Here is one of our quilts

This quilt was one of our quilts from this weekend.  It was done by Jan and Colleen.  They worked on it together and got it finished in about 4 hours this past Saturday.  The brown squares were donated from people in Missouri, Ohio and here in central Iowa.

I was amazed at how well all the different fabrics blended together, and how soft and feminine this quilt actually ended up.

These are our quilters, and I thank them again!

Ladies if you would like to name your quilt let me know.  Well make sure to get it on the label.  Officially  this will be Iowa Comfort Quilt #5.

We didn't go hungry

While we met on Saturday for our 4F day......that's fun, fabric, fellowship and FOOD.  There was no way that anyone was going to be hungry during the day.  I'm thinking as fast as everyone was working that they burned off any of the foods that actually had calories in them.. I have a theory that all food at a quilt gathering is zero calorie......that's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Check out our refreshments for the day:

We had lunch meat and cheese for sandwiches, 4 types of chips a couple of dips.  Some truly healthy vegetables and macaroni salad.  Chocolate chip cookies and Mom's yummy apple pecan cake.  There was also Rice crispy treats, banana bread  and I know there was more....but I can't remember at this moment.

Pictures of finished quilts coming soon!

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

Iowa sweatshirt

Did someone leave an Iowa sweatshirt at the Library yesterday?  Gee I hope so, cause otherwise I'm a thief! Lol

It is in my possession.  Let me know who it belongs to and I'll get it back to you!

Thanks again to everyone who came out to help!

Wished I would have been smart enough to get a group picture.

More pictures coming of yesterdays festivities, keep checking back.

Until my next post......

Here are my quilting helpers

These wonderful ladies donated their time to help with the cause, and worked on quilts yesterday.

This is Joyce and Nancy they worked together on a pattern called Lasagna.  I'll show you their finished quilt later in the week.

This is Jan and Colleen.  They worked on a pretty pink and brown quilt together.

Kathy worked on a jelly roll quilt.

Carol worked on a jelly roll quilt also.

Pam worked on our last little jelly roll quilt.

Penny worked on a blue and white quilt.

Dian worked on a cream and rose quilt.

Mandy ironed fabric, and my Mom, Rita cut fabric into strips for future quilts.

More posts to come, check back in later this week.

Until my next post.......

Pic's from the day

Thought I would show you some of the photo's from the day.  There are lots of them so it will take several posts.

We had a great day, and there were 12 of us working on quilts today.  We completed 2 quilts, have three that just need the outer borders on them and have 2 more that are just about complete.  Their quilters took them home to finish them up.

First I missed Virginia today when she brought 2 bags of fabric for donation.  I was across the street at the time looking for some border fabric for one of the quilts.  My daughter in law was with me, and she also found fabric that she fell in love with for the baby. (but that's another story)

Thank you so much Virginia!  This fabric will make wonderful comfort quilts!

As I went to pack up we found a bag of fabric that was left for us, from Peg .  Thank you very much Peg.  I see a bright and cheerful quilt in someones future.

More posts over the next several days.

Until my next post.......

Todays the Day!

Just a quick note before I start loading the car with all the supplies for the community sew day.  The kitchen is currently overflowing with all the things that I am taking for the days outing. 

The community sew day is scheduled to take place today @ the Adel Library from 9 to 3. 

The library will close at 1:30 so the doors will be locked.  But just pound on the door and we will let you in.

We will have plenty of food......so much food, lots of fun, and we'll have a day of playing with fabric.  What could possibly be better.  

Hope to see you there!

Count down T-48 hours!

Only two day left until the community sew day, at the Adel Library.

I woke up at 3:00 running down all the things that I need to do today.  It has been a long time since I have been so stressed or excited that I wake up thinking about how to accomplish things in the middle of the night.  It use to happen to me a lot when I was a Postmaster......but that was stress.  Last night it was pure excitement.

I have a few kits to get sacked up today, and then I'm going to start gathering things and getting them all in one place.  I'm also going to start quilting ICQ#4 today.  I'm going to do a simple meander on it so I might just get it done today also.

