Join the Bloggers Quilt Festival 2009

Would you like to join the Blogger Quilt Festival? There are only a few days left to participate. Click here enter one of your quilts. This is just a show....no judges....so head on over and post a picture. You have nothing to loose and only a prize to win.....just for participating.

I know many of you have seen this quilt so pardon me....but I love it because of the gals who helped me make it. It is an example of lots of great ladies coming together and without each one of them....this quilt would not have come to fruition.

This is a quilt I made for my living room. I really like the circles and how they play together. Janet Bellinger of Wellsboro, PA was teaching the class at Needles Quilt Shoppe. I decided to take the class and went into Needles to select some fabric. Up until this point I had mainly made quilts as gifts for others.

Katie and Mary,owners of Needles Quilt Shop , encouraged me to pick fabrics that go with my furniture and make a quilt for myself. Well, that was a novel idea. Make something for myself!!! Hmmmm.

Our furniture was in storage and had been for almost a year. So I dug out some photos of my furniture and took them into Needles. Mary and Katie stacked so many bolts of fabric on tables that I thought their arms would fall off. I'm sure their arms have huge muscles from all that hauling and toting those bolts of fabric. I went through the stack and selected the ones I liked the best. They encouraged me to pick things I might not otherwise select as they would enhance the other fabrics I had chosen. So I stretched and got some with little flowers, stars, dots, etc.

Once I started the practice piece for sewing on a curve, I was off and running. I finished the top in less than a week (if my memory serves me correctly!!).

Janet has made many circle quilts and she also is a long arm quilter. Who better to do the quilting? After it had been quilted, my girlfriend, Mary Jane, and I sat down and worked on the piping and the binding. Mary Jane had just gotten the "Piping Hot Binding" tool and we were both eager to try it out. The piping was done in no time and the edges were nice and even. I'm very proud of this quilt and happy that all these wonderful women have helped make the finished project so beautiful. The quilt hangs over a chair in my living room.

This is the Quilt Label:

“Around and Around”

In the year 2005, I took a circle quilt class from Janet Bellinger of Wellsboro , PA at Needles Quilt Shop. Katie Mader & Mary Guinn, the shop owners, inspired me to make a quilt for myself and assisted with the selection of fabrics. Janet did the long arm quilting and my friend Mary Jane Ehlich helped me put the piping and binding on.

Completed July 2007 by: Kelly Howlett March Jackson

Take a Peek

This is my sad response to Anya's post, "I'll show you mine if you show me yours". Anya has three bags of salvages that she has collected. This is what I have:

One single lonely Salvage...yes just one. That is all I have. I have always thrown them out. Lately with my re-assignment projects....they don't come with salvages. So, I have exactly one and a very nice storage method I might add!!! You have to check out The Salvage Blog There are so many cool salvage projects. Too bad it will be awhile before I can make anything more than a G string :( And one is probably not enough for that....I don't even know if they have patterns for those....and who would I give it to? Oh just forget it....I'll just save it until I get more.

A close up so you can really see how cool my one .... yes ONE....salvage is....so very cool!!! Don't blink, you might miss it.

Remember that thread stash I was going to work on? Well, I added some new spools this week....woooo hoooo. This is the first variegated thread I've ever bought. I'm excited to use it on my machine and in my punchneedle projects. The lime green is because I don't have much lime green left and I did happen to remember that while shopping!!! All these things we need to keep in our heads...what threads we have...what we need...what we may need....what we want....oh my this is very difficult....How do we do it???

Since I'm showing you my storage method (for my one salvage)....I figured I might as well open the kimono and show you the whole kit and caboodle. So here is my sewing area. I did not however include my two racks of fabric and other stash items. Nor did I include the storage of my other sewing related items. There is a reason for this....one to build suspense (like the James Bond movies....only with no music and not very much drams) and the other is that my son Zach was screaming that he wanted lunch. So, I'll get back down again soon and take some more pictures.

