Another Bite Of Schnibbles & Bed Runners and More - Book Reviews

I have so many book reviews backed up that I thought I'd do two today...so it's a two'fer Friday :)  Keep in mind,  I get to choose the books I want to review so I'm going to be bias in my reviews.

Martingale and Company have provided me with the opportunity to review Another Bite of Schnibbles.  The author, Carrie Nelson, has a huge following and I know many quilters who love her Schnibbles patterns.

 Another Bite Of Schnibbles by Carrie Nelson  (LaVie En Rosie , Carries wonderful blog)

 Twenty four quilts from 5" and 10" squares...all in one book!!!

Carrie begins with some great information about handling pre-cut fabrics and some excellent directions for piecing.   I know from experience, if you don't handle and sew pre-cuts properly, you will end up with blocks that are not square at all.  Carrie shares all her tips and tricks in the beginning of the book so everyone will end up with consistent block.  Well...most of us...LOL.  Ya all know I can look away and end up with a wobbly 1/4-3/8" seam....that's why I have a excellent seam ripper :)

"Lincoln" uses 10" squares and I have a few layer cakes looking for an excellent pattern.  I love how fresh and fun this pattern is....don't you?

It was so hard to choose which photos I wanted to share because I really like all the quilts in Another Bite of Schnibbles.  The quilt above, "Reveille, looks like it might be difficult to make...but when you see Carrie's instructions you will be surprised by how" un-diffiuclt" it is to make.  

Twenty-Four patterns for just  $26.99 (only $21.99 for IHAN Blog readers through March, 30, 2012)  that is a steal!  Twenty-Four patterns at, lets say $8 each, would be $192.  Each pattern is only $1.10 for IHAN Blog readers...now we're talking a super deal! :)
  

Clotilde provided me the opportunity to review the next book, Bed Runners & More. 

 Bed Runners & More

Bed Runners & More includes patterns and instructions for nine bed runners( four include instructions for pillow shams) each by a different designer.  The bed runner on the cover, Geometric Jazz" by Carol Zentgraf,  got my attention because I thought it would be perfect for my co-workers.

There are times I'm in the mood to make something small and bed runners add some splash to a bedroom without the investment of so much time.  Oh, and did I mention that I don't feel so bad when the kids spill or get pen marks on a bed runner....I flip when the do that on a full size bed quilt.

"Warm Splendor" by Phyllis Dobbs is another bed runner that left me drooling.  I love the fall colors Phyllis used in this design.  By the time I could make myself a full bed quilt, I could almost have a bed runner for every season! 

"Summer Blossoms" is another of Phyllis' designs.  What girl would not love to walk into her room and see this fun bed runner?  The possibilities are endless. 

Each bed runner in Bed Runners & More are labeled by skill level, Beginner, Confident Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced.  

The instructions for each design includes diagrams like the one pictured above. 

A bed runner is an excellent way to dress up a room without the time investment of a full bed quilt.  Honestly, think they would look great across the back of a sofa as well....just a thought :)

There is a nice variety of designs in  Bed Runners & More , something for everyone!  I think I"ll give a copy of this great book away to an IHAN blog reader.    To win, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post and I'll choose a winner this Sunday evening.  How does that sound?  Fun I hope :)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Smiles,

Kelly

New Fun Stuff

Wow, I got a lot of feedback from yesterdays post.  Before I move on today, I want to say that I'm not upset with anyone and I don't have any negative feelings about Pinterest.  I just want to be sure before I have another account that I learn what it all means so I'm not doing anything I should not be doing.  I'm all about having fun!

Speaking of fun....did you know Floriani has introduced 60 brand new colors of embroidery thread? 

Floriani New 60

They arrived yesterday and I'm telling you I was drooling.  I put them on my front porch in the natural sunlight in hopes the colors would show up well.  Here is another photo:

Some how they just look more exciting on my front porch :)  So if you are looking for some new color....hop over and check them out..  You will also receive 10 Free Spring Jacket Back Designs from Floriani.....no shipping charged on the free designs :)  With the free designs you will be saving a total of $279.99!!

Spring?  Really?  I'm sorry but it is over 80 degrees here in Ohio today and it feels more like mid-Summer to me!!  Just look at the bush in my front yard:

People, this is March....not June or July....it is so odd to me to have it this warm so soon.  Do you think people will begin scheduling their Spring Break Vacations in Ohio?  Can you even imagine?  LOL

I've added a WHATS NEW at IHAN Category over on the website.  You can see what has been added recently.  There are so many things that are added weekly that I can't even keep up.

