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Amish-Mennonite Sampler Quilt: A Quilter’s Legacy in Blocks

Program Number: 20986RJ
Start and End Dates:
9/22/2013 - 9/27/2013;
Duration: 5 nights
Location: Sturgis, Michigan
Price starting at: $568.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city
Program Type: Crafts
Meals: 15; 5 Breakfasts, 5 Lunches, 5 Dinners    
Meal Options: Low Fat; Low Salt; Vegetarian; None    

In the heart of Amish Country, lose yourself in a weeklong immersion in the rich quilting history and culture of Michiana. Visit with local Mennonite and Amish quilters who demonstrate their hand-quilting techniques and share personal stories of quilting traditions and legacy. Meet the fabric and antique quilt merchants whose shops support the strong local quilt tradition, and of course, spend time each day sharpening your own skills as your work on quilting projects of your own.




Highlights

• Learn to build and use your own floor quilt frame, a technique that differs from quilting in a hoop.
• Practice traditional quilt block piecing, foundation paper piecing, English paper piecing, appliqué with freezer paper, back basting appliqué, hand quilting and more.
• Sit down to a traditional thrasher’s meal in an Amish home.



Activity Particulars

Minimal walking and standing on this program. Some stairs to dining hall.



Sampler quilt pattern included.



Coordinated by Amigo Centre, a Mennonite retreat center.




Sturgis

Named after Judge John Sturgis, who settled here in 1827, the town is located near the Indiana border about 50 miles south of Kalamazoo in the heart of a thriving Amish and Mennonite community. The original site of the judge’s home can be seen at Pioneer Park.
Accommodations
Retreat center, hotel-style rooms with private bath.

Road Scholar Instructors
These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur.
Carol Honderich
A quilt maker, designer and instructor, Carol Honderich learned quilting at an early age as she joined her mother and grandmothers at the quilting frame at family quilting bees. She traces the passion for this craft back in her family for four generations, with quilts from her great-grandmother, grandmother and mother. Carol has a passion for making faith-based quilts and loves the opportunity to challenge and encourage her students to create well-made, beautiful and meaningful quilts that tell a story about the quilter. Her quilts have been exhibited in galleries and shows around the country, including AQS Paducah Quilt Show, Rocky Mountain Quilt Museum, Sauder Village Quilt Festival and many local exhibits. Carol leads Amigo Centre’s annual Spiritual Quilt Retreat and offers private instruction for individuals, quilt retreats, and presentations for groups.
 
Meals and Lodgings
   Amigo Centre & Retreat
  Sturgis, MI 6 nights
 Amigo Centre & Retreat
Type: Conference Center
  Description: Christian Camp and Conference Center located on 400 acres of diverse geography. Very peaceful location. Beautiful setting with a view of the lake and surrounding woods.
  Contact info: 26455 Banker Rd.
Sturgis, MI 49091 USA
phone: 269-651-2811
web: www.amigocentre.org
  Facility amenities: Public laundry. Internet available if you bring your own laptop.
  Smoking allowed: No
  Elevators available: Yes
  Additional nights prior:  You may call to check on availability for additional nights.
  Check in time: 4:30 PM
  Additional nights after:  You may call to check on availability for additional nights.
  Check out time: 12:00 PM


Travel Details
  Start of Program:
4:00 PM Check-in begins You will be staying at Amigo Centre & Retreat that night.
  End of Program:
11:30 AM Check-out You will be staying at Amigo Centre & Retreat the night before.
  Required documents:
The Road Scholar Health & Safety Form is required.
  Parking availability:
Parking available. No additional fees.
Transportation
To Start of Program
  Location:  Sturgis, MI
  Nearest city or town:  Sturgis, MI 6 miles south.
  Nearest highway: M-66.
  Nearest airport:  Kalamazoo/Battle Creek International Airport (AZO), Kalamazoo, MI.
  From End of Program
  Location: Sturgis, MI
    (Additional transportation information same as above)
Travel Details
 

Kalamazoo, MI

 

From Airport

 
 

Service:

 

Taxi
Leisure Limousine and Sedans
phone: 269-343-0848
Advanced Reservations Required

 

Per Person/One Way:

 

$125.00
Prices are subject to change.
 

Travel Time:

 

1 hour 
 

Distance:

 

40 miles
 
Driving Directions
  From Kalamazoo (North on 131) Take 131 south to West Broadway road in Three Rivers. Turn left on West Broadway and follow signs to M-86. Follow 86 through Centreville to Nottawa. In Nottawa, you'll turn right onto Nottawa Rd. Follow this until you come to a stop sign. Turn left and go approximately 1/2 mile. Amigo drive is on the right (look for the sign).
  From the North on M-66 highway Coming south on M-66. Turn right on Banker Rd (Approximately 4 miles south of M-86) STAY ON BANKER it will turn left at the Amigo sign, just after the curve. The Amigo drive will be on the left side about 1/2 mile after the final turn.
  Indiana Toll Road Take Exit 121. Go North on State Rt. 9 which becomes Centreville Rd. Continue North through Sturgis on N. Centreville approx. 4 miles. Centreville Rd. comes to a T with Featherstone Rd. Turn right on Featherstone and go about 1/4 mile to Rommel Rd. You will begin to see Amigo Centre signs at that point. Turn left on Rommel and go until the stop sign. Turn left on Banker Rd. STAY ON BANKER it will turn to the left At the Amigo sign. The Amigo drive will be on the left side about 1/2 mile after the final turn.
Equipment Requirements: Sewing machine
The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


Daily Schedule

Day 1: Arrival & Check-in, Registration & Orientation
(Sunday, September 22)
   
 Arrive To: Independent arrivals.

