“I don’t just look at what’s happening
in the quilt industry,” she says.
For example, when Zentangle art
journaling first took off, Heidi
organized a how-to class that drew
80 curious crafters.
Heidi’s passion for all things
crafty results in an exuberant
environment that offers much more
than quilting inspiration. “I wanted
this to be a place that embodies lots
of different types of creativity,” she
says. “So, while quilting is our main
focus, we also carry scrapbooking
supplies because capturing all thosememories we love is so important.”
Inspiration also awaits rug hookers
with staples like monk’s cloth and
linen. And the shop has become
well known for its treasure trove of
handcrafted candles, barn-theme
watercolor paintings, wines, and
glycerin soaps—all made by Iowans.
The delightfully diverse mix of
inventory also comes in handy for
retreat attendees, who find a comfy
home away from home upstairs
in a fully-equipped retreat center.
Outfitted with 14 twin beds dressed
in colorful quilts made from Heidi’spersonal fabric stash, the gracious
getaway caters to creativity with
amenities such as die-cutting tools,
20 workstations, and adjustable,
padded work chairs. “I often hear
participants say that the only time
they get to work on their projects
is when they come to the retreat
center,” Heidi says. “If I’m that
excuse for them to be creative, then
I’m doing my job.”
The 2,400-square-foot retreat
center also is a spacious setting for
painting and card-making classes, as
well as the Craft Happy Hour, a funtop and above left: The Nest Retreat Center above the shop includes 14 beds in dorm-style sleeping and allows for nearly
uninterrupted crafting time! It boasts a fully equipped kitchen, three bathrooms, adjustable chairs, and more. The sunflower
on the floor is a hand painted “rug” made by Sheri McNutt, owner Heidi Kaisand’s mother. above right: Hen & Chicks Studio
offers multiple long-arm quilting classes, and customers can rent the long-arm machine by the hour to finish their own quilts.38 | Quilt Sampler FALL/WINTER 2019