Proof I was in Minneapolis :) at Spring Quilt Market

The first IHAN photo to hit the blogosphere.  I'm guessing I just might be one of only a few folks who took almost 2,000 photos in 3 days and didn't have a Press Pass (I'm going to apply for one of those babies....I think they get free snacks :).

Yes, almost 2,000 photos.  I have to organize those little buggers to get the ball rolling.  We arrived home safely around midnight from Minneapolis.  I left everything in the van (so if you are a robber....now is a good time to hit the van....cuz I'm going to bed) and just brought my toiletries, purse and cameras in the house.  I moved all the photos over to my computer and checked my e-mails and filled orders.

I have to go to bed now....but I will start the story off at the beginning tomorrow.  Thanks a million for reading and being patient.  If you have left comments and I have not responded....just know I have a few hundred e-mails in my in-box and I will get to them.

Big -ole-happy Smiles,
Kelly

Leaving Minneapolis from Spring Quilt Market 2010

I know, I know, I know.....no photos yet.  Good news is there are a zillion people who were there that have posted photos so you can feel free to browse their pix and posts until I get home.  Rosemary and I are just leaving for home and it is 10:00 am and not 7:00 like we had hopped.  Her knee is very purple and swolen.

I don't have the time to do the proper links....but Ricky Tim's spoke to Rosemary and if you check out his blog you'll be able to see Rosemary :)

I had several peak experiences these past 4 days and my spirit is full and overflowing.  I never got to Nellie's Needles and that was one of the ladies I really wanted to meet.  I follow her blog and I was so sad that I did not get to meet her.  Also, Mary Kolb...I have your Roc-lon Multi-Purpose cloth but I could not find you....boooo hoooo.  I learned that there is a Susan Knapp that is not Susan Brubaker Knapp.  Susan when I saw your name I came running with my camera.  I stood confused.....looking at what was lovely....but not your work.  It only took me a few minutes to figure out there are two Susan Knapp's.  I missed seeing you.

I have an 11 1/2 hour drive ahead of us.....so if I can keep my eyes open long enough after I get home....you know I'll be a posting photos.

Huge Happy Smiles,
Kelly

Saturday Night in Minneapolis

Here is the truth.....yes I have a cord.....I can't get it out of the package because it is in one of those sealed for life packages where you need a saw to get through the plastic.  (Why don't people who make packaging talk to me before they design these things?  I'd at least make a package a person could open....without an electric tool :)

The last hour of Quilt Market today, one camera's battery died and 4GB photo memory card was full on the other....I feel like an Olympic photographer....who broke their stride on the last lap.  You know I promised photos....and you will get them.

I hear Rosemary is on Ricky Tim's blog but I've not seen it....so you will have to check and tell me.

I'm so tired I have to go to bed.....but not before I describe what I just saw Rosemary do.  Mind you, we are both tired....... but she is not only tired but she is in a lot of pain with her knee.  We get back to the room after having dinner with the wonderful ladies (and Larry) at Quilt Woman dot com and Rosemary gets her pajamas on.  I look over and without even realizing it, she had put her name badge from  Market on the front of her PJ top.  I laughed so hard I almost fell over.  I would say that is tired when you transfer your name tag to your sleep clothes.

I guess I'll have to buy a saw to get the cord open.  It is like the Mouse that you give a cookie to....it just goes on and on.

Smiles,
Kelly

Spring Quilt Market Minneapolis MN Day 2 Update

I'm headed to Target to see if I can find a camera cord.  I've taken over 600 photos on day one.  Anyone want to edit those photos for me?  LOL

I have some fun goodies that I collected yesterday from Schoolhouse to giveaway.  I love the little gifts they give because that means I can give them away here on my blog :)

Rosemary and I started out the day very well, then she fell and injured her knee.  She spent the day in Urgent Care and I ran from class to class to get photos and see some beautiful new products.  Rosemary does not have a break and she has a wheelchair, compliments of the Minneapolis Convention Center.  I will be moving as fast as I can to see and hear about all the fun stuff.  I'll be sure to get some autographed books to be given away after I return home.

