Angie Kowalsky of Linen Flowers/Timeless Handiwork

Adel is home to many internet-only businesses where professionals take their skills and share them with a global audience. This month we spoke with Angie Kowalsky whose online crafting business reaches far beyond the 50003 zip code.

For Adel artesian Angie Kowalsky, crafting is her creative outlet. She was first inspired by an afghan made by a family member and learned to crochet and design her own patterns with pen and paper.

In 1995 Angie began her business, Timeless Handwork, which featured her original crochet designs, drawn by hand. Soon, she branched out to include sewing, knitting, and plastic canvas patterns.

In 2003, Angie expanded her business to include hand-drawn cross-stitch designs under the business Linen Flowers. These original designs are drawn electronically using a computer mouse. The charts were sold to retail stores for a time, until 2008 when Angie decided to sell directly to fellow crafters with a passion for unique creations.

In 2013 Linen Flowers and Timeless Handwork combined to offer shoppers a one-stop-spot for patterns, charts, art prints and greeting cards.

Angie's style is traditional with a flourish of whimsy, backed by her faith. At her online store you will find downloadable patterns to create items for every age, available within 24 hours of purchase: baby booties, outfits, bibs and caps, and fun wallets, banks, and toys for kids; sewing accessories include pincushions, bookmarks, and tote bags; as well as an assortment of pillows, ornaments, pet beds, doilies, sachets, and cross stitch patterns for every occasion listed by theme.  

"Many more designs are in the works, and visitors will continue to see new patterns and charts added to the site each month."

Timeless Handwork/ Linen Flowers' international business has served customers from various parts of the world, including Australia and Iceland. Custom orders can be a challenge, such as changing a phrase to appear correctly in Icelandic, but Angie embraces these fun opportunities to share her gift.

"I love to create and I am inspired by nature, or perhaps phrases or something I have been thinking about. My faith is a big part of my life. I feel that God is the Master Designer, and I think He has given me the help to do these things. I want to glorify Him in my business and my art. I like to share my faith with people to give them hope."

About 4 years ago, Angie started The Counted Wishes festival, an online cross-stitch event where fellow independent designers can exhibit new work. Though the show has a new owner, crafters are still the first to see new releases from 16 designers and vendors at the Spring and Fall festivals, held each March and September 15-21 at www.countedwishes.com.  

Visitors are invited to return each day to participate in a daily treasure hunt to gain entry into the grand prize drawing for one PDF chart of the winner's choice, and to take advantage of show specials, free designs, and more!

During the September festival, Timeless Handwork/Linen Flowers will offer Buy 3, Get 1 Free PDF charts.

When Angie isn't crafting, she enjoys gardening, attending New Hope Church, and spending time with her son, daughter, and granddaughter.

"I really like to grow flowers- I'm usually outside working if I can. I grow perennials mainly. I love roses and I experiment with wildflowers- growing seeds, dividing plants, and creating a new backyard with something in bloom at all times.

I've been very thankful for the wealth of churches in Adel, and impressed by the community's kindness. I really love Adel. I've met a lot of nice people here. I was awed by how beautiful Adel was, with the trees hanging over the streets, its just a pretty town with a great community.

It's important to pass these skills on to our kids. I look forward to doing this with my granddaughter as soon as she's of age."

Angie's final note is to share the encouragement she received when she first started with fellow artists, "Go for it. Discouragement always leaves by starting more work. If a person wants something badly enough, and is willing to work for it, he/she will achieve it. Success is small steps performed daily over time."

Linen Flowers/Timeless Handwork

Albert Grunenwald of the Iowa 4-H Foundation presents  outstanding service award to Lorinda and Chuck Inman

Inmans Inducted in to 4-H Hall of Fame

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Informational Meeting for New 4-H Shooting Sports Club Sept. 11th

A new 4-H Shooting Sports Club is starting in Dallas County.

It is open to youth ages 9 - 18. The club is also looking for adult volunteers.

