New Stuff

In anticipation of lots of fun traffic coming through this week with the AQS show in Des Moines, we have been very busy sprucing things up, beefing up the stock and adding new shop samples.

We have several items around the shop marked "AQS". Below are a few of our new samples and we have even more coming - - -

This cute cat, made from selvages, is reaching for the birdies in the border. Diana W. made this fun quilt for us.

Diana W also made this selvage ornaments. Adorbs!

Here's Lonnie's Night Sky hanging on the wall. It's a 100% WOW quilt. This quilt is made from solid fat quarters. During AQS, these solid fat quarters are just $2 each.

New blog page - - -

I added a page to the blog this evening for retreat updates. If you are one of our Ladies of the Lake retreaters, check this page for updates. 

In the left column here, see "Pages" and select "Retreat" to view.

My Sunday Sewday

This really wasn't even sewing. These are part of the Pine Fresh panel from Moda. I fused them to Decor Bond and cut with a pinking rotary blade. Won't these make a gift extra special?

I made this little 12 1/2" x 18 1/2" quilt Sunday as well. Nicely written little pattern and, of course, available in kit. I added the big gold buttons. What do you think? Leave them on or no?

Done in just three minutes - - - -- !

Watch this link for a fun video by long arm quilter, Angela Walters. Below is our shop sample of the same quilt. Lonnie K. pieced this one and Jessie of Threaded Quilting Studio did the machine quilting.

Night Stars from Jaybird Designs - Available in kit and pattern. Uses ruler, Sidekick. Visit us during QuiltWeek and see a demo.

Featuring Kansas Troubles fabrics

Here are several new pieces from Moda designed by Kansas Troubles, Paisley Park.

And here is the results of my most recent Sunday Sewday. On the left is Grandma's Favorite featuring the new Kansas Troubles fabric in the border.

On the right is a new penny candle mat I am currently working on. We have several from this Buttermilk Basin series of little quilts.

My trip north

I had the pleasure of babysitting these three last week for a couple days. 

Calvin is in constant motion so forgive the blurry picture but, his big adventure was learning he could climb inside the toy box - - 

and open cupboard doors then look at Memaw to see if it was going to be OK to proceed.

Looks like little Livie found Memaw's phone. That explains the new ring tone. Her shirt says, "My Heart is Made of Gold". True.

While the babies napped, Jackson and I checked out Willow's beautiful garden. The sun was in his eyes so this picture cost me a cookie bribe.

The harvest is pretty much done so, I let Jackson do a little re-arranging with the tomato cages. He is so helpful!

Open Sew

Jackie O was at Open Sew last week and sent me these pictures. 

I had to miss as I was babysitting the Grands.

Nancy got a lot of cutting done and worked on her Ladies of the Lake Quilt Retreat Quilt - "Cheers to Ten More!" This quilt commemorated our 10th retreat using 10 half yards of 10 different colors. Nancy chose to do hers in fall colors. Beautiful!

Deb and Janet compared their pieces from our on-going Mystery Quilt BOM. I can tell both of them, their quilts are going to be very pretty!

Marty and Bonnie have a confab while Marty machine stitches and Bonnie hand stitches.

Looks like Celia is working on her snowball blocks for Quilt Circle.

There is always show and share when any group of quilters gather. Rozetta is showing her chevron quilt made using ombre fabrics. Love it!

And Deb, known for donating her sewing time to charity, has a special guest. Her mother came and helped sort fabrics for future comfort quilts. I am sorry I was not there to meet her!

October Open Sew dates are Oct 17 & 18
November Open Sew dates are Nov 12 & 13
note: If you are marking your calendar, please be sure to mark a 4 pm end time on Friday, Nov 13. We have been asked to share the room with a wedding party that evening.

Half Yorkie - Half Bear

Another little  bear - -  Max

Three Little Bears

This is such a telling photo. Jackson (age 3) and Livie (age 1) are partners in crime. Cal (age 1) is the big sweetie.

