Enter Trail #5, the Baxter County Quilt Trail —– sponsored by Hill ‘N Hollow Quilt Guild

Welcome to the Baxter County Quilt Trail. It is Trail #5 on Arkansas Quilt Trails, so each block begins with the number 5. It was developed by volunteer coordinator Virginia Cornett, aided by several creative individuals who also painted blocks. Baxter County is located in north central Arkansas and was formed in 1873 from parts of Fulton, Izard, Marion and Searcy counties. It was named for Elisha Baxter, then governor of Arkansas. Visitors to the area enjoy an abundance of water related activities with access to the White River, North Fork River, Lake Norfork, Bull Shoals Lake, and the Buffalo National River. There are many shopping opportunities with multiple antique shops and flea markets, as well as wonderful places to dine. Many visitors to the area often return to take up residence. Enjoy the stories shared by the owners of each block. We welcome your comments at the bottom of the page.

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#5-1, Morning Star and #5-2, Wagon Tracks. Painted by Wayne and Julie Perry and located at their home at 2821 West Road, Mountain Home, AR., approx. 2.5 miles from Mountain Home. Julie shared, “My mother taught me to sew when I was 9 years old and I have been sewing off and on ever since, making quilts for family and friends for over 35 years. I also try to make 12 quilts a year for the Quilts of Valor, an organization that  awards quilts to veterans who have been touched by war. Many have said that I’m addicted to quilting as I sew every day and have quilts on display throughout my home, even some are for sale if you are interested. In addition to these two blocks on our garden shed, we have another one “Double Pinwheel” next to the road which is used as a landmark for finding places on West Road. When viewing the quilt blocks, it’s easiest to drive in the first driveway by the mailbox and drive out the other driveway by the quilt block. See you soon!”

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#5-3, “Pig Tails” was painted by Glenn and Sandy Priebe and is located at their home at 4061 Old Military Road, Mountain Home Arkansas. You’ll also find #5-38 at this location. Sandy said, “This is my favorite block because it looks like it has curved piecing yet it is straight sewing. Snail Trail was the only name used for this block in 1920-1930 and was later named the Pig Tails in a 2007 McCalls design. I chose this block because we are avid Razorback fans and therefore, call it “Pig Tails”. If done in black, it is called a Hounds Tooth pattern attributed to Bear Bryant of Alabama. Arkansas Razorbacks and Alabama Crimson Tide are a true rivalry. This is done in red for “The Priebe’s”, a true Razorback family and I have added black for “The Wood’s” family, true Alabama fans.”

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#5-4, Four Seasons, #5-5A, Charmed and 5-5B Mexican Star on the Baxter County Quilt Trail are located at Remember Me Quilt Shop at 1058 Highland Circle, Mountain Home, AR. #5-4 is “The Four Seasons.” You will be greeted at the door by a quad grouping of small brightly painted quilt blocks appropriately named “The Four Seasons”. These blocks, painted by Virginia Cornett, are patterns chosen by owner Judy Mahaney to remind everyone of how blessed we are to live in an area where we can enjoy each of the four seasons.

#5-5A, Charmed, consists of four half-square triangle blocks in the center with three half-square triangle blocks in each corner. The making of charm quilts, in which no two pieces are cut from the same fabric (our modern day “scrap” quilt), was popular around the turn of the century. A legend associated with the charm quilt says a quilt should contain exactly 1,000 different fabrics! When a maiden had collected exactly 999, the man she was to marry would appear, bearing the 1,000th fabric! Owners of Remember Me Quilt Shop, Pete and Judy Mahaney retired from their jobs in Northwest Ohio and moved to Arkansas in 2010. Judy said “After a short time, we got bored (at least I did!) and decided we needed to do something rather than sitting around being retired! I had always been a dressmaker, making bridal garments, family clothes etc., but I had never quilted! However, my sister who along with her husband had moved to Arkansas in the early 80’s, was a very prolific quilter and I wanted her to teach me as soon as moved here. As I was shopping for fabric for my first quilt at my favorite quilt shop, I overheard the owner say she was going to either close or sell the shop. I asked Pete if he’d like to be a greeter at Walmart or own a fabric shop? To make a long story short, here we are several years later, very happily owning and operating the Remember Me Quilt Shop! We also have an embroidery/apparel decorating business located in the same building, which our daughter and her husband have taken over and have expanded tremendously.” When in Mountain Home, be sure to stop in to meet Judy, Pete, and their staff. You will find over 2500 bolts of fabric and everything you could possibly want related to quilting. They offer long arm quilting services and also have classes for both beginners and experienced quilters. Remember Me Quilt Shop is proud to be an authorized Handi Quilter Dealer as well as an authorized dealer for Pfaff sewing machines.