Hot Sweaty Smiles,
Kelly

Pinterest- Now we can't say we didn't know

I posted previously, HERE,  about Pinterest and was not fully informed.  I'm not saying I"m completely informed but I'm informed enough that I have removed my Pinterest account, boards and pins.

Did you know you can check to see if people have taken photos without our permission?  I learned from Making A Mark blog that you can check by typing in www.http://pinterest.com/source/    and follow that sequence with the title of your blog.  Here is an example that I typed in: http://pinterest.com/source/ihaveanotion.blogspot.com

 Don't Pin My Photos, Product Reviews 

or Tutorials

If by chance you have pinned any of my photos, I am respectfully requesting that your remove them from your boards.  I don't recall giving anyone permission to post photos from my blog to Pinterest yet there are tons of them floating around out there.

You can read more from Making A Mark Blog and here is the link to the copyright information on that blog HERE.




I know I pinned photos that I copied from other websites....not other people's blogs.  I did it innocently and I'm guessing others have done the same thing.  I learned that Pinterest then owns the rights to those photos.  Oh NO WAY!!! I learned so much from the Marking A Mark blog that I never thought of before....it is definitely a must read if you are a blogger.

If you want to make your blog or website Un-Pinnable...I highly recommend you read the Making A Mark blog posts.

Still Smiling,
Kelly

Happy Monday To You!

Happy Monday to you!  It is a Happy Monday for me because I'm heading over to the Quilt Foundry to do some stitchin' and I can't wait :)  My Birthday present to me.  Thank you to everyone who remembered that yesterday was my big ole birthday....48 never looked so...well....lets just not discuss it...LOL.

 On the "Flamingo Front" the babies seem to be doing just fine.  You'll see them in the far left of this photo...still in their nests.  The other siblings had a game of pick up basketball over the weekend.

Ya all know who this is, right?

 Yes...it is Ami Simms!  She was at the Toledo Gathering of Quilters, last week on Thursday.  I have not had the pleasure of hearing her speak before and everyone I know says, "don't miss her."  So off Waldo and I went to the meeting.  Ami is everything people say she is....genuine, warm, funny, kind and colorful.  I loved here jacket.  It is her pattern, Rag Fur Jacket.  She said the one she is wearing in this photo is 6 or 7 years old....and look how good it looks.

Ami's program was, "How NOT to make a prize winning quilt."  I can vouch for her....she definitely knows how to do that well.  So much of what she said resonated with me and my start with quilting.  I also made a baby quilt and every single corner is mitered differently.  I had no clue....but I sure was proud when I was finished.  Oh the freedom we allow ourselves when we just "do it."  I'll tell all of you what I was told, "if you get a chance to hear Ami speak....don't miss it."

Ami is the founder of the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative.  Did you know that you can make a quilt that is 9" x 12" OR Smaller....but absolutely not bigger....and donate it to the Alzheimer's Art Quilt Initiative and they will sell it to raise funds for research?  Sooooo....while you are practicing a new skill, making a teeny tiny quilt that is embellished with beads, or you've never made a small quilt...you may just want to head over here and read all about it. 


Remember last week when I was busy embellishing everything?  I decided to embellish a few straight pins....for no other reason that because I could.

 I cracked up when I saw these femo heads on the end of my straight pins.  It gives new meaning to quilting with your friends :)  I thought the thread spool was cute too.  I stopped at three...I didn't want to get too carried away you know.


My co-workers were invited to a birthday party on Saturday.  The little girl who's party they went to just so happens to be a little girl that I  adore.  The boys gave her their gifts and I wanted to give her something special....so this is what I made for her:

I used Sarah Vedeler's Hearts Machine Embroidery Design.   I really like all the choices I have on that CD.  I think the birthday girl is such a Star, so I chose the heart with the star in the center.

Hearts by Sarah Vedeler

Tajiana's favorite color is green so I made sure that the fabric was green and I used 7 or 8 different shades of Floriani thread for the design.  Her name had to be hot pink....after all...she just turned 9.

