Meet George.

I really enjoyed a visit from this customer today, George from Florida. He is in Iowa to attend APQS long arm maintenance training in Carroll and his wife told him to stop in. She had visited our shop some time in past years. So, he used his smart phone to Face-Time with her, showing her fabric. She picked the pieces she liked and he bought. How nice is that?

Turns out George is a furloughed air traffic controller and when his wife thought he needed a hobby, she bought him his own sewing machine and some patterns. Turns out he really enjoys quilting and showed me pictures of several quilts he has made including one that was on display in a special exhibit of quilts made by men.

I think they make a pretty fine couple, don't you?

New - Iowa Quilt Museum

Checkout this website about a new quilt museum coming to Winterset, Iowa!

Another new sample

With All Iowa Shop Hop passing through, we are taking down sold out and putting up new shop samples every day. This is the Diva Wallet.

This was fun to make and easily broken down into steps. I will make more of these! Shown above is the inside and closed below. PS - This one is for you, Lindsay B!

We have both the patterns and frames in stock.

More AISH guests

These two gals were childhood friends in Plymouth, IA. Life has taken them different directions but they reunited to do some of the All Iowa Shop Hop together.

Robin is showing me her cute little side purse she made in a machine embroidery hoop! This is a free download pattern from embroiderygarden.com

These four are sisters by birth and are making real progress together, hitting the shops. They originate from the Hills, Iowa area.

A few new things - - -

From Buttermilk Basin, these are 12" quilts, also fit to hang from a counter frame. The mini quilts on each are dimensional. Not sure why but they sure are cute.

I made each of these in just one evening although there is still some embroidery work to do on the pin cushion.

A customer paid us with this $10 bill today. Isn't that sweet?

Open Sew is this week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 Join us this week on Thursday and/or Friday at the Adel Library, 10 am until the last stitch is made!

No fee. Ironing and cutting stations provided. Bring your projects and sewing machine and maybe a snack to share. 

Drop in for a couple hours or plan to come both days. The room will be locked and secure over night.

Lonnie's Patriotic Rock Candy

This is Lonnie's version of Rock Candy using the Sidekick ruler.  We have this available in kit with Iowa print fabric for the back.

The quilt on the left is ready to be trimmed and bound.This shows how you can make two quilts from 1 package of the All Iowa Shop Hop charms, just add border and binding.

New fabric today

Here are a few pieces we ordered at market from Stella Designs. We love the fresh new look of Stella.

Sweet baby prints. Yes, those are little mice.

And mushrooms - fun fall collection

Monday - - - again!

Don't you just hate the Monday morning traffic?!!

Just One Block Challenge

Our quilt is growing! Keep the blocks coming. Our goal is for 42 blocks and I know there are still several out there on the cutting boards, maybe even on the ironing board by now.

These will be on display during our June 20 Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show and customers will vote for their 3 favorites.

More hoppers today

Today was a busy day in the shop so, not a lot of picture taking but, here are a few:

These two from Kansas City area, both friends and relatives, just kind of stumbled across the All Iowa Shop Hop by mistake and they sure are enjoying it. Their favorite thing is the new Iowa Quilt Shop Directory.

This is a mother daughter team from Atlantic.

And here is a couple local gals, grandmother and granddaughter, picking up a kit for a Quilt of Valor.

Thanks to everyone! It is truly as much fun for us as it is for you!

Adel Farmer's Market!

Check it out Tuesdays at Harvey's Greenhouses from 4 to 7 pm. Katz Bagz will be there with her hand made dolls, aprons and bags - - -or are those bagz?

Today's AISH Pictures

When we are busy, we don't do a very good job of taking pictures but here are a few. 

These guests are holding our Iowa version of Triangle Frenzy. This one was made by Jenny Osler, using nothing but 8 1/2" width of border fabric and a 60 degree ruler.

We have been doing demos of this runner all day. Just ask and we will do it for you, too.

This guest, Susan Peters from Dawson, showed the bag she made, Twin Pocket Tango.

 - - - and the matching wallet, What a Wallet by Deedee Designs. Above the wallet is zipped closed and below, see the inside.

It must have been retired teacher day! These three above are all retired from the same school district in Austin MN. They are road trippin now.

- - - and here are 4 more retired teachers, all from the Eagle Grove, Webster City area.

Another very fun day in the books. I love my job!

Two Forces Collide!

Two fun factions showed up in the shop today at the same time and the laughter exploded.

Here I am with the Shop Hop Sisters. They are actually all sisters with one sister-in-law. If you have a Shop Hop book, you read about them. We were asked to photograph and report if they arrive at our store as they are being tracked across the state like Santa Claus.  Oh my gosh, are they having fun!

At the same time as the Shop Hop Sisters arrived, in came Durelle with her friend, "Flat Stella". She has chosen Flat Stella as a travel mate because she keeps her mouth shut and never tries to eat any of Durelle's chocolates!

How fun this has been to watch customers having so much fun!

Laurel Burch is in the house!

Several new Laurel Burch purses and totes to choose from, all very reasonably priced.

More AISH Guests

This mother is helping her daughter celebrate her birthday by shopping their way across the state. They bought bags to help sort all their finds at the hotel this evening.

Another mother-daughter team, spending time together while planning an autograph quilt for a September wedding.

Sister-in-laws, on the road together, shopping and hopping.

So fun to greet all our guests and enjoy their enthusiasm. Over and over we hear - "So many shops and no two alike!"

More Shop Hop Guests!

This small group is from Corning, IA

Marti and Gordon Klatt were in today with their two grandsons.