#5-5B, Mexican Star can be found at Remember Me Quilt Shop, 1058 Highland Circle, Mountain Home Arkansas. Judy Mahaney, owner of the quilt shop, shared the following: Quilt blocks are often created in response to some major event in history. The Mexican Star block is one of several quilt blocks commemorating the Mexican War of 1846-1847 in which the United States acquired lands that would eventually become Arizona, California, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, southwestern Colorado, and southwestern Wyoming. Texas had already been annexed to the US and that act was what prompted our two countries to go to war. The Mexican Star has interesting detail that looks like it could be assembled a couple of different ways. It’s a very interesting block, consisting of a 9 patch in the center with four flying geese in the center of each side and an interesting corner block….but wait, no, it’s very hard to describe and is put together quite differently than you think! You have to see it! I think it’s very striking when made of red, white and blue or in Mexico’s colors of red, white and green!

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#5-6, Fair-Is-Swell. The Baxter County Fairgrounds was purchased in the 1950’s and the county fair has been held at this site every fall since that time. This quilt block was painted to honor all the Baxter County residents who attend and volunteer at the fair. It also honors Fair Board members who work year-round to make the Baxter County Fair one of the top county fairs in Arkansas. This quilt pattern features the Ferris wheel from Neverland and all the fun that everyone has at the fair and also includes food booths that are a staple of the fair. The Fair-Is-Swell quilt block was painted by Margaret Stafford with the assistance of her husband Darrell, who has been a Fair Board member for 11 years. If you look closely at the children on the Ferris wheel, you will see Raquel (the Stafford’s granddaughter) holding up her arms as she rides while having fun at the Baxter County Fair!

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#5-7 “Ole Mighty Cross” is located at the home of Sandra Yates and the family business, the T Lazy T Worm Farm, at 1101 Hwy 126 North, Gassville AR. Sandy shared, “We chose this quilt pattern as the cross means a lot to us. The cross speaks of Jesus Christ who came and saved our souls. The Star around the cross shows the world how bright Jesus makes our life. We here at T Lazy T Worm Farm believe all things are possible through Jesus. We started the Worm Farm when our son Doug’s employer closed up shop and he needed a viable source of income, but later when Doug became employed by a local school district and couldn’t work full time at the Farm, my husband, Ike, and I took over the majority of the operation with Doug contributing by supplying wood mulch and helping out when he can. Our Worm castings are ideal for anything you grow and is healthier for you and the environment. The worms help break down the compost pile and enrich it with their castings. You can use as much as you want and it will not burn. The brand T Lazy T comes from Ike’s dad who owned a ranch in New Mexico. We welcome all and will gladly give tours.” (Editor’s note: a donkey and beautiful chickens and guineas are a bonus at this quilt site!)

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#5-8, Four Flying Fish quilt block is located at 2224 County Road 10, Midway AR. Designed and painted in the colors of a rainbow trout by Cindy Johnson, the 4×4 pattern was chosen to honor her quilt-making grandmothers and the two previous residents of this property. Originally a wooded stretch on upper Bruce Creek, it was developed in the 1990’s as a catfish farm that supplied area restaurants. In the early 2000’s, renowned fly-fishermen Dave and Emily Whitlock stocked the pond with trout and ran a fly-fishing school here. Concrete raceways for fish hatchery are still in the floor of the barn, a wide variety of fish live in the pond, and an avid quilter lives in the house. Come enjoy the quilt that is a tribute to the history of the place. You’ll also want to check out block #5-14, also in the Midway area. The unincorporated community of Midway is at the intersection of Highways 5, 126, and 178. Highway 5 provides access to Mountain Home to the east and extends about eight miles to the north to the Arkansas – Missouri border. Highway 126 provides access to the Baxter County Regional Airport to the south and on to Gassville. Highway 178 provides access to Lakeview, Bull Shoals, and Bull Shoals Lake.

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#5-9, Aunt D’s Star is located at 148 Sunset Drive, Cotter AR, the home of Karen Cornett. This block was designed and painted by Karen and she had this to say about her chosen block: “Quilts have been a presence in my family for years. My Grandma China quilted back in the day when quilts were all hand pieced and quilted. As a child I am not sure I appreciated the time and talent it took to put it all together but I sure enjoyed sleeping under the warmth of a quilt! My Aunt Dolores is the one that turned us all on to quilting. My mom learned and developed her awesome skills under Aunt Dolores’ patient tutoring. My cousin, Christy (Dolores’ daughter), introduced us to barn quilts and I was hooked immediately…..I don’t quilt….yet, but this is a great way to express my love of quilts and the love that goes in to each one. Please enjoy D’s Star!” (Editor’s note: you will want to cross the highway and drive through Cotter and across the iconic Cotter bridge for an additional photo opportunity!)

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#5-11, Delectable Stars is found at 14625 Highway 62 East, Henderson AR, which is about 14 miles east of the Walmart in Mountain Home. Baxter County Quilt Trail Coordinator Virginia Cornett shared, “When Christi Todd first heard that we were developing a quilt trail in Baxter County, she immediately selected her quilt block “Delectable Stars”. She was excited to be part of the quilt trail since she had been very active in the quilting community, both as an avid quilter and a skilled instructor at several of the local quilt shops. Even though Christi had recently been diagnosed with cancer, she continued to work on the painted quilt block. Sadly, Christi passed away in February before the block was completed. Her husband, Greg Todd, has finished the block in her memory and as Christi intended, this beautiful 4×4 quilt block is now a very special addition to the Baxter County Quilt Trail!”

