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This group of ladies (and one man) is a hoot! The Wild Rose Quilt Shop and Retreat was built in 2004 as a quilt shop and retreat center, but the owners delight in telling newbies that their building is a renovated saloon and brothel. And most of the time, the newbies believe Robbie and John! All that’s missing is the hitchin’ post for horses, brass rail at the bar and the ladies beckoning seductively from the upstairs balcony! From the outside, you’d think you’re stepping back in time a hundred years or more.
But wait, this shop only looks old! The Victorian lace curtains and antiques complement the 3200+ bolts of most every kind of quality quilting fabric, the latest quilting books and patterns. The notions wall is large and well stocked. The 12 foot long cutting table is an oak map storage/reading table recovered from the Seattle Public Library and dates back to the early 1900s. The Wild Rose Quilt Shop has the largest selection of reproduction fabrics, from pre-1800s to the 1930s, in the region. Batiks, novelties, florals, contemporary, juvenile and flannel round out the great and varied fabric selection in the shop.
Owners Robbie Burns and John Rendell purchased the shop in September 2007. At the time, it was a business struggling to stay afloat. Robbie and John have injected tons of time and energy into making The Wild Rose a premier quilt shop and retreat center where guests come for great service, fabric selection, in addition to a warm and friendly shopping experience.
The staff of 6 is fun, friendly and fabulous! Collectively they have over 110 years quilting experience and no project or question is ever too daunting. If the answer isn’t readily known, they find it and call the customer with the answer. Staff prides themselves on finding and trying out the newest gadgets and gizmos and giving demos at the cutting table. Every member of The Wild Rose staff teaches day and evening classes and leads Clubs and/or Block of the Month programs. They help make shop samples to keep ideas and fabrics new, fresh and inspiring for visitors. Each staff member brings a wide variety of talents and skills to include designing patterns.
Each guest is greeted with warmth and sincerity and is made to feel through words and actions that The Wild Rose is or should be their home quilt shop. This is done by getting to know each customer’s likes and styles so the relationship with them is customized. Special orders for guests are the norm. Establishing a relationship with each customer is the foundation of the business and one that Robbie and John are so proud of.
The Retreat Center is marvelous. Accessible by elevator (oh yeah!), retreaters enjoy 900 square feet of quilt studio bliss. Each retreater has her own 6’ sturdy laminate table (no wiggly plastic tables here!), adjustable rolling chair and power outlet. There are 3 Big Board ironing stations and 2 large cutting tables, laundry and a fully equipped kitchen. Oh, and did we mention the stunning view of Mt. Rainier from the Retreat Center?
Five bedrooms, each with two pillow top twin mattresses, offer a blissful night’s rest for guests. Down comforters with handmade duvets cover the beds. Antique sinks, armoires, reproduction bed frames and lamps decorate each room. The rocking chairs on the covered balcony offer are a great place to watch the sunrise over Mt. Rainier, stitch on a binding or enjoy a book and glass of wine.
Orting is 50 miles southeast of Seattle. Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Rainier between the Puyallup and Carbon Rivers, Orting is a quaint turn-of-the-century village that visitors will not forget. The town center is anchored by three parks filled with giant maples and evergreens. Visitors and residents alike are always awed by the view of Mt. Rainier while driving into town.
The levees on the east and west sides of town are perfect for hikes along the rivers. The 20 mile Foothills Trail meanders right through the middle of town and then it turns along the Carbon River levee.
The trail is across the street from The Wild Rose and many visitors to the shop also come to bike or walk on the trail. Visitors enjoy the turn-of-the-century architecture of downtown as well as the timber and mining history of the Orting Valley. There are over a dozen restaurants in town to enjoy.
As you can see, there is much to do in Orting. Stop in and see the purple and floral moose wall hanging in the shop. That was Robbie’s first quilting project in 1998 in Anchorage. She hangs it prominently in the shop to remind her of her days in Alaska and how blessed she is because of the world of quilting.
Make it a day trip to Orting and The Wild Rose Quilt Shop & Retreat; it’s worth the drive!
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