Originally Posted by dakotamaid
Cedar Rapids is within short (less than an hour) driving distance of Cedar Falls, Iowa City, the Amish Colonies, etc. The one shop I've been to is Pine Needles. The are wonderful people and very helpful and the shop is gorgeous!
Someone from that area will fill you in more but personally I love that area.
Short note here "Amish Colonies " (non existent) - It is the Amana Colonies (our family is from there). It is about 25 miles from Cedar Rapids. The Amana Colonies consists of seven villages. Amana has a super great quilt shop - Heritage Designs. There also is another shop. Unfortunately I am a Heritage Designs fan and haven't been to the other one. But there is another one in the Colonies. And while you are at the Colonies, try some wine samples, check out the lace shop, the Broom and Basket Shoppe (all brooms and baskets made there), the furniture shop and the Woolen Mills, not to mention the Bakery in Middle Amana.