SHHH!! A Secret Party for the Ladies...

WHEN: Thursday, February 11, 5-7 pm

WHAT: Paint Your Undies Party for ladies only

WHERE: Quilt Trails Paint Studio, East Main St. across from Dr. Aldridge's Eye Institute

WHY: Fundraiser for Quilt Trails - $10 per person to participate

HOW: Bring your panties, bras or t-shirts or any other undies, and paint them! A fun way to beat the winter blahs and have some girl fun. Bring your daughter, mother, sister, best friend, or granddaughter.

Refreshments provided by David’s Ltd. and Jill’s Hairport. Participation limited to first 20 people to sign up. Sign up at Quilt Trails Gift Shop or by sending your name, phone number, and number of people to info@quilttrailswnc.org.

2010 Quilt Trails Road Rallies

Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina is holding two Road Rallys in 2010: June 26, 2010 and November 5, 2010. The June Rally will end with a Bar BQ sponsored by Carolina Mountain Lifestyles, at The Cove at Celo Mountain. [Details for the November Rally are not yet finalized.]

This fun-filled rally will feature a long version (about 5 hours) and a short version (about 2 hours), with a shotgun start at Mountain Heritage High School in Burnsville at 8am for the long rally, and 12 noon for the short rally. Prizes will be made by local artists. All contestants must be back no later than 5pm or will be disqualified.

The goal of each Rally will be to find a set of painted quilt blocks on a list you will be given, by driving the fewest miles. The Rally will take you throughout Yancey and Mitchell Counties at a really lovely time of the year. You will see beautiful farmland, mountain vistas, waterfalls, bold streams and quaint towns. Cost to participate will be $35. Save $10 by registering online before June 15. Rally will be limited to 150 cars. For more information, call 828-682-7331.

2010 Quilt Trails Calendars Available!

2010 Quilt Trails Calendar Cover

The new 2010 Quilt Trails of Western NC Calendars are now available in our gift shop in Burnsville and online using PayPal! Cost is $12.95 plus tax (& shipping if purchased online). Quantities will be limited at first, so please pre-order if you would like several.

The calendar contains the winning photos of those who entered the 2010 calendar contest: Hugh Smith, Dick Kennedy, Margaret vonRosen, Stuart DeWitt, Rachel Garland, Alisa Upson, Phil Evaul, Angie Higgins and Joe Bennett, Marsha Burns, Jeff Boone, and Barbara Webster.

Welcome to Quilt Trails of Western North Carolina!

We have the highest concentration of quilt blocks anywhere in the USA! Come to Yancey County to get started on your great quilt adventure! We are just 45 minutes North of Asheville - exit 9 off I-26, or exit onto Hwy 80 off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Six contiguous counties host quilt blocks, with the highest concentration in Yancey and Mitchell Counties. While in Yancey County, visit Mt. Mitchell, highest peak East of the Mississippi. Mitchell County is home to Roan Mountain (the rhododendrons are in full bloom in June - gateway through Bakersville) and Avery County offers Grandfather Mountain with its mile-high swinging bridge. Of course we have waterfalls, supreme hiking, great trout fishing, canoeing, golf, horseback riding, and great shopping. Burnsville, seat of Yancey County, has TWO quilt shops.

The Quilt Trails project got its start in Ohio when Donna Sue Groves put a block on her barn to honor her mother. From that simple act, the project has spread to 24 states.

Nine different driving trails take you to view vividly painted quilt squares installed on barns and buildings of participating communities. Even if it is raining you can still enjoy a day of adventure finding the quilt blocks. Stop by the the Quilt Trails Gift Shop in the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce in Burnsville to get a driving map and pick up one of nine tour guides that tell the stories behind the blocks.

Quilt Trails Profiled in Carolina Country

Carolina Country

The Quilt Trails has been profiled in the June 2009 issue of Carolina Country magazine.

The article, by Hannah Miller, is titled "Stars & Barns: The Quilt Trails Project brings more color, customs & tourists to the northwestern Carolina countryside."

Read the full article here [PDF].

Get Adobe Reader

Tour Guides Now Available!

Tour Guides and Maps are being offered in the Quilt Trails Gift Shop at the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce in Burnsville.

Maps include all of Mitchell and Yancey Counties, with an overall map and individual maps for individual Trails. [Click here for online maps]

Guides are available for Arbuckle, Bakersville/Roan Mountain, Bee Log, Burnsville, Celo & Parkway, Green Mountain & Relief, Lickskillet to Westside, Pensacola, and Spruce Pine.

The Gift Shop is open Tuesday-Friday, 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-2pm.

If you would like to volunteer for the Gift Shop and learn more about the Chamber and how to serve visitors to our county, call 828-682-7331.
Arbuckle Ariosa We are now selling Arbuckle Coffee - the only place in the Southeast where you can buy it!

Mt. Mitchell Craft Fair
Thanks to all of you who came to see us at the Mt. Mitchell Craft Fair. We all had a wonderful time and those of you who painted t-shirts appeared to have the best time of all! We appreciate your enthusiastic support!