Many of you will remember these photos that I took at Fall Quilt Market in Houston this past Oct/Nov. The dies are just now available and I thought many of you who expressed interest in the Machine Embroidery Designs and AccuQuilt GO! Dies would want to know.
Since the website had some "issues" I've been spending my time getting it back to it's previous condition. If there is something you want but the price has changed, please just e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com and I can help you with that.
Smiles....because I've also been sewing while working on my website....oh yeah baby....I'm loving it :)
I love using simple creative methods to achieve complicated quilt patterns. This is one book I have to have.
november 30, 2010 9:06 PM
Cbar does not have a blog so when you see this post, please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com with your name and address and I'll get your book in the mail on Monday.
I really appreciate all the great comments. It is nice to read the comments and know I'm not alone in my appreciation for Sandi's process. What a wonderful way to teach others how to make quilts set on point without all the fear that most of us have about messing it up.
By the way, a little birdie told me about an Electric Quilt Lesson by Benni Harper. It is "Mystery Lesson 10: Sunshine and Shadow" I think all of us with Electric Quilt Software need to throw caution to the wind and have a few minutes to ourselves. I know I want to continue to further my knowledge about my EQ 7 Software and I don't always make time to enjoy learning more about what I already have. I made a commitment to do this Lesson....why don't you join me?
By now everyone knows my website was down and I sat for 2 1/2 days at my computer trying over and over to get into the site and sometimes I could get in and do something and then it would knock me off. You can imagine the hours of frustration and the feelings of helplessness. Early on I decided I would get through this experience one way or another and I'm be happier if I had something to do with my hands while I was click, click, clicking.
I brought my sewing machine next to my computer and started working on the long list of Christmas gifts I have to make. If you are wondering if I always wait until December to start my gifts.....the answer is.....Yes....that is the case more often than not!! LOL....and I'm sure I'm not alone either! Right?
You may remember this post, when I started learning from the book, It's a Wrap. I wanted to continue my "lessons" so I started with these bowls. Wrapping the clothesline kept my fingers busy while I was waiting for the computer to respond. Working with my hands is such therapy for me and I definitely needed some THERAPY. The bowl above is one of my favorites. I started with a 8 inch bottom so this baby is going to be large.
Here is a pix of the side of the bowl. Ain't she purdy?
I also made these two smaller ones. The brown and orange was made from Batik and will be given to my younger Brother for Christmas. Don't worry, he doesn't read my blog. No one in birth family reads my blog so I can show all the secrets.
I also watched these 3 DVD's Paintstik Inspirations by Laura Murray, Thread Therapy with Dr. Bob and Bobbin Play with Bonnie . I've seen a few of them before but I wanted to review what I had learned. Since I've dipped my toe into the thread painting/sketching/doodling/coloring I wanted to see how to use the more decorative threads that won't go through my sewing machine needle but can be used in the bobbin. Bonnie McCaffery sure has some great ideas and tips. Now I can hopefully finish the backpack project.
FYI:
Some of the usual products at IHAN have accidentally been removed and will be replaced. If there is something you are looking for and don't see, please e-mail me and I'll take care of getting it for you. There is also Free Shipping at IHAN until Dec. 5th....so if you have been wanting something heavy or large now is a great time to order them.
The deadline for the Square-agonals Giveaway is tomorrow, Friday....so if you have not left a comment...you just might want to do that....on the Square-Agonals post....not here.
I guess an old dog can learn a thing or two from some young people (daughters). They kids said Cyber Monday is all about Free Shipping and that is what they were doing so they did not have to ship their gifts. They suggested I do the same and so I "attempted" to update my website to make this happen. What happens instead? I crashed the website!!! Or should I say, Kindness Killed the IHAN website....ROFL.
Everyone who took a button had to do it two and perhaps three times.....I am SOOOO SORRY. I'm a "Techno Tabula Rasa." It is true....clearly. However, I believe huge team of very knowledgeable folks have repaired the issue and I can now get into the IHAN website.....which is a good thing.
For those of you who wrote me initially to tell me that they were displaying the IHAN Button or had IHAN on their sidebar, I have not forgotten you. I am planning an Appreciation Event of sorts....so stay tuned and you'll hear from me.
Now I can get back to our regularly scheduled programming.....more Quilt Market photos etc.....hurray :)
Now we have 4 people working to do something that should have been very simple. Yes this does happen....and it happens to me.....and even when I want to cry and give up.....there are those kind folks who keep helping and keep me going.
Well folks, I do believe we have a solution, I mean another solution!!! With much thanks to Norma Evans of Petit Design Co. and Christine, Gene Black.....and me....and I've seen lots of comments trying to help from others....if there is any I can ever return the favor...please let me know and thanks for not shooting me in the process. By the way, I love to hand stitch on bindings so if I can do that for ya....I'm here :)
I'm so impressed with how much kindness has been shared with me today. Kindness is the answer and I honestly think it is the prelude to Peace on Earth .....just my thoughts on the subject....and I still think this....even after all this jumbled up blog/website stuff!!
