Musings by KA

May 2011 bring all that your hearts desire...and that includes Cupcakes... Peace to all Kelly Ann

How many of us feel like this? In between Christmas and the New Year take a few minutes to just chill..take a lesson from Zele & Stella, find a warm something to lay on, cover with a blanket and hang with your favorite peeps. until next time... Stay Warm... Kelly Ann

I stepped out to fill the bird feeders this afternoon and this is what I saw from my front porch...thought  I'd share.... makes me wish I were a painter... stay warm and remember... Keep on Dancin'.... Kelly Ann

From our Family... to yours.... Merry Christmas... Kelly Ann, Andrew, Zele & Stella

It's Christmas Eve and lots still to be done before Santa arrives....but all of that can wait for one minute while I wish each and everyone of you a..... and to all a good night.... Kelly Ann

For the next several days I'll be running around crazy like so keep the festive spirit going my next several post will be random Christmas pictures from my home...I'll be back all chatty cathy once I get caught up... Have a Marvelous Day... Kelly Ann

As quilt shop owners we try and keep our eyes open for new trends, something fun and refreshing but there's a trend that seems...how do I say this...kind of strange.  Bacon...no not pork but Bacon...let me share with you some of the things that are being made into bacon-like...  Bacon Martini....Wrong  Bacon Watch...I think NOT...  Bacon Gum.....Ewwwww  Bacon Toothpicks....Double Ewwwwwww  Bacon Shoes....NOT Kevin Bacon....now that's much better So...have you seen this trend?  It's popping up all over, bacon knitted scarves, wallets...you name it people are either doing something that looks like bacon or taking bacon and making things out of it...now I'm interested to see what the next new trend is gonna be but for now I think I'll pass on the bacon shoes... Until Next time.. Be Kind... Stay Warm... and have a marvelous Day.... Kelly Ann

Okay you can call off the dogs....I made it home safe and sound from all the shopping and wind...OMG...the wind was so bad I saw a man chasing his toupee and it was still on his head...sorry had that vision in my head all day and had to share.  I know all of you are curious about what I picked up today...well the big find of the day was.... I would like to introduce you to Harry...Happy Harry Holiday to be exact but we'll just call him Harry... and this is how Harry entertains us... and yes... we do lead an exciting life... until next time... keep on dancin'... Kelly Ann

If I'm not back tomorrow send out.... heading out to do this.... wish me luck.... until next time... be kind... and... rewind... Kelly Ann

One year ago this weekend this is what was happening in our area... 27 inches with this storm...  Washington DC was in total shut-down and while the traffic is always bad in DC it's not this bad where people resort to walking sticks. and life was no picnic...just sayin'... We woke that morning to light flurries, no big deal, it was a Saturday so we got up and out to open the store, it was the day for the annual Christmas parade and parking is a premium.  We're watching the snow fall, and fall, and fall, by noon the parade had been called off and we made the decision to close...so please...keep your fingers crossed that we don't get snow like this for a very long time and that the parade goes off without a hitch today. Until next time... Stay Warm... and.... be safe out there.... Kelly Ann

So how do you decorate when it comes to the holidays?  Are you an over the top kind of decorator? or will a simple tree and wreath do for you....or...are you one of these? This year while pulling out the boxes I decided to go with a simpler idea of decorating and because I already use alot of green in my house I just pulled in a few red highlights, filled my glass containers with pretty green and red balls and voila...decorating is done and come time to un-decorate it'll be easy peasy... So tell me...which one of the decorators are you? Until next time... Have a Grand Day!! Kelly Ann

So tell me....what do ya think of this.... we had 64 packages which is about 320+ pair of panties...THANK YOU..THANK YOU...I can not say that enough.  What a great first time collection.  I called the Safe Shelter and chatted with their director yesterday and she was thrilled.  There are two houses for the women and children and both are full so these panties couldn't have come at a better time.  It's December 2nd and with Christmas only 23 days away I'm sure everyone is done decorating, baking, wrapping....I know I just crack myself up...if you're not done with any of these activities don't feel like... I'm right there with you..... So....get out there... and make today a Great one!! Kelly Ann

Well another week has flown by...just where does all this time goes that flies through the air.  I had a blast reading all the comments during the Mistletoe Make and Bake blog hop, thank you so much if you left one.  Normally I try and answer all comments personally but y'all overwhelmed me, thank you for the kind words....and btw I am not responsible for any weight gained during the making and baking of the hop...just sayin'.... WOW....another Thank You to everyone that brought in panties for our Pantie Raid, when I left on Saturday we had 62 packages and I'm not sure if we got any on Monday...if we did I'll update the total over on my Facebook page, what's that??? you don't follow me on Facebook...well get on it...we have loads of fun over there and you don't want to miss out. We are a day away from December and I still haven't started my Christmas gifts but that's no big surprise to those that know me but this year I need to get my fanny in g

The Pantie Raid is still going on.... if you've not dropped off panties for the Pantie Raid there's still time....Kelly Ann's Quilting will be open Saturday 9am to 3pm...we still have plenty of fat quarters to give away.  Lets show the quilters from the other shops... Batiks Etc and Sew What Fabrics ... Wytheville VA Sweet Home Quilt Shop ... Conyers GA The Quilted Kitty ... Lincoln NE Quilting Possibilities  ... Forked River NJ Wish Upon a Quilt ... Raleigh NC Keepsake Cottage Fabrics ... Bothell WA Rosebud's Cottage ... White Bear Lake MN Cotton Patch Quilt Shop ... University Park Fl Log Cabin Quilt Shop ... La Vista NE Shiisa Quilts ... Bloomington IN Clever Quilter ... Newfield NY   that we know how to give our panties.... hope to see y'all tomorrow... until next time be kind Kelly Ann

