Big Day at The Quilted Steeple is Just around the Corner!

Today's a great day since I'm working on teaching materials for an upcoming quilting class! It's much too cold to be outside if you don't have to. . . right??  And to add to my day, hubby just installed a new light right above my cutting area - actually it was just a new bulb - but it made such a difference - I can see again!

We always begin with piles of triangles - small & large!


What do you think I'm making?

Which setting do you prefer?

Yet to add borders, but that will happen at the class next Saturday.  Then we'll learn about mitering the borders & scalloping the outer border.  Come join us at the Quilted Steeple next Saturday morning; then stay for the Civil War program in the afternoon.  Actually anyone can join us for the afternoon program at 2:00; just call 515-570-9625 or email info@quiltedsteeple.

Hope to see you there!

LIFE IS GOOD!

The Quilted Steeple Open House

This is just the neatest new retreat center in northwest Iowa.  The Quilted Steeple is, of course, a church with a parsonage next door to house lots of quilters & scrap bookers coming for days of sewing, quilting, or scrapbooking.  Just look at this beautiful place in the quiet Iowa countryside.  Wish you could go?  Well, you can!

This Saturday, the 27th is their Open House.  You can read all about it on their website.    Hope to see you there!

Lakes Area Quilt Guild, Clear Lake - such a lovely group!

It's been a perfect time to get out & visit some of the guilds, now before winter sets in & makes it difficult to travel.  So here are some pictures of our evening with the quilt guild in Clear Lake, Iowa.

 We always begin the battles presentation with Ft. Sumter & continue through Atlanta, so when it works out, we lay the quilts on a table in that order.

Here you can see parts of all 12 of the battle quilts.  Too bad we can't always use the walls to display, but we make do with what we have.

 Here we are admiring one of the wonderful pictorials on the back of a quilt -

by Windham Fabrics, if my memory serves me correctly. 

And the quilt hanging is the large size Chattanooga in blue & browns.

Next to me are samples of Windham Sampler in brown & blue, Union Sampler in red & black, & you can see a small part of the red & white Hide & Seek Stars!

And last, but not least, I couldn't leave without showing the gals the new Little Dresdens!

 

Many thanks to the Clear Lake Guild for having us &

to Marian Lenz for helping with the display & April Sherwood for sharing her pictures.

My new socks!

My new socks!

I'm so excited about getting back to knitting!  And this is the first pair of socks I have ever knit - aren't they sweet!  My grandmother taught me very young to knit by sitting behind me & holding her hands over the top of mine while I held the knitting needles - it worked!  So I have used that method with my own granddaughters, too.

Knitting socks is a new challenge for me; they are definitely more difficult to knit than a scarf or a dishcloth.  So I am very proud of my first pair - can you tell?? !!  I love the high tops & how they fold & scrunch down.

The yarn is ONline Supersocke 100, color Saturn - cotton, virgin wool, & polyester.  The wool makes them soft & warm, with no itchiness! 

Yarn shop at Erica's, South Bend, IN

Driving on I-90 heading to Pittsburgh market back in May, we found ourselves just north of Erica's  in South Bend, Indiana, so, of course, we had to detour for shopping.  Their yarn department equaled their fabric & wool departments; it was wonderful !

Have a great Monday, Everyone!