Announcement!

I Have A Notion blog and store have moved to:


the store can be found at


There is a much easier to navigate store, with new items. The blog has its own page as well... new content too.

The blog is now at www.ihaveanotion.com/blog

Please come and visit!

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Toledo Needle Arts Guild "Get It Finished"

Our last meeting was the "Get It Finished" entries. I think Nikki Belitz had almost two entire tables full. Her work was not only beautiful but very festive. She loves Halloween and she allowed me to photograph some of her Punchneedle to share with you on my blog. I hope to get the pattern authors correct here:



The first two, Autumn Gathering Bags are from Stone and Thread.

This is Two Birds on a Branch Pincushion by Kindred Spirits Designs.

This is Boo Kitty by Theresa Kogut Inc. Theresa happens to be in our guild too. You have to check out her site...she is a very talented artist. I love the frame on this one too. Nikki really finishes her work beautifully.

Meet Wacky Witch by Pine Mountain Designs. Now this is what I call a celebration of Halloween :)

Night Watch by Threads That Bind. The colors in this piece really pop. Nikki does a great job of mixing her threads too.

Mini Pumpkins was designed by Barb Kemp of Hooked on Rugs. I just so happen to have Barbara's book, Punchneedle Embroidery, on the front of my website too. She has some wonderful designs.

This one is Harvest Home by Pine Mountain Needle Works.

Star Pumpkin is a Chessie & Me pattern by Linda Lautenschlager. I'm working on putting her link in here. When I hear back from her, I'll add the link.

Cat in the Jack is the title of this one. It is by Brenda at Country Stitches. Brenda has a blog that is fun too.

Every one of these were done by Nikki....isn't that amazing? For me it is. I'm hoping she enters these in our Needle Work Exhibit on Sept. 25th and 26th. Otherwise I'll finish up some of mine and people will have a shabby impression of how wonderful Punchneedle Embroidery can be. She has so many more that I did not post.
Nikki, Thank You so much for sharing your beautiful work with everyone. I love to show other people's work because I believe it inspires others to try something new and/or inspires them to continue to create.
Smiles,
Kelly
PS....Starr....better get home from the lake...we have lots of lessons to get me up to speed :)

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Summer Fun / Terrror

The boys are back in school now. But before they went, we decided to squeeze in some last minute summer fun.

Our neighborhood has an Annual Labor Day Picnic in the commons area. This year there were some additional categories of fun: Men's Cake Decorating Contest, Pie Baking Contest, and Children's Cookie Contest. We entered something in every category.

Rick made the cake below using one of his mother's recipes. My nephew, Nick, decorated the cake. I thought for sure they would win first place....but not this year. Isn't their cake interesting? In case you can't tell what is on that cake...I'll tell you...a golf ball, a golf tee, a TV remote, a flashlight, screws, bolts, batteries, drill bits and a screw driver. It was put on 4 Woodworking magazines and then C-clamps were used to bolt it to the table. Cute ay?

I entered a low cal key lime pie. It took first place. Don't be too impressed please....there were only two pies entered. LOL

Aaron and Zach's cookies are to the upper right. They made sugar cookies and they looked just like a 5 and 6 year old made them. Very sweet indeed.

The Sunday prior to Labor Day we took the boys and my nephew, Nick to "Cedar Point Amusement Park, Roller Coaster Capital of the World." There is a story here....when isn't there a story?

Nick is 14 and he had his first summer job this summer. He took several classes and worked hard all summer. With school looming he was feeling the stress. I asked my sister if I could take him to Cedar Point for a day of fun to remind him that being a kid is about fun too....not just hard work. She hesitated thinking it might not be fun for a 14 year old to go to Cedar Point with a 5 and 6 year old. I assured her there would be lots of opportunities for Nick to have 14 year old fun too.
Rick, Nick, and Aaron rode the log ride and got soaked. Zach was too little but he stood on the bridge while the boat splashed down into the water and he got totally and completely soaked. He was laughing and squealing the entire time.

Mommy barely squeezes into the Jr. Gemini for a coaster ride with the boys.

On the subject of roller coasters. Riding a roller coaster is next to sucking on a poison dart in my book of things to do. I might rather walk on busted glass....honestly. I hate them and always have. They terrify me. So when I invited Nick I thought Rick would ride them with him and I would take the boys to Camp Snoopy. Those good plans went right into the toilet. Rick rode the Tilt-A-Whirl with the boys and got sick. He did not want to ride another ride all day. Where does that leave Nick? This kid needs fun....I sware I only rode those ugly beasts out of the love for my nephew. I was there at his birth (his brother, Stephen, too) and I love them dearly and I guess this is my way of not letting him down.....I was tortured several times during the day.

