Barn Quilts in Garrett County, Maryland
Pieces of Our Past
From The Republican Newspaper, March 27 edition:
Natural Beauty of Area Barns To Be
Enhanced With Painted Quilt Blocks
By Brenda Ruggiero
A drive through the Garrett County countryside is surely a pleasant one for those who enjoy natural
beauty. Rolling hills, trees, and plenty of farmland combine to create a picturesque view of nature.
A group of local ladies is currently working on enhancing such a drive through the county. Their idea
involves adding painted quilt designs to the sides of barns throughout the area.
Known as "barn quilts," the concept originally began when native Appalachian Donna Sue Groves
purchased an old farm in Adams County, Ohio, that included an old tobacco barn. Her mother was an
avid quilter, and Donna painted a quilt block on the barn in her honor. Since then, the idea has spread,
and barn quilts can be found in at least 19 states.
One example is Grundy County, Iowa, where 25 barns and corncribs include painted quilt blocks. The
buildings are spread over seven towns, and visitors are invited to drive the "Quilt Loop" to view the
artwork. Maps are printed in a brochure to encourages self-guided tours. The brochure also includes
information about other attractions in the area.
Local Barn Quilts
In Garrett County, the "barn quilt bug" was first caught by Karen Barnard Reckner, a lifelong resident of
the county. She noted that she has always been interested in art, crafts, and particularly textiles.
"I thought I would take up quilting when I retired," she explained. "After seeing a girlfriend's love for the art
of quilting, I was inspired to take it up. It quickly became a wonderful diversion from the routine of
everyday chores."
Although she is not ready to call herself a quilter, she admits to being "quite the fabric collector." She
also noted that there are "tons of designs playing around in my head that will be created some day."
Karen's introduction to barn quilts occurred about two years ago when she read a story in a quilting
magazine about the quilts in Ohio, where numerous counties are involved in the project.
"I located the one that was closest to us and decided to take a road trip," Karen said. "I spent the
afternoon driving through the Ohio countryside and seeing all the glorious, colorful patterns and scenic
beauty."
A seed was planted for Karen on that journey, and it has continued to grow.
"The more I thought about it, the more I felt this would be a perfect project for Garrett County," she said. "I
thought about the agricultural history of the area, the towns that are treasures yet not frequently visited by
our county tourists, and about our Appalachian artistic heritage. Developing a driving tour with a focus on
barn quilts would tie all these things together."
Karen contacted Donna, the founder of the project, and she was willing to share information with her.
Getting Others Involved
Although the idea often got buried under the regular work on Karen's desk, it was always in the back of
her mind, and she wanted Garrett County to be the first county in the state of Maryland to start barn quilts.
She shared the idea with three ladies who she thought would share her enthusiasm: Beverley Williams,
Joyce Bishoff, and Cheryl DeBerry.
Beverley noted that when Karen first shared the concept of barn quilts with her, they were both excited
about bringing the project to Garrett County, but neither had time to concentrate on it then.
"I was traveling last fall with my husband and friends and saw quilt blocks on barns in Kentucky and
Tennessee," she said. "It was really exciting to actually see some, and I talked with Karen when I
returned about getting the project started here. She said she knew two others who were interested, and
we decided to meet and brainstorm how to get the project started here in Garrett County."
Joyce's family owns and operates a dairy farm, and is involved in various community efforts.
"We are concerned about maintaining an agricultural presence here in Garrett County," she explained. "I
feel it is a wonderful opportunity to do something that will support the agricultural community while
providing something of interest for the visitors. I hope it will help provide a reason for the visitor to spread
out from the Deep Creek Lake area."
Karen originally spoke to Cheryl about the project because she works with farmers in her position as
agriculture marketing specialist for Garrett County Economic Development.
"I come from a long line of quilters, though I have only made a few small quilts and quilted wall hangings
myself," Cheryl said. "But I have remained excited about this project because I can see lots of
possibilities of tying together agriculture, history, heritage, quilting, and more."
Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County
The ladies' first meeting lasted for nearly four hours in a local restaurant. Finally, their plans were set
into motion, and the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County was formed in January 2008.
Beverley serves as president, Joyce as vice president, Karen as secretary, and Cheryl as treasurer.
The Association's mission statement reads:
"The mission of the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County is to provide a sustainable heritage tourism
attraction/activity while preserving and celebrating the unique agriculture, history, and arts culture of our
area through visual combinations of barns and quilt designs, to educate the public and showcase our
Appalachian tradition."
Currently, the group's goal is to have at least one quilt panel placed on a barn by the Autumn Glory
Festival.
"We're conservatively shooting for one by Autumn Glory, but we all think we'll have more by then," Cheryl
said. "We already have one donation and a couple farmers with barns ready to be decorated. We hope
that in a few years we'll have barn quilts painted across the county, with multiple driving tours/loops."
