Among the neatest, newish attractions in my lovely little town is The Winterset Livery, a half-block-long brick building that in the nineteenth century was basically a garage for horses and horse-drawn vehicles. No surprise that the structure is just steps away from Winterset’s town square.
June 1 through 3, The Livery will be a haven (and heaven) for quilters who want to come to Madison County prior to The Airing of the Quilts on June 4, hang out with other quilters, and sew, sew, sew.
For $150, retreat participants get three days at their sewing station, the use of wonderful Oliso irons, standing height cutting tables, coffee all day long, pastries in the morning, a boxed lunch at noon, mini-classes taught by Joyce Franklin and Tony Jacobson of Piece Works (a fantastic quilt shop conveniently located across the street), PLUS a ticket to Saturday’s Airing events. You’ll have access to your space for many hours each day, whether you are an early bird or a night owl. Sign up here.
The Airing of the Quilts is the Iowa Quilt Museum‘s annual fundraiser, with hundreds of quilts displayed all over our community. We hang quilts in several of our famous Covered Bridges, at our City Park, at the Madison County Historical Complex, the Winterset Public Library, the Art Center, on fences, on porches, in shop windows, everywhere! Tickets for the Airing are $20 and get you into tons of displays, including our local quilt guild’s quilt show at the elementary school. Buy your ticket online before May 28, and you pay only $15!
If structured classes are more your cup of tea, we are offering them for the first time this year, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, taught by wonderful teachers! Be sure to check all the opportunities.
Back in the 1970s, the livery building housed a printing shop (I worked there!) and veterinarian’s office. Later, there was a yarn shop
at one end, and a tumble-down resale shop in the rest. When those closed, rumor had it the building would be torn down. Lucky for Winterset, Jeff Hilsabeck, a contractor with a heart of gold and a love of old architecture, stepped in, and along with his now-wife Anton, took the structure down to its bare bones and built it back out into a gorgeous, hip event space with beautiful windows and (importantly) nice bathrooms.
I’ll be at City Park all day on Saturday, keeping an eye on a fantastic exhibit of quilts on display in Cutler-Donahoe Covered Bridge: “The Best of QuiltCon 2022.” Come see the amazing Modern Quilts in “my” bridge, then head to Cedar, Hogback, and Holliwell Covered Bridges to see the outstanding work of the Central Iowa Modern Quilt Guild.
See you soon!
Betty
After reading your description, I REALLY want to attend but, alas, it is not to be. Too far and too expensive for right now. Perhaps another time.
elizabeth a hinze
I would love to go to this. Is there a way to learn about this earlier?
Is it posted somewhere on the web?
Sounds like to much fun : )
Marianne Fons
Hello Elizabeth. Our event is always the first Saturday in June. Since I have your email address, with your permission I’d be glad to get you on the mailing list for Iowa Quiltscapes. It’s an online newsletter published several times a year that tells what’s going on in Iowa for quilters. We promote The Airing that way.
Shirley Wells
Please add me to the Iowa Quiltscapes mailing list as well! Thanks.
Marianne Fons
Will do!
LeAnn Frobom
I need to add the Airing of the Quilts to my bucket list!
Diane
Marianne, the Madison County Winery will also have quilts this year. Members of the Des Moines Area Quilter’s Guild will be tbere displaying some of their quilts. Stop by and see us.
Marianne Fons
Diane, thank you for your comment. In addition to quilts at Madison County Winery, there will be quilts in many other locations I wasn’t able to cram into my post. Check it all out here.
Valerie FONS
Always generous and creative. Gathering all. Whether thimble on finger or not.
Diana Birkenholtz
Thank you. I enjoyed it immensely!
Well done all