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#5-13, Seminole Patchwork, is a 4×4 quilt block painted by artist Linda Havner and is found hanging on Norfork Adventure Supply which is owned by Jake Anderson in historic downtown Norfork. The building housing the business was built in the early 1900’s and at one time was a grocery store with living quarters upstairs. Jake is a trail advocate and steward promoting a healthy, active lifestyle. He has an exercise physiology background and specializes in helping individuals connect with nature via rivers, lakes, nature trails, hiking, biking, and paddling. Jake says the Seminole Patchwork block represents the rivers, trees, and trails of Arkansas.

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#5-14, Crowns and Cross, was painted by Mark and JoLynn Farruggia and is hung on their property at 120 Hwy 178 W, Midway AR. JoLynn shared this about the colors and design of this special block: “We chose this pattern, Crowns and Cross, because it is an old pattern for quilting, but also for the ease of showing the unity of our nationalities and families. It shows regal with the Crowns and faith with the Cross. I am of Irish and German descent, Mark is of Italian/Sicilian decent. We used green, white, and orange for the Irish flag; the black, red, and gold for the German flag. We took again green, white, and red from the Italian flag and the red and yellow from the Sicilian flag to create the colors for the block which truly made this “our quilt pattern”. Also see Block #5-8 and #5-19 while in the Midway area. The unincorporated community of Midway is at the intersection of Highways 5, 126, and 178.

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#5-15, The House That Bluthe Built is at 1357 Hwy 62 SW, Mountain Home AR and was painted by Linda Havner. It is at the business of ERA Doty Realty. The previous owner, Joan Gilbert, shared, “We started our business in 1969 on Hwy 5 North, here in Mountain Home. Later in the 70’s, we were wanting to relocate and bought a 30 x 30 charming stone building at this current location. It had an unfinished basement and an attic area with the traditional cedar planking on its walls and ceiling. We then began to remodel the residential home into our office when we were visited by a neighbor, Mr. Nelson, for whom Nelson Street is named. He had lived in the area for many years and told us that our great uncle, Bluthe Gilbert, had actually built the home back in the 1940’s! It was a very pleasant surprise, and encouraged us to try to keep the same gable and stone theme on our addition.

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#5-16, Paw Paw Star is UNAVAILABLE PENDING REPAIRS, 13980 Hwy 5 South in Norfork, AR. Jason Aamodt, owner of The Norfork Brewing Co., said they moved here because of the good water and clean atmosphere. The blue star on the quilt block stands for the water and mountains, the squirrel for nature, the PawPaw leaves for their new trademark beer flavor, and the yellow for sunshine. This unique quilt block hangs on the newly remodeled old Benbrook’s grocery and post office. The 4×4 block, a traditional Star with appliqué motifs was painted by local artist Linda Havner. If you are in the area on a Friday evening, a Saturday or Sunday afternoon/evening, Jason invites you to stop by for a beer, tasty food from a food truck, and wonderful live music from local musicians, a great time to relax and enjoy the beauty of the area. Be sure to visit the historic Jacob Wolf House while you’re in Norfork.

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#5-18, Firefighter’s Block is located at the Buford Volunteer Fire Department Station #4 at 232 CR 614, Mountain Home AR (just off Hwy 201 South). This beautiful 4×4 block was painted by Linda Havner, artist and owner of The Curious Craftsman gift shop at Norfork AR. This makes the 5th block on our quilt trail painted by Linda! The Buford Volunteer Fire Department (BVFD) began in 1983 in the old Buford School House located at 4439 Buford Road. The School House later became the Buford Community Center and has since been transferred to the Baxter County Historical Society. The BVFD started with one fire station and one truck. Today they have four fire stations and 19 pieces of rolling stock, plus a river boat and a sleeper pump. The BVFD serves an area of approximately 48 square miles and currently has 22 active firefighters who are trained in firefighting, medical rescue, rope rescue, swift water rescue as well as other specialty training. Chief Will Syfrett stated: “The BVFD could not function without the generous donations and support from our community. Our auxiliary works hard to help bring in donations with annual events such as the Turkey Dinner, Ice Cream Social, Garage Sale, Craft Show and other events.”

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#5-19, When Pigs Fly was designed and painted by Mark and JoLynn Farruggia. It can be seen at 78 County Road 904 Midway AR. JoLynn shared: “It is our take from several whimsical quilt block patterns. We used colors that had a combination of fun, whimsical and special meaning to us. The saying “When Pigs Fly” also has a special and humorous meaning. It started when I asked Mark one time when he thought he might finish the project he was working on and he replied he was going to get right on it. My reply was jokingly “When Pigs Fly!” Be sure to also see blocks #5-8 and #5-14 while in the Midway area as you cover the Baxter County Quilt Trail.

