Grandpa doesn't get down on the floor for just anyone!

Solstice Block of the Month

Pieced by Lonnie and machine quilted by Jess of Thread Quilt Studio, meet our new sampler Block of the Month - Solstice

 Below see a few close-up shots of the blocks. This soft, shiney , silvery BOM starts in July. It's a "must come see" in person. Very pretty.

This is a 9 block quilt and the bom program runs for 6 months. Month #1, pick up the background fabrics. Months #2 through #5, make 2 blocks each month of the same pattern but different fabrics. Month #6, pick up all border and binding fabrics.

All fabrics for the quilt top, borders, binding and pattern are included in the monthly fee of just $15. Call or stop by now to register.

Company coming!

Guess who is coming to Memaw and Grandpa's house for their first overnight stay? We also have two high chairs and two Pac n Plays in place - - - Oh, and our running shoes!

Another outdoor quilt show is in the books- - -

 --- and this was one of my favorites. Thanks to this crew for coming in early Saturday morning to help hang, display, number and record all the quilts hanging in our show and for sale on the porch and have it all done before we opened at 10 am --plus the camera man, Frank.

And thanks to all of our guests for bringing the fun factor to our yard!

Tomorrow evening at Quilt Circle of Friends we will reveal the Best of Show and top 12 quilts based on the votes cast by our guests.

Sneak Preview of our Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show

Marcia Jensen brought in this quilt today to hang in our outdoor show tomorrow (Saturday). This is a quilt with history. The quilt top was made by her grandmother and handed down to Marcia through her mother. Marcia had it hand quilted and she put on the binding. It is just a bright and beautiful example of a quilt that was made in the 1950s.

These gals are enjoying the All Iowa Shop Hop. Marcia has just met these gals for the first time but there was an instant bond via quilt talk.

Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show

It's almost here! Our Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show is June 14. 

If you have a finished quilt you would like to display in the shop, drop it off this week. 

This is also our annual sale of all things quilty - Several items will be offered on the porch for your shopping. Big quilts, small quilts and miscellaneous bags, hot pads, etc. All proceeds from this event are donated to the Adel Library.

Here's a picture from the 2013 show. We usually hang between 50 to 80 quilts for customers to admire.

A visit to the Hill House

The twins just turned 1 year old! How did that happen so quickly?

Here they are with birthday cupcakes. Livie wasn't real crazy about stuffing her face in front of all those guests but, Cal gave the people what they came to see!

And Jackson went to the doctor with high hopes of having his cast removed only to have a new one put on - 2 more weeks. 

Mystery Quilt

“It is only through mystery and madness that the soul is 

revealed” 

― Thomas Moore

Are you ready for a fun adventure? It's time for our first ever Mystery Quilt Block of the Month. 

Purchase your fabric for this b.o.m. from us and we will send you the steps each month for 6 months by email - - - - free.

Several of the gals in Quilt Circle of Friends did this project last year (We didn't post these pictures on the blog - it's a mystery, remember?) But, they tested the patterns and made some lovely variations that I will pass along to you.

This quilt is lovely in just three prints (light, medium and dark) or by making it quite scrappy. Either way, we can help you pick the perfect fabrics. Some are even letting us pick fabrics (based on what they tell us they like) and signing up from out of state.

We are starting this b.o.m. in June and it's June so drop in, call or email soon to register.

Easter Pics

And this is as good as it got. Taken after church and the Easter egg hunt, the window for photo op had clearly expired.

The end!

Hoppy Easter!

Hexie Coasters

A customer recently asked if we knew how to make coasters from hexagons.  We did not so, do a little "interweb" search.  We found a tutorial on a blog called Melinda Quilt's Etc. 

Here is the direct link to the page with the hexagon tutorial. 

You start with a package of pre-cut hexagons.  Moda calls these Honeycombs. From a pack of 40, you can make 5 coasters. Notice below, each packet comes with a hexie template so, you can cut more if needed.

For each hexie, choose two hexagons and place them wrong sides together for your base. Select 6 more hexies. Press each in half, wrong sides together and aligning two of the straight sides. 

Layer them on top in a spiral.  This is where you either need to stop by and let us show you or check Melinda's blog.  

After layering, stitch 1/4" from the outer edge, all the way around. Trim a little and turn the coaster inside out. Very Cute.

We have pre-cut hexies in stock in Moda's civil war print, Hope Chest, shown above as well as these selections in batik and in the more modern prints of From Outside In.

Mom's last stitch - Rest in Peace

Marian Joan Beaman, 83, of Dexter passed away September 5, 2013 at the Stuart Community Care Center from pneumonia.  Visitation will be held from 6-8 P.M. Monday, September 9^th at the Johnson Family Funeral Home in Dexter.  Funeral Service will be held at 10:30 A.M. Tuesday, September 10^th at the First Presbyterian Church in Dexter.  Burial will follow at the Dexter Cemetery.  Memorial contributions may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Dexter or the Stuart Community Care Center Foundation, in care of Johnson Family Funeral Home, PO Box 246, Stuart, Iowa 50250.  Online condolences may be left at www.johnsonfamilyfuneralhome.com.

Marian was born June 20, 1930 in Dexter and lived in the area most of her life.  After graduating from Dexter High School she attended AIB Business College and worked as a secretary in Des Moines.  She was a life long member of the Dexter Presbyterian Church.

She married Harvey Beaman in 1950.  Together, they farmed and raised four children.  After Harvey’s death in 1985, Marian worked several years as an Activity Director of the Community Care Center in Stuart.  In addition to her duties as matriarch of a large family, Marian also had a business hand quilting for others.  In her lifetime, with thread and needle, she brought beauty to almost 500 quilts, an accomplishment that brought her great joy.

Marian loved to sing and had a beautiful alto voice.  She also loved to play bridge and was in several bridge groups throughout her life.  Her biggest legacy, and the one which she was most proud and brought her the greatest joy, was her family.  Wherever her children and later her grandchildren were, she was there as well, offering a helpful hand or a loud cheer.

She was proceeded in death by her husband: Harvey Beaman.

Left behind to cherish her memory are her children: Bill (Mary) Beaman, Dawn (Rick) Durham, Jacque (Frank) Johnson and Ben (Kandi) Beaman; 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; sister: Betty Wells; sister-in-laws: Helen Neal, Doris Neal and Phyllis Beaman; and a host of other family and friends that will miss her dearly