CHECK-IN: Begins at 4:00pm in the main office of the Retreat Center.

EXCURSION: Those who would enjoy a walking excursion before the evening meal may gather in the lobby at 5:15pm.

 Dinner: Dinner is in the Dining Hall at 6:00pm. Meals are buffet style with a variety of dietary needs in mind. Our staff seeks to create tasty, home style meals that are good for you, too!
 Evening: Orientation at 7:00 pm. We will review the schedule for the week as well as the facilities and resources that are available during your free time. Emergency procedures and general questions will be covered, along with ample time for introductions of participants for this program and meeting your hosts and resource team.
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Quilting Basics & Fabrics, Field Trip to Shipshewana IN
(Monday, September 23)

Note: Classes will be held on the lower level of the Retreat Center, just outside guest rooms to make the class room experience easy and comfortable. You may attend class in your slippers and view nature outside through the large windows facing the lake.
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Dining Hall beginning at 8:00 am. Enjoy delicious hot entrées with the addition of fresh fruit. We prepare our eggs in a variety of ways throughout the week, plus breakfast meats and options such as pancakes, baked oatmeal, or French toast.
 Morning: CLASS 1: Quilt basics, pattern review, or favorite tools and notions.

• Learn quilting basics including how to set up a sewing machine for piecing and accurate seams. • Discuss the care and handling quilting tools, and safety in our classroom, especially with regard to rotary cutters and blades, pins, needles and scissors. • Learn the proper methods and tips for accurate cutting with a rotary cutter. • Review the quilt pattern we will use for our project to gain an overall understanding of the process.

BREAK

CLASS 2: Fabric colors and prints.

• Discuss your fabric choices for this project and share your preferences in color and style. • Learn the importance of mixing prints, colors, shades and values in fabric. • Use the color wheel to determine a color style and range for your sampler quilt.

 Lunch: Lunch is in the Dining Hall at 12:00pm. Enjoy delicious meals complete with salad bar and dessert.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: We will depart from Amigo Centre for Shipshewana, Indiana, at 12:45pm. During the field trip, we will visit an antique quilt shop and two local fabric stores where your instructor will be happy to help you pick out any additional fabric you may wish to purchase for your project to help tell your story.
 Dinner: At 5:00pm, we will enjoy a "Thrasher's Meal" at a local Amish home. This delectable repast recalls the experience of Amish thrashers who worked together each year at harvest time followed by a delicious meal. We'll bring our pie back with us to Amigo - to enjoy a little later in the evening!
 Evening: Return to Amigo Centre and enjoy a relaxing evening making new friends or work on your project.
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 3: Classes 3, 4, 5 & 6, Evening Campfire & Pontoon Rides
(Tuesday, September 24)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Dining Hall beginning at 8:00am. Enjoy delicious meals with fresh fruit, hot breakfast foods including eggs, meat and a variety throughout the week of pancakes, baked oatmeal, or French toast.
 Morning: CLASS 3: Traditional piecing with rotary cut pieces.

• Learn to identify quilt blocks based on a 3x3, 4x4 or 5x5 grid. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Learn to measure and rotary cut the pieces needed for your block. • Practice traditional machine piecing techniques for constructing the block.

BREAK

CLASS 4: Traditional piecing with/without templates. • Learn to draft a quilt block and to create templates from your line drawing. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Practice traditional machine piecing or hand piecing techniques for constructing the block, including how to sew “Y” seams.

 Lunch: Lunch is in the Dining Hall at 12:00pm. Enjoy delicious meals complete with salad bar and dessert.

After lunch, you'll have an opportunity for an informal nature walk along some of our many trails where you can enjoy the peace and beauty of the woods and lakeside. You might even see a deer!

 Afternoon: CLASS 5: Foundation paper piecing. • Learn to identify quilt blocks that are easily constructed using foundation piecing techniques. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Learn to divide the pattern into foundation piecing sections. • Practice foundation piecing techniques for constructing the block.

BREAK

CLASS 6: English paper piecing. • Learn to identify quilt blocks that are easily constructed using English paper piecing techniques. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Learn to create English paper piecing templates. • Practice English paper piecing techniques for constructing the block.

