Welcome to the Cedarburg Spur Fiber Arts Trail in the Cedarburg-Grafton, Wisconsin area. Just north of Milwaukee, this area is home to the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. Go the Cedarburg Spur web page to learn more about each Trail member and all of the inspiration waiting for you! Cedarburg Spur Trail page.
Community.
Known for its charm, old mills and meandering creeks and rivers, the Cedarburg-Grafton area is a vital community of fiber and textile arts.
Back in the mid-1800’s the area boomed with development and flour and woolen mills were built along the banks of Cedar Creek and the Milwaukee River. Today, the buildings have been renovated and include artist studios, galleries, boutiques, a yarn shop and a wool carding mill—with machinery that has been in continuous use since the Civil War!Located in the heart of downtown Cedarburg (at Columbia and Washington), The Cedarburg Woolen Mill specializes in making wool batts for comforters and quilts. Kay Walters would love to give you a tour of the machinery and show you how it works–just call ahead and set up a tour. Robin M. Fleming has her fabric sculpture studio on the third floor in a cheery, sunny space. Laura Weber’s basketry will soon be a part of The Pink Llama Gallery on street level.
After a while, you’ll need a little R&R. Local eateries, a winery, gift, clothing and chocolate shops and a wonderful bed and breakfast are literally within a couple of blocks. Downtown Cedarburg has been on the National Register of Historic Places for quite some time thanks to forward thinking citizens. And don’t forget the Ozaukee Interurban Trail. It’s a 30-mile stretch of paved bike path that runs the length of Ozaukee County. Cedarburg Chamber
Gathering.
A delight of fiber arts exploration, the Cedarburg Fiber Arts Trail is a gathering place of vibrant, diverse, creative and innovative fiber artists who value the tradition of making and are a part of a resurgence of the textile arts.
When you’re planning your trip, be sure to check the calendar at the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts & Fiber Arts. WMQFA events They purchased an old German farmstead—complete with HUGE barn, stone farmhouse and all of the peripheral farm buildings. Spending several years renovating the place, it now includes a very large exhibit space in the old barn, a gift shop, modern offices and spaces for guild meetings and workshops. Ye Olde Schoolhouse Quilt Shop has taken up residence in a 125 year old schoolhouse down the road. In its authentic stout brick building, the shop has plenty of nooks and crannies filled with all the tools of the quilting trade. If you love reproduction fabrics and traditional quilting, plan on staying awhile. Also, ask Jeanie Rudich about the 125th Anniversary quilt. Special blocks in the center are signed by former students.
Heading up north (just a couple of miles through town or along a meandering road) to Grafton and visit the Arts Mill. Once a flour mill along the west bank of the Milwaukee River, the whole building has been re-purposed to include artist studios, a fabulous coffee shop for those of you in search of java and something sweet, a yoga studio, boutique on the second floor and a light, airy exhibit space on the top floor. Koretta Bearer’s Rustic Farmhouse Quilting studio is located on the second floor along with Gina Studelska who dyes and prints on fabric. Mary Mendla, another local fiber artist, has her line of casual clothing in the boutique. The Grafton Yarn Store is also a part of the Arts Mill but has its own outside entrance. Mai Wyn and Anna Schantz have designed some very nice original patterns.
Connections.
Whether you are from the area, a first time visitor or a regular patron of fiber arts, the Cedarburg Spur Fiber Arts Trail offers inspirational exhibits, fun events, learning opportunities and a place that feels like home.