It's Fat Quarter Friday

If you are a Purple Bag Quilter, bring in your bag and shop Fat Quarters today! Buy 3 get 1 free. Today's color is BLUE.

We are extending this through Saturday so, plan a trip to Adel this weekend!

A few new pieces

A few new holiday pieces from Moda - - - We'll be making the Lovers Lane from these. It should be a very attractive Christmas throw.

And these bright new blenders. See a close up below. Fun but subtle dotty swirls.

Biker Babes!

These gals from Minneapolis jumped off the bike trail to pay us a visit. They call themselves Biker Babes with Fabric! I hear they were a lot of fun and we hope they stop by to see us again next time they pedal through.

News from the Iowa Quilt Museum

Grinnell, Iowa, quilter Judy Martin displays her innovate re-designs of traditional patterns in this latest exhibit at the Iowa Quilt Museum and she does not disappoint. Thirty-five brilliant quilts are on display all focusing on log cabin & star designs. Don't miss this exhibit; on display through October 1st. 

New Baby Quilt

This is a new panel from Moda. I added the block sashes and the flying geese units to make this fun quilt. We have it in kit, of course!

Sweeties at the Sweet Corn Fest!

These two brought their older brother and folks out to join me for the Sweet Corn Festival. Here we are at the parade. Their little Adel Quilting bags are full of candy.

And on their way home - - - True sign that much fun was had!

Quilt Circle BOM

Quilt Circle of Friends is next Monday eve in the shop, 6 pm. This is the block pattern I will hand out. It's #12 in our series blocks.

The blocks for this group challenge have been inspired by actual barn quilts sign. The blocks are 16" and fairly basic.

Our block this month was inspired by this painted sign:

Looks more difficult than it is. These are all 4" finished half square triangles. 

We hope to offer this block of the month to everyone next year.

State Fair Ribbons!

I did not have a chance to go to the fair to see the quilts this year but many of you shared pictures with me. Thank you!

These are winners by some of our Quilt Circle of Friends quilters. 

The biggest ribbon of the entire show goes to Bonnie Nelsen for this Best of Show quilt. Look closely to see the striped piping around each pieced circle. Julia Swallow, our Monday gal, did the extraordinary machine quilting on this.

By Margaret Beal

By Bonnie Nelsen

By Jackie Orton

Both this quilt above and below are by Marti Klatt.

And these two, above and below, are by Abbie Allen

OOOOOpen Seeeeewww!!

This week, Thursday and Friday in Adel at the Adel Library, 10 am each day until the last stitch is made!

New Stuff

It must be August! Time for Christmas fabrics. These charm squares are very pretty.

and these adorable woodland animals in soft yellow and grays, paired with some of Moda's basic essentials. Sweet.

Quilting BFFs

These gals from the Des Moines area call themselves quilting BFFs. They were having a great time traveling from shop to shop last weekend. They came back to Adel Friday and then returned for a second visit on Saturday because one of the group was absent for the first visit. We enjoyed their company both times!

Sweetcorn Festival!

Are you ready for another big Sweetcorn Festival! Here it comes this Saturday, August 12. The day begins at 9:30 am with a parade followed by all you can eat free sweetcorn and a day full of festivities, vendors and entertainment.

Here is our featured Sweetcorn Potholder for 2017, available in kit while they last.

For you Purple Bag quilters, the August Friday Fat Quarter special is extended to include Saturdays so, come in on Friday or during the festival and pick up a free fat quarter with the purchase of 3 fat quarters.

This weekend, the Fat Quarter designated color is GREEN.

Festival note: We will be closed on Saturday morning until after the parade (about 11:30 am) and parking around here during that time of day of the festival is very limited. You may consider parking at the high school and taking the free shuttle to our neck of the woods.

More Lovers Lane Quilts

Here's a follow-up to the last post. These are the quilts that were collected from the Iowa Quilter's Online group. Remember I said we were each given a 3 yard bundle with this pattern, Lover's Lane, at the 2016 retreat? Well, here they are, all made up. Seventeen quilts in all.

Why do I have them you may ask? I was absent from the retreat this year (this past weekend) due to the changes around here. The group, however, made the decision to donate all of these quilts to the Kavanaugh House in memory of my Frank. So the quilts came here for me to deliver when the time is right. What a gift.

This will be such a special gift. I learned in my 3 week stay (with my husband) that when people leave there for their next destination, the body is covered with a quilt and the staff lines up in the hall as the body is taken by. When the body is transferred to the funeral home van, the quilt is removed.

Other options for quilts at Kavanaugh House are for the patients to use and then to be sent home with families in memory of.

I am so honored to be part of this gift. Thank you so much to my friends in the Iowa Quilters Group.

Lovers Lane

This pattern, by Villa Rosa, uses 3 one yard cuts which includes binding. Carol P. made this shop sample with it. We also have this pretty line in grey/yellow comb.

