Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Clarke Co. Fair - Part 8


In 2002, Debbie and her husband were building a new house. Debbie needed inspitation for decorating their master bedroom. While on a journey to western Iowa, she stopped at the Prairie Star quilt shop in Elk Horn. On the wall they had a sample of this quilt. She recognized immediately this was her inspiration for their new bedroom. She purchased a kit, took it home and started sewing immediately.
The quilt was finished before they moved into their new home on February, 2003. The scraps of the points of all the stars were saved and made into a table runner for their dresser.



Debbie's grandson, Chase lived with his grandpa and grandma from the time he was 8 years old until he was 11 years old. During that time he watched grandma do a lot of quilting. One day he told her he wanted to try it. They went shopping until he
found fabric that appealed to a 9 year old. That fabric is the monster fabric in the center of the quilt. Grandma designed a border to fit the one yard piece of the monster fabric. Grandma cut it out and assisted Chase in sewing all of the blocks
together. They then assembled the blocks and the monster fabric into this quilt.
The quilt top got "buried" in the sewing room until it was discovered in the spring of 2010. Grandma had Sharon W. machine quilt it and she creatively placed monster 3 toes footprints in it. It is now ready to give to Chase. Hope he isn't too old (14 1/2years) for a monster quilt!!



Debbie started quilting in 1972 before she knew how or had taken any classes. She had always admired large bed quilts, but decided that was way beyond her expertise.
She made a crib quilt for her daughter in 1993 and did alot of "cheater quilts" at that time. She found a new quilt shop in a small town near her. They were just starting a Block of the Month by Thimbleberries. She thought she might try a few of these blocks and see how she did. This is the quilt that came from those blocks. This was the first LARGE quilt she did. This was done before she knew what a 1/4" seam was. It didn't turn out too bad and all fit together. Thankfully she has learned a lot more about quilting now, but has never turned out a quilt of this large size again.

Monday, July 26, 2010

Clarke Co. Fair - Part 7


This quilt is a Bear Paw variation also made by Colleen. It was entered in the Clarke Co. Fair as a quilt top and received a blue ribbon. After it was machine quilted by Sharon W. it was entered in the 2009 Iowa State Fair and recieved a blue ribbon.



A popular pattern used in antique quilts is the Dresden Plate. This quilt was made by Lillian Snow from the Humboldt Iowa area who was a friend of Colleen's grandmother. During the depression, Lillian earned extra money for her family by making and selling quilts. Colleen said her mother remembered Lillian bartering with her mother for quilts. This is in wonderful condition for an antique quilt.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

Clarke Co. Fair - Part 6



The LeMoyne Star pattern was used with Christmas fabric to make this special qullt by Sharon W. in January 2000. It was machine pieced but hand quilted. Can’t you just see this quilt decorating her home at Christmas time. All quilters need to make a Christmas Quilt.



This is the Corvette Quilt made by Janet J. Actually she made two of these quilts. One for her brother in law and one for her husband. The checkered fabric had been curtains that she made for her brother in law. When he moved and no longer needed the curtains, Janet recycled the material into the quilts with the Corvette “novelty” fabric.
Note: even the fabric is used on the back to make it two quilts in one.




Signing up to do a "Block of the Month" from Quilts and Other Notions in Creston offers participants fabric and a pattern each month. On the designated day, participants return with their completed block to get the next block until all blocks are completed one year later. Moda fabric was used in this block of the month and Joan C. chose coordinating fabric to complete this quilt. Machine quilted by Sharon W.

Clarke Co. Fair - Part 5


The Yo-Yo quilt story by Darlene H.- Back in the early 40’s my
Parents and siblings lived in a small town where I was a young teenager- maybe a 7th or 8th grader to keep me busy - protecting me from boredom or idleness, my mom showed me “yo-yo’s” She had lots of scraps- some from dressmaking and others were feedsacks in those days. I was intrigued by the sewing of these circles gathered to create little flower like designs. And I made lots - collected them in a shoe box. Then it became a larger box.
Then the urge came to do something with all those yo-yos!
Mother and I planned and decided to sew them together in a square- 64 yo-yo’s per block. Soon the big box held the 8 x8” square blocks instead of gobs of yo-yo’s.
One day I decided I wanted to arrange those blocks into some kind of order. We chose to make rows of three to form a sashing look. Pink was the color we chose-whether it was a favorite at that time-whether it was mother’s choice- just why pink is uncertain. - but we only had a small amount, maybe we thought we could always get that shade whenever. Only three or four blocks were attached. And then I lost interest.
Living a life interfered! There was high school, the social activities of school, church, friends- busy fun filled days left no interest in making yo-yo’s. There were friends- girls and boys-a little college, teaching, marriage, children and an active farm life. No time for yo-yo’s..
After my marriage, I moved all my belongings to my new home and that included the box of yo-yo’s. Down through the years it was placed in the far corner and ignored. At one time when we were packing to move to
a new house, I opened the box ”just to see” and Oh my !!. A mouse had decided to make a nest in a corner of my yo- yo’s. I was very dismayed! However I cleaned things- washed the blocks and repaired all the damaged ones and re-made yo-yo’s. But again I put them aside for something else and more years passed.
In my mother’s later years, she began asking about my yo-yo’s -
Have you finished them? When are you going to finish them?
Often enough she asked until I began to consider them again.
This time when I purchased fabric for the sashing set I got 5- 6 yards- enough that I would have enough to finish in the same shade. Again it was pink. I suppose it was destined to be the color for whatever reason.
I made yo-yo’s while traveling, while on vacation, at campouts, and musical festivals. I finished making the top with exception of the bottom row before mother died in 1987. There are 2,726 yo-yo’s. It has some vintage pieces in it. It is heavy - only a showpiece. Now belonging to my youngest daughter Susan at my bequest. She cherishes it.




