Suffering in Tioga County

This is one scary hostage situation here.  The CEO was held captive in a room covered in Quilt Ribbons....so many Best of Show, Judges Choice, Viewers Choice, First Place and Best Visible Handwork.....now that is pure torture.  Forced to use a Bernina 820 (basically means several steps above the machine I own) and eat coffee cake for breakfast.  Please don't send out the FBI.....unless they bring Robert Redford with them!!!

These are just a few of the East Coast Directors ribbons....she has box after box stashed in the attic.

Forced to watch as these beautiful hand made items get priced for a Holiday Art and Craft Show being held at the IHAN East Coast Headquarers on Dec. 4th and 5th.

Then.....after suffering like this she was escorted out and placed into a Chrysler Pacifica with dark windows and taken to another undisclosed location. 

When she arrived....this woman, who goes by Anne, forced her to look at this beautiful new jacket she has made and suffered with the company of 10 of the most fun ladies in Tioga County.  It was just terrible....then came the forcing of the pumpkin cheese cake....oh the pain and horror.

Those little green men are following her around....she can't shake them.  It is like a terrible nightmare.

The woman, who goes by the name of Anne, forced a Flat Stanley upon her.  The requirements of the Flat Stanley are that he has to travel and gather experiences and some suveniers and trinkets and be returned to a little fella by the name of Sam (Sam does not know anyone who lives outside his town-truth).  The CEO will take FS back to OH and then look for one wonderful person to take possession of him and quickly return him to PA via USPS.  Need one volunteer.

Aaaahhhhhh then they wiped off her beautiful makeup and flattened down her hair and stuck her into a photo......between Kay and Anne.  Should you ever be tortured like this....SMILE!!!

Very Happy Smiles,
Kelly

Undisclosed Location of IHAN CEO-Clues

This is the "Undisclosed Location" of IHAN's CEO.  She is being kept hostage by the Green Boogie Family and the Director of East Coast Operations.

Very little time to sleep around here....between the Bernina 820 and the Little Green Men.

Today the CEO of IHAN is being permitted out of captivity to rub elbows with some of the most wonderful women Tioga County has to offer.  Updates pending.....

Close lipped smiles,

The Captive

The Greenies Go on a Road Trip

Mr and Mrs Boogie take their two sons on a road trip.  Upon arrival to their destination, Mrs Boogie heads off for two days to an undisclosed location to play with this 820 Bernina!!!

Ohhhh my she is in bliss....

And at this undisclosed location there is a brand new Tutto XXL Bag/House for the 820 Bernina :)

Mrs. Boogie is in the process of using some her new Textile Batik fabrics to make an undisclosed project.

Ohhh this is so much fun....Mr. Boogie has the two little boogies and Mrs. Boogie is living it up with a girlfriend Boogie lover.

Ohhhh.....Green Boogie Man goes for a ride on the John Deere!!!!  Stay tuned for more updates on this Undisclosed Location and Undisclosed Project....ooohhhh yeah baby!!!

Joyous Smiles,
Kelly aka Mrs. Boogie

Pine Mountain Designs at the International Quilt Market in Houston 2009

Sandy Workman of Pine Mountain Designs designed these two quilts.  They touched the little person that lives inside of me.  All I could think of was continuing to put away pieces of cloth from my boys clothing and making each one of them a little boys quilt using that cloth.  Can you imagine?

I just loved everything in her booth.  The punchneedle patterns were really fun too.  I will be adding her punchneedle patterns to my website soon. You can check out more Pine Mountain Designs here.

I was asked the other day if I still had more posts for Quilt Market in Houston.  I have enough material to post every day until Spring Market.  I need a Publishing Manager to help me get everything organized and then I would be able to do just that.  I keep a box of material right next to my desk.  Honestly I still have not added items to my shop that I loved at Spring Market.  There is just so many wonderful and fun designs out there....I'll try to get more out soon.

Smiles,

Kelly

Moda Bake Shop Sampler - 480 Fun Filled Charms ONLY 35.00

Simply click on the photo to order!!!  Can't get much easier than that :)

This sampler features collections from twelve Moda designers. There are four hundred eighty 2 1/2" squares. The prints range in style from light-hearted fun to pieces from our quilting past. Each stands on their own, but together would make a fascinating charm quilt.

Includes a booklet that offers templates and quilt inspirations for these charming small quilts.


