Book Reviews, Giveaways and More :)

Is everyone having fun on the Famore Cutlery Blog Hop?  I sure hope you get to visit each of the 5 blogs and leave a comment for your chance to win !  Tomorrow is my day....so you know I'll be up late writing that post.

Do you recognize this guy?

I know many of you know exactly who he is....and I'm telling you I'm feeling more and more akin to Uncle Martin every day.  I now have an Apple I-Phone 4 (as if I know what the 4 relates to...it might as well be 4000) and I'm working on accepting the change from my "old" phone.  I guess this is just another "sign of the times" where old folks like me have to work hard to get their old mouse traps to work again.  For 2 days I didn't know how to answer the phone...that's pretty bad.  I have only today realized this gizmo is not a phone...it is like an I-Pad with a phone in it.  That's sort of like riding a bike with jet propellers on it.

If I had PhotoShop and knew how to use it, I would put a propeller on this jobbie.

So any of you have one of these gizmos...and if you do....can you clue me in to what aps a person should/might need?  Aps, in my vocabulary means appetizers....obviously I waited tables for years while in college.  Now an Ap is a virtual piece of air that you pay for and expect it to do things for you that you couldn't do with a piece of paper and pencil?  I guess I'll be finding out.

On to Quilty Related Subjects :)
I have a big stack of books here on my desk to review and give away.  Today I've chosen two books that have been published by Clotilde.  The first is, "Learn to MAKE A QUILT from start to finish" by Carolyn S. Vagts.  

I know most of you don't want nor need a book on Learning to Make A Quilt....however....this isn't just any beginners book!  Learn To MAKE A QUILT from start to finish is an excellent reference book for new and experienced quilters.  Carolyn covers patterns and fabric selections, notions, how to use a rotary cutter (properly...lol) construction AND documenting your quilt.   I don't think there is anything she left out.  This book would also make an excellent gift to anyone you wanted to inspire to begin quilting. 

Carolyn has used lots of great photos and her explanations are clear and I can understand them...which says a lot! 

Learning to MAKE A QUILT from start to finish is such a "modern" book ...Carolyn even recommends using Wonder Clips.  You know my eyes were locked on that page...I love my Wonder Clips and if you have not tried them yet....well....I'm thinking it is time you did.  Everyone I know who has tried them has loved them.  They order 10 then re-order the 50 pack....they are sort of like Lays Potato Chips...one (10) just won't do...ya want more.

The next book is GARDEN PARTY Stitchery by Pearl Louise Krush.

Pearl has included 27 Redwork designs and that are featured in 7 projects including, Floral Bouquet Wall quilt, Garden Party Sampler, Set of 7 Seed Packet Hand Towels, Good Morning Sunshine Pillow and Wall Quilt, Bouquet in a Jar Table Runner and Place Mats.

GARDEN PARTY Stitchery has all the individual patterns that can be used in the projects Pearl has included or in any project you like.  The designs are cheerful and fun.  One of my favorites is Good Morning Sunshine....it a pattern for a wall quilt but I'd love to see this design on place mats for breakfast.  Wouldn't you like to sit down to the breakfast table with a place mat that read, Good Morning Sunshine?  I know I would.

If you have never done Redwork...there are basic instructions in the front of the book.

I really like both of these books a great deal....however, I also want to share them with two of my blog followers.  So, if you would like to win one of these wonderful books, leave a comment on this post telling me which book you would like to win and why.  I'll let the "Evil Mr Random Number Generator" select two winners, one for each book, on Monday, Jan. 13th.

Smiles,
Kelly

Famore Cutlery Blog Hop All This Week :)

You can see for yourself, I am "Kelly Scissor Fiend, Queen of the IHAN Nation" (self appointed of course) and this is Brint from Famore Cutlery, formerly known as "The Scissor Man." 

Brint was stripped of his Scissor Man Apron in Houston...hence his tears in the photo above.  I wore my "Queen of the IHAN Nation" apron and  THE Scissor Man apron too....reigning supreme over the Land Of Sharps...LOL

While my reign was short lived...it sure was fun.  It isn't to hard having fun with the folks from Famore Cutlery....that's just what we do!