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#5-20, Sunflowers &Hearts, #5-21, Patriot’s Garden, and #5-22 Trailing Hearts are all located at 9735 Hwy 14 East In Big Flat Arkansas, adjacent to City Hall. Glenda Wiseman, mayor of Big Flat, shared: “Big Flat AR is a very small city, becoming an incorporated municipality in 1938 when it was a thriving city. When the school was taken from the town, much of the town’s spirit left with it. Then families left followed by businesses. However, people for several years now, both those who once lived here and some who just fell in love with the area, have moved to the city and surrounding area. As these folks have come, a renewed spirit and new life are springing up. The quilt blocks, hung recently on the remaining front of one of the Main Street buildings, are evidence of the desire to see the town’s revival. A newcomer to town, Steve Mullenkof, suggested the idea of the quilt blocks to the mayor and offered to paint them for the city. The city council agreed and material and paint were purchased for him to do the project. They have added much needed color and a truly bright spot to the town. The patterns are basically original ideas of the artist gathered from studying numerous quilt blocks, pictures, and a few suggestions from town folks. The town is delighted to share them and hope they brighten the day for you”. Welcome, City of Big Flat, known as “Small In Size But Big In Heart” to the Baxter County Quilt Trail.

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#5-23, Autumn Star, can be viewed at 959 Hwy 126 N, Gassville AR. Gerald Gaige shared this about his quilt block: Stars are probably the most common motif used on quilts. Homesteaders traveling West used the stars for guidance and they looked upon stars as religious symbols of their faith in God. Native American quilters of the late 19th century favored the star design as representing the morning star, a significant symbol in religious and ceremonial life. The Autumn Star pattern is part of many popular quilting designs for hundreds of years. Resplendent in Fall colors, this pattern is based on the center 8-point star and composed of squares and half square triangles to fill out the starburst. Every year as the days get shorter, a new star shows up to signal the arrival of Fall. Fomalhaut, also known as the lonely star of Autumn, is so far away that the starlight we enjoy this season had to start its journey to Earth 28 years ago. Our “Autumn Star” was hand-painted by Joan White of Ohio Barn Quilts and joins the neighboring “Ole Mighty Cross” at the T Lazy T Worm Farm to the North, and “The Army Star” of Chicken Scratch Ranch to the South. Located near our highway gate, the “Star” welcomes visitors to Ham Hollar, a small game preserve created 40 years ago by my parents and named for their hobby as amateur radio operators (“hams”) combined with the former hog barn near one corner of the property. Now, with my wife Larissa from Russia, the property remains as a favorable habitat and refuge for all native creatures, and the quilt block “Autumn Star” welcomes visitors from all over the world.

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#5-24, I Love America is located at the home of Zeke and Margaret Pearson at 1642 CR 93, Elizabeth AR (Hand Cove Area). After seeing all the beautiful quilt blocks in other states, Margaret was inspired to paint one herself. Their love for this great country, and especially Arkansas, was the inspiration for this red, white and blue motif. Their property is located at the junction of CR 93 and CR 94.The quilt block is on the side of the barn facing CR 94. The Hand Cove area is near Norfork Lake. According to Arkansas.com, Lake Norfork has more than 550 miles of shoreline and covers some 22,000 acres. There are 19 developed U.S. Army Corps of Engineers parks that provide plenty of opportunities for camping and for water sports. Almost all varieties of fresh water game fish are found in the lake, which is fed by the North Fork River and its tributaries. Bass, walleye, crappie, bream and catfish all make their home in its waters. The oldest of Arkansas’s large man-made impoundments, Norfork has consistent variety in its fishing. Lake Norfork contains one of the best striped bass fisheries in Arkansas. The lake is stocked annually, and stripers over 40 pounds are commonly taken.

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#5-25, Rusty Rooster. This 2×2 quilt block painted by Charm Eagleman and appropriately named “Rusty Rooster” can be found in the window by the front door of the Rusty Rooster Flea Market & Treasure Coop at 1340 Hwy 62 East, Mountain Home AR.
Owner Louise Lindsey said she absolutely loves this market and all the wonderful people she has met from all over the world. She is a vintage soul at heart and has always enjoyed collecting and shopping for anything vintage. The market has a large selection of everything old to new and a whole lot of “renewed”. Bringing new life to items is recycling at its best and you never know what you will find! They have a vendor who is an amazing quilter and also have those lovely vintage quilts, the ones that you look at and imagine the love and time they put into them – if only quilts could talk! You are sure to find a treasure here at  the Rusty Rooster Flea Market and Treasure Coop. Louise said she is very honored to be part of the quilt trail and will look forward to having you view their quilt block and stop in for a visit.