This mother/daughter team are also veterans of completing the entire hop in 2014. They made these bags from some of their finds.

Last year, these two went to every shop on the hop. The gal in the pink was a new quilter at the time. From her 2014 purchases, she made 17 quilts this past year!

This is a trio of sisters/sister-in-law, working their way cross the state and having a great time.

Prize Update!

Just a quick reminder - - - because of the size of the event, The All Iowa Shop Hop is able to give away over $17000 in  prizes! See more about prizes and prize levels here.

What's better? To be eligible for a prize, you need to visit just 5 of the participating quilt shops anywhere in the state. They do not have to be all in the same district. How fun is that?

Our Quilt of Valor

This Quilt of Valor is a free download pattern from the Quilts of Valor website. We also have kits, approx. 70" x 80", and our kits include a free copy of this pattern.

Day 1!

 Here are a few pics of our AISH guests today.

These two hit every shop last year and he won a Bernina. She won a fabric bundle.

 

These two are from Colorado, shop hopping as they travel.

Formerly known as the Andrew Sisters. :) :)

Our first two guests of the hop.

It's Here!!!!!!!!!!!

ALL IOWA SHOP HOP STARTS TODAY!!!

Here's a couple samples made for us by Jenny O. The runner is all 60 degree triangles and the place mats are made using a marked foundation technique called Piece by Number.

• Purchase a $5 Iowa Quilt Shop Guide from us and you have everything you need to start hopping - maps, alphabetical listings, your passport and lots of other fun info, patterns and pictures.
• Don't want the guide? Print your own passport and map from the website www.alliowashophop.com - free
• Present your passport for a sticker and a 6" square of patriotic fabric at each shop.
• Spend $50 in our shop and we will give you a free fat quarter
• Purchase 2 yards of the Iowa fabric and we will give you a free pattern for our All Iowa Selvage Coin Purse.
• More districts this year, shorter routes.
• Lots of prizes and prize levels. Visit as few as 5 shops to be eligible.
• Start in Adel - we will be open at 9 am each day in June from Monday through Saturday. We will be closed on Sundays.

Just One Block

These blocks have come back in for our Just One Block challenge. These will be part of a raffle quilt for Dallas County 4-H fund raiser.

Customers pick up a pack of fabric for $1 and make Just One Block from it. Customers may add gold, red or green to their block

If you would like to participate, give us a call. Blocks will be on display in the shop during our June 20 Little Sister's Outdoor Quilt Show. Guests will vote for their favorites and prizes will follow.

New Fabrics

Here are a few new pieces from quilt market with a few we already had in stock. Doesn't this make a pretty assortment?

Machine Applique

Follow up to our August 1, 10 am Machine Applique class and Block of the Month - - - - 

• You do not have to do the bom to take the class --- and ---
• You do not have to take the class to sign up for the bom

Where the Cows Come Home - New BOM

NEW BLOCK OF THE MONTH

“Where The Cows Come Home”

Starts in August – Register now

$10 a month for 9 months which includes blocks, all setting fabrics, borders and binding. Book is also required.

This project is done by machine applique.

To kick off this block of the month, we are offering a machine applique class on Saturday, August 1 at 10 am. Class fee is $30 and includes all class supplies.

Class will be held at the Adel Library and advance registration is required

Class is not required to do this BOM

Newsletter!

Just updated the newsletter - See it on the website now.

May Quilt Circle of Friends

May was snowball block exchange month. Each chose a crayola color at a previous meeting to determine what color to make their exchange blocks.

Then we went around the circle and shared items made for our library fund raiser sale on June 20 (during the outdoor quilt show) - - - holiday candle mats, bags, quilts and more!

Joyce S. is using up scraps to make baby quilts, above and below.

Lonnie shared this cute purse she made. This is the same pattern she used to make our bag featuring the new Iowa fabric.

Nancy H. made this quilt for newly wed friends of the family. She calls these quilts "Baby Makers".

Next, Deb gave us an update on her Iowa Comfort Quilts non-profit organization, sharing these quilts made by Jackie O and more pillowcases. 

Deb is collecting as many pillowcases as possible for the domestic violence center. Ask us for a free pattern if you would like to make some pillowcases for ICQ.

 Diane shared her favorite finger pin cushion used for hand stitching.

Diane told us these are easy to make so, I looked up the pattern. Find it at this link.

Margaret shared these two quilts she finished up. These were both patterns and/or kits from our Sisters of the Cloth 2014 program. 

The 2015 program starts in July and registration is open, $35 for all three classes (3rd Saturdays in July, September and November)

These 9-patch blocks are from a block exchange we did at Sisters of the Cloth. Love this little quilt.

This is a kit quilt that Margaret just finished up. See close up next.

Celia brought 2 granddaughters to our May meeting. Maddie has been coming for a while but this is the first meeting for her cousin, Kaitlyn.

Kaitlyn has been sewing with Grandma Celia for a while, though. Here are two quilts she has made, above and below. Quite impressive, right?

Janet V shared this scrappy quilt. This is from our Scrappy New Year page on this blog. 

This is a very fun panel that Barb G. shared. It's a baby quilt for her great grand child.

I shared a few fun patterns and techniques that I picked up at Quilt Market earlier this month.

I demonstrated the ruler, Folded Corner Trimmer. It adds accuracy to making half squares, flying geese units, corner squares or binding strips while at the same time, trimming dog ears. Pretty slick.

We snacked on cupcakes and called it a day. Thanks as always to Jackie O. for the pictures.