Local artist specializes in barn quilts

Unless you came from an agricultural community in the northeast, hearing the term “barn quilt” would be a little confusing. One might picture blankets used on horses, or a family quilt stitched with a big red barn?

But when shown an image of an actual barn quilt, most individuals would nod in recognition and quickly realize they’ve seen these colorful patchwork emblems before, they just didn’t know what they were called.

The history of the American Barn Quilt can be tracked back almost 300 years, to when immigrants from the central regions of Europe; Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands migrated to the United States.

Barn painting/quilting is thought to have originated in Pennsylvania or Ohio, from the immigrants who relocated there and then spread around the New England region and many Midwestern states. Paint at the time was rather expensive but it was a wonderful means of adding color and decoration to a family’s farm. It also turned into a handy resource for travelers to locate particular families or junctions, local residents would simply tell people which pattern to look for.

Once paint became more affordable in the 1830s, barn painting/decorating turned into a well-known trade amongst specialized artisans. Artists would combine various designs along with specific geometric patterns from quilt squares like Snail trail, Bear claw, Mariner’s compass, and Drunkards path.

Adorning barns with vibrant designs and quilt squares peaked in popularity around the 20th century, then eventually moved onto more practical forms of barn painting; advertisement. Slowly the colorful quilts were replaced with another nostalgic chapter of barn history, paid ads for companies like Red Man Chewing Tobacco, Ceresota Flour, and Mail Pouch.

Now, barn quilts are becoming the tapestry of a new era of farm and home symbols.

Quilt trails are popping up in many states. When several have been displayed in an area, communities will generate a map that guides visitors to see them. The map will have an address, maybe a picture of the square and a name or explanation of its meaning. A few of the states that have developed quilt trails include: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa and of course, Michigan. But even Montana has a barn quilt trail in center of the state.

Barn quilts nowadays can be found on any type of building however; from houses, to garages, sheds and outbuildings, or the front yard. If you happen to be out for a Sunday drive near Cyr, you might come across Hoods Western Adventures, and there you will find a barn quilt made by Kailey Austin Hood.

Her and her family have lived at their ranch in Cyr for three years now, before that they resided in Alberton.

Hood said, “My husband Owen, grew up in Huson. I myself am originally from east of the mountains. My folks have a cattle ranch in Sun River.”

Kailey and Owen both worked for several outfitters and guest ranches over the years.

She remarked, “One of our favorites being the local Hole in the Wall before it closed, in fact that's where Owen took me for a date when I first visited here and we were eventually married there.”

Now the couple has their own ranch where they offer guided trail rides, riding lessons, Dutch oven cooking classes, host clinics, and a multitude of events from kids camps to community barn dances. Most recently they’ve held their annual "Christmas on the ranch" where they host a number of local vendors in their barn, horseback rides with Santa and tractor rides.

Hood shared, “There were not any quilts hanging on the property. So, when we moved out here and bought the property, there is an old hay barn which is part of the original main ranch before it was subdivided. There's also our horse barn as well and I've always loved the look and idea of barn quilts, so I told my husband, "I'm going to put barn quilts on every building!”

One of her riding lesson students brought her a barn quilt they made, she said, “That kind of set the ball rolling. One day Hood decided to try her hand at painting some squares herself. She recalled, “After I made a couple, I had a few people suggest to make them for others and so I sort of just threw it out there. I had no idea it would take off and gain so much popularity.”

Hood certainly has a creative side, she also likes to weld and create horseshoe art.

She stated, “I used to paint but haven't done so for a few years. Painting the quilts really isn't that complicated, it’s the mapping it out and drawing your grid, which my husband certainly helps me out with a lot!”

She only started making the barn quilts this past summer. Hood explained, “The ones I've done were just patterns I found online and decided to duplicate. I would love to paint one that was someone's family quilt square! I think those would be so fun and special. Unfortunately, we don't have anyone in either of our families that quilts.”

To make one from start to finish, it takes her roughly a week depending on the complexity of the design. For the materials she said, “The squares I use are four feet by four feet and I actually get them free from Cenex in Missoula. They are just one-inch-thick press boards that come in on the lick tub pallets. For paints I use outdoor acrylics and coat them heavily in a non-yellowing poly.”

Hood relishes making these bright and artistic patterns for others to enjoy. “For those that don't know the history of them, they are pretty unique and just a fun way to add a little something to their property. For others I think it’s the nostalgia and old school feel of it,” she remarked.

At the moment Hood is busy taking requests for holiday gifts. She said, “I've got three I'm currently working on for Christmas orders and a few others that are pending after they find a family square that they would like to have done.” To reach out to Kailey Hood for her to make a personal barn quilt for your own family, message her at cwgrlup_48919@yahoo.com or call 406-799-3173.

To see a barn quilt trail firsthand here in Montana, head east to Meagher County, where you’ll pass through towns like White Sulphur Springs, Ringling, and Martinsdale. There are several dozen barns quilts along the route, to find more information and plan a future road trip check out https://www.visitmeaghercounty.com/art-cultural-trail.