Sunday Sunday

I drive by this scene each day on my way to the Post Office.

I laugh or smile every day because these Flamingo's change position and different props are added depending on the weather.  Here they are trying to stay warm by the fire.  They had an umbrella over them when it was raining.  There is even a "black sheep flamingo" isn't that just hysterical?  Definitely my type of humor!

Isn't keeping order in the house with kids tough?  If you have or had children you probably had times when you wanted to gather up every toy and paper airplane and toss it into the trash.  

Back in Nov or Dec this phrase popped into my head: "Are we being good stewards of our belongs?"   It was so easy for me to see all the stuff that belonged to the kids that needs to go and some old things that I didn't know what to do with....but that was as far as it went....UNTIL

I took a look at myself....what do I have that I'm not being a good steward of?  What do I have that is holding up energy in my life?  I've already gotten rid of all the excess clothing and shoes a year or so ago.

I didn't need to look to hard to find that I've  been holding up tons of energy in stored fabric.  Perfectly good, fun, and quality fabrics....and here they sit...and sit...and sit....like a dam to the flow of energy around me.

 

I'm quick to tell people, "What you own, owns you" and this stuff is owning me. The one day projects or fabrics I might need.......really? I already have favorites that I have not had time to get to....

How much time and energy was spent gathering all of this? Then folding it, organizing it....  Sure, there was the time I made things with these fabrics  and I did use quiet a bit of what I bought....but there is always left overs and pieces I don't exactly love...if you know what I mean. 

I feel energized by just going through and letting some of these things go...less for me to care for and what I have left are fabrics I really love and will be excited to work with.

The co-workers have been busy playing in the little bit of snow we have had.

 

Here's a bit of  proof it doesn't take much to have a good time and be happy :)

There are two giveaways that will be announced tomorrow....so I hope you've taken the time to leave comments for the Famore Cutlery Blog Hop and the book reviews I did earlier this week...just click here to leave a comment to win one of the books.

Smiles,

Kelly

Famore Blog Hop

I hope everyone has had an opportunity to stop by each of the 5 blogs in the Famore Cutlery Blog Hop this week.  Today SewCalGal is reviewing the Famore Micro Fine Tweezers so hop over and visit her today.  Just in case you've been taking a break to re-set or you've been a human being and not a human doing...I'll list all the blogs for you :)

Monday Jan. 9th -  http://www.patsythompsondesigns.com/

Tuesday Jan. 10th -   http://www.greenfairyquilts.blogspot.com/

Wednesday Jan. 11th   –  http://www.ihaveanotion.blogspot.com/

Thursday Jan 12th  -  http://www.happycottagequilter.blogspot.com/

Friday Jan. 13th –  http://www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com/

 

Brint, Kelly, Mikki

I would like to say THANK YOU to everyone at Famore Cutlery and specifically Mikki and Brint, owners of Famore Cutlery,  for supporting this Blog Hop.   If any of you would like to say thanks to Brint and Mikki, you can send them an e-mail at sales@famorecutlery.com and make sure you put Thank You in the subject line.

Can you believe my "rapping" made Mikki laugh?  I haven't the slightest idea how to rap...the only rap I hear is from my nephew, Nick aka Da Hamstah.  His rap is edgy and typically vulgar...I like to think of my rap as "Gerber Rap" it is easier to swallow!

Another HUGE THANK YOU to Patsy Thompson Designs, Green Fairy Quilts, Happy Cottage Quilter and SewCalGal for being willing to indulge me in testing out Famore's Cutlery and participating in this blog hop.  THANK YOU Ladies...I so appreciate each of you.

Smiles,

Kelly

Life Imitating Art?

There is nothing quilty about this post....

You know those folks who have the plastic deer in their yards?  I guess it could be considered an art form....of sorts...right?

 I'm driving through Maumee, the next town over....and I see a plastic person (Santa in the background)  standing in a yard with real deer ...go figure!

 Just as comfortable as they could be walking down the sidewalk....moseying along as though they have nothing to do but watch me.  I loved the tables being turned for a change.

Those were some very fun moments....seeing the deer walk through town.  I loved it.  There is a park nearby and that's where they live...well...most of the time anyway. 

Believe it or not...I used my IPhone to take the photo too.  If I were really spanky, I'd be able to take the photo and post it to my blog in two clicks.  I'm not there yet.  I had to e-mail the pix to myself, come home to my computer, download and save, open in Picasa, Export, and then Upload to Blogger.  See all the steps I could save if I had a clue...LOL.

I rounded the corner to find Aaron skating in place holding on to the refrigerator door.....I cracked up laughing.  He was going no where....I can see where I might benefit from this new form of exercise...it would be difficult to get the door open while skating....he may just be on to something here. 

I hope you got a kick out of this pix....otherwise it may be one of those things where ya just had to be there.

Hope you are having a wonderful day too.

Smiles,

Kelly

Famore Blog Hop - Seam Rip and Stiletto Review and Giveaway

Be Bop Zippity Dee Bop

My name is Hanna

it rhymes with IHANNA

Snip it

 you gotta zippity clip it

 and if you mess it

you gotta rip it

Be Bop Zippity Dee Bop

When those threads aren't a budgin'

you gotta start fudgin'

get up in yo ghetto and grab yo

Stiletto

Then ya start to watchin'

and you'll start seein'

those threads start runnin'

like you never seen dem run befoo

SOOOOO....I won't quit my day job I PROMISE!!! 

See what talking about one of my favorite subjects does to me?  I get all zippity-clip-it and my body starts dancin' ....oh there I go again...someone smack me....OUCH....not that hard!!!