After I did the machine embroidery, I added some bling with my new Professional  Touch Crystal Applicator.    I think the crystals added a little zip and besides....I had to have an excuse to use it again right?  I inserted the design into a Quick Stitch Desktop Organizer.  Tajiana can either use it for pencils and pens or she can keep it in her bathroom for her tooth brush and tooth paste....or where ever she wants.  When she opened the package...she had a big beautiful smile on her face....that's all I needed.

Hope you had a wonderful weekend as well.  Happy belated National Quilting Day and St. Patrick's Day too....I was just too busy to blog...I know you understand.

Smiles,
Kelly

Increase Your E-Notion I-Q and the Teeny Tiny Challenge

Bling Your Thing Part II

Ok, back to our regularly scheduled programing :)

A long time ago I bought a tool at a craft store to set some hot fix crystals.  The thing didn't work worth a nickle so I took it back.  I was leery of them since....but then I decided to give the Kandi Corp Professional Touch Crystal Applicator a try. 

The Professional Touch Crystal Applicator comes with 8 tips (2mm, 3mm, 4mm, 5mm, 6mm, 7mm and two flat head tips).  They are labeled....but you'll need your glasses to see the markings.

The on off switch is on the end.  When it's on...the switch is green.  You may not think that is such a big deal until you see other hand held tools like this....they don't all have the lighted indicator...and I find it very helpful...especially since these things get so dog gone hot!  It needs to heat up for about 2 minutes before it is ready to be used.

I got really close so you can see the imprint of the size marking.

When the Professional Touch Crystal Applicator is turned off and cool....you screw in the tip of the size crystal you want to set.  Then you turn it on and let it heat up for about 2 minutes.

The first crystal I set was  size 3mm.  

The crystal is face up and the Applicator is pressed on top of the crystal....it sort of grabs it and holds it.  Very easy to do...just push and it is on there.

You can see here...the crystal is inside the tip.

 You can see the adhesive on the crystal melting...it sort of shines....that's when you know it is ready to be set.

Here you can see I just pushed it onto the spot I wanted it to be fixed...and then I lift up and wah lah....the crystal stays! It was that easy.  I have to say I was very impressed with the Professional Touch Crystal Applicator.

The Applicator balances nicely on the table and doesn't require a stand.  Typically I would be concerned about either burning myself or something being burned....but it was very stable...didn't roll or tilt once placed on the table. 

I like the variety packs of crystals Kandi Corp offers too.  These packages come with apx. 383 total crystals in size 3mm and 4mm. 

This is how I used to have to do my crystals.....yep...on the bottom of an iron with tweezers. It was always a trick getting the crystal turned over with the tweezers and getting it placed properly.  Not any more!!!

I bet you are wondering why I included this review with the details of the Creative Quilting with Beads Teeny Tiny Challenge aren't you?  I did it because I know many folks said that beading was too hard on their eyes.  You don't have to see the hole or get the needle through the hole if you want to embellish using a Professional Touch Crystal Applicator.

Sew...here are the details of the challenge. 

Everyone who agreed to participate...and anyone who wants to join us is welcome too....can embellish a quilted item with beads or crystals and send a photo of your project to me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com on or before April 15th.  There is no size requirement...so if you want to make an Inchie.  You don't know what an Inchie is?  Click here.   Any size at all...and there is no judging...so do what ever makes you smile.  If it's ok to post a photo of your project on a follow up IHAN blog post let me know that in your e-mail.  I'm putting together a little fun gift package and everyone who participates will get their name in the hat.  Sound easy?  I thought so too. 

Smiles,
Kelly

A Few Quick Things

Flamingo Update:

Apparently the Stork has been cavorting with the Flamingos....

Yep....they have two baby Flamingos now :) 

Pinterest Information:
I read this blog post about Pinterest and I found it eye opening for sure. I'm not sure I'm going to continue on Pinterest....I don't want to invite any problems.  Does anyone have any more information on the subject? 

Andres Amador Arts

When I saw Andres work....I was speechless....and believe it or not...I got misty eyed.   We all know how much work it takes to make a beautiful quilt right?  We spend hours and hours and then we label them and love them....with the whole goal of hanging on to them or hoping the ones we give them to treasure them forever right?

Would you still put all that work into one if it were going to be gone in a matter of hours?  Can you believe there is an artist who does?  Click Here to see the amazing art work of  Andres Amador.  Andres' Website is something to behold as well....I was blown away and I hope everyone takes a minute to enjoy the breath taking work Andres creates.