This is the Power Tower:
"You can't miss Power Tower: four 240-foot-tall towers topped with connecting arches. Two of the towers blast riders UP, while two will thrust riders DOWN -- all in 3 seconds at more than 50 mph!"

I'm afraid to say I rode this very gruesome ride. I had my choice of being ripped up into the air or dropped down. I let Nick choose. We were taken up, up, up into the sky....dangled for 30 seconds....then dropped completely to the ground. Yes I hated it....but I have to admit it ended rather quickly and the pain passed just as quick. I survived....barely.
(the following pix were all "borrowed" from www.CedarPoint.com.

This is the Wicked Twister
"It's the tallest and fastest double-twisting impulse coaster in the world. It's two twisting towers reach a height of 215 feet and the coaster careens down the track at a top speed of 72 mph." Yes I did this too.


Top Thrill Dragster-
"Keep Arms Down, Head Back, and Hold On!"

"Get ready for the ride of your life. This amazing speed machine is one of the tallest and fastest roller coasters on Earth. Climb aboard unique dragster-style trains and inch forward to the starting line. The engine revs. Your heart pumps. The tree lights count down to green and you're launched to speeds of 120 mph in less than 4 seconds.

The rides just getting started as you climb 420 feet into the air, crest a massive hill and spiral 270 degrees as you speed towards the finish line. The entire experience is over in 17 seconds."
I got in line to ride this with Nick and it was closed (Glory!!!). Nick kept saying it only lasts 17 seconds you'll be fine. Those would have been the longest 17seconds of my life. I'm so glad I did not have to ride that one. Nick rode it later in the day...two times and once sitting in the front!!! Can you say, "INSANE?"

Millennium Force
"Consistently voted the "Best Steel Coaster in the World," Millennium Force broke TEN world records when it opened in 2000.

Riders climb the 310-foot-tall lift hill smoothly and quickly and dive towards the earth at an 80-degree angle at speeds of 93 mph! It's all speed and airtime as Millennium Force hugs the ground, climbs onto an island and twists and turns as it flies towards the station."
Yes I rode that too!! The next one as well :(

Magnum XL-200
History. Thrills. A True Legend.
"Magnum opened in 1989 as the tallest, fastest roller coaster in the world at 205 feet tall with top speeds of 72 miles per hour."
Please, Please, Please click HERE and just sit back and take a minute to share my experience. I'd like to say that was all Nick did that day....but no....he did other things that were simply unbelievable.
Typically an applique pattern frightens me.....not any more baby. I'm so glad to be alive I might just try any pattern now.
Smiles,
Kelly

Monday, September 14, 2009

Sizzling Hot

Does anyone remember this post? Well....I'm finished and I'm soooo excited. I have wanted a fall table cover for ever but I wanted to make it myself. I never made one for the kitchen table because of the boys. I fear it would be ruined in a day with silly puddy or gack. So I made this for my round table in my entry way.



This is from Lacey Hill's book, Sizzling Circles!!! It is a flip and sew so there are no bindings. Quilt as you go leaves you with the four circles then they are joined making the beautiful flower in the middle. Then I machine appliqued the leaves. I just love it.

The only problem I seemed to have was deciding on the fabric for the leaves. I have an additional 12 leaves cut out for another project. I just did not have the right green in my stash. On Saturday I went over to the Quilt Foundry in Maumee, OH. Margaret Okuley, one of the owners and EQ "Quilter Extraordinaire" was working on Saturday and she had no problem picking out just the right green for this pattern. How lucky was I to have walked in and got what I needed right away without any effort on my part? (unless you call walking in effort lol). I was thrilled. I wished I had gone there first...I would have saved some really nice batiks. Live and learn.

I did the blanket stitch by machine for the first time and I think it came out pretty good. Normally I stitch by hand but I wanted to finish this right away....not next year :)

Smiles,
Kelly

New Gadgets

If you are looking for something I've written about but don't want to have to read my entire blog....do a search (it is on the sidebar of this blog). Even if you are not looking....do a search....it is a neat tool. Best of all....it was free....just like blogger :) You know I love free stuff.

Smiles,
Kelly

Sunday, September 13, 2009

Clover and Nancy Zieman

Checker 61st Anniversary Open House
Chapter 10


And you thought I had forgotten....nope....just took a little break.

Louis Carson and Nancy Zieman were at Checker's Open House. I spent some time talking with Nancy and Lou and I learned about some notions that I think are very cool. Join me on my little tour here.....

