The weekend’s forecast is for sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s—ideal weather for a jaunt to my hometown, Winterset, Iowa, for Iowa Quilt Museum’s annual Airing of the Quilts. You’ll feast your eyes on hundreds of quilts on display from 10 to 4 in dozens of locations, many of them outdoors.
Quilts will be everywhere—hanging from the porches of historic homes, displayed on the grounds of the Madison County Historical Complex, in shop windows all around the square and on the courthouse lawn, in City Park, even inside our historic covered bridges, and of course at the museum as well. Admission with a map and guide to all locations is a mere $15 ($10 if you’re a museum member). Get yours here and come enjoy wonderful Madison County!
Even better, stay and have dinner Saturday evening, and enjoy our live auction. Dinner is at The Livery, a gorgeous new event space just steps from the square. 
I live around the corner and have watched over the past few years as the owner transformed a tumble-down brick building (once an actual horse livery) into a place of beauty you have to see to believe. (The back door of Piece Works quilt shop is visible from the front door of The Livery, FYI.)
Dinner is at 6 p.m. (after cocktails at 5:30), and the auction is at 7. With only fifteen items (including several great vintage quilts), it won’t last long (remember, it’s light outside until almost 9 p.m.!). The last item for auction is a 1939 Singer Featherweight 221 with its original table. View our online, silent auction, and live auction items here. (You have to register to view, but it’s totally free.)
The Livery is a large space with plenty of air circulation. Seating is at round tables for eight, so gather a carload of friends and we’ll seat you together. Dinner is by a wonderful local caterer and will be served by Iowa Quilt Museum board members, including me. Tickets are $50 and available here.
Think about coming to Winterset on Friday so you can enjoy, “Quilts, Wine, and What-Ifs,” a show-and-tell of quilts and possibilities, 5 to 7 p.m. at Covered Bridges Winery, by Piece Works Creative Director (and IQM board member) Tony Jacobson. Tickets are $15. Preregister here and receive a gift bag from the quilt shop, a glass of wine, and an individual charcuterie plate.
There are lots of great places to spend the night. Here’s a link to options.
Iowa Quilt Museum’s Airing of the Quilts is our single annual fundraising event. If you love quilts, come share that love in Madison County!
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