It was a pretty nice day even if it was a little cool. I took some time to take photos of all my hosta beds. I want to divide and move a lot of them in the Spring and this will help me remember size, etc. I just started this bed for miniatures this year. As you can see some aren't exactly as miniature as I thought.

Tomorrow we will finish cutting kits for Pumpkin Gathering and mail them out. I've also been working on a fun project for all of us o make on the that Friday evening. We still have some spaces left if you'd like to join us.

I recently finished the next two blocks for our Abraham Lincoln Commemorative quilt. Only two months left after this one.

I've been helping some friends set up an auction of their aunt's estate today. It's been fun going through all the antiques -really interesting. Here's a link if you'd like to see the sale bill. Link I've always loved antiques and this sale has some nice onens.

Shar has completed this contemporary sample. It would make a great college dorm quilt.

Pam just completed this latest version of our Star Shadow and of course we made kits.
I spent most of the day putting up samples and moving them around. We are lucky to have high ceilings in both our rooms so we have good display space, but it takes a big ladder and I'm getting kind of old to be lugging it around and crawling up on it. Of course we love having nice displays so I'll probably keep doing it til I can't.

Just thought I'd show you the Pumpkin Gathering Retreat quilt again now that it's quilted. We're calling it September Morn. It should be a fun quilt to make. Sign ups are starting to come in. Cllick here for a link to a printable registration form.

Had lots of quilters visit us yesterday for Fat Quarter Frenzy. There a re still some left so we will have them available for a few more days.

I just finished next month's doll quilt. After that, there will be one more in October and then we will be done with this series. We plan to start a new series of 12 doll quilts in November or December. Once again they will all be designed by us, they will use pre 1900 reproduction fabrics, they will include backing and they will be $24.95 (plus tax and shipping) per month for a twelve month commitment. Our membership will be limited again so sign up as soon as you have decided you want ot participate.

Here is another really good cheater - wouldn't it make a really good dorm quilt? We put flannel on the back.

I worked on the Lincoln blocks today - also the next block for the TV show.

It was also our anniversary so we went to dinner. Our August wedding was on a hot night and right after the service it stormed like crazy. What a change. It was almost cold this evening.

Tomorrow I will do the final set up for our Fat Quarter Frenzy. Don't forget, it starts at 10 am Saturday in our Retreat Center.

We're have gotten in lots of nice Fall fabrics and we're busy putting up samples. Now's a good time to get the best selection.

I just posted a printable registration form for this year's Pumpkin Gathering Retreat on our website. Click here for a link.

New fabric line announcement

For the past three or four months I've been sort of keeping a secret. I had been asked to design a line of pre-1900 reproduction fabric. So for several months I worked on the designs. Finally, today I got to see the art work. We spent some time making color changes, but all in all I was really pleased and I'm excited to see the final product on cloth.
The company printing my fabric is Fabri-quilt in Kansas City. They will introduce it at International Quilt Market in Houston in October. We'll have the actual fabric in January.

I will of course be making a quilt from the fabric that we can kit. I'm also thinking about using it in next year's block of the month. If you come to the shop I'll show you some of the preliminary photos. As soon as I get color corrected photos I'll show some here.

Please excuse my pride. I have wanted to try designing fabric for years and I'm just thrilled to finally get a chance.

We recently received these great pheasant/farm prints. I put together a plan to use them and Mardell is working on a sample. Your favorite hunter would love these.

Only a few more days until our Annual Fat Quarter Frenzy!

Here are two of my sister's new embroidery samples. I think many people who like to embroider don't want to do an awful lot of piecing to finish them, so I ususally add a simple frame of fabric, put it rights sides together with a backing, stitch and turn. I don't even put in a backing.

We were very busy at the shop today but still managed to cut a few more fat quarters. Remember, our annual Fat Quarter Frenzy is next Saturday, August 22 in our Reteat Center. We'll get started at 10 am. There will be hundreds of fat quarters. If you choose at least 20 you can have them for $1 each!

Pumpkin Gathering Workshop Quilt

This afternoon I finihed putting the borders on the sample for our Pumpkin Gathering workshop. I haven't named it yet. In a few days I will email everyone on the list with further details about the weekend.

toweling runner

Here's one of the new samples I got from my sister. Mom did the embroidery for her. She put it on Moda toweling which is about 15" wide with finished edges. All you need to do is cut the length you want and hem the ends. It also comes in cream with tan and cream with blue. I think there are a lot of good uses for it.

We put up several new samples today and received lots of fabric especially some nice Fall ones. The flannel car fabrics I ordered the other day came in, too.

save the date Pumpkin Gathering

This is just a "save the date" for this year's Pumpkin Gathering Retreat. I am putting the finishing touches on the workshop sample and will post a photo soon.

We will not be visiting gardens as in past years. Festivities will start at 6 pm Friday evening, After dinner we'll have show 'n tell and other activities. Later there will be a head start on Saturday's workshop.

As in years past you can come on Friday morning if you like and sew in the center.

Motel rooms have been blocked at the Americinn (712-764-4000).

You can call the shop (712-764-7012) to reserve your place in the retreat but we will just have to keep your credit card on file as final price has not been determined.

Karen just finished this flannel throw. The animal images are surprisingly detailed. Her sister is a photographer in Yellowstone and this will be a gift for her.

Just received an email from one of our suppliers. They had these seven GM car prints - on flannel! I ordered them all. Hopefully we'll have them withing a week. There are Camaros, Corvettes, Pontiacs and older GM classics. They could make some great throws for Christmas.

Karen just finished this sample called Checkerboard Cake. She used a layer cake (10" squares) from Glace' by Three Sisters for Moda. It's supposed to be a Christmas line, but really doesn't have to be.

Nadine, Karen and I cut lots more fat quarters today whenever we had a chance. It's only two weeks til our Fat Quater Frenzy.

Sue brought in her new top so she could choose backing. this has to be the pretiest cardinal fabric I've ever seen. I showed you another quilt made with it about a month ago.

Remember, a couple of months ago I told you about the French General's Rouenneries collection we had purchased from Moda? Yesterday many of the gift items (sewing kits, pin cushions, tape measures etc.) arrived. These are some really cool items which will make great gifts for quilters and non quilters. I have a feeling they weill be gone before the fabric arrives in October.

I spent the day in Des Moines at my Mom's house. My sister (who designs a lot of our wool felt and embroidery projects) is visiting from Louisiana. She brought new samples which I'll be showing you in the next few days. My Mom does a lot of the embroidery samples for her so she's been really busy, too. The three of us don't get together that often and when we do we have lots of ideas to toss around.

Carol just finished this little quilt we will call Dino Party. It's only a panel with two borders but it packs a lot of punch and it's flannel! Kids will love it and you can piece it in a couple of hours.

If you think Carol is getting a lot of samples done you are right. She's really been on a roll this Summer. I think most quilter's go in streaks - periods of productivity followed by a certain inactivity. It's a great feeling when you're inspired.

Carol just finished this really cute kids quilt. It uses fabric called Alpha Buddies. A different animal represents each letter. It would make a great teching tool.

Today we filmed the first program in our series of shows for local access TV. It will air in a week or so. If you don't get your cable from METC (and of course most of you don't) we hope to be able to allow othes to view it, possibly on You Tube.

Last night we went to Des Moines for my niece's wedding reception. Ali and Mike were married in Mexico in May. The Reception was held on the roof of the State Historical Building on a perfect evening with the sun reflecting off the state capital.

It was fun seeing family and friends.