SEW 'N TELL

December 2008
Issue No. 207
Web Address: http://www.aaqg.net

Mailing: Ankeny Area Quilters' Guild, P.O. Box 961, Ankeny, IA 50021

“Sharing a common thread!”

Board Meeting PRESIDENTS LETTER

The next board meeting will be Tuesday, MERRY CHRISTMAS, not politically correct I know
December 2, 2008, 6:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Lutheran but I will not complain if you tell me Happy Hanukkah,
Church in Ankeny. Bah Humbug or Happy Holidays ---so give me my
Christmas. Wow I think Christmas comes faster every
It's Potluck Time in December! year, I still have 30 family ornaments to make!! Yikes.
December's guild meeting is December 9th, 2008 6:30 pm Any very easy ornament ideas are
Join us for a fun evening of quilting fellowship--it's the welcome but I guess by the time you get this letter I
annual pot luck soup dinner and a garage sale. had better have made up my mind what I'm making and
REMEMBER, THIS MEETING STARTS AT 6:30 PM have it half done. Hope holiday plans are going well
for everyone. Hope you can make it to the December
The board members are bringing soup, chili meeting/potluck we are going to try to make it a fun
and plates, cups and bowls. night.
The list below is suggestions of what we would like Congratulations to Amy Leonard her picture is in the
you to bring to the pot luck if your last name starts APQS newsletter with her prize winning quilt, we are
with: going to try to get permission to put it in our newsletter
A-K bring desert sometime.
L-Ma bring beverages
Mc-O bring crackers or bread Thanks to Becky McGregor for the new comer meeting
P-Z bring side dishes - salad, vegetable, fruit etc. last Tue. night. We had several members new and old
come, I mean seasoned not old, oh you know what I
Remember 6:30!! mean, also at least 2 came who are not members, yet.
It's not too late to participate in the garage sale! Becky offered to help with new comers before we even
Details are on page 4 of this newsletter. thought about asking anyone, Thanks again.
Because nice matters, He is watching, ho ho ho.
Debbie Pierschbacher
WEATHER REMINDER
November Prizes
I hate thinking about weather cancelations but if
Ankeny School District closes for weather reasons we Congratulations to the block lottery winner, Debra
will not have a meeting. Dickerson. The door prize winners for November
were: Cecile Vogt and Donna Karpan.
LET IN SNOW!! BUT NOT TOO MUCH. Arlene Greenough won the colorful piece of painted
fabric from our speaker. Remember, you must be
Debbie
wearing your name tag to be eligible to win the door
prize.
 December Block Lottery Secretary's Report
The December block lottery pattern, Joy Bells is AAQG Board Meeting Minutes, November 4, 2008
available on the front page of our website. Please
make your blocks in red and green fabrics. Members present: Deb, Lanae, MaryLee, Lisa,
www.aaqg.net Celeste, Susan, Randi, Linda, Kay, Laura and Ramona.
Roxy also joined us. Deb called the meeting to order-
Lanae 2ndthe motion. The minutes were not read since
May 12th we are going to have, along with the guild
Ramona was late. Celeste showed the directory, there
challenge, a special show and tell. Please bring quilts
are 124 members. Deb read the first page info from the
that are special to you. They could be an heirloom
directory. The June meeting location was discussed-
completed by your mother or grandmother. It could be
Deb and Lanae are checking into a couple of different
one made for you on a special occasion. It could be one
churches there would need to be seating for 250. The
you completed for yourself or another. It could have
brochure for the guild is ready for print. Only 3 have
survived the flood of 1993 or another natural disaster.
signed up for the garage sale for the December
Come and show us your special quilts.
meeting. December is the potluck and board members
From your Director at Large, Kay Huntimer will bring the soup and members will bring side dishes
and deserts. Dues haven’t been raised for a couple of
