Years ago when Country Threads was still in business we developed a barn quilt in 2 sizes from a product called Dibond. It was 2 very lightweight pieces of aluminum with foam between. The outer piece of Dibond was printed with a quilt block that we made from actual fabric. Our printing company actually did this whole process – we just gave them the quilt block with the colors we chose. These blocks came in two sizes – 24″ square and 48″ square. Here are some of the barn quilts that are hanging on buildings at the farm today.
If you look carefully I’m sure you will recognize many of the fabrics. Five years ago the small ones retailed for $124.95 and the large ones for $224.95. The real expense came in the shipping. And all of you know how high shipping has gotten so when we closed the doors, our printer decided they did not want to continue to produce these barn quilts because the shipping was prohibitive. Now IF you lived in the area and could pick it up in Belmond or at my house, I could probably get it made for you but to ship it would be the problem.
Regarding the weather wear and tear, I do not understand the process of how this is done but the design is not layered on top of the material – it is imprinted into the Dibond and I don’t think it will ever show wear and tear unless it would be some fading which I haven’t seen yet. It is a wonderful product – unlike any other barn quilt I have EVER seen.
If we could ever figure out a solution to the high shipping cost, we’d go back into production.
I’m having a much calmer day today and it’s lightly raining so that means it’s a sewing day! I’m working on a new jelly roll idea I saw online. Bentley is here just for the day. Maybe there would be time for a short nap?
Gorgeous close-ups! The barn quilts are indeed unlike any I have seen. Now we are truly jealous as opposed to just admiring!
It is oppressively hot in Western New York, the land of snow from October through May. I think God intends for us all to move out of this unforgiving territory! Ninety degree temps with high humidity…which sounds good only if you have an ocean or pool to dip into. Otherwise, indoors in air conditioning is where you will find me. Our lawn is a lovely shade of tan, burned to a crisp, $100 in impatiens have no buds and the leaves are yellow, my peonies died in their stems…only the heartiest iof perreniels have survived the drought. Drought…after months of snow…how is this possible?
Wait four months…I will be complaining about snow!
Love your barn quilts!!
One of the staff said Minnesota is supposed to be in the 100’s next week…I’m staying inside where it is cool.
Ann – too hot for me! I’ll stay inside and sew, too!
I also love the barn quilts. Am impressed with how well they have withstood the various weather conditions.
Love your barn quilts, Mary. There is no doubt about some of the activities there! I googled DiBond fabricators in Tucson and came up with some hits. So for some of us, there wouldn’t need to be any shipping charges. Check your local businesses and see what you can find.
Mary, the Barn Quilts is so unique.
I had never heard of your production before.
I love every one of these.
I forwarded your blog to my daughter in Portland Or.
I suggested she forward to her quilter sister-in-law in Omaha,
I suggested we start an email chain letter of your Quilt Barns Blog!
Wonderful life, Mary. Lois in Omaha
The barn quilts are gorgeous.
Please produce more barn quilts….yes I can pick up at Belmond! They are just too unique to not share with the quilting world!
Julie – contact me at marye@ncn.net so I can get the info to you.
Those are wonderful up close!! Too far to send to Ohio. Carol, I grew up in Western NY and remember it with little humidity and lovely summer days, but my sister tells me it’s not like that now!! Sorry it’s miserable there–same here in Central Ohio–100% humidity and 88 to 90 today. Quilting a new pattern with strips called Island Chain–very pretty.
Is the high cost due to the size (L & W)? If so, could the block be made in pieces like four intelocking puzzle pieces?
These are spectacular!
I remember these. I have one on our barn that was made thru our Extension Office. Paula in KY
Just beautiful !! Thinking of moving to Belmond 🙂
Wow! I love these barn quilts. Probably out of my price range but my daughter lives in Des Moines so we come from Wisconsin periodically.
Aha! The mystery is solved! Could not figure out the why and how of your quilts that seemed to be outside on walls in all kinds of weather! Duh to me! They are stunning! Thanks for sharing….thinking….thinking! 😍
Strange weather all over the country. I was National airport in Virginia and drove thru a gully washer that I couldn’t even see the road. In the evening coming back to the Gettysburg area I again went thru the same kind of storm for about 5 minutes. Crazy. Love your barn quilts.
I love the barn quilts and would drive from NE Illinois to Garner to buy one. Please consider producing them again. I retired last year and it was on my bucket list to attend one of your barn quilt ins–but, you and Connie deserve your rretirements too. I am so happy you keep blogging!
Kathy
These barn blocks are gorgeous! I certainly wish I could pick up one (or two)!!! They would be inside AND outside my home! 🙂
Some designers have copyright laws protecting their fabric lines. I heard of folks being in trouble for making bags of copied fabric. One would want to check into their liability before producing these for sale. Or perhaps you would have to use fabrics from quilts no longer protected by copyright because of age. But then there are antique quilt collectors who think they own the rights to their specific collected quilt designs. Its all very confusing in this day and age. Tread with care.
Love those barn quilts! Have wanted one for years, but can’t find a pine tree! When one lives in Pine Island on a farm named Pinebend, doesn’t a pine tree seem most logical?
Yes, a pine tree is what you should have!
Mary,
Years ago before my husband retired from the can making business he had the lithography dept. run some waste aluminum sheets thru multi colors…..added some pull tab tops to the colorful cans and our sons hung them on a short pine tree in our front yard as Christmas decorations.
The barn signs you shared with us are so attractive.
A sale batik layer cake and Laundry Basket’s THE PUMPKIN pattern arrived so I’ve been going thru my background fabrics and hope to start matching the batiks to backgrounds soon. I just can’t refuse a new pumpkin quilt and playing with new to me batiks.
Telly and Roxie should stay cooler with their new hairdo’s. 101 degrees coming here to my end of the valley today.
Mary –
All your barn quilts are beautiful! The colors are so vibrant and your designs are beautiful!
When you cut the T shirts for making the rugs, do you cut through the logos and pictures, or cut them out and toss them? I made a placemat with all fabric and now I want to make a rug using T shirts.
I would throw the logos away.
I love the barn quilt I got from country threads- it’s been on three different houses and still looks great!
I drove my large barn quilt block back to Ohio from CT about 5 years ago. It has hung outside on the cedar on the front of my house since that time. No matter how much sun ( and it gets a lot) it gets, it still looks like new. I have to admit that it was difficult to get it here–Sharons truck, careful packing.
My biggest regret from my visits to your shop was that I never purchased any of the barn quilts. I am kicking myself for that! I would LOVE to see you go back into production of these – I’d buy some for sure!
Please sign me up for your blog post – the above subscribe doesn’t seem to work for me..
Thanks so much for your time.. Love the fur babies of all kinds and all you wonderful
nature post…
MaryLou