Art is everywhere, in every shape, size and material. What is fantastic about art is that it is something that has no other purpose than to be art in itself. Barn quilts are just that type of art. They beautify the surfaces on which they are hung, as big bold markers in the landscape. Native of Ohio under the creative brush of a barn lover named Donna Sue Groves, barn quilts were not very present here in Québec, until now. Bonnie, the creative mastermind behind Bonnie Jane Design, has been creating barn quilts in their pure tradition right here in Senneville. In her own words, Bonnie tells us about her love of barn quilts.
What are barn quilts?
“They are painted square quilt patterns that were originally hung on barns. It then progressed to a movement where barn quilt routes were developed all over the states and parts of Canada, but not the province of Québec. I decided to change that.”
Why are they inspiring to you?
“I discovered these in Virginia a few years back on a road biking training week. We were riding in groups and couldn’t stop to take a good look at them…but they sure caught my attention especially as colourful as they were. They inspire me because of the way these quilts could be personalized, the grounding effect they had on a building, created a landmark and also the idea of having outdoor artwork was pretty cool!”
Where do we put them?
“They can be hung on a house, a garage, a boathouse, an old or new barn, a shed, a pool house and even an indoor wall.”
Is each one unique?
“Each is unique in size, ranging from 2’ x 2’ to 8’ x 8’, there are different patterns to choose from and new patterns can be created for its surroundings and the colour choices are endless.”
photos: Vanessa Sicotte & Bonnie Jane Design
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