Monday, May 30, 2016

Build A Barn Book Review Blog Hop

It's my turn to share my barn and involvement with the new book
Build a Barn
by Julie Sefton

her blog
Me an My Quilts-Exploring The Possibilities


W-a-y back in Dec. 2014 ( yes, it takes a while to create a book ) Julie asked about 14 of us to do a test barn using her notes, photos and instructions on how to Build a Barn using
her no pattern construction method.  We became charter members of the Secret Society of Barn Builders.  Emphasis on the "secret" part!
So~~I finally came up with an idea about a barn that used to be down the road from me.


A quick sorta sketch to get the idea going.

If I dig in my stash long enough I can usually come up with the fabric that will work.

I chose a winter party type scene.  LOOK, music fabric, must be a barn dance taking place.

Using Julie's instructions I began, starting with the barn first.  See, it's done in sections.

Sky and background auditions next.
NO! Yuck sky!

NO!  Sky too plain!
Audition~Audition~Audition
See, at the same time I'm also auditioning some other extras to add like maybe a tree.

Since I didn't have any sky type fabric in my stash I had to create sky by mingling in a variety of different fabrics by cutting them into smaller sizes and then sewing them all back together, yep, that's the definition of quilting isn't it.

Oh Yes…my sky is finally coming together!

Backgrounds can include any extra 'cuteness' you want to add.  Trees, windmills, stars in the sky or animals.  I just keep on auditioning different fabrics and ideas during the whole process.  Julie's book will show you how!
I'll be having a drawing June 5th for a free giveaway of Julie's Barn book.  Be sure to leave a comment on this post before then.

And from here, everything just fell into place ( well, not really, there was more agonizing, standing and staring and switching and swapping…ha…you know how the routine goes ).
Ta Da!
This is the final result I submitted to Julie to go on from here to be quilted by her friend Chris.
Finished quilt measures around 30 inches.

Click HERE to read...MY barn has a true/real life heartfelt story.  See it all quilted and gussied up!

Julie's Build A Barn book is so helpful and makes creating your own little barn SOOO
easy!


There is nothing scary about free pieced quilt/block construction.  If fact, it's very freeing!
You can't make any mistakes. Anything goes!

Go HERE and see……read up on everyone's barns.  You don't want to miss out on
some super CUTE fun barns!!

48 comments:

  1. Stunning, just stunning! What a lovely tribute to the "barn that was" and your neighbor. Love the windmill and party decor!

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  2. This is a beautiful block. Love the choice for the sky, and the fence.

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  3. Love that plaid on the barn and the solution for the sky...as I remember the book that's what turned her barn quilt from blagh to yahhhh!

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  4. I love how it turned out. And musical notes for barn dancing. That is a great story to go with it.

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  5. I have always loved your sky! Such a great watercolor effect.

    No need to enter me in the drawing! I just stopped in to say hi!

    glen

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  6. Beautiful barn and I love the little picket fence!

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  7. I simply adore this barn. I love the sky and the beautiful ground around the barn. Oh hell, I love the whole darn thing! Love love love!!!

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  8. I LOVE your barn--the festive theme, the gorgeous night sky, the plaid and musical roof, the windmill, the chicken in the loft. Wonderful detail--it is alive!
    And what a tender story to go with it. Excellent work, Belinda!

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  9. The pieced night sky is PERFECT!! What a lovely barn block you created.

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  10. Wonderful barn, plaid and chicken perfect choices. Love the sky.

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  11. This barn is so dang cute, I want to cry! Wow!

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  12. Your barn rocks! Just SO wonderful . . . and I'm so glad you didn't give up on the scrappy night sky.

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  13. I wanna build a barn! I especially like the music note roof. (I'm a piano teacher) ecdonges@yahoo.com

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  14. I wanna build a barn! I especially like the music note roof. (I'm a piano teacher) ecdonges@yahoo.com

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  15. Love your barn! A plaid roof!!