I had the grid walls from a previous business. I decided to sell most of what I had and keep these to store my threads and sewing notions. They have come in very handy. I especially like that I can move the pegs around to suit my needs. You can definitely see these are candid pictures and not staged at all....I did not even clean up my area....just point and shoot :)

FYI: My Store does take checks so don't hesitate to place an e-mail order instead of using the website to order.

Smiles,

Kelly

STUMBLE, SABLE, AFGO, & BALOGNA

You might want to add some new terms to your sewing language. Stumble and Sable. I have more of course but they're not all acronyms.

Stumble- Stash Taking Up Most Baskets & Living Environment

Sable- Stash Accumulated Beyond Life Expectancy

AFGO- Another Flipping Growth Opportunity (when you have to tear the same zipper out 4 or 5 times)

Pandabalognium- Pronounced- Panda Bologna-Um That is when all heck breaks loose like pandemonium but there is a hint of Bologna going on. (Feel free to use the other three as your own....but this one is mine girls....I made it up and I'm a keepin it)

Just thought I would start out this day with a vocabulary lesson. Now on to the best and most interesting topic of all...Gifts....espceially gifts given to ME. This is a miniature made by MJE and it is one of Bonnie Hunter's patterns. I remember when Mary Jane saw this and got excited. She and I sorted through her scraps....and I made fun of her for having all those scraps (be careful what you laugh at....you may either become it....or begin to value it). I know it is not the best picture but it is one I have here handy. It hangs in my sewing area and I just love it.


There were many e-mails and comments yesterday about my "re-assignment surgery" analogy. This poor guy was born a prince and will die a frog!!!

One woman commented that her daughter wanted a quilt made from her childhood clothing. The woman tried to cut it up but had a very hard time. Ladies.....this is exactly why doctors do not do surgery on their family members.....send those things out to your most trusted surgeon/stitching friends for re-assignment!!!

No, I'm not into Vudu....this is a pin cushion silly....where is your mind lately?

Smiles,

Kelly

The Cliff Hanger Revealed

You can breath now....I made it. Barely, but I made it. I hope those bitten nails heal soon. The Cottage Quilter will be very happy that I had enough thread to complete all four of her Bag Tags. She should be getting them in the mail soon. Now I need to focus on that thread stash!!!

Smiles,

Kelly

"Reduce, Reuse and Recycle"

I am totally and completely behind this phrase (you have to really look hard or use your imagination cause I'm not that thin)...I love to re-purpose and recycle lots of things. I usually have more fun doing that than I do buying retail and going home to make something with it. You may have heard about my treasure hunting at the Rummage Sale and Garage sales this weekend. Here are some pix of those great 100% cotton shirts I got to for making a quilt. Four of them by chance coordinate with 5 others I had gotten a few months back. I may have enough to do the disappearing 9 patch I'm planning. The idea for using men's shirts came from Bonnie Hunter and her book, Scraps and Shirttails.


A quick funny here....I put these in the washer and Rick finished putting the clothes in the dryer and then folded them. He was very puzzled when he saw all these men's shirts in the laundry. Rick called me from another room and asked, "Kelly.....what are these?" I didn't have the courage to tell him that I'm am having on-going affairs with several men that wear different size shirts....so I just told him they were for a quilt. Can you believe he fell for that one?

Then there was this Old Navy bag. It was not big enough to hold an umbrella. The fabric was cute and it had two little handles. I could only guess it came with a bathing suit in it or something. Really nothing usable.....or was it? I saw a fun Bag Tag in my future and got so excited that I forgot to take a before picture. Schucks or as I taught my boys to say Schuckeleydoo!!! Take my word for it....the little bag would not hold a bottle of sun tan lotion it was so small. I even used the handle for the Bag Tag. When I cut the bag apart I could not bare to throw away that little "Old Navy" tag....so I used it as an embellishment. Waste not, want not :) [I know what you are thinking...."I'm so glad she did not find an old bra or pair of underware" Am I right?]

After I completed the re-assignment surgery on the little bag I started making the Bag Tags for the winners from the "Tag You're It" giveaway. Ever notice how you use the same ruler and read the same measurements....but something funny happens? Take a look.....

