Day 31 of Giveaways - Clover Needlecraft

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways

Anniversary Celebration

Day 31

"Quick" YO-YO Maker  Large 

Heart Shape Pom-Pom Maker Large and Small

Protect and Grip Thimbles 

All from Clover Needlecraft 

"Quick" Oval YO-YO Maker

Large and Small Heart Shaped Pom-Pom Makers

Protect and Grip Thimbles

Clover's new YO-YO Maker is Oval (I've heard it called Yoval...how fun) and there is an excellent video tutorial that I found at When Creativity Knocks.  If you are not a video person there is a written tutorial at Angies Bits and Pieces blog.    I found some really fun photos of Oval YO-YO's on the Sunshine's Creations blog.  I did not ask for permission to share their photos so I'm providing links and everyone can visit and see the cool Oval YO-YO's for yourselves.  My favorite is the photo of the Oval YO-YO's as flower petals coming out of a planter....oh so pretty and fresh looking.  I like the dimension they add.

Who does not love Pom-Poms?  I think at one time or another everyone has played with a Pom Pom or used one to embellish a project.  They are just plain fun and my co-workers think they are a hoot to play with. (I don't mind because they don't break anything when thrown!!!)

Check out Clover's NEW Heart Pom-Pom Maker.

You can't tell me you would not smile if you saw these as a necklace, embellishments on kids clothes or hanging from their zippers.  I think they would be fun for wedding showers and sweet 16 parties too. 

These three gals are my East Coast Associates Eleanor, Lois and the one on the far right is the East Coast Operations Manager for IHAN, Mary Jane (MJE's Bag Tag Tutorial...yep she's the one :)  The gentleman in the middle is Jan Carr, COO for Clover Needlecraft.

We met in Pittsburgh for Spring Quilt Market last May.  This is the story of how I learned about the Protect and Grip Thimbles:

Mary Jane called on my cell phone telling me she had found a wonderful thimble and I needed to come right over to the Clover booth. I'm not a very good hand quilter so I was not very excited about a thimble. I might as well be going over to see a shoe box. However, to Mary Jane finding a great thimble is like seeing the red ruby slippers!! She owns at least two dozen thimbles, some of which she likes and others she doesn't. Mary Jane is my "Thimble Expert". She has so many blue ribbons for her hand quilting work that her son had to make special accommodations in her sewing studio for them..... so she knows her hand quilting and thimbles.

I arrive to find Mary Jane talking to Jan Carr about The Protect and Grip Thimble . Jan shakes my hand and gives me a pretty green Clover pin and a Clover Tape Measure. Not a bad way to say hello!! Mary Jane is very enthusiastic about this thimble and the way it fits. What does Jan do? He gives it to Mary Jane along with 4 others to use for her classes. In business, a hand shake usually is appropriate but this was no usual business transaction....I lost myself and gave him a big hug of appreciation. The other gals did too.         (copied from previous IHAN blog post)

You just never know when the IHAN team will just loose themselves give you a great big hug.  I highly recommend the Clover Protect and Grip Thimbles (and you can find them at IHAN too).

This giveaway includes the Large Oval YO-YO Maker, the Small Heart Shaped Pom- Pom Maker and the Large Protect and Grip Thimble.  The Small Heart Shaped Pom- Pom Maker and the Medium Protect and Grip Thimble will be included in the Grand Prize.  Please leave a comment on this post telling us what is the most cheerful or fun YO-YO or Pom-Pom  Project you have either made or have seen.  If you have used the Protect and Grip Thimble please leave us your reviews, I'd love to hear them too :)

Thank You Clover Needlecrafts!!!

Smiles,

Kelly

Hot Notions: Thimbles, Jackpot Scissors and Needle-Grip-It

Well...there seems to be a run on the notions market girls. I can't keep these items in stock and people are e-mailing me asking questions so I thought I would blog about them and their fantastic attributes.

