Muscatine Melon Patchers Quilt Guild, Iowa

My bags were packed, I was  ready to go…

It’s so easy when I’m driving because I can take it all! Two big suitcases of quilts, another big suitcase and a box of stuff, the obligatory Trader Joe’s bag and a small suitcase for the overnight stay.

And 180 miles later I was in Muscatine…

I was a little nonplussed at mile thirteen when the traffic ground to a halt followed by a slow crawl past an overturned semi on I-55, but after the short delay it was plain sailing. I was right on time to meet the ladies for dinner.

There was a good turn out of members at the Muscatine Melon Patchers. They appeared to listen carefully during the business part of the meeting. (Had they seen the camera?)

Business was followed by a lively show and tell.

I had noticed the ladders at the front. It soon become apparent that they had a very useful role to play in the evening’s proceedings…

There were some super quilts on display.

This one was to be a king sized wedding gift…

After a short break it was my turn. I only noticed a couple of ladies resting their eyes and I’ll put that down to a long working day? People made some very kind comments. They are very polite in Iowa…

I enjoyed a refreshing night’s sleep before it was time for class. We were meeting at the Community College in a lovely bright room. I got to sit at the teacher’s desk…

We started our day with a brief introduction to embroidery and then everyone got to work on their  samplers.

Good progress had been made by lunch time.

Lunch was great! Barbecue chicken sandwiches and home made apple crisp, delicious…

But no time to sit around talking. Time for some big bold stitch hand quilting… Concentration needed!

Chris, on the right of this picture, was the reason for my visit. We met at Open Studios at Quilt Festival in Chicago last year and she had gone home and suggested I be invited. I’m glad she was able to join us in class.

Three o’clock came around quickly. We packed up and then I got to visit The Little Red Hen Quilt Shop that I had been hearing about. Tucked away in a residential area and reached through an alley way I was glad to be following Deb to the convenient parking.

Looking good so far!

It certainly was a super, not very little, store! I looked around one quite large room and liked what I saw when Deb told me I hadn’t seen the half of it. She was right. There was a whole lot more to enjoy!

Before we left we decided we needed one last photograph. I think this is Fran on the left hand side of the picture. She is a guild member but hadn’t been able to come to class because she was working at the store. Deb, my hostess is on the right hand side. She had found some fabric she needed! My purchase fitted in my purse…

Thanks to Mandy, Deb’s daughter for taking the picture. She got a great angle on my chin…

Then it was back in the car for the return drive home. I took a different route and enjoyed the construction on I-88. It seemed a little unreasonable to go through a toll and pay for the privilege of obeying the reduced speed limit from the Dixon toll booth almost twenty miles to the I-39 junction!

Nevertheless I was home before dark. Another fun excursion in the life of a traveling quilt teacher.