They came out different widths and lengths....How does that happen? I'm really asking you that....How does that happen? Please tell me. Perhaps I need to wear my glasses downstairs.

I selected the fabric for the giveaway Bag Tags from my stash. The gals e-mailed me their color preferences. I have a fabric stash....not a really big one....but one none the less. I guess I never planned on needing a thread stash too!!! Take a look at this.....I needed it to stretch for a bobbin and top thread for 4 Bag Tags.....do you think I made it?

Stay Tuned: A Cliff Hanger....please don't chew on your nails while awaiting the outcome :)

Smiles,

Kelly

What do you call a scared tyrannosaurus?

A nervous rex. This came from a book that I will tell you about at the end of my post....just thought it was cute :)

These bags are called Hioto Bags and I think they make great Gym bags and overnight bags too. I use mine almost everyday when I go to the gym. It is very big and I can fit all my necessaries into it (except my shoes....that happens when you are 6 feet tall and have a size 12 foot). I've made between 6 and 8 for gifts and here are some that I've made recently and have given away.

Pam's Bag
Rachel's Bag

Tracy's Bag

They are reversible you can make them in any size as long as you adjust the fabric accordingly. I'm not sure where the pattern originated but I've seen these bags everywhere. You might notice I put those great bag tags on them too!!!

Yesterday was a great BARGAIN day for me. I went to a few garage sales and to a Church Rummage sale. I was able to get several 100% cotton men's shirts for 2.00. The church was finishing their sale and told the group to fill a bag for 2.00. I had no trouble filling a bag. I also got some really neat vests to use for fabric postcards. I also got a few needlework books and a joke book for kids. So here are a few for you to stash away for the future:

Why did the football coach go to the bank? To get his quarterback!!!

Why did the chicken cross the playground? To get to the other slide.

What do you call a skunk in court? Odor in the court.

Why did the radish kiss the banana? Because it had appeal.

I hope you find the opportunity to use them on a young person....or an old person :)

If you have not been by the store recently....you might want to do so soon. I have added several new things to the store and I'm adding more tomorrow as well. There are some really great bargains...so check them out.

Smiles,

Kelly

Ideas!!! Need some? Got some!!!

If you are anything like me, I'm always looking for a new idea to give as gifts. My girlfriend, Mary Jane, taught me to make these fabric note pad covers. I really enjoy making them and I enjoy giving them as gifts even better. These can be made in several sizes to hold a variety of size note pads. I like this size because it fits into my stitching bag nicely. I take it with me to write ideas down or tips as I come across them. This one was given to my neighbor, Janell, for Christmas this past year.

Another great idea was posted by Susan McConnell yesterday on her blog. She said that she uses Glad Wrap Press and Seal to do machine quilting. Check this out on her blog. I think it is a great idea.

Another gift that I like to give are the Criss Cross Coasters, Hot Pads and Pot Holders. I've given mine all away as gifts so I don't have a picture of one for you. However, I do know that All Sorts blog had posted a tutorial on them with really fun fabrics back on 11/21/06 (told you I love to look at blogs :).

I've seen quite a bit of salvage sewing lately on many blogs. I think the Criss Cross coasters would look very cute made with salvages. If anyone makes some, please e-mail me a pix to post. I don't have enough salvages to make a small square much less an entire coaster :)

The last idea I want to share today is the fabric flowers that I saw on Blair Peter's Craft Wise blog. These flowers are lots of fun and I think they will be great on purses, on a blouse, jacket and/ or hat.