years- they may go up next year as other expenses are
on the rise. Different ideas were discussed for fund
raising. Donation quilts- there is a need for small
Holiday Moving Sale!! 30x42 quilts to go overseas. This will be discussed
Grinnell FiberWorks is Moving, we will be at our later. The raffle quilt has been pieced and letters to the
current location until Dec 31st. Our new address will vendors have been set out. The baskets are getting
be 805 4th Ave. Come one come all to take advantage adopted out, just a few more to go. The blocks are
of our Moving/ Holiday Sale. Almost Everything will going to be hung up each meeting. The block is on the
be 20% off. Stock up and save and be sure to visit our website and can download the pdf pattern. Meet at
new location after the new year!!! 5pm at Applebee’s to have dinner with Colleen Curry,
Happy Holidays!!! our speaker before the guild meeting.
Grinnell FiberWorks 831 Main Street 641.236.7026 Quilt Guild Meeting Minutes, November 11, 2008
www.grinnellfiberworks.com
Deb called the meeting to order and reminded everyone
to turn his or her cell phones off. There were 63
members and 3 new members. Deb attended the
visitation of our member Lois Slaten, our thoughts and
Quilting Connection prayers are with her family. Remember to signup for
the garage sale in December. Posh Fiber is having a
238 Main Street, Ames, IA 50010 sewing day on Saturday, November 22. Quilts are
going to Family Services and smaller ones will be
phone: 515-233-3048
going to Bangladesh- please state where you want your
donation quilts to go. The block of the month will be a
www.iaquilts.com red/green 6.5 blocks. Newcomer group will meet next
iaquilts@netins.net Tuesday at the library. This isn’t just for newcomers-
so join so the newcomers can meet others in the group.
Over 6,000 bolts of quilting fabrics, kits, notions, The bylaws were passed the motion was passed by
hundreds of books, patterns, Husqvarna Viking Cyndee Davis. Country Store items are needed so
when making Christmas gifts just make 2 and donate
Sewing Machines and Sergers, on site machine
one. Down to only one more basket to be adopted.
repair and servicing, quilting classes and classes Upcoming class in January- Big Stitching- you will
for machine and software mastery. need a quilt ready for quilting. February, Mickey
Celebrating 10 years in downtown Ames! Dupre will have a class there are several different
patterns for this. For the night of the spring challenge
there will be a special show and tell. This will be
 Secretary's Report cont.
bringing your old quilt or your first quilt. Our program
was Colleen Curry, who showed us how technology
has influenced her quilting. The quilt painting was
awesome and the different bindings that she used were
out of the box for a lot of us. Her son’s Boy Scout quilt
was a great example of making your quilt 3-d! Who
would have thought a hula-hoop would be a frame for
quilt. Birthday fat quarters were awarded as the gals
announced when their birthday was. Door prizes were
awarded- remember to wear your name tag and sign in
to be in the running. The meeting concluded with a
great show and tell and delicious deserts.
Respectfully submitted,
Ramona Tapper
Country Quilt Studio
Vicki Swensen
975 W. Lincolnway; Suite B
Nevada, Iowa
515-382-1815
www.countryquiltstudio.com
LONGARM RENTAL—CUSTOM QUILTING
Classes, Retreats, Workshops
Ankeny Sewing Center
109 N Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50021
phone: 515-963-8967
ankenysewingcenter.anidus.com
marylouasc@netins.net
Stop by and see our NEW, LARGER location
(next to Curves for Women)
Horn cabinets, Husqvarna Viking Sewing
Machines and Sergers, quilting and specialty
clothing fabrics, threads, embroidery software
and designs. Classes for machine and software
mastery. On site machine repair and servicing.
Adel Quilting & Dry Goods Co.
909 Prairie Street in Adel, IA
phone: 515-993-1170
www.adelquilting.com
—and Chat with us at our new Blog!

