Shipshewana Indiana Quilting Retreat

We stayed at the Farmstead Inn. The area was a lot like this picture - big grassy areas and white farmhouse style homes. This is the East wing - there is also a West wing and a couple of "red barn" style buildings where they have conference rooms. It was a fun place to stay!

A Dear Jane quilt. The retreat was organized and put on by the Dear Jane quilters. Brenda Papadakis saw this old quilt done by Jane A. Stickle in 1863 and decided to figure out how the blocks were made. She wrote a book and published it. Pretty soon ladies were wanting to actually Make the quilt and that is how it all started. There are 225 different block patterns either pieced or appliqued. It takes a significant time to complete this quilt and the idea is to make blocks and keep a diary of the experience - when you are finished you have a family heirloom!!

This is the red and blue version of a Dear Jane quilt - I am trying to get up the nerve to attempt!!

Some of our "quilting buddies" standing behind a Dear Jane quilt.

I went to Shipshewana with Earlene and Marilee. Here we are at the Blue Gate Restaurant.

We saw a lot of Amish people during our stay. They asked we not take pictures of them - (I understand why - how would you like tourists coming into town taking pictures of the Mormons!!?) It was OK to get this picture of a buggy hitched outside the stores. Soon after I got this picture a cute family came out of the store and hopped in.

We ate at an Amish farmhouse one night, and had what was supposed to be a typical Amish dinner. Everywhere we went the condiments on the table included apple butter and a peanut butter spread. We got the recipe for the peanut butter spread and it turns out it consists mainly of peanut butter, marshmellow creme and corn syrup. They serve a couple of dishes - one is potatoes and gravy with noodles on top. Another is a turkey sandwich and potatoes with gravy poured over the top. I think it was called a Manhatten. This is a very old and valuable Amish quilt.

The town is small and one area had some quaint little shops like these. We ate at a cute cupcake shop at the end of this street. Really good food!! We met the owner and she told us the history of starting the store.

Yoder's Red Barn Store was across the street from where we stayed. It had four sections: clothing, fabric, groceries and hardware. A typical country store.

This shop had the best doughnuts I've ever had! They weren't light and airy like Krispy Kremes - they were denser and dipped in caramel and covered with cinnamon sugar powder. Probably a million calories but well worth it!!