Local Shops and Restaurants to visit

Happy Friday Friends!  Today is another Sewcialites block release day.  As I don’t need all of the blocks for my final quilt, today is one I have opted to skip.  So instead, I am going to be sharing some of my favorite quilt shops & restaurants in the Holmes County, Ohio area.

But first, I wanted to make sure that you had the link for the Sewcialites block that is being released today.  All of the blocks that have been released so far can all be downloaded here–so be sure to bookmark this link!   This is the handiest spot to visit to download the blocks.  Click to page 2 for today’s block. =)  We are on block 32 today and it is designed by Chelsi Stratton.  You will find all 32 blocks to download at that link.

And now, on to some of my Holmes County Faves.

I share a “Sunday Slow Down” post just about every Sunday on Instagram ( @corianderquilts ) of photos I have taken around our town. This is one of my favorites.

Holmes County, Ohio–where I live, is home to the world’s largest Amish population.  About 50% of the people living here are Amish and I think nearly all of the remaining population has Amish relatives.  My grandma was Amish growing up and my father-in-law was Amish growing up.  I no longer have Amish at my extended family get togethers but we do at my husband’s.

Holmes County remains one of the top tourist destinations in Ohio year after year.  And for quilters, it is a wonderful spot to visit for fabric shopping.  I get asked frequently, what my favorite local quilt shops are.  So, I thought I would share a list here to point people to when I am asked.  I also wanted to share a few of my other local food favorites…because, shopping and eating seem to go hand in hand. =)

First Up, Quilt shops:

Plaid Sheep Company, Berlin Ohio

1.  Plaid Sheep Company is located on the east edge of Berlin.  I shared a bunch about this quilt shop in this blog post.  (One note: all of the quilt shops in the area carry a selection of my fabrics…some of them get in the full lines and some carry a curated selection…many of you wonder which shops carry my fabrics–you will find them in all of the quilt shops on this list with the exception of Zinck’s, the last shop I mention which is a little bit of a different type of fabric store).

Helping Hands Quilt Shop, Berlin Ohio

2.  Helping Hands Quilt shop is located in the center of Berlin, Ohio.  This quilt shop has been around for many years and is one of the first quilt shops I remember going to when I was young (I am going to talk about the very first one I remember going to in just a moment).  This is also the quilt shop that my mom and I went to, to pick out all of the fabrics for the quilt she pieced and hand quilted for me when my husband and I got married.

Miller’s Dry Goods In Charm, Ohio

3.  Miller’s Dry Goods in Charm Ohio (about 5-10 minutes from Berlin)  This is the very first quilt shop I remember going to.  I wrote a very detailed blog post about this shop here.  If you are shopping with your husband, you can send him to Keim Lumber (it’s just a two minute drive or so).  And if you are shopping with a bunch a quilting friends, you might want to check out the quilt retreat lodging next door to the quilt shop, The Rural Thimble.  It is wonderful for groups of quilters–be warned though, it books up very quickly and pretty far in advance–so make sure to book your reservations early.

Somewhere Sewing, Millersburg Ohio

4.  Somewhere Sewing in Millersburg Ohio This quilt shop is located just west of Millersburg about 20 minutes from Berlin.

Lone Star Quilt Shop, Mt. Hope Ohio

5.  Lone Star Quilt shop in Mt. Hope Ohio  Mt. Hope is about 10-15 minutes or so from Berlin.  This is an Amish-owned quilt shop.  They don’t have a website but you will find their Facebook page here.

Mercantile on Main Coshocton, Ohio

6.  Mercantile on Main in Coshocton, Ohio was a 2014 featured quilt shop in the Quilt Sampler Magazine.  Coshocton is about 35-40 minutes from Berlin.

Anything Sews, Dover Ohio

7.  Anything Sews is located in Dover, Ohio and is about 35-40 minutes from Berlin as well.

Carlisle Fabrics in Sugarcreek Ohio

8.  Carlisle Fabrics is located in Sugarcreek Ohio which is about 15 minutes from Berlin.  I grew up in Sugarcreek and it inspired my Sugarcreek line of fabric. =)  No website for this shop, but you will find there Facebook page here.

Zincks in Berlin Ohio

9.  Zinck’s Fabric Outlet is located in Berlin Ohio and is a bit different than the other shops mentioned.  It is not a quilt shop but rather an outlet type fabric place.  They purchase from manufacturer’s overstock so sometimes you find wonderful prices on hidden gems but other visits you may not find as much.  And they carry much more than just quilting fabric…you will find all sorts of fabrics as well as notions and other things.

What road trip is complete without good food?  We have a lot of great places to eat–many of them are Amish cooking, but my favorites are not–so those are the ones I want to share with you.

Rebecca’s Bistro in Walnut Creek, Ohio

1.  Rebecca’s in Walnut Creek, Ohio is about 10 minutes from Berlin.  It is the cutest little cafe serving breakfast and lunch.  Do be prepared for a wait if you are coming during the busy months.   If you like antiques, there is a really cute little Antique shop two shops over that I like to visit when I go to Rebecca’s.  I really like Rebecca’s Vanilla Chai (it is sugary, custardy goodness) and their house salad dressing is so tasty.

Park Street Pizza Sugarcreek, Ohio

2.  Park Street Pizza in Sugarcreek Ohio (about 15 minutes from Berlin) is a place we order from almost every weekend.  I love their Farmhouse Salad with Blackberry Balsamic dressing, my oldest daughter gets the same salad but with grilled chicken and bleu cheese dressing, my youngest loves their boneless BBQ wings, and hubby usually gets the Colossal Italian pizza.  If I am doing pizza, my fave is either the veggie pizza or the chicken pesto.  Prepare for a wait at this spot during those busy months and weekends.

East Main Kitchen, Baltic Ohio

3.  East Main Kitchen is located in Baltic, Ohio which is about 20 minutes from Berlin.  We love their Fried Cheese Curds.  They advertise “comfort food with a twist” and that sums up their offerings well.  Very tasty.

4.  Olde World Bakery & Bistro is located right beside Plaid Sheep Company (the first quilt shop on the list).  We don’t eat here as often but it’s worth mentioning because of it’s convenience to Plaid Sheep.  It is a nice lunch spot.

And the last spot I want to mention has my favorite baked goods…we especially like the cinnamon rolls and fry pies.

Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery

5.  Hershberger’s Farm & Bakery is located on the west edge of Berlin.  This place has grown by leaps and bounds over the last number of years and is pretty much always busy.  Aside from the bakery, they have a petting zoo and a store, as well as a food stand where they serve grilled burgers, chicken sandwiches, tater tots, fries, ice cream sundaes etc.  I prefer to pop in right away when they open at 8 if I am purchasing anything so I can avoid the crowds.  The baked goods are still warm and the selection is best.  As I mentioned above, we like the Cinnamon rolls, fry pies…and I also like their homemade bread.  But they have lots to choose from!

This is a very small chat about some of the things we like in this area.  There are so many more food places and fun shops to visit….I could go on and on! =)  If you are planning to visit, be aware that all of the shops are closed on Sundays and most shops close at 5pm during the week with restaurants closing at 8pm.  I mentioned the “busy-ness” at some of the places during our busy months.  October is the busiest month of the year and traffic gets crazy.  It starts getting busy in April (especially weekends) and stays busy then through October.  If you can visit during the week, Tuesday or Wednesday during those months it will be nicer traffic-wise.

I hope this info helps you if you are planning a visit to the area, or maybe it’s convinced you that you need to! =)

Chat again soon, Corey