The online quilt group, Iowa Quilters, had their annual retreat this past weekend. Part of the festivities include this pattern made up for comfort quilts.

At the 2016 retreat, guests were given 3, 1 yard cuts and this pattern to make. I brought home the pinks and greens to make this one for my contribution.

Puzzles

Puzzles have really been popular lately. Here are several new puzzles that just came in.

A few new patterns - - -

The first pattern is made with the Cathedral Window blocks, very cool. We will put together a demo of their easy technique.

The 4th pattern, Sweet Jane, is currently under construction by Lonnie K. She is featuring the new Grunge Dots in this pattern. It will be a beauty, I'm sure.

And any pattern under the Atkinson Designs label are always excellently written and tested.

Science to back our reality!

August Purple Bag Special

In August, we celebrate color! If you are the holder of one of our Purple Bags, bring it in on Fridays in August and shop our Fat Quarter Friday special. Each week has it's own designated color:

Purchase 3 fat quarters of the designated color and pick up a 4th one free!

For Purple Bag Owners only:
August 4, the color is Red
August 11, the color is Green
August 18, the color is Purple
August 25, the color is Blue
Don't forget to sign up for our monthly drawing while you're here!

Barn Sign Blocks

Quilt Circle of Friends has been doing this block of the month. The idea is to make large blocks (16") that resemble the blocks we see hanging on barns across Iowa.

Just one more block and we will be ready to figure out a setting. Any ideas?

Hooded Swim Towel

I spent the day with the grands today which included a trip to the local swimming pool. The twins each had one of these hooded towels.

The front and back are just 1 bath towel with a hood fitted in the center, made from a hand towel. I brought one home with me and hope to write up the instructions. They are just the perfect little cover up for little ones.

Grunge Dots are here!

Moda is now making Grunge fabric with dots and we have the entire line on order. Here are the first colors to arrive today!

Today

Today we said good-bye to a good man. His quiet presence will be missed more than clanging bells. Thank you to all who came and shared this day with us.

Grandparents Rule!

Back in stock now!

Farewell, My Love

Hitting the trail - - -

Have you picked up your kit for the AQ row yet? The row features the brick streets of Adel and our landmark bike trail. Rows come complete with a pre-cut and fused bike.

Purple Bag Drawing

We are a little slow in announcing our July Purple Bag drawing winner!

Congratulations to Donna Stodden. Her name was drawn and she wins a jelly roll of the black Iowa fabric coordinates.

Open Sew This Week

Open Sew is this week, Thursday and Friday at the Adel Library. The doors open at 10 am and stay open until the last stitch of the day is made! 

New Fabrics

Here are a few new pieces.

Neutrals with just a little fleck of bright color is always popular.

And aren't these pig prints cute?

Guide to buying a sewing machine:

Check out this website for a guide on what to consider when purchasing a sewing machine.

Ankeny Area Quilt Guild Show!

It's that time of year. Time for the great Ankeny Area Quilt Guild Show. Here is the raffle quilt this year followed by more details of the show.  Worth the trip.

2017 Quilt Show

DMACC FFA Building

July 7th, 9 to 6

July 8th, 9 to 4

Admission:

1 day $8.00

2 day $14.00

Scrappy hour July 7th, 4-6 PM $4.00

Free parking

Handicap Accessible

information to purchase your admission tickets and how to purchase raffle tickets will posted soon. Also watch our facebook (Ankeny Area Quilter’s Guild) page for upcoming information on free classes and other activities

We have a Row x Row Winner!

Kresten Munns from Aiken South Carolina brought her completed quilt in today to claim her prize of 25 fat quarters. Since she used our row in her quilt, we gave her the bonus gift of personally selecting the fabric she wanted cut for her prize.

And here is the back, nearly as fun as the front! Nice job, Krestin. 

Sisters of the Cloth - 2017!

It's time for another series of classes we call Sisters of the Cloth. We meet at the Adel Library on Saturday mornings from 10 am to noon on July 15, September 16 and November 18.

Half of our morning is spent talking about quilting, show and share of our quilts and refreshments.

The other half features the speaker of the day.  At our July gathering, our speaker is Kathy Wilson, a professional historian and educator. The title of her program is Straight-laced Girls, Uptight Ladies and Loose Women. I am told Kathy is both entertaining and informative and she comes to us highly recommended.

Students choose to sit and just listen and enjoy or participate in Show and Tell or pick up the hand piecing supplies we provide a stitch a little.

This has been series of classes that we have held for many years, always very popular. If you would like to join us, just give us a call - 515-993-1170.  Fee for all three classes is just $50 and includes program hand outs, patterns, sewing supplies, prize drawing and refreshments! 

Happy Independence Day!

This is how you do it!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat!

No need for a parasol in Adel today! Row on in and pick up your free row pattern today.

Plan lunch at Brick Street Books and Cafe or our new Fiesta Mexican Restaurant.

It's always a beautiful day in Adel!