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  16. I love the sky and the old barn love it ty for sharing... happyness04431@yahoo.com

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  17. This looks like such fun. I love barn quilts. Thanks for sharing

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  18. Wow, what an interesting technique. I would love to learn it. Your barn looks wonderful!

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  19. Love! your final sky! I need to remember that technique the next time I'm doing a background. I love barns and am always trying to get dh to pull over so I can get a good picture -- he doesn't often oblige because most of the interesting barns are not situated ideally for pulling over, sigh.

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  20. Fabulous block! Now I'm dying to try...

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  21. love your block! The sky worked out really well, and you have put amazing detail in it. Nancy A: rangerer@sbcglobal.net

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  22. Gorgeous sky, but my favourite is your windmill.

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  23. I love your barn block - the fence, the chicken, the beautiful sky and I like how it looks like the snow is melting on the ground. Now i want to make one. My sister has a real barn and I'm so jealous! At least I can maybe make a barn quilt.

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  24. It turned out wonderful! I love the chicken. Just a side note, you can get that crease out with wrinkle release from the dollar store or make your own. Put a tablespoon or so of fabric softener, any kind in a cup or more of distilled water and spray.

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  25. I just started to try some free piecing and would love to experiment some more with these oh so cute barns!

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  26. I love barns and am delighted when I find one that has a quilt block on it. Beautiful!

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  27. Seeing how you auditioned the sky fabrics was interesting. Love the barn block.

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  28. Love the plaids, the windmill... well just everything, I guess. I need to get my hands on this book!

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  29. Your barn is beautiful! I have the book, what an inspirational journey it is! I will be making a mini quilt soon!

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  30. Fun to see the way you auditioned your colors and the final result. I like the block and especially like the roof, fence and ground..so much more interesting. Hope to win this book!!

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  31. I absolutely ADORE barns...I have wanted to find a quilt pattern of barns for a very long time, still kick myself that I didn't buy the pattern and kit when I saw the ideal one on a shop hop 9 YEARS AGO! That's a long time to hold onto regret. This idea is very intriguing, and your block turned out SUPER CUTE! I would love to win this book, but if I don't, it's definitely going on my purchase list :)

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  32. I absolutely ADORE barns...I have wanted to find a quilt pattern of barns for a very long time, still kick myself that I didn't buy the pattern and kit when I saw the ideal one on a shop hop 9 YEARS AGO! That's a long time to hold onto regret. This idea is very intriguing, and your block turned out SUPER CUTE! I would love to win this book, but if I don't, it's definitely going on my purchase list :)

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  33. This barn quilt trail is so fun. Love to look and read this book.

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  34. I have barns in all mediums except fabric. So excited to try this method. Seems like it will be a lot of fun. thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

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  35. I have barns in all mediums except fabric. So excited to try this method. Seems like it will be a lot of fun. thanks for the opportunity to win this book.

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  36. I love barns so these books were written for me.

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  37. I love your barn! The sky is perfect. I know how you agonized, because I would have too. :) Love your little fun touches, like the chicken in the hay loft, the plaid fabric for the barn....oh, ALL of it! Great job, B! You get a gold star on this one! hee hee!

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  38. Your barn turned out darling!! Love all the parts, especially the pieced sky. Need to try this- I love the freedom of improv piecing.

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  39. Such a cute barn! I LOVE barn quilts! My husband and I decided, if we sell our house and move, we want to build a barndominium! We have several friends who have them, and they love it!

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  40. Love barns! The space, and past history, and even the smells! Would love to win your book and make a few quilted barns to relive my early days.

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  41. My husband and I love barns. We like to drive in the country and look for barns.

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  42. I love your barn! How wonderful. Thank you for sharing the process!
    mbbaker35@yahoo.com

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  43. You have provided splendid inspiration! Such a happy looking barn scene. It never occurred to me to try to build a memory of what "used to be there" but I think that's a wonderful idea. My hometown has lost so many old buildings, I think I will begin with the barn and proceed to the railroad depot, on to the old hotel, etc.

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