Excellent book for 2 1/2" charm squares is Scrap-Basket Surprises.

These hot little babies are going fast.  I only have a few left so if you are considering ordering one or more....please do so quickly or e-mail me to let me know and I'll put your name on it.  I don't want anyone to be disappointed when they sell out.  I can not get any more.

Smiles,

Kelly

Show me the Love....and the Money....but the Greenies???

This is exactly why I love my blog.  I have the wonderful opportunity to meet people from all over the world that I would have never gotten a chance to meet otherwise.  I have felt more alive and full of joy since I started this blog and business and it is all because of the people I have met.  Check this out: 

I was expecting a check from Joanne but certainly not a box.  First thing I did was listen to make sure I did not hear any puppy sounds or any ticking.  Next I checked for white powder leaking out the side....nope.  So....I opened the box.  For the life of me I could not even imagine why she would have sent me a box.  Then:

This was what was in the box:

A wonderful Green Boogie Family.  My joy level shot up sky high.  This is exactly the type of humor and fun that tickles me.  If you don't read regularly you may not know that my co-workers and I have had this mucus thing on and off for over 6 weeks now.  So apropo.

Then....in the bag I found this...Chocolate Chip Biscotti.  My first thought was I'm sure she sent more and those green boogies ate my biscotti.  Then I figured she really loves me and knows I don't have any self control so she only sent 4....now that is LOVE. 

While I was having all these thoughts the phone rang and it was Rick.  He was coming home for lunch.  I was just in the midst of eating the biscotti and having a cup of General Foods International Coffee-Vanilla Bean Latte (free samples given out at a guild meeting).  I could hear music playing ,....I think it was the harps of the angels....then the devil spoke up and said...."Girlfriend....you better eat that last biscotti fast before Rick gets home and sees it."  My reply, "oh Rick is going to love this so I'm saving this one last piece for him." 

I realize this is not enough to get me to heaven....but that's ok....because I've been having some heaven right here and I truly appreciate the thought and sweetness.  To you they may be just a bunch of green boogies.....but to me....they are cherished family members that will have lots of fun travels.

Thank You Joanne!!!!  And Thank You to everyone who takes the time to leave comments and e-mails.  I appreciate the effort and it feels more like a conversation that just a one sided publication.  It gives this place we meet called - I Have A Notion Blogspot- into a fun place filled with joy and kindness.  Can't beat that, not even with a big stick :)

Huge Smiles,

Kelly

Response to the Accuquilt Go

Last night I took my Accuquilt Go to a guild meeting.  I showed several of the gals how nicely and easily it works.  I got lots of positive feedback.  The one thing everyone always says is, "well I still have to cut my fabric don't I?"  The answer to that is yes and no.

NO: You don't have to cut your fabric to fit on top of the dies.  It depends on what size piece you are starting with and what you want to do with it.  You can take a one yard cut and fold it to lay it over the dies for the strip cutter.  If you have scraps you want to use...don't pre-cut them...just lay them over the die and put it through the machine...and wahhhh lahhhh.

Yes: If the fabric you are using needs to be fussy cut or if you want to lay the fabric just a 1/4 inch overlapping the die blade.  Then you would need to pre-cut to the width you would be using. 

Consider this:  I just cut 140 4 1/2 x 4 1/2 inch squares for the I-Spy square swap that Karen did over at SewManyWays blog.  I cut 140 blocks using my ruler and rotary cutter.  It took me quite awhile.  I was very frustrated that no matter how well I looked at my ruler the blocks were not the exact same size.  I don't know why.  I had to re-cut some and some of that fabric was wasted.  So yes, you will have some waste....but there are very few projects where you don't have even a little waste.  It is all in how you want to work.  I truely find mundane repetitive cutting to be unpleasurable.  So if I want to just have the fun of sewing my strips, blocks, circles, hexagons and triangles I can get to the fun part faster. 

I never imagined myself buying the Accuquilt Go.  Honestly....and why....because I did not think I would use it enough to justify buying one.  Then I kept going back and looking at it...over and over.  I've had the privilege of using it several times at market and at shows.  I've decided it is worth my time and energy to own it and I've been really happy with how it works. 

