Last summer I went to Wisconsin and among many wonderful blessings from this trip were the Barn Quilts I found in Green County. (Read about my adventure.) I LOVED them. My mom made me this fabulous wall hanging later in the summer to commemorate my adventure. Isn’t it fabulous!! One of them is actually a pattern from a barn that I found. They are quilt elusive and a challenge to find. (that is a typo but so funny I left it!! It is supposed to read they are quite elusive)
I had the thought sometime during the summer to paint one for mom for the workshop in their back yard. I remember telling Deddy about it while we were on the World’s Longest Yardsale adventure. We saw one while there on a log cabin and checked it out for size and such.
Her birthday is coming up, a storm was brewing for the day and so I headed to Home Depot early. The men there cut my plywood 3×3. Talked me out of the sealant I had in my buggy and I went with Rustoleum paints and also their clear coat for the sealant.
I dragged all this in to the kitchen table since the storm is brewing closer now.
Do you know how many stars there are in quilting?
I want to paint a Texas Star since momma and deddy are from Texas.
Is the lone star the same as the texas star? Or the Bethlehem Star? There is a Amish Star, Ohio and Wonky!! I found a website that boasted 33 star patterns but not one was called Texas Star. What’s a girl to do when she can’t call her expert quilter? Plus some websites contradicted each other! I found one that at least sounded half way reliable and had directions for making your own pattern with dental floss and a ruler and pencil so away I went. It was easy compared to Wonky!
School let out early with the storms so Chad was home and helped put on three coats of paint on the red half diamonds. 
Kevin helped too. We visited over painting. Yes, paint was on my phone, my light switches, my arms and my table, but these are just memory spots now. 
Morning light as I painted and drank my coffee.
I loved it being in the house because I could add a coat and do something else. We would sit around it and paint and visit. 
Many coats of clear coats. On the back and sides too.
I painted “to mom love lkd” and dated the back.
It’s finished. 
My handy man was available for hanging so we drove across town unannounced at “nap time” Sunday afternoon to hang the quilt. My Deddy came out to see what was going on. And before long a sleepy momma came out too.
She loves it.
It will look wonderful when all their hydrangeas are blooming and the sky is blue. 
When we drove away I looked down the driveway of my childhood home and could see the quilt on my deddy’s workshop and it looks so happy and so perfect. It will bring happiness to both my parents every time they come home.
Mom said she didn’t even mind doing the dishes anymore because she can look out the kitchen window.
Happy early Birthday Momma.
Katey, what a wonderfully thoughtful birthday gift! I’ll get to enjoy it too when I pick your momma up for quilting.
Another Texan
Gay Lynn, Who knows if that is even a texas star!!! I was so confused after reading all those stars and conflicts. I should have called you! Enjoy seeing “a” star when you visit my mom! Thank you. Katey
How did your husband hang this! We are making one for my Mom! :)
wow! i am loving my new quilt square on the shed! and i am loving reading its history in the blog!! you all are just too sweet!!! i love it all the more for the journey of becoming my gift from your imagination and all of the painting and visiting in its creation! thank you, thank you, thank you, momma!
Oh my!! How gorgeous!! And what a very special “from the heart” birthday gift from a very precious daughter. And one that all her quilter friends will get to enjoy with her.
Thank you!! I appreciate it. I hope it brings everyone that visits happiness for many years. Katey
Oh, my goodness–how absolutely perfect! It’s wonderful–looks great on the barn! And I can’t even imagine how thrilled your mama must be, to know all the planning and work and LOVE that went into this perfect birthday gift! You two have such a great relationship–I know it is one of the great joys in her life!
Jeri, It was quite a fun project and it made me want to paint another. I can’t wait to see it throughout the seasons. Thank you!! Katey
Yes sir, if it was up to your deddy his workshop would not have much personality, but the women in his life just make living so much more enjoyable and beautiful. God bless those girls.
Yes Deddy, it’s come a long way from just having your name on it. Thank you for your sweet comments. I enjoy them. your daughter.
that is a priceless gift! and what a handsome handyman you have… xo
Nina, He is quite handsome and handy to have around. :) You and I are both big fans. Love you. Katey
What an awesome gift! Thanks so much for thinking of me and telling me about it. Such a neat idea! I’ve actually never seen these around here. I’ll have to keep my eye out! Blessings to you!
there is a group of ladies that makes these to sell. they make them out of white aluminum. i have been trying to find out were they buy this at but no luck. they are beautiful and easy to do or at least at lot easier than most think
Hmm never thought to do it on anything but wood. I’m sure there are lots of ways to paint them. Wanting to do another I enjoyed it so much! Katey
I just finished one on this type of surface. I think it’s sign board has a white surface when you remove the protective cover. I do know they were purchased at Lowe’s. What did you use to seal yours?
