It’s the ONLY experience of its kind in the WORLD!
Over a MILLION glorious blooms.
19 supersized quilt-inspired gardens. 18 hand painted quilt-themed murals.
The 2012 Quilt Gardens…along the Heritage Trail begins May 30th!

These wonderful gardens are viewable throughout Amish Country along the Heritage Trail in seven welcoming communities- Elkhart, Bristol, Goshen, Middlebury, Nappanee, Shipshewana and Wakarusa.

Now, here’s my favorite part—it’s free!

The map directing you to all the Quilt Garden and Quilt Mural locations is in the Amish Country Travel Guide or online. Pick up a copy at the Elkhart County Visitor Center located at 219 Caravan Drive, Elkhart Indiana. (Exit 92 on I-80/90 directly behind the Cracker Barrel) You can also pick up a copy of the free Heritage Trail audio driving tour CD. It tells a fun story all about the area’s history, people and places.

I love meeting all the folks that come into the Visitors Center, and I look forward to helping you discover all the fun things to do – especially the Quilt Gardens.

Do you have a favorite Quilt Garden from a past year? Let us know!

As I was shopping at Heart’s Desire Mall this week, I was looking for a piece that was attractive and would serve multiple functions. I came across a repurposed console television (haven’t seen one of these since my college days!). The original solid wood casing and interior had been painted, and all the workings had been removed and replaced with shelving inside.

I was drawn to this piece for a few reasons. It’s not a precious antique, so it could be painted to fit any color scheme. I love that it has storage inside and can hold decorative objects on the top. It’s also on wheels and is the perfect size for one person to manage moving it. I could see this piece in a kitchen serving as a drinks station. You could keep your stemware, cocktail napkins, extra wine, and serving pieces inside, and place a nice serving tray on top holding hors d’oeuvres. And since it’s on wheels, the party could move from room to room!

The lesson here is to keep an open mind when shopping, and look for pieces that will do double duty. Whether it serves multiple purposes, has storage capabilities, or is mobile, when you find a piece that is beautiful and functional, you’ve hit the jackpot!

Heart’s Desire Mall
3030 Old US 20
Elkhart, IN 46514
574.294.6096
Find on Facebook
Tuesday-Saturday 9:00-6:00
Sunday 12:00-5:00
Closed Mondays

Amish Quilting Bee & Family-Style Meal
The Carriage House in Topeka:
Enjoy hands-on instruction followed by a hearty family-style meal in an Amish home.  The cost is $30 per person.   Contact Elaine Jones for reservations at 260.768.8199×2128

Artistic Instruction
Art Soup Studios in Bristol:  Get creative with hands-on classes – basic drawing, water colors, decorative folk art painting, airbrush basics, pottery, or floral design  in a charmingly restored riverside gallery.  Contact Ted McFarland for rates & reservations at 574.848.4761

Cinnamon Roll Making at an Amish Family Farm
The Carriage House  in Topeka: This local favorite is a staple in Amish home baking. Learn the process from start to finish and taste the delicious results.  The cost is  $10 per person.  Contact Elaine Jones for reservations at 260.768.8199×2128

“Coloring Happiness”
Lavender Patch Fabric & Quilts in Bristol:  Get a fresh view of looking at color & design that gives us joy. We’ll talk about it all during this trunk show featuring colorful fabrics, wall hangings, quilts & gifts.  The cost is $12 a person.   Contact Pat Harris at 574.848.0011 or email   pat@lavenderpatchquilts.com

Quilt Appreciation 101
The Quilt Shop at Essenhaus  in Middlebury:  Do you know the difference between a comforter and a quilt? Can you pick out a hand quilted vs. a machine quilted quilt? Or spot the differences in machine quilting? Are you familiar with applique techniques? This class teaches you all that and more. You’ll know what to look for when you see quilts in shops, museums and collections. You’ll even learn about the care, storage and appraisal of treasured family quilts and hear personal stories of heirloom quilts. You’ll go away feeling like an expert and have a whole lot of fun in the process. Cost is $5 per person
Contact Roz Stoffel  at 800.455.9471 or email thequiltshop-roz@live.com

Check out our other hands on activities for small groups.  I hope these unique experiences will make great memories while you’re here in Amish Country.

