Comfort delivered

Back home from delivering our comfort quilts.  Jacque Johnson and I arrived with our arms full, when we stopped by the center today. 

I delivered seven twin size quilts today.  Jacque delivered 50 pillowcases. Additionally I also delivered a bag of PJ's that Marge decided she wasn't going to wear.....I think that bag also had those little bottles of shampoo and conditioner from hotels in them.

Our gifts were well received! 

The staff and I spoke about keeping track of the hours for their grant.  And we decided that it would just be easier to put it all under the umbrella of Iowa Comfort. So that is what we will do unless you really want to have your hours separate....if you do just let me know and when you work on a quilt I'll get you the hour worksheet.

There was an interesting story about pillowcases and the center.....I'll wait to see if Jacque puts it on her blog at Adel Quilting and Dry Goods.  We'll just say that there will always be a need for those also, so if you are so inclined keep them coming!

For security reasons I would not attempt to take photos of us actually at the center....but I did take a couple of photos prior to packing the car.  Take a look.

Patiently waiting to go to the car.

All laid out on the couch.

One last close up of each quilt before they move on to their new home.

I know who ever the quilts end up with will cherish them.  What a great use of scrap fabric!

Until my next post.......



back to the longarm!

I have several errands to run today.....but when I'm not doing those, I plan to play!

My idea of playing is working on one of the comfort quilts.  Today's quilt is quilt #9.  I know that it will sound odd, but when I'm working on quilting one of our comfort quilts all I feel is joy. 

It is completely different than when I am working on a customer quilt.  When I'm working on a customer quilt I have these little voices in my head.... is there to much tension on the top....is there to much slack in the top.... what is the right pattern for the quilt.....what color thread should I use.....do I have enough backing.  Needless to say it can be stressful.

This is not the case with the comfort quilts.  I know they don't have to be perfect....and yet they are all beautiful.  I think that because I don't have the little voices stressing me out I truely get to enjoy the experience and mission of these quilts.

Tomorrow Jacque and I are delivering pillowcases and quilts to the center.  I'll probably post about that on Thursday...so there probably will not be a post tomorrow morning.

Next week I have pictures of SIX donation tops that came to me from an online friend, this past week.

Please check back to a post earlier this week asking for feed back.  I need to know how to proceed.

Until my next post.......

Blue dinosaurs

I spent yesterday working on blue dinosaurs.  I can tell it has been a while since I have pieced and actual pattern from all the mistakes I made on these blocks. 

I usually follow the three seam rule.....third time I have to use the seam ripper.... I quit sewing.  If I would have followed my rule I would have been done sewing by one o'clock.  And my four blocks would not be completed.

Only five more blocks to be completed and my grand babies quilt top will be completed.

It felt good to spend sometime with my domestic sewing machine.

Today I will load comfort quilt # 9 on the longarm before I spend the afternoon doing errands.

Until my next post......

Feed back please

I received a request from the center to document, in writing, the hours we spend creating our quilts for them.   With the documentation of hours, they can ask for a grant for matching hours for the center.

I have no problem doing this, but they are also asking for your name and email addresses in the documentation.  This I am a little concerned with providing.  I value your participation  in these projects, and do not want to do anything that might jeopardize our relationship.

I can pretty much figure out the hours in each quilt.  Let me know if you do or do not want your names and email addresses put on the  documentation.  Either way is okay with me, if you don't I will just put the hours under an Iowa Comfort Umbrella.

I know that I don't have all of your email addresses. so if you are willing to have your name and email documented on the form please send an email to iowacomfort@hotmail.com and let me know the correct information.

I have 7 quilts going to the center on Wednesday, that is when I'll need to turn in the documentation.

Thanks for your feed back.

Until my next post.......

Taxes over quilting....what kind of world is this?

Yesterday was supposed to be dedicated to getting the labels on our finished quilts. 

But the veterinarian messed with my schedule. 

You see my kitties, Mork and Mindy needed their prescription cat food that I get at the vets office.  No problem I would go after lunch, when I was delivering a quilt.  That would give me the morning to get my walk in, gather the quilts, pin the labels down the quilts and start stitching away before I made lunch.