I spoke with my Mom last night and she is going to pop in around lunch time.....I think she said something about bringing an apple cake with carmel chips on top.  When Mandy (my dear daughter in law) was here last night she was trying to figure out what to bring, beyond chips and dip..... we will not perish from lack of nutrition that's for sure!

Well I have a lot to accomplish today so I better get to it!

Until my next post......

please forgive me

Just had to share some GREAT NEWS!  My son and daughter in law had a doctor appointment this afternoon.  Their little one is very healthy,  and today we found out that they are expecting a baby boy!

I'm so excited for them.....but going to have to completely rethink the colors for the baby quilt.

More on point, I have 6 kits completely ready for Saturday, and will have another 3 ready by tomorrow. Two of our little panels have been adopted.  Things are progressing nicely.

Hope to see you Saturday!

Until my next post......

Quilt # 4 and the journey

So do you design a quilt in your head, and know that it will be perfect?  I do, I can see a quilt in my mind and 99% of the time the finished project is very close to what I planned in my head.  Now I usually also commit it to EQ just so I can remember what it was that I designed......the old memory isn't what it use to be.

But then there is that 1 % when nothing goes the way you had planned.......and thus the journey.  That is this quilt.  I had a quilt envisioned using my small scraps 5 x 2.5 bricks of any scrap that I could cut it from.......have I told you guys that I have 4 drawer of fabric left over from other quilts?  No yardage just scrap pieces. And 2.5X 2.5 white squares.  I set out cutting fabric 450 of each..... and then I sewed the two units together, and pressed each of the units.  SILLY ME WHY DIDN'T I LAY THEM OUT AT AROUND 25 UNITS?  When I finally did lay them out this is what I got;

And I hated it, I knew that I wouldn't finish it, so I altered my design.  I decided to sew 3 rows together and then sash with white to tone it down some.  So I set out to sash my blocks....got 72 of the new units  sashed..... learned nothing from my previous encounter with this quilt ........and this is what I discovered when I started laying this quilt out:

DRAT how did I manage to sash them all on the right and top, instead of the left and bottom.  Now what am I going to do?  Sure not going to rip out all of the seams.  So I turned the block and got this.

In my mind I decided that I could work with this.  I would just have sashing on the top instead of on the bottom of the block.  As long as I remembered to that the top row couldn't have sashing on the top I would be fine.  I actually had to start with the bottom row and work my way up.  Then I started obsessing about not having blocks with the same colors in them next to each other. 

Yesterday I threw my hands in the air and said" what it is, is what it is" and threw caution to the wind and just started piecing those blocks and rows together.  And here is the completed top.

I'm calling the quilt "barcode" it reminds me of my postal days verifying bulk mailings for automation rates.  These barcodes would never have passed muster, but for this quilt I think they will do okay.

I have no idea how Bonnie Hunter does this, and does it so well!

I hope to get the quilt loaded on the longarm tomorrow, and quilt it on Thursday.

Hope to see some of you on Saturday. 

Until my next post.......

Community Sew Day

Thought I would take a minute and talk about Saturday.  We have the large community room at the Adel Library.  For those of you who may not know the room is directly across from the main entrance.

I'll be there shortly before 9:00 getting set up.  Jacque from Adel Quilting and Dry Goods has told me that we can use any of her supplies for the day.  So we will have a large mat and two irons available to use.  I will also bring a large mat, rulers, 3 rotary cutters and at least one additional iron.  The one thing everyone who is bringing a sewing machine should think about bringing is an extension cord.  Some of the outlets are a little tough to get to.

I'll also have coffee in the pot......I'm sure someone who can make a decent pot will help me out. And we will have stuff for sandwiches, chips and my chocolate chip cookies to snack on all day.

I hope that you will come by and join the fun.  The weather is suppose to be decent.  Come for the day or come for a few minutes.

Off to work on the "it is what it is" quilt 6 rows attached at this point.  Have at least three more to go, maybe 4....the quilt may need to be longer.

Until my next post.....

Quilt #4

I spent yesterday working on Iowa Comfort Quilt #4.  I originally thought this quilt would be called "Barcode".  Its made from little scraps and has MANY different fabrics in it....truly a scrappy quilt.

Now its name could be "Messed it up Again"  or "Never try another original (debbie) design" or just plain "PITA"!

