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. 

More prize winner -

Each of the 5 shops in the Central Iowa Customer Appreciation Days drew for $25 gift certificates - 4 from each shop!  Previously, I posted winners from Adel Quilting, Creekside and Quilt Block. Here are the four winners from Ankeny and Ames:

Quilter's Cupboard - Ankeny

Marilyn Zeigler 

Vivian Storjohann

Pamela Schroeder

Constance Vandekrol

Quilt Connection - Ames
Julie Whipple of Ankeny
Becky Staedtler of Ames
Donita Link of Maxwell
Eileen Faux of Mingo

Congrats to all!

Calvie and his blankie

Calvie has not been feeling well lately. He caught a bug that settled in his eye. He's on the mend now - - - eating, running, imitating his older brother - - Over the weekend, Memaw whipped up a quick comfort blankie just for him. I think he likes it!

These are blankies I have been making lately, using a focus fabric for the front and Moda's plush Fireside for the back.

I cut the top the exact size I want it to finish. Usually about 42" x 54".  No need to even trim away the selvage because you are going to wrap the back to the front and it will be covered.

Then I layer the focus fabric with Fireside and batting. I make sure the Fireside (plush back) is at least 3" to 4" bigger than the quilt top on all 4 sides

Then I machine quilt, making sure to stitch up to the edge of the focus fabric but not beyond. Quilting beyond would quilt the batting to the backing, making it difficult to trim away excess batting later.

The final step is to cut away the excess batting and trim the edges of the Fireside to leave 2 1/2" on each of the 4 sides. I fold that 2 1/2" around to the front side, pin really well and stitch it down, stitching through all layers thus creating a wide binding of the plush. Because Fireside is a polyester product, no need to turn under the raw edges before stitching.

When I come to the corners, I fold to make a miter and stitch it down. From start to finish, it takes less than 2 hours and makes a really snugly little gift.

More winners to report - - -

Here are some more winners from last weekends Customer Appreciation Days. Each wins a $25 gift certificate!

From Quilt Block:

Betty Jolly

Janet Jones

Kathy Betterton 

Christie Dwyer

From Creekside Quilting:

Rhonda Rascon

Alma Ziebell

Linda Brower

Roxie Hester

Watch for winners from Quilters Cupboard and Quilt Connection to be announced soon.

Another comfort quilt ready to deliver - - -

Many of you contributed blue and white 9 patch blocks to our Comfort Quilt stash. This week, we've learned of a local gal that could use a little quilt hug so, a stack of these blocks went home with a group of friends and this is the quilt they made. After binding, it will be ready to deliver.

We like to keep about 20 blocks in store for when there is a need. Often, the quicker we can provide comfort, the better. Our supply is now depleted so, we are asking for you to send in or drop of nine-patch blocks.

In the past, we have done black and cream, red and cream, brown and cream and blue and white as shown above. How about if we do pink and white this time?

Make as many as you like, using 3 1/2" cut squares - - 5 pink and 4 white. The block will be 9 1/2" (9" finished). Ask us if you need a pattern.

Lonnie's Pine Fresh

From Sandy Gervais new panel - Pine Fresh. Isn't this lovely! Available in kit!

Conkerr Cancer Event – Saturday September 6

 – - - - - 9 am to 1 pm at the Adel Library.

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness month. 

Adel Quilting & Dry Goods Co is collaborating with Conkerr Cancer Org. to host an event at the Adel Library, making pillowcases for children in treatment. 

Help is needed to cut, press and fold fabric for pillow case kits. 

Help is also needed to stitch pillow cases.

Adel Quilting is providing the fabric. 

Please stop by the library for a few minutes or a few hours on September 6 to help with this project. 

For more information on how you can help, call Adel Quilting at 515-993-1170 or contact www.conkerrcancer.org.

All Iowa Shop Hop Prizes to pick up in Adel - -

All Iowa Shop Hop prizes came in the mail today!!

We have prizes for the following to pick up:

Caroline Romore ($25 gift card to Adel Quilting)

Abbie Allen ($25 gift card to Adel Quilting)

Christy Berkenbosch ($25 gift card to Brooklyn Fabric Co.)