DECEMBER SHOW AND TELL www.adelquilting.blogspot.com

In December I would like to limit our show and tell to
things that you are giving away for Christmas so you
will not be able to show them in Jan. This way we
have more time for dinner, garage sale and what ever
other surprises we have in store.
Quilter's Cupboard
Thanks, Deb 131 Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny, IA 50021

phone: 515-963-8758
There's lots to celebrate in December!
Best Wishes for a Happy Birthday! http://www.quilterscupboardiowa.com/
Marilyn Beach December 16
Sylvia Helgeland December 25
Lisa Nalean December 28 Hours:
Peggy Vespestad December 28
Monday-Friday., 10 am-5:30 pm
Thursday, 10 am-7:00 pm
Saturday, 10 am-5:00 pm
 Block Party Studios, Inc.
Unique products for quilters including hand
printed fabric, patterns, kits
We now sell quilting fabric
30% off select notions all the time!
1503 West K Avenue, Nevada
800-419-2812
check our website for directions to our store
Secure shopping online
Hours M-F, 8:30-5, Sat 10-5
Creekside Quilting
9926 Swanson Blvd., Clive, IA 50325
515-276-1977
www.creekside-quilting.com
Hours: Mon-Wed 10 am-5:30 pm, Thurs 10-7 pm
Fri-Sat 10 am-5 pm, Sun 1-4 pm
3700 bolts of fabric, notions, books, patterns
Classes, Friendly staff of experienced quilters
Quilt Show News
submitted by Lanae Rohwer
It’s hard to believe another year is quickly drawing to a
close. I hope as the colder weather drives you inside
you get to spend time making quilts and country store
items!
We still have the Advertising and Set Up positions
open on the Quilt Show committee. Please consider
serving in one of these capacities. If you want to know
more about either position, please see Lanae or
MaryLee at the December guild meeting.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in our
Gem Stone Basket adoption – we only have 1 basket
left – Yeah! If you and your small group (or just a
group of quilting friends) are interested in making a
Topaz (yellow) colored lap size quilt please let
MaryLee know.
Merry Christmas and Happy Quilting!
Garage Sale
Thanks to everyone! We have 20 members who have
signed up to bring things to sell at the garage sale and
more who are bringing stuff to sell with the whole sale
price going to the guild. I am doing a little of both
10% of the profit to the guild and 100% profit to the
guild. Again if you want the complete sell price to go
to the guild use the number 0 on your masking tape or
paper pinned to the fabric and you MUST put the
yardage (if fabric) and the price that you think it should
be sold for. If the profits are to come back to you,
minus the 10% for the guild put your number, yardage
(if it is fabric) and price. Numbers are still available
call me at 685-2036, leave a message with your name
and number if I'm not home.
Example: #1 $4
2 yds
JUST A REMINDER if any unsold garage sale items
are left behind after the sale it will be up to the board
where your items will go. We might use it for donation
quilts or give to another project like Sharon
Meisenheimer's teaching girls in prison.
Debbie Pierschbacher, Your President
Posh Fibers
modern & traditional inspirations
full bolts at wholesale
designer fabrics, patterns & kits
quilting, sewing, crafting
excellent service
great prices
secure online shopping
POSHFIBERS.COM 5YARDSHOP.COM
becky mcgregor, owner
720 ne 42nd St., ankeny, iowa
p: 515.975.0906
e:info@beckyquiltsandcomforts.com
Love is a quilt - a quilt is love . . .
Both love and a quilt should be:
Soft enough to comfort you,
Bright enough to cheer you,
Generous enough to enfold you,
Light enough to let you move freely,
Strong enough to withstand adversity,
Durable enough to last a lifetime,
And given gladly, from the heart.
 Join us for Retreat on March 26-29, 2009
submitted by Therese Lumley
At the January meeting I'll be there for the Retreat Sign
Up's come one come all. Don't forget to bring your
check book or money, you must pay for the Retreat at
the time of sign up. The opens will go fast, so make
sure there is a space reserved for you. This will be a
Retreat to remember. I have been working very hard
to make it the best retreat ever. This one you won't
want to miss. Any question be sure to call me.
