Where the Green Grass Grows

This sample/demo/teaching barn block 

was initially pieced in September 2017 

when I was teaching barn building at JCCFS.

I shared its May 2019 makeover from 

Cows at Sunset to Where the Green Grass Grows HERE.

I used random scribble-zig-zag stitching 

around the cows' feet and in the grassy areas 

and added some gentle outline stitching 

around the bushes and a few of the cows.

I like the textural results.

The rocky area was stitched 

with lots of tiny liberated pebbles

to push it behind the grass and barn.

The sky's batik told me how to quilt using

random pebbles to outline and fill as needed.

Once again, I am very pleased with the result.

The door and haymow as well as the borders

were quilted with uneven and fairly close matchstick lines.

So why did I name this Where the Green Grass Grows?

That's a lyric fragment from an older country music song

that suited the quilt's theme and depicted scene.

Finished size is approximately 19" x 19"

* * *

Three-plus years have now passed

since the release of BUILD A BARN 

and the time has come 

to stop adding new posts to this blog.

Everything that is here will remain 

as a testament to the fabulous free pieced work

done by the members of the SSOBB and others

who have used the book's process notes

to create buildings of their own.

THANK YOU to our loyal followers and

please feel free to use the links within this blog

to keep tabs on those who have contributed

by following their personal blogs. 

CLICK HERE to read the story behind this photo

Until we meet again . . . 

Rosewood Farms - The Quilt

This was the last photo I shared of the pink barn.

(created mid-2016 as a  demo/presentation 

sample block for BUILD A BARN)

Since that threads-chosen photo was shared, 

I have been pondering how to quilt

the barnyard and the sky . . .

And then I saw these clouds and knew what I wanted to do.

(photo taken through the windshield while DH was driving)

From flat to fabulous.

My liberated free motion all-over fans

created perfect texture for the sky and

using the barnyard fabric design as my guide

provided realistic texture for the bushes and plants.

(for more examples of how quilting 

enhances free pieced work, click HERE

and scroll through the barns of See Rock City)

The batik binding works so well -

what a happy find from the stash.

Here's a detail photo to show 

the roof line ribbon candy motif

as well as the haymow and door details.

Rosewood Farms finished 

at 22" wide by 21.5" high.

Now I can share it 

as an additional example during

my upcoming class at our LQS.

* * *

If you have made a free pieced barn

or other building using the process notes

from BUILD A BARN,

I would be happy to share your work here.

Just email me photos and your project's story -

there's a link in my profile (see sidebar).

Quiltdivajulie

Kendall's Barn Quilt

Two years ago Bonnie and her granddaughter Kendall

took one of Lynne Tyler's barn classes 

at Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH. 

Bonnie had a hard time getting it 

but Kendall got it right away. 

Bonnie sewed. 

Kendall told her what to do. 

Kendall made this quilt as a project and gift for a friend. 

They knew Lynne would be teaching 

on a specific day last May so they 

took the quilt to the shop to show Lynne.

Lynne and her class of barn building students

were totally impressed.

So am I.

You can read Lynne's post about it HERE.

And be sure to supersize the photos

to see even greater detail.

Shared by a Recent QT Student

Anne's class project barn

This post is shared with permission 

from a recent BUILD A BARN student:

Lynne asked me to send you a picture 

of the barn I recently made in her class

at Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH.

I had so much fun making it! 

It is unlike anything I have done before 

and I know I will be making more. 

At your suggestion, 

I've been looking at the book blog 

for inspiration on how to quilt the piece.

As far as the story behind it - 

my original intent when I signed up for the class 

was to make a quilt inspired by my grandfather's barn. 

I wasn't able to get a hold of any pictures in time 

so I looked around the town I live in for inspiration 

(waiting until the last minute, of course...). 

I took photos of a small white barn, 

thinking I would add some interest 

by piecing the sky and ground, 

similar to ones in your book. 

1 week before the class, I went to a local fabric store 

and on the way saw the back of the barn pictured below. 

I didn't turn around but made a mental note 

to find the barn on the way home. 

I wasn't able to find any barn fabrics I loved 

but purchased some I knew I could make work with my plan. 

On the way home, 

I stopped and took the photo below 

and wondered if I could do it justice 

with what I had purchased (I couldn't). 

The night before the class, 

I was prepping my supplies and decided 

to poke through my fabric stash one last time 

and saw the stripe, which I had previously looked over. 

I knew it would be perfect!

I ended up purchasing the blue sky and green ground fabric 

on the day of the class (with Lynne's assistance) 

because what I had brought did not work with the striped barn.

Inspiration barn for Anne's class project

I still plan to make a quilt inspired

by my grandfather's barn

 as well as others -  

they are just so fun to make!

Thank you!

Anne J.

Walpole, NH

* * *

If you have created a barn

inspired by the book BUILD A BARN

please share photos and your thoughts on the process

using the email link in the ABOUT ME profile box.