Volunteers Invited to Help
However, before the project can get started, there are needs that must be met. These include more
monetary donations (each barn quilt block is estimated to cost $300), materials, volunteers, and of
course, barns.
To help move the project forward, the group plans to hold a kick-off meeting on Saturday, April 12, at St.
Paul's United Methodist Church in Oakland from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At the meeting, information will be presented about the project; Donna Sue Groves will speak about
successful barn quilt projects, how to get started, and key issues; committees will be created;
committee leaders will be selected; and committees will begin their work on the project.
The public is invited to attend, but reservations must be made by April 7 in order to prepare for lunch. In
addition, a small donation is requested to help cover the cost of lunch and snacks.
Reservations may be made online at www.garrettbarnquilts.org or by calling 301-616-4978.
Beverley noted that the group hopes to move quickly after the planning retreat to put all the aspects in
place and move forward.
"I think I've heard that there are about 600 barns in Garrett County," she said. "I believe we will easily
have 50 to 75 barns painted with quilt blocks within the next few years."
Members of the association noted that once the idea takes off locally, they believe it will continue to
spread.
"I truly want Garrett County to be the first county in the state with barn quilts, and I know I'm being a little
selfish in that respect," Karen said. "Maryland's agriculture is still one of the biggest industries in the
state, and there are many areas where this project would be a good fit."
Cheryl described the project as "infectious," with the excitement growing in each person she talks to.
"I hope this project will just blossom and we get volunteers of every age helping with all the different
aspects of Garrett Barn Quilts," she said. "I hope we can get lots of farmers interested in the project for
their barns. As tourists drive through the less populated areas of Garrett County to see the barn quilts, I
believe outlying businesses such as restaurants, agritourism sites, and stores will see an increase in
their sales."
Natural Beauty of Area Barns To Be
Enhanced With Painted Quilt Blocks
By Brenda Ruggiero
A drive through the Garrett County countryside is surely a pleasant one for those who enjoy natural
beauty. Rolling hills, trees, and plenty of farmland combine to create a picturesque view of nature.
A group of local ladies is currently working on enhancing such a drive through the county. Their idea
involves adding painted quilt designs to the sides of barns throughout the area.
Known as "barn quilts," the concept originally began when native Appalachian Donna Sue Groves
purchased an old farm in Adams County, Ohio, that included an old tobacco barn. Her mother was an
avid quilter, and Donna painted a quilt block on the barn in her honor. Since then, the idea has spread,
and barn quilts can be found in at least 19 states.
One example is Grundy County, Iowa, where 25 barns and corncribs include painted quilt blocks. The
buildings are spread over seven towns, and visitors are invited to drive the "Quilt Loop" to view the
artwork. Maps are printed in a brochure to encourages self-guided tours. The brochure also includes
information about other attractions in the area.
Local Barn Quilts
In Garrett County, the "barn quilt bug" was first caught by Karen Barnard Reckner, a lifelong resident of
the county. She noted that she has always been interested in art, crafts, and particularly textiles.
"I thought I would take up quilting when I retired," she explained. "After seeing a girlfriend's love for the art
of quilting, I was inspired to take it up. It quickly became a wonderful diversion from the routine of
everyday chores."
Although she is not ready to call herself a quilter, she admits to being "quite the fabric collector." She
also noted that there are "tons of designs playing around in my head that will be created some day."
Karen's introduction to barn quilts occurred about two years ago when she read a story in a quilting
magazine about the quilts in Ohio, where numerous counties are involved in the project.
"I located the one that was closest to us and decided to take a road trip," Karen said. "I spent the
afternoon driving through the Ohio countryside and seeing all the glorious, colorful patterns and scenic
beauty."
A seed was planted for Karen on that journey, and it has continued to grow.
"The more I thought about it, the more I felt this would be a perfect project for Garrett County," she said. "I
thought about the agricultural history of the area, the towns that are treasures yet not frequently visited by
our county tourists, and about our Appalachian artistic heritage. Developing a driving tour with a focus on
barn quilts would tie all these things together."
Karen contacted Donna, the founder of the project, and she was willing to share information with her.
Getting Others Involved
Although the idea often got buried under the regular work on Karen's desk, it was always in the back of
her mind, and she wanted Garrett County to be the first county in the state of Maryland to start barn quilts.
She shared the idea with three ladies who she thought would share her enthusiasm: Beverley Williams,
Joyce Bishoff, and Cheryl DeBerry.
Beverley noted that when Karen first shared the concept of barn quilts with her, they were both excited
about bringing the project to Garrett County, but neither had time to concentrate on it then.
"I was traveling last fall with my husband and friends and saw quilt blocks on barns in Kentucky and
Tennessee," she said. "It was really exciting to actually see some, and I talked with Karen when I
returned about getting the project started here. She said she knew two others who were interested, and
we decided to meet and brainstorm how to get the project started here in Garrett County."
