By Jay Parker

The Granton Barn Quilt Trail passed its five-year anniversary this fall with the installation of several more brightly colored quilt patterns.

The trail, begun in 2012, is a driving tour designed to promote Granton’s beautiful rural countryside to tourists, show-casing traditional, and modern quilt squares on historic barns as well as newer buildings.

The quilt squares, a comforting symbol of home and family, are typically painted on plywood and then attached to the chosen buildings.

This “Lone Star” barn quilt made of weathered barn wood adorns the garage of Wendell and Carol Hubing
 at the corner of 5th and Main Streets in Granton. (Contributed photo)

With two barn quilts already to their name (one in Granton, and the other at a Texas residence) Wendell and Carol Hubing have added a third quilt block to their collection.  Done in the “Lone Star” Pattern, the quilt has taken a trendy twist, constructed on weathered barn wood rather than the usual plywood and paint.  It can be found on their garage near the corner of 5th and Main Streets in Granton.

The “Carpenter’s Wheel” barn quilt is placed on the pole building
owned by Diane and Ron Vine at W3866 Hill Road.  (Contributed photo)

Noticing the other quilts in the area, Diane and Ron Vine decided they wanted one to display on their pole building at W3866 Hill Road.  Their daughter, Sheri Vine painted one for them during the winter months, choosing the “Carpenter’s Wheel” pattern, since several members of her family are carpenters.

Norman and Arlene Beilke ae the proud owners of a “Compass” pattern  barn quilt
painted by their granddaughter, Sheri Vine. 
The barn quilt, dresses up the shed located at W2315 Hill Road.
Sheri also painted the “Carpenter’s Wheel” quilt for her parents.  (Contributed photo)

At the same time, Sheri secretly painted another quilt for her grandparents, Norman and Arlene Beilke.  Done in the same shades of red, white, and blue as the first quilt, she chose the “Compass” pattern, “so you can find your way to Grandma’s house”, said Sheri.  Arlene added, “We were away from home and when we returned, we saw the quilt on our shed.  It was just beautiful.”  The quilt can be found at W2315 Hill Road.

Michelle Baxter, owner of Countryside Treasures on USH 10 South of Granton,
installed this quilt in the “Director’s Dream”
pattern on her store this past summer.  (Contributed photo)

A few miles away at Countryside Treasures, two quilts in the same pattern, but different color schemes, can be found on the store.  The business features vendors carrying a wide and continuously changing assortment of antiques, and vintage items, Amish goods, handcrafted furniture, and home décor. 

One of the vendors, an Amish man from the Thorp area, caries smaller barn quilts in his inventory, and is willing to make them to order in any pattern.  Mall owner Michelle Baxter felt it was fitting to be part of the quilt trail, so she purchased two of the quilts for display.  A red, white, black, and gray-colored “Director’s Dream” quilt is easily spotted when passing the store, which is located two miles south of Granton, just off USH Starr Road.

Paul and Kelly Vine, owners of Vine’s Christmas Trees,
added a “Tree” quilt to their home. 
A larger, matching quilt can be found a short distance away
on the barn that anchors their business located at N3985 Pray Road.  (Contributed photo)

Finally, Paul and Kelly Vine, who operate Vine’s Christmas Trees southwest of Granton, added a barn quilt to their house.  The historic barn that anchors the business a short distance away was adorned with a three-themed quilt several years ago; now the Vines enjoy a similar but smaller version at home.  It can be seen at N3985 Pray Road.

These new additions bring the number of quilts along the Granton Quilt Trail to 29.  All the quilts featured on the Granton trail can be viewed at http://gwprojects.wix.com/granton-quilt-trail.  The trail is part of a national barn quilt trail site at: http://barnquiltinfo.com/.

 

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