Aurifil Thread Heist at Spring Quilt Market 2010 in Minneapolis

Meet Davide Moro, from Aurifil Threads.  Davide, I'm pleased to introduce you to the IHAN blog readers.

Poor Davide was walking down the hallway just before Schoolhouse at Quilt Market opened. I yelled in my oh so polite voice, Mr. Aurifil, and I chased Davide down for a photo. He was so polite to turn and smile. Little did he know that it was just a plan to get him accustomed to being distracted in preparation for the IHAN Aurifil Thread Heist!!! It worked :)

Later in the morning I ran in to Alex Veronelli, from Aurifil Threads, (same goes for Alex as Ricky yesterday and anyone else with their eyes closed : )  I would recognize his face....even on Facebook!!!

Little does Alex know the only Aurifil Thread  he will be able to sell will be the Aurifil he sells at Sample Spree because the rest will be gone in a IHAN blink!!!  See how relaxed he looks. 

Davide is friendly enough to say hello again later in the day.  Just as I got close enough to him and he relaxed (his breathing was nice and even and his arms loosely dangled at his sides) I went in for the initial IHAN tactical move -

The IHAN head lock!!! 

My plan was to learn the exact amount of pressure I would need to keep him at bay should he try to defend the Aurifil Thread Stands!  See ladies and gentleman, you have to "case the joint" before you rob it.  Casing the "joint" (Aurifil Booth) is part of the planning process.  I learned this from a really big mobster (Al Capone) while in the Pokey.

Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts, was just finishing up her Schoolhouse lecture when this photo was taken. Since Edyta knows me, she was very relaxed as she posed for a photo.  The woman she was posing for just loves Edya's book, "Hop To It."  Edyta is completely unaware that I was reaching into her bag to take her Aurifil Thread Kit.  Notice she does not even  flinch.

I know, bragging about a theft is not typically polite....but since I know I'll be judged by a jury of my peers, who in their right mind would blame me?  Not a quilter, right? 

Since this was just a dry run, I gave Edyta's Thread Kit back to her.  Her husband, now all trim and fit, was giving me "the look."  You know "the look?"  The one where he is telepathically saying, "you touch her Aurifil Thread Kit again and I'm going to clock you!!  Yes, that one.  He definitely looked like he could run faster than me so I backed away slowly.


Later in the day.....

Davide was so compulsive he could not stop arranging the Aurifil display.  He had to be sure everything was  just perfect.  Since I noticed he was hyper-focused, I felt  invisible as I crawled up to the display to steal the  first box of Aurifil Thread.

As Davide, Alex and Elena were chatting with customers, I took the opportunity to grab my first Aurifil Thread display.  I wanted it to be small enough that I could still run fast without dropping a single spool.  If it were bags of money I were stealing  I might not mind as much  if a few bills flew away.....but I was not about to let even one spool of Aurifil Thread roll away.  NOT A CHANCE!!

I could not contain my joy as the security cameras captured my grin!!!  I forgot to shoot out the security camera with my IHAN secret ray gun that zaps all security cameras and renders them useless until the "Red Head" disappears from sight.

Here I am running right past the cleaning lad, she never even noticed.  I'm 6 feet tall and I've never let my height get in the way of stealing Quilting Notions.  Most folks are fooled by the smile and friendly persona this IHAN thief puts on.....little do they know that they are the unsuspecting targets of a IHAN Aurifil Thread Heist.

I lost my finesse as Alex Veronelli turned just in time to see me tilting the Aurifil Display onto my dolly (a pair of my size 12 roller skates.  They double as a great dolly).  I quickly put on the IHAN friendly smile and pretended I was "just playing."  The entire time my dark inner thoughts were "Look Mr. AV....I'm not letting you or anyone else get in the way of my desires....so just back your silver-haired-self with the lover-like-eyes OFF and away from MY Aurifil Display!!!"

I knew I would be too much for him.  Look at his smile.  He is showing a little frustration but the IHAN determination gleans right through my teeth.  This Aurifil Thread will be mine!!! 

Later,  I went for the big spools.  My only regret, I did not think to wear bigger underwear.  Can you imagine what I could have done with Triple G's?  I could have had several in one trip.  Next time I'll be better prepared :)

Ooops, I'm coming undone....one little thread at a time. 

Most gals want smaller waists and pant sizes.  NOT me!!!  The bigger the better.  I'm such a perfect sized Gal that I can stuff The Ultra Collection by Mark Lipinski right into my pants.  Well, I guess I ate too much at breakfast.....so I did the next best thing......

I stuffed it up my shirt.  How noticeable could it be?

Not very ay?

Now for the back loader.  I figure I can manage a few Aurifil Thread Kits in the back right?

Well, there may be a little bit of IHAN sticking out of the right side of my shirt.  If there were less of that I would have had more room for the Aurifil Thread Kits.  Now that is REAL incentive to get rid of the extra IHAN on my sides, right?  RIGHT!!!

The Grand Finale

I had just commandeered a Forklift and off with the Aurifil crate I drove.....all the way back to IHAN.

