Wild & Wooly Escape

This past weekend Mom and I attended the Wild & Wooly Escape 

in Shipshewana, Indiana.

This retreat has been going on for a few years, but this was the first year we attended.

Mary Blythe of Blythe Girl Designs was one of the featured teachers!

This was part of her display of current designs in her classroom.

So much eye candy! 😍

Mom and I each took a class with Mary.

Mom took this class

And I took this one.

Mary is a wonderful teacher and I highly recommend taking a class if you ever have the opportunity!

She is so generous in sharing her knowledge and in all the little extras.

Of course I couldn’t leave class without a few more of her delightful patterns

And her amazing book filled with great designs 

And a few of her favorite notions.

The retreat also featured “destash” tables.

I didn’t think to take pictures when they were chock full, but here is a pic from the last day.

Mom and I brought three large tote bags of items to sell and just about everything found new homes -

Providing lots of funds to restash LOL!

I was delighted to find this sweet kit on the destash tables 

Along with this darling pattern

And this amazing project bag made with Blackbird Designs fabrics 

Made by fellow attendee Monica.

Love it! ❤️

The Blue Gate Garden Inn had lovely areas for stitching both inside and out 

when you wanted to move around a bit.

This was my view when stitching outside one afternoon.

The retreat also had a show and tell one evening where each attendee could present a finish. 

Mine is on the left - Rebekah L. Smith’s Thistle Runner and Mom’s Koi Pond by Crane Designs. 

The finishes were all stunning! To see them all, be sure to visit 

the Wild and Wooly Escape page on Facebook.

There were vendors on site as well. 

I promised myself not to buy any wool as I have enough to vend myself lol,

But who could resist these tonal packs?!

Each and every attendee also received a door prize and mine could not have been more perfect!

A quilt book and kit based on Christmas at Marshall Field’s on State Street in Chicago. 

So many family memories have been made there starting with my grandparents taking me and your sister to The Walnut Room as children and my husband and I doing the same with our boys…

Of course you have to shop when in Shipshewana!

A visit to Yoder’s Department Store is required!

They have an amazing selection of cookie cutters and a few went home with me.

Along with this great fabric collection and two pairs of shoes - 

LOL they have it all!

I did a little antiquing and those water spout handles caught my eye.

Here are my tiny treasures.

The tiny red tin box was special and the ruler says “for the ladies work basket”.

I made some good progress on my class piece while there.

I had some delayed surgery on my foot two days after returning, but it’s given me an opportunity to slow down and think about how wonderful this retreat was! 

Mary and Lisa did a phenomenal job putting everything together - from the classes, to the vendors, to all the activities - it was just perfect! 

And Mom and I are signed up to return next year!

We can’t wait!

And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.

~Micah 6:8

Blessings, Patti

Amish Country ~The End

On our last day, Aileen went out for her morning coffee run and found that a lot of Amish people were heading in the same direction - on their way to a flea market.

She picked us all up and away we went. 

What a wonderful experience! The flea market was half Amish and half English.

I was mezmerized by all the animals for sale.

My oldest son loves ducks, so I texted him this photo and asked if he would like a souvenir.

His response ~ "Yes, please!"

He was a little disappointed when I brought home cinnamon rolls and peanut butter instead of a duckling... :)

My favorites were the turkeys and the peacock.

Look at that face :)

There were lots of puppies and bunnies too. 

I chose not to think if those bunnies were for pets or for dinner...

 A bit out of town we stopped at a Mennonnite fabric shop.

I've never seen a cleaner and more organized fabric shop!

It was immaculate!

I tried to be good, but did end up buying a few things from the fabric shops that we visited.

On our way out of town, we couldn't resist taking this photo (while still trying to respect their culture.)

A mom and her 9 children.

We did get caught, when the little girl tried to see where her dropped juice box had gone...

And in a few short hours it was back to home sweet home.

"And what does the Lord require of you?

To act justly and to love mercy

and to walk humbly with your God."

~Micah 6:8

Blessings, Patti

Amish Country Part 2

Shipshewana is filled with shops. One of my favorites - A Thankful Heart.

I love the name and this sweet shop is filled with primitives and handmades.

There are also several nice antique shops

Rebecca Haarer Arts & Antiques

and Fisher's Antiques

Don't you just love their sign?!

This item caught my eye in a glass case. I wasn't sure what it was, but knew that I had to find out.

So glad that I asked to see it!

It's a needle case! The outside is a super soft leather that you see at the top.

There is a little place for your thimble and the two ends are velvet pincushions.

I'm so pleased with my treasure and found a bone stiletto and crochet hook as well.

I also bought this 1858 Mason jar - I love the bubbly, wavy blue glass.

And this Bennington, Vermont jug. It's been cracked and glued in many, many places, but the price was definitely right. The painted crocks like this are usually out of my price range and I really appreciate the effort that someone took to save it...

Soon after we were married, my husband and I took a long road trip to Bennington :)

My final purchase has a story...

Last year at a primitives show, I found this incredible piece. I was mezmerized as I had never seen anything like it. It was out of my price range, but I admired it for quite some time. 

They called it stumpwork. It reminded me of punch needle, except that the loops are sheared off and sculpted.

Fast forward to Shipshewana, where I found this:

Here is some of the detail.

All done with wool thread.

The edges have three layers of tongues and the backing is solid red.

I am so happy with all of my treasures, especially my stumpwork coverlet!

I'll have one more post of Amish Country Fun...

"Trust in the Lord forever,

for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal."

 ~Isaiah 26:4

Blessings, Patti

A trip to Amish Country

My stitching girlfriends and I spent last weekend in Amish country ~ Shipshewana, Indiana.

I think it has been almost 20 years since I was there last. I had an Amish friend, Leanne, who lived outside this town that I would visit frequently. Unfortunately, after the birth of her fourth child, we lost touch as life became too busy.

Not much has changed in all those years, thankfully. 

On our way, we stopped at House of Stitches in LaPorte, Indiana.

A very nice large shop with a great inventory and a very helpful staff.

Here is our group, except that we are missing two - Gladys was in Japan and Kim was in Louisville.

You were both missed and thought of often!

Here are the treasures that I found there.

Linen for Heartstring Samplery's newest projects and some great linen scraps for small pinkeeps. I stocked up on magazines and that sweet little mother of pearl rabbit floss winder.

Our next stop was this fun quilt shop - the fabrics were inspiring and the staff so friendly and helpful.

We finally reached Shipshewana where we visited a store like no other.

A store that you can spend an entire day in with interesting sights down every aisle.

Clearly a shop that has both Amish and English customers.

Beautiful oil lamps and replacement shades

A huge selection of cookie cutters

Have you ever seen so many?!

As a frequent baker of cutout cookies, I had to quickly leave this aisle, before temptation hit as I already have dozens of cutters...

Where else can you shop and go home with such a variety of purchases from just one store???

In a household of men, it was such fun to shop with my girlfriends. 

Susan is especially talented at helping me step out of my fashion comfort zone :)

A hounds tooth cape and red shoes?! Oh my! 

I love them and hope that I will be brave enough to wear them soon :)  

And a wool applique pattern and hand dyed wools from the same store?!

What fun!

 I have much more to share and will return soon...

"Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus."

~Phillipians 4:21

Blessings, Patti