Quilt barn project in the works

Quilts may soon be dotting the Jay County landscape.
Volunteers working with the Jay County Visitor and Tourism Bureau are hoping to emulate a quilt barn project that’s been successful in Randolph and Wells counties.
“I’ve followed (Randolph County) and all their quilts,” said the tourism bureau’s Gyneth Augsburger. “There are people who are interested.”
About a dozen gathered Thursday to discuss similar projects around the country.
Quilt blocks are replicated on large — usually 8x8 — panels affixed to the sides of barns, making for a potential tourist attraction and brightening the rural landscape.
The Randolph County project in 2011 resulted in 22 quilt barns dotting the county. That project, which involved incentives and assistance to help cover the costs, was described as “quite an undertaking.”
In contrast, Wells County, which now has 17-18 quilt barns, saw the project develop on an individual basis through word of mouth contacts. One quilt panel went up, people liked it, and others followed.
The concept began in Adams County, Ohio. Today there are more than 4,000 quilt squares mounted on barns across the United States.
Forty-four states have some form of quilt trail.
Questions being reviewed now include materials, costs, promotion, and coordination. Costs for construction and painting an 8x8 quilt block run in the neighborhood of $400-$450.
In many counties, local REMCs have provided volunteer help with lift trucks to help mount the finished panels.
Anyone interested in becoming involved in the project should contact the visitor and tourism bureau at (260) 726-3366.
Meanwhile, the Randolph County project is expected to double this year with more than 40 quilt barns in place by the end of 2012.[[In-content Ad]]