I bought clear coat sealer that you roll on. It’s working great. It hasn’t yellowed. It was the same brand as the paint. Katey
I myself have seen the barns everytime I go home from Tx to WVa. Now I know what to do with them. I do quilt and Ive made many Star quilts. But Im not able to quilt anymore so this is my next challange.
I bet that is a beautiful drive. We drove to St. Louis last summer & I saw 7 just in Tennessee. Being a quilter you will have no trouble with the math part! Thank you for your comment. Katey
What a wonderful birthday gift you gave your mother! Not just the barn quilt but the gift of the time and thought that went into making it and the fact that you all worked on it together making it for her.
Thank you! It was such fun in planning it and painting together. I love seeing it bring her joy. Katey
I cried the first time we discovered a Barn Quilt. We saw it from the highway in Missouri and headed for the exit…drove down a really narrow side road and took a picture of it. It was a moving experience for me…my husband and son, not so much. I want to do a Barn Quilt trail one day.
You are a very thoughtful daughter and I know your mama is very proud of her special quilt. Best, Vicki
Thank you Vicki. There is nothing like seeing barn quilts in person! When I spotted the first one in Wisconsin I did a happy dance! I came across one last week in Tennessee & made everyone wait while I took pictures. They are just awesome!!! Thank you for your sweet comment. I hope you do get to go on a trail one day. Katey
Thank you for posting this. I was planning to go home to my parents farm next summer to paint a barn quilt on the tractor shed. After reading what you did I am going to paint a little one for their house and make a matching quilt. This was such a sweet idea I am glad you thought of it and I am going to steal your idea :->
Thank you Carole. What a sweet idea for your parents and they will treasure having both of them!! Thank you for your comment. Enjoy creating. Katey
That was so sweet and it turned out beautiful !!! Keep enjoying your mom wish l still had mine ,cherish every moment!
Thank you so much! I will! Katey
Awesome. Such a beauty!
God bless you for this gift to. Your mom and dad. The greatest gifts we can give are the ones from our hearts. I pray you and family enjoy this for years to come and tell of your trip and this gift at family dinners for generations to come!!! “You are a very thoughtful person”.
Simply stunning and so thoughtful and touching!
I love this idea! We have a boat house that could use a compass star. I’ll be using your barn quilt idea for that. The one thing I will be doing differently is to paint the whole board the lightest color first and then add the colors over that. It might save a little time not having to tape off and paint that color too. Hope you get to make more. Everyone here likes yours so much!
I wish I could have done something like this for my mother, thanks for sharing.
You did a great job. My daughter did one for our barn. She used 2 full sized sheets of outdoor plywood, 2 coats of primer and 3 coats of “colored” paint. No sealer. Still looking good after 4 years. Others use aluminum sheets like they make interstate signs out of. They come already primed, are lighter weight and more expensive. But, they will never rot. Southern middle Kentucky has several quilt trails.
Use ‘frog juice’s to coat. It won’t yellow or fade the paint.
I’ve never heard of this Kathy so thanks for sharing. katey
Just found your website. I love barn quilts. awesome
Thank you so much. I love them too. I hope one day they are all over the country instead of just a few awesome places. Katey
Beautiful! What product did you coat the finished quilt with?
Thank you Ruth. I bought a clear coat that you brush on and I think it was a Rustoleum product. I got it at home depot or Lowes. You could also use a spray but I wanted it thick and I was painting inside. It comes in a quart container. Good Luck. Katey
So Beautiful!! Loved reading your story.The last picture of your Mom & You with the Quilt hanging on her shed is A Lovely Memory to have, you need to frame that!! TY for sharing your creation.
thank you Becky. great idea!! Katey
Your quilt block turned out beautiful. I know your Momma loved it.
I miss my Momma so.
thank you. she has enjoyed it for many years now. katey
I loved reading your story! I live in Ontario, Canada and there is a barn quilt trail here in Prince Edward County as well. I just painted three for my cottage! How did you hang yours? We used D rings and wire but there is a lot of wind here and I’m worried they will blow off. Any suggestions? Thank you and God bless.
Jacinda, thank you! my husband used long screws and screwed it directly into studs on the shed. He predrilled holes. It’s held up quite well. Thank you again. I’d love to see a picture of yours. Katey
This was such the perfect gift for your Mama! Enjoy her while you are still blessed with her in your life. I miss my Mom so VERY much! I have made several barn quilts and have them displayed around my farm. The biggest one I have made so far is only a 2′ by 2′ though. They are so fun to make. I even have a few to sell in my little shop at our pumpkin patch.
