Mini Spool Post Doilies

Isn't this cute?  A little doily for your sewing machine spool post. It's not only cute but serves the function of helping keep your spool steady.

Diann Foster crocheted these for us. Here they are in several colors and available in the shop now.

Iowa Sate Fair Quilts

 I spent a fun day at the Iowa State Fair this week. I always enjoy a stop at the 4-H building to see all the creative things kids have come up with.

This is a fidget quilt. We've been talking about these in Quilt Circle and Iowa Quilters so thought I'd take a couple close up pictures.

I really liked this. The letters are made from maps.  

I had fun perusing the quilts, of course. Here are a couple blue ribbon quilts from our Quilt Circle of Friends:

Abbie Allen received a blue ribbon in the new category for quilts made using a panel. She took this panel to the next level, huh?

Tricia Snyder received a blue ribbon on her hexagon t-shirt quilt. A real beauty! 

This is one I just really liked. It's hard to see the perfect utility quilting done in black thread. Very striking.

This one made me say, "Cute!"

And this one made me gasp!

It seemed there were lots of quilts that featured animals. Isn't this adorable?

More animals.

I always love a quilt made with 1930s prints and this one was coupled with extraordinary machine quilting.

I tagged around with the Hill family for part of the day. 

And this brave little girl took a sheep ride in a dress.  She didn't make it to the championship level but she gave it a good go. 

And of course, - - - this.

New Fabrics

Lots of new fabrics have been coming in for the fall season.

batiks

flannels

more flannels

and more flannel

And a new group of blenders - Mix.

July Purple Bag Winner

Linda Klein is our July winner from the Purple Bag drawing. She wins this bundle of flannel fat 1/8ths. Congratulations, Linda!

More samples of Bermuda Triangle

 You've seen Nancy Sharr's Bermuda Triangle with black.

And Kathy Hamilton's with white.

Well, here's Deanna Darrah's with yellow! So pretty.

Send me a picture of your Bermuda Triangle or sign up now and pick your own background fabric.

New Stuff:

New pieces to add to our Bedrock collection. Such a great blender.

Adorable Christmas Gnomes in flannel.

Sunday Sewday!

This is what was under my needle for a Sunday of sewing.

Bermuda Triangle!

Nancy Sharr sent me this picture of her first three rows of Bermuda Triangle. Isn't this striking?

You recognize this as our shop sample down with a white background. Customers are each picking their own color for the background which makes this BOM super fun.

Haven't signed up yet? Call soon - Just $12 a month for 5 months plus background fabric makes a full size quilt!

Already signed up? Send is a picture of your first three rows to post on the blog.

Heads Up!

Open Sew for August is later in the month due to the annual book sale at the Adel Library.

Open Sew for August is Thursday, the 22nd and Friday the 23rd.

Hope to sew with you then!

Tote Bag Class

This is Flo's original design, featuring animal inserts from the Thicket panel.  This bag is now available in kit. Purchase a kit to take our free class, Sunday, August 25, 1 to 3 pm.

This class is in the shop and no sewing machines are required. You will find Flo's tips and tricks very helpful, however.

Call soon to reserve your kit and register for the class.

Iowa Quilters Retreat

Every year about this time, the online quilt group, Iowa Quilters, gather for retreat at a hotel in Story City. There is, of course, a lot of sewing, show and tell and games. There is also always some kind of charity project. This year, we made fidget quilts for an Alzheimer's unit. Thanks to Marcia Burt for all the work she does to organize this fun retreat.

Since the grands live in the same town, I spent nights with them. One evening, they also wanted to sew. They each stitched together two rectangles of fabric and then pretended they were cell phones.

iowa Q

Commemorative Sweet Corn Potholders

We started a Sweet Corn Festival tradition, looks like 6 years ago, of potholder kits.  This year, the kit is the green one, front right.

Want to hear a great sweet corn cooking trick? This from Trish S:

This is our favorite method. Cut off the stem end, into the ear a bit to remove the part where the husks connect. Leave all the husks & silks in place. Microwave about 4 minutes for an ear, depending on the microwave. Add a minute for a second ear. If I remember, I roll the ear over part way through cooking time. When the ear is cooked, while hot, squeeze the silk end to push out the ear. If the corn isn’t done, it is harder to push it out. If it’s a battle, I pop the corn back in for 30-60 seconds. I wrap the end in a dish towel because it is hot! The silks stick to the husks & the corn comes out pretty clean! 

Backings are back

Back in stock by popular demand. - 108" wide

Packing

Have you ever put your iron in the fridge so it will cool enough to pack for a quilt retreat?

I have.

Australian visitor

We love return customers. This friendly face from Australian was in the states 3 years ago and visited us then. This time she is going home with one of our own original quilt kits, Confetti Thicket, designed for us by Flo Welch.

Here is a recent remake of Confetti Thicket featuring Kaffe Fassett fabrics. Available in kit!

Christmas in July

Now through through August 10 (Adel Sweet Corn Festival), pick up 6 Christmas fat quarters and get one free! 

Shop around for a little holiday cheer while you are here.

Here's a new small quilt made by Lonnie. Available in kit!

Flo made this Woven Wonder for us. Seriously, that's the name of the pattern. :) . Available in kit!

This is Lonnie's Panel Plus design. This one just needs binding to make the edges snap. Available in kit!

and on the back are these cute Christmas Cows.

Remember these guys? Above made from 5" charms. Below, same pattern made from 10" layer cake squares.

 Available in kit!

Well here she is as a mini me, made from 2 1/2" mini charms. This is available in kit and comes with the hanger.

And don't forget, you Purple Bag quilters, come in before the end of July and get a free mini charm pack with your purchase. Limit one free pack per customer.

All dressed up!

These three were recently flower girl and ring bearers in a cousins wedding. The next day, it was back to wading in the creek and smores faces.