I am the owner of Quilt-agious, an independently owned quilt shop located in Mukwonago for the past eight years. We feature bright and modern fabrics, quilt kits and sewing notions. Thanks to an exclusive quilt designed by my brother Christopher Weinhold we have a world wide customer base. I am a strong believer in supporting charitable causes and our shop supports both Quilts of Valor and quilts made for the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
I have two children with my late husband and I am remarried to my husband Dan who also had two children with his late wife. After both of us having good marriages for 30 years we were blessed to have found each other. Together we have 6 beautiful grandchildren, all 5 years old and younger.
Q: Please tell us about your current, past, or future career. What do you love most about what you do?
I worked as an Insurance Executive for 30 years. After retiring I wanted to pursue using more of the creative half of my brain so I went to school for interior design. That training taught me a lot about textiles and color design. I had always wanted my own business so the quilt shop was a great option given my past experience running business segments in the insurance industry along with my training in interior design. The quilting industry has shown significant growth with the aging of baby boomers and their disposable income. What excites me most about my current career is the great customers that I have met in the years we have been in business. Although we are a retail business we are also a service industry helping our customers create beautiful works of art in their quilts. There is nothing more rewarding than to have a group of customers travel to our shop and say “We love your shop, it’s our favorite!”
Q: What are a couple of your favorite restaurants in our community?
Fork in the Road is high on my list of favorites. Their outdoor dining area is so nice in the summer. We frequently direct customers that have traveled a distance to go there for a nice lunch. Although not a restaurant but you can bring your own food, we love going to Pieper’s Porch on a warm summer day.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in our community?
My quilt shop has been in Mukwonago for eight years. Most of my adult life I lived in Eagle and two years ago built a home in the town of Genessee.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in our community?
Lynn Stucker owns a non profit business called Miles of Memories. Lynn provides quilts to the Children’s Advocacy Center. She also has a long arm quilting business that she uses the proceeds from to support the charitable quilts she makes. I am so impressed with the commitment that Lynn has made to supporting such a great cause. We have reached out to our customer base to help supports Lynn’s efforts and they have responded most graciously. We have recently collected more than 75 ‘love bug’ pillows that were made by generous customers that Lynn delivered to the Children’s Advocacy Center.
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be and why?
A trip to Australia and New Zealand is on my bucket list to visit. I’m waiting for my sister to retire so she can join us!
Q: What is one of your favorite movies? TV shows?
I have always loved John Candy and was so sorry his life was cut short. The Great Outdoors and Uncle Buck are two of my favorites.
Q: What advice would you give to people?
Life is too short to waste it with negativity. Enjoy each moment and be grateful for what you have.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
I’m not sure I will ever achieve it but my late mother always wanted to rent a houseboat and travel down the Mississippi River. I carry on that dream for her and you never know…my children may need to carry it on for me!!
Q: What is your go to band when you can’t decide what to listen to?
We laugh at the shop with our Alexa echo dot because when we can’t think of who we want to listen to I always fall back on Van Morrison. We also love The Steve Miller band and are fulfilling a bucket list item this summer by traveling to Colorado to see them at the Red Rocks Amphitheater.
Q: What current or former local business makes you the most nostalgic about our community?
I would have to say Elegant Farmer holds the most nostalgia for me. We would go there long before I ever moved to the area as a family day out on the weekend.
Q: If you could choose anyone that is alive today and not a relative; with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? And where locally would y’all meet for this lunch?
I have been a volunteer for the American Lung Association for more than 30 years. A few years ago I was at a research meeting in Washington DC and Kathy Bates the actress was there as well advocating for research dollars in the US spending budget. I had a few minutes to chat with her and really enjoyed the brief time we spent. She has had such an interesting career and was so appreciative of the time spent by volunteers such as myself for supporting causes that improve the lives of people in need. After taking her to see all of our beautiful quilts we would stroll over to Fork in the Road for lunch in the back patio.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about our community?
What I love about our community is the great access we have to amenities while also being able to enjoy the beautiful countryside in this area.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?
Enjoying life, family and friendships.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was the fifth of seven children. My parents had five kids in six years so decided to let my siblings name me. Sky King was a popular tv show at the time and Sky King’s niece was Penny….thus who I was named after.
Q: What is the most beautiful place you have ever been?
My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Italy in 2017 on a three week tour of the country. Our favorite place was in a beautiful little coastal resort town called Santa Margherita. The views of the sea and mountains along with colorful seaside buildings was memorable and stunning.
Q: Favorite month? favorite holiday? and best single day on the calendar?
Christmas has always been a favorite holiday but even more than the day itself it’s the whole holiday season that I enjoy. Time spent with family, enjoying holiday events and traditions like baking Christmas cookies are all of the things that make this time of year joyful.
Q: What would you rate a 10 out of 10?
The life I have been blessed with. I try to take none of it for granted.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My daughter Danielle. She is my go to person for advice as I am to her. Together we work to make our business Quilt-agious a success and I’m confident we will be here in Mukwonago as a thriving business for many years to come.
Q: What is one or two of your favorite smells?
Hot brownies baking in the oven and freshly picked lilacs.
Q: Finally, what 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
Comfort, peaceful, love