Stay tuned....hope I find a camera cord :)

Smiles,
Kelly
ps...no spell check here....you'all will have to just pretend you don't see any mispelled words :)

Arrived Safely in Minnesota

We have arrived safely here in Minneapolis.  The drive was uneventful and our beds were comfy.  Good news is today is Schoolhouse series....I can't wait.  Bad news, so far I have not located the cable to link my camera to my computer.  Worst thing that could happen blogger wise....I won't have pix until I get home.  We'll see if I just misplaced it :)

More soon!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Off to Quilt Market in Minneapolis in just 7 hours :)

Ok, so I leave in 7 hours.....and I've not packed yet but darn tootin I'll be on the road at 7AM.  LOL

Sorry for not posting today.  I have two posts just waiting to have the last minute bits added....but I did not get the time to finish so you'll have to wait until I'm worn out tomorrow night for me to post in Minneapolis!!!

Quilt Market here I come.  All I have to say is there better be a lot of armed guards because I have a lot of blog friends who want lots of thread and fun sewing notions and the only way to get that much is ....well.....you know.....shhhhh I can't put it in writing....but you know ...right?   Don't forget you are the jury of my peers....and I expect you to show up at trial and insist that I'm innocent and just a nice person who loves to give great stuff to her friends, right?  RIGHT?  Get the story straight so we don't look guilty in court OK?

LOL....

Really Naughty Smiles

Kelly 

Tonya Rocks Big IHAN Socks....ROFL

Oh everyone has to run over to Tonya's Sewing Room blog and read her post.  Wow, she really went all out!!!
Way to go Tanya!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Lots of Great Ideas for the AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter GIVEAWAY at IHAN

Thank you to everyone who took the time to give a suggestion.  I've decided to use a variety of the ideas (except Gene's...sorry Gene!!!  LOL) so for everyone who left a comment up until the time I publish post, you will automatically get your name in the drawing an additional time.

Everyone has their strengths and as much as I love the limericks, videos, photos, stories etc.  not everyone has a blog and not everyone is interested in the same thing.  So YOU get to choose.  The more involved you get the more entries you get.

Hop over to GO! Fabric Cutter by AccuQuilt Giveaway to find out how you can enter!!

Smiles,
Kelly

GO! Fabric Cutter GIVEAWAY

DANGER WILL ROBINSON

Danger?  Possibly!!!  Especially if you are prone to getting so excited that you can't sleep at night and you accidentally use the hair dryer in the shower the next morning.  I know, I know.....but it could happen.

 

I've been thinking about ways for people to enter the Giveaway for a GO! Fabric Cutter!!!  I know many of you are not the best contortionists....and you know I would laugh myself silly watching videos of quilting contortionists...but that may be too much to ask for.....so....

What do you think would be an interesting, fun, silly, crazy, intelligent, leg slapping.......way of having people enter to win an GO! Fabric Cutter by AccuQuilt?

Leave your suggestions on this post and if your idea gets chosen, you get 10 extra entries!!!

Have fun....you know I would...LOL

Smiles,

Kelly

Lightening Strikes IHAN Twice

Remember this photo from yesterday....

(I took this photo :)

taken here in Perrysburg.  I have one to add to it....

 Check this one out.....LIGHTENING.....I bet you think it can't strike twice in one place.....you would be wrong....LOL

(note: this is not a photo I took....I just thought it was beautiful and looked like Lightening Striking Twice....but thanks for thinking even for a minute that I could take such beautiful photos:)

Remember last month when everyone and their brother wanted to win the GO! Fabric Cutter from AccuQuilt for our First Anniversary Celebration?  Well......AccuQuilt has decided to do it again!!!

How exciting and incredible is this? You know I'm thrilled because I think my GO! Fabric Cutter is the best thing since sliced bread (no, I have not tried putting bread through my cutter....yet :)  IHAN blog readers know I love giving things away. 