After reading the Pinterest blog post, there is no way I was about to copy a photo of Andres to put here for everyone to see...so you'll have to trust me and go over yourself and behold the magic for yourself.

Smiles,
Kelly

Bling Your Thing!

Bling Your Thing -  Part 1

Don't think for one teeny tiny second that I've forgotten about our little challenge....you remember...the one you agreed to do to win Creative Quilting with Beads.

Creative Quilting with Beads

In preparation for the teeny tiny challenge, I decided to look at some of my embellishments.  They are kept in a drawer down stairs.  It's dark down there....so what did I do?  I grabbed my Beam N Read Light.  (I don't make these things up for blog posts by the way....I'm just reporting the facts! :)

I found the two bags of miscellaneous embellishments and brought them upstairs and dumped them out on the floor.  When ever I come across any type of embellishment at all....weather at a garage sale or on a clearance rack someplace...and I even take them off discarded garments....I put them into my embellishment stash.

While looking through my bling I realized how un-jazzy my Beam N Read Light looks.  I had to put a quick end to that catastrophe!  LOL   (Yes, I realize that I was in the process of looking for some bling for a quilt challenge...but sometimes a girl gets inspired and she has to strike while the iron is hot!  Do you know what I mean?

Here are some of my attempts at blinging-up one of my all time favorite notions.  (Honestly it is...I call it the "notion you never knew you needed and couldn't live without" until you have one," 100% true).

 "I've got my eyes on you baby"

 "Kiss me you fool"

 "Over, way over the top  Bling"

"Hi Friend"

 "You hold the key to my heart"

 "Who says fun washers aren't bling?"

"Gaudy Rabbit Bling"

"What?  You think I've lost my mind this morning bling?"

Then...it hit me....how about some strap bling for those who like the "understated" look :)

 

 "Vintage Jewelry Bling"

 "Knit This Bling"

 I had to do a close up of this pretty little pin.  A woiman from my needle arts guild made it and I just love this little pin.  Kay passed away recently and I'll always think of her as the woman who could make anything look beautiful.

"Rhinestone Love Bling"

Sew you see....it's isn't very difficult to "Bling Your Thing or Things" ya just gotta play with your embellishments until you find something that makes you smile, laugh or ask "have I lost my mind."  It's lots of fun.

Fun can be found almost anywhere....but you definitely need a great light to see it!  How about I make you a deal?  If you are even remotely thinking about having a Beam N Read Light....I'll pay your shipping and if you don't agree with my opinion...I'll pay your return shipping too.  HOWEVER...if you bling your Beam N Read....it isn't not returnable...LOL.  You could bling one for your sweetie and put it in their Easter Basket....then they could find the eggs at O-Dark-Thirty.

Bling Your Thing Part 2 will be about our teeny tiny quilt challenge :)

Smiles,

Kelly

NOTE: The free shipping offer is only good on the Beam N Read Lights through the end of March.  when you are checking out, choose your shipping, then enter your Coupon Code:  Bling Your Thing    If you have any questions, feel free to send me an e-mail at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com

Guess who's using their EQ?

Guess who's using their EQ?

Kathy from Cotton Cellar Blog....that's who.  Kathy is a friend and guild member in PA.  Recently she has been having fun with her Electric Quilt 7 and I was able to  interview her for this post.  I have always admired people who dive in and have fun....Kathy is one of those people.  Here is my interview with Kathy (her words are typed in blue).

"Coasting"

My EQ drawings were a starting point for both quilts, but I made changes as I went, once I started the actual quilt. "Coasting" started out with equally spaced blocks on the drawing, and while I liked that, I decided to gradually increase the spacing once I started making it. Hence the name, Coasting - just like taking your feet off the pedals on a bike and coasting. I still like the original layout and have enough blocks left to make a second quilt, and that one will have the equally spaced blocks like the drawing. That one will be called "Cruising" - as in a constant speed. 

"Coasting and Cruising"

Can you tell me how long you have been using your EQ software....some of your thoughts about the software...and your process of learning to use it.

 I've been using EQ7 since mid-2010 when I purchased it from IHAN, and had a little bit of exposure to EQ6 prior to that at Needles Quilt Shop.  I admit that I'm very much a "newbie" at this, and am totally self-taught.  I learn best when I have a "need-to-know" so when I run into something I don't know how to do, that's when I dive in and dig around through the lessons until I figure it out.  I still have LOTS of learning to do!

