Barn Quilt Trails of North America (Kentucky)

Whenever I visit Kentucky, I am struck by the beautiful "painted quilts" that can be seen featured on barns that sit along the smaller highways.  More of these quilt murals can be seen on city businesses, the lovely colorful tributes to handmade crafts and Appalachian culture providing an interesting contrast to the colonial architecture of the area.  If you often drive on country roads through mainland U.S. or Canada, you may have seen these so-called "Barn Quilts."  They are large square pieces of  wood or metal that have been painted to resemble a traditional quilt block.  A few are more ambitious, and incorporate tiny blocks or try to create the illusion of flowing drapery, but most of the ones that I have seen were simple, beautiful, brightly-painted blocks that are easy to see at a distance.  Some lovely examples of the different kinds of Barn Quilts can be found here.

The “Quilt Trail” tradition is believed to have begun in Ohio in 2001, with a set of 20 quilts along a trail. A woman named Donna Sue Groves wanted to find a unique way to celebrate her mother and her Appalachian roots, and worked with several committees to create the first official route of painted quilts. She ended up starting a tradition that spread throughout North America.   Many of these Quilt Trails are now sponsored by entire communities, or by arts-based organizations.  For just two examples, here are the lovely websites dedicated to the "Quilt Trails" of McDowell County, North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina.

You can read a little more about the history of Barn Quilts on Wikipedia, although it looks like there are some disagreements between websites about the origin of the trails, and about just how many states feature Quilt Trails at this point.  There are also links to some lovely maps that have been made that incorporate barn quilt thumbnails if you wish to design your own Quilt Trail Tour.   The set of maps that I've found is from 2011, but there are probably more recent maps available.  Here is the map for the Barn Quilts in Madison County, KY, which is where I was visiting. 

Here are some photographs of the Barn Quilts that I was able to see while I was in Madison County (apologies for the darker images):

On Barns:

 

That same barn, close up:

Painted quilts on local businesses:

 

 Some musicians playing in front of the gallery during a "First Friday" event:

 And this one looks like a pixelated weaving draft:

It's fun to drive around and find these painted quilts.  It's sort of like an Easter Egg hunt on a country drive.  And I think it encourages me to look at familiar crafts and techniques as inspiration for a wide range of media.  Don't you want to paint quilt blocks or turn textile patterns into stationery now?

Kentucky Summer

Southern California continues to be unseasonably warm and beautiful this Fall/Winter.  We are currently having our second or third rainstorm, however, which can make things chillier for a few days.  The rain is very welcome for such a drought-stricken area--hopefully it continues for a bit longer!

When I was visiting family in Kentucky this summer, there were thunderstorms every couple of days, and the countryside was thriving and green from the alternating rain and humidity.  I wanted to share some of those photos with you.  Perhaps they will help those of us in the midst of Winter feel warmer!

The entrance to Climax Springs, up near Big Hill and Berea, KY.  Climax sells a popular spring water, and locals can fill their bottles for free. 

 There is also this cute little church up the road from the spring:

All of the country roads are beautiful and green compared to Southern California.

 I love when there is a strong contrast between nature and the human structures:

 

All of the weathered barns and fences along the country roads provide a beautiful contrast to the lush fields:

These walls remind me of castles:

 It's fun when you can get up close to animals:

Next week, I'll show you another road-side attraction in Kentucky: Barn Quilts!  See you then!

Jane Austen Festival 2014, Part 2: Archery, Fashion Show, Workshop, & Links

Hi, Everyone!

Without further ado, PART 2 of the Jane Austen Festival, held in Louisville, KY, USA:

ARCHERY
The archery demonstration included a lecture on the purpose of archery clubs.  Archery events were another opportunity (in addition to dances) to socialize--and flirt.  They provided another venue for increased equality and skill for women, as well as an opportunity for exercise and gambling.  While a tournament could include up to 6 miles of walking, the social or club atmosphere was also a high priority: some clubs met for years without ever drawing a bow!

Note the costumes: Archery clubs had strict clothing requirements, down to the shade of green fabric used in one's clothing.  A feather in the cap was also required, for the purpose of the outfits was to emulate Robin Hood, who was very popular.  The founder of one club got fined for neglecting to have his cap-feather...

REGENCY STYLE SHOW

The schedule of Events for Sunday also included a wonderful fashion show:

I took a lot of pictures of the fashion show.  Most ensembles consisted of a dress with a lovely removable jacket on top, so it was like we got to see each model in two different outfits.  The lecturer, Betsy Bashore, created her dress patterns from museum pieces and fashion plates.  She helpfully provided construction tips for interested crafters.  Her website provides images of original garments as well as patterns.

