Silk Heart Quilt by Sarah Vedeler Designs and Free Motion Quilting by Patsy Thompson Designs

I know what you are thinking....yep....I do.  You are thinking to yourself....hmmmm...did Kelly finish her Valentines wall hanging today.  The answer.....is no.  But I did get the thread I need to finish....yippee!!!  I had to buy 5 spools....because not one local sold it by the spool in the color I needed.  Guess I'll be using this thread for lots of things...lol.

Since I've been tied up with the details of life I've not shown you some of the beautiful things I have seen lately.  Check out this quilt below....SILK....so beautiful and delicious.

Machine Embroidery Designs by Sarah Vedeler Designs

Silk Hearts Collection

Silk Hearts Collection Thread by Aurifil

Now you can not tell me that you would not flip if you had a silk quilt with beautiful hearts on it.....for a special anniversary (my 10th is coming in May) or as a Wedding Gift!!!  I might even be willing to marry my husband all over again if I knew I'd get this Silk Hearts Quilt (you speak one word of this to him....and your name is mud...LOL).

Adding these DVD's to my website has been on my "to do" list for way too long.  I'm even embarrassed because Patsy Thompson is a local here and I have even had the pleasure of meeting her.  If you read this Patsy...please forgive me.  (I have lots of excuses....dogs eating lists...kids....husband....family....weather...ok...I'm done :)

Free Motion Fun with Vines and Leaves & Fast and Free are just two DVD's I've added to my website.  You can see them all by clicking here.  Patsy Thompson Designs also has some free downloads on her site.  Check them out...click here :)

My machine does not have the stitch regulator so it is a bit more difficult to practice free motion quilting on my machine.  After "playing" with the big guns (click here and scroll down until you see me with the big guns!!) going back to my machine....well it is just not the same.  But I thought I would share that I have added them to my website just in case you are wanting to learn how to do Free Motion Quilting or you already know how and want to improve your skills.  No, I'm not planning on purchasing a Long Arm Quilt Machine....just so you know.  If I win one....I'll work at learning how to use it and you all can come over and play with it too!!!  Print this out and keep it as proof of your invitation for entry into my home :)

Smiles,
Kelly

One World One Heart Giveaway Winner

And the winner is: Deborah Ann from  Heavenly Humor Blog.  Congrats!!!  Send me your address at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com to claim your prize :)

Smiles,
Kelly

Channeling Gilda Radner as Rosanna Rosanna Danna Today :)

I wish I had a audio clip of what I was thinking when I realized that I would not have enough thread to finish outlining my hearts. It went something like this, "Its' Always Something." But the voice I heard in my head was Rosanna Rosanna Dannas voice.

I loved Gilda Radner....I still do....she was wonderful. So....as my thread dwindled off the spindle...Gilda's voice calmed me and made me smile. What the heck....every thing else on the earth has gotten in the way of me finishing this project.....why not run out of thread, right?

Here is my progress.....

I'm glad I was not asked to build any Pyramids or the Sistine Chapel....or invent a television....you'd still be waiting...LOL

Rosanna Rosanna Danna Smiles,

Kelly Fi Fo Felly Kelly, Sme, Smi, Smo Smelly with Jelly Kelly....see all this is starting to affect me....wiggle....flinch....giggle

Quilted Love Gone Wrong by a Grumpy Ole Lady :)

At the risk of sounding pathetic, I want to say the past three weeks have been very trying.  I don't want to go into all the glorious details....just know...."It's always Something!!" 

I hope all of you are having a wonderful Sunday (Monday on the other side of the globe :) and if you like Valentines Day....that you are enjoying that as well.

My goal was to make a Valentines wall hanging.  I had the nerve to "want" to do something for myself.  There have been a thousand challenges along the way.  The good news is, I have some pictures of my unfinished Valentines wall hanging and I will be hanging it up and keeping it up until after May when Rick and I celebrate our 10th Wedding Anniversary!!!

I received this free pattern from AccuQuilt and I thought it looked interesting.  Last Monday when I went shop hopping with friends I bought these fabrics.

