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Showing posts with label AccuQuilt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label AccuQuilt. Show all posts

Friday, September 24, 2010

New GO! Fabric Cutter Dies by AccuQuilt NOW AVAILABLE

Save Now on the New GO! Fabric Cutter Dies by AccuQuilt

NOW AVAILABLE

NOW AVAILABLE
NOW AVAILABLE


NOW AVAILABLE


NOW AVAILABLE


NOW AVAILABLE

  
NOW AVAILABLE
NOW AVAILABLE


Coming mid- November 2010 Sarah Vedeler Sparkle Dies-


The lovely stars, snow flakes, trees and diamonds used in this pattern will soon be available as GO! Fabric Cutting Dies :) 

Save at IHAN and get your new GO! Fabric Cutting Dies (also compatible with the Sizzix Big Shot and Big Shot Pro).

Wednesday, September 22, 2010

Expecting?


Interesting word....Webster says it is to : Wait, Stay, and to be pregnant.

I spoke with an AccuQuilt employee today and inquired ....should I be making ruffled bloomers or boxers?
I thought that just might tweak a tiny response....nope.....nadda.....nunca.....jamas.....darn it anyhow!!! There is not tricking the information out of them.  I guess it is time to send in Maxwell Smart to spy on them.....or strategically place IHAN in the bushes near the AccuQuilt Headquarters.......I think it may be time to call upon my Jason Bourne skills and get the job done.



And IHAN would....but we are doing a bit of our own Expecting.  Yes, it is true....I've had a midwife here at IHAN Headquarters this evening.  What exactly is in the incubator I can not disclose.  Please don't be alarmed or get too overly-optimistic......but hopeful when the birth takes place....I'll be willing to take photographs and share......if not.....you may have to get some of your own Jason Bourne skills and camp out in the IHAN bushes....LOL.

Ah-Hee....Hoooo- deep breath Smiles,
Kelly

Saturday, September 18, 2010

Follow Up on IHAN Product Review for Sizzix/Westminster Big Shot, Big Shot Pro and Big Shot Express

Since my  last post I've received several e-mails asking lots of questions.  Instead of answering each person I'm going to write a post and do my best to answer everyone's questions.  I'm sure there will be more over time, feel free to either leave a comment or e-mail IHAN. (IHaveANotion@yahoo.com)

1.  Which do I like better, my GO! Fabric Cutter by AccuQuilt or my Big Shot by Sizzix/Westminster?
I like them both and I don't think one is better than the other, just different.  I tried to point out the differences I noticed in my previous post : size, weight, storage, effectiveness, tips etc. 

2.  Why did you buy the Big Shot if you already have a GO! Fabric Cutter?
Because that is what I do....I test sewing, quilting and needle art notions and supplies and report my experience here on the IHAN blog.  I probably own 20 plus pair of scissors....many different manufactures....do they all cut?  Yes.  Why do I have so many pair.....because many are different and are good for specific projects, I like to have them at my sewing area and in project bags....and because I love scissors.  Yes, Brint - The Scissor Man- still loves me even though I own scissors made by others. 
I might consider bringing my Big Shot to a stitch-in because it is smaller.  By the time I've taken my machine and all my other necessary supplies I'm not likely to bring the GO! Fabric Cutter.  Just my way of doing things.  Everybody has their way of doing things and that needs to be taken into account here. 

4. Are Sizzix/Westminster and AccuQuilt coming out with more dies?
I was told that there will be 16 new Sizzix Dies in October (probably won't be available until Jan. 2011...in my experience).   My best guess is they will be shown in Houston for Quilt Market and they will take orders for shipping in the new year.  After all, that is what Market is intended for, shop owners to purchase for the next season.  I just happen to be impatient and when I see it, I want it and I want it right then and there....LOL.

I know AccuQuilt is coming out with some great new dies soon as well.  Click here to see the latest (and there is one that is not listed here too....oh the suspense is building!!) I'm very excited and can't wait to get the Dresden Plate and the 3.5" Drunkards Path

3.  Are the dies from both companies interchangeable?
The GO! Dies are slimmer than the Sizzix Dies so by themselves they will not go through my Big Shot Machine.  However, you can see below,  I made a shim and then put the GO! Hearts Die through the Big Shot and it worked just fine. Let me explain a bit further: the Sizzix acrylic cutting mat was on the bottom of the sandwich, then my personally made shim (3 pieces of slim hard cardboard taped together) the GO! Hearts Die and on top I used the GO! Cutting Mat.  I found with the shim I had made I could not get the Sizzix acrylic mat to fit through the machine.   
( I could have taken more or better photos-but I just didn't and it is late and night when I do my posts typically and I'm just too ready to go to bed to be re-taking all the pix so they look "professional.")
Then I tried a Sizzix Die with the GO! Fabric Cutting Machine.  It did go through the machine but look at the cutting mat bowing up in the air.  It was a very tight fit and the cutting mat curled up because of the pressure.  I was very cautious because I obviously did not want to break my GO! Fabric Cutter!!!  I have to say I would not likely do this again because there is not really enough clearance to continue doing this without serious risk of breaking my GO! Fabric Cutter.  