Kelly Ann's Quilting will be having our first annual after Thanksgiving Pantie Raid to collect new women's and children's  panties and socks.  We'll be donating all that we collect to the local shelter that services abused women and their children.   We'll be accepting donations Friday November 26th and Saturday November 27th, and if you're traveling don't worry, we'll take those panties on Wednesday the 25th.  For each package of new undies you donate, we'll give you a free fat quarter from a selected group. We have enough cut and rolled for 350 donations and it would make me jump for joy if we had to cut more.   We are not alone in the Pantie Raid...take a look at some of my peeps that will also be collecting panties in their area... Batiks Etc and Sew What Fabrics ... Wytheville VA Sweet Home Quilt Shop ... Conyers GA The Quilted Kitty ... Lincoln NE Quilting Possibilities  ... Forked River NJ Wish Upon a Quilt ... Raleigh NC Keepsake Co

Before you do this.... Make sure you do this... so that you don't end up like this... Have a great Monday... and remember... Be Kind... and... Rewind.... Kelly Ann

With the temperature dropping at night the trees have decided to drop their leaves but not all at one time, little by little, week by week...The first weekend Andrew went out to start up the blower he couldn't get it started so a quick run around the yard with the mower and most of the leaves got chopped up.  Weeks later still unable to get the blower started we determined that it was just best to get a new blower and put this one out of our misery.  But, before I'd let him use the new blower I thought I share a few pictures of what our fall yard looks like...  Looking down on the ground...  looking through the branches...  don't forget to look up...  looks like a quilt in the making, love the color play..  perfection...one simple leaf... perfection says goodbye to fall... Next on my to-do list...Thanksgiving Dinner... stay tuned... menu coming up... until next time Be Kind... Kelly Ann

I have a question...do you share your cookies?  do you do a cookie swap? Well check out some fun cookie swap stores with the rest of the bloggers...featuring today... Vickie Cook Eapen – Spun Sugar Quilts Melisa Morrison – Sweet Home Quilt Co. I love to share my cookies... For several years I've made platter after of platter of cookies and sent them off to work with Andrew.  The years I've not been able to make a boatload of cookies leaves me feeling like something is missing from Christmas.  Standing at the kitchen counter with all my ingredients laid out in front of me, mix a batch and into the fridge to chill, mix the next batch and into the fridge they go...and it goes on like this until I have several batches ready to hit the oven.  I think it's so cool to come home and throw a batch into the oven...yummo!  I've never done a cookie swap, but I would guess it's like a wine tasting except everyone goes home with a plate of cookies, and instead of a wine

Day 5...So, have you been making and baking as we blog along?  Up today... Roseann Kermes – Rosebud’s Cottage Brenda Riddle – Little Acorns I wonder what these two have in store for y'all today? Is there one tradition that you have to do during the holiday season, something you can't live without?  Mine is eggnog...   yummy, creamy, rich eggnog...and do you know what goes great with eggnog?? COOKIES!!! This recipe came from my Mother-in-law and while I do an okay job with them, and they taste pretty much the same for some reason her's are better...and these Linzer Tarts go great with eggnog, so grab a mug and get to baking...almost a match made in heaven. LINZER TARTS             1 cup butter    2 eggs 1 cup sugar 1 tsp almond extract 3 cups flour 1 1/2  teaspoons baking powder 1 cup Raspberry Preserves (or flavor of your choice) powdered sugar Cream butter and sugar; blend in eggs, extract, flour, baking powder.  Mix well, chill batter for 1 hour or more.  R

Sorry it's a day late but here goes.....drum roll please.... Kathy B. said... Kelly Ann - thanks for the "interesting" recipe - can't wait to share some Reindoor Poo with friends and family! I love to applique wool/felt, so I'll create that version for sure. I have never used Aurifil, so I'd better be checking that out as well. Thanks for sharing the recipe, pattern and hand motioning photos! Kathy B...send me your mailing address and your package of 12wt Aurifil thread will so be on your doorstep... Thank you to everyone for leaving a comment...I had a blast reading them all...

Wow it's already day four...where did the time go?  Up today is... Lissa Alexander – Moda Lissa Julie Stewart – Quilts4Julie Have y'all noticed a theme in our post?  Each day we have a different subject to chat about, today we're suppose to talk about a "go to" book, it could be cooking, crafting, or just general reading.  I can honestly say I don't have a "go to" book, all of my recipes are either in my little pattern box or I make things up as I go along.   When I was growing up my mother had a cookbook and all I can remember is it had Charleston in it's name.   I've always played in the kitchen and nothing is better then making a cake or cookies from scratch, I can still remember pulling this book out of it's safe keeping drawer and going through it to make something special for my parents, well, more like my Dad, Mom doesn't really care for sweets, but this little girl knew back then that the way to a man's heart is throug

Woot Woot it's day 3 and your story tellers today are.... Celine Perkins – Perkins Dry Goods Patrick Lose – The Latest News from Patrick Lose Kelly Ann Richardson - Kelly Ann’s Quilting Lookie who the third person on the list is...yep it's me....how exciting is this...and now it's my turn to share with you another goodie and my fun Christmas project. So by now y'all know that I grew up in a military family, when my father retired we settled in a small town in North Carolina.  The neighborhood my parents still live in was a great place to grow up, every year there would be a big Christmas party and you learned early on how to get a conversation going in a room full of strangers.  The family that hosted this party would invite people from all over, people with no family in the area, people from their work, just people in general.  I've never had any issues starting a conversation, and to some of you that's not a surprise, but keeping one going with strangers