Anna Marie Horner's Handmade Beginnings at Spring Quilt Market 2010

 You want to talk beautiful and talented? Let's talk Anna Marie Horner.  Anna Marie has 6, yes SIX, children and has recently written Handmade Beginnings 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby.  She was at Quilt Market and check out her booth:

The booth was totally amazing and beautiful.  I loved the sofa and it was so much fun to watch Anna's visitors come by and visit with her....

Oh to be in such good company!!!

 Look at all these beautiful booties and outfits.  Who could not want to dress their precious little baby in these lovelies? 

There is something for every expecting mother out there and some wonderful projects for those with grown children too.  I love the embroidered photos of her children that she has done.  She shares how to make these beautiful photos in her book. 

Just write a book....well that would appear to be for underachievers...LOL. Check out Anna Marie's entire website to see her Fabric Line, Patterns, Books, Paper Goods and Home Decor.... just click here, she is one impressive woman!!


You can imagine my excitement when I saw that Checker Distributors was hosting a book signing for Anna Marie Horner, Handmade Beginnings 24 Sewing Projects to Welcome Baby. I arrived early!!

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Can you imagine owning an autographed copy of Anna Marie Horners new book?  One very lucky IHAN blog reader will have the opportunity to own this beautiful book.  If you would like that person to be you, leave a comment on this post telling me who is expecting a baby or who has recently had a baby that you would love to sew for.  All comments must be left on this post.  Be sure to leave your e-mail address if you are a no-reply blogger.  I'll close the comments Friday July 23, 2010.

Smiles,
Kelly
PS.  I can't be held responsible for the spacing of these photos.  Things go wonky when you travel :)

UFO Completed....Can I get a YAHOO!!

Talk about beauty....look at these mountains in PA.  Such a beautiful change of scenery from the flats of Ohio :)

Not the best photo and I still needed to press it....but here it is...finished....the wallhanging I started for Rick and my 10th wedding anniversary.  We will hang it for Valentines and keep it up through our anniversary in May.  Thanks to my AccuQuilt GO! Fabric Cutter my hearts are all the right sizes!!  I did the buttonhole stitch around each heart....I must say...it is OK for a novice....really makes you appreciate those with more experience!!  Finished feels wonderful.

Smiles,
Kelly

Sneak Peek at AccuQuilt's Upcoming Dies

I don't think the folks at AccuQuilt get much sleep.  Check out the new dies that will be coming out.  I don't have a date yet, but my guess is this fall.  Now I've been to a few Quilt Markets I'm starting to get the feel for how folks release their new lines....in the Spring and again in the Fall.  Some of us catch on slower than others....but who is naming names right?

GO! Sunbonnet Sue

GO! Overall Sam

GO! Dresden Plate Combo

GO! Drunkards Path 3.5"

GO! Winding Ways

GO! Rob Peter to Pay Paul (2-Die Set)

GO! Double Wedding Ring (2-Die Set)

 I'll be owning the Dresden Plate Die  and the 3.5" Durnkards Path for sure.  I've never had the courage to even consider a Double Wedding Ring Quilt....but I'm thinking it may be a possibility.   I guess it is time to start cleaning out those pockets before you put the clothes into the washer.  I call that money "Gifts from the Laundry Gods" and it is Free Money :)

Smiles,
Kelly

Amani Ya Juu Update

These are the photos Rosemary has sent to me from her recent trip to Amani Ya Juu.  I will do my best to narrate with the notes she sent to me with the photos.  At the bottom is (edited version) the  letter she wrote and sent out to those who helped with the Amani Ya Juu project.

This is Rosemary at the Minneapolis Airport.  She was" loaded with 3 machines and lots of goodies."

I cut and pasted this to blow up the sign because I could not read it in the first photo.

"This is an Amani wall hanging, made from hand dyed and batiked fabric with the symbol of higher peace and it is available on the web."

"This is a photo at the center getting ready to bind quilts."

"These are quilts displayed in the shop not making over 25 designs!"

"A hand batiked baby quilt."

"Monica using the NEW Notling fun quilter on a hand dyed and batiked strip quilt.  The busy little machine that could!  You made it possible!"

"Africa in fabric."

"Mel, an American missionary who helps them at the center with quilting."

"The basic area where they sew."

