Happy Monday To You!

Happy Monday to you!  It is a Happy Monday for me because I'm heading over to the Quilt Foundry to do some stitchin' and I can't wait :)  My Birthday present to me.  Thank you to everyone who remembered that yesterday was my big ole birthday....48 never looked so...well....lets just not discuss it...LOL.

 On the "Flamingo Front" the babies seem to be doing just fine.  You'll see them in the far left of this photo...still in their nests.  The other siblings had a game of pick up basketball over the weekend.

Ya all know who this is, right?

 Yes...it is Ami Simms!  She was at the Toledo Gathering of Quilters, last week on Thursday.  I have not had the pleasure of hearing her speak before and everyone I know says, "don't miss her."  So off Waldo and I went to the meeting.  Ami is everything people say she is....genuine, warm, funny, kind and colorful.  I loved here jacket.  It is her pattern, Rag Fur Jacket.  She said the one she is wearing in this photo is 6 or 7 years old....and look how good it looks.

Ami's program was, "How NOT to make a prize winning quilt."  I can vouch for her....she definitely knows how to do that well.  So much of what she said resonated with me and my start with quilting.  I also made a baby quilt and every single corner is mitered differently.  I had no clue....but I sure was proud when I was finished.  Oh the freedom we allow ourselves when we just "do it."  I'll tell all of you what I was told, "if you get a chance to hear Ami speak....don't miss it."

Ami is the founder of the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  Did you know that you can make a quilt that is 9" x 12" OR Smaller....but absolutely not bigger....and donate it to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative and they will sell it to raise funds for research?  Sooooo....while you are practicing a new skill, making a teeny tiny quilt that is embellished with beads, or you've never made a small quilt...you may just want to head over here and read all about it. 


Remember last week when I was busy embellishing everything?  I decided to embellish a few straight pins....for no other reason that because I could.

 I cracked up when I saw these femo heads on the end of my straight pins.  It gives new meaning to quilting with your friends :)  I thought the thread spool was cute too.  I stopped at three...I didn't want to get too carried away you know.


My co-workers were invited to a birthday party on Saturday.  The little girl who's party they went to just so happens to be a little girl that I  adore.  The boys gave her their gifts and I wanted to give her something special....so this is what I made for her:

I used Sarah Vedeler's Hearts Machine Embroidery Design.   I really like all the choices I have on that CD.  I think the birthday girl is such a Star, so I chose the heart with the star in the center.

Hearts by Sarah Vedeler

Tajiana's favorite color is green so I made sure that the fabric was green and I used 7 or 8 different shades of Floriani thread for the design.  Her name had to be hot pink....after all...she just turned 9.

After I did the machine embroidery, I added some bling with my new Professional  Touch Crystal Applicator.    I think the crystals added a little zip and besides....I had to have an excuse to use it again right?  I inserted the design into a Quick Stitch Desktop Organizer.  Tajiana can either use it for pencils and pens or she can keep it in her bathroom for her tooth brush and tooth paste....or where ever she wants.  When she opened the package...she had a big beautiful smile on her face....that's all I needed.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.  Happy belated National Quilting Day and St. Patrick's Day too....I was just too busy to blog...I know you understand.

Smiles,
Kelly

Sharon Pederson in Houston for Quilt Market 2010

Edited 11/16/10 9PM ish
Check the bottom of this post for Sharon Pederson's Comment on this post :)

Sharon Pederson signing books at the Martingale &Company Booth in Houston

Guess which incredibly lucky blog writer got to visit with Sharon Pederson and get an autographed copy of  The Rose of Sharon Block Book?   I'll give you three guesses :)

Look at these absolutely beautiful applique table runners and wall hangings.  I love applique and batik fabrics so naturally I was very focused.....close to a trance like state.....it also included lust.....desire....and yes....thread too!!!!