Now, I just have to come up with the fun details about how you can enter to win.  You know me, I'll come up with something!!!

 
Stay tuned for all the fun details :)
 
Smiles,
Kelly

Bye Bye Miss Kelly

Meet my little friends.  These little people all jumped at the chance to take a picture with me and it made my eyes well up with tears of gratitude.  Last week was my last day helping in Zach's Kindergarten class.  They had gotten me some flowers (Zach is holding them over my head with a big grin..lol).  They signed a precious card and then everyone gave me hugs.  I thought my heart would burst.

I know these photo's don't exactly go with the topic.....but they do go with my week.  Check out these amazing photos of the sky.  I looked out the window and saw how quickly the clouds were moving and changing. 

Absolutely beautiful and powerful.....interesting how dark clouds can be beautiful.

Smiles,

Kelly

Happy Campers with IHAN Prizes

This is Patty from MyLifeUnderTheBus blog.  She won the Just Bee's Pins from Just Another Button Company in the IHAN 30 days of giveaways.  I asked folks who won to send me a photo of their prize when they got it or of them using it.  I think this is a very fun photo....Thanks Patty!!!

Melissa from AndreasNest blog won the QTools Sewing and Cutting Edges. 

Attached are three pictures of my IHAN anniversary prize in action! With these strips, I can make even seems of any width. Great for piecing quilts, especially on my old machine that really isn't calibrated well at all anymore.


Thanks again!
Melissa
Green, Ohio

I think it is fun to see where all these fun things go and how people like their things.  So if you won a prize and would like to send some photos along, I'd be happy to post them.

Smiles,
Kelly

What Makes Today Wonderful?

Maddy and Zach were both born on this day!!!

Happy 21st Birthday Madeline and

Happy 6th Birthday Zachary

Two very wonderful, kind, loving, smart, thoughtful, tender, honest (for as much as one can be at

6 and 21, LOL) AMAZING people....yes they are and I love them dearly!!!

Zachary, my youngest co-worker, has a mind of his own and always has had.  Stubborn and determined don't even come close to describing this little fella.  How do you like his outfit?  He dressed himself this morning....from head to toe :)  Yes those are Halloween socks and nice dress pants with a tye-dye shirt!

Oh yes, and this "scary" necklace came from the gumball machine and he had to wear it too this morning.

All I can do is laugh and keep going.  He thinks he looks wonderful and is all happy this morning.  Who am I to tell him that he does not exactly match?  I say, it is your birthday....I love you....have a good day!!!  Then I get him on the bus and come into the house laughing myself silly.

This morning he wanted to know who the first person born on earth was.  He had to know if they shared the same birthday.  How funny is that?

Both co-workers love hearing stories about when they were babies.  So this morning I was telling Zachary how I sang Patty Cake Patty Cake to him.  Aaron was standing near (he is 7 1/2 now mind you) and he rolls his eyes and says, "Mom that is Soooo 1990's."  So I asked him if he meant 1900's and he said, "Nooo, Mom, 1990's....this is 2010 you know." 

So all of you reading this....you know we are all just SOOOOO 1990's.......but little do they know.....we'd all be thrilled to be SOOOOO 1990's.....instead of 1900's.....or in my case 1964's....ROFL.

I'm sure Maddy is still sleeping this morning.  She is LEGAL now....so my guess is she went out last night and waited until midnight and then ordered her first legal drink.  Just a guess.....not saying that is what she did.....but I'd put.....oh say.....a hundred bucks on that bet :)

Maddy just finished her third year of Nursing School and she is looking forward to some R & R this summer.  She is in FL for the summer with her new baby, Beowulf, a lab puppy.

LIFE IS GOOD
And when it's trying....eat chocolate!!

Smiles,
Kelly

This and That, Now and Then....and Always

This is That....Now is not Then....and always eat chocolate. 

