Wordless Wednesday

Guess What I Got Today???

Isn't it exciting to get something new...don't ya just jump for joy when you know something is coming...

except...when you're getting a Tetanus Shot..and yes that's the face I made when the very nice, sweet, young nurse poked my arm.  
But the good news....
researches have found that eating a small amount dark chocolate a day is healthy for your heart.  So I say rejoice and eat some chocolate....

Kelly Ann

Homemade Guacamole and Hand Embroidery

So I guess you're wondering what homemade guacamole and hand embroidery have in common...nothing...but it's what I did today. 

For dinner we had shrimp and guacamole and it was yummo.  The next time I make the guacamole I'll take some pictures along the way and give y'all the recipe, it is so stinkin' easy.  Some Monday's I'll make a couple of dishes so all I have to is reheat during the week, well this was one of those Mondays.  Last night we had turkey chili so there will be leftovers of that this week and today I made Chicken & Roasted Chili Stew.  I must be on a spicy kick cause the chicken stew was really kicked up a notch on the heat front.  So for the next couple of evenings after work all I'll have to do is reheat, gives me more time in the evening to sit and sew or maybe take the girls for a much deserved walk...

see....they're ready for their walk....

Also today I traced the April Bareroots pattern for our Hand Embroidery Club at the store.  I blew it up so it's bigger then the pattern, changed fabric from what the club is using, did something different with my tracing....I'll show y'all the finished product once club meets in April...it really is gonna make you want to pick up some needle and thread and get stitchin'.

So are you on Facebook???  are you a fan of Kelly Ann's Quilting??? WHAT...you didn't know we have a fan page...okay here's what you do, sign on to your facebook account, search for Kelly Ann's Quilting, the correct page has a pencil drawing of the store...make sure you get the right one and you'll get sneak peeks to what's happen at the store and lots of fun interaction with all of my fans.

Gotta get going...have some stitchin to do...

see y'all around the mayonnaise farm...

Kelly Ann

Where did March Go?

Can someone answer this question....where did March go?   It seems  like just yesterday it was February and we were wondering if March was gonna come in like a lion or a lamb and now I can't even remember the weather when the month started.  Do you remember growing up and wondering will I ever be 16 so I can drive, will I ever get out of high school, will I ever be 18/21 so I can have a drink (legally), how is it that when we're young days, months and years seem to drag on but the older we get we can't squeeze enough time out of one day. 

I have been doing some sewing, playing with the Creative Grids 60 degree ruler, sewing on the bees latest round robin and doing some hand embroidery work.  But not really getting anything finished so there's not alot to show you, so it's been one of those starter months. 

April is just around the corner and then we are off and running for the next several months, travel in April, May, June and July and I still need to fit in a visit to see the family....just wondering is there anyway we can add a couple of days to each of the next several months...maybe then I can finish up some of the projects I started...o'but wait...with the nice weather brings working in the yard....well I guess we'll just have to wait and see what I can get done or better yet get started. 

I'll try and not be a stranger in blogland, maybe pick up back posting daily....stranger things have happened.

enjoy your Sunday....
Kelly Ann

Wordless Wednesday

Happy St. Patricks Day

May the Luck of the Irish jump up and give ya big ole' Kiss!

 

Happy Quilting
Kelly Ann

Handwork

So how many out there are getting back into handwork?  I've always like doing cross stitch, you might even say at one time I was obsessed by it but that story is for another post.  I started cross stitching when I was very young, 9 or 10, you know just a few years ago.  In the 80's my great-aunt, and yes she was really that good of an aunt, owned a cross stitch/yard shop in Virginia Beach.  I would take my two weeks vacation from the bank and spend a week with her "working" in her shop so I was really in hog heaven. I moved onto basket weaving but always had something going in my stitchin' basket.  In 95' I married the most wonderful man in the world and moved to New Hampshire, you know covered bridges, falling leaves and so much friggin snow that I really needed something to do with my hands while freezing my butt off.  There was this nice little "needle arts" store in Merrimack, Needles Crossing, this is where I feel in love with silk threads, linen fabric and my love for cross stitch was renewed.  