Raspberry Melange quilt by Darlene H.- Sometimes in the long, dreary, not too ambitious days of winter, I turn to my quilt related books of yesteryear. That’s what I call my quilt magazines that are over 4-5 years of keepsakes. This particular winter I found myself wanting to make this block and then maybe that one too. I realized not all would be enticing enough to complete anything of an approved size to be useful. If I was going to make several, why not make them all the same color way. So into my stash I dug and chose a piece of white on white. It had been around for several years and there was enough yardage to provide the background for many assorted sizes and variations. Then I needed color, something pretty, eye-catching, vibrant, and desirable for any kind of décor. I seemed to have any abundance of shades of mauve, deep roes, reds in deep tones and reds with a violet hue. I placed all fabrics in a basket. Then when I found a design I wished to try I used these fabrics. Pretty soon there was quite an amount and assortments of sized blocks when I decided it was time to make plans.
Using graph paper and a good eraser. I started placing and shifting the
Finished blocks around to balance the overall look. Then I began to make spaces of various sizes to fill in. Some are from those various yesteryear
Magazines. Some are those I drew myself or altered or conformed the design to fit the desired size. Some are favorite designs I’ve used before and some will never be used again! The leftovers were pieced into strips to provide the perfect border and emphasize the fabrics used in the blocks.
It was pieced and appliquéd in 2002 and hand quilted by a dear friend who is now deceased. I chose to name this quilt “ Raspberry Melange”
Quite an odd name, but the colors remind me of ripe raspberries and melange means mixture, medley, hodgepodge and a hodgepodge it is!
It really wasn’t made for anyone special except for my desire to try out some of those quilt patterns that were a “little bit different” It hangs on my bedroom wall in the winter and makes me warm just looking at it!
I refused $600 from an insurance salesman who wanted it to his wife for a Valentine’s gift. This was a chagrin to a couple of family members who thought I could make another.. But alas there will never be another one like it!

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Clarke County Fair Part 4



Many quilts are made for grandchildren.
Funny Farm Quilt- was made for Levi born March 13, 2010 by his grandma, Sandy. This is the perfect quilt for a farm boy and is politically correct by not favoring one brand of tractor over the other.
The tractor blocks are alternated with funny animals and blue and orange chicken wire fabric. The yellow fencing border adds to the quilt and coordinating fabric was used for the backing. This quilt was machine quilted by Sharon W.



Sisters -Joan’s sister, Carol lives in California. They keep in touch by computer using SKYPE that allows video chatting. The sisters like to talk and show their quilting projects in progress. Carol sent Joan an Oriental fabric panel and a pattern called “Window on the East” and challenged her to make this for the 2010 Iowa State Fair. Joan looked in several quilt stores to find the perfect coordinating fabrics. The miter seams for the windows gives depth to the quilt. Betty M. machine quilted cranes into the extra spaces to accent the cranes in the panel. The two Japanese girls could be sisters. Joan thinks of her sister every time she looks at her quilt.

Friday, July 23, 2010

Shop Hop Trips

There are two opportunities to travel and shop with other quilters in September.
Strip'N Stitch is the Fall Bus Shop Hop sponsored by Quilt With Us (641-766-6486) September 24 - 26
*12 Shops, 4 States, 3 Days, 2 Nights - "Priceless" the fun you will have.
Cost is only $229. per person/double occupancy. Registration deadline is Aug. 14.
Seating is limited.

Quilts and Other Notions are offering a bus trip to 8 shops, in Iowa, Minnesota and -Nebraska on Sept. 11-12 for $99. Food, lodging and transportation are all included. Call -641-782-8874 to reserve your spot.

Clarke Co. Fair - Part 3


Joan visited Japan for two weeks in 2005 and became interested in the Japanese culture. A pattern in the Love of Quilting magazine showing English tea pots and cups was modified into this quilt and it is named Oriental Tea by using oriental fabric fat quarters purchased by Joan. The handles on the cups were eliminated because Japanese tea cups have no handles.
Note the contrasting thread used to stitch around the tea pots and cups and the antique silver buttons placed on top of the teapots. Machine quilted by Beth Lura of North Dakota.




