Yeah, my 10 year old son has autism. He's very friendly though, everyone is drawn to him. :)

Indianola, Iowa about 30 miles South of Des Moines lived in Iowa all my Life don't think I could ever move but I like to travel. If there is anyone close to me please PM me so we can talk I'm kinda alone here and have the emptynest Syndrom would like a buddy to quilt with or at least talk to.

Born and raised in DBQ and moved to Waterloo in 96 to help my daughter with babysitting. I left my beloved DBQ for Grandbabies. A good trade but I sure miss the bluffs.
Found bike trails and quilting after moving to Waterloo and now 4 miles south in Washburn. I have designed and quilted 8 quilts for a very good friend's children and grandchildren plus several others. My friend had embroidered the State Birds to make a quilt for herself and husbaand and I was to help her make the quilt but saddly she passed away before we got started and her husband gave me the squares while she was in nursing home. I created the 1st quilt for her and she used the quilt altho she wasn't aware it was her birds, and then I was in the process of making 3 for her children. At her wake her youngest grandson said But I don't have a bird to remember gramma so I took one bird out of the Mothers and Dad's quilt and substituted a block of one of her pastimes like tea cups and teapots and Cubs Logo to fill in the empty areas. I have the last two to quilt yet. Turned out great. Everbody loves their quilts. Love to quilt. Illsa

I am from Dubuque. Started out on a farm in Long Grove, moved several times. Love Dubuque.

Sioux City here. We have a neat quilting group which originated at my former workplace. Coworkers moved here and there and continued in the group, inviting friends and relatives. We now have a group consisting of members in Florida, Wisconsin and Hawaii, along with Nebraska and Iowa. We are on our third scrap quilt. Doing a Roman Square in red, white and blue and an extra one to donate.

Always room for another one if you are in the area and interested.

Hello, Sioux City, we live in Marcus, about forty miles away. Do you meet at member's homes, or a public place? We have a small group, so we meet in homes. Your quilt sounds like fun, on alternate years we donate a quilt to an auction to benefit LifeSkills in LeMars. Piecefully, the old one

Guess I need to explain further....we make our blocks at home individually and then meet at the business where several of our members work every other month to swap blocks. The out-of-town gals snail mail theirs and the exchanged blocks are mailed back to them.

i am living in Ottumwa Iowa 47 miles from Chariton

Ottumwa is only 1 1/2 hrs from us. My mom and I used to go shopping in Ottumwa all the time when I was growing up. My DH is from Sigourney and we used to spend alot of time in Oskaloosa and Ottumwa. Havent been there for awhile now.

Ottumwa is about an hour and 15 minutes from here too. We go through there on our way to Fairfield, where my BIL has a hunting farm.

We ought to meet up in Ottumwa! I have been to some fabric shops in Osky but not in Ottumwa. It would be fun!

BTW, I'm in Sully. Sully is just N of Pella.

Oskaloosa used to be a shopping center when I was younger????? Had friends in Charitan and Ottumwa. Have even gone to Ottumwa to catch the train to CA. You are all in my old stomping grounds. It would be nice to go back and meet some of you, if that can be arranged. Also go through Ottumwa on my way to Columbia, MO where one of my boys lives. Welcome to the board. Marge L.

Gonna mark my calendar also, what a neat day trip for us girls.

Someone closer to Ottumwa want to organize a get together? My DH would have to come with me. He is in a wheelchair.

I am living in Ottumwa moved here a year ago from Des Moines

I'm in Sigourney

Ottumwa has 2 quilt shops that I know of,
1st (On Main, first building east of Unemployment office) doesn't have much fabric as it is more of an antique store but they do have every DMC floss you could want hehe.

The 2nd (The Sewing house, on North davis just off church st sorta near taco johns ) is an awesome place and the fella that owns/operates it is great so are the staff always helpful and polite.
They have scads of fabrics and last I was in there they were getting the bali batiks in. they also sell Janome machines and service bout anything that walks in the door.

Osky on the other hand the only place that has any fabric is Walmart but they do have a nice selection and the regular ladies that work the cutting table are always helpful and know what they're talking about (most of them anyway)

Spent alot of my married life in Sigourney. My inlaws had a farm 8 miles north of Sigourney and 2 miles south of Keswick. They moved into Sigourney and retired off the farm years ago. Then my FIL passed away and my MIL moved down to Burlington where the youngest son lives.
I still have a BIL and family in What Cheer and Mom still owns the house in Sigourney. She lets differant family members stay there from time to time. One BIL uses it as his base but he travels some with the roofing comp he works for.

I miss the days of spending the weekends on the farm and in and around Sigourney/ Osky / What Cheer.
It still seems weird not to travel to Sigourney. May have to take a trip up just to look around again.
We used to go fishing at Yenrougis. It was fun to take the kids there.

I'm from Waverly. Northeast Iowa!

Montrose little town on the Mississippi River very very southeast Iowa

I'm headed to Kalona tomorrow. Does anybody know a good quilt shop in that area?