Lets see if it works this time :) Everyone say your prayers and if it does not work....come running with kleenex and wine....red/dry please :)
Too many hot links have crashed my site...WHY....because I'm a knucklehead and didn't tell everyone who copied my button that they needed to do this first: Copy and download the IHAN button to your computer. THEN upload it to your blog and link it to my website http://www.IHaveA-Notion.com
RUN FAST AND REMOVE THE BUTTONS and do the steps above because I've been trying for two days to do a Cyber Monday Special.....and everyone will want to know what is was....will be ....right? RIGHT.
THANKS A MILLION!!!
Please please please don't leave a comment on this post if you want a reply....I'll be swamped trying to change my website so I won't have time to reply :)
I had the very good fortune of meeting Sandi Blackwell in Houston for Quilt Market 2010. Sandi's first book is Very Impressive!!! Each time I go to Market I typically find one book or tool that I've never seen before and I think is innovative and truly new. This time it was Sandi's book entitled, " Square-agonals."
Turn Easy-Stitched Blocks and Rows into Stunning Diagonal Designs
I know many quilters who cringe when they see the word triangle. Sandi has developed a method where you sew blocks together in rows and no triangles!! I won't give away all the magic of the book but I will show you a few photos I took that gives you a little glimpse into how it is done.....just so you know you can do it too :)
Although Sandi explains the mathematics behind Square-agonlas you don't need to understand the method in order to make any of the 14 patterns in the book.
The blocks are sewn together in rows and then the quilt gets cut into three sections and reassembled ....that is what gives you the diagonal set design.
You are looking at how the fabric was cut and the tape is "Arrow Guide Tape." The tape makes a great visual guide for cutting as well as stabilizes the bias fabric that you cut. You don't have to purchase the "Arrow Guide Tape" to use her method either....she told us we could use our own tape but that she has developed the tape just to keep things simple. I like that!!
When it is sewn back together this is what you have....a diagonal set design without having to ever sew one of those little triangles!!! Now you know why I was impressed right?
Isn't it amazing that Sandi has figured out how to go from the blocks on the left to the beautiful table runner on the right? (not to scale of course...I know someone was thinking....miracle grow for fabric right?)
You have to click here and see all of the quilts that have been made using Sandi's Square-agonals method. You'll be really surprised to see how incredible they are and no one had to sew a triangle.
I made certain I was in line to get an autographed copy of Sandi's book, Square-agonals, for one very lucky IHAN blog reader. I was not going to miss this one!!! So if you would like to have a chance to own an autographed copy of Square-agonals please leave a comment on this post telling me why you would like to own this book. I will choose a winner by random on Friday night December, 3rd.
I am so very pleased to have gotten so many e-mails. Many people wrote and said Thank You ....to me....and I was going to write and thank them....go figure :)
Many people asked where they could get the IHAN button.....and here it is....in all it's glory :) It was the fancy work of Gene Black....a wonderful man who created this button just to be kind. And the first that I know of to link to the IHAN store....just because he wanted to. So, if you are so inclined...hop over to Gene's blog and fill his comment box up with any wild thing you want to say. Wait until he gets up for work tomorrow....he is going to flip.
Feel free to copy and paste it to your sidebar or your forehead if you so choose. All I ask is that you don't get it tattooed on your body....cuz that would hurt!
Good news....actually incredible news here at IHAN. Mr. McSteamy has finally cracked the code to downloading our HD video camera to our bot so I can post some video on my blog. Ya gotta love a guy who spends countless hours getting everything set up....now I'm wondering if he would do the same if I wanted a long arm....better not push it for awhile ay?
If you have the IHAN blog on your sidebar as a blog that you read and it shows up on the front page of your blog right now as you read this please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com and let me know.
I know all of the wonderful people who are followers because your name shows up on my front page :)
When you send your e-mail, please include a link to your blog. Thanks!!!
Sometimes I just want to show a little appreciation....know what I mean?
Smiles,
Kelly
It would not be kind if I kept a good thing to myself now would it? NOPE
Patsy Thompson Designs is offering free shipping all week (I don't know when the week started so check out the dates) and she has some great things that would be excellent to have shipped in the US for free!!!
I know most of you have been out shopping all day long. I thought to welcome you back from your crazy shopping adventure with a treat just for you here at IHAN. These items will no longer be available at these prices after midnight tonight Eastern Standard Time.
I made a huge, gigantic, enormous mistake when I was organizing my creative space. I took those scraps and disposed of 75% of them. I know....just plain stupid! Well....lets not be-labor the issue.
Here is a pix of a larger scrap I did not discard. I'm going to show you some pix of some of the things I've done recently using my Big Shot Pro and my Big Shot (yes I own both....the Big Shot is to travel with and loan to our charity quilters locally).
This is my Big Shot Pro (aka the muth-ah of all cutters..lol) I took some strips of Batik that I had and made 5" squares to use as signature squares for a signature quilt. I don't like cutting and sewing alone....these little buggers you see keep me company.
This is my Big Shot (aka little booger) and I was taking some scraps to make some fusible appliques to adhere to Tea Towels that I'm giving to a friend who has recently moved.
