South Dakota Quilts & More

Our visit to South Dakota was nothing short of breathtaking!

Overall, the visit to South Dakota included stops in Chamberlain and Custer. What I didn’t expect to see were quilts everywhere!

First, we saw a huge quilt monument, quilt shops, a quilt in a musical, and quilts at our bed and breakfast. What more could a quilter ask for?

A quilter-friendly visit.

Our visit to South Dakota happened because our youngest daughter was hired by Black Hills Playhouse in Custer, SD. We knew little about the playhouse or South Dakota, but planned our visit right away when we learned of her opportunity. She would play the role of Laurey in OKLAHOMA!

I had no idea the South Dakota visit would be so quilter friendly!

Image of Dignity Statue
Image of Dignity's Quilt

Dignity in Chamberlain, SD

Dignity is a 50-foot-tall statue in Chamberlain, SD, to honor the cultures of the Dakota and Lakota people. She represents courage, perseverance and wisdom. Made from stainless steel, Dignity wears a Native dress from the 1850s and holds a star quilt made from 128 stainless steel blue diamonds. Dignity was designed by artist laureate Dale Lamphere and gifted to the state of South Dakota by Norm and Eunabel McKie. Learn more about Dignity HERE.

The Quilt Shop

Just down the road from Dignity in the city of Chamberlain is The Quilt Shop. In addition to several rooms filled with bolt after bolt of beautiful fabric, is the main room featuring a mix of Native American art, jewelry, beads, quilt patterns, kits, laser pre-cuts, panels, and more fabric!

The Badlands.

No South Dakota visit is complete without a trip through the Badlands. The landscape is diverse and amazing.

Image of Badlands, SD
The Badlands, South Dakota

Bison galore!

Image of Bison
A partial herd of bison “greeted” us when we entered The Black Hills.
Image of Bison Statue with Quilt

There were bison statues all through the town of Custer, too This one is sporting a quilt.

Check out this bison following us on the road (view is from inside our Tahoe).Image of Bison on Road

The Black Hills Playhouse

Taking this long of a trip to see a show, we didn’t see it just once, we caught it three times! We didn’t stop smiling, even to the end of the third show!

Image of Black Hills Playhouse
Click here for more info on BHP.

It’s amazing that this quaint theater tucked in the hills has such a dedicated following, especially when you see the roads people travel to get to it! At least the first three shows were sold out. The energy level of the cast was high, the performances perfected, the direction was unique and solid (not that I’m an expert at ALL, but I know what I like) and the SOUND…I could hear every word. It was a wonderful experience. Everything you would expect from a professional playhouse.

Image of Curly and Laurey
Curly and Laurey played by Lukas Ptacek and Jacquelyn Kiefner
Image of Ado Annie and Star Quilt
Ado Annie – “I’m just a girl who cain’t say no!” Played by Josey Miller.

See  more incredible photos by Sage Studios Professional Photography on their Facebook Page HERE or go to their website HERE. He really captured the moments and the energy-even the rice toss the moment before the lights went out at the end of the show.

More sights on the South Dakota visit.

The star quilts took on significance for the Sioux and Assiniboine when buffalo was pushed to near extinction and hides and robes were no longer given as honors. Also known as the Star of Bethlehem, the pattern is also featured in quill work, bead work and paintings.

Image of Mt. Rushmore
Mount Rushmore
Image of Crazy Horse Mock Up
Mock Up of Crazy Horse Memorial

We got to spend part of one day with our daughter and took in Crazy Horse and Mount Rushmore!

Image of Kathy and Ernie
Owners Kathy and Ernie, Dakota Dream

Last, but certainly NOT least to share about our trip, was the warm welcome we received at Dakota Dream Bed & Breakfast & Horse Hotel. Kathy and Ernie were delightful hosts and, I’m telling you, they thought of EVERY thing to make our stay special! We highly recommend! Even after day three, I was still finding little things they did to provide all the comforts, well, beyond OUR home!

Learn more about Dakota Dream HERE!

Image of Breakfast Plate
Every breakfast was a work of art.
Image of Quilt
Kathy’s a quilter, too!
Image of Matt and Karla at Dakota Dream
Me and the hubbs.

Read about Tanka, the bison skull quilt and Dakota, the Southwest turtle quilt inspired by the visit to South Dakota.

Shop more than 50 Creative Bee Studios Quilt Patterns!

 

Enjoy YOUR quilting journey!

3 Comments

  1. Jewel Eggley

    Thanks so much for sharing. Mt Rushmore is still on my bucket list to see! Now you have added more incentive to go to that area of our great country. Congrats to Paige. Jewel

  2. Linda Gast

    Thank you for sharing the journey with us

  3. christine childers

    Great pictures, and congrats to Jacquelyn! We went to some of those places a few years ago but, unfortunatly, did not see Dignity.