Now I feel kinda bad about bad mouthing this quilt, after all it isn't the quilts fault.  Its also not the quilts fault that I could not live with the original design.....that I felt it needed to be calmed down.  So I decided to sash the blocks......now if I just would have sashed the right side and the bottom of the blocks instead of sashing the left side and the top of the blocks.  ALL 72 Blocks.   So here I am yesterday trying to think backward about how to make these blocks work without ripping out all the sashing.  I now have 3 of the 9 rows put together on this quilt.....and I am stressing trying to keep it somewhat balanced in its scrappyness.  Oh the things we put ourselves through!  I'm going to work on the quilt again this afternoon.  Bonnie Hunter I am not!

Maybe the name of this quilt will be " It is what it is".

Until my next post.......

Ordering Food

With the community sew day just one week away, my mind has turned to food for the day.

I plan to have a lunch meat and cheese platter available to make sandwiches for when we need to stop and refuel. ( and give our machines a break) I will also have chips and cookies available.  I'll get some coffee......but someone else will need to make the pot because when I do it....it looks like mud and tastes worse than mud.

It would be helpful if I had an idea of how many plan for.  I need to place my order by Wednesday, so if you are planning on coming could you please send me a message.  You can leave a comment here, or on Iowa comforts facebook page, or you can send me an email at Iowacomfort@hotmail.com.

Jan, Nancy, Mandy and Dian I've got you down so no need to send a message.

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

Are coming to the community sew day?

Good Morning everyone. 

It's hard to believe but we are just about one week a way from our first community sew day.  It is Saturday January 28th at the Adel Library in the large meeting rooms straight across from the doors into the building.  We have the room from 9:00 to 3:00, you can come and stay all day or come for part of the day.

I will have 9 kits available to be worked on, two jelly roll quilts, two quilts designed like Iowa Comfort quilt #1, a kit called lasagna,  a gal quilt from Adel Quilting and Dry Goods.......hmmm what are the other kits?  Guess I'll have to go check it out in a little while. LOL

I also will have fabric that will need to be cut and stabilized before we can use it.  My daughter in law Mandy has offered to work on this project.....but she wants supervision.  Mandy hasn't had the opportunity to work on a quilt before, so I want her to enjoy herself.  I'm just happy that she wants to help.

Tomorrow we are talking food so check back in.

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

The last panel

So here it is my last little panel that is up for adoption.  Remember these panels are for you to take and run with.  I first envisioned them as a blankie for a small child to walk around with, but if your vision is for a bed quilt that is okay also.  You complete the project however you want to, send it back to me for quilting and binding.

This is the large panel with all the children playing the games that children play.

And here we have studious children learning their ABC's and numbers.

You know as I look at these panels I can't help think back to the day I spent with my friends from my online group at Connecting Threads, the group is called Iowa Quilters.  Who would have thought that a group of woman with a love of quilting could become so close.  I feel fortunate that I have been able to spend a couple of days with these wonderful woman the last couple of years at the AQS show when it comes to town.  I also feel fortunate that they all willing share their knowledge and generosity with anyone who asks.  But then again, I rarely run across a quilter that does not have a generous nature.

My next couple of posts are going to be focused on the up coming community sew day, and hopefully Iowa Comfort quilt #4 in various stages.  That quilts story has been one of losts of twists and redesigning, and just plain OH NO moments.  Hope you enjoy the story of the quilt as I share it.  So make sure to keep checking in.

Until my next post.....

panel # 5

I think this little panel will be the easiest to make a little quilt out of:

A sail boat and a train, in soft yellow, blue and green.  Needs just a little something to complete it.  Is this your little project?  Let me know if you would like to finish this little one.

One more panel to show tomorrow, and then on to new stuff.  I have been working on Iowa Comfort #4, and I have taken some pictures along the way.  I am always amazed how the quilt takes on its own life, and how we have to be able to make changes to the original design......but that will come later in the week.

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

Here is the fourth panel

This one is going to be a challenge......well at least it is for me.  There are actually two panels, and they are kind of long and narrow.  Notice that we have Maisy in the center, we have number is the dots above Maisy, and below we have the numbers written out.   In addition we have the panel below to use in this little quilt.

