All across the county on barns, outbuildings, public buildings and other structures, painted quilt blocks are taking over. Since Grayson County’s first quilt block was placed in February 2008, at least 16 have been placed and added to the clothesline.

• Origins

The “Clothesline of Quilts” project was inspired by an artist from Adams County, Ohio who placed a painted block on her family’s barn in honor of her Mother, who was an avid quilter. Kentucky’s project first started in eastern counties.

The project is to encourage motorists to travel on to the back roads rather than the four-lane to boost tourism and economic development, tourism being the main reason for Grayson County’s adoption of the project. Other benefits of this project include history, education, arts, culture, and beautification of the area.

• Where to trail

Current participating counties include Breckinridge, Bullitt, Grayson, Hardin, LaRue, and Meade counties.

• Telling their story

Each quilt block is installed as a school project, a vehicle for team-building, to honor or memorialize someone special, or for anniversaries or other special occasions. Each block has a story behind it. Most people pick their blocks for various reasons. For instance, one could be because it was your grandmother’s favorite. In Grayson County, you can travel from Falls of Rough through Clarkson and beyond to see such quilt blocks as Umbrella Girl, Flower Garden, or Tulip and observe the history behind the quilt.

Dixie Franklin, owner of local business Sew Much More, helped get the Clothesline of Quilts started in Grayson County. Her block, hung in May 2008, is called the Carpenter’s Wheel. It was named that because of her husband’s occupation- carpentry. Her block hangs on a barn beside their house and can be seen from the road.

Another quilt block owner, Sarepta Phillippi had her quilt block, Housewife, placed on the barn beside her house. Because she has been a quilter her whole life, the block displays her love of quilting. Because of her love for working with bright colors, her block is red, blue, and yellow (red being her favorite). This block can be seen from US62.

Located on the Caneyville Fire Department building, the quilt block Sunburst hangs. The pattern was chosen to honor the Caneyville Elementary School colors because the community is very school oriented and school spirit is strong. Then, along Caney Creek Road you find the Umbrella Girl. This pattern was chosen to honor the participant’s mother. Her first quilt was “the Umbrella Girl” pattern and the original quilt is still in the home. The quilt block is on a tobacco barn that is about 50 years old.

On the maintenance building beside GCHS hangs a quilt block that displays our school colors. This block was hung this past fall. Paul Johnson’s art class voted on the quilt pattern for a future quilt block that is to be placed on campus.

• Quilt block guidelines

There are specific guidelines to follow to participate in this project. They are as follows:

• Each block must be 8’ x 8’

• Quilt block may be a piece of appliqué pattern

• Blocks must be painted on approved materials

• Blocks must be approved by the GCCQP in order to maintain continuity, refrain from excess duplication and insure the quality of the project

• Quilt block must be placed on a local committee approved barn, building or other location

• The applicant (homeowner) is responsible for safely transporting the completed block to the property for hanging

Each block costs approximately $700 for materials, painting, and hanging. However, local painters and the WRECC are providing materials to paint and hang the blocks in-kind donations.