I've just recently learned how to create my own fabric libraries in EQ and that is so valuable to me in my design process.  All I have to do is look up my fabric on the internet, and many times I find the .jpg swatches are already on the manufacturer's website ready to download.  If not, once I find the swatch I just right-click and save the image to my computer.  From there it's easy to import the swatches into EQ and use them in my designs.  It makes such a difference when I can view my exact fabrics on the screen as I create a design.

Was the fabric your inspiration to start the designs or did you make your designs first and then look for fabrics that would complement them?

Definitely the fabric was my inspiration!  Just like the commercial says - "the look, the feel, of cotton".  It draws me in and I usually buy it simply because I love it.  Occasionally I have a design in mind first, but most of the time I fall in love with a group of fabrics and have a general "feeling" that comes to mind when I work with them. Then the design is secondary.

For some totally unintentional reason, these latest two quilts have been designed around an emotion that came to mind when I start working with the fabrics.
For the "Coasting" quilt, I definitely wanted to work with the "light-to-dark" sequence of fabrics.  When I started playing around with the spacing between the blocks I had the feeling of just slowing down and coasting - like the feeling I remember as a child when I would take my feet of the pedals of my bike and coast...

"Grounded"

The drawing for "Grounded" started out in a horizontal format, suitable for hanging behind a sofa. But once I made the blocks, I realized that I liked it better in a vertical format, so I changed it again. The drawings are just starting points, so it didn't make sense to spend the time in front of the computer to change the drawing - it just got me going on the quilt.

When I started designing the blocks for "Grounded", I liked the idea of having a vertical band of a constant fabric running through each block, then connecting them with the quilting stitches.  It brought to mind the idea of electricity following the path of least resistance to the ground - hence the name "Grounded".  We all like to follow the path of least resistance in our lives, and working on this quilt made me feel grounded too.

How long have you been quilting?  Anything you would like folks to know about you in particular....just let me know so I can include that in my post.

I have been sewing as long as I can remember, but I didn't start any attempts at quilting until the mid 1980's.  I was working as a Drafter in the Engineering Department of our local Glass Factory here in Wellsboro at the time, so work and family took priority and didn't leave much time for sewing.  I left my job in 2004 so I could enjoy some pre-retirement years and focus on the things in life that bring me the most pleasure - family (which now includes two new grandchildren), sewing, camping & fishing with my wonderful husband.
My mother taught me to sew when I was a little girl, and my first sewing machine was passed down to me from my great-grandmother, so sewing is definitely in my genes!

Are you planning on selling these patterns? 

I have just recently opened an on-line Etsy shop (http://www.etsy.com/shop/CottonCellar) where I hope to sell my quilts, as well as the purses and accessories that I make.  I've been thinking about selling patterns for my quilts as well.  I guess that depends on the feedback that I get.  If there's enough interest, I might go ahead and publish the patterns too.  I have been designing patterns for Needles Quilt Shop for several years now, so I could easily transition into designing my own line of patterns as well.  We'll see...
 


Thank you for the interview Kathy. 

You can visit Kathy's blog here or by clicking on any place in this post that says Cotton Cellar. Click here to visit Kathy's ETSY shop.


Sew you see....it just takes starting! Are you using your Electric Quilt software?  I know I've used mine and found it to be very user friendly.  I don't personally know of any other software company that totally and completely supports their software like the Electric Quilt Company does.  They have a forum, videos, lessons....you name it....they are committed to help you learn to use your software.  Go over to the EQ website and check out all they offer.  Some companies take your money and say, “Thank you very much,” and that’s where the relationship ends.   The Electric Quilt Company follows the sale with, “How can we help you be successful in learning our software?”  That’s my kind of company!

Did Ya? Did Ya? Well....Did Ya?

VOTE YET?

Whatcha waitin' for?  A special invitation?  Ok....I am now extending to you this extra-special invitation to get your booty over to SewCalGal's Blog and Vote for the Golden Quilter Awards. 

Now....don't you just feel better?  I know all of you have opinions...I wouldn't be friends with folks who didn't have an opinion or three....so go tell SewCalGal what you think :)

Giggles & Smiles,

Kelly