When I called to make sure they had a case of their food, I told them I would be in around 1:00 to pick it up......I was then informed that the office was closed from noon to three on Friday afternoons.

Rearrange my schedule, deliver my customer quilt then pick up cat food, come home walk my miles......drat it is now time to fix lunch.....do lunch dishes....switch laundry from washer to dryer.  Now I'm just not feeling the hand stitching thing, so I spent the afternoon doing my income taxes instead of what I originally had planned for the day.

Why is it that I do better with a schedule, and that I can get so frazzled when I can't follow my schedule? My husband would say it is because I'm anal......I prefer to think of it as focused, either way I drive myself crazy sometimes. 

So today once again I will attempt to get the labels on the finished quilts, so they will be ready for delivery next Wednesday.  Hope I am more successful today than yesterday.

Until my next post.......

Today is a label kind of day

I have finished  both of my customer quilts this week.  Which means that I get to work on other things  this weekend. 

So I have dedicated today to attaching labels to all of the quilts that are completed.  I think there are six of them to get on.  Now this is truly a good thing, because Wednesday I'm delivering the finished quilts to  the center.  Jacque Johnson is going along to deliver the pillowcases that she has collected so far at the quilt shop.

I'm looking forward to meeting the director of the center on Wednesday. 

Here are a few more of  the labels that Dian made for our quilts.

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

Iowa Comfort Quilt #14

As promised here is the quilt that was pieced and quilted by Kathy Blomquist.

I saw it for the first time Monday night, and this picture does not do the quilt justice.  It is really one gorgeous quilt!  The body of the quilt is a Patrick Lose jelly roll.  The gold border is Fiss by Patrick Lose. Although you can't see them very well in this picture, there is a small border on the top and bottom of the quilt with these little sunburst in them....just perfect for the quilt.

I want to thank Kathy for not only piecing this quilt.  She also quilted the quilt, donated the batting and backing and bound the quilt.  Your time and effort are greatly appreciated!

Until my next post....

Pillowcase challenge

As you know Adel Quilting and Dry Goods is trying to collect 80 pillowcases by May 1 for the center.

Just wanted to let everyone know that Adel Quilting and Dry Goods will be hosting a demonstration this Saturday on how to make a pillowcase in 10 minutes.  Now I really need to see this demostration, because as silly as it sounds.... I can quilt....but I have never made a pillowcase in my life.  I have looked at the pattern, and I still need the demostration.  I am without a doubt a visual learner.  

Last night at Circle of Friends 10 pillowcases came in from Jackie Orton and Nancy Hagelberg, and there have been several dropped off at the shop also.

Jacque's shop also has kits made that include a free pattern and fabric for $6.00.  So if you are like me and need to see the demostration, stop by the shop this coming Saturday.

I should have a picture of quilt #14 tomorrow.  I saw it for the first time last night, and it was worth the wait.  Jackie O is going to send me the picture she took at circle last night.

Until my next post.....
.

Quick note

I'm headed to the doctors office in a few minutes.  Yesterday I said that the plan was to have ICQ8 quilted and binding attached so I could take it along with me to bind in the waiting room.......didn't happen.  I do have it quilted but it is still on the longarm this morning, so it won't be going with me.  I'll get it off the longarm and get it trimmed before I head to my quilt circle this evening.

I heard from Kathy over the weekend, and she has quilt #14 done.  Kathy was at our community sew day and took her kit home with her to finish up.  She not only pieced the top, but she also quilted the quilt, and bound it.  Donating both the batting and the backing material.  VERY GENEROUS!  Thank you very much Kathy.  I should be able to pick it up tonight, and I'll have a picture for you all tomorrow if all goes well.

Well I need to get ready to leave so...

Until my next post.......

The plan

This afternoon I plan to finish quilting ICQ#8, and make and apply the binding to it.  I should be able to meet this goal because I quilted half of it yesterday before I went to my class.  I have a doctor appointment tomorrow morning; I may take the quilt along and stitch binding while in the waiting room.  Time management.....it's all about time management. LOL

I have only one more side of binding to stitch down on  ICQ#7.  So that quilt should be done by today also.

