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Old 08-09-2009, 10:25 AM
 
Location: Kingsport, TN
1,697 posts, read 6,805,192 times
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Sapphire and emerald. Ruby and gold. The pieces of the patchwork quilt glow like gemstones in the soft afternoon light. I smile as I recognize a favorite pattern from my childhood – the Star of Bethlehem.

But there’s something different about this star. Instead of being pieced with love and stitched with thread, this quilt is painted on wood and hangs beneath the eave of a faded red-and-white barn. I stop, as many have, to snap a photograph and relish my find.

Tennessee Home & Farm | Travel | Backroads Treasures
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Old 08-10-2009, 04:22 PM
 
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Does anyone know where this tradition originated? I'm not talking about quilting, I mean painting them on barns. It started around here strictly as a planned tourist venture and I've always wondered if they stole the idea from somewhere that it was a cultural thing.


Real quilts I'm familiar with, I'm not sure I even knew what a blanket was as a child.
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Old 08-10-2009, 05:51 PM
 
Location: Knoxville, TN
2,171 posts, read 7,661,334 times
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I suspect it's a variation of the Pennsylvania Dutch practice of putting Hex Signs on barns.
Pennsylvania "Dutch" Hex Signs - Barn Signs - Folk Art Decor - Traditional Hand Drawn and Hand Painted Folk Art
Those look a lot like quilt squares.
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Old 08-10-2009, 06:23 PM
 
Location: Seattle
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There's quite a few of them around here in NETN too. Very lovely and surprising.
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Old 08-11-2009, 07:55 PM
 
Location: Beautiful East TN!!
7,280 posts, read 21,318,181 times
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I LOVE the quilt squares on the barns! Your right Jab, we have BUNCHES of them around the Tri-Cities. I have cause to drive all over the area and it is so great to find a new (to me) barn with yet a new different quilt square on it.
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Old 08-11-2009, 09:56 PM
 
Location: Knoxville, TN
2,171 posts, read 7,661,334 times
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This website will let you find out, by county, where the quilts are and tell you about the farm or store where they are and identify the quilt patterns.
Trails - Appalachian Quilt Trail
There is a website specific to the far east Tennessee quilt trail. They're raffling off a wonderful quilt made up of the squares from the area. Gorgeous thing.
Follow the Quilt Trail!
Most of the quilt squares on the barns are painted by local schools, who get a donation for the work.
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