Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Shipshewana, Northern Indiana

Have you been? Shipshewana and surrounding area is home to the third largest Amish community, in the United States. Shipshewana is also home to Yoder's Department Store. An excellent reason for a road trip.

I woke to the sound of clip clops of passing buggies. Time to get up and explore. And, explore we did, until almost everything closed down, at 5:00 pm. Then, it was time for dinner and what dinners we had. I made sure I left some room for Shoofly pie! Evenings were spent resting and quilting.

We spent many, many hours in Yoder's Department Store. They have over 12,000 bolts of fabric and the service is the best. Take a look inside.


 
 
 


We also did some fabric shopping at Lolly's Fabric in Shipshewana, The Quilt Shop in Essenhaus and Calico Point in Goshen.


 
The following are photos taken in Shipshewana as we went from shop to shop.







 
 
Just love the Amish quilts. The colours are wonderful.

 

This stitchery was on a pillow that was for sale in one of the shops.




 
We also stopped at The Old Bag Factory, in Goshen. Below are some photos of an old thread machine, threads and spools, one garden picture and the log cabin that houses, Quilt Designs.









 
 
I ran out of time, but this is the first year for the Quilt Gardens Tour. Garden beds designed to look like patchwork. It's free and runs from May 23 til the first frost.

Now, I must mention "the sandwich." We stopped, for lunch, at Panera Bread on our way to Indiana. I had the Mediterranean Veggie sandwich. Yummy! It was so good, I had another one on my way home. So darn good, I had to take a picture, before it disappeared.
 
 


 
 
Just before heading off to Indiana, I started a wall hanging called, Amish Stripe. This pattern comes from a book called, Country Friends Go Quilting, by Gooseberry Patch. My pieces are cut and ready to sew.
 
 
 
 
Once my shopping bags are unpacked, I will share my finds with you.

Until next week.....happy quilting!

Karen

5 comments:

Jackie Hughes said...

What a delightful commentary! I do hope you get back to Northern Indiana Amish Country to take in the Quilt Gardens Tour. 12 quilt patterned gardens, 11 quilt art murals, 7 communities, and its all viewable free of charge! It is well worth the trip and tzgxuhere is nothing else like it! And visit August 7, 9, 10 and take in the production "Quilters" at the Elco theatre in downtown Elkhart. If you can't come in 2008 be sure to make it a trip in 2009. All the gardens on the Quilt Gardens Tour will be showing off new patterns!

Ati said...

Thank you for the photos of your trip.
The store is unbeliveble !! Never seen that before.
here in my neigbourhood in Norway we have a few little shops which have about 30 or 40 fabrics ;) I like your amish strips. I have made an amish quilt by myself years ago.

Maureen and P.D. the Pet Dog said...

Karen, excellent! I felt as if I'd been with you on your wonderful trip! I'm lucky in that I can go to Shipshewanna a couple of times a year as I go to a quilt retreat nearby twice a year, however, most of the time I'm too focused on the retreat to stop in Shipshee.... but in September, because of your post, I'm going to go for sure! Thank you so much!

Anonymous said...

It's been several years since I visited Shipshewanna - before I started quilting. I would enjoy it even more now. We need to schedule another trip.
Lillian

Sue said...

I live about 45 minutes away from Shipshewana, I refer to it as quilt heaven! They have several AMAZING fabric stores. They are overwhelming!!! A friend and I were there the other day and we had to keep wiping the drool off our chins...haha....Also be sure to go to Blue Gate restaurant for a wonderful meal and PIE and E&S Bulk Food sales for their wonderful selection of all things edible, including cheese, baking supplies and spices.