The obvious thing about sewing notions are that no one really needs anything more than a pair of scissors, yard stick, needle and thread!!! That is what quilters used for many years and many still do. You don't "need" all these wiz bang notions. It is a choice for your own convience, comfort and budget. In order to get to the fun part I have chosen to use the sewing notions I really like and believe are worth the investment.



Everyone knows I would not recommend anything that I thought was not worth the money, RIGHT? RIGHT!!!  I'm saying this is worth every penny.   If you are even considering one...please call me (419-914-8080) and I'll tell you everything I know and some things I bet you'll be surprised by!!!   The call may be something you are Thankful for :)  Feel free to call and just say howdy anytime 9-9 CMT :)  If I'm in the middle of "working" with my co-workers....you might just have to talk to one of them for a minute!!! LOL 

Smiles,
Kelly

Petals on the Edge

This is Mary Lee Grabowski's quilt.  The pattern is by Sew Be It and the title is "Petals on The Edge."  I have admired this quilt since I saw Mary Lee making it at the Widewater Retreat we went to back in Oct.  I love leaves and nature and this really caught my eye.  The lighting was not the best unfortunately.

I just got 66 yards of Batik fabric from Batik Textiles.  I think I know what I'm going to do with some of those!!!  I will be posting over 50 individual yard cuts on my website very soon.

This wonderful little dancers were also made by Mary Lee.  They are so much fun.  I didn't get the pattern name for these last night.  I will get the name and come back and post when I hear back from Mary Lee.

Boney Smiles,

Kelly

Giveaway Alert

SewCalGal has a wonderful giveaway going on.  I am only posting this to get my name in the basket an extra time...I really, really, really don't want any of you to go and leave your comments because it reduces my chances of winning....ROFL

Silly Smiles,
Kelly

Sew You Think You Have Shoes?

Check these shoes out.  

(click on photo to enlarge it....then you can really see the great details)

These oh sew cool shoes were made by Mark Miller for his mother's birthday.  Cindy, Mark's mother, was at the Widewater Retreat I went to back in October. 

Cindy was telling me he did not use any photos for inspiration....all of this came from his memories of growing up watching his Mom sew. 

Smiles,

Kelly

No-Reply Comments

I am asked questions about products and I can't respond because the person is a non-reply blogger.  If you would like a reply and have not received one....this is why.  You can also leave your e-mail addy in the comment and I will respond.

RE-POST

Do you know if you are leaving messages as a no-reply? So many of you are and that means I can't send you a message back. I would love to be able to chat with you so if you could change that....that would be great :)


Here is how to do it if you don't know how:

•first, go to your blogger dashboard


•near your picture or logo on the left, click "Edit Profile"


•go to the first section labeled "Privacy"


•in this section, the third line down should say "Show Email Address"


•make sure the IS a Check Mark in the "Show Email Address"


•if you don't have an email address listed, you can fill it in in the "Identity" section


•The MOST IMPORTANT part when you finish, is to go to the bottom of the page and click "Save Profile" on the bottom left side. If you do not click save it won't work.

If you want a reply....I need a e-mail address or I can't get back to you.

Smiles,
Kelly

Exceptional Gift for That SPECIAL SOMEONE!!!

Check this out.  Someone has to buy these and send them to someone.  I just have to see their response when they open the package (who ever does it has to take pix and forward them to me).  I might just have to have some of these....but you know me....I wear them to Sams Club on Saturday!!!! ROFL

Cracking myself up again....Nutty Smiles,
Kelly

A Beautiful Tribute to Kathy Bartley's Mother

This was shared back in October at the Widewater Retreat with the Black Swamp Quilt Guild.   I was so moved by Kathy's quilt and her story I asked and received  her permission to share it with all of you.  These are Kathy's words:

“Dancing in the Moonlight”

My mother, Olive Sherertz Lanham, was born and raised in what was previously called Soochow, now called Suzhou, China. Her parents were Methodist missionaries and my grandfather taught English at Soochow University. While she was still a child, China was attacked by Japan and her family had to flee to the mountains at various times for safety. The family went through some harrowing moments and finally returned to the U.S when she was 15 when it got too dangerous to stay. They were able to get my grandmother and the children home safely but my grandfather was taken prisoner and sent to a concentration camp for 18 months before his release. My mother never returned to China but it always held a special place in her heart.

