On to New Hampton & home . . .

With Denise Sinnwell, owner of Quilter's Window
 in New Hampton, IA

Leaving Merry's was difficult, but I felt much better when I walked into Quilter's Window   in New Hampton.  Of course, seeing Denise & many Clothesline Quilts patterns & quilts there made my heart happy.

We're standing in front of Jo Morton's new line here; isn't that cupboard just beautiful in red with the cut glass doors.  Denise has beautiful displays in her shop.

Don't miss the Bull Run quilt in red & black at the top of the cupboard  & the cute little Table Cozee in brown & blue at the bottom (to the left of me).  Denise just does a beautiful job coordinating the fabrics.

More Table Cozees !!

 I took more pictures of her many displays to share with you before I headed home.  Isn't that quilt with the Table Cozees above just gorgeous!

And I love the pinks, browns, & reds in the quilt below.  Looks like it's an Open Gate pattern, Dancing Stars !

I have to admit, I was ready to be home, so I just headed straight home not stopping at another shop & was home by supper time. 

Ahhh - it's always good to go, but so good to be home, too! 

Over 800 miles in 4 days is enough for me.  Next year I hope to do a couple different 4-day trips & get to other shops in the state. 

Hope you're enjoying summer even though it's a super hot one these days!

Merry's got a new shop in Jesup . . .

NEW - Merry's Stitchins at Jesup, Iowa

Merry with her shop manager Jennifer at the new location

There's no grass growing under Merry's feet in Jesup, Iowa.  My goodness, she's built a whole new shop Merry's Stitchins at her country location north of town; it's beautiful!

I arrived at Merry's in the evening with all intentions of staying over with Merry; it worked super (Thanks for saving me a night's lodging, Merry!)  And we picked black raspberries early the next morning.  John & I enjoyed them on ice cream that night when I arrived home.

The new shop is open & roomy & filled to the brim with everything a quilter could ask for.  What a blessing Merry has in her shop manager Jennifer & all her staff; they are the greatest & Merry knows it!

Employee Jean introduced herself to me & while she cut my fabrics, we visited.  She's very happy doing displays at Merry's & I think she does a fabulous job!  Merry's is the home of Patch Abilities, Inc. - Merry's own daughter.  They also carry a wide range of quilt hangers by Ackfeld for the Patch Abilities designs

There is also a wonderful wool display in one of the cubicles.       Yes, its true - Always something new stitched up to inspire you at Merry's! 

This is the right side of the shop as you come in the door!  Classroom space, kitchenette, & offices at the end of this room.  Also lots of room along the top of the whole shop area.  And something more, since the shop has moved into the new building, the old shop is being updated as classroom space & sleeping space for retreaters!  Doesn't that sound like fun!!  A whole new Retreat Center!  I'm looking forward to a weekend there in October.  Come join us!

Mt. Pleasant, then north . . .

         Wow, Mt. Pleasant is way to the southeast corner of Iowa; considering I live in the far northwest corner of the state really puts Cathy Hopkins shop kiddy-corner from me.  But the trip was worth it to see Cathy in her own shop, Quilter's Paradise.  She's right on main street in Mt. Pleasant.

Cathy Hopkins, owner of Quilter's Paradise in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa

Cathy's been working hard to get her shop back in shape since there was a fire in the walls of the building beside hers early this year.  

But she has not given up; she is winning at the big job of rebuilding her shop! 

Her shop is beautiful & includes machine quilting, too.  Honestly, I don't know how these shop owners get so much done.

Cathy's ad says "Where Heaven is only a stitch away."  And I believe it - she has a new Retreat Center above the shop with a large work area, full kitchen & bathroom, & 3 bedrooms.  I'm sorry I didn't go up there & take some pictures to show off.  However, I'm sure it is a great place to hibernate with your friends & sewing machines.  Hmmm - just thinkin' - a hiding place is good!



Isn't this a beautiful calming display - the pinks, reds, grays & whites are just so refreshing.  I know it really caught my eye when I entered Cathy's shop.

And I couldn't leave without a picture of us & her Courthouse Stars quilt.  I really like how she used red for the courthouse blocks to make the trailing throughout the quilt.  Don't you just love red !   I really wish Cathy all the success in the world with her "new" shop!  And don't forget, you can email her at quiltersparadise@lisco.com to set up a time to bring your friends to the Retreat Center for a weekend or a few days of sewing-in-hiding away from the phones (conveniently forget your cell phone) !

Hope you're having a great day!

On to Chariton & southeast Iowa --

After a few more stops along the way, I reached Kay & Rex's in Chariton & their beautiful home in time for supper. 

What a great place that front porch is to relax & visit.

The next day we hopped around to many of the shops within an hours drive.  It was a super day for driving & stopping to enjoy all the fabric & shops.



Mary Kinsey, owner of Quilt With Us in Lucas, IA

Notice that  Mary is holding the border fabric she won at the Kansas City March.  Lucky girl !

One shop that I especially remember is Quilt With Us in Lucas, Iowa.  The building is an neat old one with high ceilings & beautiful wood floors.  As we were shopping the batiks there, Mary, the owner pointed out the ceiling fixtures. 

See for yourself - they are old pails, jugs, even a coal bucket & a tea kettle -

they fit the tin decor perfectly! 

Kay sent me on my way with homemade salsa, sweet relish, & apple butter - simply delicious - everything!  She makes her apple butter in the crockpot!  I got the recipe & will share it with you later.  

 I traveled on to Mt. Pleasant to see Cathy Hopkins.  More pictures tomorrow! 

