More new stuff

These two bolts are just in from Dear Stella, one of our favorite designers.

 Here are the critters clothes. We ironed fusible fleece to the wrong side of this fabric and then cut the little clothing items out, just like paper doll clothes.

Here is a closeup of the little critters. We quilted a rectangle of this for a childs floor mat. See below.

Here is a close up of a couple of the critters, dressed in their new clothes. Hours of fun for the little ones.

New Shop Sample

Lonnie made this "guys quilt" just in time for Father's Day! This is a quick and inexpensive kit because the brown rectangles are all cut from a layer cake packet (pre-cut 10" squares). We added a few green rectangles to match the border.

This close-up shows the flannel backing. I bet you know a guy that needs this quilt!

Sunday Sewday

This past Sunday was a beautiful day for some yard day but I also finished up the last two blocks for our Grunge Sampler Block of the Month.

I hope to have the finished quilt ready to show you in the next couple of weeks.

April Quilt Circle of Friends

 We had another great gathering in our Quilt Circle of Friends this week. Let's start with series of pictures of projects we are working on to sell at our outdoor quilt show in June. This is our annual fund raiser for the local library.

Barb made this little quilt from the strips and squares she won in our quilters poker game at our holiday party. It will make a great little dolly blanket for some little one.

Deb made these adorable pin cushions from small tea cup and saucer sets (above) and a basket (below).

Lonnie made this purse to donate to our fund raiser, the Twist and Shout bag.

Nancy took this stack of blocks home from our donation box and made this little quilt to put in our sale.

Joyce "shopped local", finishing up bits and pieces from her own stash to make these two donation quilts - above and below

Theresa took home two of the woven mats that Sue Denny donated and finished them up with binding.

This was another of Sue's donated mats, a pin weaving using ribbon. I stitched it into a travel bag with pockets inside and a zipper across the top.

Nancy took home these 4 blocks from our donation box and made this runner. She "de-constructed" one of the blocks to use in the runner triangle ends.

She also finished up this runner from her own stash (above) and made a pillow (below) from a block she found in our donation box.

 Marti did not actually volunteer to take this box of pieced triangles home to create something with but, she did ask to look at them and we just never took them back. We can look forward to what she makes with these!

Next is a couple pictures from members that have received comfort blocks from the club.

 These gals made quilts from the Comfort Blocks QC members made for them. Lonnie (above) when her mother passed and Nancy (below) when her father passed. 

Then there was our regular show and share - - - 

Barb just finished this big beauty.

Deb has a family birth coming and made this non-gender specific quilt for a gift.

This is a quilt top that was donated to Deb's non-profit, Iowa Comfort Quilts. The quilt top was pieced by member Joyce S. and Deb quilted it. Now it goes back to Joyce for binding and then back to Deb to deliver. 

Lonnie shared this "found and finished" quilt. She "found" it in her own sewing stash and now, it is done! Very nice and will look great on her round table.

Another fun quilt Lonnie finished up this month.

These are turtle blocks that Joyce's mother made. Joyce brought them home and made them into a quilt for grandchildren.

Another finished up by Joyce above and yet another below! I think we have all been busy getting things done before the winter is officially over.

You may have seen this one before but now it is all quilted. If you could see it close-up, you would notice the each row features animal print fabric, same as the animal in that row - - sheep prints in the row with the lamb, pig prints in the row with the pig - etc. So cute.

Celia has fun finishing up little projects like this.

And how pretty is this? The back is one of Celia's signature fleece blankets making it extra snugly.


Our youngest member, Madelyn, has not been sewing much because she has been busy being a teenager. She shared this picture of herself and a friend at the Adel prom last weekend. Such pretty dresses on these pretty girls!

Lorna has been busy with her 60 degree ruler, making these table runners from border print fabric - above and below.

She also finished up this lovely French Braid quilt.

Bonnie offered apologies for not working on her Get Er Done quilt but she has good reason. She has been making these seat pads for her grandsons boat.