Now we have Maisy actually counting items.  Who is up for this challenge?  I do think it is going to be the toughest little project, but maybe just maybe I am just lacking vision at 4:00 in the morning.

Only two more little panels left to debut this week.....then it will be full steam ahead for our community sew day!

Until my next post.......

Third little panel

Sorry about not posting yesterday. 

Our local quilt shop, Adel Quilting and Dry Goods, sponsors an open sew Friday on the second Friday of every month.  Everyday this week I have been awake at 5:00am, so instead of getting things ready the night before I was sure I would have plenty of time to do it yesterday morning....and have time to post.  Open sew starts at 9:00 am, I woke up at 8:10.... best laid plans.  Anyway I had a wonderful time at open sew with fellow quilters, always so many wonderful projects to look at.  I personally enjoy watching the quilts in various stages of construction.

Back to today's post our third little panel that is up for adoption.  Here is the panel:

I can't seem to get my puppies going in the right direction. LOL

Here is the full panel.

And one last close up of a puppy, doesn't he look sad!

I would guess even though he looks sad, he and his friends could probably put a big smile on some child's face that could really use a pick me up.  Let me know if you would like to adopt this panel and make a small quilt top for a child in crisis.

Until my next post.......

The second little panel up for adoption

Here is a picture of the second panel that is available for adoption.

 And a close up of a single block.  This little panel was probably designed to help teach a young child his numbers and maybe colors.

This is a shot of another one of the blocks.  I could see this little quilt also helping teach colors.....even if the fish are all really colorful.

Let me know if you would like to take this panel home and give it some love and attention.

Until my next post......

first panel up for adoption

Here is the panel..... Mork and Mindy were trying to help me and checking out the sea creatures.

This is a close up of two of the blocks in the panel.

And here is a shot of the other two blocks in the panel.

Let me know if you think you can give this little panel some love and brighten a little persons day.

Until my next post......

Panels up for adoption

This past September I attended the AQS show in Des Moines.  Usually when I attend this show I am very disciplined.  I have my favorite vendors and I go with a list......best laid plans. 

This year I had Iowa Comfort on the brain so fabric called to me.  I happened across a vendor that had nothing but cut out panels I assume the end of the bolt......and the price for the panels were right!  Somehow I walked away from the booth with 6 panels.  Now I could blame my two quilting friends for helping me, but I'll accept that they didn't tie my arm behind my back and force me, they just kept showing me the cutest panels....thanks Andrea and Peg!

Anyhoo by themselves they are not a quilt top, they need a little love and attention and someone creative to make them special.  These are meant to be for a small child.  A blankie for a child under the age of  say 7, something just for them.  Right now I do not have the time to give them attention, so I'm putting them up for adoption.  All I ask is that you take the panel, be creative and then return it to me for quilting.  You don't have to supply backing or batting, just whatever you need to complete the top. 

Over the next six days I will post pictures of the panels, let me know if you would like to adopt it.

Until my next post......

Fabric Donation!

Take a look at what I picked up at the De Soto Library a couple of weeks ago!

Some one was very generous.  And I truly am very grateful for the donation. 

This fabric is going to make several warm quilts for the center.  These quilts will be constructed the same way a Tshirt quilt would be made.  The fabric blocks will be stabilized and then the blocks will be sashed and a border will be placed all the way around the body of the quilt.

I am going to bring this fabric with me to the first community sew day.  IF there is someone who would like to help the project but doesn't sew.  This fabric will need to be cut into squares and I will have iron on stabilizer available.  I promise if you would like to help the group we can find a way to make it happen.  Please think about joining us on January 28th.

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



Iowa Comfort Quilt #3

The quilt is off the longarm and trimmed.  This morning Penny picked it back up and is going to get the binding sewn down.  YEAH! Another one will be complete with help of all my good friends.

I find it is very interesting how our paths connect.  Dian is a lady who lives less than two miles from me.  I first was introduced to her when we both worked on a quilt as a fundraiser for the De Soto Library two years ago, we are both in a sewing group together, and as life would have it be both bought new longarms about the same time, so we were in the APQS class together. 