Aurifil Thread displays are now at IHAN....and they are only for me.  Sorry I can't share....I'm saving them just in case I get sent to the Pokey and need bail.  I'm offering one of each color to anyone who posts bond. 

 

The remainder of all of these Aurifil beauties will be split equally with the jury at my trial.  Now see if you have a leg to stand on Alex, Davide and Elena!!   The three of you will burst into tears when the Judge takes her gavel/donker and swings it into the air in a free motion quilting type move and announces the verdict -

NOT GUILTY

ON THE GOUNDS THAT AURIFIL WAS JUST WAY TOO TEMPTING!!!

It will be Aurifil's fault and they will have to pay a hefty fine to IHAN for the emotional pain and suffering that was caused by having to gaze upon their lovely Aurifil Threads and Kits.  This is what I call a Win/Win situation :)

 

It is so important to return to the "scene of the crime" so you don't look like a "real" suspect.  So I casually walked back by their display to see Edyta Sitar's  "A Few of My Favorites 50wt Aurifil Thread Set" .  It is absolutely beautiful...don't you think? 

 Then I casually gazed at Pat Sloan's 40wt Machine Piecing and Quilting Thread Kit and then at her 50wt Machine Quilting and Applique Thread Kit.   I was happy to see Pat's Sweet Liberty Heart Kit all made up.  I really like this pattern.

I just want to close by saying I can not confirm nor deny the "validity" of this post.  Since honesty is an IHAN value.....I will just say.....I'm honestly not confirming nor denying any part of this story!!!

The IHAN Poppy Queen Wave

I will however confirm and validate that all of the following spools of Aurifil Thread was lawfully purchased by me at Sample Spree.

Here they are all lined up.....oh I love to fondle my spools of thread :)  Some are Wool and some are 50 wt.  But I love them all equally!!

Thieving Smiles,

Kelly

IHAN Returns from Spring Quilt Market 2010 in Minneapolis

OK, first things first.  This is the unedited version of my desk.  You will notice the empty coffee cup and the chocolate (given to me by Patsy Thompson- for my boys- look who is eating it!!!)  I call this my Rocket Fuel to get the IHAN up and going!!! (sort of like a MO JO.....but much more umph is necessary)

This is exactly what is sitting next to my desk right now.  My basket of brochures and information so I can write about my Market experience intelligently (well....as intelligently as I am able :) and the new Licensed GO! Fabric Cutter Dies I had ordered before I left town, now opened and ready to play....just as soon as I can :)

These are the packages of goodies that I have not had time to go through.  I bought very little for myself.  However, there are lots of wonderful things that are for IHAN blog readers....looking forward to tons of Giveaways here at IHAN !!!  Can I get a Woo Hooo out there in the crowd?  Oh Yeah Baby!!!

The IHAN coffee table overfloweth it's capacity.....all to be given away right here on the IHAN blog :)

It overfloweth to the IHAN red sofa, in the family room too.

So, that is the skinny, now I'm back to work getting the posts ready to show each booth or product etc.  If anyone lives close and would like to hop on over and help out ..... feel free....you don't even have to knock....just come right in and bring your work boots and gloves.

Smiles,

Kelly

Splitting Stitches Blog and AccuQuiilt Facebook Fan Page....DON'T MISS THIS

Hi Ya'all!!!!  Did you know my girlfriend, Joanne Lendaro from Splitting Stitches Blog won a GO! Fabric Cutter from AccuQuilt's Facebook Fan Page? 

Hi Joanne!!!  Wish I could come over and just give you a huge celebratory hug!!!  I'm so happy for you.  I love your music on your blog.....always music I know the words to.....hmmmm....same generation I guess :)

Joanne was so ecstatic about her win, she is posting a GIVEAWAY.  How is that for Paying It Forward? 

This is what Joanne is giving away:

"I am going to send you enough fabric to make this same quilt! I have already ordered the 2.5 die and will be ordering the Tumbler Block die. SO...I will send you

90 Tumbler Blocks (see below)
2.5" Sashing in RED
4" Border Fabric
I will be sending Tumbler blocks cut from: black on white, white on black, red on black, red on white, black on red,and white on red."

You have to hop over to her blog and check out all the details!!!

While I'm on the subject of the GO! Fabric Cutter and Giveaways.  IHAN and AccuQuilt will be giving away a GO! Fabric Cutter on May 28th....this Friday.  You better click here to make sure you are in the drawing.  If you decide you want more entries for the IHAN Giveaway, read down through the list and don't miss out on the opportunity to donate to the Green Fairy Charity.....go and read about it, I guarantee your spirit will be full of joy after reading about Judi and Clint (Young folks with 4 kids continuing to give on the other side of the Earth....just because they can!!!)  Oh, I need to remind everyone that you can choose only ONE way to enter.  I know some folks thought they could do all of the choices ( I love their energy and attitude :) but everyone can do only one.  The only way to get additional entries is to donate to the Green Fairy Charity.

