Meanwhile, a Week later . . .

I enjoyed a wonderful visit to Kankakee, IL, last weekend! Finally--a week later--I have time to talk about it!

The folks in Kankakee have always been so supportive of me throughout my research and writing. I feel as if I have family there--lifelong friends at the very least. So it was no surprise that the Friends of the Library, The Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Barn Quilt Committee came together to invite me to visit.

I stopped off in Chicago, then took the train to Kankakee. it was a long trip, so after a meal of fabulous Mexican food, I was ready to crash.

If you are ever in the area, you must check out Riverview guest house--Nita is an amazing hostess. Be sure to ask her for peach French Toast for breakfast! Oh, gosh, this post is getting food-oriented already!

The next morning, it was off to Blue's Cafe for lunch and butterscotch pie. Now, if you have read the book, you are laughing, because Blue's Cafe and pie were a big part of my original Kankakee experience. If you haven't read the book--HUMPH. Better head to barnquiltinfo.com and get a copy. Or you can search for "kankakee" in the box at the top of the page here. So-the pie:

On to the library, where many friends were ready to greet me, including some from other areas of the state! I was so honored that everyone came to see me and that so many wanted a signed book. It's one thing to see sales--either on my website or elsewhere--but truly special when I get to visit.

I was delighted that some of the people who are in the book were on hand, including the family whose corn crib graces the book's cover!

The next day, I rode along on a tour of some of the barn quilts I hadn't seen before and also made some new Kankakee friends.

I love the detail on this fan--really painstaking work:

Then back to the Kankakee County Museum, where Rhubarb Pie is now even more spectacular with blooming tulips in front!

Whew! It was a great trip.

This week was a "non barn-quilt" weekend, though I did have a pleasant surprise. Stay tuned for that.

Next weekend, I will be back out on the road in Burnsville and Mars Hill, NC for signings and talks.
As always, please email if you have comments, or updates and check barnquiltinfo.com to see my schedule.

To Kentucky--and back!

We visited Washington County Kentucky, and toured a bit with Marlene Frost, who heads up the quilt trail there. I love this "artsy" shot that Glen took.


We also stopped by the Woman's Club to check out Marlene's newest paintings; it looks like the Tobacco Leaf is ready for hanging!


Then over to Marion County to see some of Nancy Miles's incredible work at the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse. Her Log Cabin here is one of my all-time favorites!


My talk/signing at the Stillhouse restaurant was fun, and the afternoon allowed time for us to tour the Maker's Mark distillery before driving back to Tennessee.

I'm going to admit that the distillery tour was more for Glen's sake than mine. He has, after all, listened to my talk over and over, carried books and equipment from car to venue and back again every day, and been my cheerleader. Surprise--I ended up enjoying the tour a lot!! These windows with the distillery's signature bottle carved in them are pretty cool.


Headed home tonight, but there is a lot more to tell. Stay tuned!

Spring Break!

Spring Break started today, which means time to hit the trail. Today we drove from Georgia to Franklin, Tennessee. We got a late start, so I hadn't planned any side trips--shame on me! Of course once I realized that we were changing time zones, we had a bonus hour. Time to get out the GPS and find some barn quilts.

This one is at the entrance to a winery; the young man there said that the quilt was from the 19th century and was made in the area. He thought that the original was on the premises but couldn't seem to find it. We left a bit disappointed but ready to head out into the beautiful countryside.


There are certain things I eat only when on the road. Those little pre-packaged crackers with cheese, Slurpies, and a few other favorites. Hadn't seen these in a while!



As I munched, I glanced across the highway and saw a decorated barn. Not a quilt, but the star certainly shines against the red background.



It took some doing to find this lovely spot. The barn belongs to The Ledford Mill Bed and Breakfast, a charming building in what was once an actual mill house. The barn quilt is the "Drunkard's Path." We happened to meet Mildred, the owner of the inn, as she was out with her dogs. She said that the mill is located between two of the state's largest distilleries--hence the name.

