4/24/08

May 14th, 2008 Vol.20 No. 10


Trading Patches Quilt!
Doors will be open by 8:30!

May 2008- Group 3: Margaret McMullin, Jo Ann Johnson, Sherrill Kline, Kathy Coverdale,
Nancy Trager, Janice Pralle & Margaret Hanawalt will be hosting this month!
Workshop 9-noon!

The day has finally arrived! Laurie Schwarck will lead us on this fun adventure! After many months of trading squares and strips you get to create a work of art! Come prepared to put together ‘Trading Patches’. This pattern appeared in the McCall’s Quilting magazine issue August 2007. This scrappy quilt will enhance any décor and brighten up your room with its many colors! This will be the last chance of trading squares and strips. The color for May is oranges! Laurie will be providing extra squares and strips for anyone who needs them. The amounts given so far are more than enough to create the May project. This would be a great time to retrade some of your squares and strips for a true scrappy quilt!
Things you will need for class are:
Sewing machine, general sewing supplies, smiles and good cheer. Irons will be provided.

We will have potluck at noon! Due to some changes for potluck, remember that the hostesses will provide the desserts that will be served with coffee in the afternoon until 3pm. All other Members who wish to attend potluck can bring anything else they wish. We had a fabulous potluck last month! Please remember those with health issues when preparing your dish. Thank you all!

1PM-will consist of General Meeting, follow up of Quilt Show business, and the announcement of the 2008-2009 slate of Officers, Board and Chairs. Final approval by membership vote. Also the winner of the raffle quilt will be here to be presented with her new quilt! You don’t want to miss this!

Lottery block this month: April showers bring May Flowers! Bring a pretty fat quarter/s of
Blues to represent rain or fabric with rain drops on it! Each fat quarter gives you more chances to win!

Block of the month! Just in time for spring is the Butterfly block! It finishes out to a 9” size. Make this cute quilt to set out to enjoy all summer! Or make a pretty table runner to set under that wonderful bouquet of tulips! Pattern included in newsletter.

Next month Mandy M. will lead us in creating a Trupunto project!


2008 Quilt Show The Heritage Continues
April 12th & 13th, 2008 Sat 10-4PM & Sun Noon -4 Newman High School


I want to thank everyone who helped set up, take down, exhibit quilts and helped with the quilt show for 2008. Many things had to fall into place for a successful show. I especially would like to thank and express our appreciation for all the help provided by Linda and John Matson and Cheryl and Jim Nesbitt. Linda and Cheryl are members of the Lake Area Quilt Guild and shared their husbands with us to set up and take down the frames. Thankfully we also had the help of husbands and sons of our own members. No matter how liberated we women are, we need the muscles and will of men every once in a while.

The raffle quilt was won by Carol Post, Manly, Iowa, and she will be at the May 14th meeting so that we can present it to her. She is very excited about winning it.

Viewer's Choice of our beautiful quilts is as follows: 1ST PLACE: Jo Ann Johnson (Carpenter's Star); 2nd Place: Kelsey Jones (Bright Star of Hope); 3rd Place: Jo Best (I Have a Dream). Jo Ann's and Kelsey's quilts were quilted by Sandi Stark and as always, Jo's was hand quilted. They are all beautiful as was every quilt in the show. On the viewer's choice ballots, there were many comments regarding how beautiful the quilts were and what fun the viewers had selecting their choice.

I am not including the financials for the show as that is available in the Treasurer's report; however, I was very pleased to find out that our attendance was higher this year than 2006. I'm sure the publicity played a very big part in that.

I am asking that all the chair persons involved with the different committees write a short critique regarding this year's show and any suggestions to improve the 2010 show that you might have. I also would like any of the members that sat and had coffee during the show and discussed what improvements could be made express those to any of the chairpersons, myself or any officers of the guild so that when the time comes to plan the 2010 show, we will have everything ready to go. It's not that far in the future.

Thanks again for all the help. An event this size takes every member to make it a success.