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#5-26, Sandy’s Smile. The latest addition to the Baxter County Quilt Trail is located at the home of Keith and Sandra Sharp at 1515 Clay Street in Mountain Home. Sandra shared the following about her quilt block: “Friends visiting my home for the first time noticed a tapa cloth hanging on my wall and asked, “Is that a barn quilt?” Although we had admired painted quilt blocks occasionally in our travels, that was my first introduction to barn quilts and was pleased to learn there is an official quilt trail here in Baxter County. As I learned more, I decided that I would like one for my house, something attractive for others to enjoy and that might cause passersby to smile. My quilt block was painted by Laurie Coffman of Mountain Grove, Missouri. She had painted the same pattern for my daughter but I chose different colors for mine. Since I don’t know the official name for this pattern, I will just simply call it Sandy’s Smile.”

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#5-27, Ribbon Star, is the newest addition to the Baxter County Quilt Trail. This 2×2 block can be found at the Plaza Beauty Center at 919 South Street in Mountain Home. This block is a little unusual in that it was painted on sign board rather than wood. Jo Greer has owned the beauty shop for over 20 years but has been a beautician in the Mountain Home area for at least 40 years. She has always loved quilts and was recently invited to join a group of friends to learn how to paint a barn quilt. After a fun day of visiting, painting, and of course, eating, Jo completed her first barn quilt. She warns it can be addictive and is already searching for the right pattern for her next quilt block.

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#5-28, A Salute to Veterans is located at the Bob Davis Veteran’s Center, 421 E 9th Street, Mountain Home Arkansas. The center is named after Robert “Bob” Davis, a US Navy Veteran of WWII, who loved riding motorcycles. This project was started by a group of fellow motorcycle riders who are part of the Twin Lakes Thunder Rally which is held in Mountain Home the last weekend of October each year. The Bob Davis Veteran’s Center, scheduled to open in in September 2021, was made possible with numerous fundraisers, volunteer workers and public donations. The center is a 501(c)3 non-profit and not affiliated with any government agency. Housing, food, and job training will be provided for up to 18 veterans and all will have jobs. There will be a screen printing and embroidery business located in the center that will be run by the veterans. The center will also provide a coffee hut where any veteran will be welcome to come have coffee, play pool, darts or card games at no charge. Joanna Farris, spokesperson for the center, shared their mission is to give homeless veterans a hand-up, not a hand-out. The “Salute to Veterans” quilt block was painted and donated by Virginia Cornett.

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#5-29, Spinning Windmill, designed by Wayne Perry is a bright 4’x4′ block located on a stand close to the road at 2821 West Road, Mountain Home Arkansas. Many people use it as a road mark when giving directions on West Road instead of using actual address names. This was something of a tradition since Julie Perry had previously had a tutoring sign in that location to help people locate her business as a tutor. She has been a quilter for over 50 years, and she makes quilts to sell along with many gifts and contributions. Julie belongs to the Quilts of Valor organization which makes quilts for veterans who have been touched by war. The Perry’s also have two other blocks “Morning Star” and “Wagon Tracks” at the same location and were the first blocks to be featured on the Baxter County Quilt Trail.

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#5-30, Back the Blue, is located at the home of Jack and Virginia Cornett at 162 Cornett Lane, Mountain Home Arkansas. This block was painted by Virginia Cornett in honor of her husband’s long law enforcement career as well as the many others he was proud to serve with over the years. The block contains a thin blue line which represents solidarity and respect for law enforcement officers. It is displayed to share encouragement and gratitude to the men and women who dedicate their lives to keeping the public safe and also to honor the lives lost in the line of duty. By displaying this flag, we are sending a message to law enforcement personnel that we appreciate and support them.

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#5-31, Sharon’s Surprise, is at 43 C.R. 206, Norfork, AR. It can be found at the home of Archie and Sharon Lail. This is Sharon’s first time to paint a quilt block and is a welcome addition to the Baxter County Quilt Trail. She shared the following: “I always knew I wanted to paint one but also couldn’t make up my mind how I wanted it to look. I selected a pattern but couldn’t get it to work so I erased, drew more, erased, modified and rearranged. Since the end result is so different than my original design, I’m calling it “Sharon’s Surprise”. The inspiration for this block must have been from my mom. She would work on a project until it looked just the way she wanted it to be. She could take nothing and turn it into something beautiful. I hope I have done that with this piece and now have plans for more.”

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#5-32, Mariners Compass,1201 County Road 30, Mountain Home. Owner Marylou Knasiak commissioned two barn quilts from Jana Melton at Little Bird Lane Barn Quilts. The first is a simple Mariners Compass. My Dad was in the U.S. Navy and my mother lived in Boston. I was born in the naval hospital there. The ocean has always been a part of who I am. Perhaps that is why I enjoy it so. When I was a baby my parents bought a home in Fox, Arkansas where we lived for a short time. While there, my parents started working on a Grandmothers Flower Garden quilt, which I still have. I have put together a few quilts over the years, but I do not consider myself a quilter. It’s more of an occasional hobby for me. The Mariners Compass reminds me to continue to navigate and move forward through life’s daily tasks while remembering those who we love but are no longer walking with us.

