JOE EDWARDS FARM—This pastoral scene was taken on the farm of Joe Edwards on Gallery Lane in the Pine Swamp community. The barn features one of about 35 barn quilts that recently were placed across the county. Photo Courtesy of Delta Peterson
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Quilters are placing barn quilts throughout county
By COBY LaRUE
Staff
The Alleghany Quilters Guild is working its way across the county, hanging 'barn quilts' on homes, barns, sheds and outbuildings.
Delta Peterson, chair of the barn quilt project and Guild founder, said Monday that the 'quilts' are 4'x4' or 2'x2' sheets of exterior plywood signboard that are decorated with quilt patterns and then sealed against the weather. The signboard is then framed and caulked around the edges and hung up for display.
"Tom Atwood and Paul Edwards made the frames," said Peterson. "They donated their time."
The paint was purchased, but seven local women donated their time, some Guild members and some not, to paint the patterns. After the recent media exposure and the quilts being displayed, twice that many have already volunteered to help with painting the additional patterns that will be displayed.
So far, the Guild has made and placed 35 of the barn quilts and more are being made.
"We'll continue working as long as we have empty barns," said Peterson. "We have about 18 on a waiting list."
As for the criteria for receiving a barn quilt, Peterson commented that the building, barn or home on which the quilt is located must be visible from a well-traveled public road, it must remain on the building for at least two years and the owner must agree to return the barn quilt if the property is sold or if it is no longer going to be displayed.
"The Guild has the final say on the appropriateness of the site location," said Peterson. "We also seek donations to help offset the costs of the barn quilt project, but they aren't required."
The Guild has received some funding from the Alleghany Arts Council, through the North Carolina Arts Council's Grassroots Grant Program. The Alleghany Community Foundation and many private donors have also pitched in to help the Guild pay for the project.
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