Village of Flat Rock Quilt
The Village of Flat Rock quilt was created as a group endeavor to highlight the history of Flat Rock. The quilt hangs in the Flat Rock Village Hall. Below is information on those who created the quilt and click here to learn the history of the people and places illustrated in the quilt panels.
Early Settlers 
Needlepoint by Priscilla Chase Heindel
Priscilla’s mother taught her to knit when she was six years old. She has been a confirmed “needle-woman” ever since: knitting; crocheting; sewing for herself, three daughters, and four granddaughters; smocking; cross-stitch; embroidery; crewel work; counted cross-stitch; bargello; and traditional needlepoint. She owned and managed her own yarn shop in Winchester, Massachusetts, for eleven years.
Rhett’s Mill 
Applique and photo transfer by Georgia Bonesteel
Saying that Georgia quilts is like saying that Meryl Streep acts – it is a little short of the full story. Georgia not only quilts, she teaches, she judges quilt shows, she is the creator of the PBS television series “Lap Quilting,” and she is the author of many books related to quilt making. Most recently Georgia has served as president of the International Quilt Association. “Teaching,” Georgia says, “is my first love, since in this way I am able to do my small part to perpetuate the art of quilt making.”
Mountain Lodge 
Needlepoint by Wilhelmina Grathwol Norlin
Wilhelmina grew up in Stratford, Connecticut, has lived all over the country, and finally arrived “home” in North Carolina when her husband retired. She has done sewing, knitting, needlepoint, quilting and heirloom hooking for several years.
Old Post Office 
Applique and embroidery by Eunice Saum
Eunice’s sewing career began in the late 1950s after the birth of three daughters, but her interest in quilting began in the early 1980s. When they moved to the Hendersonville area, her new love for sewing changed to quilting. She joined the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, learned new techniques, and was an active participant in the group.
Argyle 
Applique by Ladonna Marie Gerding Benning
Born on a farm near Glandorf, Ohio, Ladonna was introduced to quilting at a young age by her mother, who had created many lovely quilts that her children and grandchildren cherish. Ladonna graduated from Mary Manse College, Toledo, Ohio, and taught elementary grades in Ohio and Illinois for a few years. In the 1970s, she moved to New Jersey, where she taught craft classes and discovered an interest in quilting as a hobby. Since moving to Flat Rock, she joined a quilt guild and has taken classes taught by Georgia Bonesteel to learn more about this folk art.
Woodfield Inn (Farmer’s Hotel) 
Embroidery and painting by Marianne Holloway Kidd
Marianne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been involved with crafts and sewing for over twenty-five years. While living in Richmond, Virginia, she had a finishing business for five years for several needlework shops. She has been making teddy bears and related items for about eighteen years.
Many Pines 
Embroidery and painting by Linda Diane Yurk Sokalski, Ph.D.
Linda was born in Flint, Michigan. She took three degrees in Electrical Engineering: B.S.E. (summa cum laude) from the University of Michigan, M.S. from the California Institute of Technology, and Ph.D. from Stanford University. She was employed by the Bell Telephone System and its successors until she retired in 1992. She and her husband moved to Flat Rock in 1996. She is a master craftsman of Counted Thread Embroidery, a teacher certified in Knitting, is currently the vice president of the Flat Rock chapter of the Embroiders’ Guild of America, and librarian for the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild. Her work has been juried into numerous national, regional, and local quilt and needlework shows.
Mud Creek Church 
Applique and embroidery by Sharon Rae Lantz Hurley
Sharon Rae was born and raised in Clarksburg, West Virginia, with quilting and the love of quilts in her blood. She never had any lessons other than seeing her mother always working on a quilt. Today, making a quilt is still her favorite pastime. It only seemed natural that when the Village of Flat Rock asked for needle workers and quilters, she would have to volunteer. She spent about six months collecting all the materials to do the Mud Creek Baptist Church and, after much trial and error, finally was able to produce the panel.
Flat Rock Depot 
Counted cross-stitch depot by Emerentia (Emmy) Maria Smits Buiting
Embroidery, counted cross-stitch, and painting for train and background by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Emmy attended the Kunst Academy in The Hague, Holland, and concentrated on “Holbein” and “Tambouret net” and the designs for both. Holbein is needlework that is exactly the same on both sides. Tambouret net (a variation of Limeick Lace and Needlerun net Lace) is mostly worked in chain stitch either with a needle or a fine hook.
Beaumont 
Applique and painting by Jane Celeste Hughey Mellon
Jane has been a quilter for thirty-eight years and has been painting for many more.
Louise Howe Bailey 
Silk ribbon embroidery by Kathryn Jean Clark Wells
Silhouette cut and appliqued by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Kathryn and her husband, Andrew, moved to this area in 1994, from Memphis, Tennessee, where she had been engaged in the practice of law. At the present time she is enjoying the active life of being a mother of two seven-year-olds and one six-year-old. She began sewing at a very young age and discovered the joys of silk ribbon embroidery nearly four years ago.