The Heart Die for the AccuQuilt Go is on one strip with three different size hearts on it.  I only wanted to fussy cut one heart at a time so I covered the rest of the hearts with a cutting mat so my fabric would not get cut except for where I wanted it to be cut.

Then I butted another mat up against the other mat and ran it through the AccuQuilt Go.  There may be other ways to accomplish this task but it was how I decided I would do it.

 

Wahhhh Lahhhhh a beautiful fussy cut heart!!

 

I drew reference lines on my background fabric so I would not have any of my hearts out of alignment.  I used the Clover Water Soluble Marker.  I love these markers.  I've never once had a problem with them and they show up great on dark fabrics.

(backing up a bit) I had ironed some fusible on the back of my fabric and then quickly remembered why I prefer Misty Fuse.  The stuff I started with did not even stay on my fabric, it kept separating.   Misty Fuse is light and holds every time without making my applique stiff.  Live and learn....then re-learn.  I know how to frustrate myself very well.  So I re-cut my hearts using Misty Fuse :)

This is my unfinished wall hanging.  I started stitching around each heart last night and was concerned I did not have enough thread.  What else could go wrong?  After all, I had already blown a fuse and blew out the electricity in the basement, used junk fusible.....running out of thread would be par for the course.  (whine, whine, whine....forgive me please!)

These are pictures of my very first Sugar Cookies!!  I needed to make some for Zachary's Valentines Party at school.  I'd never made them before much less make icing for them. 

See, they came out pretty.  I was not too thrilled with how I had iced them.....but some were prettier than others.  Still, I had fun and was proud that I did not buy them at the store....I made them myself.

The IHAN co-workers show off their Valentines Treats from Mommy & Daddy this morning:

So, that is why I have not posted in three days.....cuz I've been kicking and screaming like a little child because things keep going haywire.  I think I have a case of the crabbies....mean ole lady syndrome.  I will emerge from this soon.....or I will keep sweeping up the dirt from the plant that I've knocked over twice already :)

Grumpy Smiles,

Kelly

Now You're Talking

I saw this in a shop window while we were out shop hopping.  I would love to get a box of thread like this for Valentines day....wouldn't you?  How fun is this?

 

I'm drowning in things "to do" today.  The boys have been home from school the past two days.  Today is their Valentines parties at school, a spelling test and a Super Reader day (Aaron has to read out loud to his classmates). 

The last few days have been filled with sledding and preparing for today.  They have Friday and Monday off too....so I only have a few hours before I head to the school for their parties and then whisk them off to a Cub Scout "Go See It" at the local television studio.  Sooooo....I will leave you with this fun quote I read this morning from a little book, "The Portable Life 101."

-92-

Don't worry about losing weight (ugh!), think about using weight (oh, boy!).  The good news about being "overweight" is that you have lots of stored energy to do all the things you want to do.  It's your energy-bought and paid for.

Since I've found a little extra energy....I think I'll use it today!!

Smiles,

Kelly

Shop Hopping-Snow Shoveling-New Purchases and Da Loom

In the lane, snow is glistening....hmmm hmmmm....we're happy tonight dancing in a winter wonder land!!!  Ok...so those might not be the exact words....but perfect for this weather.  I love the snow....isn't it beautiful?  This is out our front door.

 

This is a photo near the bridge in Maumee.  I thought the snow on the river was pretty too.  I take the boys sledding not far from here.

On Monday I got to go to 5 different Quilt Shops in Michigan with some fun gals.  We started out at 9:00 in the morning and we got back at 4:30.   I've never been to any of the stores before so I had a great time.  I got a scissor fob for my favorite pair of Dovo Scissors.  I love these scissors and I think they deserved a beautiful bobble to identify them as mine (as thought I would let anyone ever walk away with them...lol).

I found this fabric in a fat quarter bin and they did not have any left on the bolt.  Ohhhh darn....I love these colors.  I bought two fat quarters and have absolutely no idea what I will do with them.....but I love them and that was good enough for me.

