Quilt Gardens Tour August 2, 2009

Artists from across Midwest to paint quilt gardens during Plein Air Paint-Out
Aug. 3-9 peak time to visit free Quilt Gardens Tour, see extra events in Amish Country
ELKHART, Ind. – Landscape artists will capture the beauty and color of the showy flowers that make up the 16 gardens as part of the Quilt Gardens Tour in Elkhart County, during the Plein Air Paint-Out Aug. 8 and 9.
Visitors not only will be able to tour all of the gardens, but they also will get to watch some of the Midwest’s top landscape painters at work throughout the day on Aug. 8 and in the morning of Aug. 9. The artwork will be on display at 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9, at the Old Bag Factory, where visitors will have a chance to meet the artists and purchase artwork.
“There is nothing better than being able to personally meet an artists whose work you decide to purchase or collect,” said Diane Overmyer, an event organizer. “Many such meetings result in lifetime friendships between artists and their patrons.”
Early August is a peak time to see the gardens in bloom, as the 80,000 flowers have fully matured, since being planted in late May. What makes this tour so unique is that all the flowers were planted in intricate quilt patterns. The free, self-guided tour takes visitors across seven communities in Elkhart County, where they’ll find 16 huge gardens, and 16 large format outdoor quilt murals.
Now in its second season, the Quilt Gardens Tour – located along the renowned Heritage Trail – has become popular, not only for garden enthusiasts and quilters, but also for photographers and artists, who use the gardens as inspiration for their work.
Visitors also can participate in a free quilting workshop during the Das Dutchman Essenhaus Quilt Show Aug. 6-8. The show will feature hand-stitched, machine-stitched and vintage quilts. Admission to the show is $3.
The popular musical, Quilters – the Musical, will be on stage Aug. 6-7 for three performances in Middlebury. Adapted from an oral history by Patricia Cooper and Norma Bradley Allen, Quilters – The Musical celebrates the hearty pioneer women who turned the domestic craft into a spirited form of autobiographical art. The show is presented by Premier Arts, which also is offering a special dinner-theater package in partnership with Das Dutchman Essenhaus, an Amish-inspired restaurant, inn and conference center.
IF YOU GO
The Quilt Gardens Tour is a free, self-guided tour of 16 huge gardens in seven communities throughout Elkhart County. Maps are available online at www.quiltgardenstour.com or at the Elkhart County Visitors Center.
800.262.8161.
Special packages also are available for overnight guests at local hotels and bed and breakfasts. To learn more about special offers, go to www.summerbreakoffers.com.
Das Dutchman Essenhaus Quilt Show
240 U.S. 20, Middebury
1 – 7 p.m., Aug. 6
10 a.m. – 7 p.m., Aug. 7 and Aug. 8
Admission: $3
www.essenhaus.com or 800.455.9471
Quilters – The Musical
Middlebury
Aug. 6 – 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Aug. 8 – 6 p.m.
Tickets: $35 or $15 for show only
574.293.4469 or www.elcotheatre.com
Plein-Air Paint-Out
Throughout each of the 16 quilt gardens
For quilt garden locations, go to www.quiltgardenstour.com
8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Aug. 8 and 8 a.m. to noon, Aug. 9
Admission: Free
Artist registration: 574.533.8900
Plein-Air Paint-Out Exhibit
3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Aug. 9
Old Bag Factory, 1100 Chicago Ave., Goshen
Admission: Free
www.Quiltgardenstour.com
The Heritage Trail
Free, self-guided driving tour of Amish Country
Download a free audio tour at www.amishcountry.org
QUILT TOUR GARDENS LOCATIONS AND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
WHEN: Daily through Oct. 1
WHAT: 80,000 blooms planted in 16 gardens in the patterns of traditional and contemporary quilts, plus 16 large-format murals also painted in quilt patterns that will be installed on buildings and in public areas throughout the county.
ADMISSION: Free of charge
VISITOR INFO: Get maps, detailed information of quilt design and directions at www.quiltgardenstour.com or by calling 800.262.8161.
QUILT GARDENS TOUR LOCATIONS
From Memorial Day through Oct. 1, quilt gardens will be on display throughout Amish Country and on the world-renowned Heritage Trail. This self-guided tour is free. Here is a list of the quilt titles and locations.
American Countryside Farmers Market, Elkhart – Whirling Star
Elkhart City Center Park – ACE Garden
Linton’s Enchanted Gardens, Elkhart – Breezy Days
Ruthmere Museum, Elkhart – Flower Basket
Elkhart County 4-H Fairgrounds, Goshen – Harts of the Elkhart County 4-H Fair
Meadow Brook Farm, Goshen – Grandmother’s Fan
Old Bag Factory, Goshen – Bird’s Eye View
Das Dutchman Essenhaus, Middlebury – Center Diamond
Greencroft, Middlebury – Barn Raising
Krider Gardens, Middlebury – Maple Leaf
Middlebury KOA Campground – Step of Faith
Amish Acres, Nappanee – LeMoyne Star
McCormick Creek, Nappanee – Recovery
Farmstead Inn, Shipshewana – Shoofly Garden
Menno-Hof, Shipshewana – Dove at the Window
Town of Wakarusa – Stone Mason’s Puzzle