Carlene

Thank You!
I wish to thank the North Iowa Quilters Guild for the opportunity to vend in the 2008 Quilt Show ‘The Heritage Continues’. I feel blessed to have met many wonderful people at our show. I received many positive comments and feel encouraged to continue to make patterns and little quilts. As you all know, Quilting is my passion!
I wanted to announce the winner of the Black Bear Valley Kit door prize! With 171 hopefuls, the winner is: Elna Severtson from Oakland, Minnesota! Congratulations Elna!
Thank you to everyone who visited my booth and for your generous support as I appreciate it more than words can say.

Always quilting something---Jenny and Mom- Norma Jean

Thank You!
I wish to thank everyone for all your donations to the Door Prize Booth! Quilt show attendees had a great time and were happy with their gifts! You are very much appreciated!
I would also like to thank everyone for your support and cards following my knee surgery.
(Dixie is getting along very nicely! We continue to support you!) Thank you! Dixie Schaer

To NIQG!
Thank you so much for the pretty comfort quilt. It really is a comfort and I surely do appreciate it. It was quite unexpected since I wasn’t in the hospital or had an accident, etc. however- I really enjoyed the chicken pox at age 3, but I’m not enjoying the 3 month siege of ‘shingles’ with no end to the pain in sight. They have severely hampered my sewing efforts. I hope I can get a few quilt to show. Thank you all! Sincerely Mary Alexander

BOARD MEETING AT 10AM AT THE SENIOR CENTER ON APRIL 29TH, 2008!
PLEASE PLAN TO ATTEND.
Board meetings open to any member of NIQG.


It’s Spring Planting Time
Plant 5 rows of peas: peace, preparedness, promptness, perseverance, politeness, prayer.
Next, plant 3 rows of squash: squash gossip, squash criticism, squash indifference.
Then plant 5 rows of lettuce: let us be faithful, let us be loyal, let us be unselfish,
let us love one another, let us be truthful.
No garden is complete without turnips: turn up of church, turn up with a smile,
turn up with new ideas, turn up with real determination.
…Author unknown…


Bits and Pieces of news!


We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Jeanne Moorehead on the passing of her sister. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

We wish to extend our deepest sympathies to Minerva Wagner on the passing of her daughter. Thoughts and prayers to you and your family.

We wish to extend our deepest sympathy to Jan Martin on the passing of her mother, Hildred Lammers.

Minerva Wagner won the fabric bundle for selling the most raffle tickets! Hurray for you!

North Iowa Fair is July 23-27th! Set up will be Tuesday July 22. Booth is air conditioned! Yea!

Iowa Quilters Guild Quilt Show at Perry Elementary School-1600 8th St in Perry, Iowa on July 18-19. Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5.
Hen and Chicks-Heidi Kaisand retreat-3 days and 2 nights in charming St. Ansgar, Iowa. ‘Triple Treat Retreat where friends, fabric and food will be the highlight for just $185, you can lots of sewing done while Heidi takes care of all the rest! July 25-27, 2008. www.heidikaisand.com for more info.

A bus trip is planned by the Cedar Valley Quilters for June 27th to go to the Minnesota Quilt Show. See Nancy Malmin for info. It is will be held at the Rochester Civic Center.

AQS quilt show bus trip planned for Oct 11, 2008 by Clear Lake guild. See Carlene for info.

32 Habitat for Humanity quilts have been donated by NIQG in the North Iowa area.

Show and Tell-
Carlene D. and Barb D. modeled their vests made from March’s workshop. Betty N displayed 2 comfort quilts. Marlene O. shared her large Snow Man quilt!

Quilting on Cameo
Machine quilting
by Mindy Prohaski
1531 Cameo Rd
Nora Springs IA 50458
641-749-2743
quiltingoncameo@yahoo.com
I have many years of experience! I will pick up and deliver your quilt if you
need me to.

Workshop/Program Groups are now effective. Please all work together to bring educational and fun projects for us to learn!


