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Ellie Mae's Handquilted Weekender

Ellie Mae's Handquilted Weekender

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✓ 90-day return policy

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Handmade by Russ

4.8 (734)
 4.8 (734)
 
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Ellie Mae's Handquilted Weekender

Ellie Mae's Handquilted Weekender

Regular price $50.00
Regular price $50.00 Sale price $100.00
SAVE $50
🐾

Handquilted in Gatlinburg, Tennessee — One Animal at a Time

By Eleanor "Ellie Mae" Hartwell — 74, master quilter. 42 years at the frame. 14,000+ bags quilted by hand in a converted barn at the edge of the Smoky Mountains.

"Every animal I quilt is one I've loved. Biscuit's been on that frame so long I could stitch him with my eyes closed. I want every woman who carries one of these bags to feel like she's carrying a little piece of home with her."

What's in the Box

🎒
Animal Weekender
Your design of choice from the final collection
👜
Cotton Dust Bag
Keeps your weekender pristine between trips
📜
Handwritten Care Card
Ellie Mae's own care notes & a personal greeting
🏷️
Numbered Authenticity Tag
Hand-numbered & signed, sewn into the inner pocket

Why This Bag Is Different

🧵
100% Handquilted

Stitch by stitch, by hand. Every bag takes 16+ hours of skilled handwork. No machine could replicate the texture or the soft, layered weight that 42 years of practice puts into every seam.

🐱
Six Hand-Stitched Animal Portraits

Psychedelic Cat, Dachshund with Sunflowers, Poodle Group, Black Cat Patchwork, Sleeping Calico Kittens, or French Bulldogs with Flowers — each animal quilted stitch by stitch, not printed or ironed on.

🌈
Premium Cotton + Polyester Batting

Holds its shape even when fully packed. Soft against your hand, structured enough to stand on its own. The quilting creates a padded shell that protects everything inside.

Padded Fabric Handles

Comfortable when fully loaded. The padding runs the full length so the strap never digs into your hand on a long walk to the gate.

🧳
Carry-On Sized

Roomy enough for a full weekend — clothes, toiletry kit, a book, your pet's travel blanket. Compact enough to fit overhead on most U.S. domestic flights.

🎨
Six Limited Designs

Psychedelic Cat, Dachshund with Sunflowers, Poodle Group, Black Cat Patchwork, Sleeping Calico Kittens, French Bulldogs with Flowers. Six portraits, each one a world of its own.

"

Ellie Mae's animal portraits represent something increasingly rare in American textile work — a quilter who has spent four decades learning to render a living animal in thread and cotton until it looks back at you. The stitch density, the color layering, and the dimensional quality of her appliqué work put these bags in a category that mass production simply cannot reach. Each one is a small piece of folk art you can carry on your shoulder.

Martha Calloway

Curator, Appalachian Textile Heritage Collection

Available in Six Hand-Quilted Designs

Psychedelic CatDachshund with SunflowersPoodle GroupBlack Cat PatchworkSleeping Calico KittensFrench Bulldogs with Flowers

Perfect For

🐱 Cat Lovers🐶 Dog Lovers🚆 Weekend Trips✈️ Carry-On Travel🎁 Birthday Gifts👯 Best Friend Gifts🚗 Road Trips💃 Mother–Daughter Trips

What Makes It Different

100% Handquilted Cotton. Real handwork, not machine-stitched, not printed. Every stitch placed by Ellie Mae's own hands over 16+ hours per bag.
Hand-Stitched Animal Portraits. Each animal is quilted stitch by stitch in premium cotton — built up in layers of color until it looks alive. Not a print. Not an iron-on. Not machine embroidery.
Hand-Numbered Authenticity Tag. Each bag is numbered and signed in Ellie Mae's own handwriting. The signature copycats can't fake.
Premium Polyester Batting. Holds its shape under load, protects what's inside, softens with use the way real fabric should.
Wraparound Heavy-Duty Zipper. Opens the whole top wide for easy packing. Closes smoothly even when the bag is full to the brim.
🛡️

90-Day No-Questions Guarantee

If you don't fall in love with your Animal Weekender within the first 90 days, send it back. Ellie Mae will refund you in full — no forms, no questions, no hassle.

A Note About Handmade Variation

Each Animal Weekender is quilted by hand from start to finish. Color tones, stitch patterns, and the exact placement of each animal's features may vary slightly from the listing photos — that's the fingerprint of real handwork, not a flaw. To care for your bag: spot-clean only, air dry. Avoid machine washing to preserve the colors and the quilting.

Product Details

Material Premium handquilted cotton + polyester batting
Animal Portraits Hand-stitched in layered cotton — design varies by style (cats, dogs, or both)
Set Includes 1 Animal Weekender, 1 cotton dust bag, 1 care card, 1 hand-numbered authenticity tag
Dimensions 20″ L × 11″ H × 10″ W (50 × 28 × 25 cm)
Weight ~1.9 lbs (860g) empty
Capacity ~25 liters — fits a full weekend's clothes + shoes
Designs Psychedelic Cat, Dachshund with Sunflowers, Poodle Group, Black Cat Patchwork, Sleeping Calico Kittens, French Bulldogs with Flowers
Closure Wraparound heavy-duty zipper
Pockets 1 exterior zippered pocket + 2 interior slip pockets
Care Spot-clean only; air dry
Origin Handquilted in Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Lead Time Each bag takes 16+ hours to complete
Sales 14,000+ bags sold over 42 years • 4.8★ average rating

Message from the Artist:

After years of making things by hand, our workshop is closing. These are the last pieces we'll ever ship. Every item on this page was made slowly, carefully, and with more love than any factory could replicate. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced. Just real craft from real hands.

We're proud of every single one. We hope they find good homes.

When they're gone, they're gone — and so are we.

Free shipping across the United States

- Delivery time: 7–14 business days
- Insured: Every package is fully insured

🌳 Carbon-neutral shipping with UPS / USPS

  • The craftsmanship is unlike anything I've found online. Wish there was more in stock — grabbed the last one and couldn't be happier.

    Patricia H. Tennesse
  • Arrived faster than expected and came with a handwritten note. In a world of Amazon boxes and bubble wrap, this felt like receiving a gift from a friend. That personal touch is everything.

    Carol M., Oregon
  • It really looked better than i thought. You can tell immediately that a real person made this with real care. Already ordered one as a gift.

    Linda & James
    View full details

    Frequently Asked Questions

    My wife and I personally respond to every single email — as fast as we possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to talk craft, we're here.

    You can reach us:

    • Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (CT)
    • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (CT)

    Email: support@homeofcraft.com

    Of course. We stand behind everything on Home of Craft 100%. If you're not happy, neither are we. Just shoot us an email within 90 days and we'll make it right — no hassle, no headaches.

    Every single product on Home of Craft is 100% handmade — crafted by hand, using only premium quality materials. We're proud to carry on a tradition of craftsmanship that has been passed down through generations.

    Trustpilot reviews

    Excellent 4.8 / 5

    • Absolutely stunning quality!

      The craftsmanship is unlike anything I've found online. Wish there was more in stock — grabbed the last one and couldn't be happier.

      Patricia H. Tennesse

    • The packaging alone made me smile

      Arrived faster than expected and came with a handwritten note. In a world of Amazon boxes and bubble wrap, this felt like receiving a gift from a friend. That personal touch is everything.

      Carol M., Oregon

    • This is what shopping should feel like

      It really looked better than i thought. You can tell immediately that a real person made this with real care. Already ordered one as a gift.

      Linda & James