 Dinner: Dinner is in the Dining Hall at 5:00pm. Get ready for some of our delicious desserts sure to tickle your palate Grasshopper Pie or Brownie Cheesecake, to name a few!
 Evening: CAMPFIRE & PONTOON RIDES: Beginning around 6:00pm, we will have a campfire with pontoon rides by the boat house near the Retreat Center. You may enjoy a leisurely ride on Perrin Lake, and/or gather around the campfire, singing songs, roasting marshmallows, and making S'mores. (Everybody wants s'more!) We will alternate groups on the pontoon to allow everyone to participate.
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 4: Classes 7 & 8, Amish-Mennonite Home Quilting Field Trip, Share Your Talents & Tales
(Wednesday, September 25)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Dining Hall at 8:00am. By now you'll be asking for some of our recipes -- baked oatmeal or homemade granola, everyone's favorite!
 Morning: CLASS 7: Appliqué (freezer paper). • Learn to identify quilt blocks that are constructed using applique techniques. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Learn to trace, cut and apply freezer paper pieces to fabric in preparation for appliqué. • Practice appliqué stitching techniques for creating the block.

BREAK

CLASS 8: Back basting appliqué. • Learn to identify quilt blocks that are easily constructed using back basting appliqué techniques. • Select one or more blocks to make from this category. • Learn to trace the appliqué design to fabric in preparation for appliqué. • Practice back-basting stitching techniques for creating the block.

 Lunch: Lunch is in the Dining Hall at 12:00pm. Enjoy delicious meals complete with salad bar and dessert.
 Afternoon: CLASS 9: Squaring blocks, adding sashing and borders. • Learn to press and square your quilt blocks. • Practice speed sewing technique for quilt assembly. • Learn to measure and cut sashing and borders to create a flat and square quilt top.

BREAK

CLASS 10: Marking quilting designs for hand quilting. • Review a variety of marking tools, techniques and designs, and discuss how quilting designs can enhance the overall look of your quilt. • Learn to create your own stencils or adapt ready-made stencils for your quilt.

 Dinner: Dinner is in the Dining Hall at 6:00 pm. Dessert will probably be Blueberry Crunch or Apple Crisp...both scrumptious!
 Evening: SHARE YOUR TALENTS & TALES: We will gather around 7:00 pm for our very own "Talent Show" with and for the group. Bring a story, poem, song, hobby, or whatever you would like to present (for up to 5 minutes). We will also have time for you to share stories of other Road Scholar programs you have participated in and would most recommend.
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 5: Classes 9, 10, 11 & 12, Evening Presentation on Amish & Mennonites Quilts
(Thursday, September 26)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Dining Hall at 8:00am. In addition to the other tasty options, we might have coffee cake or rolls today!
 Morning: CLASS 11: Hand quilting tools and techniques. • Discuss backing and batting options for quilts and for hand-quilting, • Try different kinds of quilting needles, thread, and thimbles. • Practice creating even short stitches.

BREAK

CLASS 12: Quilt labels and legacy -- caring for your quilts. • Examine different types of quilt labels and learn the importance of identifying the maker and date. • Learn how to properly care for quilts, how to store them, protect them, and clean them. • Share your thoughts and experiences regarding quilts as a legacy.

 Lunch: Lunch is in the Dining Hall at 12:00pm. We provide a variety of home style meals throughout the program. What has been your favorite thus far? Please be sure to let us know what you have liked the best.
 Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: After lunch we will leave for an Amish/Mennonite home to experience a "quilting" and share stories of this rich and longstanding tradition. Plan on having wonderful conversation with our hosts as we all work together to create a quilt. We will return to Amigo Centre around 4:30pm.
 Dinner: Dinner is in the Dining Hall at 5:00pm. Our closing dinner of the program will be a special occasion for celebrating the camaraderie of shared experiences and new friendships.
 Evening: EVENING PRESENTATION: Pigtails and Ponytails: Growing up Mennonite. We will gather around the quilting frame to help knot a comforter for charity and listen as Melodie and Carol share stories and photos of their experience growing up in Mennonite homes and a Mennonite community fifty years ago. How did the activities and foods of home, church, community mark the seasons of their lives and influence them today? How is Mennonite life different today than it was in the 1950’s? The evening will include favorite Mennonite snacks from the 1950’s.
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Day 6: Final Review, Wrap-up, A Traditional Floor Quilt Frame
(Friday, September 27)
   
 Breakfast: Breakfast is in the Dining Hall at 8:00am. Last chance to taste that delicious homemade granola...we're sure you'll want to purchase some to extend your Amigo memories!
 Morning: CLASS 13 & Wrap-up: As a special treat, learn about a traditional floor quilt frame -- how to make your own, how to put a quilt top in a frame, and hand quilting in a floor frame. We'll answer any last minute questions and have time to show off your projects.

You will have time to pack up and check out of your room prior to lunch.

 Lunch: The program concludes with lunch in the Dining Hall at 11:30am.

We trust you have enjoyed this new learning adventure and will return for other rewarding Road Scholar programs in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!
   
Accommodations: Amigo Centre & Retreat
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch

Free Time Opportunities
  
  Sturgis, MI River County Tourism Bureau
Your guide to Southern Michigan For additional information, visit www.rivercountry.com
Important information about your itinerary: Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information featured on this website. Itineraries are based on our best information at this time. Circumstances beyond our control may require us to adjust itineraries or other details. We regret any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding. Information will be sent to you from your Program Provider approximately three weeks prior to the program start date. The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.


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