Other prizes (FQ bundles)

Margaret Beal

Lonnie Keeran

Nancy Sharr 

Marti Klatt

Janet Ades

Pat Barrie

Congrats to all! For a complete list of all prize winners

across the state, visit www.alliowashophop.com

Block rearrangement - - -

This is the original block - used in our block of the month quilt, Pinwheel Stars.

Here is the same block with just a few pieces re-arranged. Completely different look! Connie R. sent this picture to me. Isn't this fun?

Both blocks create a fun secondary design we set together with more of the same block.

Fall is coming - - - -

I am a summer girl and hate see it passing so quickly but - - the truth is, school starts in a few days and close behind comes Fall. We just as well be prepared!

This is a fun zombie fabric from Riley Blake.

And a Fall table runner made for us by Penny White.

From the Wooden Bear - Boppity Boo. This panel comes with instructions for several cute little Halloween projects.

Tote bag fun - - -

This is one of our new jute totes with a rogue quilt block appliqued - - - well almost - -  I put a little fusible web on the back side of the block and ironed it in place. I still need to stitch down the outer edges.

These 14" x 16" bags come with black, blue, red or dusty dark green trim with square bottoms and are just $9.99 each.

A few state fair ribbons!

This one by Diana Weirich - You may recognize it as a former shop sample quilt. Check out that blue ribbon!

Another blue ribbon - This one for Janeen Pearson.

And Adel's own Margaret Beal went three for three. The above blue and brown star quilt with the applique border is one Margaret entered.

The red and white one is another sample of Margaret's work.

and this is Margaret's hexie quilt. Congratulations to a master quilter!

Happy Sweetcorn Day!

Now, that's how you eat an ear of sweetcorn!

Visit us during the Sweet Corn Festival - August 9!

Find this pattern in the new McCalls Quilting Magazine. The pattern is actually a table runner that we have modified to make a 12" wall hanging from one block of the table runner pattern.

Check out our Sweet Deals during the Sweetcorn Fest:

• As a thank you for your purchase, your name will go in our sweet drawing for Sweet Corn English Toffee, from Aldente Toffee!
• We are also offering all of our charm packs for $8 each (regular price - $9.50)
• Plus a newly expanded selection of Bargain Shelf fabric ($6/yard) just for the Sweetcorn Festival!

Parking will be tight until after the parade (begins at 9:30 am) but will loosen up after that. Plan to park in the lot or drive behind the shop.

What's new you ask?

Here's a new wrap blankie. We've been making these soft blankies by quilting and then wrapping the plush backing around to the front. Little ones love the soft edge and these friendly monsters are fun.

Here's a new shop sample by Jenny O. The pattern is called Up Town Debbie Brown - - a pin cushion and thread bag. Jenny said it was fun to make. We have the pattern, of course!

This is an assortment of jute tote bags from Moda, just $12.95. There are also plain bags that look to be a perfect background for stenciling or stitching a left-over quilt block.

And lots of new fabric coming in.

Love these Christmas flannels!

Jackson's turn

Last weekend was Jackson's turn to come to Adel for a little vacay. He and "Nampa Frenck" were inseparable.

 Such animated observations come out of this little guy.

Grandpa actually convinced him to sit perfectly still long enough for blue jays to swoop in for a peanut.

While taking this picture, I was told by this almost 3 year old - - -  "Move, Memaw. We're trying to watch TV"

Memaw tried to balance out the idle TV time with a trip to the library, a little time spent at the Adel Water Park and lots of help in the kitchen and planting in the back yard. We had just two rules in the garden. #1 Don't step on the flowers and #2 Try not to hit Memaw in the head with the shovel -- -again. Such a fun weekend!

Coming back!

See what Julie Letvine from Me and my Stitches has been working on?  These are tiny! See the 1" grid behind these little charmers?

We're introducing this program again. Starting in October, pick up a charm every other month for a total of 6 charms. They are 3/4" and just $16.50 each. Choose to do them the new bright fabrics or the more traditional dark fabrics as shown below.

New this year, the option for a necklace or a bracelet to feature your "charms". We're taking registration now but are limited to just 12 so, don't wait!

Carol's latest - - - Carol

Carol played with a Jaybird Designs pattern and diamond ruler to make this beauty.

And she has made several of this project bags. The center front is clear vinyl. We have this in both pattern and in kit.