The premier juried craft show in Upper Bucks County
Barbara Harr is being featured in this year’s celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Haycock Historical Society as part of the Kringle Christmas Shoppe where she will display her sewing-machine-applied quiltlets and wall-hangings along with other beautiful fabric art.
Barbara creates wall-hanging quilts made from cotton, batiks and wool. The wool is recycled from clothing that has been washed and dried at a high heat to “felt” which compresses the fibers to thicken the wool.
Barbara speaks of the older generations as having to “make do” with whatever they had and Barbara’s family was no different. When she was about 7 years old, Barbara began to cross-stitch and make her own doll clothes and she also learned to macrame and even do some quilling, which is an artform using strips of paper to create interesting pieces of art.
Long before it was popular, Barbara was “green” since she recycles sweaters to make lovely, warm mittens that are lined with fleece. She, also, makes cross-stitch pictures and small cross-stitch pillows. The recycled sweaters, also, begin new lives as sweater pillows. You will find pot holders, fabric ornaments, framed cross-stitch pictures and small cross-stitch pillows among these many treasures.
Barbara’s interests and skills are “home-grown” since her mother was a sewing piece-worker in Quakertown and her father a finish carpenter.
As a graduate of Quakertown High School, Barbara studied at Bloomsburg University, obtained her Masters degree at Arcadia University (then Beaver College) and began her teaching career in Bensalem, PA.
Barbara’s first quilt was a wedding present to her husband in 1977. But it wasn’t until 1990 that she seriously began to make quilting a large part of her life. She makes one-of-a-kind quilts that are customized based on the type of fabric, the color as well as the appliques that she chooses for each quilt.
After retiring from 38 years as a teacher of 1st and 2nd graders, Barbara still has the energy to be what she calls a “Craftsman” which describes her talents as a quilter and a counted cross stitcher. Barbara is now able to devote much of her time to her passion for quilting.
Along with her husband, John, Barbara has raised a daughter, now in Ashville, NC and a son who lives in Quakertown. John is very supportive of her work, not minding when Barbara disappears into her work area for as much as 8 hours a day. And, John is very helpful in carrying those large bundles of fabric for Barbara.
Additional support for her craft comes from her membership in the Keystone Quilters Quilt Guild of Quakertown “where modern & traditional quilters come together!” The Keystone Quilters are an inspiration to about 100 members who share the love of quilting. Barbara appreciates this group as well as friends who have the same interests.
You will find pieces like these when you visit Kringle Christmas Shoppe at the Haycock Township Community Center in December. This whimsical piece could easily be a scene from Bucks County with all of the mischievous bears that we have in our neighborhoods.
Barbara certainly has captured the fun that some bear cubs would have in the snow, playing with a snowman. Her art work is very affordable as it ranges from $30 to $90, depending upon the size and intricacies involved in the creating process.
Always on the look-out for interesting fabrics and ideas, Barbara enjoys going fabric-shop-hopping to support her ever-so-satisfying time spent quilting.
Kringle Christmas Shoppe is pleased to have been showcasing talents such as Barbara’s since 2003.
Kringle Christmas Shoppe
1014 Old Bethlehem Road, Quakertown PA. 18951
The Haycock Historical Society
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