 


That was my experience.  I have been told by Sizzix that the Big Shot, Big Shot Pro and the Big Shot Express will all take the GO! Dies (keep in mind the width of some of the GO! Dies clearly would not fit into the Big Shot or Big Shot Express...they are just too wide....the narrower ones work just fine.  The wider GO! Dies will fit into the Big Shot Pro because of it's wider bed).  I have not tried them all myself, just the GO! Hearts Die with the Big Shot and then the Sizzix Bigz Sunflower and Poinsettia Petals Die in the GO! Fabric Cutter).  I have been told by Sizzix that their machines work with the GO! and Studio Dies but that their Dies do not work in the GO! Fabric Cutter.  I don't own a Studio Fabric Cutter nor any of those Dies so I can not personally say I've done it or have seen it done. 

The Sizzix website says that the Big Shot, Big Shot Pro and Big Shot Express works with every Sizzix Die ever made.  So I'm concluding that really opens up the applique shapes quite a bit and would include the Sizzix Alphabet Dies as well. 

There are also differences in how each machine is made and the materials used(metal, plastic, rubber etc.) in making each of the machines.  I don't plan on going into all those details.  If you are interested in that information I would suggest you contact each company and inquire.

The GO! Dies come with a free pattern printed on the packaging and there were no patterns on the Sizzix Dies Packaging that I purchased.  Both companies Dies did have instructions for use and tips for use printed on their packaging which I found very helpful.  They also print their warranty information in the product manuals.

Warranty Comparison:
According to the AccuQuilt website the Studio Fabric Cutting Machine comes with a Lifetime warranty
The GO! Fabric Cutter Machine have a One Year Limited Warranty .   The warranty says if you experience a manufacturing defect within one year of purchase, AccuQuilt will repair or replace the cutter at no charge.  It also says to return the cutter to the place you purchased it.

 
As a consumer, you would have to return your GO! Fabric Cutter  or GO! Dies to the place where you purchased they are defective. If you purchased your GO! Fabric Cutting Machine from an on-line store like IHAN, their warranty says you would have to return it to that store and thus you would have to pay the shipping to return it.  I see this as an obvious drawback because if there is a manufactures defect and you have already paid once to have it shipped to you, I would not want to pay again to get a replacement.  On my part, I don't want to have to pay shipping back to a distributor and be charged again to have a replacement sent to me and then I would have to send it to my customer.   
I did have a situation where a customer paid to send their defective GO! Die back to me for replacement.  I compensated the customer for their shipping expenses.  I contacted AccuQuilt and they were very accommodating in getting my customer's defective die replaced without further expenses being incurred by myself or my customer which I greatly appreciated.  
According to the Sizzix website the Big Shot Express has a One Year Limited Warranty  and the Big Shot has a 3 year Limited Warranty.  The Big Shot Pro has a 5 Year Limited Warranty.  The photo below is of the manual that was enclosed when I purchased the Big Shot.



The Sizzix Warranty indicates that you contact the Sizzix Customer Relations and they will pay for the return and replacement of your product.  That is only the case if they determine there was a manufactures defect.  If Sizzix finds that you have misused the machine or used it commercially the customer will be responsible for the return postage. 

As a consumer and as a business owner, I must say I prefer the Sizzix Warranty.  I own the Big Shot and the warranty is 3 yrs vs the 1 year I have on my GO! Fabric Cutting Machine

Note: The warranties take effect from the date of purchase so save your receipt!!  I typically keep my boxes too just in case I need to send something back to a company so I can safely package it for shipping. 
That is what I know today.  When I learn more, I'll let you know.

Smiles,
Kelly

Saturday, July 17, 2010

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?




 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

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Other Opportunities to Win a GO! Fabric Cutter


You could have a chance to win a GO! Fabric Cutter by becoming a friend of AccuQuilt on Facebook (they give a GO! away every time they reach a certain number of fans on Facebook). If sign up for the AccuQuilt newsletter they sometimes give away  a GO! Fabric Cutter every month. 

If you really just want the GO! Fabric Cutter, you can always order it through IHAN....we really have great prices!!  (truth :)

Check out the great new Licensed Dies also available at IHAN:


I can't wait to get a free minute to use my new dies.  The neat thing is that you don't have to use the entire die.  You can just use part of it for leaves or what ever interesting shape you want to make....just don't cover the entire die with fabric :)

Smiles,
Kelly

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