If one pays attention to the seasonal decorations located around the Missouri Valley Public Library, there are some eye-catching quilts that will surely grab the attention of book-seekers.
Those quilts are the handiwork of Delores Dorland, who has used her sense of humor and love of quilting to create unique artistic tapestries. The particular quilts hanging in the library are fall-themed, but there is more than meets the eye with the apples and pumpkins that are arranged row-by-row.
Each apple and each pumpkin on Dorland's four quilts that are currently on display represent a different fantastical and fictional location, offering some funny reading to library patrons, as all kinds of jokes and puns are used to complete the quilts.
This idea to give her quilts some personality started with Applefest in Woodbine.
“At first I just had my regular quilts that I did, but then I started thinking, 'Well, it should be apple related,'” Dorland said with a laugh.
Quilting since she was little, Dorland was asked to display her work in the library this year, although they don't represent anywhere the entirety of her collection.
She even has some post-Civil War quilts from her husband's family that she has done, and she's worked at finishing some old quilt blocks that were passed down to her from her grandparents and great-grandparents.
Below is a breakdown of each location on Dorland's quilts, which can be cross-referenced with the photos running with this article. Or even better, you can go to the library and get a closer look yourself.
Empire Ave.
Top left: Apple Valley Congregational Church – Sunday, “The Forbidden Fruit,” Pastor Adam
Top middle: Rome Beauty Salon
Top right: The Apple Tree Inn
Bottom left: Caramel Apple Sweet Shoppe
Bottom middle: Apple Crisp Tanning Salon
Bottom right: Appleseed Garden Supply – Owner: Johnny
Liberty Square
Top left: Apple Barrel Foods
Top middle: Grimes Car Wash
Top right: Gala Party Supplies
Middle left: Apple-K Quilt Shop
Middle right: Crab Apple Seafood
Bottom left: Washington Jazz
Bottom middle: Fuji Travel Agency
Bottom right: Cameo Photography Studio
Unnamed apple quilt
Top left: Apple Valley Fire and Rescue
Top middle: Granny Smith Day Care
Top right: Eve's Garden Cafe
Middle left: The Apple Cobbler – Shoe Sales and Repair
Middle: Newton's Law School
Middle right: Rotten to the Core Trash Pick-Up Service
Bottom left: Delicious Pastry
Bottom middle: Sippin' Cider Saloon – “Come in and get sauced”
Bottom right: Apple of My Eye Optometry
Pumpkin quilt
Top left: Mummy's Day Care – Crybpts provided
Top middle: The Bubbling Cauldron – Monster Mashed Potatoes – “Our goulash will leave you gobblin'”
Top right: School – “We teach you how to spell”
Middle left: Zombie Beauty and Spa – Skin peel specialties
Middle: Pumpkin Patch Quilt Shop
Middle right: Hag's Rags Boutiques
Bottom left: Witch Hazel's Apothecary – Buy your spelling supplies here
Bottom middle: Frank and Stine's Auto Service – We turn pumpkins to coaches – Guaranteed until 12 a.m.
Bottom right: Eerie Music Store – Flootes, trombones, toobas, used organs – Sheet music for sale: “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” “Witchy Woman,” “Spooky,” “I Put a Spell on You”