Last Call for Afternoon Delight!

Nan shared these pictures of her first 6 applique blocks from our Afternoon Delight BOM and a comment that this is "one fun project!" We always love that kind of feedback!

We have had a fabulous response to this bom. It just started in August and we have one extra set cut at this time so, if you have been pondering this project, now is the time.

Are you saving your selvages?

I recently ran across this designer and love her selvage patterns. We have these in stock now and will start working on shop samples soon.

Open Sew Week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This week, Thursday and Friday is Open Sew at the Adel Library - 9:30 am until the last stitch is sewn.  Bring your sewing and join us. Stay for a couple hours or leave your machine overnight in the locked room and get in two days of stitching and chatting.

Jenny's Chenille Quilt

Jenny O tried this technique for making chenille.

She started with a fabric that had a chevron print she could follow for stitching. She layered up the chevron, wrong side up with three more layers of flannel, right side up. Then she stitched all layers together, following the chevron design in the fabric.

Because she used pink flannel for the top layer, the quilt has a real pink cast. 

Here is the back. Jenny said it was a lot of stitching but, she also bought fabric to make another so, it must have been fun! The next one she is making has a diagonal stripe rather than the chevrons.

Sunday Sewday!

It was a good one! I started with a deadline - 20 snowball blocks for exchange at Quilt Circle tonight. Nothing like a deadline to motivate.

Then something fun - I already had this cut out so it didn't take long to whip it up, my favorite kind of project. This is a new kit, Open House, 15" x 30". Colleen E. is cutting kits today.

Then a little chore - I quilted these three table toppers, made by Carol P. This pattern, from Jaybird Designs, is called Rock Candy. Carol said they are really fun to make - - Must be as she made three!

The other pattern shown above, Night Sky, is a quilt from the same designer. Lonnie K has made us a stunning shop sample of this quilt and Jess has it now for machine quilting.

Both patterns use a specialty ruler called Sidekick. We will be presenting demos in the shop using this ruler soon. Patterns and rulers are in stock now.

I took a break from sewing to work outside for a couple hours on a gorgeous Sunday evening. Then it was back to the sewing room to put the binding on Open House and on our Snow Time shop sample quilt. I did not wonder why I was so weary by bedtime, though.

This is Jenny O's version of Wind Spinner. She visualized this as the sunrise over the ocean.

Carol P. also brought a Wind Spinner in to show us. This one had a much more country flair. What a fun pattern, Thank you gals for sharing.

Date Reminders

Open Sew, normally the 2nd Thursday/Friday of the month, is off regular schedule this month. Because of library availability, September Open Sew is Thursday and Friday, September 18 & 19, starting at 9:30 am.

Also, Quilt Circle of Friends will meet in the shop on Monday, September 15, 6 to 7:30 pm. Jackie Orton will tell us about her Adel Alumni Comfort Quilt program.  To help with this program, volunteers will have an opportunity to take home fabric to cut in squares or strips for future comfort quilts.

Our next adventure - - -

Start saving those selvages.  Selvage quilts and projects have been around for quite some time but I recently stumbled on to this website and saw several small quilts I want to try. In fact, there is a lot to like about this designers quilt patterns.  Take a look.

Who wants some hankies?

JoAnn called the shop to say she has 70 to 100 ladies handkerchiefs for sale.  You can call her in Waukee at 515-987-0036 if you are interested.

A Saturday Success

Thank you to all that donated part of their Saturday to help with our ConKerr Cancer event in recognition of September, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.

ConKerr Cancer representatives, Vickie and Jennifer, came from Ames to help organize the day. Here they are with the bolts of fabric we donated - - - - This is before.

A crew of volunteers showed up. It worked out perfectly as some were sewing, some were cutting, some were folding and some were pressing. In addition to stitching up 70 pillowcases, another 97 pillowcase kits were assembled. 