4-H Safety and Education in Shooting Sports (SESS) uses skills and disciplines of shooting to assist young people and their leaders in obtaining knowledge and developing life skills.

The disciplines include archery, rifle, shotgun, muzzleloader and wildlife skills. Learn more at www.extension.iastate.edu/4h/projects/shootingsports.

An informational meeting is being held at the Dallas County Extension and Outreach office, located at 28059 Fairground Rd., Adel, on Thursday, September 11, 2014 starting at 7:00 p.m.

For more information, contact the extension office at (515) 993-4281 or email Mat and Katie Sanders at dallascoshootingsports@hotmail.com.

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ISU Dallas County Ext. Presents  

Money Matters Sept. 30th

Making a dollar stretch is not as easy as it once was. Knowing where money is going, setting goals, along with having a spending plan and budget can help a person and their family achieve budgetary freedom.

"Money Matters: Making Your Dollar Stretch in an Expensive World" is a free class on basic budgeting tips applicable to everyday life.

Learn quick and easy financial tips in addition to the "hidden" ways people spend their money. A portion of the session will focus on responsible gambling, costs associated with online and electronic gaming, raising responsible kids in an electronic age and a healthy approach to having fun while still saving money.

Join Lisa Mickelson, Extension Educator, with Iowa State University Extension & Outreach and Katie Bee, Certified Prevention Specialist, with Employee & Family Resources on Tuesday, September 30th from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach office in Adel.

Please contact Lisa at (515) 993-4281 or lmickel@iastate.edu to reserve a space.  

Between the Sweet Corn Festival and the Annual Book Sale, we had a great wrap-up of August here at the Adel Public Library.  

Our Annual Book Sale, which took place on August 8th and 9th, was a success again this year.     

The library did over $2,000.00 in book sales. The money will go towards next year's Summer Reading Program.    

Everyone here at the library wants to extend a big thank you to those who donated their books and their time;

we couldn't have done this sale without you.

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Although August was a success, we couldn't be more excited for the upcoming fall season.  

Over the course of last year, we had a whopping 4,155 people attend our children's library programming.  

Children's activities are now back and better than ever.  

Story Time for 3 - 5 year olds will be held on Mondays, Toddler Time for children 3 and under will be held on Tuesdays, and Music Time for all children will meet on Thursdays.  

All programs will begin at 10:30 am. We hope to see everyone there!

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September 10th is an early out, so we invite kids to attend our Early Out Movie at 2:00 pm.  

We will be showing "Muppets Most Wanted."  

We will also be hosting a Teen Volunteer Meeting at 3:00 pm on this day.

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The Stiletto Girls are coming to our library on Tuesday, September 16th at 6:30 pm.

Magnolia "Maggie" Rivers, C. Deanne Row, and Angela K. Roe will be here to discuss their Stiletto Series, answer questions, and even shed light on how to publish your own book.  

If you have ever wondered how to take your manuscript and turn it into a published novel, then this is the event for you.

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Everyone at Adel Public Library is patiently waiting for author William Kent Krueger to visit Perry, Iowa on October 7th.  

To get ready for this exciting event, we are participating in Dallas County Reads One Book.  

All of Dallas County is encouraged to read Krueger's new book, Ordinary Grace, between September 25 and October 23rd.  

This two-part author event kicks off with a read and meet at Hotel Pattee from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm.  

For $10 you can attend this portion of the event and enjoy hor's d' oeuvres, iced tea, coffee and water.  

The second part of this county-wide event will be at the Perry Performing Arts Center, located at Perry High School, at 7:00 pm, for an author talk.  

This portion of the event is free.  

We will have our Evening Book Club on Thursday, September 25th at 7:00 pm to kickoff this exciting new novel.

Ordinary Grace is available for download on Wilbor, and can also be found at your local library.

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The library will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, September 1st.

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To keep up-to-date on all of the clubs, events, information and programs at Adel Public Library, be sure to check out our website,  www.adelpl.org,

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