2 Quilt Shops, 1 fabric line and a little german heritage
Show Notes
Welcome to Fairfax, Iowa! A quilting gem just outside Cedar Rapids, Iowa where you’ll find multiple quilt shops, an incredible German heritage town and some of the most beautiful fabric in the US! Say hello to Frond Design Studios and fabric designer, Stephanie Brandenburg!
- 0:25 – What are the Amana Colonies?
- 1:50 – Fern Hill Gifts and Quilts
- 3:10 – the massive Fern Hill Quilt Shop!
- 3:56 – Hello Frond!
- 4:45 – How Stephanie began designing fabric
- 5:43 – Where did the name ‘Frond’ come from?
- 6:27 – What makes Frond designs so unique?
- 6:58 – What inspires Stephanie’s designs
- 8:22 – How the paintings become fabric
Keep scrolling for more information about Frond and the Amana Colonies!
Do you use Rumble? Click HERE to subscribe to my channel!
The Amana Colonies
When my husband and I drove out to visit Stephanie Brandenburg at her fabulous Frond Design Studios shop, we stumbled upon a true gem in eastern Iowa! The Amana Colonies.
Amana consists of seven individual villages. Each upholding their true German heritage and Inspirationist traditions.
Escaping religious persecution and economic depression in German, the Inspirationist community arrived in New York around 1834. The members pooled together and purchased 5000 acres in Buffalo, New York. However, they soon outgrew the property and needed more land. So, they headed to Iowa.
In 1855 they arrived in Iowa. After an inspired testimony directed the people to call their village, “Bleibtreu” or “remain faithful” the leaders chose the name Amana from the Song of Solomon 4:8. Amana means to “remain true.”
https://amanacolonies.com/visitors-guide/history-of-the-seven-villages/
What makes Amana so unique?
The Amana colonies lived a ‘communal life’ where everyone worked so that everyone could receive what they needed – food, education, healthcare, etc. There were no wages as no money was needed within the fully autonomous community.
Farming and the production of wool and calico supported the community, but village enterprises, everything from clock making to brewing, were vital; and well-crafted products became a hallmark of the Amanas. Craftsmen took special pride in their work as a testament of both their faith and their community spirit.
https://amanacolonies.com/visitors-guide/history-of-the-seven-villages/
As the community grew, and the world grew around them, it became clear that integration was needed for survival. In 1932, during the Great Depression, the colonists established the “Amana Society, Inc”, a profit-sharing corporation to manage the funds of the community. Thus creating a bridge between their community way of life and the modern world of finance while encouraging private enterprise amongst their members.
Today the Amana colonies draw in visitors from all over the world to experience their German traditions, taste their homemade beer and even visit a quilt shop or two! Including Fern Hill Gifts & Quilts AND Frond Design Studios!
Fern Hill Gifts and Quilts
In South Amana sits one of the greatest shops for anyone that loves quilts (me!) and antiques (also me!). The basement is an entire shop for antiques. The main floor is all kinds of handmade items like clothes, quilts, soaps, jams and candies. Plus pottery and even a garden section!
Then, head up to the top floor for a HUGE quilt shop!!
Frond Quilt Shop
Of course, the original reason for our visit out to Fairfax, Iowa was to meet up with Stephanie Brandenburg at her amazing quilt shop, Frond Design Studios! Y’all, this is a one of a kind quilt shop that should be on everyone’s Bucket List!
What started as a passion to paint, and with the help of her mother’s quilt shop Fern Hill, fabric artist Stephanie Brandenburg turned her exquisite paintings into rich and beautiful fabrics! And now you can see and touch all the beauty at her shop, Frond Design Studios!
But I warn you… you MAY blow your budget on this one! 😀
what you can expect at FRond
As I mentioned, Frond is not your typical quilt shop. Oh you will definitely find delicious fabrics and even a few sewing machines. But, you’ll also find one of a kind pieces of artwork and trinkets galore! Let’s let the photos do the talking on this one…
To Contact Frond Quilt Shop
Website: www.fronddesignstudios.com Email: orders@fronddesignstudios.com Facebook: facebook.com/FrondDesignStudios
315 80th St Ct Fairfax, IA 52228 319-845-3002
Links from the video:
- Northcott Fabrics – Northcott.com
- Fern Hill Gifts & Quilts – Fernhill.com
- The Amana Colonies – Amanacolonies.com
RELATED POSTS:
- Complete List of Quilt Shops in IOWA
- Also in Iowa – Check out Jan Larson from Thimbles For You!
- More Quilt Shop Spotlights
- Can you complete the Big Quilter’s Bucket List?
- Complete Lists of Quilt Shops in the US!
Do you know someone who’d love Frond and the Amana Colonies? Click the buttons below to share with your friends! Then be sure to join us in the Traveling Quilters group on Facebook for more travel adventures!
Leave a Reply