Yesterday I went to the recycle center to do my recycling. As many of you already know, I collect the Box Tops for Education. Well, when I go to the recycle center I see a ton of card board boxes with the box tops still intact. So I spend 30 minutes or so tearing off the labels and putting them in my pocket. Perhaps most people have never seen a grown woman garbage pick in their entire lives because I get the funniest looks from people. Today a man asked me what I was looking for.....I so badly wanted to say I'm looking for something I threw away by accident......but I did not....I just replied....the Pink Box Tops for Education worth 10 cents each!!! I got 4.60 worth of box tops today....that is cash to the school!!! So people really are throwing money into the recycle bin. I don't get into the bin...I just take the ones I can reach (I'm 6' tall) but now if there were lots of quilting or stitching magazines in that bin....you bet your booty I'd climb right in to get them no matter who was watching!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Stand By for A Station Identification ERROR

Remember when the TV would say that? I don't ever hear that anymore. I can even remember the voice...it would say, "Please Stand By for a Station Identification." Well I need to Identify an error that I made.

The "Tag You're It Give Away" experienced an error!!!! OOPS

I promised to draw a name for every 25 comments that were left between April 1 and April 15. There were a total of 57 comments. So I needed to draw again....so this morning I did a random number generation and it was 45....which is

PunchneedleandMe....Starr won too.

Also, the first announced winner was incorrect. The Cottage Quilter e-mailed me an pointed out that I made a mistake. The winner was KatC....How nice and honest was that? Since I love giveaways and I appreciate her help....The Cottage Quilter is getting 4 as well.

I have not heard from Khris for the "New On The Market" post. Khris please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com and let me know what your choice is...bag tags or magnets.

Thank you all for your understanding and Congrats to the winners :)

The Perfectly Imperfect Kelly

Cockle Doodle Doooo!!!

When I saw this Rooster I felt energized. Perhaps it is the colors or perhaps it is because when I look in the mirror in the morning I can identify with all that red up in the air!!

Kathy Wilson had these items posted on her blog. As you all know I love to blog-surf* on occasion. I wrote and asked could I pretty please, pretty please, pretty please have her as a guest artist. Like so many kind and generous gals...she agreed. This is a little bit about Kathy and her work:

"I was born & raised in Tennessee. I love all types of art even though my passion is quilting & oil painting. My inspiration comes from my grandmother who was a quilter & my mother who was an artist. I have been interested in all types of hand work. My very first quilt was one that I cross stitched & then hand quilted. It was a work in progress for about 10 years. I started oil painting 3 years ago. I wanted to learn something different so I thought I would give it a try. The Crazy Patch block is also something new I wanted to try. Maybe one day I will complete enough blocks to make a quilt. The "Rooster" block is from a block of the month series designed by Maggie Walker. It is titled A Country Journal. You can find her work at http://www.maggiewalkerdesign.com/"
I also was attracted to the crazy quilt work because I also enjoy embroidery. When I belonged to a SAGA group in MI I learned many of these stitches. I made some wall hangings and a pillow (gave them away as gifts) and I really like seeing all the handwork.

Have a great day....there is frost on the grass and it is cold here....but I bet it is warm by noon :)

Smiles, Kelly
*Blog-Surf...I have no idea if this is an official term or if I just made it up because it made sense....I truly think it could be added to the X Games...like those skateboard guys and the BMX bikers....can you see a new category of all of us quilters and stitchers....old ladies by the X-Games standards (mostly very young guys)....I can hear the commentators now....they might treat us like Simon Cowell treated Susan Boyle. If you are not sure what I'm referring to, google Susan Boyle and make sure to see her sing, "I Have A Dream"...I loved it and she surprised everyone...and we'd surprise those fellas at the X Games :)

AND THE WINNERS ARE.....

TAG YOU'RE IT Give Away Winner is : The Happy Cottage Quilter!!! I used the Random number generator at Random.org and the number it gave me was 31!!! So, I need to hear from The Happy Cottage Quilter so I can find out what your favorite color is and I'll make those 4 bag tags for you!!!

Khris won the choice of 4 Bag Tags or 4 Magnets...your choice. This was for the Easy Reach Thread Carousel feedback. The Random number generated was 11.

Girls...please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com and let me know what your selections are.

Thank you to everyone who left a comment and participated in this give away.
Smiles,
Kelly

Annie Get Your Gun? Or AMO Case?

