Barn Quilt workshop at Little Italy May 21

By LeAnn R. Ralph

COLFAX — Maybe you’ve seen them as you have been driving around the countryside — colorfully painted geometric patterns on wood frames.

The painted quilt squares are called “barn quilts.”

If you travel along state Highway 29, Shawano County has a Barn Quilt Trail with over 300 of the paintings hanging on barns, sheds and out buildings along the way, said Mary Kolstad of Menomonie.

Dunn County also is working on a Barn Quilt Trail, said Kolstad, who is planning to hold a barn quilt workshop at A Little Slice of Italy in Colfax May 21.

 A map of the current Dunn County Barn Quilt Trail is available at www.dunn.uwex.edu/agriculture/dunn-county-barn-quilts.

Barn quilts were developed to support both agri-tourism and an art combination, Kolstad said.

Quilling barn quilt celebrates Norwegian Heritage

People can drive the Barn Quilt Trail whenever they choose and make a day of it, she said.

A Pinwheel Star barn quilt is located on the Madison barn on county Highway M near New Auburn.

The Grain Bin, on county Highway FF north of Wheeler, has a barn quilt on The Yellow Barn, which is now used an event venue.

Clark Ridge Farm on county Highway F, Boyceville, has a Starry Cross barn quilt.

The Blakeley barn on 920th Avenue, Boyceville, has an Evergreen pattern barn quilt.

The Wantoch/Wolfe barn, 945th Avenue, Colfax, has a Bloomin’ Time barn quilt.

The Brantner barn, 490th Street, Menomonie, has a Carpenter’s Wheel barn quilt.

The Quilling barn, 570th Street, Menomonie, has a Norwegian Heritage barn quilt.

The Bjork barn, 430th Avenue, Menomonie, has a Lucy’s Heritage Aster barn quilt.

All together, 27 barn quilts are listed on the website.

Eighteen barn quilts are included in the online brochure, which also has a map of the Dunn County Barn Quilt Trail.

The brochure cautions people to be aware of traffic behind them when slowing down to look at a barn quilt and also notes that all barn quilts are on private property and should be viewed from a public right-of-way.

“We really don’t want people driving onto private property,” Kolstad said.

The Dunn County Barn Quilt Trail is being developed with the help of Dunn County UW-Extension and Katie Wantoch, agriculture agent, and the Dunn County Tourism Division.

The painted barn quilts are on 2-foot by 2-foot frames, 4-foot by 4-foot frames or 8-foot by 8-foot frames.

A special 8-foot by 8-foot barn quilt has been created for Prestrud Dairy and will be on display during the Dunn County Dairy Promotion Breakfast May 20, Kolstad said.

Kolstad says the plan is to have more barn quilts made through the efforts of the FFA, area 4-H groups and other individuals interested in giving color and art to Dunn County.

If you would like to paint your own barn quilt, a workshop will be held Sunday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at A Little Slice of Italy on Main Street in Colfax.

Lunch will be provided and all materials will be provided, Kolstad said.

To participate in the workshop at Little Italy, you must sign up by May 17.

For more information, contact Kolstad at M&J Barn Quilts, 715-577-6678 or by e-mail: mkolstad@charter.net.