"Grace and I in Rwanda."

"Teaching the new sewing machine I took to Rwanda."

"The fabric market in Rwanda!!!"

"Teaching the new sewing machine in Burundi."

"The finished market bag -Joselina and I."

"The Unity or Peace quilt we developed for Rwanda."

This is an edited version of Rosemary's letter.  If you would like to contact Rosemary directly you can e-mail her at stitchinsis@aol.com

July 16, 2010

Dear friends and family,

I want to express my thanks for the prayers and thoughts that came my way as I was away. Traveling alone was a new experience for me and a bit challenging for this social being. But it gave me a lot of time to think, plan, and pray.

My time went rather quickly and looking back I can hardly believe how much was accomplished! In Kenya I helped develop several pillows with appliqué designs, taught a class on basic quilting techniques, helped Sandi with the two unity quilt designs and helped get the Nolting mid arm quilt machine back in place and working. I was able to visit all the areas at Amani and reconnect with so many “sisters” there. It was fun to meet new acquaintances and reconnect with those I have come to love. I am amazed at what has been accomplished since my visit 3 years ago. The ladies are making over 25 different quilt designs. Three women trained in Long arm quilting are each quilting between 2 to 4 quilts a day. Others do the binding. There are many new products as well as some of the original things we taught such as the children’s book still being made. I was again blessed by wonderful food, fellowship, and friendship.

I enjoyed staying next door to Sandi and spending time with her family and other missionary friends. Life can be quite challenging in Kenya so the sweet fellowship of friends is very important.

Sandi (another volunteer from OHIO), Joyce our Kenyan host who is part of the leadership team at Amani and I traveled to Rwanda. Here I reconnected with dear friends whom I had met when traveling there with my daughters in 2005. Our main purpose was to help develop a Unity (Peace) quilt to tell the story of the women who work there. It was interesting taking their ideas and seeing them come alive on the wall hanging and hearing how it represents how they feel now and how it tells the story of reconciliation and peace. Emerging from the ashes of the genocide in 1994 this has been a difficult process of finding peace and reconciliation between the 3 tribes and the country striving towards peace and growth. It is the women of Rwanda who have led the way.

I also was able to teach a new purse pattern, and a wall hanging for the women to make. The wonderful donation from Quilt Smart was used to develop a shield of faith wall hanging and a vine and leaf pattern.

After our short visit to Rwanda we traveled to Burundi a very small and poor country between the Congo and Tanzania. It is very hot with a lot of breeze from Lake Tanganyika. Here I worked at the Amahoro Ava Herjuru center which is a sister mission of Amani in Kenya. The small center has 6 women and is run by Goreth who originally worked and trained at the Kenya center and felt called to return to Burundi and help women from her country. The women speak French here as well as in Rwanda. While here we again developed a unity or peace quilt to tell the women’s story of coming together and the reconciliation of differences after war and ethnic differences and the finding of peace through faith in God. Each unity quilt symbolizes how reconciliation and peace was demonstrated culturally and also how finding a higher peace through God’s love can reconcile differences with each other as they work along side one another, love and support one another, and find acceptance through giving grace. We also taught several new products, a market bag and a gathering bag, as well as a table runner. We visited the market and saw first hand the effects of poverty, war, poor healthcare and the unstable economic conditions. Many people only eat once a day or every other day in Burundi. It made me recognize how often I complain for no reason and how ungrateful I am for the many blessing I have as an American.
As I have often told others it is not the skills and the machines I bring it is that I care, and you care, and give for even perfect strangers that demonstrates something beyond what is normal and shows love, a higher peace. I wish all of you could experience the heartfelt appreciation for all that has been done by your gifts and support of me. I know when I go I do not travel alone but carry with me a part of all of you. I am humbled that I have been called and given the opportunity to represent all the stitching sisters, dear friends and family who support me in so many ways.

From my visit there is still work to be done, supplies to be obtained and sent, skills to be taught and people that God will call to go and help. You may be one of them. I know that your life would be enriched beyond measure so if not now when, if no you then who?

I often chuckle to myself that God can use even me!

So thank you all so much for your part and may you count your blessings each day, and feel like you had a part in something bigger than yourself.

In faith, Rosemary


If you are interested in helping me meet the needs I have identified here is a list.