Yes, this is what it has come to today....I finally have cracked....gone bonkers.....another kid with a sore throat....how does this happen?  Isn't there something we can spray them with to keep the bugs away....Cooking Spray?  Raid .... no I guess there is a little skeleton that says poison....some sort of silicone spray that does not allow any illnesses to creep onto them?  Should I send them to school wrapped in a bubble wrap filled with disinfectant?  Ok, Ok, Ok.....I'll go to bed....sleep it off....then laugh tomorrow and read my post and agree with you....sleep is the best remedy :)

Smiles,

Kelly

Happy Loving and Nurturing Day To You!!

Beautiful art by Kevin Dyer....check out his amazing art!!!

Everyone already knows I'm an odd bird....and I'm OK with that :) So I know you will understand when I wish you a Happy Loving and Nurturing Day instead of a Happy Mother's Day.  I would wish you a Happy Mother's Day,  but many readers may not be Mother's and then there are those who did not get from their Mother's what they needed so it makes Mother's Day uncomfortable or unpleasant.  I'm truly grateful you are all here so I thank your Mother and Fathers for having you no matter what the circumstances. 

I want to honor the loving, nurturing and caring spirit within each and every one of you.....Happy Loving and Nurturing Day to you!!  I hope each and every one of you are taking the best and  most loving and nurturing care of yourselves as possible no matter what your life experience is at this time in your life.

Take this day to be good to yourself and those you love.....and I'll do the same. 

Odd Bird Smiles,
Kelly

Smith Street Designs Wildflower Pattern with CD

Last Saturday I was lucky enough to be able to join some gals in the local Machine Embroidery Guild at one of their stitch-ins.  I don't have an Embroidery Machine but I've always wanted to learn what they are about.  Wow was I surprised to see the varieties of machines and the amazing quilt pattern everyone was working on.  The pattern is called Wildflower and it is by Smith Street Designs.

This is my friend, Diane's block.  Everyone was working with batiks and they were absolutely beautiful.

These machines are soooo cool.  Diane was showing me all the bells and whistles on her machine.  I was fascinated by how her machine knew just where to stitch and it moved around the hoop until it found where it was going to stitch. 

Isn't this Sunflower beautiful on the batik?

I am amazed by how sophisticated these designs and the machines are.  I know it sounds like I live under a rock and I don't.  But honestly I don't think I ever really took the time to investigate what machine embroidery is all about.  If you think Machine Embroidery is just for monogramming and little pictures on towels.....you are like me and I'm telling you there is another world out there.....I just peeked in and it sure is impressive.

Smiles,

Kelly

What A Difference 10 Years Make

Ten years ago tonight I was having the time of my life.  Rick and I were married that Saturday afternoon.  I think the look on my face tells it all.  I thought I would burst with joy. 

As a tribute to our marriage I got 10 rose bushes for our yard.  I told Rick the roses are beautiful like our life together over the last 10 years and the thorns are to remind us that we get prickly sometimes.  He laughed and said they seemed appropriate.  

I have not posted the last couple of days because my youngest co-worker has had Strep Throat. 

My oldest co-worker reached into my purse while in the doctors office and started shooting pictures.  They both use my camera and it is funny when I find close up photos of each other's mouths and stones on the ground.  Mr. Zach is feeling better and will be going to school tomorrow :)

Do you know what this is?  It is hail!!  We had a bad storm roll through and I was away from home.  Rick ran out and grabbed a piece of hail and put it in the freezer.  The next morning the boys were thrilled to see their "hail" still in the freezer.....and it is still in there now.  I just glad they did not put a critter in there....the joy of boys :)

Isn't this a lovely postcard?  I think it is so great.  Anya, HillsCreekQuilter, sent it to me after she received her prize from the Anniversary Celebration.  Thank you Anya!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Electric Quilt Company EQ 7 Pre-Order for 130.00 Upgrade 49.95

Electric Quilt Company EQ 7 Pre-Order

$130.00

 Save 59.95 

Electric Quilt Company EQ 7 Upgrade

Pre-Order

$49.95

Save 40.00

No I'm not going crazy......I've had customers that pre-purchased the software and then found lower prices.  My customers know I don't operate "Catchem and Cheatem's Bargain Store" here at IHAN so I've reduced the price.  This price will be honored here at IHAN through May 25th.  Thank you for choosing I Have A Notion :)  I would be honored if you referred IHAN to your quilting friends and groups.