The plan for the week is to get ICQ#9 on the longarm and quilted by Friday. It helps that my quilting business is slow right now; I can keep plugging away at our comfort quilts.

I have a email into the center, and am just waiting for an appointment confirmation at this point.  So I can drop off the quilts that we have completed.  I won't make the original goal of having them all there by the end of this month, but I should be able to get the remaining one's finished by the end of March.

Well time to get to my day, hope everyone out there is having a great day!

Until my next post......

Top donations

I have been asked by three of four people now about donating tops to Iowa Comfort, and if there is a size requirement.

The short answer is no there is not.  The center has little people that can use lap quilts as blankies, they have 20 twin size beds, 4 double beds and 4 queen size beds.  I on the other hand do have a maximum on how wide a quilt can be.  My longarm table is only 11 ft.  so I can accommodate a quilt that is up to lets say 95 inches wide.  That would be a pretty generous queen.

I have heard from 3 or 4 people who have looked in their closets, and found that top that has been stuffed to the back of the closet many years ago.  A couple of the ladies said that they made the top and then didn't care for them and knew they would never pay to finish them, and wanted to know if they could just donate the entire top.  The answer is YES, but understand that once donated I will quilt it and get it bound and deliver it to the center.  I will take a picture of the top for the blog, and you will get credit on the label for piecing it, but it won't come back to you.

So for any of you that run across that UFO while spring cleaning.  If you want to find a home for it, just drop me a line and we will figure out how to get it to me.

Today I am taking a genealogy class with my Mom, and picking out fabric for my new grandson's baby quilt with my daughter in law.....need to get working on it. June is just around the corner and I have a long established tradition of the baby quilt being at the hospital when the new baby makes their entrance into the world.

I'll be back to quilting ICQ # 8 tomorrow, and it should be off the longarm by tomorrow afternoon.

Until my next post.....

Followed a friends advice

Over the past week I have had several friends (4 I think) in one way or another very gently remind me what my original goal was for this project.

In the beginning I was hoping that we could make 12 quilts for the center in 2012.  If you have been following the posts you know that we are up to quilt #13.......and it is only February.

My goal for the community sew day was to finish three tops, and we finished nine. 

So me being me....I put myself in high gear and wanted to get all of the tops quilted in record time!

I have quilted quilts 5,6, and 7.  Five and six both have binding stitched down, thank you Jan for doing that for #5.

Quilt 7 has the binding applied to the quilt, and I'll start stitching it down tonight while watching TV.

I had planned on loading quilt 8 yesterday and getting it quilted....but the advice of my friends rang true yesterday.  I need to slow my pace to a notch just below harried......Just because I have 5 quilt tops to complete for the center doesn't mean that they all have to be done this week or even this month. 

So I took yesterday off and played in Ancestory.com... searching for long lost relatives and tidbits of information on relatives that I never knew I had.  I also made copies of some old photo's I had and gave them to my cousin.  It was a good day, and I woke up today feeling recharged and wanting to get back into the quilt room.

Today after I get done with my morning walk on the treadmill.....I'll get back to working  on our quilts.

I'd like to thank each and every one of you for your help and support with this project.  I also want to thank my friends.....who gently reminded me that this is a long term project and not a sprint.  I much needed the Gibbs style "smack on the back of the head" and I enjoyed the day off yesterday.

Until my next post.....

Dog Pound Quilt #13

I love this!  Dian adopted one of my panels.  It was actually the smallest panel, and at the time I could not think what anyone would do with it.  This is what Dian started with.

Fifteen little puppies that needed a home.  This panel definitely need more imagination than I had to make it a wonderful quilt for a little person at the center.

Here is Dian's creation....

Each little puppy has a home!  I'm not sure that the symbolism was intentional on this quilt.  But it was one of the first things that struck me as I looked at all those dog houses.  Here is a close up of a couple of blocks.