Quilting rulers and large squares, for all centers

Two Janome treadle machines for Rwanda

Two Janome machines for Kenya

Someone to go and teach sewing machine repair and maintenance

Someone to teach soap making

6 sewing kits for Burundi

Several bolts of fusible interfacing

Beading elastic cord

Consider yourself up to date on the latest developments.  Again, THANK YOU to everyone who made donations so Rosemary could take the Nolting Mid-Arm Quilting Machine with her to Africa.  As you can see, these women are using it to make a living for themselves and their families.  I want to also THANK Rosemary for being willing to continually spend her own money, time and energy to support others on our planet.  One person can make a difference.....sometimes you just have to be willing to do what you can from where you are at the moment. 

Smiles,
Kelly

Connie St. Clair Wearables at Black Swamp Quilt Guild and IHAN Life

Chapter 1

Do you remember my recent post about Abbey Lane Quilts? (by the way, they still have their giveaway going on :) I had to post this photo of me wearing my Blooming Possibilities pin.  See, I'm not much of a frills type gal, but this pin really was fun to wear....proof I'm hip too :)

I know tattoos are in style but I'm not a tattoo type girl either.  But while doing a demo of the Sizzix and Westminster Fabric Cutter I cut this applique shape and decided it would be a fun "just for today" tattoo.  I'm thinking some Roxanne's Basting Glue would be just the ticket to hold this in place just for the day.

Chapter 2

This is my doctor and his name is Dr. Domini.  He has attempted to retire but I just won't let him rest.  Dr. Domini is the only doctor that I will see for general purposes.  I actually left a message on his home phone while he was away and last Sunday evening he returned my call.  I told him my issue and he said to stop by the office the next day.  How often does that happen?  See, now you know why I love my doctor.  Besides, check out how happy he is....no matter how busy the office is, he has always taken the time to address my concerns with a smile and interest. 

Dr. Domini rides his bike through the neighborhood and one day he actually yelled my test results from his bike....and they say you can't get good care these days....well you could if you were a patient of Dr. Dominis :)

Chapter 3

Rosemary and I have been promising ourselves we would get together and pull out our Paintstiks and have some fun.  On Wednesday morning we did just that and here is our mess to prove it.  We sure did have a good time and I can't wait for our creations to dry so we can heat set them.

This is just a close up of some leaves we did....cool ay?

Chapter 4

Connie St. Clair came to speak at the Black Swamp Quilt Guild meeting last week.  Connie is one amazing woman.  She makes clothes and enters them into the Hoffman Challenge.  She has won several prizes and after looking at some of these wearables, you will know why.

This jacket was my favorite....I'm sure you can guess why....these are my colors.  Do you know what the embellishment is made of?

You'll probably never guess so I'm going to tell you....she put a heat gun to felt that she had embellished with a bit of paint.  Then she pulled it apart and stitched it to a jacket she had made.  Incredibly cool indeed!

This jacket was fun because she hand embroidered the entire thing.

I would have to have a house full of dummies wearing all these pieces of art if I had made them.  Did I just say a house full of dummies?  Nah....can't be....cuz I don't hang out with dummies.

This one was neat because she outlined each applique with beads that she hand stitched around the design.

Yes, the zippers actually work.

Connie said instead of buying fabric with a design on it....she created her own design.  These were cut from other fabric and then appliqued to the top of the jacket.  It is hard to see the little shiny embellishments...so here is a close-up:

Yes those are washers with a bit of yarn tied to them.  How cool is that?

 

This was certainly a labor of love.  I don't even want to know how many hours it took to make this jacket and the back is just as impressive.

I could not help but love the keys on this vest.  There were keys on the back too.  Connie said she routinely shops at the hardware store for interesting things to embellish her clothes.  I think this vest is way cool.  I know if a kindergarten teacher wore that to class all the kids would just love it too.

This was an interesting jacket/cover-up that Connie made out of tulle.  I really liked the female figure that was sewn into the garment.

Back to the hardware store for this outfit.  Those rings are key rings....amazing isn't it?

I really enjoyed Connie's presentation.  There was so much to look at that I only took a few photos because I think you really need to see the garments to truly appreciate the incredible works of art that they are. 

That wraps up what is going on around here....how about you....what have you been up to lately?

Smiles,

Kelly