Of course I'm not going to miss a photo opportunity with Nancy Zieman.


Nancy demonstrated her Trace and Create Handbag Templates. These are definitely no-brainers. Just lay the template down, trace and sew. I instantly thought of my girlfriend who is scared to start sewing and loves handbags and my 14 year old neighbor who is in 4H. She loves to sew and with these templates her Mom and I could chat and drink coffee while she sews :)


To make the process simple, Nancy also has the Create a Strap Interfacing. You just press, fold and stitch. No kidding. It comes in 5/8, 1, and 1 1/4 inch widths. You want piping....ok....Bag & Wearable Art Piping is available too....just fuse fabric around the piping....no need to create the piping!! It does not get any easier than that!!

The Double Sided Basting Tape Nancy uses in her handbag construction really caught my eye. It is basically a double sided adhesive (very good adhesive...really sticks if you know what I mean) and it adheres to fabric, paper, plastic or wood. Nancy uses it for the construction of her handbags. I could think of 1,000 uses for that wonderful stuff. I bought 3 rolls just for myself....no kidding. When I want to put embellishments or Punchneedle on top of other creations and I don't want the stitching to show....I'm using this adhesive!!!

The Stack and Store Bobin Tower was really neat. I liked the way it holds your threads so there is no threads hanging. Click here if you want to see how it works.


Lou was kind enough to show me the "Hami-Ami" Flower Maker. I thought it was cool for making embellishments.




He also had the ever so incredible Protect and Grip Thimbles. Mary Jane discovered it at Quilt Market and it has been a huge....huge....huge success. I've lost count of the number of thimbles I've sold and everyone comes back to tell me how much they like them. Beware.....they seem to disappear quickly....someone asks to see it and yep.....it gets passed around and then gone!!! Truth is they are not stolen....I end up giving mine away....the person liked it so much I had to give them mine. Guess I need to carry a stash in my van ay?

Lou did not bring the Clover Mechanical Tracing Pencils. They come in yellow, silver and pink. He said he would send me one to try. I hear they are good....but I have to try it for myself. I'm still in search of the best tracing pencil out there.

That's all for now...time to sign off and get back to my sewing machine :)

Smiles, Kelly

Giveaway Alert

I thought this pix might wake everyone up (in US) this morning. Are you bright eyed and bushy tailed now? I am....I think the best part of entering this giveaway was listening to some fun music I had never heard before and seeing the graphic arts.

Click on over to Sew Fantastic and bop in your seat, enjoy the fun, you'll be glad you did.

Bopping Smiles,
Kelly

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Viewers Choice for the Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Cloth Is...

Congratulations Diane G.
You had the most votes and you win the Viewers Choice Award :)

Diane has won some Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose cloth so she can make more wonderful creations in the future. I will also be giving her a gift from IHAN as well.

I want to thank everyone who voted and participated in this Challenge. Another Special Thanks to Rockland Industries for allowing me to do this Challenge.
Three very generous women: Amy Anderson from ModPodgeRocks, Ellen Highsmith Silver author of "Floorquilts" and Shelly Stokes from Cedar Canyon Textiles and author of "Painstiks on Fabric." These three ladies did not even hesitate when I asked them to contribute to the gifts for this Challenge. I truly thank all of you for allowing me the pleasure participating.

Smiles,
Kelly

Friday, September 11, 2009

Giveaway Alert

Many of you already know that I confessed to having more scrapbook paper than any one person needs. So you won't be at all surprised to see that I found some lovely vintage embellishments over at Carol Anne's Boutique.

This is a picture of what she is giving away. If I win that collection I'm going to need to take some time off from work and start making some really wonderful cards and pages. We are talking serious addiction time here!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Please Get Your Votes In

Votes for the Viewers Choice Award in the Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Cloth need to be in by tomorrow, Friday, September 11, 2009.

I have only 8 votes. Feel free to vote for yourself....or someone else. You're going to cry if you don't win and you did not vote. No tissues being offered here!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Needle Arts Guild of Toledo

Last night, I went to my needle arts guild meeting. We always have such a good time. I really and truly enjoy these ladies. There is always laughter and something beautiful to look at (other than their faces of course!!)

We are having an exhibit and I thought if you were local you might enjoy coming and you might even want to enter some of your work. You don't have to be a member to enter your work. The only stipulation for entry it your item has to be made with a needle with an eye!!!

If you are not local and want to come please call me first so I can arrange to pick you up from the airport or bus/train station personally!!!