Change of Heart
After a friend, Sue, adopted Caitlin over 18 years ago, she planned a baby quilt using white blocks with appliquéd hearts from primary colors. As all new mothers of infants find out quickly, there just was no time to make the quilt. Some years later, Sue gave the fabric to her friend Laurie and told Laurie to do with it what she wanted. Well, Laurie liked the idea of the baby quilt and dreamed of making the quilt as Sue had originally planned, surprising both Sue and Caitlin. However, once Laurie received Caitlin’s graduation announcement in the spring of 2009, she remembered the fabric that was still untouched in her sewing room. Thinking it would be fun to do something with the original fabric, Laurie knew the original plan would not fit the grown up Caitlin. Caitlin had developed a love of the arts, music and stage production. With only several weeks to make the quilt, Laurie dug into some quilt magazines and found the pattern that would work. And she knew batiks would fit Caitlin’s personality. The result was a warm palette on which to appliqué the red hearts – the original red fabric Sue purchased for the quilt. Once the quilt was done, Laurie felt certain there would be times when Caitlin would appreciate a cooler, quieter quilt, so made a second cool quilt that serves as the back of the quilt. The pieced binding finished off each side with corresponding colors. Needless to say, both Sue and Caitlin were surprised with the graduation gift, a “change of heart” from the original plan, but filled with tons of love for them both.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Clarke County Fair - Part 2


Anniversary Quilt - To celebrate the 10 year anniversary of the Clarke County Piecemakers it was decided to make a quilt. Fabric was purchased and divided up to the members. The original eight members made blocks of red and white fabric. Current members made blocks of black and white fabric. There are 36 blocks in all with the signature of each member on the block they made.

The center medallion is an embroidered sewing machine with the name of the quilt guild and date made by Linda B. Members Joanne, Pat W. and Pat C. set the quilt blocks together. Sharon W. machine quilted it and Sue C. put on the binding.
It has been a group effort to finish this project. This quilt will be entered in the 2010 Iowa State Fair in the quilt made by a group category.




“Roses Roses” is an heirloom quilt made by Carol. She took a class at Quilt with Us in Lucas. Each block is different and designed using the pattern "Beyond the Color Purple" by Jenny Haskins. The machine embroidery was done on velvet and then appliquéd to the block. Silk ribbon was used in a border for accent. The machine quilting was done by Betty M.
This quilt was shown at 2009 Clarke County Fair and the 2009 Des Moines quilt guild show.

Clarke County Fair


Here are some of the quilts made by quild members and their stories that were part of program "Every Quilt has a story tonight at the fair.



Red, White and Blue Quilt- Joan’s sister in law knew she loves red white and blue fabrics and when she found a great deal on a fat quarter package of the Nantucket line by Moda fabric co. she purchased it and sent it to Joan.
The quilt alternates blocks of large half square triangles and blocks of small half square triangles set in a pinwheel design for a scrappy quilt. A red and cream stripe binding accents this quilt. Machine quilted by Sharon W. Joan retired in September 2009 from the Naval Reserve as a Commander and serving her last year in active duty at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany.




Sometimes fabric just calls out your name and gives you inspiration for a beautiful quilt. Joanne walked by this fabric line three times while shopping at the Creekside Quilt shop in West Des Moines and Decided she couldn’t go home without it. The Carpenter Star pattern by Debbie Maddy was used to make this quilt. Machine quilted by Betty M. Joann makes quilts for her family members but plans to keep this quilt and use it on her bed.

Saturday, July 17, 2010

Quilt Art Calendar 2011



Colleen's quilt was chosen to be in the Quilt Art Calendar 2011 and can be found on the page for March 21 - 27. Congratulations Colleen!
The Crisscross quilt has 3,361 pieces and is 96 x 96 inches. Pattern by Sandy Klop - American Jane.

Calling all members! Can you help?

The 8th Annual School Clothing Giveaway will be held on Tuesday, August 10th at the Osceola United Methodist Church from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Used clothing of all sizes are given away, along with new school supplies, and new socks and underwear. If your group is interested, we could use your help in a few ways:

• workers on Monday, August 9 to help with set-up all day long

• Tuesday, August 10th to help people "shop" for their clothes
by donating new school supplies, socks or underwear

• by donating good, clean, used children's clothing

• by donating funds to be used to purchase those items

With hundreds of people coming through the doors each year, the Giveaway has proven to be a very successful event, and is always very rewarding for those who help make it happen.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read this letter, and if your group would like to help, or has questions, please contact Joan Peterson (342-3433 or jpet@ iowatelecom . net) or Anna Frohling at the Methodist Church (342-2830 or oumc@iowatelecom.net).

Every Quilt Has A Story

The Clarke Co. Piecemakers quilt guild meetings are held at the REC building the second Monday of the month.
The guild is planning a bed turning program showcasing quilts made by members.
The program will be at the Clarke County Fairgrounds during the Clarke County Fair on
Thursday the 22nd at 7 pm in the exhibit building and the program will be repeated Saturday July 24 at 2 pm. Please join us for a very interesting showcase of quilts made by our local fiber artists.