I absolutely love all the bright colors in the quilt.  And I know what ever child receives this quilt at the center is going to love it also.

Thank You Dian on the great job!

Until my next post......

HMMM what did I do?

I thought I would get a jump on today's post by writing it last night, and scheduling it to post this morning.

That didn't work. Somehow it posted yesterday......which would have been fine.....except it fell into line before yesterday mornings post.  Making it hard to find.

So if you are looking for today's REAL post, go to the right hand side of this page and click on binding decisions.  That is the post that is suppose to be here.

I'm definitely techno challenged, but I keep plugging away at it.

Enjoy your day!

Until my next post.....

Pillowcase challenge

Adel Quilting and Dry Goods is holding a pillowcase challenge.  They are are attempting to get 80 pillow cases made for the center by May 1.

They have kits made at the shop, or just go to your sew rooms and use the fabric that you have on hand.  The pillow cases can be feminine, masculine or juvenile....they have a need for all.

Currently the center is using the same pillowcases that they started with 20 years ago.  I would say it is a good time to retire those cases and replace them with some new ones.  So if you can help out that would be great. 

Drop off site is Adel Quilting and Dry Goods in Adel.  There is even have a free pattern if you need one.

The plan today is the apply the binding to quilt #6, finish quilting quilt #7 and make the binding for quilt #7.

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

Binding decisions.....

Yesterday was a day of decisions.  I finished quilting Quilt #7 and got it off the longarm. 

Then the day was devoted to binding and the choices that needed to be made. For quilt #6 I just could not find the right colored binding.....and then I remembered that Nancy and Joyce, had left over pieces of fabric that was not used in the quilt.  At the community sew  they had suggested that we use that fabric for the binding.  So I played with it, and they were right!  I pieced 18 of those multi colored strips together and attached it to the quilt.  I spent last night working on getting it hand sewn and I've completed about 3/4 ths of it.  I should get it done tonight.

Quilt #7 was another decision. After I took it off the longarm I decided to make the binding right away.....but what fabric should I use.  Quilt #7 is the blue square's sashed with white.  Nancy had donated fabric that I used for backing on this quilt.  My two choices for this quilt were use the same material as the backing or look for another.  Since the quilt had a lot of darker blue fabric, I pulled out a black marbled moda.....and I liked it.  But the little voice in my head kept saying the other fabric is a better match with the backing.  I liked the black up against the top, and the dark blue with little flowers against the backing.  What to do..... I called my husband and asked his opinion.  He said that the blue fabric was the better of the two choices.  I really thought he would pick the black fabric... but I went ahead and made the binding from the blue and I got it attached to the top of the quilt.  I should be able to get it hand sewn by this weekend.

Today is an errand day, but I hope to get a customer baby quilt at least loaded on the longarm later this afternoon.

Hope you all have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Until my next post.......

Quilt #12

I have wonderful and generous friends!  My friend Nancy, from quilt circle and my on line quilt group, has already been very generous to this cause.  She came to the community sew day and she and Joyce pieced a quilt top for us that day.  She went home and found fabric in her stash that she donated to be the backing for our blue and white quilt.

Then yesterday while at open sew Jacque came in with a bag marked for me.  I opened it up and this is what was inside.

Nancy donated the top!  This was not one of my kits, the fabric and time spent piecing it together was  all hers.  She also made the binding for the top and has it ready for when I get the quilt actually quilted.

All I can say is Thank you!  And that really isn't enough!

Until my next post.......

Quilt #11

Another successful day at open sew yesterday.  I was able to complete quilt top #11.  It would have been easier had I read the directions.....but I didn't so I had to improvise.  Seems like I have been doing a lot of that lately.  I'm standing by the story that it will just give the quilt some additional character :-).

The fabric in the outer border has been sitting in my closet for at least 5 years, the solid black border was left over fabric from a quilt that I made for my son Mat last year ( he only had to wait for a year for me to make that quilt.)  The inner border is where I had to improvise,  I had to put little spacers on the top and bottom on the ends because the body of my quilt measured 41 inches instead of 40.

