Bling Your Thing!

Bling Your Thing -  Part 1

Don't think for one teeny tiny second that I've forgotten about our little challenge....you remember...the one you agreed to do to win Creative Quilting with Beads.

Creative Quilting with Beads

In preparation for the teeny tiny challenge, I decided to look at some of my embellishments.  They are kept in a drawer down stairs.  It's dark down there....so what did I do?  I grabbed my Beam N Read Light.  (I don't make these things up for blog posts by the way....I'm just reporting the facts! :)

I found the two bags of miscellaneous embellishments and brought them upstairs and dumped them out on the floor.  When ever I come across any type of embellishment at all....weather at a garage sale or on a clearance rack someplace...and I even take them off discarded garments....I put them into my embellishment stash.

While looking through my bling I realized how un-jazzy my Beam N Read Light looks.  I had to put a quick end to that catastrophe!  LOL   (Yes, I realize that I was in the process of looking for some bling for a quilt challenge...but sometimes a girl gets inspired and she has to strike while the iron is hot!  Do you know what I mean?

Here are some of my attempts at blinging-up one of my all time favorite notions.  (Honestly it is...I call it the "notion you never knew you needed and couldn't live without" until you have one," 100% true).

 "I've got my eyes on you baby"

 "Kiss me you fool"

 "Over, way over the top  Bling"

"Hi Friend"

 "You hold the key to my heart"

 "Who says fun washers aren't bling?"

"Gaudy Rabbit Bling"

"What?  You think I've lost my mind this morning bling?"

Then...it hit me....how about some strap bling for those who like the "understated" look :)

 

 "Vintage Jewelry Bling"

 "Knit This Bling"

 I had to do a close up of this pretty little pin.  A woiman from my needle arts guild made it and I just love this little pin.  Kay passed away recently and I'll always think of her as the woman who could make anything look beautiful.

"Rhinestone Love Bling"

Sew you see....it's isn't very difficult to "Bling Your Thing or Things" ya just gotta play with your embellishments until you find something that makes you smile, laugh or ask "have I lost my mind."  It's lots of fun.

Fun can be found almost anywhere....but you definitely need a great light to see it!  How about I make you a deal?  If you are even remotely thinking about having a Beam N Read Light....I'll pay your shipping and if you don't agree with my opinion...I'll pay your return shipping too.  HOWEVER...if you bling your Beam N Read....it isn't not returnable...LOL.  You could bling one for your sweetie and put it in their Easter Basket....then they could find the eggs at O-Dark-Thirty.

Bling Your Thing Part 2 will be about our teeny tiny quilt challenge :)

Smiles,

Kelly

NOTE: The free shipping offer is only good on the Beam N Read Lights through the end of March.  when you are checking out, choose your shipping, then enter your Coupon Code:  Bling Your Thing    If you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com

Really? I don't believe it....not IHAN blog readers....

I'm giving away a very inspiring and beautiful book and as of today at 2:00 pm I only have 20 comments.  I know IHAN blog readers are not Chickens?  I never said you HAD to join in the challenge to win the book...nor did I say your reason for wanting the book more than I do,  had to be a good reason....and still there are only 20 comments.  I'm almost speechless....but not quite :)

With over 1600 people reading my blog, I can't believe that many of you missed THIS POST.   I am giving away a copy- a germ free copy- of  Creative Quilting with Beads by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader .  After reading the copy I received to review, I didn't want to give it away....and besides...I've been sick and my copy must have some germs on it.  The publisher, Lark Books,  didn't want any of you to get my bug so they have agreed to ship a copy of Creative Quilting with Beads to the winner of the drawing (US addresses only.  If you win and are outside the US I can have the book shipped to me or one of your other friends and you can arrange for it to be shipped to you..fyi)

You'll get one chance to win by simply leaving a comment on the post about the giveaway (click here) and if you choose to join the" teeny weenie ittsy bitsy challenge" you'll get three more chances to win the book.   Anything that you have to embellished will count....I don't care if it is a postage size piece or a mug rug....the goal is to encourage one another to pull out some of our beads and other embellishments and create a little something....that's all...nothing will be judged....it's just a teeny weenie ittsy bitsy little challenge....so what are you waiting for?  If it is a call from me personally....you better let me know that so I can dial you up.

If you actually went back to read that post you'll know exactly what I'm referring to with this picture of Jim Carey from the movie Mask. 

When I said it was very difficult  not to show a photo of every page in Creative Quilting with Beads....I wasn't kidding.  Y'all know I can be over the top...every now and again...and apparently this must resonate with most of you or you would not be near crazy enough to read this blog...LOL. 

Sue Spurlock, one of the contributors to Creative Quilting with Beads, has made so many beautiful pieces and I just love looking at her photos for inspiration.  I asked her if I could use "some" of her photos from her blog, Piece of Work, and she said yes.  I have saved the e-mail as proof too....and she made the big ole mistake of not saying how many...

"Somebody Stop Me".......said with wild abandon....ROFL :)

All photos below are property of Sue Spurlock and have been used with her written permission.

I assure you after looking at these photos you'll want to go over and follow Sue's blog, Piece of Work.  No, she's not promised to give me one of her pieces nor has she offered to take my boys for a week while I go on a retreat....I sincerely don't want folks to miss some wonderful inspiration and meeting a very insightful woman....so enjoy :)

All photos above were published on this post with the written permission of Sue Spurlock, Piece of Work blog.

