Welcome to The Edge Blog Hop with Pat Sloan and Friends

Good Morning Blog Hoppers!!!
(edited 9/27/10 9:45pm)

Welcome to the IHAN blog.  If this is your first time visiting, IHAN is short for I Have A Notion....my on-line Notions Store.  Here at the IHAN blog you will find lots of great information about the latest and greatest Notions, interesting people and  lots of giveaways (this is the third giveaway going on right now at IHAN).

Pat Sloan has helped Sulivan's design some really neat new rulers. I bet you already knew that though....and you are here to enter the big giveaway....a full set....YES....10 Cutting Edge Sharpening Rulers!!!!   I know how excited you must be so I'm going to give you a few minutes to catch your breath.....realx....get your heart beat and blood pressure under control.  While you are relaxing, I'm going to share a few details about my quilting life.....just don't get so relaxed that you fall asleep.

 

"Many Hands"

I consider this my first quilt because I took an official quilting class and this was my project. I chose the fabric for one simple reason, it had an elephant in the print, albeit very small, and I really like elephants. Each family member, living in my home at the time, was asked to choose a block pattern and then choose the placement of the fabrics. There were 6 of us and if we all still lived together that would make 8 now....make that 9....one is married. I did all the machine piecing and it was hand quilted by my very dear friend and amazing hand quilter, Mary Jane (IHAN's East Coast Director of Operations).

Choosing fabric ..... well....there is a little history to my issues with choosing fabric.  Several years ago I had signed up for a class to make a tote bag.  The gal who was teaching the class told us to get some "inspiration" fabric.  I asked her where she got hers and she told me the name of her local quilt shop.  I drove an hour on a Saturday to the quilt store and read the end of every bolt in that shop.  I could not find the word "Inspiration" on any of the bolt ends.   When the sales lady was free,  she asked if she could help and I asked where the "Inspiration" fabric was and she seemed puzzled.  I was soooooo frustrated.....all I wanted was the darn fabric and to go home.  I left empty handed and drove to a pay phone (remember those days?) I called the instructor and told her the shop no longer carried "Inspiration" fabric.  She laughed so long and hard I thought she might just start snorting.  Apparently "Inspiration" fabric is any fabric that inspires a person to create......OK....why didn't she just say that?  Thankfully I have no issues with choosing great Notions!! 

How is your heart rate and blood pressure now?  If you are relaxed....I'll get on with the big giveaway!!

The Cutting Edge Sharpening Rulers are some darn cool rulers because they sharpen your rotary blade while you cut.  Neat ay?  I think so....and when you cut with them....they make a sound....the sound of the blade being sharpened....I was not expecting that and was pleasantly surprised.  Pat Sloan and Sulivans clearly put a great deal of time into designing these rulers.  Click here to learn more about all the details.  The Cutting Edge Sharpening  Rulers are available at local quilt stores, Pat Sloan's Quilt Shop, IHAN and I bet lots more places I don't even know about.

To win an entire set of The Cutting Edge Sharpening  Rulers you must leave a comment on all of the blogs (listed below)  that are participating in the Hop

Monday September 27th

Pat Sloan's Blog

I Have A Notion Blog-Kelly Jackson

Tuesday September 28th
Amys Creative Side Blog- Amy Ellis
Canton Village Quilt Works Blog -Jackie Kunkel

Wednesday September 29th
Jaybird Quilts Blog- Julie Herman
Crazy Mom Quilts Blog- Amanda Jean Nyberg
Thursday September 30th
 Happy Zombie Blog- Monica Solorio-Snow
Mrs. Schmenkman Quilts Blog- Amy Lobsiger
PamKittyMorning Blog -Pam Vieira-McGinnis

Friday October 1st
LaVieEnRosie Blog- Carie Nelson
Minick & Simpson Blog- Polly Minick and Laurie Simpson
Naptime Quilter Blog- Cheryl Arkison

Saturday October 2nd
Quilting Gallery - Michele Foster
Pat Sloan's Blog for the big Wrap Up

You will definitely need some nourishment while doing all this blog hopping.  I'm just glad you are not depending on me to provide it....because you may end up in the hospital.  My idea of nourishment generally includes a phone number, menu or a speaker box in a drive thru.  Mr. McSteamy cooks for the IHAN clan most of the time.  On Mr. McSteamy's birthday I do make him his favorite cake.  People have always asked for the recipe so I'm guessing you might like it better than the phone number to my local pizza parlor :)

Screwball Cake-Recipe (given to me by McSteamy's Mother)

3 cups flour

2 cups sugar

1/2 cup cocoa powder

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

Mix that all together in one bowl.  (Any bowl that will fit....no need to find an inspiration bowl!!)

In another bowl, mix together

2 teaspoons vanilla

2 teaspoons vinegar

2/3 cup oil

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and mix.  Then add 2 cups of water and keep mixing. The recipe says don't grease the pan.....I always spray the pans with Pam Cooking Spray but don't tell my mother-in-law ok?  Cook on 350 degrees in the oven for 1 hour.  Then you have a naked cake.  If you like your cake aka breakfast to be covered....take some cream cheese and mix in a ton of powdered sugar and vanilla....add a little milk or water if you must....and smear it all over the top.  If you see some pearly gates after the first bite......you know you followed the recipe correctly.

Don't forget to leave a comment on this post to be entered to win the 10 Cutting Edge Sharpening Rulers.  The winner will be announced on Pat Sloan's Blog.  Edit: To be eligible to win the grand prize you must leave a comment on this post and the same for the others who are hosting the hop-the links to their pages are above.  So hop everyday and leave your comments :)

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, IHAN will also choose a winner from the comments left on this post and that person will receive an autographed copy of Anita Grossman Solomon's book, Rotary Cutting Revolution, new one step cutting 8 quilt blocks.  After all, you've got to put your new rulers to work right?

Smiles,

Kelly