Upcoming workshops:
June 11th, 2008- will be Trupunto by Mandy Mierotto.
August 13th, 2008-annual picnic (place to be determined)
Sept 10th, 2008- Denise Sprain
Oct 8th, 2008- Kris Kerigan
Nov 12th, 2008- Kelsey Jones-Attic windows with a twist
Dec 10th, 2008-Christmas celebration
Jan 14th, 2009-Charity Day


Voting Slate

This is the slate of officers we will be voting on by Kelsey Jones:
Officers:
President Carlene Davis
Vice-President Jenny Schlutz
Secretary- Lenore Forbes
Treasurer- Ruth Calland
Board- Norma Jean Miller
Board- Marlene Oswood
Committees: Membership- Marlene Oswood
Newsletter- Jenny Schlutz
Patterns- Laurie Schwarck and Jenny Schlutz
Librarian- Mandy Meierotto
Sunshine- Cathy Knowles
Habitat for Humanity- Ruth Calland & Kelsey Jones
Linus/Crisis- Mary Ann Johnson & Marian Hoit
Comfort Quilts- Carlene Davis
North Iowa Fair- Dixie Schaer
ABC Quilts- Jo Best
Web Publishing Kelsey Jones
Program Coordinator- Cathy Knowles
Historian ???? Possibly Combining with web

A Note From your President

It has been great being your president this year and I am almost sorry to see it come to a close. The officers, board member and committee chairs have been great to work with.
As many of you know we almost lost our Vice-President, Cathy Knowles, to kidney failure twice and this facilitated my early return from Wisconsin. Under doctor’s advice she has resigned as Vice-President and Carlene Davis has offered to take her place. We will be voting for our officers, board members, and chair positions in May. If you would like to help by volunteering for a position please speak up.
Because it has become harder and harder to get volunteers for position (not just the officers) we will be talking about possibly condensing some chairs into one. This, of course, will go to the board first, and then come to the floor for a vote.
If you have internet access, check out the new stuff going up on the web site. I am asking every group to submit a paragraph on what they have planned for their month and a web site or photos to add. These are going on to our workshops page. There will also be more patterns on the web site and our scrapbooks are going digital as well. It is our hope that this will promote greater membership numbers.
As always everyone is invited to the board meeting held the last Tuesday of the month. We share many ideas and have fun along the way.
Quilting a rainbow, Kelsey

Minutes for NIQG April 9, 2008
North Iowa Quilters' met @ Covenant Church. The morning was spent completing projects and registering entries for upcoming quilt show.
President, Kelsey J. opened business meeting @ 12:45 pm. A get-well card for Cathy Knowles was circulated. Kelsey reviewed officers for next year. Cathy K. resigned her V.P. office due to ill health. Carlene Davis volunteered to fill position for president for next year. LeNore F. vol. for secretary. Norma Jean M. and Marlene O. vol. to serve on the board.
Filled positions for following include: Membership - Marlene O., Newsletter - Jenny S., Patterns - Laurie S and Jenny S., Librarian - Mandy M., Sunshine - Cathy K. ,Habitat - Ruth Calland, Linus/Crisis I.- Mary Ann J and Marian H., Comfort Quilts - Carlene D., N.I. Fair - Dixie S., ABC -Jo Best, Publishing - Kelsey. Still needed; treasurer, vice president, program coord. and historian.
Final details about quilt show were reviewed. Membership in "East Iowa Quilt Network" was discussed. Joan C. made motion to discontinue, seconded by LeNore F. motion carried.
LAQ guild is sponsoring a bus trip to AQS show in Des Moines in Oct. More details available later. Also a bus trip to the MN. show in June is being offered by Cedar Valley Quilters. Nancy M. will give details at May meeting.
A discussion was held about a program by Kris Kerrigan. Carlene D. made motion to accept, second by LeNore F. motion carried. A thank you letter was shared from Habitat for the most recent quilt donation to family.
A change in potluck/lunch routine was implemented today. It was decided to have the hostess group for that month, bring desserts and the rest of the members bring main dishes, salads, etc. The desserts will be served mid-afternoon.
Minerva Wagner received the fabric packet award for selling the most raffle tickets! After show and tell, the Chinese auction winners were: Ruth Ward, Marilyn M. Kelsey J.(x2),Jean Payne, Norma Jean Miller, Betty Neel, Jan Martin, and Margie Brandl. Door prizes were won by Mary Ann J. Jo Best, and Jan Martin.
Jo Best, sec.