TIA
Dorian

Woodin Wheel Antiques
515 B Avenue, Kalona
nice lil place have seen some of the quilts that came out of here and mmmmmmm nice :)

Willow Creek Quilting & Gifts
418 B Avenue, Kalona
just down the street a bit from Woodin Wheel

Stitch N' Sew Cottage
207 4th Street, Kalona has some perty stuff :)

these just the 3 I could think of, if you google I'm sure you can find at least a dozen more fairly close.

PS: Enjoy your trip :)

Not too far away in Williamsburg there is a shop called the Woolen Needle at 225 West Welsh Street
Williamsburg, IA 52361
(319) 668-2642 They were chosen as a featured shop in the Quilt Sampler magazine for fall and out a little ways there is one called Rainbows and Calico Things at 2811 240th Street Williamsburg - if you get on their website they can give you directions.

And north and east a bit from Williamsburg are the Amanas. There is one right on hwy. 6 at S. Amana and continuing on 151 is Main Amana which has 2 that I know of and possibly another. Can't recall their names, but most anyone there can tell you. Good shopping. You'll find a lot of pretties at all of them, including Kalona. Marge L.

Fern Hill is one of them, fabric is upstairs and the other is Heritage ? in Amanas

You're right about Fern Hill. It is also the name of the one in S. Amana. By the way, where do you live? Must be close to me to know about the Amanas.

I live in Montrose it is down between Keokuk and Fort Madison, I've heard of Marengo but not sure where it is. My friends and I love to go shop hopping so I have been to alot of stores in Iowa and Missouri and Illinois that can be day trips. Is there a quilt store In Marengo?

The quilt shop that we had closed a while back. Really miss it. The Amanas are next door. South Amana, on hwy 6, is just east about 7-8 mi, has one called Fern's quilts & Antiques. Follow 6 & 151 to Main Amana. They have 2 for sure, maybe another. Williamsburg has 2 (Wooden Needle and Rainbows & Calico Things). Marengo is on Hwy. 6, 25-30 mi. west of Iowa City. If you should get up this way, I'd love to get together for lunch (say at Main Amana), many seem to like the food and there are several restaurants there. There are a few shops at Little Amana on I-80 and 151. Don't know if they have a quilt shop though. I'll PM you with my phone # so you can give me a buzz if you like. I'm not so busy that I can't get away when I want. I'm all alone and do nothing but quilt and spend a LOT of time on this board. LOL I guess I'm not alone there. Marge L.

That would be fun!

Yes, I think so, too. Any time, any where, you name it whenever you're ready. Please PM for phone #

Just found this thread.

I live in Sioux City Iowa. Have lived in Iowa all my life (Fort Dodge, Rolfe, Des Moines, Denison, Hospers, Spirit Lake and now Sioux City).

The quilt shop that I spoke of in Marengo has reopened after 2-3 yrs. She had to start small again, but her fabric is beautiful. She is only asking $5 yd. I can't believe it and it is so nice. When I go downtown my car doesn't need steering. I automatically stops right in front. What can a girl do in a situation like that? Of course---you just buy some more material. LOL I really do need to put a damper on that--but can't really think of a good reason.
My folks lived in Ft. Dodge for many years. A cousin lives in Storm Lake and had an aunt in Lake View (now deceased). Also, camped at Lake Okoboji a few years ago. Hope to see you whenever. Marge L.

I don't post much anymore but couldn't pass this up. I have been in Iowa all but 2 1/2 years of my life. Living mostly in south central Iowa but some in southwest Iowa. I noticed that alot of you are talking about the quilt shops. I would love to put a map together for all of us. If you would like, PM me the name and address of your fav shops and I will put a map together. I have started one with some that I know of or shop at. Feel free to share with friends!
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...b62506ae4da015

Cedar Rapids here

Wow, this thread has brought back memories, reading all the names of places I remember! I was born in Marengo and still think of it as my early home as my dad was raised there, my grandmother, aunts and uncles and cousins lived there..... I love that little town. I now live in England, however, and haven't been back to Iowa for many years. My English husband wants to see it some day so we talk about it quite a lot. Sorry to barge into this thread....just got over-excited when I saw Marge L. from Marengo. I bet, Marge, that you know some of my family!

Hi Iowans, Webster City here.

I am from Iowa, Ames.

Just found this today. I'm from Fairfield

Just run across this thread today. I am originally from the very small town of Petersburg, Iowa which is close to Dyersville the home of Field of Dreams. I now live in central IL but still return as family still lives there. Dyersville and a close town of Manchester both have very nice quilt stores that I shop in when I go back.

I just joined the board from Osceola. I grew up here but have lived in Des Moines, Ames, Waterloo and Ft Dodge but I'm back where I started. My favorite shops are Creston, Creekside in Des Moines and Quilter's Cupboard in Ankeny.
But I'm not choosey if they have fabric I'll stop and shop.