I also bought a new foot for my sewing machine and some other fabric that I'm not showing yet.  I'm hoping the boys get outside to play with a babysitter later today and I'm going to put together my Valentines wall hanging.  I love the fabric and I hope it turns out beautiful.

Sandy brought this to a meeting last Monday.  I had never seen a loom like this before.  She said it was  faster than knitting a pair of socks.  I'm not a knitter but this looks like something I could do.  I found it fascinating.  Here is a link that I found when looking for them on the internet.

Da Loom

Sandy said she uses thin yarn and if my memory serves me correctly she said it had some wool in it too.  Da Loom website gives you all the information you need including a video.  So cool.

Snowman Smiles,

Kelly

I Have A Notion Employee Update

Hmmmm....how much sewing did I get done this weekend?  NONE.  Here is my "excuse"...I mean JOY.

Snow hill here we come....oh yea baby!!!

No, this is not a photo of a long lost daughter.  I have not been keep secrets about the mail man and myself.  This little angel was just sledding on the hill with us and her Grandmother said I could take her photo.  I was captivated by her curls. 

I started thinking about the portrait quilts people have done. Can you imagine doing one of this angel? One question: How would anyone capture those curls? It is beyond me. Anyway....she is beautiful and we all shared sleds and our snacks so she was part of our Posse for the day.

Do I just take my two sledding?  NOPE.....we take as many as will fit in our van.  Four little fellas spent 3 hours sledding and then we went on "An Adventure."

On another subject:

A few weeks ago, I decided to bring out our cloth napkins.  We used them daily before the boys were born.  Now time has passed and the co-workers are 5 (soon to be 6 in May) and 7, so I pull out the cloth napkins.  Aaron comes to the dinner table and asks, "Momma, what are these?"  I explain that they are dinner napkins and Mommy and Daddy used them everyday before they were born and now they are old enough, Mommy has decided to use them again.  Aaron and Zach were fine with this idea.  It was difficult for them to consider wiping their faces on cloth....but....they actually did it.  The next night, Aaron comes into the kitchen.....looks at the dinner table.....and says, "Oh Rags again Mom (in a tone of voice that one might expect if they were being given hot dogs for the 12th night in a row)?"  Can you imagine?  I laughed and laughed and could not wait to tell Rick.  So the next time you are using a cloth napkin....remember you are using a "Rag" and not a fine dinner napkin.  ROFL

Meet Pickles, my nephew.  I won't tell you his "real" name because he is a teenager....and you know how they can be.  He was visiting and his JoJo (IHAN CEO) made him do his homework.  He was not too thrilled about the book so I told him I had this special reading hat that I found helpful when reading.  He never questioned me....Pickles just sat there.  I approached him from the side and put a pair of the boys boxers on his head.  I only wish the other leg would have continued to stay up.  So when you need help reading....you don't necessarily need a brighter light or even your glasses.....you may only need a pair of Pirate Boxers!!!

So....this is why I did not get one bit of stitching done.  Someone has to soak up all these wonderful memories....it might as well be me :)

Smiles,

Kelly 

Creative Grids Rulers

I have seen all of these Creative Grids Rulers demonstrated several times. They are so cool. I bought myself the Kaleidoscope Ruler last week.  Checker Distributors has a link on their website for directions for using each one of these rulers.  Check out these directions for using them. I think people see the rulers and wonder to themselves, "what do I do with that?" Wonder no more.

Non-Slip 45º Double-Strip Ruler

60 Degree Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler

90 Degree Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler

45 Degree Kaleidoscope Double-Strip Creative Grids Ruler

Creative Grids 60 Degree Strip Ruler For 2 1/2in Strips & Triangles 14in x 5in

Creative Grids Trapezoid Strip Ruler 15 1/4in x 5in

I hope this helps explain how to use each of these rulers.  You will need Adobe PDF to load the instruction pages. 

I'm a visual learner so having these instructions really help me when I'm using my tools.  I hope they help you too.

Smiles,

Kelly