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WELCOME to our Destination Quilt Store on the vast and beautiful Montana Prairie.
This is truly a destination quilt store built from the ground up for our customers and travelers from around the world. The Quilting Hen has a breathtaking view of the Highwood Mountains, which you may view from any one of the rocking chairs on the front porch during the summer. You most likely will get the opportunity to view an antelope grazing, coyote hunting or a bald eagle flying near our store.
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You may ask where the store name
originated?
In 1999, Diane Arganbright, the owner, received from the American Poultry Association, Inc. the award and title of Master Exhibitor for Poultry. This was the first award given to any individual in the State of Montana for her breeding, exhibiting, judging and continuing education of our young people about poultry. That is how the store was named!
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Activities never end at this beautiful location and there is always something going on. It is worth the destination drive to Carter, Montana that is lovingly nestled between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park on Highway 87 just 25 miles North of Great Falls, Montana. Carter is also along the trail of the explorers Lewis & Clark, and the first town founded along the Missouri River is just a few miles away.
Events best describe The Quilting Hen. Winners of different events have won a variety of prizes including quilt shopping sprees, sewing machines, sergers, certificates, trips, gas cards, and more. The owner is an avid scuba diver and has a Shipwreck Scuba Hunt Sale in the store when she returns from her scuba adventures every year. There are diver down flags through out the store along with clues and treasures for customers to find. Everyone loves a treasure hunt!
Community Benefits and services have long been a part of this store since its inception in 1999.
The Linus Quilt Project began in this area along with receiving the
PFAFF Act Of Kindness Nomination for our idea of collecting used
sewing machines, refurbishing them and then donating them to the Women’s Pre-Release Center in Great Falls, Montana. Rescue animals are also a big part of this store and Diane has given away hundreds of yards of quilting fabrics in exchange for cans of dog and cat food – enough to fill up a truck that was delivered to the
Florence Dedman Animal Rescue Foundation in Ft. Benton, Montana. A Diaper Dash event was created to collect diapers for the local
Life Way Pregnancy Center of Great Falls. Charitable organizations within the community have been supported by The Quilting Hen including the local volunteer fireman and EMT crews, which have received financial support along with donations of quilts for their cause. On October 21, 2009, the United States Commerce Association Washington, DC selected The Quilting Hen and Antiques to receive the “2009 Best of Chouteau County Small Business Award Category”! After the hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, 50 quilts that were store models, were sent to the victims in Houston.
Names like “Hearts On The Prairie” and
“Harvest Hope” are quilt patterns that Diane has created with her stellar staff, which all are inspired by the warm hearts and beautiful people that have visited our store from around the world. After one Internet order from Japan, the family actually visited our store on their trip to America. We have been fortunate enough to be on the front cover of
Sewing Professional Magazine, Round Bobbin Magazine along with an article and special pattern created for
Country Women Magazine. Additionally, The Quilting Hen had a 2 page feature article in
The Fab Shop Hop Magazine along with other articles Diane has written for
The Long Arm Quarterly Gazette. For the last 3 years, Diane also has been a guest instructor for
PFAFF International Quilting & Sewing Conventions throughout the United States. Carter, Montana is a town of only 50 residents and these magazine articles have put Carter on the map!
Quilting Classes are team taught here as this provides a more personalized class with attention and care given to every individual who attends.
“The Carter Strip Club” is a very popular monthly event and the name says it all. We advertise being the “only strip club in Carter” and it brings customers and laughs daily. Students wear pink boas during these monthly classes along with enjoying creative cakes made by Diane. The owner, Diane, has studied with the
Wilton Design Studios in Chicago and dabbles in cake decorating and has donated event cakes for local functions.
Our store was built to serve a need and will be here to serve our community and Country. We truly look forward to a visit from you.
Come see us and leave as a friend.
Gary and Diane Arganbright - Owners
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