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First barn quilt unveiled
Saturday, May 19, 2007: The Lewis County Quilt Trail
Committee unveiled its first barn quilt square in the county in
Tollesboro on May 10. The Lewis County Quilt Trail Project
places painted quilt squares on highly visible barns and
other structures throughout the county in an effort to attract
tourists and promote economic development in the area.
The committee plans a unique trail which will differentiate
itself from others in the state. In addition to a Patriot Trail
loop, freestanding squares are planned for areas such as the
courthouse, the riverfront, at historic locations, and
schools. Plans are to include unusual materials as well, such
as mosaics and corrugated plastic. Some will also be painted
directly on the barn siding.
The quilt square at the Tollesboro farm was mounted on a
frame constructed by Jeremy Ruckel’s carpentry class at the
vocational school (see photo). The square was painted by
Karen Mason’s art class at the high school (see photo). The
pattern for the square, “Flower Garden,” was chosen for her
parents’ barn by Shawna Sexton Voiers, a chemistry teacher
at Lewis County High School.
A committee was formed earlier this year to get the project
going in the county. Members are Renee McCane, Cova
Maddox, Sue Gorman, Cortie Potter, Danny McCane, Sally
Mineer and Roseanne Wood. The committee has designated
a “Patriot Trail” loop along Quicks Run Road dedicated to
veterans. Every square on that trail will be painted in red,
white and blue to honor our defenders of freedom. Long-
term plans include a printed brochure which maps out each
square and tells a bit about the history. A website similar to
the printed brochure is also planned.
Presently, the project is funded entirely through donations.
To date, the project has received generous donations from
Citizens Deposit Bank, KY Farm Bureau, T. Evans Insurance
and H&R Block, and Cortie Potter. Donations of supplies
were provided by John Bentley Lumber, D&F Building
Supplies, and Renee McCane. Splicers Tommy Fryman and
Pat Story at Windstream donated their time to hang the
square.
Anyone can participate in the project and all county residents
are invited. Volunteers are needed in all areas of the project:
monetary donations, picking up and delivering lumber and
supplies, assembling frames, painting and hanging squares,
etc. Applications can be picked up at the Lewis County
Cooperative Extension Office and should be submitted if you
would like to make a donation, volunteer to help or to apply
for a quilt square for your barn. If you are applying to have a
quilt square on your barn or building, a $25 donation is
requested to help cover costs. Requests for a square are
reviewed and approved by committee vote.
The idea of painting quilt squares on barns began in
2001with Donna Sue Groves in Adams County, Ohio. Donna
wanted to give her mother, lifelong quilter Nina Maxine
Groves, a unique gift, and decided to paint a square on her
barn in her honor. Word quickly spread of the colorful
square, and more communities wanted to get involved.
According to Donna, “People are coming from all over the
country to see the squares and small home-based
businesses are being developed around the quilt theme.”
One entrepreneur in Adams County makes recycled glass
ornaments molded with a quilt square on one side. Another
in Carter County, KY produces unique jewelry with wood
inlay quilt squares.
Questions can be directed to Roseanne Wood, 606-796-2732,
at the Extension office.
Saturday, May 19, 2007: The Lewis County Quilt Trail
Committee unveiled its first barn quilt square in the county in
Tollesboro on May 10. The Lewis County Quilt Trail Project
places painted quilt squares on highly visible barns and
other structures throughout the county in an effort to attract
tourists and promote economic development in the area.
The committee plans a unique trail which will differentiate
itself from others in the state. In addition to a Patriot Trail
loop, freestanding squares are planned for areas such as the
courthouse, the riverfront, at historic locations, and
schools. Plans are to include unusual materials as well, such
as mosaics and corrugated plastic. Some will also be painted
directly on the barn siding.
The quilt square at the Tollesboro farm was mounted on a
frame constructed by Jeremy Ruckel’s carpentry class at the
vocational school (see photo). The square was painted by
Karen Mason’s art class at the high school (see photo). The
pattern for the square, “Flower Garden,” was chosen for her
parents’ barn by Shawna Sexton Voiers, a chemistry teacher
at Lewis County High School.
A committee was formed earlier this year to get the project
going in the county. Members are Renee McCane, Cova
Maddox, Sue Gorman, Cortie Potter, Danny McCane, Sally
Mineer and Roseanne Wood. The committee has designated
a “Patriot Trail” loop along Quicks Run Road dedicated to
veterans. Every square on that trail will be painted in red,
white and blue to honor our defenders of freedom. Long-
term plans include a printed brochure which maps out each
square and tells a bit about the history. A website similar to
the printed brochure is also planned.
Presently, the project is funded entirely through donations.
To date, the project has received generous donations from
Citizens Deposit Bank, KY Farm Bureau, T. Evans Insurance
and H&R Block, and Cortie Potter. Donations of supplies
were provided by John Bentley Lumber, D&F Building
Supplies, and Renee McCane. Splicers Tommy Fryman and
Pat Story at Windstream donated their time to hang the
square.
Anyone can participate in the project and all county residents
are invited. Volunteers are needed in all areas of the project:
monetary donations, picking up and delivering lumber and
supplies, assembling frames, painting and hanging squares,
etc. Applications can be picked up at the Lewis County
Cooperative Extension Office and should be submitted if you
would like to make a donation, volunteer to help or to apply
for a quilt square for your barn. If you are applying to have a
quilt square on your barn or building, a $25 donation is
requested to help cover costs. Requests for a square are
reviewed and approved by committee vote.
The idea of painting quilt squares on barns began in
2001with Donna Sue Groves in Adams County, Ohio. Donna
wanted to give her mother, lifelong quilter Nina Maxine
Groves, a unique gift, and decided to paint a square on her
barn in her honor. Word quickly spread of the colorful
square, and more communities wanted to get involved.
According to Donna, “People are coming from all over the
country to see the squares and small home-based
businesses are being developed around the quilt theme.”
One entrepreneur in Adams County makes recycled glass
ornaments molded with a quilt square on one side. Another
in Carter County, KY produces unique jewelry with wood
inlay quilt squares.
Questions can be directed to Roseanne Wood, 606-796-2732,
at the Extension office.
The Lewis County Quilt Trail Committee
unveiled its first barn quilt square in
the county in Tollesboro on May 10.
(Photo provided by Roseanne Wood.)
unveiled its first barn quilt square in
the county in Tollesboro on May 10.
(Photo provided by Roseanne Wood.)