Barn Quilts
Barn Quilts have been adorning family farms for centuries. European immigrants have continued this tradition, creating the Americana Folk Art we see on barns throughout America today. Create your own 2′ x 2′ outdoor suitable Barn Quilt in this guided, start‑to‑finish workshop. Each student will receive a primed MDO board with two designs lightly pre‑drawn—one modern (a gull on the beach) and one traditional—so you can choose the style that speaks to you. While the pre‑drawing saves time, Maribeth will also demonstrate how to lay out and draw a barn‑quilt pattern yourself.
You’ll learn the full taping and painting process: applying tape cleanly, scoring edges for crisp lines, sealing with clear acrylic matte, and brushing or rolling on three coats of exterior paint for each color. Most designs use five to six colors to ensure you can finish your piece during class. All materials are included: a roll of quality tape, a scoring tool, three foam brushes, paint, and use of rollers, trays, and drying equipment. Students may bring a blow dryer to help speed drying, and optional roller‑tray kits will be available for $8.
Meet Your Instructor:
Maribeth Wright
Maribeth is a barn‑quilt artist based in Honor, Michigan. Her work blends a lifelong love of clean, geometric design—rooted in taped‑line art from her high‑school years—with the precision of her engineering career. She’s inspired by the history of barn quilts as wayfinding markers and reimagines that tradition through bold, contemporary patterns. Maribeth loves sharing this craft with others and guiding students as they create their own meaningful pieces.
Class Details:
Location: Green Door Folk School – 2312 E Kasson Rd, Cedar, MI
Date/Time: June 27th @ 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Prerequisites/Skill Level/Age Requirements:
- No prior experience required.
- Ages 18+
Booking Information:
What happens after I book the class? After you book, we will send you a confirmation email that you are IN! A week out from the class, we will send you an email with more details about our meeting locations and some housekeeping items.
Where can I stay if I’m coming from out of town? If you’re traveling for a class, we highly recommend a stay at Cedar North, a cozy farm-stay just steps from the Green Door Schoolhouse. Nestled on a permaculture farm in Leelanau County, Cedar North offers peaceful garden views, the charm of a working goat farm, and room to roam and reflect. NOTE: Indicate you are a Green Door student at checkout for a discounted rate.
Policies:
Go for it! If you are interested in Americana style folk art, have a barn to adorn, or love to color inside of the lines, this is the class for you!