Cherokee and Trader on the Great Flat Rock 
Applique and embroidery by Ann Katherine (Kat) Karinja-Wells
Kat, with her husband of 30 years, Jeremy, are the owners/officers of Wells Nursery, Inc., a wholesale grower of rhododendrons and other specialty plants. Born and raised in Rumson, New Jersey, she is a self-taught artist and designer under her label of “Dreamkeeper Cottage Studio and Workshop.” The mother of two, grandmother of one, she designed the home she and Jeremy built in Flat Rock in 1996. As a returning college student in her thirties, she earned a B.S. in Financial Management and a B.A. in Monetary Economics and Finance from the University of North Carolina in Asheville, graduating summa cum laude in 1989.
Frank L. FitzSimons 
Silk ribbon embroidery by Kathryn Jean Clark Wells
Silhouette cut and appliqued by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Kathryn and her husband, Andrew, moved to this area in 1994, from Memphis, Tennessee, where she had been engaged in the practice of law. At the present time she is enjoying the active life of being a mother of two seven-year-olds and one six-year-old. She began sewing at a very young age and discovered the joys of silk ribbon embroidery nearly four years ago.
Connemara (Rock Hill) 
Applique and painting by Jane Celeste Hughey Mellon
Jane has been a quilter for thirty-eight years and has been painting for many more.
Chanteloup (deChoisuel's "Castle") 
Applique by Ladonna Marie Gerding Benning
Born on a farm near Glandorf, Ohio, Ladonna was introduced to quilting at a young age by her mother, who had created many lovely quilts that her children and grandchildren cherish. Ladonna graduated from Mary Manse College (Toledo, Ohio) and taught elementary grades in Ohio and Illinois for a few years. In the 1970s, she moved to New Jersey, where she taught craft classes and discovered an interest in quilting as a hobby. Since moving to Flat Rock, she joined a quilt guild and has taken classes taught by Georgia Bonesteel to learn more about this folk art.
I’On Lowndes House with Flat Rock Playhouse 
Applique and embroidery by Carol Rabberman Price
In college, Carol majored in Fine Arts doing studio work in painting and sculpture. She then received degrees in both Occupational Therapy and Nursing and worked at those, at separate times, for some years. She began sewing at age ten and her first quilting experiences were designing and making bed quilts for the family. On moving to the Hendersonville area in 1990, she began taking quilting classes and also began weaving. She now works at both as much as time will allow. As a member of the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, she has entered quilt shows and contributed quilted items to various charities.
St. John in the Wilderness Church 
Applique and embroidery by Eunice Saum
Eunice’s sewing career began in the late 1950s after the birth of three daughters, but her interest in quilting began in the early 1980s. When they moved to the Hendersonville area, her new love for sewing changed to quilting. She joined the Western North Carolina Quilters’ Guild, learned new techniques, and was an active participant in the group.
Bonclarken 
Applique by Georgia Bonesteel
Georgia’s very contemporary rendering uses as the background a fabric reproduction of Cora Minty’s pen-and-ink drawing of Bonclarken as it used to look. The foreground shows an impression of the roofline of the current building.
Kenmure (Glenroy) 
Needlepoint by Anne Zabriskie
Anne moved from Fairfax, Virginia, to Flat Rock in 1991. She and her husband have three children and six grandchildren. Her hobbies are knitting, needlepoint, and golf.
Marley’s Blacksmith Shop 
Applique and embroidery by Ann Katherine (Kat) Karinja-Wells
Kat, with her husband of 30 years, Jeremy, are the owners/officers of Wells Nursery, Inc., a wholesale grower of rhododendrons and other specialty plants. Born and raised in Rumson, New Jersey, she is a self-taught artist and designer under her label of “Dreamkeeper Cottage Studio and Workshop.” The mother of two, grandmother of one, she designed the home she and Jeremy built in Flat Rock in 1996. As a returning college student in her thirties, she earned a B.S. in Financial Management and a B.A. in Monetary Economics and Finance from the University of North Carolina in Asheville, graduating summa cum laude in 1989.
Saluda Cottages 
Counted cross-stitch and embroidery by Marianne Holloway Kidd
Marianne was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She has been involved with crafts and sewing for over 25 years. While living in Richmond, Virginia, she had a finishing business for five years for several needlework shops. She has been making teddy bears and related items for about 18 years.
Peace’s Store 
Applique and embroidery by Anne Marie Garry
Painting by Jane Mellon
Anne Marie and her husband moved to Flat Rock from Connecticut nine years ago. They have four sons. Quilting was a natural development from an early fondness for sewing and knitting.
Flat Rock Village Office 
Embroidery by Gretchen Habighorst Highlander
Gretchen’s Habighorst grandmother taught her to knit. Gretchen loved her and treasured her grandmother's love for her, which most likely is why needlework and the memory of her grandmother have filled Gretchen’s life. The “History of Flat Rock” has been a special kind of needlework for her, giving her the opportunity to see the processes by which the stitchers have produced their beautiful works of art. She spent time with wonderful women she had not known before, and, in the course of this endeavor, she learned much about the people and history of our small town. She was once a Northerner, but at the end of this project, she finds herself rather pleasantly and firmly embedded in Old Flat Rock. Perhaps she has turned into a Southerner. Wouldn’t that be nice?