize



Eunice sent these photos recently
after a trip to Virginia.



double click to supersize
'


All four of these photos were taken from a moving car's window -
I especially love this old broken but still useful barn.


double click to supersize


These barns are all in the Shenandoah Valley area
near Harrisonburg, VA.


double click to supersize


This barn with its red sliding doors
intrigues both Eunice and yours truly.


THANK YOU, Eunice!!


* * *

Have you seen any intreating barns lately?

Send me your photos
and I'll share them here
for all of us to enjoy!

(email in profile)

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

News for Chattanooga and Des Moines Exhibits




Barn + Quilts = WOW

The Secret Society of Barn Builders is 
an international group of quilters 
who created original free pieced barns 
as part of the testing process for 
Julie Sefton's amazing book, Build-A-Barn. 

Don't miss this amazing exhibit.

(from the AQS On Point Newsletter)

* * *

AQS Chattanooga (September 14-17, 2016)

and

AQS Des Moines (October 5-8, 2016)


CLICK HERE for more information

Monday, August 8, 2016

Sharing Our Barn Photos



Now that the SSOBB Blog Hop has ended,
it is time to start sharing barn photos.




As you are out and about,
grab your phone/camera and take photos 
of the barns, silos, sheds, shacks, 
and other interesting buildings you see.

Please email your photos
(email is in my profile in the sidebar)
and I will share them here.




I'd also love to share photos of your free pieced barns
(or other work inspired by BUILD A BARN)
and/or links to your posts about your work.

For those of you on Instagram,
feel free to share your photos there
using our primary IG tag #freepiecedbarnproject 
along with  #freepiecedbarns and #build_a_barn
and #buildabarnnopatternconstruction

There's also a general tag for #freepiecing

Let's each do our part
to keep the free piecing community 
alive and well!

Monday, August 1, 2016

Wrap Up Week for the SSOBB Blog Hop



This week marks the conclusion
of our extended SSOBB Blog Hop.

CLICK HERE for Julie Sefton's Post One

CLICK HERE for Julie's second post

CLICK HERE for Julie's third post

* * *

(P.S. Note added late Sunday - This week's giveaway winner is Joy Murphy)

Monday, July 25, 2016

Blog Hop Week 11 - Debbie's Turn

Dragonfly Summer - the SSOBB Thank You quilt / quilted by Debbie Voigt


This week,
the SSOBB's 
featured Charter Member 
is
DEBBIE VOIGT.


CLICK HERE

and

to read Debbie's blog hop post.

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

TWO Ways to Enjoy BUILD A BARN



Now there are 
TWO ways 
to enjoy BUILD A BARN!

You can order a physical book
through me 
(see note in sidebar) 
or through AQS
or through Amazon
(affiliate link in sidebar)

You can also order an e-book
through AQS








Monday, July 18, 2016

Blog Hop Continues -- Chris Ballard



This week on the blog hop,
our featured SSOBB Charter Member
is our long arm quilter

to read the post.


Friday, July 15, 2016

And The Winner Is . . .






Her autographed copy of
BUILD A BARN
has a long journey
in its immediate future.

Congratulations, Raewyn!!






Thursday, July 14, 2016

Monday, July 11, 2016

Blog Hop - Round Barn at Ojo

Round Barn at Ojo by Hilda Bakke


This week's featured SSOBB Charter Member is Hilda Bakke.

Due to a series of unforeseen circumstances,
Hilda has asked me to share her blog hop post here
on the BUILD A BARN blog.

Hilda was quick to join 
the Secret Society of Barn Builders
in December of 2014.

A few weeks later, she shared the following 
in an email to the SSOBB members:

"There aren’t a lot of barns where I live, 
so I searched online for a New Mexico barn 
I could interpret in cloth.  

I was inspired by the 
Ojo Calilente Mineral Springs Round Barn, 
the only round barn in New Mexico.  

It is also said to be the only remaining adobe 
round barn in the United States – 
but why, oh why, didn’t I realize that a round barn 
would pose significant challenges in the interpretation!" 


Pre-renovation Condition of Adobe Round Barn
Photo will supersize if double-clicked


While preparing this post,
I found this information:

"Built in 1924, the Adobe Round Barn is one of 
Northern New Mexico's architectural treasures. 

In 1985 the barn was added to the 
National Register of Historic Places and in 1988
the barn was featured in the film "Young Guns." 

A complete restoration of the barn was completed in 2002, 
successfully preserving the historical features of the barn 
while creating a modern spiritual setting. 

The restoration project was awarded New Mexico's 
"2003 Building of the Year - Restoration" 
by the Associated General Contractors 
as well as the Restoration Award from the 
New Mexico Preservation Society. 

The barn has a 2,600 square foot wood-plank floor 
upstairs in what was the old hayloft and
2,000 square feet on the adobe-surfaced ground floor."


If you visit the website for Ojo Spa
and click on the Photo Tour option
(upper right corner of the page),
you'll find a set of six images of the renovated
Adobe Round Barn.


Hilda also shared this link to her 
inspiration photo for the Adobe Round Barn
when she shared this work in progress photo with the SSOBB.


Hilda's Round Barn Under Construction
Photo will supersize if double clicked


You can read more about 
Hilda's SSOBB barn on her Gallery Page.

Just look for her name tab in the blog header

* * *


If you would like a chance to win
an autographed copy of BUILD A BARN
so you can create your own barn in fabric,
please leave a comment on this post.

Winner will be announced here on Friday July 8.

(No-reply bloggers will not be included in the drawing
unless you include your email address in your comment)

* * *

CLICK HERE to see the full SSOBB Blog Hop Schedule.

















Thursday, July 7, 2016

Pennsylvania 4-H Group and BUILD A BARN



I had a chance to talk with Nancy M.,
(our local quilt appraiser)
after my Author Showcase presentation 
at April AQS show at Paducah.

Nancy had purchased a copy of BUILD A BARN
and sent it to her niece in Pennsylvania.

Her niece lives on a farm with a beautiful barn
that Nancy wants to free piece one day.

Nancy was so excited to share her niece's response to the book.

Her niece is heavily involved with a 4-H group
and plans to share BUILD A BARN with her kids
and have them stitch some free pieced barns.

I think THAT is just awesome.

If photos are shared with me,
I will be sure to share them here.