Here's another of my unfinished projects, well actually someone else's. I bought this from a gal named Janet Caldwell? at Des Moines that has lots of neat vintage sewing stuff at the Brass Armadillo. I need to get it hand quilted and on one of the beds. Kind of an unusual setting for a nine-patch. Thanks Janet! I also got a few feed sack scraps from her that I used in the quilt I just made and showed in a post a couple weeks ago.
Two weekends ago I went on a fun quilting adventure! I started out on Friday afternoon and went to the annual Walnut, Ia. Antique Walk. It is every Father's day weekend. There were antiques galore and lots of fun things to see. I was mainly looking for feed sacks and picked up a couple to put in the new baby grandson's quilt. This little cupboard was so cute, I had to take a picture of it. It was made out of 6 or 7 wooden boxes, cute, cute!
After leaving Walnut,(the boothes were closing so I had to leave), I headed to Guthrie Center. They were having all kinds of fun things going on, town-wide garage sales and a garden and quilt show/ luncheon. The picture above was a neat antique double wedding ring that was displayed at the luncheon. The salads were so good! Thanks ladies, you did a great job.
We went to 5 different houses for the tour. they were all very beautiful, but just about the time the tour was to start, it also started to rain, and just didn't seem to want to stop. Oh, well, it was still beautiful!
This was a unique display with the old tractors and quilts.
A cute little garden shed with quilts hung beside it.
After finishing the quilt tour I headed east to Adel. They were having an outdoor quilt show also at the quilt shop. Here the owner Jackie is visiting with a customer. It was a fun show too! I felt like I had been around the world in a day and a half!
I mentioned in an earlier post that I would tell you how to save peonies for later use. The peonies above and below were picked about 3 weeks before I used them and I had just got them out of the fridge. It's really not hard, they just take up a lot of room in the fridge. The trick is to pick them when the bud feels like a marsh mellow when you squeeze it. I pick them with about a foot stem and put a whole bunch in a plastic bag in the fridge. When you want to use them, take them out of the fridge and re cut the stem and put in water. They will open up to their full bloom in about 4-12 hours. SO PRETTY and FUN! They will last about 5-7 days, inside.
I just finished up a couple new quilt patterns for sale. This one is called Mae flowers after my mother-in-law, Glenna Mae Weed, and a few other Mae loved ones. Just in time for May day!
I love to use antiques to decorate with and this is one of my favorite spring-looking quilts that I have in my living room right now. I can't remember the name of the block right now, does anyone else know? 
Check out the red and white quilt show going on at this link http://reproquiltlover.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00%3A00%3A00-08%3A00&max-results=10. Lots of great red and white quilts!
They arrived on Sunday afternoon, usually the retreats start on Friday or Saturday, but I am willing to work around your schedules. That evening we had ham balls, cheesy potato casserole, hot rolls, Ramen noodle coleslaw, home grown corn and fruit pizza for dessert, all served on fun dishes. It's so much fun to serve the ladies, they seem to enjoy being pampered!
This is the fun salad I served on Monday, with sandwiches and 2 different kinds of dips with chips and crackers. Sorry the picture isn't the best, but hopefully you can get the idea of fun foods and dishes. Monday evening we had turkey with mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, apple salad and coleslaw. Later that evening I served hot fudge brownie sundaes. It's no wonder I'm struggling with my weight!
Some of you may recognize this valentine. Just love the polka dot dress! If any of you have old pictures or clip art that has polka dots, I would love to see them! I just love antiques and especially antique quilts! Hope you-all have a great Valentine's Day! 
This is last year's table setting around the Valentine's season. I made the table runner out of a vintage quilt top and have enough to do 1 or 2 more if anyone is interested. I will take it to the AQS show next fall if I haven't sold it by then. I would love to make a whole quilt with red and white someday, so many ideas, so little time!
We are having a major snow-storm here in Iowa today! I took this picture this morning before the winds really got to blowing. They say we are having winds 30-35 miles per hour and could have 6 or more inches before it's all over. Another good day to stay in and quilt! 
My messy sewing room!
Strips for vintage Itty Bitty boy kits. I LOVE antique looking quilts and when I use the old fabrics and wash the quilts a few times they look antique! If anyone is interested in a kit they are $25.5o and the pattern is $8.50. Buy both for $32.50 plus tax. Contact me at farmersdotter@frontiernet.net if you're interested. I have kits in boy and girl colors and vintage or new fabrics. I will have these at the show in Des Moines or any other shows I do. I also take a few along when I do trunk shows.
Another view of my messy sewing room right now! That's what we get for being creative, right? Having another group retreat the 1st weekend in March, so will have to get it cleaned up before then! I have lots of other weekends available if anyone is interested! Springtime is my favorite time of year and my gardens are the prettiest then, so give me a call. Spring is just about 7 weeks away, right!! The month of May is a great time to visit Bedford, as we have Rainbow Iris Farm here to visit. It really is a sight to see! 
