Have you ever felt absolutely, totally lost and clueless, and you just didn’t know what to do?
Well, when I was in kindergarten, our classroom had its own bathroom that we didn’t have to share with the rest of the kids in the school.
On the outside of the bathroom door was light switch that lit up and turned red when you turned on the light and went into the bathroom. There was no lock on the door, so this red light indicated to others that someone was in the bathroom.
One day when I went into the bathroom, I took a little too long to come out.
I was probably sitting there kicking my feet and daydreaming about watching Gilligan’s Island and The Brady Bunch when I got home.
I was in the bathroom so long, someone walked by, assumed no one was in the bathroom, and turned off the red light switch.
I stopped kicking my short little kindergarten legs and froze.
It was pitch dark.
I finished my potty business in the dark, hoping someone would realize I was in there and turn the light back on.
The minutes ticked by, and the room stayed dark.
I knew I should call out for help, but I felt so embarrassed, I couldn’t bring myself to do it.
Finally I got up the nerve to get my little 5 year old fanny off the potty, pull up my frilly underwear, and start feeling around the room for the doorknob.
After what seemed like an eternity, but was probably just a few minutes, I finally found the doorknob, and got out.
I learned an important lesson that day so long ago in Mrs. Well’s kindergarten classroom’s bathroom…
Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Last year my son helped me make a barn quilt for my barn (you can read about it here).
Why did I need help to make the barn quilt?
Because when it comes to measuring and numbers, and angles – I’m lost and clueless.
That one turned out beautiful, and I wanted another quilt to hang on my barn, so once again I called for help.
My son was home last weekend for our family friend’s wedding, and I asked if he’d help me make another one.
New Barn Quilt for My Barn
I found this patterned I liked, so I printed the image out, and my son figured out all the math and angles, and in about 15 minutes, he had all the lines traced on a big piece of plywood for me.
It would have taken me forever to figure out.
I painted all the white blocks and let it dry overnight.
The next day, I asked my oldest son to join me in the painting process and we got all the red spaces finished!
And now I have two beautiful barn quilts on my old white barn!
I’m so glad I learned more than the ABC’s and counting in kindergarten!
P.S. – If you want to make a barn quilt, but don’t have a barn to hang it on, make smaller versions to hang as wall decor.
P.S.S. – Ask for help if you need it! 🙂
Vaya con Dios,
See more quilt block inspired projects HERE.
Here’s something I think you’ll love!
Block A Day: 365 Quilting Squares for Patchwork Inspiration (affiliate link)
I love your barn quilts, Angie…and such a cute story!
Thanks Linda! 🙂
Super cute story! I want to make a real quilt but have the same issue with measuring and cutting…
~Trisha
I’d love to make a real quilt someday too, Trisha – but I don’t dare try it without either my mom or aunt to help me!
Ever since you posted your first barn quilt I was hooked! I made 2 so far and I hang them on the lattice under my deck. I made a triangle stencil so I didn’t have to keep taping off the triangles. Also I don’t have patience to wait for the paint to dry with the tape. My next one I am going to try to make a sunflower. Thanks for the inspiration!
Susan, I used painter’s tape on the first barn quilt, but for this one we used a narrow brush and painted the perimeter of each section first, then used a wider brush to fill them in, and it was much faster, and didn’t require tape!
Love your quilts! Made me laugh about your son because my youngest and I are like that. I think and struggle with something and in a few minutes he does it! 🙂
Believe me, Karen – my kids can figure everything out faster than me these days!
Perfect you did good and asking for help turned out a fantastic project. Lovely!
Thanks so much, Dawn!
So glad you got out of the toilet alive! LOL cute story! Your quilts look wonderful!
LOL – thanks Debbie! 🙂
So jealous of your quilts and barn! I have to ask my son for computer advice from time to time! What would we do without them!
Thanks Cheryl! I’m impressed you only have to ask for help from time to time with your computer – I have to ask for help with mine a LOT of the time!
Love your barn quilts but I know I would never be able to do the math! However, is there any chance you would make the quilt chair design for a stencil in your shop? Know I would buy it!
Joan – you are in luck, because I’m going to adding the quilt stencil to my stencil line very soon – be watching for it! 🙂
Poor little Angie, stuck in the dark bathroom! That’s just the kind of thing that would have freaked me out when I was in kindergarten and, like you, I just wouldn’t have known the best thing to do. Being easily embarrasssed, I might have hidden there ’til school was out!
Nice job with the quilt. That son of yours must love his mom! Knowing what I do of you just from your blog, I bet he is a very nice young man.
My boys are the best, Naomi – they help me SO much!
Love the pattern and you are so right, it can make great mini projects.
What a cute story, too. Poor little one all alone in the dark. Aww. You turned alright though. :))
Your son, offering to help, is beyond touching. He sounds great.
I guess I wasn’t too scarred for life, but I still don’t like the dark! 🙂
My son is awesome – he helped me make a barn quilt for my mom last summer that looks just like my first one!
I love the barn quilts! A re-make of barn roof advertisements, with a more homey and warm look. I do not have a barn, but I do have a detached garage……hummmm? I am thinking maybe……garage quilts!!