The Sampler
102 S. Grand, Chariton, IA 50049
641-774-2116 or carolsampler@mchsi.com
Hours: Mon-Fri 10:00 am-5:30pm,
Sat 10:00 am-3:00pm
Over 4400 Calicoes, Solids, Flannels, Batiks, 30's
Prints & Bright Kids Prints
Quilt Guild Discount & Mail Order Available
Seven Sisters Quilting
Long-Arm Machine Quilting
Jennifer Peil
Ankeny, Ia
515-277-0187
peil3104@msn.com
Call for a free estimate.
Ever wonder if there was something useful you could
do with the snippets of thread and fabric that seem to
be a part of every quilting project? Have you been
gifted with dearly departed Great Aunt Millie's fabric
stash consisting entirely of 1970's polyester? Do you
have old bedding, drapes, or clothes too worn for
Goodwill and your rag drawer is overflowing?
Then put the stuff in a plastic bag and bring it to each site originating in Switzerland for those who love
guild meeting—and Linda Schlenker will get it to
someone that uses it too make filling (by shredding the started by Claudio Fresienda, who is in the
fabric) or covers for “My Brother's Keeper” sleeping
bags for the homeless and quilts for shelters
Thanks to all who donate their scraps each month!
We had many requests for this delicious treat brought
to our November meeting by Cecilie Vogt.
Pear (or apple) Harvest cake
2 eggs, beaten slightly
1 -1/4th c sugar
1- 1/2c vegetable oil OR use 3/4th cup EACH veg oil
and unsweetened applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
Combine above ingredients and beat well by hand or
using mixer.
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
Combine flour and spices and stir into the egg-
applesauce mixture until moistened. Stir in pear (or
apple) and nuts.
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp salt
3 cups fine chopped peeled apples or pears
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Bake at 350 degrees in a 9" by 13" pan or two 8" by 8"
square or round cake pans. Grease and flour pans well.
Allow 35 to 40 minutes for layers and 45 to 50 minutes
for large pan. Test with tooth pick to check for
doneness. Cool in pan 10 minutes, turn out to cool on
rack. Frost with cream cheese icing or drizzle with
confectioners sugar icing. Sprinkle with additional
chopped nuts.
This is a very moist cake. It baked for 40 to 45 minutes
in my oven in a 9" by 13" pan. I used applesauce AND
veg oil in my cake. You get a coarser texture with the
applesauce. or make cupcakes. You'll get 24 to 25
cupcakes. bake about 18 minutes.
Happy baking!
Quilting Bees
submitted by Cyndee Davis
www.quiltingbees.com is now up and running.
For joining this online group, you will be given $30 in
online credit (3 - $10.00 certificates), which can be
used at different quilting sites. This is an international
quilting to share their quilting talents and ideas. It was
administrative department of Mettler Threads.
Still in the mood for pumpkin after Thanksgiving? Hi quilting friends! Here are the latest changes to our
Here is the cookie recipe that Susan Body brought to directory if you want to have the most up-to-date info.
November's guild meeting. You can also find it on the
Taste of Home website: www.tasteofhome.com New members (11-11-08):
-Jeanette Beckwith
White Chocolate Pumpkin Dreams 731 SE 5th Ct.
Ankeny, IA 50021
Ingredients: 964-3877
* 1 cup butter, softened Beckwiths@q.com
* 1/2 cup sugar -Karen Brockelsby
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1991 SE Winter Park Dr.
* 1 egg Ankeny, IA 50021
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 964-9051
* 1 cup canned pumpkin KBrock07@msn.com
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 3-1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice -Laura Rinehart
* 1 teaspoon baking powder 517 SW Maple St.
* 1 teaspoon baking soda Ankeny, IA 50023
* 1/4 teaspoon salt 964-8169
* 1 package (11 ounces) vanilla or white chips lrrinehart@msn.com
* 1 cup chopped pecans
Renewals that didn't get in the membership book:
* PENUCHE FROSTING: -Charlotte Stordahl
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 605 NW School
* 3 tablespoons butter Ankeny, IA 50023
* 1/4 cup milk 965-1556
* 1-1/2 to 2 cups confectioners' sugar charlotte.stordahl@ankenyschools.org

