Donna and Jim Smith are in the process of creating a quilt retreat center that will be very inviting.  On a recent trip to Kansas (my husband wanted to see the Monument Rocks South of Oakley,) I stopped in to see what I thought was an existing quilt shop.  I had checked online and found a listing for the Smokey River Quilt Shoppe in Oakley.  We drove to the address, but when I opened the door, I found a busy construction scene instead of a functioning quilt shop.  I closed the door and started to leave, but Donna ran out and invited me to come back and see what they were doing.

            Back inside, I got a tour of the shop.  Fabrics have been ordered and are in place on shelves carefully covered with plastic.  A long antique table is being refinished for use as a cutting table, and a long arm quilting machine is already in use in a back room.  The entryway of the shop will be a sitting room complete with coffee and television for husbands to be comfortable while they wait.  The upstairs of the refurbished building is home to Donna and Jim.  Next to the main building is a courtyard with flower gardens and behind the courtyard is an apartment where quilt teachers can stay.  The building across the courtyard from the shop is the studio where classes will take place.  Arrangements have been made with a motel down the street for quilt retreat participants to stay, and carriage rides will be provided to take the quilters to and from the studio.

            Smokey River Quilt Shoppe is scheduled to open the day after Thanksgiving, with a beautiful variety of fabrics that you don’t see everywhere else, and a warm and friendly staff waiting to welcome and assist you.  In addition to a great quilt shop Oakley has a wonderful museum, and oh, I almost forgot, Monument Rocks.  If you are looking for an overnight getaway, drive over and check them out!  307 Center Ave, Oakley, KS 67748 (785) 671-3070

by Linda Wind