Down the road to Muscatine ... next to the other river...

I had good weather for my road trip to Muscatine, IA on Thursday. Muscatine is on the eastern edge of the state, next to the Mississippi River. Since Newton is a little past half way, I decided it would be a good idea to stop there and walk around a little bit. Luckily, there just happens to be a nice quilt shop in Newton...Crazy Redhead Quilting. I didn't take any pictures inside, but there are bolts and bolts of colorful fabrics and a very nice selection of batiks. A few managed to come home with me. 

 Deb from the Melon Patcher's Quilt Guild had invited me to do a trunk show at their guild meeting and teach the Circle and Spin class the next day. So I met her and several other guild members at a local restaurant (that is conveniently next to a quilt shop!) for dinner before the meeting. They were interesting, lively and fun...I felt like I'd dropped in to my hometown by the time dinner was over. We then headed to the church where they meet.

They have many projects going on...there had been a comfort quilt sewing day before we got there. Plus lots to show and tell by the members. One member had made a special dog bed that was too large to bring, so she showed us the picture on her phone! Love it!

 Then it was my turn to talk. I have no pictures of that, but they were a great audience with lots of feedback on my designs, use of color and other quilty things. Many of them came up to me before and after the meeting to chat and two had stories to tell about my hometown, Earling, IA. One has a relative, Jenny, that lives near there who I know through her blog, Down to Sew. It really is a small world!

 The next day we met back at the church for the Circle and Spin class. I would love to have a huge place like this to teach all the time! Everyone was excited to begin and had their squares cut.

 I laid out the three quilts I had taken on tables so they could examine them closely if they wanted to.

 They all agreed that it was easier than they thought it would be and were soon filling up the wall with blocks!

 I eventually laid the quilts on the floor so that we could look at some of the designs you can make with these circular blocks. Since I had recently updated the pattern to include the Circle and Spin to the Moon with smaller circles mixed in, we talked about how they can be incorporated. Some of them were going to add the smaller blocks to their quilts.

Sheryl

Sherry

Deb

Joan

I had a great time with this group and can't wait to see their finished quilts! Send me pictures, ladies!