Tonight I finally made it to the Toledo Needle Arts Guild meeting. I tried to go last week but they meeting date and location had changed a few months ago and I did not know that. Well it sure was worth the wait. I met some very nice ladies and got to see a few projects that people were working on.

One of the gals at the meeting was sharing her organizational system for storing her threads and beads. Out of her bag came two AMO Boxes. One was for 416 Mag and the other was for a 45 caliber. I almost fell out laughing. She had found them at a hunting/fishing shop. They were perfect for holding her thread and beads. So, if you are in need of some of these "specialty boxes" perhaps you better skip the stitching shop and head over to your local gun supply store!!!
I don't recommend taking your threads on an airplane in those however. You are certain to be stopped and checked thoroughly :)

Another humorous thing that happened tonight was an announcement that needlework supplies can be donated to women in detention centers. The gal continued sharing that there were 35,000 hours of sewing/stitching that had been donated to the community by these women in the detention center. Hmmmm....female criminals get more time to stitch and sew than we do? What is wrong with this picture? I want to know what crime I need to commit in order to get time to sit and stitch. April 15th...I was wondering if Tax evasion would be enough to get me some stitching time. Too bad we already filed our taxes!!! Then I wondered if we did not donate our items would these gals just come to our houses and just take what they wanted? (I am soooo bad)

Lastly on the humor....an announcement was made that there will be a "Stitch and Pitch" sponsored by the Mud Hens (a baseball team here in Toledo). Admission to the park that night would be 8.00 and you can bring your knitting and/or stitching and do your needlework while you watch baseball. Well...my mind began reeling from there....next I thought it would be better if we went to a "Stitch in the Ditch." The entire group of us could dawn our bathing suits and lay in a ditch and stitch for a photo opportunity. Then of course the photos could be made into a calender and the guild could use this as a fundraiser. God only knows where my mind would go next.....I stopped myself!!!

I had to post this picture. I took this picture last Saturday when Rick and I took the boys to an Easter Egg Hunt in Maumee. A church had hired a helicopter to drop 20,000 eggs. I snapped this picture and thought I would share it.

Smiles,

Kelly

PS....do you think if we all committed an appropriate crime together that we could end up in the same correctional facility and sew, eat, sew, eat, sew, eat....all together? I guess we might all be good at stabbing...well at least stabbing our fingers ....I'll think of something :)

Just let me know if you are in on the DEAL....we'll get a "guest list" together and the code for the operation will be, "RETREAT". Yes I have lost my mind and I just need more sleep.

Have A Heart!!!

Have you ever just had one of those days? Well, other people do too!!! So I made up these little hearts and filled them with rice and lavender. Sometimes either early in the morning or late at night I think of funny things to say. This time I wrote this note and attached it to each one of these and gave them away. You might try this too....feel free to use my statement....but not for sale of course....just as gifts to your friends. The pattern was not mine and I don't know whose it was/is.

I am a heart sachet given to you as a symbol of gratitude for all you do for people (some said children) each and every day. I can be heated in the microwave and placed on your temples or cheeks for sinuses and headaches. If you put a cup of water in the microwave with me, you’ll have moist heat relief.

I can be placed on top of your desk, dashboard, or counter as a reminder that you are appreciated. When frustrated and tense you can lift me up- smell me- and breath in the calming effects of lavender. On really bad days, you can throw me at those who torment and anger you and innocently claim you were offering aromatherapy!!
Enjoy and have GREAT DAY!!!

Kelly

It Was COLD and RAINY Today :(

Hey where is the Spring weather? It was cold here today and it rained....I thought it would turn into snow. Schuks!!! I really wanted to be outside today doing some yard work. Not today!!

The cold weather made me think of the hats I made for Aaron and Zach. I learned about Polar Fleece hats at the Feb. Retreat I went to in PA. The book with the pattern is, "Polar Fleece Pizzazz." It is a great book. There are patterns for hats and fleece socks too!!! I sware before next winter I'm going to have a collection of polar fleece socks that I've made for myself. I love those socks.

