Northcott Fabrics at Spring Quilt Market 2010 in Minneapolis

Yes I realize IHAN does not sell  Northcott Fabric (cottons that feel like silk-is their motto-and it does feel wonderful from my personal experience).   IHAN is too lazy to cut a zillion pieces of fabric to sell to all of those fabric addicted folks that lurk on this planet....including me!!!  Not only too lazy but I know that I would not sell it...I would keep it and pray Uncle Sam believed me when I told him that my tax deduction was based on the number of layers of  lovely cotton insulation I had in my home.

Since we don't sell it I don't know all the names of the fabric lines.  So if you love these...click on the Northcott link and I guarantee you there will be all the information you need to learn the name of the line as well as where you can find it locally or on the net.

 

By now you may be asking, why in the hoodly doodley did you bother stopping by the Northcott Schoolhouse if you don't sell Northcott fabric...right?  Well....take a look at the gal in the next picture and you will know exactly why I was there.  Who would  not want to know what was making her GLOW.

When a woman glows like this....something very fun is up and I just had to know what it was.  This is definitely RED CARPET Glow...don't you think? 

From doing a bit of research I have learned this gal's name is Kim Deneault and she is a designer.  I recall  her telling me that her  girlfriend had made the jacket for her (it is Northcott fabric) and the necklace too.  She was absolutely radiant and if I were her....I'd sleep in the jacket too!!!  (Then again, if I were her.....I'd probably just have the thing tattooed onto my skin because I'd want to look this beautiful forever)

What a happy and beautiful woman!!!

More Northcott pix......

Oh, yes, Santa was to visit the Northcott Schoolhouse too.  Santa?  Yes, and if you think the little girl inside IHAN would miss Santa....you are just plain w r o n g .

Just outside the schoolhouse appeared none other than Mark Lipiniski.  Who?  Yes, Mark Lipinski.  He began putting on a white beard and then it all became clear to me....Santa must be  working overtime at the North pole and he had asked Mark if he could fill in for him....OK....I get it now.  Sometimes these things happen and we just have to go with the flow.  No one can be everywhere at one time....right?  Right!!

 

 

Mark had a little, something un-Santa like on his beard and I certainly did not want to traumatize anyone....so here you can see me giving him a little Elf like help.

I'm still not certain how this photo came about.  I handed my camera to an innocent by-stander and asked if they would take my pix with Santa....and then....Santa did something I did not expect......

I think this is when it became ultra clear to me that Mark had taken this Santa -fill in job- as seriously as Tim Allen did and he wanted to show everyone what happens when the "Santa" thing strikes.  I remember photos similar to these of me....not too long ago....when the "Mommy thing" struck.....my belly looked something like this.....well...I don't remember it being fuzzy....LOL.

Mark Lipinski -aka fill- in -Santa's latest line of fabric, "Chester Gardens."

The Santa persona quickly disappeared and I think everyone knew it was really Mark Lipinski- especially when he started throwing fat quarters of his latest fabric line into the crowd.

 

I was fortunate enough to catch one of the fat quarters and sent it to a friend.  I was hoping she would get a kick out of it.

With the IHAN co-workers being out of school, I'm not as fast at posting as I'd like to be....but please stay tuned....I may have a little bit of time soon to do a few posts at one time...:)  Thank you to everyone who leaves a comment.  Please don't take it personally if I can't answer each one individually....it is sometimes tricky to keep all the IHAN balls in the air.....and keeping the co-workers on track.

Smiles,

Kelly

Aurifil Thread Heist at Spring Quilt Market 2010 in Minneapolis

Meet Davide Moro, from Aurifil Threads.  Davide, I'm pleased to introduce you to the IHAN blog readers.

Poor Davide was walking down the hallway just before Schoolhouse at Quilt Market opened. I yelled in my oh so polite voice, Mr. Aurifil, and I chased Davide down for a photo. He was so polite to turn and smile. Little did he know that it was just a plan to get him accustomed to being distracted in preparation for the IHAN Aurifil Thread Heist!!! It worked :)

Later in the morning I ran in to Alex Veronelli, from Aurifil Threads, (same goes for Alex as Ricky yesterday and anyone else with their eyes closed : )  I would recognize his face....even on Facebook!!!

Little does Alex know the only Aurifil Thread  he will be able to sell will be the Aurifil he sells at Sample Spree because the rest will be gone in a IHAN blink!!!  See how relaxed he looks. 

Davide is friendly enough to say hello again later in the day.  Just as I got close enough to him and he relaxed (his breathing was nice and even and his arms loosely dangled at his sides) I went in for the initial IHAN tactical move -

The IHAN head lock!!! 

My plan was to learn the exact amount of pressure I would need to keep him at bay should he try to defend the Aurifil Thread Stands!  See ladies and gentleman, you have to "case the joint" before you rob it.  Casing the "joint" (Aurifil Booth) is part of the planning process.  I learned this from a really big mobster (Al Capone) while in the Pokey.

Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts, was just finishing up her Schoolhouse lecture when this photo was taken. Since Edyta knows me, she was very relaxed as she posed for a photo.  The woman she was posing for just loves Edya's book, "Hop To It."  Edyta is completely unaware that I was reaching into her bag to take her Aurifil Thread Kit.  Notice she does not even  flinch.

