Checker Distributor 62 Anniversary Open House Patterns by Annie

Checker Distributor 62 Anniversary Open House
Patterns by Annie
Chapter 6....I think!?!

Annie Unrein from Patterns by Annie was at the Checker Open House.  Annie uses Texture Magic in several of her patterns and I'm telling you, the Texture Magic really makes her designs pop.  Check out Hoot and Annie below.  The Texture Magic really gives those cute little owls some pizazz.

You may remember during IHAN's Anniversary Celebration 32 Days of Giveaways, Annie contributed her pattern for the All Occasion Baskets below.  Photos do no justice for the Texture Magic because when I'm looking at the items close up they really are exceptional.   Honestly I can't imagine anyone seeing the All Occasion Baskets in person and not walking right up to them and saying how neat they are.  In the photo you can see the cute fabrics and the fun ric-rac but they are charming in person.  You'll have to trust me on this!!!  (Which better not be too hard to do after all this time.....and if it is....you better turn yourself in to the IHAN comment police!)

I thought this ring pillow would be a wonderful hand made contribution to a family wedding.  The pattern
Happily Ever After also includes the pattern for the flower girl basket.

 

This is Annie's most recent pattern, Jewelry Travel Case.   I took lots of pictures so you can see all the great details.

 

 

She used Texture Magic on the outside fabric.  Look how nice this travel jewelry case is.  There is a place for everything including the pocket to hold any pendants that are on necklaces so they don't get wound around one another.  I was thinking what a nice gift these would make for gals in my life.  I know I would use it and so would my girls.  What about those holiday gift exchanges with guild members or teachers and bus drivers?  You know I've got to get busy because this is definitely a gift people will really appreciate even if they don't sew or like quilting. 

Don't you love brain storming late at night when you just need something done and you want to make it happen faster?  I've had some pretty good ideas that have come to me at the last minute and always late at night when my normal defences are asleep.  Annie had one of those experiences with gathering ruffles for this Flower Power dress and purse pattern.  

Isn't this precious?  I love the purse below.  I am hoping for grand daughters or grand nieces to dress in these beautiful outfits.

Below is Annie's the Ah Ha discovery....the old way of gathering ruffles is to stitch along the edge and draw up the threads and move them around until you get just the right amount of ruffle that you wanted. 

 

Check out what Annie discovered.....if you put a small strip of Texture Magic along the edge and apply a little steam.....you get perfect ruffles.  The more steam, the more ruffles....because the Texture Magic draws up the fabric.  Thank you Annie for taking us out of the "dark ages of old fashioned ruffling!!!"...LOL

Here is the front!!!  Looks good doesn't it?  I thought so too.  I love it when these sort of Ah Ha moments happen.

By the way-
After re-reading my post it sounds like I'm doing an advertisement for Texture Magic....which in one sense I guess I am.  You need to know these reviews are unsolicited and I write about what I experience and learn from my travels.  I write what I'm inspired to write and no one pays me to write reviews (but if they would like to....feel free :)  I've read comments on chat boards from time to time saying things like, "well of course she says that....she is selling it."  I hope by now all IHAN blog readers know and understand that I love what I do and I'm just reporting what I've learned and experienced.  If you shop in my store, IHAN, of course I make money.  You may notice by the prices that for the work I do I don't make a lot of money.  I write my blog for the pure joy of sharing my adventures with others who are interested in the same things.  While I appreciate your business I hope you also know I would not write about products that I don't feel are worth the investment.  If you have any questions about products...just e-mail and ask...people do that all the time. 

Now that I've said that....keep your eyes open for the Superior Needle Exchange Program post....coming soon to an IHAN blog near you :)

Smiles,

Kelly

Day 20 of 30 Days of Giveaways - Texture Magic and Patterns by Annie

IHAN's Day 20 of the

30 Days of Giveaways

Anniversary Celebration

Texture Magic

by Superior Threads

and

All Occasion Baskets 

from Patterns by Annie 

If you did not see my first post on Texture Magic you need to click here for some incredible tutorials on using Texture Magic.  Everyone else will be happy to know that Annie Unrein from Patterns by Annie has added one of her patterns with todays Texture Magic Giveaway!!  Wow, Thank You Annie!!!! 

I know some of you may be thinking, why give us a basket on Easter, right?  Oh don't pretend that did not fly through your mind.....I know....I've done it myself.  But, I also know that if we had done the drawing last week that everyone would have missed another 12 days of giveaways.  Who would want to miss that ?  Not me :)  Besides, if you are like me, you "think" you'll get to that project fast......but your stack of UFO's are probably as big as mine...LOL.

Since it is Easter and I want to go have some dinner with my family here in Ore-Land-Oh I'm going to end with a quick piece of information I found very cool.  Dr. Bob from Superior Threads has written a book and you know if he teaches classes on Threadology that this book must be a good one. 

School of Threadology Book .

The School of Threadology Book contains over 90 pages of educational information condensed from 10 years of Bob's research and newsletter education. This is the book used in our School of Threadology. Reference Guides are also included. Worth $10,000.  But the only price Dr. Bob is charging his friends is 19.95....good for us :)

To have a package of Texture Magic and Annie's Pattern, The Occasional Basket, to the address of choice for one lucky IHAN blog reader, please leave us a comment telling us what type of basket you will make and thank Dr. Bob and Annie for their generousity.

