Women retreat to Hoffman Hall for quilting weekend
Helen Croft (right), of Fennimore, displays one of her quilt blocks composed of scraps from her fabric stash as well as her late mother’s stash. She had many varieties of these in pinks, purples, blues and teals she intended to use in creating throw-sized quilts. (Photo by Correne Martin)
Fifty-four women from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois came to Prairie du Chien Friday and Saturday for the sixth annual Quilt the Days Away retreat at Hoffman Hall. (Submitted photo)
By Correne Martin
An estimated 85 percent of the 54 women who attended this year’s Quilt the Days Away retreat, April 1-2, in Prairie du Chien were repeat participants. The camaraderie among the quilters and the pampering they receive are characteristics that keep them coming back to Hoffman Hall for two days of serious quilting, learning and socializing.
Once again this year, for the sixth retreat, women drove from all over Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois to Prairie du Chien, in hopes of focusing on their quilting projects—some they haven’t touched since the last retreat—and enjoying being away from their busy daily lives. Some commuted from a short distance, while others booked hotel rooms locally, only enhancing the getaway value of their experience.
Some come for just one day but most are here for both days,” said Janet Paulson, who co-organizes the retreat with Randi Kluesner. “We do everything just how we would like it if we were going to a retreat.”
Each quilter brought her own sewing machine, iron, fabric and other materials for her project. The Prairie du Chien Parks and Recreation Department, which hosts the event, provides the venue as well as the tables and electricity. Three vendor tables were available, where the women could purchase additional supplies and new products. There were five demonstrations about various quilting topics, such as blocks and new ways to construct them.
In addition to the quilting knowledge, the retreat included meals catered both days, with the exception of a brown bag lunch quilters were asked to bring Friday. Local quilters Kathy Paske and Kathy Buenzli, donated snacks, and, of course, each woman was allowed to bring their own as well.
“No one goes home hungry or upset they didn’t get anything out of it,” Kluesner noted. “They just go home with smiles on their faces because they met new people.”
Sandy Sands, who owns Hippity Hop Quilts, in Roscoe, Ill., and drives a suburban adorned with quilted rabbit ears and a cottontail, comes to Quilt the Days Away every year. She said she appreciates the layout of the Prairie du Chien event.
“They put a lot of work into this; it’s wonderful,” Sands said. “The set-up is comfortable. You can go at your own pace. We enjoy the people.”
Helen Croft, who comes with two others from the Fennimore and Castle Rock area, couldn’t agree more.
“They treat us so well. The food is tremendous and they always give us a little gift. You can just come here and lose yourself. It’s like therapy,” she stated. “You can buy things right here, which is nice.”
Recognizing the personal and emotional attachment quilters can have to their work, Croft was thankful to have some time to piece together scraps of hers and her late mother’s to make projects she described as “sentimental.”
“I like to see everyone’s different patterns and fabrics, admire their work and get some ideas for myself too,” Croft said.
Shirley Lee and Sandra Fuchs, of La Crosse, came as part of a seven-person group of friends. They set their tables up together and literally “quilted the days away.”
“It’s nice to have a few days without getting interrupted,” Fuchs said. “Quilting is an addiction. The fabrics are so pretty and the quality you can achieve is so much better than what you can buy in stores.”
Jan Jansen, of Dodgeville, and Sue Phillips, of Barneveld, self-proclaimed newbies to Quilt the Days Away, attended their second retreat last weekend. They heard about it by word of mouth and have not been disappointed.
“We come here to get pampered and, by the end, hopefully you get a few things done,” Jansen added.
“It’s not what we get done, it’s more about the enjoyment of it,” Phillips commented. “This [retreat] is the best.”
Participants registration fees for Quilt the Days Away go toward the cost of the event as well as Hoffman Hall improvements. This year’s event raised about $1,500, which is earmarked for kitchen upgrades.