There are almost no black barns in Tennessee; they are seen more in Kentucky. But just outside of Lynchburg, this "Circle Star" appears. I wish I had been able to speak with the barn owners. I left a business card with a note on top of their mailbox--perhaps they will get it!


Tuesday morning, I will be visiting with the Cumberland Valley Quilt Association here in Franklin, and then in the evening, I will be in Athens to speak to the Heritage Quilt Guild there. We have a big week ahead; I look forward to meeting some of Tennessee's quilters and to sharing the journey with you.

Upstate Update

Here it is Wednesday, and I haven't shared the rest of our trip to Seneca, South Carolina. We set out on Sunday and stopped to see a couple of quilt squares; this sweet one was not too far from our motel.


I do love traveling in the country, just to see what there is to see--that is how I got tangled up in barn quilts to begin with. Hadn't seen one of these since my grandma's back yard when I was a kid. Hard to believe that we are no longer ALLOWED to hang our clothes out to dry!



Ah--my favorite pattern, Grandmother's Flower Garden. Just love love love this rendition of it with the black! Sometime I hope to be able to see the actual cloth quilt--I'll bet it's a beauty.



The quilt trail is about people, and I have been blessed to make some wonderful friends along the way. I count Martha File among them; here we are at the Ballenger House after our talks to the Women's Club there.


This was my first signing event, and it was just so terrific to meet the volunteers who have been part of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail and to share the book with them!

Jocassee Jewels

Martha File of the Upstate Heritage Quilt Trail in South Carolina invited me to join her in speaking about the quilt trails. Tomorrow will be my first presentation since the book's release!

Seneca, SC is in such a beautiful area, including a couple of lakes. We are kayakers, so heading up here a day early and hitting Lake Jocassee seemed the only sensible thing to do.

On the way to the lake, we passed this great quilt block--a pair of them, actually. I am not sure which I enjoyed more--seeing this quilt or hearing my sweetheart ask, "Isn't that a Crazy Quilt?" He also correctly idenitified Grandmother's Flower Garden a bit farther down the road.



Martha had posted a photo of this quilt block on my Facebook page; knowing that we would see it at the lake added to the anticipation.



as if the wonderful painting and almost impossibly blue sky weren't enough, just a few steps past the quilt square, this spectacular view is revealed.

The lake was far more beautiful than I imagined. Unfortunately, the 35 mph winds that were forecast materialized, and well--whitecaps on a lake aren't my cup of tea. We have plans to return, though, and will bring some kayaking friends!

Barn Quilting in Georgia

The Southern Quilt Trail expanded a while back from its roots in Powder Springs, Georgia, to several counties to the west. Though only a bit over an hour from home, that area is just a bit too far for an after-work visit, so I'd been waiting for the right opportunity.

A visit to Birmingham this past weekend took us to within a few miles of this batch of quilts, and on the way back, clear blue skies demanded that we make the side trip.

In the charming town of Bremen, we came across this Pine Tree pattern.



Just around the corner on a sweet little antiques shop, we found this gem. The cloth in the Dresden Plate looks so real!



I really appreciate the fact that each of these quilts s accompanied by a sign that provides some of its history:



Of course, I love painted quilts no matter where they hang, but I will admit--as I often have--that a quilt on a barn is best of all. The list included a farm in Buchanan, so we were off for another side trip.

I was so pleased to see this beauty--doesn't it dress up that barn handsomely?




I am so thrilled with the reception that the book has received so far--thanks to all who have spread the word!

Please do take a moment to visit www.barnquiltinfo.com to see maps of all of the quilt trails and loads of other great resources.

My first official book signing is this weekend at Georgia Sewing and Quilting in Buford. Any who are from Georgia, please come by from 9 until 11. I will also be there for the Shop Hop next month.

Ready to hit the road!

