I just returned home from a delightful quilt vacation in beautiful Wisconsin. I’d never been to Wisconsin before and came home ready to move there! While traveling to a few area shops I was able to see the most beautiful countryside–farms, fields, barns (even a barn quilt), and gorgeous lakes and rivers. I probably should have taken a lot more pictures, but truly I was just enjoying every moment! J J Stitches & Co. in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin was the first stop. The shop was an “ooh and ahh” beautiful, and I picked up some wonderful reproduction fat quarters there.
Next up was Stitcher’s Crossing in Madison, Wisconsin. This was a wonderful shop with a wide variety of fabrics. It was fun to spy my book on the shelf, too! The staff at this shop (and at every single shop we visited) was fantastic, friendly and helpful!
Our third stop was at Mill House Quilts in Waunakee, Wisconsin. This shop has a delightful mix of many different styles of fabric, a terrific notions section, and wonderful displays. I was also awed by the wooden plank floors and the beautiful garden outside.
The fourth stop was at Country Sampler in Spring Green, Wisconsin. This store was an incredible destination. Not only was I inspired at every turn while in the shop, but a retreat was going on, and we got to meet the most wonderful quilters who were there taking a class! Beautiful fabrics, kits, displays, and home decor items were found in every nook of the store!
Finally, we visited Primitive Gatherings in Menasha, Wisconsin. I can’t even begin to describe this shop–amazing goodness at every turn. Since the quilt retreat was being held in Menasha I must admit that I was at the shop 5 times in four days…this is seriously a beautiful shop with gorgeous fabrics, wools, threads, patterns, notions, and displays and kits. I just might be having Primitive Gatherings withdrawals this week (although I discovered after arriving home that they do have a terrific on-line shop)!
Okay…this is the last photo for today (I’ll share pictures of what I worked on in the next retreat post). This is one of the beds in the room I stayed in–so gorgeous! (I picked the blue and white room because it just looked so relaxing and inviting)! Every bed had an antique quilt, and there were gorgeous quilts displayed throughout the entire house.
I’ll catch up on e-mails asap and be back soon with another retreat post…I’ll also announce the winners from each giveaway in the Quilting Life blog tour last week. Thanks so much for stopping by!
Colleen says
So glad you love Wisconsin and the shops! We are blessed to live around here near all that quilty goodness :o) I live about an hour and 15 minutes away from Primitive Gatherings and it is worth every minute of the drive! I get there at least 4 or 5 times a year.
Kathy says
It was nice to meet you in person – I was one of the retreaters at Spring Green. It was a wonderful retreat!
Before you move to Wisconsin, visit in January LOL. The weather is wonderful May-Sept, but the rest of the year…well, let's just say we live for May-September! We do have the best quilt shops, though. 🙂
Kathy @ Kwilty Pleasures says
I live in OHIO and last July I was on a bus shop hop made it to several of these wonderful shops! Mill House Quilts was my Favorite. They served us lunch upstairs immediately upon arrival and gave us plenty of shopping time! What fun! I want to go back!
Mary on Lake Pulaski says
Looks like you had a wonderful time in Wisconsin. You lucked out with beautiful weather if it was anything like next door here in Minnesota.
NMSue says
Been to Country Sampler and LOVE that store. I go in there every time we go to Wisconsin. And, yes, Wisconsin is gorgeous but they did get a lot of snow this past winter.
ytsmom says
OMG! I so know what you mean!! We went to Door County last fall, and I would give anything to move there. Even with the winters, I want to live there; lots of quilting weather.
Dawn says
I've not been to Wisconsin but hope to get there one day on a very long RV trip. So much of this wonderful country we live in that needs to be seen and I aim to see it. ;). Glad you got to. 🙂
Carol says
What a wonderful trip! How lucky they are to have such amazing shops!
Stephanie says
I'd have picked the blue and white room too! Gorgeous. Wisconsin is a beautiful state to drive through.
The Faerie Factory says
You seem to have so many wonderful quilting stores in the US I only wish we had some here in the UK ~ Sarah x
Happy Cottage Quilter says
How fun!! Love seeing all the great shops.
ChristaQuilts says
How wonderful! We went on vacation to Wisconsin once to visit the water parks. My kids loved it so much and now my daughter wants to move there, LOL!
If we go back I will definitely have to check out the quilt shops 🙂
Thimbleanna says
How Fun! Nothing like a great collection of quilt shops. And a retreat. And lots and lots of green trees. Sort of a shock after living in the desert, huh? ;-D (Now, if we could just have some of those gorgeous mountains back here….)
Judith Gale says
Wow! What fun! The bedroom with the antique quilt brought tears to my eyes it's so lovely. Thanks for sharing.
Mary Ann says
I was just in Wisconsin on a bus shop hop with 55 other women and had never been there before. I thought it was so pretty with all the rolling hills and trees. I would love to go back and go to the Madison area where you were. Glad you are having a great time.
JudyC says
I live in the Green Bay area and I have never been to any of the shops you visited. They are all on my list to visit soon. I am going to Franklin, North Carolina in late July and I hope to find shops there to spend some time and $$ visiting.
Sandy says
Love that room…and the basket on the bed too..cute! What a fun trip.
Bari Jo says
Wowl – looks like fun! I would plan a vacation to Wisconsin just to be able to go to Primitive Gatherings! Their online service is great – so far that's as close as I've gotten to getting to go there! :O) Thanks for sharing all the fun new shops!
quiltedhappiness says
Hi, It sounds wonderful.! I can't imagine anything better than getting the chance to visit 5 different quilt shops in one holiday! Hope you didn't buy too much fabric! – Suzy
MARCIE says
You hit the jackpot of quilt shops! I haven't been to any of them, but have heard of them all. A couple of them even buy my patterns! Yay! You inspired me to start a new Pinterest board with pics of quilt shops!
elena piña garcia says
Thanks to you for sharing those amazing posts!!!ª
Love from Spain
magpieknits says
I do live in wisconsin and go to all these quilts shops. We really have a good selection of wonderful quilt shops and we know we are very lucky. Glad you had fun. I was just at Stitcher's Crossing in Madison taking a stab at Creative Quilting by making my own MooTown Patty cow mini quilt. Thanks to Kristy and Marilyn for such a great day.
Karen in Breezy Point says
That would be my dream trip!! I am dying to visit every one of those shops–and since I am in a neighboring state, I may get a chance to do it–soon, I hope!
Paula says
I live in central WI and love all those shops. Primitive Gatherings is awesome and always stop when in that area.
So glad you love WI. We winter in your area and I love it.