Directions: Lonnie Parsons

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Beat in egg, 3856 92nd Pl.
vanilla and pumpkin. Combine dry ingredients; Polk City, IA 50226
gradually add to the creamed mixture. Stir in chips and 964-2360
pecans. lonniep515@yahoo.com
Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls 2 in. apart onto
-Jean Taft
ungreased baking sheets. Bake at 350° for 12-14
2618 40th Pl.
minutes or until firm. Remove to wire racks to cool.
Des Moines, IA 50310
For frosting, combine brown sugar and butter in a
244-4475
saucepan. Bring to a boil; cook over medium heat for 1
jtquilt@yahoo.com
minute or until slightly thickened. Cool for 10 minutes.
Add milk; beat until smooth. Beat in enough -De Tapper
confectioners' sugar to reach desired consistency. Frost 4008 NE Tulip Lane
cookies. Yield: about 4-1/2 dozen. Ankeny, IA 50021
965-8525
January's Events ddtapper@q.com
Come enjoy the trunk show of Big Stitch quilts from
Corrections:
king size to wallhangings presented by Jo Fifield at our
Jo Ann DeMoss - her email should be
th
January 13 meeting.
joanndemoss@yahoo.com
You will not want to miss Jo Fifield's workshop,"Big
Thanks for your understanding!! If there are any more
Stitch, Long Stitch, or Utility Stitch" on Wednesday,
corrections just email me CelesteMu@msn.com
January 14th. It's a hands on project; you bring the quilt
and I'll get them into the newsletter!
and she'll provide the rest of the supplies.
Celeste
Sign-up for the workshop at the December meeting!
 Congratulations Cyndee Davis!
Cyndee's quilt has been accepted as part of the "God
Bless America" quilts that will be touring the US for
the next two years. Below is a copy of it at one of the
sites on the tour. It is the American Eagle holding the
Liberty Bell (lower right corner below the big eagle).
It is entitles "Let Freedom Ring." For more
information on the purpose of the tour, go to:
www.HeavenlyPatchwork.com
Come to the Quilt Show in Creston
Where: Creston Ia
What: Creston Comfort and Joy quilt show
When: December 4, 5 and 6, 2008
Hours: Thursday 10AM to 8PM
Friday 8AM to 5PM
Saturday 8AM to 2PM.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Quilt raffle, uptown block walk, over one
hundred quilts on display. Lighted Christmas parade at
7PM on Thursday, December 4. Quilts are being
shown at American Homes, 101 N Walnut Street,
Creston, IA. Lots of Christmas activities over the
weekend. Please come and join us!!
The Newsletter team is always looking for interesting
items for the newsletter. If you find something that
fellow quilters would enjoy, please pass it on!
Just call or email Susan or Celeste with suggestions!
Our contact info is on the mailing page.
A Special Note from Jacque Johnson
Adel Quilting & Dry Goods
Happy Holidays to all the members of your guild. As
part of the season and as a thank you for inviting me to
speak at your guild, I am making a special offer.
During Adel’s “Passport to Iowa’s Hometown
Christmas”, come by the shop for 50% off kits and
pick up a “passport”. Let us know when your group is
coming and we will prepare refreshments and
demonstrations. Please have someone in your group
bring a copy of this letter. This is an exclusive offer
limited to only the quilt guilds where I have either
spoken this past year or where I am scheduled to speak.
Adel is hosting, “Passport to Iowa’s Hometown
Christmas” from November 28 through December 30.
Get your passport punched at each participating
business (no purchase required) and enter the
completed passport in a drawing. Each business will
donate a $30 value gift to the drawing. While your
group is in town, plan for lunch at Café in the Park.
The ambiance is quaint and the food great. They have
a lunch special to offer your group - - $15 for
sandwich, soup, dessert and beverage – includes tax
and tip. We will be happy to make reservations for
you.
Give us a call and let us know how we can serve you.
Sincerely,
Jacque Johnson, Owner
Adel Quilting & Dry Goods Co.
Appreciation
author unknown
There are quilts that make me wonder.
There are quilts that make me blink.
There are quilts that tug my heartstrings.
There are quilts that make me think.
But the quilts that mean the most
And that fill my heart with glee
Aren't the ones I see at quilt shows.
But the rare ones made for me!