Join us for some more fun....the Famore Cutlery Blog Hop

I have invited 4 other bloggers to review a Famore Cutlery product this week.  They were able to choose any Famore product for their review and they'll be giving an identical item away on their blog.  How they decide who the winner is ....well, that's completely up to them.  Rest assured the giveaways are not rigged...cuz I already have what they are reviewing...I'm so, so, so, so bad!

Monday Jan. 9th 

Visit Patsy  at PatsyThompsonDesigns.com  Patsy is reviewing the Batting and Fabric EZ Glide Scissors.

Tuesday Jan. 10th

Visit  Judi at GreenFairyQuilts.blogspot.com  Judi is reviewing Famore's  4" Curved Scissors.

Wednesday Jan. 11th

Visit the "Queen of the IHAN Nation" at IHaveANotion.blogspot.com
I hear she will be reviewing the Famore Seam Ripper and the Metal Safety Stilletto.

Thursday Jan 12th

 Visit Jocelyn  at HappyCottageQuilter.blogspot.com Joceyln is reviewing the Famore 8" Bent Trimmer Fabric Shears

Friday Jan. 13th

Visit Darlene at SewCalGal.blogspot.com  Darlene is reviewing Famore's Micro Fine Tweezers.

Have a wonderful week and be sure to visit each of the blogs listed above.  I can't wait to hear what other people have to say about the Famore Cutlery products they are reviewing.

Smiles,
Kelly

Prairie Point Pizzazz Book Review

edited to include * below

Are you feeling like being a book worm?  With the shorter days here in the US and the time change...it gets dark here in Ohio right around 5pm.  So during this season of hibernation...I really enjoy cozying up to a good book and boy do I have a good one for you today!!

Prairie Point Pizzazz is not a book I would be typically be attracted to.  I saw it first while at Quilt Market in Houston last fall.  I saw it and walked right past it without giving it a second thought.  Making prairie points didn't really appeal to me in general.

THEN....I stopped to watch Karen Sievert's demo and I was not only pleasantly surprised but I was also inspired to make prairie points.  Shocking...I know :)

 

Prairie Point Pizzazz by Karen Sievert is definitely an excellent book if you are looking to spice up your quilting.  She has developed a new technique for making prairie points.

This is a close up of the prairie points on the quilt Karen has on her demo's table above.

Naturally the one quilt that I just couldn't stop smiling at is this "PeakABoo" quilt Karen has in her book, Prairie Point Pizzazz.  Instantly I thought about how cool these popping prairie points would be for little children's quilts and fun teen quilts too.  How about those quilt challenges where it has to have an element that doesn't quite float your boat?  Like having an insect in it someplace....just hide the insect under the prairie point and you've met the requirements...cool idea ay?

Let me tell you what else I liked about Karen's book and her presentation.  She had her sewing machine, iron, pressing surface and tools right there on the table.  They were not props either.  She used her tools to make the prairie points right in front of all of us watching.  I'm always impressed when people actually use their tool and methods to make a completed sample.  It is so easy to just have the fabrics lined up and show the steps....but it is a whole other thing when it is done in front of your eyes. 

Then Karen offered a completed sample and you know I didn't turn her down.  Look how beautiful this block is.

This is the back of the sample she gave me. The smart thing about the sample is that I have looked at it a number of times and have shown it to many people and it serves as great inspiration.

Prairie Point Pizzazz has 10 patterns including table runners, wall hangings and quilts.

This is her "Blooming Tree of Life" quilt and I love the dimension that her method of making prairie points adds....it definitely has more Pizzazz!! :)

Karen has developed the  Prairie Point Placement Guide.  Although it is not required to use her technique, it does make lining up the points accurately much easier.