Friday, September 25, 2009

10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
and
Saturday, September 26, 2009

9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Toledo Lucas County Public Library
SANGER BRANCH
3030 W. Central Avenue
Toledo, OH 43606

I will be demonstrating on Friday, September 25th from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. and greeting from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. Come on over and visit with us....I promise you won't be disappointed....you might be needle pointed but not disappointed!!

Smiles,

Kelly

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

I Have A Notion Now Sells Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Cloth

Well, I never thought I would be selling cloth....but I am. For everyone who asked about getting some of this terrific fabric you can now order HERE. If you are interested in other sizes you can e-mail me at IHaveANotion@Yahoo.com

Please don't forget to vote for you favorite Roc-Lon Challenge Entry. If you missed them....click HERE.

Excited Smiles,
Kelly

Roc-Lon Challenge Photos and Winner Announcement

So you ask what can you make with an 8 1/2" x 11" piece of Multi-Purpose Cloth from Roc-Lon Industries? Well let me show you what 13 talented and fun loving folks did with their cloth. I'm up loading these in no particular order:



Submitted by Diane G. I also uploaded the close up for everyone to enjoy.

Diane said, "I loved working on this! Thank you so much for the opportunity. I had a blast! I wanted to try as many techniques as possible on this cloth! The basic design was painted with water color paints. I didn't Gesso it and it blended into a nice, watery effect. Next was thread painting! My machine easily stitched thru the fabric. I decided to try hand beading, and found the really tiny quilting needle went effortlessly thru the fabric with the beads. Of course, appliquƩ was an option, and I appliquƩd the ladybug with fusible web, and then stitched down a butterfly in the center to create a 3D effect with the wings standing up. It looked like it needed a border, so I stitched a black bias on the edges. I was surprised it stitched so easily. I plan to glue this to a journal or photo album. I'd like to know where to buy this locally; I plan to do some orange-ish backgrounds with black/brown tree silhouettes for Fall and attach it to a jean jacket back! I can think of many uses for this."

For those of you who missed my post, this is the booty I made. I was not entered in the challenge. I just wanted to take the challenge too :)
Submitted by Lacey Hill.
Lacey's description, " Attached is my 20 minute Mug Rug. I printed my website background graphics onto the Roc-lon - both side. Created the 4” circles with my Circles & More Ruler and used my Sizzling Circle technique to finish it off."
Picture entered by Linda S. (CraftyLady).

Linda said, "I thought I had to keep the paper the same size so I didn't make it very dimensional. I did stamp it, painted on it cut it, embossed it, and sewed it. I added fabric ,glitter, glue, brads, beads, yarn and paper. I cut it to see how easy it was to sew pieces onto and if it could be manipulated to become a raised surface.

I found all of the techniques and extras worked. I did have some slight rippling with the heat from the embossing. The fabric was sturdy and manipulative, easy to sew on and paint on. It would be good as a canvas for painters and sculpting would be easy as it can be glued and sewn. The color could easily be changed by using a variety of types of paint.

I thoroughly enjoyed this creative experience and would use the fabric for future creative endeavors....possibly jewelry, sculpting or painting."

Submitted by Catherine Elliott.
Catherine said, "I made a little puppet theater with my piece of Roc-Lon multi-Purpose cloth. I cut a hole in the cloth (Love the no fray cuts!)
I used acrylic paint, sewed a fabric house around it, and used clothespins for legs to make it stand up. Of course, I had to make a few clothespin puppets to star in the show!"

Submitted by Julia Wood.

Julia's description, "Here's what I did with my fabric, which I am now in love with. So many possibilities! After sewing the star, I painted it with Setacolor Paints."

Julia sent me another e-mail and I thought I would share her thoughts about this fabric.

"Yes, you have changed my life! I'm so glad I happened upon your blog and the challenge. This stuff is WONDERFUL! It has so much body, yet it's so soft at the same time. I hope it's okay that for my project, I've cut it in pieces and sewed them together. I love that it doesn't fray, too."

I think Julia really likes the cloth!!! I'm so glad I'm not alone :)

Submitted by Marsha Randles.

Marsha said, "Since this material doesn't fray, I did a 'stain glass' look. I cut out all the petal and leaf areas on the sunflower and then backed it with the yellow fabric and sewed down the middle of the "lead part". I also cut the leading apart from the sky and then fused the 2 pieces back together. I colored the leading black with rubber stamping ink. The center of the flower I cut slits in the fabric and then wove material strips and floss. The sky is painted, stamped, and splattered. It was fun to put some techniques together and see how then come out. I think this material could work well for easy stain glass window quilt work. And to explore weaving."