Some of our favorites:

 

 

An interesting thing I learned during the presentation was that many of the dresses and bonnets in the Regency period were made from saris. Indian fabrics (and shawls) were a prized import at that time. The colorful sari prints were transformed into beautiful Grecian or Roman-style dresses, and the embroidered edging could be turned into an accent at the hem or waist.

BREASTKNOTS

In the afternoon, I took a workshop on "Regency Breastknots" with Julie Rockhold.  Her blog, "The Fat Reenactress," can be found here.

"Breastknots" also known as "nosegays," "tussie-mussies," "corsages," and "posies," are basically beribboned bouquets.  During the Regency period, breastknots were usually made from real or artificial flowers that were sewed together into a cluster and decoratively displayed on a ribbon base.  Additional decorative elements like fruit or nuts were often included. 

 

Here are a few of the images from the workshop handouts (unfortunately I do not have sources):

 

These floral arrangements were frequently worn as accent pieces near one's cleavage or at one's waist, but they could also be seen as the accent piece in a hat, or even carried in one's hand like the bouquets we see today.

Here's an example of hat decorations, from a Bingley's Teas recipe card:

Julie read us a passage from a letter Jane Austen wrote to her sister, Cassandra, from Bath.  In the letter, Austen remarks on the prevalence of flowers and fruit as accessories:

Flowers are very much worn, and fruit is still more the thing. Elizabeth has a bunch of strawberries, and I have seen grapes, cherries, plums, and apricots. There are likewise almonds and raisins, French plums, and tamarinds at the grocers', but I have never seen any of them in hats. A plum or greengage would cost three shillings; cherries and grapes about five, I believe, but this is at some of the dearest shops. My aunt has told me of a very cheap one, near Walcot Church, to which I shall go in guest of something for you.

--Queen's Square, Sunday (June 2, 1799)

For those of you who are "Pride and Prejudice" (and Lady Catherine de Bourgh) fans, I will include one other passage that I found in this set of letters, on the accommodations in Bath:

I have a very nice chest of drawers and a closet full of shelves -- so full indeed that there is nothing else in it, and it should therefore be called a cupboard rather than a closet, I suppose.

--13, Queen's Square, Friday (May 17)

The piece I made in the workshop:

When worn:

SOUVENIRS
We were pretty tired and warm  by the end of the day, but I couldn't leave without getting some souvenirs!

This bag wasn't technically a souvenir, but I loved the humor.  In case you aren't familiar with "books" and "bookstores," this bag helpfully fills you in on both:

 

 

 

A Jane Austen mug, which features the pivotal declaration letter from "Persuasion" (my favorite Jane Austen novel):

 

The Festival T-Shirt--I couldn't resist!

I also picked up a few of these fun magnets. 

COSTUMES

I wanted to show you a few more shots of two of the costumes I wore.

First, the outfit I wore to the festival: A short-sleeved dress, with a blue over-robe.  White, cotton dresses were reserved for labor, because they could be washed and bleached.  Strongly-dyed or embroidered fabrics were more expensive, so they were usually reserved for accent pieces or evening gowns.

 

I had always wanted a walking outfit like Elizabeth Bennet's, complete with her short Spencer jacket.  This is my attempt at one.  I wore it over the same dress:

Another interesting thing that I learned about Regency dress-making was the fact that most sleeves were detachable.  Ladies could easily unpick the sleeves from their dresses and create an entirely new outfit, or turn a winter dress into one for summer.

My Spencer jacket without the long sleeves:

BONNETS 

For my mother's hat, I added a tube of the green fabric from her blouse/jacket to a pre-made sunhat:

Here she is, in front of the perfect banner:

 

My own bonnet was a little more complex.  I pleated white fabric around the brim of the sunhat, and then I stitched the top edges of the tube together (from the inside) and tightened the seam until it created this pouch look. 

The rosette is made from the lacey ribbon that I'd used as the ties for both hats, as well as some ribbon scraps from the blue dress that I'd cut up to make my over-robe.  I knotted together several loops of the ribbon to create a messy flower.  I bound the long tail of the rosette around the pleated brim, and tacked my new "hat band" down. 

 

BONUS CAT PICS!

While I was photographing my bonnet, Rio decided that the bonnet suited him much better.  Too cute!!

 

LINKS

I wanted to include the links to some wonderfully informative websites that I found online while I was researching Regency dresses. They include some beautiful images of museum pieces, as well as some helpful patterns.

 

Regency Fashion:

 

Detachable Sleeves

 

Men's Breeches, Pantaloons, and Trousers

 

Patterns:

 

Spencer & Pelisse Patterns

 

Regency Gown Pattern

 

 

If you'd like to see more pictures from the 2014 Jane Austen Festival, Kathy Cummings provides some great detail shots of the various workshops and activities here.

 

We had such a good time!  I can't wait for another opportunity to obsess about Jane Austen!