The Goshen Police Booth was built in the late 1930′s to protect the city’s two banks, which were located diagonally opposite of one another. At that time city officials had good reason to fear that auto bandits traveling the Lincoln Highway might strike Goshen. In 1933 members of the John Dillinger gang had raided police facilities in Auburn, Indiana, and Peru, Indiana, stealing several machine guns and other weapons, ammunition, and bulletproof vests. The gang later robbed a police station in nearby Warsaw, Indiana, of guns and bulletproof vests. In 1934 Dillinger and Pretty Boy Floyd robbed a bank in South Bend, Indiana, killing a law enforcement officer in the process. With Auburn located to the east of Goshen, Peru to the west, Warsaw to the south and South Bend to the north, it seemed likely that the Dillinger gang, and other gangsters of the day, were passing through Goshen while en route to commit their crimes.

This photo, believed to be from the 1940s, shows local emergency service personnel and their vehicles posed in front of the police booth. The car on the right is from the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, middle is from the Goshen Police Department, and ambulance is on the left. Ambulance crewmen may have been from local funeral home. Rectangular building in the left rear is a public restroom that no longer exists. Photo from archives of Goshen Historical Society.

John Dillinger, and most of the other infamous members of his gang, were already dead or in prison by the time that the Goshen Police Booth was completed in 1939. But that didn’t stop the Goshen Police Department from putting their new facility to good use.

The booth became the department’s “front desk”, so to speak, and was manned by an officer 24 hours a day. When a citizen wanted to make a report to the police they went to the booth, rather than a desk at the police station. This arrangement also meant that there was always an officer on duty in the city’s central business district, watching over the downtown.

Goshen Police Officer shown manning the booth, year unknown. View through window appears to be looking east on E. Lincoln Avenue. Photo from Troyer Studio Collection, Goshen, Indiana.

In earlier years when there was also an officer on foot patrol downtown, a system of call-lights was controlled from the police booth. When the officer in the booth needed to contact the officer on foot patrol he would turn on the call-lights and the foot patrol officer would know to call the booth. Later on a radio in the booth allowed the officer to stay in touch with patrol cars. The police booth was manned by officers of the department until about 1970.

So even though the the gangsters that it was meant to protect against were mostly gone by the time it was finished in 1939, the Goshen Police Booth provided useful service to the community for nearly 30 years.

It’s a unique part of Goshen!

There is no shortage of things to do in Nappanee. Most people know about Amish Acres, which offers so much that there isn’t enough space in my blog to cover. Click the link to learn more.

Coppes Commons is a new and historically interesting site. This building dates back to the 19^th century and was the home to a wood cabinet making company that put the Nappanee name into thousands upon thousands of homes throughout the U.S.  Today you find a group of innovative small business and shops - all examples of the entrepreneurial spirit that’s still alive and well in Nappanee. From a bicycle shop to creative ice cream and foods it’s a great place to embrace the pace of Nappanee.

The Amish community in the Nappanee area is one of the largest in Amish Country. Travel country roads to find Amish owned and operated businesses that feature a variety of wares from small trinkets to a room full of furniture. More

Then there’s the great places to eat and/or buy tasty treats in Nappanee.  I guess I’ll have to cover that in another blog.  In the meantime, I’m thinking about getting out to enjoy the spring weather and head down to Nappanee to visit some of my favorite spots which are many.

What’s your favorite spot in Nappanee?

Volunteers by the scores plant each flower to sew
Creating a masterpiece to burst into blooms.

People from all over the nation and globe
Come to look at the quilt gardens, enjoy and behold.
Beautiful blooms that form gardens all patterned with color
And each tells a story of the garden where they’re laid.

The weather affects them as no regular quilt would,
And critters enjoy munching on them at will (a hazard of the artform)
But no matter how wind-blown, or gnawed on, or drenched
These quilts weather it all in beautiful form.

So as you drive the Heritage Trail this summer, and wonder what should you see
Take time for the Quilt Gardens. You’ll be glad – so will we.

Located along the Heritage Trail driving tour in northern Elkhart County; this small town is the community after Elkhart that visitor’s drive through on the Trail.