Even with its imperfections, I'm sure the quilt will provide someone with warmth and comfort.....and that is really all that is important.

Until my next post....

quilt # 10

Here is quilt # 10.  The fabric was all from my stash, and I cut it into strips for our second jelly roll quilt of the day.  I decided to experiment with the concept of the jelly roll quilt.  The black and white  strips are the length of the fabric, the color strips are left over strips from another  project and they were not cut to the width of the fabric.  I like the punch that the shorter strips gave the quilt.

Here is our quilter, Carol Messerschmidt hard at work on this quilt.

Today is open sew Friday, so I'm going to finish up quilt # 11 and I hope to get a picture up tomorrow for you.

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

Quilt # 9

Here is quilt #9. 

 

Most of the fabric in this quilt was acquired when I was on a bus trip a couple of years ago. At each of the twelve quilt shops, we would pick up two strips of fabric.  I promptly brought them home and put them in a drawer.  About a month ago I found them and added another sixteen strips make a jelly roll out of them.  I think the finished quilt has a southwestern feel to it. 

Here it is without the borders.

And this is Pam Raymond our piecer.  Thank you so much Pam for coming out and helping at the community sew day.  I hope to have this quilt quilted next week.

three/ fourth done

On Monday I set a weekly goal of quilting quilt 5 and 6 this week.  I also set the goal to get the final borders on quilt 9 & 10.  Then I promptly failed to meet my daily goal.

Well I am pleased to say that quilt # 5 is quilted, and as luck would have it, it was picked up today by Jan to put the binding on it.  This afternoon I put the final border on quilt 9.  And all 3 borders on quilt # 10.

Tomorrow I have 3 customers coming, but I'm going to try my best to get quilt # 6.

I'll post a picture of quilt 9 tomorrow.

Until my next post.....

Off schedule already

Remember what I said yesterday about self imposed schedules?  Yep I did not complete my to do list yesterday. I ended up spending the morning getting groceries instead.  Which did put me behind schedule.

I did complete picking up my quilt room, and gave Lenni the much deserved deep cleaning.  I have all but the final border on quilt.  I realized that part of the border material that I was going to use on quilt 10 is with one of the gals who still has quilt 11.  So I may have to play scavenger today to see if I can find a large enough piece to swap out that border with other fabric.

Last night I received a call from another local non profit here in Central Iowa.  The lady was a volunteer for Heinz 57.  Heinz 57 is a no kill dog shelter for potentially difficult dogs.  It is my understanding that they will work with these dogs and rehabilitate them so they can find good homes.  Last year they had over 500 adoptions.  This all started because the founder saw a dog being abandoned by her owner along interstate 80, and she feared for the dogs life.  Over the next several weeks she searched for her until she was able to finally catch her and bring her home to her family.

Now as inspirational as that story is (and I did not do it justice) I bet you are wondering what it has to do with our mission.   Here is the tie in.  I have had some material donated that is not able to be put into quilts (non 100% cotton fabric).  But I did not want to disrespect or disregard a generous contribution.  So the material will be used to make beds for  Heinz 57 providing comfort to their residents.  Actually this material will be perfect for this cause, because it will be warm and will hold up to daily washings.  Find out more information on Heinz 57 here http://www.aheinz57.com/.

Well time to get back to my schedule.  I will get quilt 9 together today, and start quilting on quilt #5.

Until my next post.....

So where are the comments?

It really is okay to correct me.  It wasn't until I was reviewing my stats that I realized my error.

Take a look at the last two posts titles.  There are TWO Iowa Comfort quilts # 7??????  Obviously not, they should have read  quilt 7 and quilt 8.  Such a silly girl I am!

I finished my customer quilt late last night, so I came up with a to do list for this week.  Nice thing about a self imposed list is that it can always be changed.....but we'll see how well I do.  Today I am putting the final borders on quilt 9 and 10.  Giving the quilt room a light cleaning.  Giving Lenni and Squiggy ( thats my longarm and frame) a much needed deep cleaning. And last but not least I hope to load Quilt 5 on the longarm, so I can get it quilted tomorrow.  The goal is to get 5 & 6 quilted this week.

