Zanellas intertwine all they love at Hillbrook

Picture a European-style country house hotel cascading down 15 levels of limestone ridge, and 2,000 panes of glass flooding the interior with light. Imagine the rich patina of old wood, the gleam of polished brass, the deep jewel tones of oriental carpets. Imagine, too, Flemish oils, African masks, dramatic contemporary sculpture, and a library lined with books. Add the flicker of candles, the warmth of a fire, a meandering stream with ducks on the pond, and you might think you are in paradise.

This sophisticated, yet unpretentious elegance is Hillbrook Inn.

Owned and operated by Carissa and Chris Zanella, Hillbrook Inn is located just five miles outside of Historic Charles Town, WV, one hour from D.C. It sits on a beautiful 17-acre property that was one of the first purchased and owned by George Washington when he was 21 years old.

The Inn features magnificent rooms, award winning meals, and a quaint atmosphere to relax with family and friends. And, with all its rich beauty and history, it is the perfect backdrop for quilting -- a craft that has been part of history for hundreds of years.

Explaining how quilting is incorporated into Hillbrook Inn, Carissa (who is the Innkeeper) shared, “To us, Hillbrook is a dream! In 2003, I had moved my first Gammill into my basement with the intention of building a quilting business, but we did not want to stop there. We wanted to dream big and it all fell into place one April day when we drove to Hillbrook. From the moment we drove down the driveway, we fell in love and knew we had to make Hillbrook a part of our life.”

In 2004, the Zanellas purchased the Hillbrook Inn. The Inn itself has been in business since 1985 and has appeared in magazines such as Southern Living and The Washingtonian. It is a European-style English Tudor. The grounds consist of the main building plus a gatehouse, a springhouse, and a cottage that features four spectacular suites. The Zanellas found the perfect business mix. They intertwined the Hillbrook surroundings with their love of quilting, making available a bed and breakfast, restaurant, tavern and quilt training center.

“We knew the gatehouse would make the new perfect home for my Gammill Quilting System,” said Carissa. “And because we wanted to share our dream with everyone, we took the next year to set up our training facility, hire the perfect staff, and build a business that we knew would be successful.”

The gatehouse on the front of the property is the first building noticed at Hillbrook and it really gives you an idea of what else is to come. It is located on the right side of the driveway and has its own gardens and yard. The wooden European-style door opens into a grand foyer with a beautiful fireplace. You notice a beautiful metal railing and staircase cascading to the lower level where you’ll find their longarm training facility. Gammill Sewing Systems are strategically placed in the room for optimum training. They have one Home-pro, a Classic Plus, an Optimum Plus and an Optimum Statler Stitcher for customers to enjoy and use. The quaint and relaxing atmosphere is designed to educate guests on the Gammill Quilting System, as well as the art of longarm quilting. 

Carissa noted, “Our ultimate goal is to bring the quilting business up to the level of Hillbrook Inn. Hillbrook Quilting is just a year old and we have been focusing on our customers first and building the business from there. Our goal is to have the number one longarm quilting facility on this coast; therefore, we have started inviting and scheduling all our classes for 2008 and 2009.”

Industry leaders scheduled to teach at Hillbrook this year include Kim Diamond, Irena Bluhm, Valeria Hill, and Valerie Schlake. (Plus others will be added once their bookings are finalized.) Some of these instructors will teach workshops, while others will lead retreats.

“We started offering quilting retreats in 2007,” Carissa explained. “Depending on the class, they last a day or two. We leave it open to the guests to decide if they want to take the class or include lunches, dinners and room. Either way -- our goal with these retreats is to make it more eventful than just quilting. We want the ladies and gentlemen to enjoy Hillbrook and all it has to offer. We always hold a three-course luncheon that they can choose to enjoy. This allows them to sit with the trainers, learn more by talking and making new contacts as well as making new friends. We encourage our guests to join in because it is an extension of the class. The conversation continues during lunch and ideas continue to bounce back and forth. It is a special time to relax and enjoy Hillbrook. We want our guests to have a quilting vacation…..not just a retreat.”

Hillbrook Quilting also offers day classes for longarm machine training. This includes demos, pre-ownership and post-ownership courses, as well as maintenance sessions. The classes allow Hillbrook guests to get one-on-one training with a professional. It allows them to ask any questions they might have about the Gammill Quilting System.

“Our goal here is to make them feel comfortable with the machine and have an opportunity to relax and sew in a great atmosphere,” Carissa shared. “We also set up a lunch for the guest and their trainer, and we provide them private time to work with the machine.”

The pre-ownership course is designed for customers contemplating on buying a Gammill Quilting System. It is a day of demonstrations, hands-on training, and a question/answer session, along with lunch. After a guest takes this course, they are welcome to schedule rental time on the machines at Hillbrook.