June 2008 Workshop supplies for Trupunto block!
-15 x 15 muslin or light colored solid cotton, sateen, or batiste
-Backing fabric (muslin will work) 15 x 15
-Cotton Batting 16 x 16
-Water- soluble basting thread
-Thread - cotton or machine embroidery thread
-walking foot
-darning foot
-small safety pins
-fabric marker---water erasable---may want to test before class day
-small sharp scissors- blunt or round tipped
-seam ripper
-sewing machine
-Trupunto batting---high loft poly batting-- 2 layers of an 8 oz batting works well or cotton batting.
-Gloves for machine quilting- if you have them.

If you have any questions please call
Mandy at 4723-0440!

History of Aprons
I don't think our kids know what an apron is.

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.
It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.
From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.
When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees. When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds. When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that "old-time apron" that served so many purposes REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool Her granddaughters set theirs on the window sill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an Apron.

-----Author unknown------


May is the month of celebrating our Mothers and remembering our loved ones!
In Memoriam of our dear quilting friends who have passed on, we remember them always! May they always have a quilting project in the works!

Doris Kluss
Leota Jaspers
Iva Hannah
Helen Fistler
Pearl McWhorter
Bobbie Meggars
Virginia Brennan
Ann Truitt
Anna Bakacek
Rae Embretson
Janice Stanton
Grace Anderson
Gay Schneider
Anne McIntire
Margaret Hall
Velda Marth
Marie Wahlers
Alice Lenze
Jeroldine Stricker


Excellence can be attained if you:
Care more than others think is wise.
Risk more than others think is safe.
Dream more than others think is practical.
Expect more than others think is possible!


Better late than never!
All I need to know I learned from the Easter Bunny.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Walk softly and carry a big carrot.
Everyone needs a friend who is all ears.
There’s no such thing as too much candy.
All work and no play can make you a basket case.
A cute little tail attracts a lot of attention.
Everyone is entitled to a bad hare day.
Let happy thoughts multiply like rabbits.
Some body parts should be floppy.
Keep your paws off others people’s jelly beans.
Good thing come in small sugar-coated packages.
The grass is always greener I someone else’ basket.
An Easter bonnet can tame even the wildest hare.
To show your true colors you have to come out of your shell!

4/9/08

April 9, 2008

Doors will be open by 8:30!
The morning will be open to anyone who needs help, to finish quilts for the show. These can be personal quilts or charity quilts. April 2008-Group 2: Marlene Oswood, Mandy Meierotto, Jeanne Moorehead, Ruth Ward, Millie Shroeder, Marilyn Harrington, Vivien Bugbee & Betty Neel, will be there to assist you. Any other members, who wish to help, please come and bring your time, talents and good cheer to share. It may be a good idea to bring pliers, yarn, scissors and a large needle for tying charity quilts if necessary. We will have potluck at noon!

The afternoon will consist of general meeting and tying up loose ends for the show that will be set up 2 days later. Please plan to attend so that we can have another successful quilt show! Thanks all!

2008 Quilt Show The Heritage Continues
April 12th & 13th, 2008 Sat 10-4PM & Sun Noon -4
Newman High School $3 admissions
Friday April 11th at 4PM will be set up time.

There is room for 84 large quilts in the main show room! We will use the top railings again for ABC quilts and will use the Linus quilts to fill in where needed. If you have any ABC or Linus quilts in the makings, please get them finished for the show. Some Habitat quilts will also be displayed. Clothing and small quilts will be hung in the Boutique Room. A-frames will be available for the small quilts.

We need your antique quilts for the bed turning. Make sure you have them registered and with a short story for each one. A photo will be taken with your permission, of each antique quilt. A booklet will be made containing these quilts. Please bring your antique quilt to the Wednesday meeting along with your story or description if possible! This helps Kelsey out very much!

REGISTRATION! It is very important that you know that April 9th is the last day to register your quilt/s. No other quilts will be allowed into show after this day. We need to respect Mandy’s hard effort to type out all of the cards for show quilts. At set up, quilts need to arrive between 4pm-6pm, PLEASE!

We need accessories to put at the feet of all the quilt hangers. Please register your items by meeting and bring your goodies to set up on Friday.

