Retreat #2 is in full swing - - -

Thank you to this happy group of ladies for joining our 12th session of quilt retreats - Ladies of the Lake!

Quilters, being the generous souls that they are, held a "Sewing Shower" for one of our guests who lost her sewing room to a fire, earlier this year.

And then there are the quilts that have been born so far this retreat:

In keeping with our theme, "Twelve Days of Christmas" guests were invited to wear their Christmas sweaters today. It was good for one name in our prize drawing!

There is one group of about 9 ladies that call themselves the Empty Bobbins. Viki made her Christmas shirt using bejeweled empty bobbins!

Close up 

And, she made each of her group these Empty Bobbin earrings. No shortage of fun going on around here.

And more quilt tops. With every completed top, guests ring the bell to show and tell and then enter their name in the prize drawing again.

Every retreat, we do a charity project. Janice was the recipient of this quilt made from donation blocks. Janice went through treatment this year and testified the great comfort she felt, taking this quilt with her to treatments.

How to decorate a pumpkin - - -

First, strip down to your skins and really focus. Brace yourself with your non-dominant hand for better control.

Oh, and be sure to use non-toxic, eatable paints. Focus is intense but short-lived.

And don't forget the wet wipes.  If you don't have wet wipes, your tummy will do.

Happy Halloween!

Retreat #1 ends and Retreat #2 begins -- -

Thank you to this great group of ladies for joining us at the lake for 3 great days of stitching and a lot of laughter. Below are just some of the quilts that were born so far this week.

Angel Tree

As the holidays approach, it's time to start talking angels. We have a list of children, ages 5 months to 21 years old, that need a friend. 

Stop in and look over the list. We ask for a pillow case. If you would like to include some gifts inside your pillow case, that's even better.

This year, recipients are through Dallas Co. Crisis Intervention and Advocacy.

We ask gifts be returned to the shop by December 15 so we can deliver.  Thank you in advance or your kindness.

New table runner/wall hanging, perfect for the season. This is made with string piecing on a foundation square and went together in an afternoon. Fun and cute AND available in kit!

Sunday Sewday

My last couple Sunday Sewdays have been focused on finishing up details for retreat. It starts today!  The first group of our Ladies of the Lake guest will arrive this morning (at Lake Panorama) at 10 am and stay through Wednesday. The second group arrives Thursday and stays through Saturday. Unlike this gal, we will be quilting everyday this week!

Holiday gift idea!

 Our friends from Quilting on Main in Pocahontas shared this idea recently. This is an 8 1/2" "Tumbling Block"  pot holder made using a hexagon ruler. Lots of fun to be had with this ruler including hexagons from 2" to 8".

For the back of the potholder, I fussy cut this cute Christmas print.

We are just packing up now to head out for our 12th retreat. With the theme of "Twelve Days of Christmas", this will one of our fun demos.

Birthday girl

The mother of my granddaughter is 32 today. Happy Birthday, Willow Ruby!

Quilt Show Tomorrow

Saturday. October 25, 9 am to 3 pm, stop by the Waukee Christian Church to see their quilt show. Pick up a couple raffle tickets for quilt drawing at 2:30 - Need not be present to win. Get more details here.

New reads --- -

Just in - - - love this magazine.

I picked up this new book today. Perfect for holiday gift giving, this is a children's Christmas story written by a Winterset, IA quilter. All autographed copies in house now for just $9.95.

Retreat Reminders - - -

Check the "Retreat" page of this blog for a few reminders. We are knee deep in retreat planning here at Adel Quilting!

Sneak peak - -

Coming to a quilt shop near you soon!

No longer a mystery - -

Last year, Quilt Circle of Friends did a Mystery Quilt. Then we offered it to everyone else. Now that this BOM is finished, we can show the quilts. These are some of the Mystery Quilts made by QC members.

This one is by Lonnie K.

and this one by Celia M.

Here is Margaret B's version.

Nancy H did her's in pink and brown civil war reproductions.

Theresa H. changed hers up a bit by adding a narrow sashing strip (red) between the blocks.

Joyce S. changed hers by adding a sashing between the blocks and and an extra row of squares between her nine-patch blocks.

Another by Joyce S, done the same one only with a more scrappy selection of fabrics.

Trish S. played around with her blocks, turning the corners to create an entirely different look.

Jan M. rearranged her pieces, moving some of the sashing strips to the borders, creating this fun quilt.

What a fun project this has been.  Do you have a favorite?

The pattern for this quilt, "Friendship Circle", is available at no charge if you purchase the fabric from Adel Quilting and Dry Goods Co.

A gift

The Covered Bridge Quilters always give us a gift for vending at their quilt show. This was our gift this year. I love it. It's on my kitchen table now!

October Quilt Circle of Friends

The October Quilt Circle of Friends meeting has been cancelled due to a death in our quilter family. 

Visitation for Kathryn Barker (Lonnie's mother) is Monday evening, 4 to 7 pm, at Twigg Funeral Home in Panora. 

The History of the Apron

          

Remember making an apron in Home Economics? I don't think our kids know what an apron is. 

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath because she only had a few. It was also because it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and aprons used less material.  But along with that, it served as a potholder for  removing hot pans from the oven. 

  

 It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven. 

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

 

And when the weather was cold Grandma wrapped it around her arms. 

 

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron. 

 From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables.  After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls. 

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. 

 

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men folk knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner. 

  

 It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes. 

                                     

Today - - -

Our heartfelt condolences to the family of Lonnie and Kurt Keeran on the passing of Lonnie's mother.

Reminders

Just a few of reminders:

• Our new mini-charm bracelet block of the month is just beginning and we have a few vacancies. Cost is just $16.50 a month, every other month, for a total collection of 6 precious 3/4", glass encased, paper pieced blocks. Wear them on a bracelet or a necklace.

• If you are registered for one of our Ladies of the Lake Quilt Retreats, check the "retreat" page on this blog for updates. I just added the 2015 dates.

• If you are participating in our Afternoon Delight Block of the Month, now is the time to reserve your finishing kit. 

Retreat update

For those of you attending our fall Ladies of the Lake Quilt Retreat, check the blog retreat link now. We have added cutting information for the retreat quilt projects, You may want to cut, mark and label pieces before retreat to get the most out of your time.

Find the retreat link under the tab "Pages" along the left side of the home page.

If you have not yet picked up a kit and would like one, contact us soon.