 

Ummmmm....I want to walk into my kitchen and see this pattern hanging on the wall.  That may not be too far off either.  The painters are here working in the kitchen all week....fresh painted walls just beg to be decorated ya know.

The Rose of Sharon Block Book

This book is a collection of winning entries from the EQ6 Rose of Sharon block-design challenge! Chosen by judges Alex Anderson and Ricky Tims, these 12 blocks and 13th specially designed by Sharon Pederson

are in the book.   There are also 60 additional blocks from the challenge entries.  I love sitting and looking through my book at all the blocks....so inspiring.  Sharon also included instructions for machine applique and the assembly of projects in the book.

If you prefer a DVD, Rose of Sharon, is available too.  The cool thing about the DVD is that it has printable PDF (a photo format) and you can print the patterns.  The DVD has 112 additional blocks as well as photos and interviews with the 12 winners from the EQ6 Rose of Sharon Block-design challenge.  I'm the sort of person who wants them both.  At this point, I just own the book.....but I have the DVD on my wish list :)

Sharon Pederson also has an Aurifil Thread Collection....actually TWO collections.

 Rose of Sharon 50 wt. Quilting Thread - and

Rose of Sharon 40 wt. Embroidery Thread Collection

 If you own an GO! Fabric Cutter or a Sizzix Big Shot or Big Shot Pro you can also use the GO! Rose of Sharon Die to cut all your fabrics.  You know I own this die right?  I'm not bragging....I'm just saying, I love this quilt and I will be making one for myself. 

For those that don't have a fabric cutting system, there are these great Rose of Sharon Templates.  These work just as well but require more time to trace and cut.  Either way you choose, you still end up with a beautiful Rose of Sharon quilt or other project.

 

Look at the machine embroidery on the back of this Rose of Sharon Quilt.  The back is just as beautiful as the front.  This is another quilt in and of itself, don't you think?  For those of you with an Embroidery Machine there is a Rose of Sharon CD and a Rose of Sharon USB available as well. 
Edit: "The picture you have of the back of the quilt is actually bobbin thread from quilting it on an 'ordinary' Bernina machine - not an embroidery machine"....Sharon Pederson 11/16/10  FYI

It sure is a good thing I love this pattern, otherwise I might be tired of typing the phrase "Rose of Sharon" by now :)  Check out these Note Cards.  There are 12 cards and each one is an original interpretation of the classic Rose of Sharon Quilt Block from the winners of the 2009 Electric Quilt Challenge.  Talk about an affordable gift.....even you can afford to buy me a set of these cards!!!  It's ok if you miss a meal....I'm worth it :)  LOL

Funds from the sale of these Rose of Sharon items supports the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  I think it is amazing what a group of people can do when they work together.  

All of the following people and companies are supporting the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative: Sharon Pederson, Nine Patch Media, The Electric Quilt Company, Alex Anderson, Ricky Tims, Martingale and Company, Aurifil, AccuQuilt, Island Batik, and Oklahoma Embroidery Supply and Design are ALL supporting the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  If you would like to add your name to the list just click here :) 

Do you want to own an autographed copy of Sharon Pederson's book, The Rose of Sharon Block Book?  Just leave me a comment on this post telling me why you want to own this book and the random number generator will choose that lucky person on Friday evening, November 19th.

Smiles,

Kelly

PS.....I have photos of the ROS Challenge from Spring Quilt Market to post....I'll get to it...I promise :)

Hi Kelly: Thanks so much for the lovely blog entry about the Rose of Sharon project - I thought I'd answer the question about the Accuquilt die - Yes it does fit the Go Baby - I had fun demonstrating it in my class in Houston. One other thing you'll be interested in knowing. The picture you have of the back of the quilt is actually bobbin thread from quilting it on an 'ordinary' Bernina machine - not an embroidery machine. There is a quilt that was done on an embroidery machine and I'd be happy to send you a picture of it if you want. Again, many thanks for the lovely blog.

Cheers Sharon Pederson