Door Prizes! Yes! It’s not too late! If you have any door prizes please bring these to Dixie by Wednesday meeting. She needs time to sort and get the prizes ready. If you have fat quarters, pencils or any sewing related items, these are welcome. More

Boutique! If you are planning on selling any SEWING related item/s in the Boutique you are welcome to do so. You need to get a registration sheet from Phyllis Wright or Mary Ann Johnson for your items. All items need to have a string tag with your name, item number and price. (For example: #1 pillow $10 Jenny). Please keep your prices closest to the dollar or quarter. If you need string tags some are available.
If you have quilt magazines, bundle these with one price. If you have quilt books you may put sticky price labels on the fronts with the same info as string tags. However if you can tape a string tag to them it would be easier for the Boutique Ladies to deal with because all sold item tags will be included with your sales money and item sheet.
If you have several small items, box or bag these up and price them as one item. 10% of your sales will be donated to the NIQG. You will be responsible to pay 7% taxes to the state of Iowa. A tax number will be provided for you along with a form to send in. Do not forget to send this in whether you sell anything or not. Items donated to the Boutique for sale will be accepted. Any presales need to be discussed with Phyllis and Mary Ann!
If by Sunday you have items still not sold you may tell Phyllis and Mary Ann to lower the prices if you do not want to take that item back home. If you do have items left, these need to be picked up immediately at the end of show! If you do not pick up your items, they will be donated to the NIQG and be given as door prizes to members.

Everyone is expected to purchase 12 tickets at the cost of $10. You may keep these for yourself or sell them and ask for more! If you have not picked up your tickets yet, do so now! The ticket money funds the guild for 2 YEARS! Please do your part! Sell tickets!

LOOKING FOR MEN!
Age doesn’t matter!
Yes we need men to help set up poles. Ladders needed too!

Don’t forget to sign up for areas that need manning!

Quilt Show Chair-Carlene Davis (641-423-0408)
Registering quilts-Mandy Meierotto
Boutique-Phyllis Wright, Pat Klinger and Mary Ann Johnson
Publicity-Cathy Knowles, Florence Hagstrom and LeNore Forbes
Door Prizes-Dixie Schaer
Raffle Tickets-Kelsey Jones
Admissions-
…Sat. 10-2..Dorothy Birch & Marge Bahnsen
…Sat. 2-4.Kaye Klukow & Betty Werle
…Sun. 12-2 Pat Klinger & Minerva Wagner
…Sun. 2-4 Jeanne Moorehead & Florence Hagstrom
Vendors-Jeanne Moorehead & Ruth Ward
Hostesses-Marlene Oswood, Ruth Ward, Jean Payne, Phyllis Wright & Darlene Alexander
Antiques/accessories-Mary Boyd & Betty Werle
Antique quilt bed turning-Ruth Ward, Millie Shroeder & Marlene Oswood
Set up and take down….everyone!

Tear down will be at 4PM Sunday afternoon! Everyone is expected to help! Please be there!
All quilts need to be picked up at 4pm on Sunday afternoon! NIQG will not be responsible for lost items!
Ok Girls! Get those fingers in motion and the machines purring!
Laurie Schwarck Pattern Chair Lady

Trading Squares 2007-2008
April-purple/burgundies & May- orange…also in May...we will make the quilt.

Lost! At the last meeting Dorothy Birch was accidently shorted 50 squares and strips. If you found that you have too many then please bring them to Dorothy or Laurie.

Laurie will be providing extra squares and strips for anyone who needs them. The amounts given so far are more than enough to create the May project with. A final trade will be in May. This would be a great time to retrade some of your squares and strips for a true scrappy quilt if you so choose to do so!

Lottery this month will be Flowery Fat Quarters! Each fat quarter gives you more chances to win!

Block of the month! This month’s block is called Centennial! Making this fast paced block in blue/peach stripe, blue solid, floral print and a white background will make a lovely summer quilt!

Same Swap Switch blocks were traded successfully! Well, not quite successful, as we thought! Lost! Margaret McMullin’s blocks were picked up for her and accidently migrated to someone’s stash! If you have her blocks please bring them to her or Laurie! We do tend to be forgetful when we are having a good time! Thank you!

Quilting on Cameo
Machine quilting
by Mindy Prohaski
1531 Cameo Rd
Nora Springs IA 50458
641-749-2743
quiltingoncameo@yahoo.com
I have many years of experience! I will pick up and deliver your quilt if you
need me to.