Ok, I know I did not post yesterday.  All of the IHAN blog followers know how "real" I am and I don't fudge the truth (when I do it is indicated...lol).  I was gone all day yesterday with my youngest co-worker.  He and the oldest are having some testing done and we have baseball games at night.  I'm a One Woman show really and they come first, always!!  Please keep the boys in your thoughts and know I'm juggling lots and lots of balls.  If you can't wait for the pix to arrive, you can come over and view them here on my bot....anytime as long and you help sweep or cook.

Smiles,
Kelly

AccuQuilt - Spring Quilt Market 2010- New Licensed Dies

Since IHAN is currently hosting an GO! Fabric Cutter  GIVEAWAY for a GO! Fabric Cutter I thought it would be fun to start with AccuQuilt.  I have mixed the photos from Schoolhouse* and Quilt Market for this post.

On the far left you can see a smidgen of a sample of Lady Eleanor's GO! Blazing Star, Lady Alex's GO! Bountiful Baskets, Lady Sharon's GO! Rose of Sharon and Sir Rick's GO! Arabesque #2.

Linda Pumphrey, National Sales Manager, opens  AccuQuilt Schoolhouse Presentation.

Lady Eleanor was her usual funny self during Schoolhouse (stay tuned for more photos).  Here she is introducing her new AccuQuilt Licensed Die GO! Blazing Star. 

 

There are lots of screens with presentations at Schoolhouse.  Why do I take a photo of the slide-show presentation?  (shrugging shoulders now)  Maybe so you will feel like you were there with me....maybe so I'll remember what I was doing there....in case my mental Rolodex slows down......oh who cares really....just enjoy the pix :)

This is an example of a quilt made using the GO! Blazing Star die. (gently borrowed from AccuQuilt :)

 (this pix was taken during the unveiling of the Rose of Sharon Quilt Challenge by EQ, more on that later)

Sharon Pederson has brought the "Sharon" back to the Rose of Sharon Block"!!!  The new licensed die for the GO! Fabric Cutter makes cutting the Rose of Sharon pattern a zip, just cut and GO!. 

This is the GO! Rose of Sharon Die.

Lady Sharon had to use her GO! Rose of Sharon Die on the GO! Fabric Cutter  to cut over 800 flowers (with fusible on the back).  Look how well her die held up!!!!  The GO! is not supposed to handle mass production....but it looks like it can handle a load of wear and tear and still keep cutting (Timex and AccuQuilt might consider a merger....it keeps a licking and keeps on ticking/cutting? No...ok forget it!)

Lady Sharon and Lady Alex are showing off the winning blocks from the Rose of Sharon Quilt Challenge hosted by The Electric Quilt Company.  We were not allowed to post any photos of these winning blocks before it was officially announced at Quilt Market.  No worries about IHAN posting secret photos....I had no camera cord!!!  LOL.

Sir Ricky Tims introduced his new GO! Fabric Cutter Dies, GO! Arabesque #2  and GO! Arabesque #3.  Some folks overestimate my skills with photo editing.  I know you can paste Sir Rick's eyes from one photo to another....but not this gal.  You get the pix just as I took it....eyes closed.  One benefit of this photo is that if you are in love with Ricky Tims, you can now visualize what he would look like with his eyes closed kissing you.  ROFL :)

Look how beautiful these blocks are!!!  You can use the dies in a number of ways.  You can place your fabric over only partial areas of the die to create your own variation of designs too.  We call that, "TOTB", Thinking Outside The Box!!!  (I'm not sure who we are exactly.....)

These are photos I took at the AccuQuilt booth at Quilt Market.  These show the Studio Die Cutter cutting Sir Ricky's patterns.

This is The Studio Cutter, available only through AccuQuilt.

Since I was running around trying to get photos of the Schoolhouse presentations I missed parts of some of them.  Unfortunately I missed Lady Alex Anderson's portion of the class : ( I'm soooo sorry Lady Alex. I will add the photos of her new Licensed Dies and show you samples of blocks you can make using her new GO! Bountiful Baskets and GO! Quarter Square-4" Finished Triangle. 

This is the GO! Bountiful Baskets die by AccuQuilt.

And....this is a sample of a quilt using Alex's GO! Bountiful Baskets Die (gently borrowed from AccuQuilt :)

 This is Alex's new GO! Quarter Square-4" Finished Triangle NEW Licensed Die .

And this is a quilt made using her GO! Quarter Square-4" Finished Triangle NEW Licensed Die .

I know I am not the Queen of Quilting and don't really have the authority to "donk" anyone with knighthood and ladyhood (?) titles.....but it sure makes the reading so much more fun doesn't it?  Perhaps Queen Elizabeth should come for a visit and bring her "donker."  ROFL

Oh....the "donker" goes by another more formal name, it is called a "Sceptre" too!  I guess I'll never make the Royal Court with my personalized IHAN  nouns and adjectives.

This is my first installment of Spring Quilt Market 2010 in Minneapolis.  I have to take my co-workers to play now.  More soon!!

Donked Smiles,

Kelly

*Schoolhouse is a series of  presentations that are held on Thursday before Quilt Market opens.