I'll try to get pictures of Quilt 9 and 10 up on Tuesday and Wednesday.  I'll be working on final borders for quilt 11 at open sew on Friday in Adel....so those pictures will probably come on Saturday.

I have picked up a few new followers, just want to say welcome and hope you enjoy following our journey.

Until my next post.......

Iowa Comfort Quilt #7

This quilt was returned mid week, half of the fabric was donated by gal in Missouri that has a group of volunteers doing charity projects also.

 

Dian did a great job on the quilt top.  Dian and I are both in the Prairie Woman's Sewing Group, that Adel Quilting and Dry Goods hosts each summer.  In that group we learned that the prairie women had to make due....with what they had, and that they needed to be ingenious sometimes.  3 of the blocks in this quilt had slits in the fabric.  So in the spirit of make do, we found fabric that was close to the original block, and made a new corner for that block, removing the damaged portion.  TOP LOOKS GREAT!

Here is a picture of Dian hard at work on the quilt.  Because of the coloring of the quilt and the sashing that creates an window effect, we have decided to name this quilt " Rose Windows".

Thank you Dian for your help and support, it is a beautiful quilt top.

Until my next post.......

Iowa Comfort Quilt # 7

Missed a post yesterday.....SO SORRY!  I was working on a small baby quilt that was pushing my buttons!  I should no better than to take a quilt on, that is beyond my comfort zone.  We will chalk this one up to a learning experience and move on.  At least I can live with the end result.  Only had to rip the quilting out twice.....thank goodness it was a small quilt.

On to our quilt!  And happier circumstances!

 '

This quilt is named " Unwaving Faith" by the piecer.

And here is Penny working on the quilt last Saturday.

Oh so close to having it completed before the day was over.  Only needed one more row to be done.  Penny took it home, finished it up and brought it back to me early this week.

I'm amazed how well all the blues ended up blending in the end.

This is Penny's second quilt that she has pieced for Iowa Comfort.  THANK YOU SO MUCH PENNY for your support and contributions.

Until my next post.....

Just a couple of things

Last night I spent the night putting the binding on Iowa Comfort Quilt #4, better known as Barcode.  I managed to get the binding made and applied after I finished quilting a Harley Davidson quilt for a customer.  I love it when things work out.  The payment for the Harley quilt will pay for the batting for all of the comfort quilts that we made this last weekend.  I have one corner left to finish hand sewing and then it is done.

I had sent a message last week to my contact at CIAC ( Crisis Intervention Advocacy Center) and asked if they had any small children in residence at the time.  And they do they have new born girl, 2 young girls under 8 years of age, and 4 young boys.  As soon as I read the post I thought about the silly cat quilt I made for the Adel Library fundraiser last year, and I wondered if I had any of that panel left.  So I started digging thru my fabric closet....... and I have a FULL panel of those silly cats, along with several yards of coordinating fabric.  I'm going to try to get two little quilts out of them to send to the center.  I also have a panel of dinosaurs that I'm going to try to get 2 little quilts out of.  We have two panels out for adoption, and there are still 4 available for adoption.  I hope we can put a smile on these little ones faces soon.

More pictures of quilt tops from the community sew day soon.

Until my next post......

Quilt # 6

This is Iowa Comfort Quilt # 6.  The pattern is called Lasagna, and most of the fabric was donated from my scraps or from the scraps that were the first donation.

I really liked the purples and greens in this quilt.  It made me think about spring when my iris bloom.  This was my Mom's favorite quilt that was made on Saturday.  I'm pretty sure that this quilt will be quilted with flowers, when I quilt it.  I also love the backing that I will be using on the back of it.  The backing was donated by Adel Quilting and Dry Goods, a pretty light green with motivational words scrolled across it.

And here is our quilter Nancy......looking so serious. 

And Joyce trying to decided the order of all the fabric.

I think that sometimes the precut fabric makes it hard to figure out how to put the top together.

I'll have another top to show you tomorrow.

Until my next post......