Noon Potluck
Potluck worked out great with members entering the south door (hallway) to get your goodies and exit the west door (main room) to find a place to eat and visit.
Thank you Girls for your cooperation and good food!
With a general meeting held at 1PM anyone may enjoy the desserts and coffee until 3PM. Thank you to all who help to make things easier!


Workshop/Program Groups are now effective. Please all work together to bring educational and fun projects for us to learn!
Upcoming workshops:
May 14th, 2008-Laurie will be leading us in the construction of the Trading Squares Quilt.
June 11th, 2008- will be Trupunto by Mandy Mierotto. Elections of Officers and Boards and Chair replacements.

Upcoming elections and confirmation of new leaders will take place in June! Jeanne Moorehead is helping Cathy Knowles with filling all chairs for the year 2008-2009! Please say yes when you are asked to serve! Remember, no one serves alone! We need you to keep our guild fun and educational!

Secretary Minutes for March 12, 2008
Morning workshop on making a "Window Pane vest" by Nancy Malmin.
Cathy Knowles, V.P. opened the afternoon meeting.
Carlene Davis talked about the quilt show; reviewed forms available, boutique, prioritizing quilts to enter, if more than one. Set-up will begin at 4 pm on Fri. April 11. Slumberland will supply a bed frame to be used for "bed - turning " at the show. There will be a Linus and ABC quilt display along the balcony railing. Door prizes will be given to the public attendees - if any are leftover, they will be given to members at the next guild meeting. Drawing for the raffle quilt will be on Sunday afternoon. Members are encouraged to take bookmarks and posters today to publicize in their communities.
A committee was formed to begin work on the 2010 raffle quilt design. Margaret McMullin and Betty Neel volunteered for that, if anyone else is interested, please contact one of them.
The nominating comm. - Cathy K. and Jeannie Moorhead - are taking volunteers for next years' officers and board members. Norma Jean M. and Marlene O. have vol. so far.
Dixie reminded everyone of the North Iowa Fair in July - the building is now A.C.! The guild will be giving prizes for judged quilts as last year for fair entries..
Ruth Calland brought fabric kits to take home and make caps for cancer patients. Bring completed ones to April meeting.
The "Chinese Auction" winners were: Nancy M. Marilyn M., Mary Ann Johnson, Minerva Wagner (2), and Jean Payne.
Marilyn Meinecke gave two prizes to Marge Bahnsen and Darlene Alexander.
Laurie S. talked about the fabric trading squares and showed samples. The meeting concluded with "Show and Tell" followed by social time.
Jo Best, sec.

Board Meeting March 25th
Officers for 2008-2009 have been found with the exception of Vice-President. Still need confirmation of chairpersons.
Carlene made a motion to accept memberships at half-rate until fall. The motion was seconded by Ruth. Motion carried without opposition.
Quilt Show Chair, Carlene Davis, reported that everything is in place. We still need a few more volunteers for different jobs, especially quilt registration and check out. Also for bed turning. The school will be open at 9 am both Saturday and Sunday for last minute works before public arrives. We will need hammers and step ladders. Tax id for those selling in boutique will be shared. Each vendor must have their own along with Social Security number.
Quilts must be dropped off between 4 & 6 pm on Friday. No quilts to be accepted after 6 pm. Quilts must be picked between 4-6pm on Sunday. We will not be responsible for quilts after 6 pm. If you cannot be there to pick up you must send someone to pick up your quilt. Otherwise they will be left in the locked school until Monday morning for you to pick up from the school.
Reminder about bus for October AQS show.
Laura Boenke Sale April 25 & 26, Memorial Building, Garner. $2.00 a yard or fat quarters for $.50 each.
East Iowa Quilt Network (we have been members apparently for many years) is now charging $5.00 a year for membership. This will be put before membership for vote. Next meeting in Kalona, April 5, 2008.
Also in Kalona on April 5th, is Illinois-Iowa Quilt Study Group meeting. The study theme is “Appliqué Through the Centuries.”
Also received: informational flyer for barn Quilts of Washington County. See web site: http://www.barnquiltsiowa.com/ for more information.

