Wonderful Weekend

I know life is good when I spend the weekend smiling and marveling at all the things I see and people I get to visit with. 

Dana, a friend I met at The Toledo Needle Arts Guild meeting, picked me up and drove to Diane's house for a stitch-in and potluck.  Dana lives in Colorado, so it was a pleasure being able to visit during the drive (I got to be chauffeured in a preheated car :) . 

We arrived at Diane's house and when she opened the door, all I could do was smile.  Windows, sunshine, beautiful wood everywhere AND wonderful stitching in every room (I did not check every room, lol). 

Sorry for the glare in some of the photos....but the beautiful sun was shining and I was so busy enjoying myself I just took the photos and trusted the beauty would be evident even with the glare.

Every room had several treasures to enjoy.  And those was just the guests.  Then I got to see all the stitchery.  I'm sure I've said this many times before, but the Needle Arts Guild here has some of the most lovely and interesting ladies.  I know I spent more time chatting than I did stitching. 
I asked Diane and her husband Jack, if I could take some photos of their home.  They designed and built this beautiful home.  I'm a huge fan of windows and wood.  You can clearly see why I felt like I was transported to a paradise for a few hours.

What an incredible home.  Lots of energy and creativity in their space.  Unfortunately I could not have lofts in my home.  My co-workers would launch Lego's from those heights and I would just hate to have to see what else they would manage to launch.

Jack said the house to their left is a traditional ranch.  Theirs is a pole house, where the roof is held up by poles not the walls. (They can move any wall in their house when they feel like it!!! Sooo cool.)  The next house is an underground house and the fourth house is an envelope house.  It was not planned that way....it was just what the owners decided to do with their land.  Interesting, isn't it?

Jack and Diane built their house with a southern exposure.  The roof line permits shade in the summer and allows the winter sun to come in and warm their home.  I love the design, the layout and all the wonderful treasures they have found and made to enhance their home.

This little fella was looking so playful I could not resist taking his picture.  He was made from recycled newspaper.  My kind of dog!!!  No messes :)

This little fella or gal (?) was sitting on a table in the living room area.  I could not resist.....how fun....made me smile.

Ahhhhh Smiles,

Kelly

Two Steps Forward....

One Step Back.....

By the looks of this heart, you might think I have taken up drinking or there was an earthquake in OH.  Talk about operator error...LOL.  The boys were playing nearby and I was paying more attention to them and kept looking away, so this is the result.

 

Lots of folks are afraid of these type of seam rippers.  I have a friend who winces every time she sees me us this one.  Why?  Don't ask me.  I love my seam ripper. It is made by Famore and the blade is very sharp so I don't have to really do anything other than glide it through these stitches and then....I'm free to start over!!  Did I mention the seam ripper comes with three blades?  Not one, not two....but three blades.  I don't know if I'll ever need all three blades....but just in case....I have them :)  I always share my best finds with others....it would'nt be as fun if I kept all this great info to myself, right?

That was fast and I used the tips of my GrabARoo's to rub my fingers across the remaining threads and they easily came off.  The little nubs on the gloves work great for getting threads out.  The of course I used my vacuum to clean up the mess I made on my table....but hey....these are not table saws that come with cool vacuum attachments.  Hmmmmm.....now there is a manufacturing idea!!!  I want  a sewing vacuum that can be mounted to the underside of my sewing table so I can just suck up the threads and scraps everywhere!!!  (Don't forget the copyright on my blog :)

So....lets see how far I can get now that I have 5 new spools of thread and three of my hearts removed because I want my wall hanging to be great....not just ok. 

Picky Smiles,

Kelly

Another Tutorial I Could Not, Not Share

This post was supposed to "air" on 2/5/10 and it did not post....don't know why.  So here it is:

I found this blog: Happy Together.  Not only is the title so wonderful but the photos and the designs are really wonderful too.  Have you ever clicked on a blog and said to yourself, self....this feels good....great energy....fun photos....and projects I can connect with?  This is one of those.

Jessica has written a tutorial for these pin cushions.  Who would not want one of these?  If you have a zillion pin cushions....how about a sachet?  A block to put into a project?  Just a photo to save and smile at when you see it?

Make sure you click on the first link and scroll down to see a picture of a beautiful little girl smiling and playing in her tent.  It will melt any Mommy's heart.....and if you are not a Mommy....just pretend for a moment!!  If you pretend longer than that.....you may have issues that can not be discussed in this blog post....ya better e-mail me off line. (LOL)

Smiles,
Kelly

Golden Quilter Awards 2010 for National Quilting Month

Your Vote Counts!!!

Did you know March is National Quilting Month?  I didn't until I read Darlene's blog, SewCalGal. 

Darlene is hosting the Golden Quilter Awards.  This is your chance to head on over and vote for your favorite in each of the following categories:

1) Designer:
2) Teacher/Instructor:
3) Author: Most inspirational
4) Quilt Store (physical)
5) Quilt Store (online)
6) Best Long Arm Quilter
7) Most Innovative new product (physical item)
8) Most Innovated new product (software item)
9) Most influential person in the world of quilting to-date, aka "Lifetime Achievement".

This is our opportunity to be apart of the Academy.  We may not be a part of the Motion Picture Academy....but we can claim to be from the Free Motion Quilt Academy of Life Long Learning!!!  Join in the fun and go over and register your votes.  Darlene is even offering a giveaway for those who vote. 

Smiles,
Kelly

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