I frequent the APQS forum daily ( GREAT TIPS out there for any of you that are looking for a resource!) and when I post I have a link to this blog under my name.  Dian saw one of my posts and checked out my blog, she volunteered to make the label for this quilt.  In addition she happened to call this morning while Penny was here to say that she had a label made that she would like me to take a look at.  Dian made a truly special label (wish I had taken a photo before it left) Penny took it with her and when the quilt comes back it will truly be ready for delivery!  LOVE it when it all works out.

Penny is also sharing info about this group with other quilting circles....and news of the group is spreading!  I think that 2012 is going to be a great year and we are going to accomplish wonderful things as a group.

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

Community Sew Day

This day is set.

I have the Adel Library reserved for our first community sew day on Saturday January 28th.  We have the room from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.

I will have 7 kits available to be worked on.  These kits are already cut and just waiting to be sewn together,  and I'm thinking that more than one person can be working on one kit.

One kit is called Lasagna by Teri Atkinson.  Pretty purple florals with splashes of green

I have 2 jelly roll race kits- okay you will have to string them together, but after that it is only 30 minutes to get the top together.

I'll have 3 kits similar to Comfort quilt #1.  That would be the autumn looking one.  One will be from the brown squares you all have been sending. BTW I have enough of that fabric now. One will be in a cream and rose color scheme, and one will be in a blue and white color scheme.

The last kit that I have is called the "guy quilt" that was featured on Adel Quilting and Dry Goods web site.  It is going to be done in reds,blacks whites and cream fabric.

I will also have some fabric there to make 9 patch blocks.

Please think about joining us for either the whole or part of the day.It should be a day of fun and friendship.  Remember even if you don't sew you can still help with ironing , cutting fabric or just providing your friendship.

Until my next post.......

Todays Plan

I am getting ready to go in and load IQ#3 better known as "Wish upon a Star" on the longarm this morning.  Hopefully I will still feel well enough to be able to do some of the quilting on it today.

Then I am going to continue to work on my kit.  I decided that it really wouldn't be very nice to send this particular kit and ask someone to work on it.  It was 450 two and half inch white squares, and 450 scrappy 2.5 x 5 rectangles....not quite as fast as most of the kits will be.  I'm glad that I kept it now because it has morphed into a completely different kit.  I just really didn't like what I had originally planned once I saw it laid out, the fabrics were fighting each other.  So I had to tone it down some with some white sashing.  I've taken pictures along the way, I'll post the journey once the top is done.

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

Happy New Year!

So how are you all today?  I hope that this post finds you all in good health and cheer.

Did you do the party thing last night or do you have some other tradition in your family?  Last night hubby and I revived a tradition from when the boys were young.  We rented a movie, and ate snacks.  I'm going age myself here.....but I gotta say that I like not having to actually leave the house to rent a movie.  When the boys were small I had to drive to Des Moines, find the movies (hope they had the ones I wanted) and then drive back to Des Moines to return them the day after.  Much nicer to just have to click a button and have the movie on the TV.  Hubby and I were sound a sleep when the new year came in, the only noise maker going off in my house was the sound of my snoring. LOL

Do you do the resolution thing?  I have two this year.  First one is to try to only do the things that will bring me joy.  Luckily for me quilting is at the top of that list. 

The second resolution is really for my hubby, I'm going to try to keep my fabric contained to storage areas.  You see I started out with what use to be the master bedroom, then I branched out to the bedroom next door as kind of an office, then I took over the closet and built in cabinets in the bedroom that we use the treadmill in.  I have a rolling case that houses my second domestic sewing machine in the living room and I have a table set up downstairs (that's were we really live) that has a large cutting board on it so I can cut fabric at night while listening to TV.  So today I will at least go around and pick up after myself, who knows how long it will last.  Of course that is the beauty of New Years resolutions isn't it.   I tell him all the time that he really is lucky because I don't really have what most quilters would call a stash.  I have scraps.  And I have bookmarked a couple of sites to prove it to him.

We are going to have lots of things going on this month, so there will be several post each week. (maybe that should be my third resolution)  So make sure check in.

I hope that the New Year brings you and your family health and happiness.

Until my next post.......