Submitted by Terri Stegmiller.
Terri said, "I was able to create two coffee cup sleeves from the sheet of Roc-lon that was sent to me. I cut the shape from the Roc-lon, drew a design with pencil, and painted with acrylic paint. One photo shows the sleeves flat, before they were stitched. I zigzag stitched the two ends together to form the sleeve."

Submitted by Joan Watkins.

Joan said, "Here are pictures of the tray I made using Roc-Lon.
It is crazy pieced, machine embroidered, zig-zagged edge, with black webbing stitched to the outside. Roc-Lon was really easy to work with!"

Submitted by Jocelyn Pleus. She posted the entire process on her blog, Happy Cottage Quilter.
Submitted by Sue Bleiweiss.

Sue's description, "I painted some roc-lon with Goldens Fluid Acrylic in Bone Black. When it was dry a 3"x8" piece was cut off and set aside. On the rest I applied a layer of black Mistyfuse and fused on some copper textile foil. Two strips were cut from the foiled piece and stitched to the base piece, beading was added and then the whole piece was fused to a piece of black ultrasuede and additional stitching was added around the outer edges of the cuff. The cuff closes with a metallic clasp and measures 1 3/4" x 7". "


Both of these were submitted by Vickie Collier.
Vickie's description, "After lots of thought I really wanted to try as much as I could with this fabric
First I made a table centre piece out of some lovely Ginger Blossom fabric by Sandi Henderson for michael miller
I then photographed the mat and printed in on the Roc-Lon..and trimmed all edges with pinking shears
Then I machine sewed the zip in...
I hole punched the long sides and twisty threaded a green ribbon thru....
turned it inside out and machine sewed the corners across to form bottom boxing...
I hand sewed the strap and added some bling....then popped a bling zip pull on the zip..
Thank you so much for the opportunity to try something new..
I'm happy that I managed too use the Roc-Lon in several forms of craft(so to speak)"

Submitted by Sheila Painter.

Sheila's description, "Using Jinny Beyer/RJR fabric, I fussy-cut the borders and motifs to create the rug design, mitering the corners. I machine sewed and glued, and was pleased how easy the multi-purpose cloth was to work with. I made the rug 'fringe' by painstakingly by-hand removing the warp threads from fabric strips."

And the winner chosen by Roc-Lon Industries is:
Marsha Randles' Sunflower!!!
Congratulations Marsha!!!
What did Marsha win? (where is Carol Merrill when you need her anyway?)

5 yards of 54" Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Cloth, 3 yards of 107/108" Roc-Lon Star Pattern Cheater Cloth, 2 yards 44/45" Roc-Lon Light Tea-dyed Muslin, and 2 yds Roc-Lon 108" Solid Brown - 100% Cotton, and a Surprise Gift Package from http://www.ihavea-notion.com/. More on the Surprise Gift Package on the next post :)

Smiles,

Kelly

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

We have a winner in the Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Fabric Challenge

Before the winner is announced (sorry for the late post...co-worker issues:) I will finally divulge the exact prizes the winner will receive. AND....there will be another prize....Viewers Choice Award. Everyone can vote on their favorite entry by e-mailing me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com with your vote. I will keep track of all the votes and the winner will get a different prize pack. I'm not telling what yet.....I have to keep you guessing right?

Ok....the Winner, selected by Roc-Lon Industries, gets:

5 yards of 54" Roc-Lon Multi-Purpose Cloth, 3 yards of 107/108" Roc-Lon Star Pattern Cheater Cloth, 2 yards 44/45" Roc-Lon Light Tea-dyed Muslin, and 2 yds Roc-Lon 108" Solid Brown - 100% Cotton, and a Surprise Gift Package from http://www.ihavea-notion.com/

The Surprise Gifts:
An autographed book by Shelly Stokes, "Paintstiks on Fabric" and a set of Paintstik Minis!!!



An autographed book by Ellen Highsmith Silver, "Floorquilts"!!!


Amy Anderson of "ModPodgeRocks" blog is giving a gift assortment of Mod Podge formulas!!!
I don't have a photo to put here....but you've been living under a huge rock if you don't know about ModPodge!!!
This entire challenge was just an idea I had. I want to thank Cynthia VanFleet from Roc-Lon Industries for allowing me to do this challenge.
Huge thanks to Shelly Stokes, Ellen Highsmith Silver and Amy Anderson!!! I did not buy these items.....they graciously gave them to me for the winner of the this challenge. Please be sure to stop by their sites and thank them for being such wonderful and talented ladies!!!
A really huge thanks to everyone who submitted entries!!
It was great fun!!! Don't forget to vote!!! Viewers choice votes must be received by Friday, September 11th.
Smiles,
Kelly

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