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#5-33, Sunflower, is also at 1201 County Road 30, Mountain Home, AR. The second block at the Knasiak residence is a Sunflower. Marylou shares: it was a surprise for my daughter, Jennette. She has always been a seed collector who enjoys growing plants and sharing the seeds with others. She has found many creative ways to incorporate both the seeds and flowers into her crafts. Seeds represent hope for the future. To plant a seed is to believe in the future. She has shared many seeds over the years and thus given hope to many. The Sunflower reminds us to continue to have hope for tomorrow. We hope that the Mariners Compass and the Sunflower bring a smile to the faces of those who happen to see them.

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#5-34, Ohio Star, is at 2029 Superior Way, Mountain Home, AR. Owner Mary Schule shares…My block is the Ohio Star with a twist with my initial in the middle of the block. I went to a class with friends to learn how to paint barn quilts and this was my first attempt. It was great fun and I have it proudly displayed on the outside of my home. Quilting has been a big part of my life, and I now hope to also add barn quilts in the future.

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#5-35, Welcome Home, is at 1409 Conway St., Mountain Home, AR. Owner Charlotte Allen shares: My husband and I moved to Mountain Home in August 2021. With us came our love for all things “quilted.” We were unfamiliar with barn quilts until we moved here. As soon as I saw one, I said, “We have to have one!” We watched until we found one we liked. Now, almost a year later, we got it hung and we love coming home and seeing, “Welcome Home.”

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#5-36, Angel Star, 328 Cannie Baker Rd., Mountain Home, AR. Owners Angel (Sheila) and Nicholas (Nick) Boeddeker placed the Angel Star near the top of their barn. Angel shares: My Daddy built the barn in the early 1980’s. Our barn quilt holds all the favorite colors of people close and important to me. The green in the near center of our quilt reminds me of our pasture and it is constantly growing. May the loves in your lives grow like our pasture! In peace, the Boeddeker Homestead.

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#5-37, Seasons, is at 328 Cannie Baker Rd., Mountain Home, AR. Owners Angel (Sheila) and Nicholas (Nick) Boeddeker, will change their block according to the season. Sheila shares…Honestly I couldn’t make up my mind what I wanted to put there. Living in northern Arkansas, I experience the four seasons unlike living in Los Angeles where I grew up. I will celebrate the four different season with my four different barn quilts. Their names are: Noel (winter), Tree of Life (spring), Sunny Daze (summer), and Fallen for You (autumn). I love that the artist Jana Stout Melton was able to capture my visions of seasons in color. May the four winds blow you safely home. From the Boeddeker Homestead.

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#5-38, Arkansas Crossroads, is located at 4061 Old Military Road, Mountain Home Arkansas. You’ll find block #5-3 there as well. Arkansas Crossroads was painted by Sandy Priebe who shared the following: This is one of my favorite blocks which is quick and easy to make. I chose this block because of my love for the state of Arkansas. It hangs between two more blocks on our barn; Pig Tails and the Razorback. Arkansas Crossroads depicts Arkansas which is rich in natural beauty and wonders with over 500,000 acres of lakes and rivers and is well known for its parks. Arkansas is the spinach capital of the world and the home of Popeye and is also known as the crystal capital of the world. Please travel Arkansas and enjoy the quilt trails and all of Arkansas’ rich historical heritage, natural beauty and wonders.

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#5-39, Cardinal, is at 300 Bomber Blvd., Mountain Home, AR. This block was painted by Lisa Coleman and can be seen at the Baxter County Historical Museum. Lisa is the Vice President of the Baxter County Historical and Genealogical Society and shared the following: We chose the Cardinal quilt pattern because it represents things that have come back to us to share. Our organization is the keeper of history and people entrust us with their memories and items for safekeeping to pass on to others. The Cardinal has always been symbolic of someone who has passed and returns to us as a Cardinal. Like the Cardinal, we are obligated to pass on the historical items shared with us to display at the Historical Society Museum. The Cardinal quilt block is the first of four blocks that will be added to the Baxter County Quilt Trail in  celebration of Baxter County’s sesquicentennial this year.

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#5-40, Eight Point Star is at 3325 Hwy 201 South, Mountain Home Arkansas. Bill Willett was the proud winner of this quilt block which was recently raffled by the Baxter County Historical Society in honor of Baxter County’s sesquicentennial celebration. The  4′ x 4′ block was painted by Lisa Coleman, vice president of the Historical Society. Mr. Willett shared that this location was part of the original Trail of Tears and he appreciated the historical significance of having a “Trail of Quilts” on the “Trail of Tears”. Baxter County came into existence on March 24, 1873, and it was in 1973, the Centennial year, that a group of citizens came together to form the Baxter County Historical Society. After meeting and planning, the Society was officially chartered in 1974. In 1999, “Genealogical” was added to the name to more accurately show the purpose. The Society’s Heritage Center is located at 808 South Baker Street, in the downtown historic district of Mountain Home. The Center is open to the public from noon until 4:00 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, and other times by appointment.