Speaking of loving something. Do you think Zach loves his Pokemon cards?

Back to the topic!!! Which today is my Fish Applique Wall Hanging. Perhaps the reason I like the things I make so much is because they have such age on them....like fine wine!! :)

I started this wall hanging about 3 years ago. It was soaked and the pattern ruined when my basement flooded a year ago. Then I resurrected it and became determined to finish it. Well...I know you must be thinking....well it is probably finished. Wrong!!! I need to get it quilted still. It's been suggested that I (MJE) hand quilt it myself. Hmmmmm, I just love it so much that I think I will have it machine quilted and ready to hang. Guess I need to get off my boot-ay and get it done.

In case you have not noticed....I've started following a new blog. There are lots of free patterns and tutorials listed. How fun is that? I'm excited about seeing what gets posted there.
Have a warm day....Especially you Lettie....in Hawaii.....yea...please do stay warm. Unlike us por- ole folks in OH :)

Just 2 Days to post your comment to be included in the bag tag giveaway.

Smiles,

Kelly

Circle Quilt Pattern

I forgot to mention that I saw a copy of the Fons & Porter Easy Quilts Spring 2008 (cover said to leave on news stands until 4/09) and there was a free pattern to make a circle quilt.

Thought maybe some of you might be interested.

Kelly

Spring Is Almost Here...I Have Buds

Spring is almost here. I have buds on my tulips!!!! Hurray. I'd go out and take a picture of them and paste it here....but it is dark outside now. So instead, I put a picture of a recent punchneedle project I completed. The pattern is by Angela Anderson . She offered it as a give away back in March. If I were a faster reader I would have realized I had to have it done by March 16th. When I became aware of the deadline, I realized I had to commit myself to sitting down and finishing the project. As life happens, Zach got sick....my business picked up....it was always something. I was mortified that I let Angela down. I e-mailed her and asked what I could do to make amends. I believe in making amends. She said it was OK she understood. So I sat down and finished the pattern on Saturday. I'm so proud of how well it turned out. I've only made about 6 pieces of punchneedle. I have a long way to go but I'm still happy with my progress so far. I used regular sewing thread for all but the center.

Speaking of things taking off....I can't believe how many hits and visits I've had on my blog on Easter Sunday. Geez, I never thought Easter Sunday would be a day to get on the computer. I'm so very pleased with the feedback I've been getting. Thank you all for your kind words and suggestions.

Speaking of suggestions, someone asked about a dust cover for the NEW Easy Reach Carousels. There has been a pattern added to my website for the dust cover for the Easy Reach Thread Carousel. Now that is fast!!! Thanks to Virginia!

I received lots of positive comments on the gifts I've received. That was nice too. Many people e-mailed me wanting one of Mary Jane's "Bosom Pin Cushions." So I added 4 to my website as well. So if you want to own one of those beautiful Bosom Cushions....just feel free to click on over to the shop and order yourself one. While you are at it....order one for a stitching friend's birthday too :)

Need some feedback here: I have an idea to add a book dedication page to my website. Anyone who wanted to dedicate a sewing book/DVD in honor of someone/anyone or group could purchase the book from me (at cost plus postage to send it to the designated Library or Guild) and I would then send it to a library of choice or to a guild of choice. Do you think that would be a good program? Any other ideas like that? Please let me know. I'm all for giving back and I think that might be a wonderful way to honor a loved one or friend. Just post your comments so I can get more ideas. I would somehow get a "book plate" or something dedicating the book/DVD to affix to the book/DVD.

Hugs,

Kelly

Wooo Hooo It's Easter!!!

Easter has become one of my favorite holidays. I love that it beckons in Spring and all the beautiful flowers associated with Spring. The Egg Hunts are a ball to watch and the coloring of eggs is a great time too. I think another reason I really like Easter is that people don't "expect" gifts. It is like Thanksgiving in the sense that people gather to celebrate and enjoy one another's company. There is no big stress about gifts or expectations (at least not for me :)

Soooo, to continue with the theme of "FAVORITES" I'm going to share some pictures of some of my favorite hand made gifts that I've been given. Let me preface this by saying it does not include things given to me by my children. Those are very precious to me and I feel private about those sort of things. These are items I've been given by other stitchers and crafters.
Because it takes soooo long to upload pictures I'm only going to share 5 with you today.

