Quiltmakers Cottage
Hershey, Pennsylvania, is home to Quiltmakers Cottage—the sweetest of brick cottages brimming over with quilting fabrics, kits, patterns, and notions.
Quaint Cottage [1]
In the same town as America’s favorite chocolate company, Quiltmakers Cottage set up a quilt shop in a building previously used as a house. Co-owners Beth Reese and Joan Fischer opened the quilt shop after a local quilt shop—where they met while establishing a quilt guild—closed.
Melting Pot of Tastes [3]
“People are often surprised when they come in. Outside it doesn’t seem very large, but we make the best use of the space,” Beth says. It is filled with patterns and fabrics that represent their differing styles. Joan prefers traditional, country, and Colonial looks. Beth’s tastes fall on the contemporary and art quilts side. “When we’re choosing fabric and patterns, if we both like it, we know it must be good,” Beth says.
Meet the Staff [5]
From left: Kathy Chickey, Debbie LaDuke, Joan Fischer (co-owner), Beth Reese (co-owner), JoEllen Myers, Sarah Campbell, Jeannette Shuey, and Suzy Epler. Not pictured: Donna Moore and Melinda Sheppard.
Where the Heart Is [7]
Other than adding the cash register area and large cutting table, Joan and Beth made few changes to homey appeal of the cottage. The warm feeling of a home continues today, with all the rooms leading smoothly into another.
Kits Aplenty [9]
Cozy flannels and specialty kits are in fresh supply at Quiltmakers Cottage. Pumpkin Seeds in flannels and Thimbleberries hangs in a special area of the shop.
Nine-Patch Medallion [11]
Nine-Patch Medallion shows off a series of blocks set on point in a radiating design evoking a summer sunset. Shop owners Beth Reese and Joan Fischer designed Nine-Patch Medallion for Quilt Sampler magazine.
Swirls and Squares [13]
An all-over swirl machine-quilting design balances the geometric in Nine-Patch Medallion.
Nine-Patch Medallion Color Option [15]
To make the center portion of Nine-Patch Medallion, quilt tester Laura Boehnke used bright musical novelty prints from the Rock-N-Roll collection by Beverlyann Stillwell for Lyndhurst Studio from
Northcott [16].
Contact Quiltmakers Cottage [17] to purchase a copy of the Spring/Summer 2010 issue of Quilt Sampler. Issues are also available at your local quilt shop, on newsstands, and online [18].