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#5-41, Circle of Fish, is a 3 x 3 painted quilt block located at 584 CR 174, Cotter AR 72626. This beautiful home is also available as a vacation rental (Triple D Vacation Rental through AirBnB and VRBO) and is owned/managed by Dave and Donna Hussey. The property is nestled in the beautiful Ozark hills only a mile from the famous White River which offers world class trout and fly fishing. If using a GPS to locate the property, it will only give directions to the turn off for CR 174. However, the home is located approximately one mile from that point and is the third home on the right on CR 174. At a recent quilt retreat held at this location, the group of friends attending painted the “Circle of Fish” quilt block and donated it to Dave and Donna to show their appreciation to them for being such wonderful hosts. Dave Hussey is also very involved in Cross Trail Outfitters (CTO), a group formed to help young people become familiar with the outdoors, offering a wide range of year around outdoor activities. CTO is all about “Guiding the next generation to Christ through the outdoors”. Since one of their favorite activities is fishing, the “Circle of Fish” will be especially meaningful as this home is also used for many CTO gatherings. A “Circle of Fish” truly represents a group of friends and a circle of love to celebrate this lovely couple who, after both having suffered the heartbreaking loss of their respective spouses, have found happiness together.

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#5-42, Sunbonnet Sweethearts, is located on the playground fence at Hickory Park, 466 S. Hickory, Mountain Home AR. Established in 1954, Hickory Park is the oldest in the Mountain Home Parks system. It is home to the city’s newest playground which was completed in 2022. This is an all-inclusive playground bringing kids of all abilities together to play. Hickory Park is also host to the Baxter County Summer Concert Series. This block was painted by Virginia Cornett to be included with others painted by the youth at the LC Sammons Youth Center for the Mountain Home City Parks.

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#5-43, Old Windmill, is one of several blocks painted by the youth at the LC Sammons Youth Center for the Mountain Home City Parks. This block is located at the Clysta Park, 1634 Rossi Road, Mountain Home AR. The park is named after Clysta Willett who gifted 61 acres of land to Mountain Home in 1977. This park is the youth baseball complex and is home to the City of Mountain Home Recreational Baseball League. The park started receiving renovations in the fall of 2022. It features three little league fields and a full-size baseball field, all with turf infields, as well as an adult softball field that is completely turfed, has new LED lighting, shade structures and a stair climbing playground set. The park also hosts a variety of baseball tournaments throughout the year. Surrounding the park is a beautiful nature trail consisting of paved hard and soft surface trails. There are also mountain bike trails and two sand volleyball courts.

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#5-44, Flower Basket, located at Keller Park at 1832 Rossi Road, Mountain Home AR, is one of several blocks painted by the youth at the L C Sammons Youth Center for the Mountain Home city parks. Keller Park was acquired from Joseph Keller in June 1986, and is Mountain Home’s premier fast pitch softball facility. It is home to the City of Mountain Home Recreational Softball League. After receiving renovations in the spring/summer of 2022, it boasts four newly turfed infields, new LED lighting, shade structures over seating areas, and a stair climber playground set. It also hosts a variety of softball/ragball tournaments throughout the year. Other facilities at Keller Park include a pavilion, a playground, four softball fields, a lighted walking trail and a dog park.

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#5-45, Heart, is located at Cooper Park (Rapp’s Barren Settlement) at 1101 Spring Street, Mountain Home AR. This block is one of several painted by the youth at the L C Sammons Youth Center for the Mountain Home city parks. The City acquired Cooper Park from Cooper Communities in May  of 1986.  Cooper Park is centrally located in the Mountain Home Parks system. The park also serves as the administrative headquarters for the Parks and Recreation Department. Local sports programs use Cooper Park as their home field including the Hurricane Swim Team and the American Legion Baseball. The park’s facilities include the L C Sammons Youth Center, walking/running trail, Senior Center, pool, baseball field, nature pond, historical settlement, two pavilions, playgrounds, outdoor basketball, three lighted tennis courts, outdoor fitness station and much more sitting on 46.12 acres.

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#5-46, Windmill, is located at Dr. Stahl Soccer Complex, 4667 Hwy 5 South, Mountain Home AR. This block is one of several painted by the youth at the L C Sammons Youth Center in Mountain Home. Dr. Ray Stahl and his wife had originally bought the land and developed it. It was later donated to the city of Mountain Home in 2009 by the North Arkansas Soccer Foundation and is home to the Mountain Home Recreational Soccer League. The Dr. Stahl Soccer Complex includes a pavilion, concession stand, and seven soccer fields (4 with MUSCO Lighting).

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#5-47, Big or Small, We Love Them All, is located at Keller Dog Park, 1832 Rossi Road, Mountain Home AR. This block was painted by Virginia Cornett to be included with the ones painted by the youth at the LC Sammons Youth Center for the Mountain Home city parks. The dog park has a fenced in area for dogs to run, exercise, and play with other dogs. There are designated areas for both small and large dogs.