Respectfully submitted, Kelsey Jones


“Quilt of Holes” sent to me by Carlene Davis
As I faced my Maker at the last judgment, I knelt before the Lord along with all the other souls.
Before each of us laid our lives like the squares of a quilt in many piles; an angel sat before each of us sewing our quilt squares together
into a tapestry that is our life.
But as my angel took each piece of cloth off the pile, I noticed how ragged and empty each of my squares was. They were filled with giant
holes. Each square was labeled with a part of my life that had been difficult, the challenges and temptations I was faced with in every day
life. I saw hardships that I endured, which were the largest holes of all.
I glanced around me. Nobody else had such squares. Other than a tiny hole here and there, the other tapestries were filled with rich color
and the bright hues of worldly fortune. I gazed upon my own life and was disheartened.
My angel was sewing the ragged pieces of cloth together, threadbare and empty, like binding air.
Finally the time came when each life was to be displayed, held up to the light, the scrutiny of truth. The others rose; each in turn, holding up their tapestries. So filled their lives had been. My angel looked upon me, and nodded for me to rise.
My gaze dropped to the ground in shame. I hadn't had all the earthly fortunes. I had love in my life, and laughter. But there had also been
trials of illness, and wealth, and false accusations that took from me my world, as I knew it. I had to start over many times. I often
struggled with the temptation to quit, only to somehow muster the strength to pick up and begin again. I spent many nights on my knees in prayer, asking for help and guidance in my life. I had often been held up to ridicule, which I endured painfully, each time offering it up to
the Father in hopes that I would not melt within my skin beneath the judgmental gaze of those who unfairly judged me. And now, I had to face the truth. My life was what it was, and I had to accept it for what it was.
I rose and slowly lifted the combined squares of my life to the light.
An awe-filled gasp filled the air. I gazed around at the others who stared at me with wide eyes.
Then, I looked upon the tapestry before me. Light flooded the many holes, creating an image, the face of Christ. Then our Lord stood before me, with warmth and love in His eyes. He said, "Every time you gave over your life to Me, it became My life, My hardships, and My struggles.
Each point of light in your life is when you stepped aside and let Me shine through, until there was more of May all our quilts be threadbare and worn, allowing Christ to shine through!

Bits and Pieces of news!
A Habitat quilt was presented to Heidi Bonebrake and family on March 16th, 2008. Thank you Mary Ruth for representing us on her special day!

Mary Alexander wishes to thank everyone for her comfort quilt. She is improving from a bout with shingles.

North Iowa Fair is July 23-27th! Set up will be Tuesday July 22. Booth is air conditioned! Yea!

Chinese Auction has netted a total of $583.35 since its inception 1 ½ years ago! Thank to all you generous girls for your donations! How cool is that!

New members are Sandy Stark-641-423-7947 and Patricia Calland. Let’s make them feel welcome!

Arla Loeffler address changed to IOOF 1037 19th St S W in Mason City.

Cedar Valley Quilters now meet at Trinity Lutheran Church -402 State St in Osage on the last Monday of the month.

Keeping Warm in South Dakota quilt show- April 19th -9-5pm and 20th 10-4pm. Located at Swiftel Center Hwy 14 east in Brookings, SD.

Kalona Quilt Show and Sale 2008. Thurs April 24 5pm-8pm, 25th- 9-7pm and 26th -9-5pm. Located at the corner of 6th & D ave in the Kalona Comm Center

Iowa Quilters Guild Quilt Show at Perry Elementary School-1600 8th St in Perry, Iowa on July 18-19. Friday 9-6 and Saturday 9-5.

Hen and Chicks-Heidi Kaisand retreat-3 days and 2 nights in charming St. Ansgar, Iowa. ‘Triple Treat Retreat where friends, fabric and food will be the highlight for just $185, you can lots of sewing done while Heidi takes care of all the rest! July 25-27, 2008. www.heidikaisand.com for more info.

Show and tell-Marilyn M –Round Robin row by row, rabbit angel and pouch rabbit, Marlene O-Red-work quilt, Jan M- Star, Jeannie Wayman- Linus Quilt, Laurie S-Rose quilt, Phyllis W- Table Mat and Betty N- T-Shirt quilt in Disney theme.