July QC Meeting

Quilt Circle of Friends met last week in the shop. After the sharing of a little quilt news, it was time for show and share. 

Celia's granddaughter has made her first quilt. Nice job!

Part of our show and share has evolved into sharing pictures on our phones - - works in progress, quilts already gifted - - - grandkids! This is a quilt Kathy is working on for her son.

Deb is determined to use up scraps and has started this quilt with that in mind.

Theresa is ready to start quilting this one.

Our "program" for the evening was the sharing of these mystery quilts a few of us have done with the online group, Iowa Quilters. This one is by Nancy H.

This one by Deb S. with leftover pieces on the back.

Here is mine.

Again -  all the leftover pieces used on the back.

And here's one by Jackie O. done in patriotic prints.

Margaret just finished this block of the month. Beautiful.

And she's starting her next quilt.

This is a pre-printed square that comes with the Row x Row kits at Hen and Chicks in Conrad. Such a cute idea.

Trish and Margaret shared news of a family quilt retreat they recently attended, including these little hand made gifts from relatives.

Trish is in full on baby mode with little Tatum on the scene.

Trish also shared this new little gizmo. You both store used rotary blades in it and repurpose blades for a stand up thread snip.

Nancy J. is making wonky log cabin blocks

and here is a quilt top she just completed for a grandson.

It was a hot Iowa evening so, after drawing for a few door prizes, it was time for a dish of ice cream!

Thank you, Jackie O, for taking these pictures and to all my lovely Quilt Circle of Friends.

Sunday Sewday

Remember these applique' we made last week in craft time?

Part of Sunday Sewday was making them into these little bags. They now each filled with craft stuff (tongue depressors, stickers and googlie eyes) for craft time this week.

While I was in a corn mood, I made the commemorative Sweet Corn Festival potholder for August 10.
 
The 2019 potholder is the green one on the right.

I filled in the rest of my Sunday sewing time with a good start 
on our fall retreat project, making a One Block Wonder quilt 
from 7 identical panels.

Making Diapers?

Paula James, Adel Librarian, tells me she has a patron that has fabric to donate to make diapers. If you are interested, please call Paula at the library, 515-993-3512.

Regency Ballycastle Chintz 18th century.

So, - - - I had to look up Ballycastle. It is a small town in Atrim County, Northern Ireland.

This is off the coast of Ballycastle. Suppose this is the inspiration for this line of fabric?

Sweet!

This is what I did yesterday. This and a couple hours at the local pool! They traced, cut out and helped fuse our practice run for the Annual Commemorative 2019 Sweetcorn Festival Potholder.

Sisters of the Cloth

Saturday:

• See a trunk show of vintage quilts by Marilyn Hanson
• Enjoy the option to make a Grandmother's Flower while you listen to the program- all fabric and supplies are provided.

• Sign up for the door prize drawing
• Enjoy Show and Tell and refreshments
• Take home a quilt history hand out
• And enjoy a program by Cece Lewis on her collection of Vintage Baby Quilts.

Take a couple hours of time for yourself and join us for Sisters of the Cloth!

Class meets from 10 am to noon at the Adel Library Saturdays July 20,  September 14 and November 16. 

It's not too late to register. Give us a call 515-993-1170.

Sunday Sewday

My Sunday included finishing up this quilt. It has a story. I bought this fabric on our honeymoon in 2001. Shortly after that, we opened the shop and I never made anything with it. Everything I sewed for the next 19 years was from shop fabrics.

SO, earlier this year, along came the Iowa Quilters online group with an idea to do a group mystery quilt. I pulled out this grouping and had just what I needed to do the front and back of this quilt with not much fabric left over.

New Fabric!

Aren't these fun? New from Dear Stella with a couple Victoria Findlay Wolfe blenders thrown in for compliment.

Another sneak peek

Here is another peek at the first three rows of our new Mystery Quilt BOM, Bermuda Triangle, shown here with a white background.

You pick your own background fabric and expect 9 bright prints from us each month for 5 months. Quilt finishes 72" x 84", full size. Add a border for a Q.

Just $12 a month. Register today. Starts August.

Ever wondered?

Have you ever wondered what the center of a bobbin-keeper ring is for?

Summer Fun!

Time to share some pictures from our family gathering at Lake Michigan.  This beach is just a few blocks from where daughter, Brookly lives in the Chicago area.

On the 4th, we loaded up the wagon with towels, water, snacks, bagged lunches, beach toys and lots of sunscreen and walked to beach for the day.

The kids set up an area for us and I spent all day under that big shade umbrella. 

Seth, Gabe, Brookly and Willow. Brooke must have been patrolling kids when this picture was taken.

The weather was just perfect for a day at the beach.

Gabe came from Texas with his girlfriend and her two little boys, Bradley and Jack. Yes, in our small family, we have Jacque, Jackson and Jack. Plus we have Brookly and Brooke. Self excluded, they are all lovely people.

After a quick swim, it was time to start burying kids and play the "Catch a Cheeseball" game.

Later in the day, we came back to Brookly's house to clean up, dress up, (apparently) and feast on Iowa steak, corn on the cob and tomatoes.

Jack, age 9 

Jackson, age 7 3/4

Bradley, age 5

Olivia, age 6

Cal, age 6

Then it was back to the beach at dusk for some pretty spectacular fireworks. Only two of the kids fell asleep and had to be carried home.

What a great time it was. 

OOOOpen Sew!!

Open Sew is this week at the Adel Library, Thursday and Friday, 10 am until the last stitch is made. Hope you can come!

Another Free Quilt Class

Saturday, 1 to 2:30 pm, Julia will teach The Free Quilt again. This class is for those who missed her June class.

Bring your leftover quilt block part and pieces to class.  Julia will do a presentation on how to make them into a beautiful quilt, complete with a reference hand out.

Call the shop to register for just $5 but then receive a $5 credit at class so, it's a free class! 

Follow our Facebook Page, Central Iowa Free Quilters Society. Ask to join our "group page" to share your quilts made from scraps and leftovers. It's all about sharing and having fun.

Sneak Peek!

Here's a sneak peek at our new mystery quilt block of the month, "Bermuda Triangle". 

You pick the background fabric (shown here in turquoise). We have several fabrics pulled for you to choose from that we know will work nicely as background with the fabrics we will be providing. This is your chance to really make it your own.

Each month, we provide fabrics to make half square triangle units with your background fabric.

Each month, you get 9 fabrics so we're keeping it scrappy.

Each month you make 3 or 4 rows for just $12 a month

This project starts in August and runs for 5 months.

Register now!

Ankeny Quilt Show!

It's officially summer! Time for the Ankeny Area Quilt Guild Show. Get all the details here. The theme is Freedom Quilts.

While at the show, be sure to buy a couple raffle tickets for this beauty. Drawing is July 13.

Show and Tell

Val McCool stopped by and showed me this wallet she made using cork cloth. LOVE it!

July Drawing for the Purple Bag

We have a winner! Gloria Risius's name was drawn for our monthly prize. I was going to give away a bag kit but, knowing Gloria, I though this bundle of purple pre-cut strips would be a better fit.

'

Show and Tell

JoAnne Schnebley stopped by and showed me this fun quilt.

 She was asked to make a quilt from a collection of dog neckerchiefs.

The back was just as cute with all doggie words.