Lisa Bongean of Primitive Gatherings

The podcast begins with hosts Chelsea and Chelsi introducing the episode and their excitement about having Lisa Bongean from Primitive Gatherings as a guest. Lisa shares her background, highlighting her artistic and crafty roots, and how her quilting journey began unexpectedly after observing a woman hand quilting at a YMCA. Inspired to learn, Lisa took classes, started with patchwork, and quickly fell in love with quilting. Her early days involved modifying patterns and working at a quilt shop, which helped her grow into a pattern designer and shop owner. She emphasizes the importance of family support and the serendipitous nature of her career, which was propelled by her passion and hard work.

Lisa discusses how her family has played a significant role in her quilting business, from her sons helping at quilt shows and driving trailers to their roles in her retail store and new long-arm quilting business. She shares heartfelt stories about her sons’ involvement, including their transition into the creative side, especially Luke’s passion for long-arm quilting and Jake’s technical skills. Lisa emphasizes the importance of family, community involvement, and how her family’s talents and support have been integral to her success. She also touches on her community engagement through sponsorship and participating in local and national events.

Lisa excitedly describes her new retreat center, The Gathering, located in rural northeastern Wisconsin, about 30 minutes from Green Bay. She recounts the journey from purchasing 10 acres of land, through the challenges of development, to creating a multi-building retreat space designed for quilting and creative retreats. The facility boasts modern amenities, beautifully decorated guest rooms with antique quilts, extensive woodworking and craft facilities, and a large hall for classes and gatherings. She envisions this space as a peaceful, inspiring environment for quilters and creative individuals, with features like gardens, a pond with fish, and farm-to-table dining prepared by a dedicated chef. The goal is to foster community, relaxation, and creative growth.

Lisa previews her upcoming fabric collections, including 'Starlight Gatherings,' which features indigo, blue, and green shades, and 'Garden Gatherings,' a quilt-along project planned for summer with her friend Val. She discusses her approach to designing fabric lines, collaborating on projects, and supporting other quilters through quilt-alongs and patterns. Lisa also shares her plans to expand her product offerings with new fabric lines like 'Red and White Gatherings,' 'Rustic Gatherings,' and others, emphasizing her desire to keep her designs fresh and inclusive of a variety of styles. She mentions her passionate involvement in manufacturing, designing, and community-building efforts, all aimed at fostering growth and creativity among her audience.