You know it's too hot to be outside, so stay inside & quilt !





To Goldfield, then on to southern Iowa . . .

Jody, Melinda, & Sally

From Algona I headed to Goldfield where I really enjoyed The Honey Barn, owner Melinda Petersen & her helpers Jody & Sally.  This building has an interesting history & it really does look like a barn on the outside & inside.  During World War II & due to the rationing of sugar, the government asked people to raise bees & process the honey for sweetener.  The wax was also used to lubricate the shell casings. 

So this building where Melinda has her shop was used for raising honeybees.  At one time there were strawberry fields planted all around the building which is right in Goldfield, Iowa. 
 
Melinda is so interested in this history & took me to the upstairs where she would love to have a retreat area.  It's huge up there with the high rounded ceilings like a barn with the open wood beams.  Lots of planning & work ahead to make it happen; wishing her much luck & help with that big project.

The picture above shows the front door coming in to the shop, steps to the basement along the right wall, a nice room to the left full of fabrics & quilts, then up the steps to the rest of the quilt shop.

I certainly enjoyed my time with Melinda & her staff & hope to get back there again soon.


Then off to my friend Kay's in Chariton & shops in southeast Iowa.  Will show you more pictures soon.

Have a great day!

4 Days & 800 miles later . . .

Four days & more than 800 miles later - a great All-Iowa Quilt Shop Hop & I visited only 18 (I think; I lost count) shops.  I really wanted to visit those shops that were new to me, so I did just that plus a few I've done business with for years.  I always love to stop & see the old friends, of course!

Monie Perdue at Heartland Quilt Shop

The Algona shops south of here were my first stops.  I always enjoy stopping to see Pat at Heartland Quilt Shop & Karen at Seams To Me.   Monie was a good replacement for Pat that day, so I got a great picture of her smiling face.

Those cute baby quilts behind Karen caught my eye so I had to get that pattern; especially love the one with the butterflies since I have a new great-granddaughter - our first great-grand!


Karen Boyken at Seams To Me



Saw this neat quilt at Heartland

I spotted the Christmas banner
at Seams To Me & had to show
a picture of it.    It's so different
from any holiday banners I've
ever seen - love it!  See the cardinals!


Karen must really be in the holiday mood
early this year since she had these sweet
pumpkins displayed, too.



 I have to go for now - will put up some more shops as soon as I catch up on a few things.

Have a great day!

Don't miss Mary at The Wooden Thimble

Another great quilt shop in Estherville, Iowa is Mary's Wooden Thimble right on Central Avenue across from the high school - you can't miss it.  Her's is a full-service shop of fabric, patterns, threads, & tons of notions.  I even saw some of the new wire barn quilts for sale at Mary's; these add a great touch to the outside decor of a house.

Mary has lots of ideas for warm, fuzzy baby quilts.  This is the new Softee that is so cuddly.  She has kits for this quilt & look at the popcorn circles of different colors on the back - it's so sweet!

Mary must love purses, totes, & little bags because she has oodles of them displayed here.  Who wouldn't love one of these to carry all your stuff in - you know how stuff just grows & grows . . . and we have to have a place for it.  (There's one of those wire house blocks in the left lower corner.) 

There always something new hanging on the screen door at Mary's!             And a wall of brights for fun children's quilts & crafts!

And a selection of hues & tones of reproductions!       Don't miss Mary's Wooden Thimble on your way along the All-Iowa Quilt Shop Hop through Thursday - extended hours keep the shop owners open for your business!  Come up to the northwest corner of Iowa!

All-Iowa Quilt Shop Hop!

The All-Iowa Shop Hop is on!  Don't miss out!  You can hop from shop to shop across Iowa through next Thursday, the 14th.  Extended hours at all 90 participating shops make it easier for the travelers - Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays & Saturdays 9 am to 6 pm; Thursdays 9 am - 8 pm; and Sundays 11 am to 4 pm.

I'm planning to leave Monday morning & head south & east, but before I go that direction, I'll be visiting some of the great shops up here in the northwest corner of the state. 

Candy Fredericksen, owner at Homespun Quilt Shop in Estherville, IA

Candy at Homespun Quilt Shop  in Estherville serves most of my needs for the great reproduction & homespun look; she is always willing to give a helping hand picking & choosing fabrics & patterns.  She just recently added a wonderful selection of batiks.   

I'm especially partial to her because she carries all of my Civil War Battle Series & Generals Series patterns.  And she has made & sold many kits for those patterns.  Candy frequents most all of the large quilt shows & travels a far distance to bring my designs to the public. 
I appreciate you, Candy! 

Here are some quick digitals of her & her shop in Estherville - don't miss it on your shop hop travels!

Candy also BAKES !!               Everything is homemade!                    

           Even the kringla is out for the Shop Hop visitors!!

More Visitors at Market !!

Here's Roseann of Rosebud's Cottage in White Bear Lake, MN!  Always full of new ideas, crafting & quilting, we had a super visit in the market booth !  Roseann is hard to keep up with; she just goes & goes like the Energizer bunny !  I have trouble just keeping up with her posts on facebook !  

She has added a new spot to her quilt shop location!  Another trip added to the list for this summer ... anybody want to go with me ... I'm sure we'd find lots to see & buy ! 

Follow her blog at

htttp://rosebudscottage.typepad.com .

Thanks for stopping by, Roseann!

We always enjoy a visit from Michelle Joyner of  Fat Quarters Quilt Shop in Vista, CA.  Another location I have on my bucket list. 

At market Michelle is on the run day after day, so we are always tickled that she finds time to stop & see us.