A TOUCH OF AMISH had its beginning in March of 1986.  The essence of the business was a connection to the Amish, including quilts, toys, rugs and even some foods.

The name A TOUCH OF AMISH really came out of that spirit and idea.  Two entrepreneurs, Lynn Rice (pictured right) and Susan Harris had the energetic idea of giving their Amish friends a market in a non-Amish area.  Susan had the Amish friends and Lynn the love of quilting.  It seemed like a great business idea but Susan’s husband was transferred back to Connecticut even before the grand opening of the shop at 114 Garfield Street. 

Lynn kept up the Amish connection with quilting bees and made quilts for some time.  The shop still hosts an Amish quilting bee on occasion in the summer but the shop took a different direction as time went on.  The fabrics and quilting supplies quickly outgrew the little shop and in October of 1988 and the business was moved two doors north to 126 Garfield.  The house was larger and when the entire area went through redevelopment, so did 126.  The street was renamed Applebee and the house next door that was slated for demolition, was moved to connect with 126.  Customers continued to come, even though there were days when entering the shop meant climbing a pile of dirt. 

The result of the re-construction created a large shop consisting of two frame buildings right in the heart of downtown Barrington, arranged to fit the curve of the street.  There are two entrances on opposite sides of the building and parking has been greatly improved. Open, airy rooms decorated with beautiful, hanging quilts welcome each customer to the shop. 

Even before the remodeling and construction one of the main features of A TOUCH OF AMISH was the desire to teach and serve the customers.  Quilting was popular and the techniques and tools available were rapidly improving.  Quilters needed an opportunity to learn and visit with other quilters.  In 1989 we began a Block of the Month program, offering a pattern for a block each month in a FREE class.  The joy in seeing the variety of fabrics and choices people were making and they were learning to quilt in new ways was much to our delight! 

During the first two years, programs were sponsored by Eleanor Burns’ Quilt in a Day Program. The third year original quilts designed by Lynn were produced.  The pattern, OUR PIECEFUL VILLAGE, was first taught as a block of the month and was later published in a book by That Patchwork Place.  We continue to offer block of the month programs as well as Thimbleberries Quilt Club and our newest group program, Jo Morton's Little Women Club, featuring wonderful Andover Jo Morton fabrics and wonderful little quilts and projects in the Civil War style.