The other tool Karen highlighted in her book is the Prairie Pointer Pressing Tool. I've read her directions and I can also see why people would find this to be a handy tool when making prairie points. It helps you determine the size of fabric needed to make the prairie point. The Prairie Point Pressing Tool is stainless steel and it helps you line up your center line perfectly and you press your prairie point with the tool inside the fabric so your points are nice and sharp.

I would have to say that Prairie Point Pizzazz was one of the best books I learned about in Houston this year.  When I can go from not interested to very interested  and then be inspired to make a prairie point....that is really something for me.  Oh, and did I mention she is a visual learner too?  I think that is what makes her directions and patterns so inviting.  I can actually understand them and follow her directions.  That should get a 4 star seal of IHAN approval :)

See....here is my prairie point sample.  I just whipped up a little point to play with.  I have so many projects underway that if I dare start another one before finishing the others....I just might have to punish myself....and I'd hate to have to eat 12 boxes of Tim Tams as punishment! Yikes!

Just in case your interest has been peaked, I thought I'd offer a IHAN Blog Special where you will save 25%!  Just click here to see what is included :) ***The first 12 books are autographed by Karen!!

Has your interested been peaked?  Tell me what you think....would you add some Pizzazzed Prairie Points to one of your projects?  I'd like to know.

Smiles,

Kelly

Increase Your E-Notion IQ - Kut It Sew Straight (KISS) Product Review

I sure hope everyone had a wonderful ringing in of the New Year.  I've enjoyed my rest / re-set time...it was heaven.  Very unusual for me to be a human being instead of a human doing...I rather liked it :)

While at Quilt Market in Houston this past fall, I discovered a few tools by E Concept Mall that grabbed my attention.

This is the KISS aka Kut It Sew Straight.   I think it is a very usefully tool for cutting or lining up any straight line.  It is a laser light and I've had the occasion to use it twice

Here is a picture of the Kut It Sew Straight with the laser light turned on.

This is a King Size Duvet Cover I had and I wanted to add some batting to the back and have my cut straight.  The problem I always have is sliding the cutting mat under the fabric and continuing to cut and getting an actual straight line.  So I ran downstairs and grabbed the KISS to see what it would do.

You can see in this photo the red laser shows up across the length of the batting.  I found it difficult to photograph the longer line because although I could see it...the camera didn't pick up the light as I had hopped it would.  But guaranteed....the light was visible across the entire length of the King Size Duvet.

 See what I mean?  The red laser light is visible but the camera didn't pick up the entire length ...the red line fades a bit.  Even without my glasses on I could see the light (no pun intended...I know how you all think).

Today I needed the KISS again.  As most of you know I don't sell fabrics on my website...unless they are kits or pre-cuts etc.  I know the minute I would have to cut some yardage there would be someone phoning me to tell me I did not cut it straight or shorted them by an inch etc.  I just don't need that headache.  HOWEVER, I do sell Roc Lon Multi Purpose Cloth and it comes in a very large roll.  I've always had a very hard time cutting it straight and I've just cut quite a bit extra so I didn't have anyone calling me!

So I rolled it out onto the floor and put my cutting mat underneath and remembered I didn't have to fight with the cutting mat any longer.  I grabbed my EZ Glide Batting and Fabric Scissors and I had those 2 yards cut lickity split and it was actually straight and accurate too!!!  Hurray for me :)

Another great use for the KISS is mounting it to the roller stand on long arm machines to be able to cut horizontal or vertical depending on how you mounted it.

Just as soon as the first or second person reads this, I'm sure I'll be getting comments and / or e-mails with other ideas for using the KISS....it always seems to work that way :)

I hope you enjoyed this edition of Increase Your E-Notion IQ!

Smiles,
Kelly

A Wonderful Break

Hey there everyone!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.  What I didn't tell anyone is that Mr. McSteamy took both co-workers to PA for a visit and I was at IHAN headquarters alone....now you know why I was so quite!!!  I've never been home alone for longer than a day so this was sooooo wonderful :)

Here are a few photos from the many I took over the holidays

Some monkeys received their first pair of roller blades for Christmas.  Zach was all over this gift....without much fear he insisted I put mine on and join him for a skate around the neighborhood. It has been so long since I had my roller blades on I couldn't believe my body knew what to do.  Yes, I did fall....square on my bum and I'm telling you it still hurts!

