We have pictures

It only took me about 15 minutes to find the camera case yesterday....that's to say once I started looking for it seriously.

I searched downstairs, no it wasn't there.  I searched my office, again not there.  I searched my quilt room (which I am happy to announce is still organized) not to be found.  I even went out to the car to make sure it wasn't there, I usually will find my phone in the car when it is lost...so I gave it a try. 

At this point I start trying to remember the last place I had my camera (making the assumption that the camera and case are usually together)....this is no easy feat, getting old is not an easy thing on the memory.  AH yes I was taking pictures of all the quilts before I loaded the car for delivery, off to the living room.  No I don't see the camera case there, but as I turn to leave I see just a sliver of shiny from the corner of my eye.  Black case laying on a dark purple leather chair, YIPPY, no more searching required.  (I celebrate all victories even the small ones).

So here are the quilts all lined up on the couch before I attempt to deliver them.

and a couple of close up shots of the quilts

Here we have the quilts by Dian, Pam and Nancy.

Here are Colleen, Jacque and Teresa's quilts

and the last two were made by Carol and myself.

I will give the center a call later today to see if someone will be there to accept the quilts.  Such a busy week.  I'm hoping to get back to the longarm and start working on April's quilts tomorrow.

quick check in

Just a quick note this morning.  I had pictures to show you......but since I can't find the camera case, I don't have the cord to download them into the computer this morning. Me thinks it is going to be one of those days.

Yesterday I lined up all of the quilts, got all of the dreaded paperwork done, snapped a couple of pictures and loaded the car.  I drove to the center.......and all the staff was in a training seminar off site.  :-(   I remember now why I am suppose to double check before going.  Ah well it was a beautiful day for a drive,  the car is still packed with everything I will need.  I'll get in touch with Tina or Johna and work out a time this week.

Now off to find that camera case so I can show you pictures sometime this week!

Doggy's have their beds

Yesterday I delivered the doggy mats and beds to Aheinz57 shelter.  As soon as I came thru the door I was greeted by the cutest little dog!  She wasn't much bigger than my cats, but she was excited to see me.  This could be a dangerous place to visit!  All of their eyes were so pleading to take them home,  such a great shelter taking in an rehabilitating animals that have been neglected or abused.

Later today I will deliver March's quilts to the center.  We have 6 twins, 1 lap and 1 child quilt for the center this month.

I believe we also have another 30+ pillow cases that will be delivered also.  If there are 30 pillow cases, the initial goal of 80 cases will have been met.....but the sponsor of the challenge, Adel Quilting and Dry Goods, says that we are going to continue to keep the challenge going.

Just as FYI, the center gives everyone a new pillow when they come to the center that they keep when they leave the center.....with the donation of the pillowcases not only will they get the pillow but they will also be allowed to keep the pillowcase.  Keep those donations coming!

And the Fool is....

Well happy April first!  I can hardly believe that it is April already.....time just seems to fly now that I am retired.  And of course it has felt like April/May most of March.  No wonder we are all walking around with smiles on our faces.

Anyway back to the title of the post......the fool is me!  I haven't quite got all of the aspects of Iowa Comfort down yet.  Yesterday I spent the day (when I wasn't cake testing for my upcoming grandsons baby shower) applying labels to our 8 quilts that will be donated tomorrow afternoon.  Here comes the fool part.......why didn't I just put them on when I was doing the binding?????? I guess that would be just tooooooo logical!

Today I continue playing the fool......because I have just been working on quilting these quilts all month and not paying attention to the "DARK SIDE" of this little project.  There is a whole ton of paper work that needs to be completed before I hand off these quilts to the center.  So today I'll be working getting that paper work done.  I am also going to try to come up with some form for me to use to document each quilt as I work on it....should make the monthly reporting easier.

Later on this afternoon I will be delivering the doggy mats and beds to Heinz 57, I wonder if there will be more paperwork there?

Well I guess there is no time like the present to begin working on that paper work.  Hope you all have a wonderful day! 

March recap

Today is my dear hubbys birthday so I won't write a book today, and I plan to spend the day with him so I also won't be quilting or binding today.

Thought I would let you all know how we did this month.  I finished quilting all of the quilts that we worked on at the community sew day in January. Plus the quilt top that was donated by Nancy.  If you want to check out which ones were completed this month they are ICQ's 9 -13.  Each of these tops will be delivered to the center on Monday if all things go well.  In addition to these tops I have three quilts that were donated to Iowa Comfort that were completely done and only needed a label.  They are ICQ #15, which you can find on the March 3rd post, and ICQ's 23 & 24. 

