Iowa Comfort # 3

Here is quilt # 3.  Penny W pieced this beauty for the project.  The green batik fabric came from Deb G. all the way from Georgia.  The white fabric was from both Penny's and mine personal stash.  I just love this quilt, so simple yet so beautiful.  I hope to have it quilted yet this week.  Of course that means I'll need to get the label made for it.  Penny my brain has turned to mush.....please remind me what we named this quilt! LOL  I'm going to say that its because I have been sick that my brain is working right, okay so that might not be exactly true.....but it is my story and I am sticking to it.

Here is a close up of one block.  Such a simple design.  We used the same block through out the quilt, we just alternated the fabric placement for contrast.  Simply stunning.

Well until my next post........... thanks for all of your support!

So Sorry!

It has been a while since I have been able to post.  Part of it was the holidays, but the biggest part was that I caught a nasty virus.  I have spent most of this week in bed.  I think today is going to be a better day....or at least I hope so.

Lets see where to start.  The first two quilts did get delivered to the center before Christmas.  The morning that I delivered them there was a lot going on so I didn't get to have a conversation with the staff.  I could tell that they had more pressing things that needed to be completed that morning, and it appeared to me that it was fairly urgent.  Hopefully next time I deliver quilts I'll be able to get to know them better.

Penny White has brought back the quilt that she pieced.  She took that really pretty batik green fabric that was donated by Deb G. home along with some white and made a beautiful quilt. I had hoped to have it quilted by now.......but that virus had other plans for me.

The De Soto Library called me about ten days ago and told me I needed to come and pick up fabric.  When I got there I had three grocery sacks of fabric to bring home.  Most of it is coordinating fabric, and I think we should be able to get several quilts out of it.

I promise not to be AWOL again for so long, and to get picks up of the new quilt and fabric donation really soon.

Until my next post.........

the labels are on

Yesterday I spent the afternoon setting up my embroidery machine to make labels.  Oh how I hate to do that! 

I thought it would be so nice to have a machine that could do both the embroidery and straight stitch .....NOT!  I find it is a hassle to have to set it up, attach it to the computer, change all the settings every time I want a label.  A good friend of mine told me that I need to just use this machine for the embroidery, and go buy another machine, a smaller and lighter machine for open sew and community sew days.  I wonder if I actually did that, would I make my labels any quicker? But I 'm off topic...

I made three labels yesterday afternoon, one for my sons quilt, and one for each of the Iowa Comfort quilts.  While making the label for the first Iowa Comfort quilt, I ran out of thread.....made it to the very last line that documented when the quilt was made.  Actually had Nov. stitched and then I ran out of thread (did I mention I hate making labels?)  So I found the closest thread I could find to the original  color and finished the label.   Well we will just say that the label will have to be unique with two thread choices in it.

Last night while sitting in front of the TV, I stitched labels on the quilts.  I must have been really tired while doing it because I stuck my finger about 5 times!  Not to worry, I did manage to keep from bleeding on the quilts.

Since the labels are attached, the quilts are ready to be delivered.  This morning, after my morning walk and shower, I plan to deliver them.  I'm hoping that they will brighten someones day.

Until my next post......

And here they are

Here are the first two quilts going to the center this week. (as soon as I get the labels stitched on them)

Thank you Jan for piecing and binding the first one.

The second one was made from my scraps last year, and had not found a home yet.  Obviously it was meant to go to the center.

I have more donation fabric to show you all, but that will wait for another post.

My cats are telling me that they want fed.

Until my next post......

The first quilt

The first quilt for Iowa Comfort is being bound today.  I did manage to get it quilted this past week, and it came off the longarm yesterday morning.  I was planning on passing it back to Jan for binding Monday when Circle of Friends meet in Adel.  

The plan changed when Jan happened across some really nice flannel, that she thought would make great backing material for a child's quilt.  So she picked up the phone and asked if we would ever be making smaller quilts.  I told her yes  and then shared that the first quilt was quilted.  Jan told me that she was going to be heading to Des Moines and wanted to know if she could go ahead an pick up the quilt last night.  That would give her time to bind it today and bring it back to me Monday night at Circle of Friends.  So that is what we did.

I have a quilt that I made last year, that has been patiently waiting for a new home that I am also going to donate to Iowa Comfort.  This quilt was also made completely from my scraps and I think it is very pretty. 

I plan to call the Center mid week and set up a time that would be good to bring these first two quilts to them.  Maybe they will brighten someones spirits.

I'll post pictures of both quilts, prior to their delivery.  Need to get those labels made.....

Until my next post......remember what we make with our hands, we give with our heart.

The plan today

This is such a busy time of year for all of us.  I find that I have to make myself a schedule to get everything I want to do completed each day.

Today I want to finish quilting a customer quilt. Then load the quilt that Jan pieced together and get it quilted tomorrow.  I also am meeting with Penny and passing off the beautiful fabric from Georgia.  Last night at 10 I was trying to figure out the quilt top in EQ7.  Since I don't have to kit this one, I'm sending Penny home with the fabric and she gets to pick between 3 possible quilt tops.  All three would be beautiful that's for sure.  I have a couple of customer pick ups also.

Oh I also need to make a couple of labels for the first couple of quilts.  ( guess I'm going to steal the lap top for a while this afternoon). Maybe the next time my IT person is at my house I should have him load that program on to the desk top......note to self start making list for the IT kid!

Well I guess if I am going to get everything done today I better get to it........you know I had a lot more time before I decided to walk on the treadmill everyday!

Hope everyone is well.

Until my next post........

Beautiful fabric from Georgia today

Today the postman delivered beautiful fabric to me.  It came all the way from Georgia.  I saw a post on Facebook that Deb G had some fabric that she no longer cared for and was looking for a good home.  I responded that I could put it to good use with our project.  Never in my mind did I expect to see fabric like this.....take a look.

This fabric is going to make one very gorgeous quilt.  As luck would have it Penny from quilt circle called this afternoon to see if I had a kit that she could work on.  I told her about this fabric and that the first thing I thought about when I saw it was stars.  I envision a white star with the teal background, next block teal star with white background and so on.  Penny has offered to pick up the fabric and do all the cutting on this project.

The generosity of quilters never cease amaze me.

Until next time....

I should be quilting

Yes I have a quilt waiting for me in my quilt room....but I have to do this first! 

Last night Jan Mueller brought back the first quilt.  I was showing the kit and asking for suggestions at my Circle of Friends meeting a couple of weeks ago, and even thou the kit was not completely finished she took it home and pieced it together.  Take a look:

Here it is....or at least as much as I can fit in the camera frame.

Here is a close up of the fall border that was used in a project of mine about 8 years ago.

And here is a close up of the same fabric used in the corner stones.

Once I decided to use the focus fabric, I started pulling from my scraps trying to coordinate the colors of the focus fabric.  Most of the blocks are from left over fabric from a quilt that I made for my brother and from a quilt that I made for my son and daughter in law as a house warming gift.

I hope to have this quilt on the longarm within the next week.  Jan has offered to bind it for me also.

Thank you so much Jan for your generosity!  She even bought backing material for it.

I think it is going to brighten someones day just looking at it.

I have been thinking about how to document these quilts.  Do you think it would be okay just to document them as Iowa Comfort #1 (ect) pieced by Jane Doe quilted by Jane Doe and the month and the year?  I would really appreciate any suggestions on labeling this quilts.  I want to give credit to those that donated their time and talents, but I also want to make sure that we are being respectful of those who will be receiving them.  Please let me know what you think, either here or email me at Iowacomfort@hotmail.com.

Until my next post.......keep warm