 It is my pleasure to introduce you to Mr. Famore Cutlery Seam Rippah.  Those unwanted stitches don't stand a chance with this baby.  No more pokin-in with the old style seam rips and trying to catch a thread....then every third or fourth thread...not any more.

 Just look how beautiful the blade is....and baby oh baby it is sharp. 

I know what you are thinking....and don't tell me you aren't because I've heard several people tell me they were afraid to use the Famore Seam Ripper because they thought they'd slice into themselves or cut their fabric.  As long as you are not psychotic, I don't think you will do either of those things.  I've never once cut myself with my seam rip.  I guess it is like being afraid of drowning in my cup of coffee in the morning.  Technically there is enough fluid in the cup to drown....however I have a healthy respect for that cup o joe :)

Remember my pretty Prairie Point....well....I've decided she is going to meet her demise. 

I tucked the end of the seam ripper parallel to the fabric just inside the fold where the fabrics are joined.

Moving straight ahead and keeping the ripper parallel to the fabric I move the ripper through those threads and lickity split....look what you get....

I now pronounce those two pieces of fabric officially separated....just like that.  See...no blood :)

Many of you know I've started doing some machine embroidery.  I made this apron for my youngest co-worker for Christmas.  The problem was....I walked away and didn't see that the bobbin thread had come to the top and I had an entire sentence straight across the design that was not so pretty.  If you have ever done any ME you know that there is some crazy something that happens to the thread once stitched....it hangs on for dear life....no matter what.  Being the patient person I am (not) I sat and used my Famore Seam Rip to remove every last thread....and yes I also used their Micro Tip Tweezers (SewCalGal will review those on Friday) to pull out any tiny threads that would just not let go.  When I showed my tear out job to my girlfriend, Diane (years and years of ME experience) she was impressed and said she had not seen a tear out job that looked that nice.  Keep in mind, I have not washed the apron yet....I'm thinking that after it is washed it will look a whole lot better.

The Famore Seam Ripper comes with 3 blades....yes I said 3...and I've been using my seam rip for 3 years and still have one blade left to open :)   Oh yeah...it comes with a  safety cap too.

 You twist the little screw on the side and slide the old blade off and a new one on and you are good to go again. 

Now on to my friend Mr. Geppetto Stiletto...aka Famore's Metal Safety Stiletto

 When you first see Mr. Geppetto Stiletto in the package he looks like he got into a fight and lost....

 His head twists off (oh geez is that fun....to twist his head off....my dark side is showing once again...sorry...sort of) and you can see the Famore Stiletto has a built in safety jacket.

You turn the tip around and screw it back into the handle and you have a beautiful Famore Stiletto for your sewing needs :)

Sewing needs? If you don't have a Stiletto you may wonder what you do with one....and I will tell you....there are lots of things I use my Geppetto for.....

 When I'm feeding fabric under the foot of my machine there are times when I want to hold the fabric on the front or close to the side to keep it going straight.  I know this picture isn't really the best example but you get the idea.

 I use it when I'm feeding fabric into the tip of my Simplicity Bias Tape Maker tips...and it can be used for the Clover Bias Tape Maker tips too.

 Ever have a tiny piece you are working on and you need to use one of those tiny burn your fingers off irons?  (I use my Kandi Handi Iron so I don't burn my fingers off any more)  You can use the Famore Stiletto to hold your fabric in place so the iron won't burn your fingers.

I also use Gheppeto for pulling out a few threads when I don't want to cut the threads.  You can see in this photo....I was able to slip Gepehetto under a thread and pull out just one thread.

Are you starting to get the idea that I think very highly of Famore Cutlery's products?    I do because for the money, I don't think you can find a better value....AND the best customer service and care out there....which is just as important to me...if not important than price. 

For a chance to win a Famore Seam Ripper and a Famore Metal Safety Stiletto just leave a comment on this post telling me if you own any Famore products and what your thoughts are on the items you own.  If you don't own a Famore product....let me know why you want to replace your current tools with these fabulous Famore tools :)

You must be a IHAN blog follower and leave your comment by Sunday, January 15th because Mr. Random Number Generator will choose a winner and the winner will be announced on Monday, January 16th.

The Famore Blog Hop is going on all week and here are a list of the wonderful places you can visit for your chance to learn more about Famore Cutlery and hopefully win even more wonderful sewing and quilting tools.

Monday Jan. 9th - www.PatsyThompsonDesigns.com

Tuesday Jan. 10th - www.GreenFairyQuilts.blogspot.com

Wednesday Jan. 11th – www.IHaveANotion.blogspot.com

Thursday Jan 12th -www.HappyCottageQuilter.blogspot.com

Friday Jan. 13th – www.SewCalGal.blogspot.com

I wish you all the luck of the Irish this week...and speaking of the Irish...if you're still with me...

Did you notice the beautiful quilt that I used as a backdrop above?

Believe it or not, I received this beautiful wall hanging as a Christmas gift from dear blogging friend.  Not only was I totally and completely blown away by such an amazing gift of love....but it also reminded me of another dear blogging friend Micki, from Ireland.  Many of you will remember her blog, Irish Muses.  The blogging world has brought so many wonderful and loving people into my life....so when you are out hopping around....remember .... quilts provide warmth....and so do wonderful friends you will meet in your blogging journey....it's not about the prizes you will win....(although they are great) it is about the amazing and wonderful people behind the products and quilts you see and meet in your blog hopping journey. 

Giant Smiles,

Kelly

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