I would be delighted to share your work here.

* * *

And for those who live in the greater Memphis area,

plans are underway to teach barn building

at Fabric for the Flock later this summer.

Keep an eye on the shop's Facebook page

for class registration information.

Really Good Class - Part 2

Here is another look at the class room

and a barn builder hard at work.

Look closely at the background 

and you can see one of Lynne's two

SSOBB gallery quilts - Pig Farm Barn.

I love the two-tone look of this barn's door

and the elegant tailored look of the building.

A plaid barn - how much fun is that?!?

Again, just look at all those smiling faces.

(These photos are from a class taught

by Lynne Tyler at Quilted Threads in Henniker NH)

* * *

If you've never tried building a barn of your own,

get an autographed copy of my book 

BUILD A BARN-No Pattern Construction

 directly from me for almost the same 

price as Amazon Prime.

 ($15.00 plus $7.50 domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping)

A Really Good Class

Here is another example where a student

did a great job of choosing fabrics - 

including her scrappy sky.

I love photos with student hands at work.

Someone printed out multiple photos

of real barns to bring to class

for added inspiration . . .

Double click to enlarge this photo

and notice the stone barn 

being constructed on a hill.

As an aside - this classroom space 

is outstanding with plenty of room

for each student to work.

This student even opted to include 

a security light while building her barn.

* * *

(These photos are from a class taught by

Lynne Tyler at Quilted Threads in Henniker NH)

* * *

If you've never tried building a barn of your own,

get an autographed copy of my book 

BUILD A BARN-No Pattern Construction

 directly from me for almost the same 

price as Amazon Prime.

 ($15.00 plus $7.50 domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping)

Work in Progress

Look at the way this student used her fabrics

to add detail to her free pieced barn -

flowers along the stone wall, 

a rock foundation for the barn itself, 

a stone path leading in and out of the barn,

and even a barn quilt on the barn.

Another example of using a photograph

for inspiration while building.

(I love that sky fabric)

This student included some wonderful details 

like the transom above the barn door

and the area to the right of the barn.

Free piecing gives you so many ways 

to personalize your work.

And at the end of the day,

THIS can be the result!

(These photos are from another of the classes taught

by Lynne Tyler at Quilted Threads in Henniker NH)

* * *

If you've never tried building a barn of your own,

get an autographed copy of my book 

BUILD A BARN-No Pattern Construction

 directly from me for almost the same 

price as Amazon Prime.

 ($15.00 plus $7.50 domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping)

Barn Building Students at Work

More photos from another of

Lynne Tyler's barn building classes

at Quilted Threads in Henniker, NH.

This is Brenda with her barn.

(double click for more detail)

Another student designing her second story

and how it will join the first story.

Contemplating a divider between

the first and second story . . . 

Working from a photograph

to recreate a real barn in fabric.

Be sure to double click/supersize this photo

to enjoy all those smiling faces!

* * *

If you've never tried building a barn of your own,

get an autographed copy of my book 

BUILD A BARN-No Pattern Construction

 directly from me for almost the same 

price as Amazon Prime.

 ($15.00 plus $7.50 domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping)

April Showers and BLUE

I made this liberated free pieced barn

as a teaching sample for my book

BUILD A BARN - No Pattern Construction

back in March of 2016.

A week or so ago, I received an invitation

to participate in the upcoming regional

BLUE quilt challenge

and I thought of this sample block.

In order to make it a bit more BLUE,

I changed the barnyard to a field of blue bonnets

and adjusted the overall measurements

to meet the required 24" x 24" dimensions.

Pin basted and ready to quilt . . . 

Quilted and bound.

For some reason, this one is tricky to photograph.

The light and angle make a huge difference

in the photographed colors - especially the sky.

This black and white version

shows off the quilted texture of the barn yard.

My free form double clamshell 

was inspired by one of LuAnn Kessi's sketch pages.

And here is the same photo in living color.

I quilted the blue bonnets with Glide thread in Royal.

I also quilted the silo using Royal thread

with a design inspired by Leah Day's Monster Teeth.

The silo's texture shows up better in black and white.

The sky was quilted using 

Affinity variegated thread in Aquamarine.

The barn itself was quilted with  Royal

and the door/windows with Hawaiian Blue.

double-click to supersize this image

I still need to make/add the label

and attach the already-made hanging sleeve,

but there is no problem meeting

 the April 1 entry deadline.

* * *

BLUE will be on display at Crosstown Concourse 

(Memphis, TN)

from May 10 through July 28, 2019.

BLUE is just one aspect of

STITCHED-Celebrating the Art of Quilting

which will feature other events including a 

Community Quilt making event with Maria Shell.

* * *

If you've never tried building a barn of your own,

get an autographed copy of my book 

BUILD A BARN-No Pattern Construction

 directly from me for almost the same 

price as Amazon Prime.

 ($15.00 plus $7.50 domestic USPS Priority Mail shipping)