Zach decided he needed a bit more support while skating alone that first night in the driveway. 

Aaron was most afraid of the skates and it took him a few days to become friendly with them.  The wheelchair Mr. McSteamy used for his owie last month came in very handy. 

How to keep two very energetic monkeys busy during the cold winter months?  Yep, an indoor trampoline....oh yeah....and they both skate in the kitchen too.  It is like a regular zoo around here.

Our New Year's celebration included about 100 of those poppers that shoot curly paper every where....that was so much fun.  Then of course we had to beat pots and pans on the front porch at midnight....and if I remember correctly there were a few of us dancing on chairs to some late 60's and early 70's music...like "The Cover of The Rollingstones" by Dr. Hook....oh that was a ball. 

Now back to our regularly scheduled program:

Have you heard about the Free Motion Quilting Challenge?  I am excited about this opportunity and thought I'd be sure to share the information with others that might be interested in joining too.

The 2012 Free Motion Quilting Challenge has started!

You can totally join us, because it's free! And, we hope you will learn and/or improve your FMQ skills in 2012.

 

To join the challenge click here. and fill out the pledge form.

	This is going to be a lot of fun!   Smiles, Kelly

 

5 Minute Count Down!!!!

Here in Ohio, we have 5 big minutes until we pull the party poppers and beat pots and pans on the front porch.

The IHAN Clan wishes each and every one of you a healthy and fun New Year!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Looking For The Reset Button

Yes, I can see the diagram above.....but I can't seem to find my own personal reset button.  I'm looking for it and when I find it...I'm going to push that button and pop back on...in the meanwhile....just know I'm here and searching.

Smiles,
Kelly

Happy? Merry?

What ever it is that you celebrate....and whom ever you celebrate with....my wishes are that you are healthy, grateful and kind to everyone including yourself.

Sorry I've been out of touch...with having Mr. McSteamy down for most of the month of December, I've been running like a chicken with my head cut off....and I'm not finished yet....11:49 my time...yikes.

Our good news is that the surgeon said he didn't think McSteamy would need surgery on his back....oh we are so grateful!

Sleepy Smiles,
Kelly

WINNERS :)

Yes....there are winners to be announced. 

My Increase Your E-Notion IQ  blog post on Seamingly Accurate Seam Guide did say I would be giving away TWO didn't it?

Yep!  That's what it says ....and the winners are:

Number 26 and number 15. 

Congratulations  MarveLes Art Studios and Quilter in The Gap

Please send me your full name and address and I'll get those in the mail to you ...possibly today :)

AND then there was a really fun Blog Hop Party hosted by Quilting Gallery.

IHAN is giving away this Happy Holidays Panel, Wintersong by Cheryl Haynes of Prarie Grove Peddler for Benartex, and the embellishment kit that goes along with the panel.

And the winner is: Becky from the Quilting Book Lady Blog.   After I entered the numbers in the Random Number generator and came back to my blog to count all the way down the list...I got to the name of the winner and clicked on her blog and began reading.  Then I came back here to type in who won....and forgot the dog gone number....so if you really want to know the number....you go count down the list...I don't have time :)  LOL

So Becky, please e-mail me your full name and address and I'll get your beautiful Happy Holidays Panel with embellishments into the mail.

Smiles,
Kelly

Are You A Curious Sort?

Are You A Curious Sort?