Just within the town limits on the west side of the street is the Elkhart County Historical Museum. This local treasure offers visitors a look back in time at life in Elkhart County. Interestingly, this museum used to be the town’s only high school. As a local, I’m proud to say my Grandparents met there and later married – nearly 60 years ago. The area that was once the school gymnasium is still used as a venue for a lot of local activities from craft bizarres and family reunions to the annual storytelling festival. That festival brings in folks from all over the country.

Up the road there’s a beautiful old restored house that’s now a floral and gift shop – Camille’s. The rooms throughout the house each offer something different, and most have some surprises. The ladies who work there are friendly and willing to take time out to help. Recently, they made a beautiful flower arrangement for me that I gave to my fiancée. All I needed to tell them was her favorite color.

Within walking distance of Camille’s on the same side of the street is another historic building that houses Stone Soup Emporium and Bonnie & Clyde’s Soda Fountain. I’ve covered this in a previous blog, but I enjoy it so much and want to note that they’ve added a candy case! So along with an old fashion soda, and a locally crafted piece of artwork, you can treat yourself to a hand dipped, delicious piece of chocolate. Stone Soup Emporium is  definitely a not-to-be-missed experience. The owners also have plans to renovate another portion of the building so they’ll be able to provide full meal options.

The newest addition to Main street businesses is the Lavender Patch. Here you can watch quilters piece together their quilts. They also have a wonderful selection of locally made fiber art work available for purchase. Lavender Patch is also hosting classes to share and pass on their techniques. See their website for class information.

I also want to mention a few places of interest that are local favorites.

• Chicago’s Downtown Eatery. The BEST pizza and sandwich shop (in my opinion).
• Interstate Coin Exchange – full of historically interesting coins.
• Evan’s Sidewalk Café. Great coffee and the place to go for affordable breakfast fare.
• Bonneyville Mill – you can spend an entire afternoon here wandering the trails, picnicking, and taking pictures. Peaceful, beautiful, and historic. Plus they sell mill-ground flour.

What is your favorite town in Amish Country?

Nearly 26 miles of paved, gentle trails conveniently connect parks and towns. Meander through woodlands and fields passing tidy Amish farms, spotting wildlife and wildflowers and totally enjoying a great day outdoors.

It’s difficult to talk about Middlebury without including Das Dutchmen Essenhaus. This well-known attraction offers Amish inspired fare served family-style, a bakery noted for its variety all made-from-scratch , horse drawn carriage rides, miniature golf, bike rentals, and specialty gift items in The Village Shops.

Middlebury downtown area has beautiful parks, great dinning, family activities, and events. Krider “World’s Fair” Garden near downtown is a historic, flower-packed garden popular with locals and visitors alike.  Stroll or bicycle along the Pumpkinvine Nature Trail and take in the relaxing views along the way.

Main Street in Middlebury is a classic small town gathering of locally owned businesses that serve both the “English” and Amish communities. Stop in and have a cup of freshly-brewed coffee at The Legendary Grind or dine at the Village Inn Restaurant for Amish homemade meals and service.  Varns & Hoover Hardware, the Cinnamon Stick, Gohn Brothers, Legacy Home Furniture and Old Hoosier Meats are a sampling of places offering high quality with good service.

Then there are my favorite Middlebury events – Middlebury’s Summer (August 10 &11) and Fall (September 21 & 22) Festivals. Amish buggies and happy kids line the streets as the town’s parade down Main Street begins. Merchants offer special deals and the whole town seems to get in the act.  It’s a guaranteed fun time in Middlebury.

What is your ‘hot-spot’ in Middlebury?

Enjoy seminars packed with tips from planting to maintaining.   Lifestyle expert, Andrew Skipper, will talk about “The Outdoor Room – Creating Spaces for Living and Entertaining.”

Fill your spring and summer garden with perennials and annuals from the plant sale, and shop the vendor marketplace for outdoor décor, art and design.

Kids will love the Children’s Activity Tent!

Great tunes provided by:

• The Minor Profits
• Callahan Dylan
• Francis Luke Accord
• “The Corporate Hobos”
• Dan Allen
• VibeNation
• Zephyr Woodwind Quintet
• IU South Bend Flute Ensemble
• Urban Renewal
• Adrienne Frailey

The cost is $5 per person, $4 for members and children 12 and under are free. More