Lets fast forward to 2008, we went to the fall quilt market and started seeing lots of redwork and bluework and blackwork and yes hand embroidery popping up in quilt patterns.  Being a lover of handwork I decided to start testing threads and the rest they say is history...after a full year of playing with different threads, touch, pulling through fabric, I found the perfect partner for me...Aurifil 12wt.  We got a full rack of colors in the store, ordered some patterns, started a block of the month...all in hand embroidery.  If it's not popping up in your part of the country yet, it will, it's hot, hot, hot...and hopefully the designers will keep the new patterns coming because I'm having a blast.  

Here are a couple of things I'm working...

 

this is Bunny Hills new free block of the month, you can do it in applique' or handwork, the blue is a variegated 12wt Aurifil on a white tone-on-tone, see where the handle has a little hickup..gotta fix that, am thinking I'll do alittle extra stitching to make the handle look like it's braided.  

this our Bareroots block of the month pattern for March

I changed things up a bit by using my watercolor pencils to enhance the colors, actually doing a little coloring between the lines...I still have some stitching to do and then make some french knots but this is alot of fun.  You can see see my basting thread, I've decided that I'm not really a hoop girl, I try and and try but it's just not working.  Because I like to use flannel on the back as a stablizer I either need to hoop it or baste it, thanks to Valerie's tip in last months club I tried the basting and gotta say...I LOVE IT....if you're not a hooper try basting, I promise you'll love the results.

So how many out there have caught the bug??  If you've not been bit yet don't worry it's coming, you can't avoid it.  And if you've been bit and not tried the 12wt Aurifil cotton yet..all I can say is "WHY NOT"...it's single strand, no need to pull two threads apart from six, no lint left on your fabric, no color bleeds...I can go on and on because yes I do love it that much..but give it a try...like Mikey...try it..you'll like it...

Until next time....

keep stitchin....

Kelly Ann

TNB Round Robin 2010 Starter Blocks

January brought the Scrappy Strip Quilts for the bee and the decision to start another round robin.  The decision was made and Jackie presented the idea and we were sent off to come up with a theme and a starter block.  Our February gathering was part round robin block exchange and part celebration of Jackie's birthday, sorry no pictures of the strawberry daiquiri cake that Kim made...it didn't last long.  Dinner was turkey meatball stromboli by Nook, all I can say is yummmoooo...then cake from Kim and presents were handed out.  Trish has rejoined the group and now she is the only TNBer without a Pandora bracelet, Jackie got her bracelet and some really cute beads.  

And now I present the starter blocks for this years round robin....you won't see any other pictures as we go along because we decided to keep it a secret so the next time you see any of these blocks they'll be in quilts....

Jackie's blue & white Winter themed block

Trish's Christmas block...

Nook...bears in the woods...

Charlene/Shirley/Shug...the three names for one person is a blog post all in it's self...her block...Baskets & Stars in homespuns...

Angela's Winter block

Barbara's red, white & blue

Irma's Victorian Girl Block

My block...Pink & Green...very girlie quilt...

So let the fun begin....

see ya'll around the ranch...

Kelly Ann

5 Years and Counting

5 years ago today Kelly Ann's Quilting opened their doors and what a fun time it's been.
With butterflies in our stomachs we unlocked the doors and wondered...is anyone going to show up??? What a fun and nervous day that was, I can still remember our first customer, Valerie, and in case you're wondering...yes she still comes in.

Over the past five years we've seen lots of growth at the store, from hiring our first employee, Jackie, and yes she's still with us to purchasing a Gammill long-arm, selling Husqvarna Viking sewing machines to expanding our space. We were added to the Quilters Quest in 2009 and look forward to participating in the Quest again this year.

So from the bottom of my heart I want to thank everyone that came in during the last five years and made Kelly Ann's Quilting the destination that it is today because without y'all we could never have done it...so what do ya say...wanna stay on this ride and go for another 5 or how about 10 years...are ya up for the challenge?

If you're in the area this Saturday, March 6th, stop in for a frenzie of a time...there will be cookies and chocolate and demo's and laughing...lots and lots of laughing...

Until next time...
stay warm...
stay safe...
and keep Quilting...

Kelly Ann