Smiles,
Kelly

Do You Know Any Quilters Who Live Near Downtown Minneapolis?

Time for a little savy Quilt Networking!!!  I'm looking for a quilter or family member of a quilter who lives near Downtown Minneapolis.  There will be two of us going to Minneapolis on the night of the May 12th through May 16th EDITED HERE: 19-23rd. because I would then have to stay yet another week because Market does not start until the 19th!!!  .  All we need is a clean (non-smoking) place to sleep and shower.  I figure there is no need to pay a zillion dollars for a hotel when we are part of the most wonderful community I know of....the community of Quilters.  I've always said I wish when folks traveled they would come and sleep here for free rather than pay a zillion dollars to sleep in a hotel.  Perhaps there are others who think like me?  Ya don't know until you ask right?

I figured a Quilter might like an AccuQuilt GO as a Thank You gift.....or perhaps something else?  Hmmm....guess I'll ask the person.

We are driving so we can drive downtown but we don't way to stay too far away because we'll be very tired.  Neither of us smoke and we've never been convicted of any crimes....yet (I'm still planning that Aurifil heist!!!).

You know where to reach me.....just drop a line.  If anyone of you are passing through Perrysburg....south of Toledo.....you're welcome to give a ring and we'll make room for you.....or like Tom Bodett says, "We'll leave the lights on for ya!!!"

Smiles,
Kelly

It's A Wrap Bowl by Rosemary and Tonya's Mod Podge Prize

Most of you know I have been working on the It's A Wrap projects with my friend Rosemary.  This is her second project.  This time she used Batik fabric.

She wanted to do an oval basket and this is how it started.

And this is how it ended!!!

Great looking basket isn't it?  I'm currently in the process of using Batiks as well.  I'll post mine when I'm finished.  Beware.....this is a lot of fun.

Tonya over at Tonya's Sewing Room Blog won the Mod Podge in the IHAN Anniversary Celebration.  Check out the fun things she has made already:

A decorative thread jar and

A Magazine Bowl.....now tell me how very cool this is.....so Green and just darn right spanky!!! 

Thanks Tonya for showing us your fun projects :)

Smiles,
Kelly

Needle Felting Beginners Class with the Needle Arts Guild of Toledo

It has been several days now since I went to this Beginners Needle Felting Class at our Needle Arts Guild of Toledo meeting.  Caren Scarbrough, our past Guild President, gave us a beginners lesson on Needle Felting.  I had exactly zero experience with Needle Felting prior to this class.  All I have to say is it was fascinating. 

The piece above and this incredible gentleman were made by Kay Griffith.  All I can say about her Needle Art Skills is                     .  Her work leaves me speechless every time.  There are always those experienced Guild Members that have seem to turn every piece of work into a breath taking object of art.  She is one of those in my eyes.  Not to say there are not many more....but today, I'm talking about Miss Kay :)

Kay stitched and felted every part of this gentleman.  Isn't it incredible?  I bet I could visit her house and spend the entire time taking photos and never wanting to leave.

Caren brought her Baby Lock Felting Machine.  I did not even know such a machine existed.  It has 7 needles and no thread.  It just felts and wow it is a fast and wonderful machine.

This is a close up of the felting process.  It is much like free motion quilting.

These are some samples of other felted pieces.

Our beginners lesson was about making this birds nest.  We started out with a felting needle and a piece of Styrofoam.  We just poked and poked and turned and poked until it became the shape of an egg.  I think it was a great beginners project.  I'm going to use mine as a pin cushion. 

And I'm going to put these "Just Pins - Around the Block" in the pin cushion.  Won't that be so fun?  I think it will.  Another reason to smile.  By the way.....I'm always open for another reason to smile!!

Smiles,

Kelly