Barn Quilts with Cindy Haffner
The history of the American Barn Quilt can be traced back almost 300 years, and is widely believed that barn painting/quilting originated in Pennsylvania. This form of Americana folk art preserves the country's quilting tradition and various communities' regional heritage. While some barn quilts are dedicated to a specific person, others are created to represent family or the land.
Class with Cindy
"A true barn quilt would be 8’x8’ square. Big enough to be seen traveling down the highway. Because not every site has a barn, other sizes have been made to accommodate smaller buildings. I teach classes for the 2’x2’ size so we can complete the barn quilt in a day.”
Saturday, March 23rd
9:00am to 5:00pm
Workshop fee is $100.00 and includes:
Art Supplies
Coffee or Tea
Lunch From BoHo Cafe!
Registration includes cafe refreshments, lunch (soup & sandwiches), supplies and materials to make a 2’ x 2’ barn quilt out of aluminum and/or MDO boards. There will be four pre-selected patterns to choose from, and participants are encouraged to play with their choice of colors. Be sure to bring a blow-dryer if you have one handy, and don't forget to wear your painting clothes!
*Space is limited to 15
*Online registration only
Meet the Artist
I was raised near Millerville, MN, the youngest of 17 children. I caught the art bug about 7th grade. While other kids were immersed in sports, I was at home exploring a set of World Book Encyclopedias. I would find an animal, draw it larger on a typing sheet paper, re-write the story and hand them in for extra credit.
When I was 16, I painted of all things. A beer can on my neighbors fish house, and a big cow on a Harvestor silo. All were painted free-hand, no computer generated anything back then. Those projects remind me that even then I was already thinking BIG!
I love art in any form and I have tried my hand at several things from cake-decorating, sewing, interior design, photography and several paint mediums. For 8 years I was a Visual Display Supervisor for JCPenney. Those years taught me finesse of color and arrangement. Each display could make or break a potential sale.
In 2014 I painted my first 2 barn quilts and I was hooked. I have painted over 220 barn quilts of all sizes. Since 2017, I have held 29 barn quilt painting workshops. Four of those were public, and 25 were private (out of my home). I have taught 199 people thus far on this art form. In August 2023, I held a public painting event at the Douglas County Fair where 134 fair goers stopped by to paint a square. That 4’ x 4’ barn quilt generated $250 from a silent auction bid.
I reside near Rose City with my husband John who is a retired sergeant from the Alexandria Police Department. I have 4 step-children and we have 10 grandchildren. We have a working farm, and this is where I have my big consignment shop in a barn called Country Consignments, how fitting!
Country Consignments Hours:
Wednesday - Saturday 10AM - 5PM
May - November