Thank you so very much. They are fun to make. I enjoy my mom and dad every chance I get. Thank you for your sweet comment. I bet your farm looks great. Katey
It’s beautiful. What clear coat did you use? I did a barn quilt and the clear coat was yellow… So disappointed! I look forward to hearing from you ! Thanks!
I used polycrylic since it doesn’t yellow. I read that it did not hold up as well but my barn quilt was red / white /blue so I did not want the white going yellow. I figured I would touch it up if it start to show. That said my barn quilt has been up at least two years and it is fine and I have not had to touch it up.
I used rustoleum clear coat. It’s held up very well. It was in a quart size container. That would be disappointing! Katey
How Sweet to make this for Your Parents! And Yes, Enjoy them All You Can. I ABSOLUTELY Love This. I am going to try this. Thank You for the Inspiration and Sharing this.
Debra, Thank you for your sweet comment. I hope you enjoy making it and share a photo with me if you can. Katey
I’ve made four of these, two for myself, and two for my Mom. Basically the only thing I did different than you, was to prime the plywood with a couple coats of white before I started to paint my pattern. I had two huge walls in my living room just begging for something big, and that’s where mine are. My Mom has a large, two story outbuilding, and she hung hers on it, under the covered porch my dad built around it.
That was probably a good idea to do some primers. I bet yours look great. A fun project. katey
Loved reading your story and seeing your barn quilt. Would love complete instructions. The ones I’ve looked into online seem pretty complex but your pics don’t look complex. Thanks
there are better instructions on the http://www.hometalk.com/1586989/painting-a-barn-quilt-for-your-garden-shed?expand_all_questions=1 I hope this helps. thank you for your comment. katey
I LOVE THIS!!! I am going to try to make one on a Painting Canvas for inside the house, since I want it to be lightweight for our walls.
Thats a great idea! I hope it turns out just like you want. Katey
Looks nice! I give mine a couple coats of exterior primer before drawing my design. The tape sticks much better for me and the paint goes on more evenly
Thats a great idea!! Thanks for sharing it. Katey
I would like to know what kind of sealer the guys at Home Depot recommended and if it has held up or yellowed over the years??? It’s beautiful! Thank you sharing your process!
Naomi, It’s rustoleum’s clear coat. Yes it has done really well over the years and is still clear. No yellowing. Highly recommend it. Thanks for reading. katey
Love it. So thoughtful. How could she not love it!
Thank you so much! I love seeing it while I’m coming up the drive each visit. Katey
How did the seal hold up in the weather?
It’s held up just great!!! Very happy with how well it’s done. Katey
Oh heavens, how thoughtful, let alone awesome job on painting! I took a get-together fun day class at local quilt shop and painted a 2′ x 2′ one. We are hanging it on the rail fence at end of driveway.
That sounds like a super fun class. What a great idea for placement too. I might have to do that. Thanks katey
Katey, the idea for the placement’s is such a good one. I have a couple of the permanent type ones now. Cork board on the back to keep them from scratching but I wonder what you would coat the top with. If poly acrylic would hold up to all the cleaning. I would never use polyurethane again as it turned one of my barn quilts (not white one) yellow. Also would require thinner wood but I think it would be lovely. Thanks for the Christmas gift suggestion again.
We’ve never cleaned this one. It’s holding up good. Sorry your’s yellowed. So far this one is good. Good luck with yours. Katey
How lovely very & what a special birthday surprise. I live in Australia & have only just discovered barn quilts. Planning some for our farm & one small one to hang on his letterbox in his horse racing silks colours.
Oh you so will enjoy making these!!! Thank you. katey
I hope you can answer a question. Recently, I saw a picture of a barn quilt that was a basket with “applique” flowers. It was a winner from the yearly accuquilt contest a few years ago. My question, are templates available for when a design calls for what looks like free hand drawn( i.e. It’s not able to be recreated with a pencil and ruler ). Thanks. Love your page . Bev
Yes for hand quilting there are plastic templates for flowers and leaves. I’ve never seen patterns for large barn quilts but it’s worth googling if you need a big pattern. Or you could ask an artist friend to help you. Thank you. Good luck. Katey
This is beautiful.
Thank you so much Cindy. Katey
Love your barn quilt and the thoughtful surprise for your mom!! I’m trying to get up enough courage to try painting one! Thanks for the information you have provided!
It’s really easy. Especially if you have a simple pattern. Good Luck. katey
What sealant did you use? It’s gorgeous!
Gloria, It was a clear coat sealer that you paint on. It was Rust-oleum.
Beautiful!
Where did you find directions?
Gail, I did not have any directions. I just picked a pattern I wanted to use and scaled it to fit my board using a ruler and pencil. Thank you. katey