Smiles,

Kelly

Thank you for your patience as there have been computer problems with my blog and website.  I'm having the web master work on the problem.  Like they say....don't sweat the small stuff right?  Right!!!

Day 9 of 30 Day Giveaway Featuring Texture Magic

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways

Anniversary Celebration Day 9

Texture Magic

by Superior Threads

 

If you have never used Texture Magic before you are in for real surprise.  I can't think of a more appropriate product to follow the V100 Digital Velocity Iron (aka Steamy McDreamy) than Texture Magic!!!

Look at this beautiful journal cover made by Bridget Wiseman that is being shown on Mother Superior's Blog.  I think it absolutely beautiful.  I want to open my bag and pull out a notebook that looks this beautiful, don't you?

Texture Magic gives any fabric project added dimension and texture.  All you have to do is put Texture Magic on the wrong side of your fabric and stitch it down.  You can have some fun with how you stitch it down because that will make a difference in how it turns out.  Once it is stitched down....you steam it.  Did someone say steam?  If you are the lucky winner of the V100 Iron....you'll have absolutely no problem with this one :)  The Texture Magic shrinks up and so does the fabric.  You get a really cool texture that can be used in clothing, quilts, stuffed animals, home decor....the sky is the limit.  (It can be used on Silks-oh boy....and we're giving away silk too!!!)

Watch Patsy Thompson's tutorial here....this video shows you just how to use Texture Magic.  There are two more videos of Patsy working with Texture Magic.  They are on Superior Threads website and you can click here to view them.

Speaking of Superior Threads website, you may want to spend some time there looking at all the incredible information they have on their site.  Bob Purcell offers a  "School of Threadology"  and there are Reference guides, a  Gallery, and an Eduction Index that covers information about bobbins and needles etc.  There is so much more to see so you might want to sign up for their Newsletter so you can on top of all the news.

"Patterns by Annie" offers several patterns that use Texture Magic.  We will be giving away one of Annie's Patterns along with a package of Texture Magic in a future post....stay tuned:)

Do you want to know how you can have a package of Texture Magic sent to the address of your choice?  All you need to do is leave a comment below sharing with us what project you have that could be enhanced using Texture Magic.

For extra entries, please send photos of projects you have made with Texture Magic to IWantToWinAtIHAN@yahoo.com

Smiles,

Kelly

Last but not least- I want to remind everyone that they can enter all of the giveaways because they don't close until April 15, 2010 at 10:00pm CMT.  If you would like to increase your chances of winning please read SewCalGal's Tips.  Please consider taking a button (copy and paste) from the upper right hand corner of my blog to post on your blog and link to it.  I want everyone to have an opportunity to win these beautiful gifts. 

Texture Magic

The first time I saw Texture Magic was at the Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I thought it was really neat but was sort of unsure how a quilt would look made with it. This morning I found this post and now I know. Babies love textures and their little fingers just search around for things to feel.....so here is a terrific post by Bitty Bits and Pieces Blogspot.

Smiles,
Kelly

Fun stuff I found today

I found these MagPro's today. They come in 12, 18 and 24 inches. I thought they would be excellent for my sewing area, my kitchen and my husbands workshop. The picture below does not even begin to show how neat these looked. You would apply them horizontally on the wall. I will be adding them to my store either tomorrow or Friday.

The MagPro incorporates a powerful magnet which securely grips metal items such as scissors, pins, needles, rippers, rotary cutters, blades, etc. Attach the bar to the wall most convenient for you & your tools will always be accessible. Mounting hardware is included.

Texture Magic is another cool item out by Superior Threads. Sew Texture Magic to the back of your fabric, apply steam, & the fabric will magically shrink 30% in all directions, creating a beautiful textured effect. The fabric cannot be ironed afterwards....but who would want to do that? I had a beautiful blouse made out of a silky fabric and had these bumps....I wonder if it was Texture Magic? I'm going to be adding it to my store soon. I just need a few more hours in the day. If you have made anything using Texture Magic could you please send me some pictures?

Did you know that when you take your thread out of your machine that you are supposed to cut the thread at the top and pull it out of the bottom of the needle? Apparently it is incorrect to pull your threads back through your machine because it can effect the tension. I learned this from the Bernina booth at Quilt Market. Very interesting!!!

Checker is having an After Market show on Friday for all the folks who were unable to attend Quilt Market in Pittsburgh. I went but I'm going on Friday too. They are going to have some demonstrations going on and I want to see more of those Creative Grid Rulers. I have found that every time I see a tool demonstrated that I learn so much that I did not know previously.

On another note, tomorrow is Aaron's last day of Kindergarten.....I can't believe it. I'm going to have him stand in the same places that he did on his first day of Kindergarten so I'll have the "before and after" shots in his album. Zach finished pre-school a week ago. He will be going to Kindergarten in September. Amazing to watch them grow and change.

Smiles,

Kelly