I know within each and every one of you there is an idea stirring...an appreciation....a fun thought....and I want to invite you to express it in some way...embellish it!!  :)

I want to say THANK YOU to Sue Spurlock for the permission to use your photos....and for inspiring me to express some of the ideas I've had stirring for quite some time.  And to the rest of you...I say:

 If you look closely at the fabric under the tiles....it is all embellished....one with beads and the other with stitching....and you know what?  I didn't make either one of them....nope.  The beaded one is a vest I wore to work years ago that I absolutely loved.  I knew one day I'd use it in an art piece but I didn't know when....so I've saved it....and this here:

is a vest I picked up at a yard sale.....I loved the stitching and I knew it could be embellished further and added to something else. Each of you have interesting little things tucked into drawers and closets...lets pull something out and make a little something...or a big something....where ever your inspiration takes you.

Before I close I want to show you a photo of something I decided to do one night.
I had this fabric...I think it was Art Gallery Fabrics but I'm not sure....it' was a long time ago and I was in love with it. 


The post I took these from is HERE....I made this for Amy Butler as a gift (I'd never make another gift like this again...I thought I'd throw up giving it to her).  I have to say I absolutely loved putting the beads on the fabric and I've not done anything like it since...so I'm in for the itsy bitsy challenge too :)

Appreciative Joyful Smiles,
Kelly

Creative Quilting with Beads - Book Review and Giveaway

I sure hope everyone is feeling healthy and energetic today.  I've been sick for the past few days and even though I have not felt well....I've had some joy, smiles and some gratitude.  That's not to say I haven't also had a few moments of ........!!!  LOL....Why?  Because I have the absolute pleasure of reviewing Creative Quilting with Beads ..... but I have previously agreed to give it away. What is wrong with me anyway?  My true colors are showing now....I feel greedy and want to keep the book....but I am a woman of my word so....here we go! :)

 Creative Quilting with Beads by Valerie Van Arsdale Shrader

Valerie has done an incredible job of showing us how to add some pizazz to our art quilts.  She has put together over two dozen projects by some wonderful artists and has showcased them in Creative Quilting with Beads.

I'm not kidding when I say I could easily take a photo of every page and show you.....I need a bonus point for restraint here folks....

"Reach For The Stars" designed by Sue Spurlock

Look at the hair dance on this piece.  I love the swirling stitches and the beads.  I think the addition of the bead work has taken this piece from nice to wonderful and eye grabbing....what do you think?  I think Valarie and Sue are very generous because the instructions and patterns are included in the book.  Rest assured if I had created this beautiful piece....I'd charge you a whole lot more to share the instructions and patterns!  I wish I were kidding...but I'm not. 

Valerie takes us through the choosing of beads, threads, tools, quilting methods, fusible applique as well as hand sewing techniques.  She also covers quilt assembly techniques...binding and making the hanging sleeve.  I am absolutely certain that if you can hold a needle and do some basic stitching....there isn't a one of us who can't make any one of these beautiful projects.  The projects include  purses, a pillow, table runner, fridge magnets, art quilts and a card. 

"Tagalong Handbag"  designed by Veronica Hofman Ortega

I would be proud to have this handbag when I go out.  Veronica has taken some plain fabrics and given them life with her beautiful stitching and beads.  Seriously...look back at the photo of the "Tagalong Handbag"....just focus on the fabric and imagine it without the beads and stitches.....another amazing transformation! 

You know "Love Letters" by Deborah Boschert grabbed my attention.  She used Marcia Derse Fabrics and I'm a fan of Marsha Derse Fabrics.  I have some fabric left from my Derse Purse so now I have a great idea for using those scraps....thanks Deborah!  I took this photo on my iphone and it pales in comparison to the photo in the book....this is a beautiful art quilt.

Do you remember when Jim Carey said, "Somebody Stop Me", in the movie Mask?  That's exactly how I feel right now....like I just can't stop myself from showing more photos....I'm so bad.  (I'll put a link to the clip of Jim Carey at the end of this post just in case you don't remember or didn't see it....and need a good laugh today)

" Jewels Of Our Past" designed by Larkin Jean Van Horn

I'm going to leave you hanging here.....aren't I just terrible?  By the way....this is not a  button....it is a beaded applique....and I know you will love the rest of the piece when you win this book.

In the back of Creative Quilting with Beads, Valerie has included 12 Gallery pages. 

Queen of Heaven II by Patti Shaw is a piece shown on one of the Gallery pages.  This was made with commercial cotton fabric, photo transferred, hand quilted seed beads and sequins. The 12 pages in the Gallery are full of more photos as beautiful and amazing as this one.

Creative Quilting with Beads is a must have for anyone who loves to stitch and wants to add some pizazz to anything they create and lots of things they haven't created.  Sixteen different artists have contributed to the book ....there is something here for everyone.

So....I ask.....Who would like to win a copy of Creative Quilting with Beads....other than me?  I'm going to make you work for this one....it is going to take a little more than a simple, "count me in" to get this book out of my hands :)

If you are an IHAN blog follower....you will need to leave a comment on this post before Thursday March 1st telling me why you need this book more than I do. 

Is one chance not enough for you?   If you are jones'in to have this book and will agree to participate in a future  IHAN challenge inspired by Creative Quilting with Beads I'll give you 3 extra entries.  You say you want informed consent?  My readers are no dummies. The challenge will be announced as soon as I know who wants to participate and the project can be any size....seriously....you can make an inchie and qualify....so go ahead and plunge head first into my devious plans to get all of you to make something beautiful. 

The winner of Creative Quilting with Beads will be announced on Thursday March 1st.....so you need to start to think about how many chances you want to win this wonderful book.  There is a total of 4 chances available.

Smiles,
Kelly

If you need a good laugh...you can watch Jim Carey translate how I was feeling when writing this post :)