The post-ownership course is for those who are looking to enhance their knowledge about their Gammill machine. In this day-long course, the trainer covers everything from maintenance of machines to new ideas, new techniques and a question/answer session, plus lunch and a little relaxation.

A maintenance course is designed to help Gammill owners learn to care for their Gammill Quilting Systems. This is a preventive maintenance course that will keep their machines running for years to come. Maintaining the machine is easy, fun and saves endless time and money.

Considering the variety of classes offered, Carissa has found the pre-ownership course to be the most popular. She said it’s because the course gives people the ability to get onto the machine in a relaxed atmosphere.

“At shows, sometimes they don’t really get the full picture because of time constraints, and many times the booths are so crazy and busy,” she stated. “Shows are a wonderful place to view all types of machines and get your hands on them to compare, but at the training facility, they get more one-on-one time. This is a huge decision for people and they deserve that extra time.”

If after the pre-ownership course, a customer does decide to purchase a Gammill, Carissa said they can purchase their machine from Hillbrook; however, it is Hillbrook Quilting’s policy to only sell machines that they know they can service and support.

“We can also help point sales into the direction of another great dealer who may be able to assist customers if they are located outside our service area,” she noted.

As for the machine itself, the Zanellas are pleased to sell a brand they believe in and trust.

Carissa continued, “Not only do we sell and maintain Gammill Quilting Systems, we also sew on them and enjoy each and every project that we complete. What is even more fulfilling to us is when someone learns to use the machine…the look in their eye and the smile on their face is priceless.”

It does not matter what season it is when guests visit Hillbrook, each is unique and as breathtaking as the next. The rolling green grass with bright flowers is charming, warm and inviting. The fall leaves decorate the facility in bright and vibrant colors that create a picture perfect moment. In the winter months, a blanket of snow across the Hillbrook ground appears as if it was draped with beautiful white linen. 

In addition, the large piece of property allows guests to escape from their day-to-day routines and enjoy a break from their sometimes hectic lifestyles. Whether they are sitting in a garden sipping tea, or meandering over the bridge gazing at the calming water below, there is a sense of serenity all around. It is quaint and peaceful allowing guests to gather thoughts for their next quilting creation or for their next step in life. The wooded areas provide shade where they can sit and relax in serenity. 

As for the rooms, each is decorated with a sense of style and a touch of thoughtfulness. Each room has its own private bath. In addition, each room is carefully decorated with beautiful linens, unique artwork, beautiful quilts, antiques and oriental rugs, making an atmosphere that feels like home. Some suites offer additional amenities, such as double whirlpool tubs, fireplaces, a fridge and covered private patios. Each room has its own unique ambiance, whether it is the hand-painted flowers on the walls in the summer cottage, or the old architecture in the eves of the main house. 

The eclectic buildings and well-groomed grounds at Hillbrook are breathtaking. Every aspect of the property is beautiful and gives guests a feeling of being in the hills of Europe. The gardens, the streams, the magnificent architecture and beautiful trees offer comfort, peace and inspiration.

It’s easy to see why the Zanellas enjoy sharing the dream they are living.

Carissa said it best: “I love the Inn, the people and the quilting. I love that I can go to work and enjoy myself, and I love that people get to escape from their hectic lives when they come to Hillbrook. I love to know that they feel relaxed, enjoy the atmosphere and are able to create a memory that will last a lifetime. Quilting is amazing to me because it allows me to see someone’s creative side. I love to help make their dreams come true and by selling the Gammill, it allows me to accomplish just that.”

When Carissa thinks of her business at Hillbrook, this is what she thinks about…

“The quilting machine helps to put the final touch on a quilt that will be carried around by a child for a lifetime. It may finish a quilt that is a gift for a wedding or a bridal shower … or even a birthday or graduation. Quilts mark all the important days of our lives. You may even finish a quilt made of the clothes of a lost loved one, allowing you to wrap in it when you need their arms around you. Quilts are articles that all ages can appreciate and most of all, they are part of each person’s individual life story…which are the beginnings of an heirloom to be passed on to the next generation.”

If you know of someone who would like to enrich their life story by experiencing Hillbrook Inn, a Country House Hotel, you can make reservations by contacting Carissa Zanella at 1-800-304-4223 or 1-304-725-4223 info@hillbrookinn.com.

The address is 4490 Summit Point Road, Charles Town, WV, 25414; www.hillbrookinn.com.

You can contact Hillbrook Quilting at 1-877-304-0809 or 1-304-728-0809; hbquilting@hillbrookinn.com; www.hillbrookquilting.com.

Reprinted from SQE Professional, February 2008