First: Protect and Grip Thimble by Clover

I've blogged about this previously. Here is a testimonial:

Hi, Mary Jane, Okay. You are going to have to have to pry that wonderful thimble from my dead body!!! That is THE best thimble I've every tried. I will get it back to you next week if that's okay. I can see where it would be an advantage to having a couple of them. I just think that Clover has the best products!! Thanks for letting me borrow it. I will treat it kindly. :) Talk to you soon. Dori (partial re-print of e-mail with permission of sender)

Kelly,.....By the way, did I tell you why I like this thimble so much? I have arthritis in my fingers and when I put on a thimble, it
hits my knuckle and my finger swells something awful. The thimble doesn't fit all the way to the tip of my finger because of it hitting the knuckle. I've tried several different kinds and they are all very uncomfortable. This is the first one that I've tried that works perfect. I bet it will be a big seller. Take care. Dori (from e-mail with permission of sender)

I have sold over 21 thimbles in the last week. That is amazing!!! Clover will be thrilled that they are getting such positive reviews about their new thimbles. I had other e-mail testimonials but I deleted them in error. If you have something you would like me to share...please leave a comment on the blog or e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com.

Second, 4 in. Jackpot Scissors by Simplicity

The 4-in Jackpot Scissors by Simplicity are another big hit. They are perfect for getting into tight spaces and snipping threads or applique. I've sold over 12 pair in the last 10 days alone. I first tried them at Quilt Market. The Scissor Man suggested we try them. He thought we would like them for applique and he was right!!!

Third: Needle Grip-It by Colonial Needle Co.

The Colonial Needle Co. and Roxanne Needle Co. introduced us to the Needle Grip-It at Quilt Market. Well it has turned out to be a big hit for hand quilters. These are little clear sticky grips that adhere to your finger. When you pull the needle through the grip does not permit the needle to slip. They stay on until you pull them off. The ones I wore stayed on all day, including after I washed my hands. If you are a hand stitcher I recommend you give these a try.

If you have tried any of these products yourself please feel free to leave a comment and share your experience with us.

Smiles,

Kelly

Another Quilt Market Story

Before I get into Quilt Market.....please join me for a moment......

Ahhhhh can you hear that? Yes that.....the silence. Aaron is at school and Rick has taken Zach to the ENT. All I can hear is the clicking beneath my fingers.....so.....grab a glass of ice tea....come join me on our imaginary porch swing and feel the breeze coming off the ocean and listen to the wind in the palm trees. (Anything is possible in cyberville Ohio :)

Now that your legs are swinging back and forth under the porch swing, the breeze is flowing through your hair and you are enjoying the smell of the ocean......let me tell you about meeting Jan Carr, COO, at Clover.

Eleanor, Lois, Jan, Mary Jane (I'm behind the camera!)

Mary Jane called on my cell phone telling me she had found a wonderful thimble and I needed to come right over to the Clover booth. I'm not a very good hand quilter so I was not very excited about a thimble. I might as well be going over to see a shoe box. However, to Mary Jane finding a great thimble is like seeing the red ruby slippers!! She owns at least two dozen thimbles, some of which she likes and others she doesn't. Mary Jane is my "Thimble Expert". She has so many blue ribbons for her hand quilting work that her son had to make special accomodations in her sewing studio for them..... so she knows her hand quilting and thimbles.

I arrive to find Mary Jane talking to Jan Carr about The Protect and Grip Thimble . Jan shakes my hand and gives me a pretty green Clover pin and a Clover Tape Measure. Not a bad way to say hello!! Mary Jane is very enthuastiac about this thimble and the way it fits. What does Jan do? He gives it to Mary Jane along with 4 others to use for her classes. In business, a hand shake usually is appropriate but this was no usuall business transaction....I lost myself and gave him a big hug of appreciation. The other gals did too.

I ran right home and put The Protect and Grip Thimble on my website. It comes in Small, Medium and Large. Minimum purchase is 3 (cuz you'll loose one down the chair cushion or put it in a project bag and you'll need another one, right?) Then you'll have to share one with a quilting friend because that's how quilters are....generous and love to share their best finds.

In honor of Jan Carr's kindness and generousity, I am giving away a Protect and Grip Thimble (medium) and a Clover tape measure (as seen in the photo) today on my blog. All you have to do to win is leave a comment on my blog about why you want this thimble AND name one other Clover product that you own or would like to own. I will do the random number generation (unless there are only a few posts...then I'll do the name in the jar trick) and the lucky winner will be announced tomorrow and the Thimble and Tape Measure will be shipped tomorrow morning :) Please leave your e-mail address....if you want the thimble that is :)
Smiles,
Kelly