We closed the evening with a demo of the pattern, Basket Lattice  by  Sheri Pape. It is an interesting piecing technique of building vertical rows and using partial seams.

After a quick cookie, we called it an evening, another special one spent in our Quilt Circle of Friends.

Special thanks to Jackie O for taking pics and sending them to me for posting. 

Sneak Peek!

This is a sneak peek at our Fall 2016 quilt retreat project. This is just one 8" block laid out. We plan to have the quilt finished, thanks to Jenny O and Jessie Z, and hanging in the shop by July 1.

An invite from the Woodin Wheel in Kolana, IA

Happy Quilting !! Just a note to remind your members to put this Quilt Show on your calendars 44th Annual Kalona Quilt Show and Sale 2016 Thurs. April 28 Evening Only 5 pm- 8 pm Fri. April 29 9 am - 7 pm Sat. April 30 9 am - 5 pm Admission $5.00 (only pay once, good for all three days!) Located in the Kalona Community Center, on the corner of 6th & D. Ave. in Kalona, IA. Over 300 New and Antique Hand Quilted quilts will be on display and for sale. Many are Amish - Mennonite made. Don't miss the Fabulous Kalona Quilt and Textile Museum just one block east of the show.
The City of Kalona will also has 39 Quilt Blocks throughout the downtown sidewalks. Come take the walking tour and see the show! We have nice gift shops, fabric shops, antique stores, restaurants, the Methodist Church does a special turkey dinner for the show, Large groups welcome! For info call Katie at the Woodin Wheel 319-656-2240 or email katie@woodinwheel.com Website: www.woodinwheel.com

Customer Show and Tell

Isn't this a pretty quilt? Colleen S. made this for her great niece who had requested a quilt in blue and lime green. Nailed it, didn't she?

Our winner!

Each of the 6 shops in the Central Iowa Scavenger Hunt Shop Hop gave away a $75 value basket.

Sharon Hawthorne of Johnston was in to pick up her prize, a sewing basket full of quilter's two favorite things - fat quarters and chocolates! Congratulations, Sharon!

Moda Shuffle Download Update!

I have had a few comments that the April 15 post of Moda Shuffle Blocks number 7, 8 and 9 did not print well so, today, I reposted those pictures.

If you had a problem printing the April bom pics, scroll down to the April 15 post now and try again.

Be sure to let me know if you have any issues saving and printing these blocks and don't forget to send me a pic of the blocks you are making to share here.

Most Exciting Day

Just in - this is a new book by local author, Mike Flinn. It's the story of the 1800s bank robbery in Adel. Great read based on historical fact with lots of great pictures, some of which were contributed by our own collector of all things Adel, my Frank.

Quilt Circle of Friends

Join us this evening from 6 to 7:30  in the shop for Quilt Circle of Friends. Don't forget your Show N Tell!

Couple of new bags - - -

Here is Lonnie, sporting the new bag she made, Hamptons Handbag by Pink Sand Beach Designs. She used 2 1/2" batik strips left over from other quilts. We all have those kicking around the sewing room, right? This is a great way to use them because it does not require long strips.

Another fun bag with great pockets, this one made by Leslie J. The long strap allows you to carry it cross-body. The pattern by Noodlehead is called the 241 Tote. Leslie used some of our heavier woven fabric from Moda to give this bag good body.

New kids flannels - - -

Moda Love

We are having sew much fun with this Moda pattern. It's written to use a package of pre-cut squares.

First, we have it made using a pack of 10" squares of Flow by Moda and a light grey background fabric.

Here is a close up. Penny W. made this one for us. It measures 72" x 72"

I made this one using Moda 5" charm squares, Just a Speck, and a light yellow background fabric. The center measures 32" square and I added a small border to make it more baby quilt size.

Another by Penny W.  She made this one with 2 1/2" mini charms from Moda by Kansas Troubles. This one measures 12 1/2" square and plus a small border.

Another made from mini charms, this one with no border.

Both Penny and I recommend pressing seams open when making the half square triangles. That makes it easier to rearrange pieces without worrying about opposing seams. It also eliminates some of the bulk.