I know, bragging about a theft is not typically polite....but since I know I'll be judged by a jury of my peers, who in their right mind would blame me?  Not a quilter, right? 

Since this was just a dry run, I gave Edyta's Thread Kit back to her.  Her husband, now all trim and fit, was giving me "the look."  You know "the look?"  The one where he is telepathically saying, "you touch her Aurifil Thread Kit again and I'm going to clock you!!  Yes, that one.  He definitely looked like he could run faster than me so I backed away slowly.


Later in the day.....

Davide was so compulsive he could not stop arranging the Aurifil display.  He had to be sure everything was  just perfect.  Since I noticed he was hyper-focused, I felt  invisible as I crawled up to the display to steal the  first box of Aurifil Thread.

As Davide, Alex and Elena were chatting with customers, I took the opportunity to grab my first Aurifil Thread display.  I wanted it to be small enough that I could still run fast without dropping a single spool.  If it were bags of money I were stealing  I might not mind as much  if a few bills flew away.....but I was not about to let even one spool of Aurifil Thread roll away.  NOT A CHANCE!!

I could not contain my joy as the security cameras captured my grin!!!  I forgot to shoot out the security camera with my IHAN secret ray gun that zaps all security cameras and renders them useless until the "Red Head" disappears from sight.

Here I am running right past the cleaning lad, she never even noticed.  I'm 6 feet tall and I've never let my height get in the way of stealing Quilting Notions.  Most folks are fooled by the smile and friendly persona this IHAN thief puts on.....little do they know that they are the unsuspecting targets of a IHAN Aurifil Thread Heist.

I lost my finesse as Alex Veronelli turned just in time to see me tilting the Aurifil Display onto my dolly (a pair of my size 12 roller skates.  They double as a great dolly).  I quickly put on the IHAN friendly smile and pretended I was "just playing."  The entire time my dark inner thoughts were "Look Mr. AV....I'm not letting you or anyone else get in the way of my desires....so just back your silver-haired-self with the lover-like-eyes OFF and away from MY Aurifil Display!!!"

I knew I would be too much for him.  Look at his smile.  He is showing a little frustration but the IHAN determination gleans right through my teeth.  This Aurifil Thread will be mine!!! 

Later,  I went for the big spools.  My only regret, I did not think to wear bigger underwear.  Can you imagine what I could have done with Triple G's?  I could have had several in one trip.  Next time I'll be better prepared :)

Ooops, I'm coming undone....one little thread at a time. 

Most gals want smaller waists and pant sizes.  NOT me!!!  The bigger the better.  I'm such a perfect sized Gal that I can stuff The Ultra Collection by Mark Lipinski right into my pants.  Well, I guess I ate too much at breakfast.....so I did the next best thing......

I stuffed it up my shirt.  How noticeable could it be?

Not very ay?

Now for the back loader.  I figure I can manage a few Aurifil Thread Kits in the back right?

Well, there may be a little bit of IHAN sticking out of the right side of my shirt.  If there were less of that I would have had more room for the Aurifil Thread Kits.  Now that is REAL incentive to get rid of the extra IHAN on my sides, right?  RIGHT!!!

The Grand Finale

I had just commandeered a Forklift and off with the Aurifil crate I drove.....all the way back to IHAN.

Aurifil Thread displays are now at IHAN....and they are only for me.  Sorry I can't share....I'm saving them just in case I get sent to the Pokey and need bail.  I'm offering one of each color to anyone who posts bond. 

 

The remainder of all of these Aurifil beauties will be split equally with the jury at my trial.  Now see if you have a leg to stand on Alex, Davide and Elena!!   The three of you will burst into tears when the Judge takes her gavel/donker and swings it into the air in a free motion quilting type move and announces the verdict -

NOT GUILTY

ON THE GOUNDS THAT AURIFIL WAS JUST WAY TOO TEMPTING!!!

It will be Aurifil's fault and they will have to pay a hefty fine to IHAN for the emotional pain and suffering that was caused by having to gaze upon their lovely Aurifil Threads and Kits.  This is what I call a Win/Win situation :)

 

It is so important to return to the "scene of the crime" so you don't look like a "real" suspect.  So I casually walked back by their display to see Edyta Sitar's  "A Few of My Favorites 50wt Aurifil Thread Set" .  It is absolutely beautiful...don't you think? 

 Then I casually gazed at Pat Sloan's 40wt Machine Piecing and Quilting Thread Kit and then at her 50wt Machine Quilting and Applique Thread Kit.   I was happy to see Pat's Sweet Liberty Heart Kit all made up.  I really like this pattern.

I just want to close by saying I can not confirm nor deny the "validity" of this post.  Since honesty is an IHAN value.....I will just say.....I'm honestly not confirming nor denying any part of this story!!!

The IHAN Poppy Queen Wave

I will however confirm and validate that all of the following spools of Aurifil Thread was lawfully purchased by me at Sample Spree.

Here they are all lined up.....oh I love to fondle my spools of thread :)  Some are Wool and some are 50 wt.  But I love them all equally!!

Thieving Smiles,

Kelly