I also plan to deliver the 8 dog mats and three dog beds to Heinz 57 this Sunday.  I believe they are open on Sundays for possible adoptions....or at least I hope that is the case.  If not I will have to give Jean a call and arrange a good time for drop off.

On a personal note I have to say I am really pleased. I set a goal at the beginning of the month....and by the skin of my teeth, and with a lot of help from friends, we meet that goal.

I'll check back in with you tomorrow.

Comfort for our 4 legged friends

I will be making our first donation to aheinz 57 this Sunday hopefully.  Aheinz 57 is a no kill shelter for dogs that have had a tough time.  Many of these dogs need special attention before they can be adopted into families.  Most have had a terrible life, and the loving people at this shelter nurture these poor animals back to loving animals that families can welcome into their homes.

Sometimes fabric is donated to Iowa Comfort that is just to heavy or unstable to go into quilts.  That fabric is used to make doggie mats or beds for Heinz 57. 

Here are a few pictures of what we have so far:

Here are several of our mats.  I did a lot of practicing my freehand quilting on these pieces.

The pillow/bed up above was left over fabric that I made a quilt out of for my brother in law.  I stuffed it will all the left over strings when I cut fabric.  You know that little sliver of fabric that is really to small to save....but I did anyway and it makes nice stuffing for animal beds.  (Mork and Mindy were my testers.....they gave me two paws up.)

Nancy Hagelberg made 4 pads, and I have made 4 along with three beds. 

Did you notice the binding we are using......found away to use those left over binding strips.  I'm sure the doggies won't care that the binding doesn't match.

If you would like more information on aheinz 57 here is a link to their website http://www.aheinz57.org/ 

 If you have plans on adding a new pet to the family, please think about looking first at this shelter, or any shelter that is close to you.  I know that I will never regret adopting Mork and Mindy from the ARL...they bring me so much joy!

Pillowcase challenge

Adel Quilting and Dry Goods set a goal of 80 pillowcases for the center. They have 40 beds total so that sounded like a good goal. Well, guess what??!?!!!?!!  They made the goal yesterday when Terry Byer of Adel brought in 5 pillowcases.

A Great Big Special Thank You to all who contributed:

Nancy Hagelberg
Jackie Orton
Fran Cleary
Betty Wicks
Jan Mueller
Deb York
Marilyn Gonseth
Renae Godberson -- special note - - Renae contributed 30 pillowcases to this project!

They plan to continue collecting pillowcases even though the initial goal was made.  Check out Adel Quilting and Dry Goods blog for more information and to see a picture of the rest of the pillowcases.

Tangled

This weekend I quilted 3 little quilts that a local quilt group had put together.  This group of women get together and create quilts for a NICU at one of the local hospital.  They are usually appliqued and I have agreed to quilt them, it gives me a chance to practice working from the freehand side of the machine.

I managed to bind the dog pound quilt.  This evening I applied the binding to quilt #12....but I got all tangled up.  Check it out:

I was wondering why I was having trouble applying the binding.

 Ten years of applying binding and I have never sewn the opposite side of the quilt while attaching binding.  Check out my master piece.  Time to find the seam ripper.

I spent most of last night hand stitching the binding down, it is three fourths finished.

weekly update

I've had a productive week and thought I would give you an update.

I have been busy on the longarm this week.  I quilted comfort quilt 11, 12 and 13 this week. They will all bound and labeled by mid week.

Ready for delivery either Thursday or Friday to the center.  Quilts 9, 10, 15, 23 and 24 will also be delivered at the same time.

And officially we will have met the our original goal of 12 quilts.  It brings me great joy to have met the goal with help of so many of you.  Your generosity is appreciated by myself and those who benefit from your hard work.

Next week I have a couple of customer quilts to do so updates may be sporadic. 

I Spy Comfort Quilt #24

Check out this precious little quilt donated by Theresa Hane!  I know Theresa from Cirlce of Friends hosted by Adel Quilting and Dry Goods.  At show and tell last Monday she showed this little beauty.

So bright and cheerful!  With all of this fun fabric in it....take a look.

I spy  Sponge Bob, and flowers.

I spy pink elephants, pink cows....and cupcakes!

I spy the cookie monster and a monkey riding on an elephant. 

All of these fabrics are so very cute! Making such an adorable little quilt for a little girl at the center. This quilt also has a wonderful pink Minkee backing, so soft and cuddly.  This quilt will be delivered to the center at the end of the month with the rest of the comfort quilts that were completed this month.

Thank you again Theresa......I can already see the smile on the little girls face that is gifted this quilt.