With books in hand, I am getting excited about heading back to the quilt trail to see friends new and old. My first stop will be on the 26th, in Seneca, South Carolina. Next, a couple of quilt guilds in the area before the big SPRING BREAK TRIP!!

I am so looking forward to visiting Lebanon, Kentucky, again. There, I will be speaking at the Still House restaurant on April 5. The restaurant boasts the "Still House Star" quilt block, designed by one of my favorite barn quilt artists, Nancy Miles.

Nancy's work has been featured here often; you can enter her name in the search box to see more. Her crazy quilt that hangs in several panels along the fence is just wonderful! She is known for recreating fabric in her quilt paintings, as shown in this closeup of the Still House painting:




I hope to see some of you out and about. I will speak in Tennessee and Kankakee, IL in April and North Carolina in May, with more to come. Check barn quilt info.com to see my complete schedule to date.

Grab an autographed book while you are there!

The Book is in the Mail!

WOW--after three and a half years, the book is here! And for those of you who ordered in 2011, the books are on their way to you!

Amazon won't be shipping books for a while, but you can look at the page on their website and use the "see inside the book" feature to get an idea of what's in store.

Then head to my spiffy new website and get your autographed copy on its way!

barnquiltinfo.com

If you have looked at it before, you will find that there is a new look, lots of new features, AND of course, a link to order books. They will come to you signed; if you would like an inscription, you can add that.

The book is done, but I most certainly am not. I'll be heading out a lot over the next few months to speak about barn quilts. That schedule is online also.

And I will be here--perhaps a bit more often--to continue to share news and photos from barn quilt world. Please continue to keep me posted on new developments so that I can pass them along.

Suzi

After the Snow

This incredibly beautiful photo arrived via email today from Bob Myers of Kankakee, IL.


Bob was an early admirer of the barn quilts there and kept me regularly updated with photos as the trail got underway.

He piqued my interest, so when I heard from the folks involved with the quilt trail there that they had something special in the works, I was ready to visit. And sure enough they were right!

You can read about my visit to Kankakee if you go ALL of the way back to October of 2009. WOW--it's been that long!


Those of you who have been following me a while may have noticed that Kankakee barn quilts have been featured here regularly. Nothing better than good friends met along the quilt trail who stay in touch. I'd start listing names, but for fear of leaving someone out, I'll just say that these are some pretty incredible folks.

Isn't this photo breathtaking? I can't help it; I am a Southern gal, and I love me some snow!!

There's a reason that Bob chose this particular barn to capture (I almost said "on film" oops--my age is showing!) and send along to me today. If the farm doesn't look familiar to you--have a look:

The Larson farm is beautiful in any season; I am so pleased to have this wonderful Corn and Beans barn quilt to represent the quilt trail on the cover of my book!


Speaking of Kankakee, I will be speaking and signing books at the library there on April 14. Stay tuned for details. I have about a dozen other sppearances coming up and will have them posted in the next couple of days.





If you'd like to have me speak to your organization or quilt guild, please get in touch!

I think I'll go bundle up under a quilt. No snow in Georgia tonight, but it's in the 20s, so it's snuggling weather for sure.

Ring in the New Year!

We have a couple of days left, but since I am off for a bit of vacation in the woods, I wanted to go ahead and send new year's wishes out to everyone.

As I ring in the new year . . .



I look forward to heading back out to the quilt trail; visiting friends old and new; and signing and celebrating the book! I have lots of great events scheduled already--Tennessee, Illinois, and North Carolina in the spring and Wisconsin in the summer--with many visits to Georgia quilt guilds throughout the year! What fun--and the planning has just begun!

I hope to meet in person more of the folks I have "met" online these past couple of years. Drop me a line if you'd like to host a signing, and I'll see if we can make it happen.

Meanwhile, I hope good things are on the way in 2012 for all of you and those whom you hold dear.

Happy 2012--Let the bells ring!

Suzi