Quilt Gardens Tour

Check out the Postage Stamp Collection in Nappanee – Just put up today!
They’re just beautiful!

LONE STAR
DIAMOND-IN-THE-SQUARE
SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS
DOUBLE NINE PATCH

Nappanee is dedicated to celebrating Amish life, and what better way than to recreate four classic quilt patterns: Lone Star, Diamond-in-the-Square, Sunshine and Shadows and Double Nine Patch. In 2001, each of these patterns was reproduced in a series of US postage stamps, first issued in Nappanee. All are based popular quilts crafted between 1910 and 1940 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Many Elkhart County Amish have kin in that Pennsylvania enclave, the largest in the United States.

This year the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ introduces its first official “agri-quilt” garden.  The site of this pilot garden, Meadow Brook Farm, is a Civil War era farmstead located just outside the city limits of Goshen. Owner Kori Cripe recently opened her home and farm for public tours.

Planted in a “Grandmother’s Fan” pattern with soybeans, sunflowers, alfalfa, buckwheat, corn and red geraniums, this quilt garden introduces an exciting new element to this year’s tour that perfectly complements the rural heritage of Amish Country.  It also marries well with its location, since the farmstead was once the site of Farm Betterment Club Fairs, huge community-wide celebrations that drew the Indiana governor, congressmen and judges to speak at the event.

It seems only natural to feature an “agri-quilt” garden on the tour: it also presents certain challenges that are not experienced in quilt gardens that use ornamental annuals and flowers.  This mixed crop quilt garden contains plants that will grow in varying heights. There may be an issue with pattern consistency and view ability, and with shade created by the larger crops such as corn next to smaller plants in the garden. Crops also attract different insects than annuals and must be guarded against worms, grubs and bores. So do you use pesticide? If so what kind?  And it must be factored in that crops’ needs are different than those of annuals– watering, feeding – especially during growing season.
Each of the plants in the “agri-quilt” garden will be in different stages of development during the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ viewing season.   Even though the garden relies heavily on texture to convey the pattern, color plays a big role.  As crops mature their color can change dramatically.  So it will be interesting to observe the “look” of the garden throughout the season.

All the Quilt Gardens Tour℠ partners are eagerly looking forward to the introduction of an agricultural quilt garden to the mix, most of all Kori.  She wants the garden to be a “home-grown” experience that’s fun and educational.  And it will be an education – for all of us involved.  We’re all up for the fun and challenges, and we’re just waiting to see “what crops up”!

We’d welcome your comments and suggestions for this “pilot agri-quilt” garden.  Leave your comment below.

- Sonya Nash, Class of ’08 and Quilt Gardens Tour℠ Project Manager

The colorful ceramic crazy quilt, “Mystical Window”, created by Nappanee’s Northwood High School art class is now complete and ready to move to a new home.  Students will dedicate their beautiful and touchable artwork to the Nappanee Public Library on April 30 during homeroom.  Art teacher, Melinda Sharp, is proud of her students’ willingness to share their “labor of love” with the community.  Although her classroom may seem a little colorless when the ceramic quilt is gone, it won’t be drab for long; she’s already brainstorming with students about next year’s project.

The first annual Essenhaus Quilt Show was held August 7, 8, and 9, 2008, at the Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center on the main campus of the property where the restaurant and Essenhaus Village Shops are located. The show was designed to celebrate quilts, those who create them, and the fine art of quilting. Vendors were on-site during the event and live hand-quilting demonstrators and local guilds worked to complete a quilt topper pieced by Alma Mullet, mother of Essenhaus co-founder, Sue Miller.  The 3-day event was held in conjunction with the Middlebury Summer Festival, a town-wide celebration of summer, and the Quilt Gardens Tour (sm), an Elkhart County event that unites quilters and gardeners alike. Beautiful and unique quilts were displayed and awards were presented for best hand-stitched, best machine-stitched, and “people’s choice”. 

Professional quilt judge, Doris Goins, served as judge for the event and award recipients were: 

Machine Stitched:
1^st Place           Edith Shanholt, Elkhart, IN (Pattern:  Indigo Stars)
2^nd Place          Connie Kauffman, Nappanee, IN (Pattern:  Shining Star)
3^rd Place           Marie Troyer, Elkhart, IN (Pattern:  Scrappy Savannah Medallion)

Hand Stitched:
1^st Place           Rebecca Yoder, Bristol, IN (Pattern:  Around the Garden)
2^nd Place          Maple Leaf Quilt Guild, Bristol, IN (Pattern:  Virtues)
3^rd Place          Claire Baker, Middlebury, IN (Pattern:  Jane #4)

People’s Choice Awards were selected by popular vote from all attendees of the show who chose to complete a ballot.  People’s Choice Award Winners were First:  Rebecca Yoder (Pattern:  Around the Garden), Second:  Maple Leaf Quilt Guild (Pattern:  Virtues), and Third:  Fork’s Mennonite Church Quilt Guild (Pattern:  Lone Star).

Next year’s show will be held on August 6, 7, and 8, 2009, at the Essenhaus Inn & Conference Center.

Additional information regarding Das Dutchman Essenhaus can be obtained by calling 800-455-9471, or via the Internet website Essenhaus.com

The Quilt Gardens Tour is still in full-swing. The gardens are getting more and more beautiful everyday. Luckily enough for you, during the Tour, Essenhaus is hosting a Quilt Show from August 7 – 9. This is a great opportunity to check out local hand-made quilts similar to the large-scale garden you can see outside. Awards are going to be presented, including a people’s choice award. So go and make your voice heard. Vote for you favorite quilt!
August 7 – 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm
August 8 & 9 10:00 am to 8:00 pm     More Info

Whether you’ve been to Amish Country before or this is your first time, our all-new Official Quilt Gardens Tour SM is absolutely something you can’t miss! Each gigantic garden and super-sized mural site is conveniently located along the nationally recognized Heritage Trail and takes you to 23 not-to-be-missed stops, many at our most popular attractions.

You’ll find plenty of dining and lodging options and lots of places to shop along way. Make a stay of it at one of our cozy country inns or hotels with names you know and trust! Our quilt-inspired overnight packages offer competitive rates (from just $54.99), and welcoming amenities!

Choose Your Package Here

Quilt murals are going up. Vivid splashes of color can be seen adorning the sides of buildings all over the county. Wow, the colors really pop! Look up and catch the excitement! Here’s the schedule of mural installations: Elkhart County CVB, Goshen and Middlebury are complete; May 12-17; Bristol and Nappanee; and May 19-23 Wakarusa and downtown Elkhart.