Julie Post

Collage will supersize if double-clicked

Make Life Simple

Original free pieced design by Julie Post

Titonka, Iowa

http://joetulipsquilts.blogspot.com

Free motion quilting by Chris Ballard

25.25" wide x 24.5" long - Shown here before quilting
Photo will supersize if double-clicked

Julie writes:  

The possibilities seemed endless 

when I started thinking about a barn block.  

Living in north Iowa, 

there are plenty of barns and buildings for inspiration.  

I found the roof line for this one on the way to work.  

It was different and I knew I would use it.

The inspiration for color choices 

came out of a small drawer of scrap fabric.  

There were some red strips already sewn together, 

perfect for walls, so my barn would be red.  

A small piece of fabric with a moon on it 

and two lonely star blocks gave me the idea for a night sky.  

I had wanted a quilt block on the barn, 

but when I found the words about scrap quilts, 

I used them instead.  

When I saw the cow fabric, 

I knew I wanted them looking out the windows and, 

since barns and tractors just seem to belong together, 

I parked one in the barn.

I really had fun working on this.  

As I put this barn together, 

I found myself thinking about the next barn, 

and the one after that.  

There are SO many ways to go when building a barn!

Shown here after quilting - Photo will  supersize if double-clicked

DESIGN NOTE:  

Make the most of what you have on hand.

Be willing to let go of pre-conceived ideas.

QUILTING NOTE:  

Stylized stitching unifies the multiple barnyard grasses, 

outline stitching defines the scrappy stars, 

and elegant swirls add magic and depth to the night sky.