Are you of those who wants to know what other people are getting as gifts?  Do you want to know what they are doing?  I know I certainly am and I am not one least bit embarrassed to talk to people standing in the check out lines about who they are giving their purchases too.  I sneak in a little question or two as well...."so what do you secretly wish you will get as a gift?"  Yep....that used to be called "NOSEY" ....I have a kinder - gentler way to describe it....I call it Curious :)

I'd be happy to show you some of the amazing things I've received in the mail....just in case you are one of "those curious" types too :)

 I received this beautiful kitchen towel from Karin from Sew Write Creations along with a note that said, "doing dishes doesn't have to (the noise a baby makes when nursing).  Isn't that just too funny?  I love green so these penguins keep my spirits up....even tough I'm not gonna be doing any cookin'...cuz I don't like to cook! :)  Thank you Karin!  :)

 I received this gorgeous punchneedle snow man coat pin from my girlfriend Starr....Punchneedle and Me Blog.  Starr was my very first guest artist at the IHAN blog.  If you have not seen those posts and Starr's amazing tallents...click HERE, HERE, and HERE and prepare for yourself to feel pure awe.  Thank you Starr!!!  You are one amazingly talented artist :)

WHO is this popping up in the middle of my blog post?  Hmmmm....oh yeah....this is the guy who was running through the house yesterday wearing this hat...."I'm a Russian King" he kept repeating as he ran through.   Well....I never knew I had given birth to a Russian King...but now I do.  When he was a baby I called him, "Sir Fussius Maxiums, Last of the Great Fussiesests" ...who knew that was Russian?  Do you ever wonder who you gave birth to? (the question is for the ladies...of course:)

Last evening when I had gathered some of the items I needed to wrap to ship today I had a thought.  The thought was, "I wonder if other people wonder what other folks order for gifts and for themselves?"  So if you are a curious sort....here is a photo of just some of the things I wrapped to ship today.  If you have any of things on your wish list and someone bought them for you....don't write asking if any of it was addressed to you...cuz I AINT TELLIN'!!!  I'm soooo bad :)

IHAN Holiday Specials

I thought I'd let everyone know I have two of each of these IHAN Holiday Specials left in stock.  Only TWO so if you want one or both....ya better order quick because when they are gone...they will be removed from the IHAN website.

Ok....returning to some fun things.  I have TWO IHAN Holiday Specials that end on Dec. 24th or when they sell out.  The first one is:

A Christmas Embroidery Thread and CD Design Set by Floriani.

The Floriani Christmas Gift Set includes:

10 spools of Floriani Premium Polyester and 5 spools of Floriani Premium Metalic Threads, Florani Christmas Embroidery Design CD and "Stabilizing Solutions" DVD by Kay Brooks.

$340 Retail Value Only $130 AND you also get a FREE Greetings! CD by Smith Street Designs....compliments of IHAN :)

Total Retail Value: $364 all for $135...where else but IHAN can you find such wonderful deals? (Don't answer that...LOL)

There are only 2 Sets Available so order Now!

Offer Ends Dec. 24, 2011 or before if sold out. (this item will be removed from the IHAN website when sold out)

This is the Greetings! Embroidery CD by Smith Street Designs that is being given away FREE with these two specials. 

Floriani Embroiderers Starter Kit

Floriani Embroiderers Starter Kit includes the absolute necessity stabilizers every embroidery must start with. 1 roll Heat N Sta Fusible Tearaway, 1 roll Tearaway Medium, 1 roll No-Sho Fusible Mesh, 1 roll Perfect Stick , 1 Roll Heat N Gone  PLUS 6 spools of Floriani Embroidery Thread in Basic colors: Red, Black, White, Green, Brown and Green.

This IHAN Holiday Special also includes a Greetings! Embroidery CD by Smith Street Designs.

Retail value: $163.99

IHAN Special $105

You Save $58.99

AND A little something for myself :)

I could not resist these Decals ....I bought two to give to enclose in a card for two friends.  I thought they were so cheerful ....

Love To Quilt Decals

I also got one for myself to put on my LapTop....am I weak or what?

Thanks for visiting and reading.  A quick update on Mr. McSteamy (thanks for all the e-mails with prayers and thoughts and enquiries).  He had a MRI on Friday and he has a bulging disc.  We are waiting to see a neurosurgeon and we'll go from there.

Hope your day is full of moments of joy!

Smiles,
Kelly