Amish Country Quilt Gardens Tour 2011
Quilt Gardens Along the Heritage Trail
Monday, May 30, 2011 - Saturday, October 1, 2011
This is an All Day Event
Resister HERE for the 25th Anniversary Plain and Fancy Quilt
100,000+ glorious blooms • 18 gigantic gardens • 18 super-sized murals at 12 locations • 36 designs • 7 welcoming communities Imagine huge living quilts packed with 100,000 plus blooms • 18 quilt gardens and 18 hand-painted quilt art murals blanket Amish Country in a colorful patchwork linked by the roads that form the Heritage Trail.
The Garden
Amish Acres has skillfully taken a historic quilt pattern and woven it
with flowers for a non-stop show. By enriching the soil with organic
material, the garden is equipped to handle such an intensely planted
flower bed. A side border of Wonderland Pink Alyssum surrounds the
center medallion containing four individual LeMoyne Star blocks. The
inner border is comprised of Tycoon Blue Ageratum. The eight-pointed
star has alternating rays of Violet and White Vista Salvia. The combination
of plant material, pattern and color choice in this garden translates
the relationship between each element in an inventive way.
The Inspiration
The Star of LeMoyne pattern was named for Jean-Baptiste and Pierre LeMoyne,
French-Canadian explorers and statesmen who founded the city of New
Orleans. Their family coat of arms displayed a eight-pointed star.
It has remained on of the most enduring star patterns for over two
centuries and the foundation for truly beautiful patchwork patterns.
This star for is the basis from which a whole constellation of other
star patterns derive. It is because of this long traditon and rich
history that Amish Acres chose this pattern for its garden.
The 2011 Quilt Gardens Tour
Quilt Gardens Tour Brochure
Quilt Gardens Tour Map
Hope Blooms
The 2011 Quilt Gardens along the Heritage Trail and the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer are partnering to raise awareness and generate funds for breast cancer research by raffling an original Hope Blooms quilt wall hanging and creating a quilt garden in the same pattern at Elkhart’s Wellfield Botanic Gardens. The Hope Blooms quilt created by fiber artist Diana Bennett features the signature Twirly Bird Pink and other exclusive Vera Bradley fabrics.
This quilt was created by local Artist Jeff Stillson from Elkhart County to its sister-state of Jinhua, China. During his visit to China he hand-painted a quilt mural titled, “Hope Blooms.” The design was chosen to both represent the Elkhart County Quilt Garden Walk, and the message of hope that a permanent bond forms between the sister states. After completing his work, Stillson handed the finished mural over to Mr. Jin Zhong Liang, Deputy Mayor of Jinhua, as a gift to the city.
Article is featured in local newspaper.
United States Postal Service Commerative Quilt Stamps
Amish Acres is a featured stop on the Elkhart County Quilt Gardens tour by expanding its permanent collection of the United States Postal Service commemorative Amish Quilt Stamps that were dedicated in The Round Barn Theatre. Replicas of the four quilts that featured the Diamond in the Square, Lone Star, Double Nine Patch, and Sunshine and Shadows patterns hang in the theatre and Amish Acres restaurant where its famous Threshers Dinner is served. Collector’s Cachets of the First Day of Issue of the stamps remain available at Amish Acres as well.
Now as part of the Amish Country Quilt Gardens and Murals project that features eleven gardens and nine murals throughout Elkhart County and Amish Country, gardens representing the four quilt designs are featured next to Amish Acres' Cow Shed during the 2008 summer season.
Amish quilt patterns are among the most distinctive in the world. They are instantly recognizable from their severe geometric designs, plain fabrics, deep primary and secondary colors used in surprising and vibrant juxtaposition with intriguing flowing stitching.
Downtown Nappanee
In addition the City of Nappanee has adopted the four quilt patterns in its current downtown streetscape project and will join the project with several gardens and murals to further complement the home of the Amish Quilt Stamps.