The first is a Friendship Block Miniature that was given to me by Mary Jane when I left PA and moved to OH. She had lots of wonderful, kind, interesting, smart, loving, beautiful gals sign their names to a block and made it into a miniature wall hanging for me. I treasure every name on that quilt. What an incredible reminder of 11 very sweet months of friendships built while I lived in Mansfield, PA. Oh yea, it also has the first fabric post card I've ever received. Pretty cool ay?

The next is a bag I keep my hexagons for a mystery project I work on when I need a hand stitching project to carry with me. Mary Jane made this from scraps of fabric I had used while making a table runner for my sister-in-law. I threw the scraps into her trash and much to my surprise I found this bag in the mail as a gift. I cracked up laughing. My trash became my treasure!!!

This is a "Bosom Pin Cushion" that is worn around my neck. Mary Jane had made this (her design) and I just loved it. She gave it to me and then taught me how to make one. That is what I absolutely love about stitchers, quilters, and crafters.....they are so willing to show me how to do something and share their techniques with me. I really admire this tradition and I follow in these ladies footsteps. I always show others how to do what I know how to do and encourage their work.

XXXDDD????ZZZZ and other curse words...I back spaced and the picture deleated. I'm not going back through all this to add the picture. I'll just add it to the next post!!! There is more than one way to slice a cake!!!
IMAGINE A PICTUE OF A GREEN SCISSOR FOB HERE

Here is a great gift from Kay Lyman of Mansfield, PA. She made this scissor fob and I really like the green beads and the tassel. She gave it to me at a "Quilt Tea" where we both displayed our work. I admired it and she gave it to me. Green is one of my very favorite colors so I enjoy this scissor fob quite a bit.

Kay also made this Pin Cushion. She had made several to sell at the "Quilt Tea". I think it is so cheerful and fun. I keep it on my sewing work table for my pins and needles. It is weighted on the bottom so it does not tip over.

These are the things that make me smile and keep me creating when I'm alone in my sewing area. I'm very blessed to have such great friends and generous too!!!

Smiles,

Kelly

Here Is The PIcture Of The Green Scissor Fob

This picture was deleted (by whom I do not know....or don't want to reveal) from my Easter post...so here is the picture. The green scissor fob given to me by Kay Lyman.

Kelly

Some Of My Favorite Creations

Yesterday I shared some of my favorite gadgets. Today I'm going to show you some of the things that I've made that I love. I have these things in my sewing area and I enjoy looking at them. I have approximately 1/3 of our basement as my sewing area. I feel very lucky to have that much space.

The first picture is of a sewing notions bag I made from a Jan Kerton pattern. She taught a class that I took on how to make this lovely bag. It was so much fun. I loved the little sewing notions on the side and the teddy bear. The front of the bag has a bear smiling and the back has a frown.

I carry my scissors, needles, thread, bees wax and threader in this bag.

This is a paper weight I made while in Australia. If you read a previous post you may remember I met up with Jan Kerton while in AU. I was invited to a stitching group and I made this paper weight while I was there. This is another of Jan's designs. I guess I really like her designs as I have many more. I like the quality of the materials she uses and learning new techniques that she teaches. If you ever get a chance to take one of her classes....I promise you won't be disappointed. I'll also say you will probably laugh a lot and have sore cheeks from smiling so much.