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#5-48, A Library Community, is at the Donald W. Reynolds Library serving Baxter County. Located at 300 Library Hill, Mountain Home, AR. Director Kim Crow Sheaner shares its story. This barn quilt is not the work of one person. It took the library community to make it happen. The amazing people who are part of the library community include art lovers, artists, and passionate community members, and I knew we could create something wonderful. In 2023 our summer reading theme was “All Together Now” and the timing was right. Darlene and Steve Landrum, local artists, and members of our library, created several designs for a quilt square. Those amazing designs went to the Library Art committee, and we worked to choose a final design and refine the colors. Then we had community members of all ages help. Enthusiastic children, talented teens, helpful adults, members of the Library Art Committee, Library Foundation, and staff members all pitched in to help. The quilt square expresses Baxter County Library’s core purpose, to inspire imagination, ignite interests, and enable learning. The Baxter County Library logo, a book tree, is centered in the middle, reminding us of how books enable learning and help us grow. The stacks of colorful books include a dictionary reminding us to look up new words and take on new challenges. The rest of the books were left without titles to inspire imagination…each person coming to the library can find their favorite books in the stacks and let their imagination take flight. We also included simple quilt blocks in each corner to remind us on the long history of quilt making and hopefully ignite interest in learning more about quilting and the story of barn quilts throughout the state of Arkansas, in Amish country, and throughout the nation.

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#5-49, Braided Star, is at 209 E. Sanford St., Gassville, AR. The “Braided Star”, sometimes called the Woven Star” was painted by Janet Timmerman and is located at Mark and Janet’s home. Janet had this to say about her block:  “The “Braided Star” is a complex yet simple design. Our home state of Minnesota is known as the North Star state. We have woven our love of the North country with our new home in the Ozarks. Whether North or South, the stars shine the same in the dark blue skies.” Encyclopedia of Arkansas shares historical information about Gassville. In 1876, Pinkney A. Cox and S. E. Denton opened the “Cox & Denton Emporium” (general store) that drew customers from northern Arkansas and southern Missouri. According to legend, Cox was an incessant talker, and his customers referred to him as a “gasser.” When the post office was established in 1878 with Cox as the postmaster, the little town was officially named Gassville. As of 2011, it is the only Gassville in the United States. Gassville was the first town in the United States to receive city water works through the Federal Urban Renewal Program. All of Baxter County experienced a population explosion starting in the 1970s. Part of this growth can be attributed to the opening of Mar-Bax (now closed) in Gassville and Travenol Laboratory in Mountain Home. The construction of the two area dams that impound Bull Shoals and Lake Norfork also made the area attractive to tourists and retirees. As of 2020, the population of Gassville exceeds 2,000, making it the second-largest city in Baxter County.

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#5-50, Purple Art Star, was painted by Virginia Cornett and can be seen in Mountain Home Arkansas at 2620 Hwy 62 East on the sign shop building (Dijohn Designs) owned by Stacey and Rob DiGiandomenico. I, Stacey, am a native of Mountain Home, maiden name Cotter. I chose the colors for this block because I am literally obsessed with the color purple and, in the art world, yellow is the complimentary color of purple; making the colors very contrasting and visible which is what you want in a sign.
My grandma, Jean Cotter, used to make and sell quilts, so I have always had an appreciation for quilt making. She always made a wedding ring quilt for anyone in that family that got married. She passed away of cancer before I was married, but she had many quilts made up ahead for her quilt shows so I was still able to get a a quilt and save it for my wedding. My grandma was very special to me. Her birthday was two days after mine so we shared birthday parties. She loved to paint as did I. We both learned some painting techniques together by watching good ole Bob Ross. She inspired me to do art and I went on to turn my artistic talents into graphic design. That is how the sign shop began. I believe a good sign needs a good artistic eye. We strive to make signs that will appeal to the eye but also be legible to do their job. Rob and I started the sign shop in 2003 and have grown to offer a full service sign shop and graphic design. NOTE: “Purple Art Star” is also known as “Grandpa’s Farm”, an original design by Talara Parrish #Barn Quilt Headquarters.

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#5-51, Tulips Amongst the Trees, is located at the home of Terry and Jonna K Butler, 2234 Hwy 126 N, Gassville Arkansas.  Jonna shared the following: “We didn’t know that much about the Barn Quilts until we moved to Gassville. We then started seeing them everywhere and realized how much these blocks reminded us of – well, US (Terry and Jonna K). You see, they represent a combination of our crafts, Terry being a master woodturner and Jonna a quilter. What a way to show and share our crafts! The tulip pattern comes from my love of the flower and the colors are bright primary ones that we love. This block was painted by Teresa Sell of Nixa MO. I first met Teresa last October when she participated as a vendor at the Hill ‘n Holllow Quilt Show. She recently presented a very interesting program at our quilt guild meeting bringing a large display of beautiful barn quilts. I knew as soon as I saw her display that this block would be going home with me! Terry and I plan to add more blocks at our home in the future.”

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