 

 One of her favorite memories was when she was about 10 and she and her cousin spent the night out in a tent up in the mountains in Kuling. It was a bright moonlit summer night and around midnight the girls got up and picked white violets and went out and danced in the moonlight. My mother always told me that was her very favorite childhood memory, when she forgot about the war and just enjoyed being a child. White violets were her favorite flower. She said, “Most people think they are just a weed but to me they are something beautiful.”

 So when my mother passed away in June of 2007, I decided to make a quilt in tribute to her. This is my design of her favorite memory. It was very healing to work on this quilt. At times I could almost feel my mother’s presence and I often felt like we worked on it together. Rosanna Williams quilted it for me and did a beautiful job. After it was completed I could barely look at it for awhile without getting emotional. But now that some time has gone by I am comforted by it.       Kathy Bartley



What a wonderful and moving story to share Kathy.  I thank you for allowing me to publish this and for being willing to share such a chrrished memory with all of us.  I admire you translation and hope one day I can make something as meaningful.

With Gratitude,
Kelly

When the going gets tough....the tough....

eat Tiramisu, oh yea baby!!!  Look at this lovely gift my husband brought home tonight at 9:30.....isn't she a beauty? 

This is just the way to end one of "those" days.  Yesterday I had Zach to the doctor's office with an ear infection, congestion and croup like cough.  Today I get a call from the school nurse that Aaron has pink eye and to come and get him. 

Last night Rick worked late and tonight he had to go to dinner with co-workers.   Just as he pulls out the driveway on his way to dinner I yell...."how about ordering Terimisu for dessert tonight and pretend you can't finish it" (bring it on to Mamma baby).  He must have been feeling very sick...because he didn't even take a bite.  I would eat every last bite but I'm worried I won't sleep and I really have to sleep in order to stay healthy myself. 

On another topic:
 I am learning quickly all that I don't know about computers and Kathy (her story next) said if I knew how much of a "techno idiot" she was I'd feel better. I want a bumper sticker that says Techno Idiot On Board. I was laughed at by my webmaster and her partner....why....because she wanted to see what I was talking about on my screen. So, I took my digital camera and snapped a pix of the screen and sent it to her. She and Gene laughed themselves silly. Guess there is a computer way to do that....who would know? I'm a Dinosaur....Techno Dinosaur.....and I'm accepting of myself!!! Don't go rolling your eyes....I bet most of you are in the same boat.....speaking of boats ....do they still have ores or are there some new electronic thingy-mo-bobs to take care of that too?


Ok....I just checked Techno-Dinosaur....yep....there is a blog called Techno-Dinosaur....there goes my next blog adventure....taken by a stranger.....LOL. 


Smiles,
Kelly

Theresa Pulido Author of "hook, loop & lock" was in Houston for Quilt Market

This is my first official collage....if this actually shows up on my post. I can't believe it....truthfully....I can't. This is not how I intended to tell you about meeting Theresa....but this is how I'm gonna do it because it is to pretty to remove at this time. Raise a glass of bubbly for me!!!

This very pretty and friendly lady below is Theresa Pulido.  I met her in Houston at Quilt Market.  She was sitting at a table working on a project and it looked interesting to me so I walked up and asked her what she was doing.  She told me it was locker hooking and she showed me how she was using her fabric and needle to create a really neat placemat. 

I had no idea she was there to do a Schoolhouse presentation and that she had just published her new book, "hook, loop & lock." 

Theresa took the time to show me the things she had brought from home to show at Market.  She was so friendly and cheerful.....you know how much I love people who are friendly and cheerful :)  Lucky for me I got a copy of her book.  Unlucky for you because she signed it and put my name in it.  I know many of you are crying right now....but I'm friendly and I'll share (but you have to come to my house!!!).

Locker hooking requires the use of a locker hook (looks like a long crochet hook with an eye on the end), locking medium (any strong cotton twine/cording), pre-cut fabric or plastic strips and rug canvas.

Theresa has made some absolutely beautiful bracelets using silk.  She gives you the directions to make placemats, coasters, rugs, pillows, wall hangings, gift bags, Easter baskets, totes and many other fun things in her book, "hook, loop & lock."  You can use printed cotton fabric (anyone have any of that hanging out at their house?), batik, wool and even plastic!!!  The strips Theresa uses are 1 inch, 3/4 inch and 1/2 inch strips.  This looks like a great stash buster for sure. 

Smiles,

Kelly