Unique barn quilts hand-painted by Emily.
The seeds of Good Courage were planted in 2006 when Emily moved to Madison, Wisconsin from her hometown in western Iowa. Travelling back and forth, she admired the variety of barn quilts displayed on family farms across the state of Iowa. There's just something about the unexpected burst of color on a weathered dairy barn that feels like hope. We don't have a barn of our own, but she imagined making her own smaller version for a garage.
Fast forward to the spring of 2020 - just as the harsh reality of the COVID pandemic was setting in. We had recently moved into a new home with a large garage begging for a personal touch. With plenty of free time, as for many people all over the world, art filled it's place as a therapeutic outlet.
Emily created her first wood quilt painting and mounted it on our own garage. That first piece turned out to be the beginning of many. In a season where neighbors posted bright messages and colorful decorations in their windows as a way of maintaining a sense of community during lockdown, it was clearly the perfect time for art in unexpected places.
Good Courage Handmade began with a leap of faith and some mustered-up courage. We believe that art belongs everywhere - that it creates hope and that fosters connection. And we want to help that happen.