Joyce's family owns and operates a dairy farm, and is involved in various community efforts.
"We are concerned about maintaining an agricultural presence here in Garrett County," she explained. "I
feel it is a wonderful opportunity to do something that will support the agricultural community while
providing something of interest for the visitors. I hope it will help provide a reason for the visitor to spread
out from the Deep Creek Lake area."
Karen originally spoke to Cheryl about the project because she works with farmers in her position as
agriculture marketing specialist for Garrett County Economic Development.
"I come from a long line of quilters, though I have only made a few small quilts and quilted wall hangings
myself," Cheryl said. "But I have remained excited about this project because I can see lots of
possibilities of tying together agriculture, history, heritage, quilting, and more."
Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County
The ladies' first meeting lasted for nearly four hours in a local restaurant. Finally, their plans were set
into motion, and the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County was formed in January 2008.
Beverley serves as president, Joyce as vice president, Karen as secretary, and Cheryl as treasurer.
The Association's mission statement reads:
"The mission of the Barn Quilt Association of Garrett County is to provide a sustainable heritage tourism
attraction/activity while preserving and celebrating the unique agriculture, history, and arts culture of our
area through visual combinations of barns and quilt designs, to educate the public and showcase our
Appalachian tradition."
Currently, the group's goal is to have at least one quilt panel placed on a barn by the Autumn Glory
Festival.
"We're conservatively shooting for one by Autumn Glory, but we all think we'll have more by then," Cheryl
said. "We already have one donation and a couple farmers with barns ready to be decorated. We hope
that in a few years we'll have barn quilts painted across the county, with multiple driving tours/loops."
Volunteers Invited to Help
However, before the project can get started, there are needs that must be met. These include more
monetary donations (each barn quilt block is estimated to cost $300), materials, volunteers, and of
course, barns.
To help move the project forward, the group plans to hold a kick-off meeting on Saturday, April 12, at St.
Paul's United Methodist Church in Oakland from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
At the meeting, information will be presented about the project; Donna Sue Groves will speak about
successful barn quilt projects, how to get started, and key issues; committees will be created;
committee leaders will be selected; and committees will begin their work on the project.
The public is invited to attend, but reservations must be made by April 7 in order to prepare for lunch. In
addition, a small donation is requested to help cover the cost of lunch and snacks.
Reservations may be made online at www.garrettbarnquilts.org or by calling 301-616-4978.
Beverley noted that the group hopes to move quickly after the planning retreat to put all the aspects in
place and move forward.
"I think I've heard that there are about 600 barns in Garrett County," she said. "I believe we will easily
have 50 to 75 barns painted with quilt blocks within the next few years."
Members of the association noted that once the idea takes off locally, they believe it will continue to
spread.
"I truly want Garrett County to be the first county in the state with barn quilts, and I know I'm being a little
selfish in that respect," Karen said. "Maryland's agriculture is still one of the biggest industries in the
state, and there are many areas where this project would be a good fit."
Cheryl described the project as "infectious," with the excitement growing in each person she talks to.
"I hope this project will just blossom and we get volunteers of every age helping with all the different
aspects of Garrett Barn Quilts," she said. "I hope we can get lots of farmers interested in the project for
their barns. As tourists drive through the less populated areas of Garrett County to see the barn quilts, I
believe outlying businesses such as restaurants, agritourism sites, and stores will see an increase in
their sales."
| In The News |
Click at left to listen in as
Beverley Williams, the Home
Business Advocate (and our
esteemed Barn Quilt Association
President) discusses our Barn
Quilt project with Jim Blasingame.
Beverley Williams, the Home
Business Advocate (and our
esteemed Barn Quilt Association
President) discusses our Barn
Quilt project with Jim Blasingame.
Join in the Fun!
| Barn Quilt Association Of Garrett County |
The Barn Quilt Board Met at Archie's Barbecue in McHenry
The Barn Quilt Association Board Members meet monthly at various locations. This
meeting at Archie's BBQ was a lot of fun, along with working to keep the project
moving forward. Pictured are (l to r): Karen Reckner, Secretary; Cheryl DeBerry,
Treasurer; Beverley Williams, President; Joyce Bishoff, Vice President; Nadine
Baughman, Chair of the Publications Committee.
Not pictured: Dolores Davis, Board Member.
meeting at Archie's BBQ was a lot of fun, along with working to keep the project
moving forward. Pictured are (l to r): Karen Reckner, Secretary; Cheryl DeBerry,
Treasurer; Beverley Williams, President; Joyce Bishoff, Vice President; Nadine
Baughman, Chair of the Publications Committee.
Not pictured: Dolores Davis, Board Member.
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