Here is most of the crew of volunteers. Some had already come and gone before this picture. Even little Owen was very helpful as he charmed us with his ABC song and played quietly, allowing Grandma Deb lots of sewing time.

And - - - - after.

Big Thank You to all who helped and especially to the gals from ConKerr Cancer for so generously giving of their time and talents.

Not only did they come to Adel early on a Saturday morning, they also brought treats! By request, they sent me these cookie recipes to share:

                                              Cranberry Hooty Creak
1 Cup softened butter
2 Eggs
2 Teaspoons vanilla
2 1/4 Cups flour
1 Cup oatmeal
1 Teaspoon baking soda
1 Teaspoon salt
2/3 Cup packed brown sugar
2/3 Cup white sugar
1 Cup dried cranberries
1 Cup white chocolate chips
1 Cup chopped pecans
Sugar In The Raw (for those who are not familiar with this it's in a box about the size of baking soda box and is with the baking supplies)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Grease your cookie sheets.  In a
medium size bowl beat together butter, egg and vanilla.  Add all other
ingredients, mixing together by hand.  Make balls and roll in Sugar In
The Raw.  Place on cookie sheets and bake 12 to 14 minutes or until
edges start to brown.  Cool on baking sheet a little bit and remove.
Makes around 60 depending on size of the balls you make.


                                        Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

1/2 Cup softened butter
1 Cup sugar
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1 Egg
1 1/2 Teaspoons vanilla
Cream the above ingredients.
Stir in:
1 1/2 Cups flour
1/2 Cup cocoa
1/4 Teaspoon baking powder
1/4 Teaspoon baking soda
 Shape dough into 1 inch balls.  Place on ungreased cookie sheet.  Press
down the center with your thumb.  Place drained and dry maraschino
cherry in center.  Makes about 40.  In a pan combine 1 Cup chocolate chips
and 1/2 Cup sweetened condensed milk.  Heat until melted.  Stir in 4 teaspoons
of the cherry juice.  Spoon about 1 teaspoon of frosting over each cherry on
unbaked cookie - YES UNBAKED.  Bake in 350 degree oven for 10 - 12 minutes.

Enjoy!!!!!
 

For more information about how you can participate, contact
Jennifer Buttolph, ConKerr Cancer/Western Iowa
jlb50010@msn.com
 

Birthday Girl!

Aunt B (also known as Brookly Jean) is celebrating a birthday today! She thinks her father and I were hippies when we gave her that name but I still love the name - - - beautiful name for a beautiful girl. 

She recently went to Turkey and here are a few of the beautiful pictures she took.

Happy Birthday, Brook!

Pillowcase Kits

In the event you are not able to join us Saturday for ConKerr Cancer, you can stop in the shop and pick up a pillowcase kit to stitch and return.

Afternoon Delight Show and Tell

Jan Jome was in yesterday to pick up month 2 of our new applique block of the month, Afternoon Delight. She shared her month one applique blocks.

What a lovely job of hand applique! 

Based on feedback we have been getting, you will find that the month one pattern has you make more units for the pieced blocks than you will need for month 1. Just set those aside to use later.

Thanks for letting me share, Jan!

Sunday Sew Day!

You know how some days are just more productive than others? I just had a great Sunday Sew Day. Of course, it didn't hurt that we had electricity but no signal so no TV or computer time.

I finished up this runner. These blocks, made with English Paper Piecing, are the three blocks we are featuring in our series of Sister's of the Cloth classes - - - Dresden Plate, Patchwork of the Crosses and Tumbling Blocks.  During the storm last night, I went ahead and machine quilted and got the binding on. Did the binding hand work this morning so, it is done!

 After finishing my "homework" for the day (the Sister's runner above) I got to play with fabric to make this tote, Tuscany Tote.

This is a pretty basic tote but, it is really well stabilized (one of my pet peeves) and the pattern is really well written. The inside has 16 pockets! Do you have your tote ready for October AQS Show in DM?

Following this, I went back to some homework and finished hemming curtains for my sister.