I really like the beautiful colors of ribbon used in this Ribbon Needle Holder. The pattern came from a gal in my Michigan Smockers Guild. I was at her house one night before a meeting and she pulled a box out from under her bed. She showed me the needle case and I fell in love. I could not believe she had the thing under her bed in a box. After much coaxing she agreed to teach a class and that is when I learned to fold ribbon flowers and make this needle holder. The velvet behind the flowers makes the needle holder feel lush in your hands. Can you imagine putting something like this under your bed? Not me baby!!! I'd like to see what else she keeps under the bed and in the closets....but it is still considered rude to snoop :)

Last but not least is my smocked scissor fob ball. Again, I made this while living in MI. That wonderful Smocking Guild had a group get together and we made these scissor fobs. I'm not that good at Smocking. It is nice to look at but I probably would not have made anything smocked if the ladies were not so willing to teach me and pleat my fabric for me. The heirloom stitching and sewing they do is breath taking. My little scissor ball....not so breath taking....but it sure does make me smile when I see it!!

I hope you've enjoyed traveling through my sewing space with me. If not...don't leave a comment to that effect :) I just want to think my things are all that and two bags of Frito's!!!

Smiles,

Kelly

Some Of My Favorite Gadgets

These are some of my favorite sewing "gadgets" that I use all the time. I will post more pictures of my sewing area and my favorite things that I have there. The first one is called a "Bosom Pin Cushion." It was designed and made by Mary Jane Ehlich of Covington PA. I remember seeing Mary Jane with one around her neck as she was teaching some gals to hand quilt. I thought to myself....boy I'd sure like to have something that handy to plant my needles when I'm sitting and sewing. I had no idea at the time that she made them and sells them. I just love wearing this Bosom Cushion especially at retreats. I get the best feedback from the other stitchers when I wear it.


This is a close up of the little pocket that holds your thimble. I think that is so neat....a little thimble pocket. That keeps me from searching under the seat cushions for where my thimble rolled away to. It always rolls off my lap and down the cushion.

The next picture is a close up of my Hawaiian applique. I'll show the entire picture in another entry. But this is an example of when I used the Piping Hot Binding tool. See how nice the binding came out? This little tool is so handy when making piping. I use it for piping on my larger quilts too. If you look closely at my Circle Quilt from another post you will see the nice piping on that too.

And here it is.....waaahhhh laaaaahhhhh the Piping Hot Binding tool. No magician required :)

Can you tell I've never used the binding that came in the bag? I like the cotton piping the best. That is the piping that is included and the booklet. The tool is laying on top....it is acrylic. Very useful tool. I lent it to my Mother when she made a slip cover for her sofa. She wanted the piping on the edge of each cushion. Now there is a woman with courage!!!

I stumbled into this little gadget. It is called a Gypsy Gripper. It grabs onto my ruler and templates so I can move them easily. I never knew I would really like something like this...but I really like it. It is very helpful when I'm cutting lots of pieces. I don't have to keep sliding the ruler over and over and over. I just pick it up and move it. I usually use green tape to mark my measurement lines so I don't even have to continue to look at the numbers on the ruler. I think that bright light adhesive tape rocks!!!

OK, now this next thing I know you are going to laugh and say, "Who the heck would buy that thing." I am one of those people who can't stand it when I can't get something stuck in a small space. For example, I hate vacuuming out my van and I can't get those crumbs between the seats and those bolts or the shifter in the middle....crumbs get into that too. Then there is the dryer screen. I can never seem to clean that thing well and the vacuum hose I have won't fit into that space. The hose is just not small or flexible. How about those dust puppies and crumbs inside your keyboard, your sewing machine, your serger, your embroidery machine, your table saw, behind narrow book cases.....OK I'll stop. Well, I'm the nut who bought this thing and absolutely loves it. I'm giving it as birthday gifts to my siblings this Sunday. (They're all coming for Easter and to celebrate their birthdays) This fits into your hose on your vacuum and then there are little tools that attach to the flexible hose. You can get into almost any small or narrow space with this little fella. So now you know my secret!!!

Yes this is a picture of my kitchen floor. Please don't notice that I've been writing blog entries and not moping like I need to. A girl just can't do it all.....in one day anyway :)

OK, that is round one of my favorite things. I do happen to have some of these on my website so you can check them out. I always list items at much less than retail....so you have extra money for supplies to do your creating!!!

Kelly