August Quilt Circle Meeting

With recent life happenings, we missed both our June and July Quilt Circle meetings so, we had lots to catch up on.

Remember this block from our May meeting? I do believe it's a prank. It seems one ornery member turned it in under the name of another ornery member. As you can see, just about everything is wrong with it from missed seams to upside down pieces to  wrong placement of units to questionable soiling.

With just a little starch and a little lovin, (and a lot of picking and re-sewing) the block has been restored to it's originally intended beauty.

Remember our block challenge? Customers voted during our outdoor quilt show for their favorite blocks. Here they are:
1st place - Abbie Allen (#33)
2nd place - Bonnie Nelsen (#7)
3rd place - Lonnie Keeran (#13)

These quilters each won a gift certificate for their effort. These are part of about 50 blocks that will make up the 2018 DC Fair auction quilt.

 Bonnie N came to club, proud as a peacock and rightfully so. She is wearing the ribbons she won at the Iowa State Fair including the Best of Show (below). She detailed how she went about making this fabulous quilt and we were all humbled in her presence.

This is another ribbon winner from the Iowa State Fair. Trish S made this in high school, many moons ago. (Trish, - - - notice I did not say many, many moons ago). It looks pieced but is actually dyed. 

Trish did not fall far from the tree. Here is her mother, Margaret B. with her fair entry. This was a kit given to Margaret by a friend that didn't think she could get it done. Margaret, on the other hand, is a mentor to all of us, especially in regard to finishing projects she starts. Below is her blue and brown beauty.

Cute, right? This is a lipstick canister with a tiny pin cushion insert. Roll it down and place the lid on to store.

This is just one of three. This is a applique flower that Bonnie N. is making to frame for wall art for a room she is decorating in black, white and red.

Joyce S. put together the above strip quilt to use up scraps. Very pretty.  She also finished a couple guy panel quilts (below.)

Nancy H finished this refreshing quilt. Love it!

Dian W has been taking art quilt classes. This one represents the part of her life when she lived in Arizona. The challenge was to play with texture so she wrinkled wet fabric and let it dry, all twisted up, before cutting.

Then it was on to the Barn Quilt Block of the Month we have been doing. Here is Dian's Spool Block above and Deb's Spool Block and her Log Cabin Block below.

Margaret's Spool Block above and Abbie's Star Chain from a couple months ago and her Spool Block

 

Plus one more Spool Block - Nancy J's?? This was month 12 for this BOM so now it's time to think about settings. This quilt will be a BOM in 018.

Other show and tell included this stack of blocks by Deb. She is well on her way to a Jewel Box Quilt.

 We've been eyeing this big 9-patch quilt by Theresa H. Here it is done, done. Below see the backing. Perfect back for this quilt!

Lonnie K. shared this shop sample she made using the new Moda Grunge Dots. Moda is coming out with even more Grunge dots including metallics. Can't wait to see them.

Becky has been making quilts for grand kids. See the back below  with the fun quilting pattern she used.

This is another for a grandson. After she hurried to get it done for a graduate that was planning to attend ISU this fall, she learned the grandson changed his mind about what college he will attend. He may get a beautiful ISU quilt anyway. 

A couple more by Becky, burning up the scraps. Really pretty colors.

Abbie never lets dust gather around her sewing machine. She just finished this panel for a grandchild. The border of blocks and the multi-border strips really added a nice touch to this panel.

Sue and Abbie took a class on paper piecing a tree skirt. It's coming right along. Only 4 months until Christmas!

 Close up of Sue's.

Love this big quilt by Sue R. We taught this at retreat, using white for the block sashes. Fun to see it with pink substituted in.

These two blocks were turned in. They are part of a block challenge for our Ladies of the Lake Quilt Retreat. You'll be seeing more of these in October.

  

Celia M. has been finishing panels into baby quilts for donation through her church. So thoughtful.

And she finished this panel for herself, just to remind all that what happens at Gma's house stays at Gma's house!

  

Kathy M. shared this pretty strip quilt she just finished. Someone commented that it looks like her. See her below? She does match the quilt. A pretty lady with a pretty quilt.

Making an efficient use of fabric, she pieced together the back fabric.

It was another great gathering of friends. We drew for prizes and then snacked on bars and cookies made by some of the members.

As always, thank you to Jackie O, our photographer.

This is true, but - - -

It's because men invent sewing machines and they do not sew fast enough for us to keep up with all of our quilt ideas!

Purple Bag Drawing - - - x 2!

As we find our way to our new normal around here, we discovered we completely blew through August without drawing from the Purple Bag so, today we drew two names. The winners are:

For August - Marilyn Coulter wins two packs of charms as shown here.


For September - Pat Backsmeier wins a package of black 2 1/2" precut strips, coordinates to this years Iowa Fabrics.


Congratulations gals. Come on in and pick up your prizes.

Row x Row guests

These gals met in the shop today for the first time and became fast friends as they bonded over the adventures of Row x Row!

Becky and Richard (left) from Pella are full time RVers and plan to make it to each Row x Row shop in Iowa.

Ed and Julie are from from Onawa and are just getting started.

They made plans to buy and exchange license plates from a variety of shops.

It was fun to watch them having fun!

New from Hoffman

Halloween prints. 

Here is a close up. I'm not sure it shows here but the silhouette is in metallic gold and they have tiny green spots in their eyes. Really cute. Hancocks of Paducah is showing a bag made using this fabric and we have that pattern in stock as well.

Two new fabulous quilts by Lonnie - - - -

A little jelly roll weaving. Isn't this stunning? Notice the piping in the binding that she added.

and playing with the new Grunge Dots to make Nellie's Hope Chest. The interesting thing about this pattern is the optical illusion. The small triangles look like they are maybe 60 degree angles, right? They are not. They are half square triangles set with white squares to make a 4 patch. Eazy Peazy, right?

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!