I use all sorts of scraps....who cares if Thomas is in the way....depending on the die you use....no one will be the wiser :)
I won't repeat that I'm a visual person again for the 10,000 time....I'll just show you how I choose to label my dies:
I tape the package insert to the top of the die so I'll see which one it is without having to look at the side of the die. By the way, did you know the Big Shot and the Big Shot Pro will take AccuQuilt Dies? 100% TRUE.....any AccuQuilt Die that is 6 inches wide or smaller will fit into the Big Shot and the Big Shot Pro will take all the AccuQuilt Dies including the Studio Dies.
Sizzix carries a Platform and Shim to raise up the AccuQuilt Dies but I use my small Omnigrid Cutting Mat and it works just fine for me.
I made all of these fusible applique shapes with my Sizzix Dies (the white show flake is batting). Before I cut my fabric I use Mistyfuse on the back of my fabric so once it is cut I can just fuse it down. I prefer Mistyfuse because it is light and it does made my appliques stiff.
These were just some I made from scraps for the fun of it. I wanted to show you how nuts I can be....sometimes I just cant stop and I just keep layering them up on top of one another just to see what the look like. I also use the fabrics from around the shapes and use the interesting shapes to build other designs. If one of you would devote yourself to maintaining my business, kids, husband etc....then I could spend all of my time blogging and you could see everything.....any volunteers? I didn't think so :)
I like this one....and I want to make lots of them and put them around a center focal point.
I wondered what a Christmas tree would look like on top of the heart.....
Then smack a big ole flower on top of the tree!!! Gotta love it.
Since many of the Sizzix Dies I use are also for Scrapbooking they have small details that sometimes connect. I like to carefully trim those areas away. On the left are scissors I own and use. On the right are how they look in the package. They are all excellent scissors.
Sizzix has a brand new electric Cutter - The Vagabond, inspired by Tim Holtz. I hear it is the mega cutter of all times. I'm excited about the Vagabond because many people I know who own the Big Shot and the GO! Baby say their hands, arms and shoulders start to hurt after cutting lots of fabric. There are also those who can not turn the crank on the other cutters because of Arthritis and other funky things that happen to hands.....now they can cut fabric all day and night without any problems :)
Just to be kind to all of those folks who get funky things going on with their hands and can't use the manual fabric cutters....I'm going to offer a FREE Sizzix Applique Die of my choosing to anyone who buys a Sizzix Big Shot, Big Shot Pro, or a Vagabond Cutter from IHAN on or before Monday, November 29th, 2010.
See, I told you they are cool....and just add some Patsy Thompson magic stitching to the mix and you have Incredible Designs :)
Smiles,
Kelly
EDITED HERE:
Questions asked: 1. Will the Vagabond cut several layers of fabric? Answer: OH YEAH BABY.....that mega cutter cuts chipboard and a little birdie told me someone fed it two and three layers of chipboard to see if they could jam it.....they did not jam the machine and it will void your warranty....but that lets you know it will easily cut through several layers of fabric :)
2. Do I have an exact delivery date for the Vagabond? Answer: No, I was told they are currently shipping so I'm guessing it won't be long but I don't have an exact date.
3. Will the AccuQuilt GO! and GO! Baby take the Sizzix Dies? Answer: No they will not work in the AccuQuilt Cutters and if you try it and jam your machine, your warranty is voided so don't do it....even if you think it "might" fit....trust me....I've done it and your cutting mat will curl and you could easily break the handle off.
Blogger won't let me upload photos for some reason....however I am grateful to have the Internet.
Today I'm hosting 13 of my family members for our Thanksgiving Meal....and I am grateful that they are all healthy and here.
This morning the heating coil in our oven caught fire and Rick had to go to 4 different stores to get a new one....and I am grateful there are 4 stores he could go to and that he found one.
I went to put the turkey back into the fridge and as I turned to put it in...the milk spilled all down the shelves...and I'm thankful that we have a Turkey and a fridge.
I could go on and on....but without photos....it is not nearly as much fun.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families and friends. May you all have save travels and eat only enough to fill your stomach so you don't feel stuffed and sick....LOL.
If I never see "Sale or Door Buster Special " again, I will still live a very fulfilling life. What about you? I don't want to stand in line for anything. I certainly don't want to pay more in 3 days when I discover I really need the item I did not buy when it was on "Sale." Yes.....I"m getting old...LOL
No need to get up at 3 AM to shop at IHAN. I'm a kinder and gentler sort of retailer :) Shop anytime 24 hours a day and you still get the same good price.
In the spirit of FUN and FREE.....I will be throwing the names of those who order from IHAN between Nov. 24th and Nov 29th into a jar and drawing a name to win a Surprise Package worth over $50
How often have you seen the word "Sale" at http://www.ihavea-notion.com/ ? You don't see "free shipping" either. Ever wonder why?
Lets talk about the word "Sale" and what it really means. "Sale" means that every other day of the week that the item is not on sale, I charge you more. Why would I play games with those who shop with me and trust me? (Clearance is a different story all together.)
Why no free shipping? Because I would have to pay to ship your order and frequently that would mean I would work for very little or nothing. Hmmmmm.....I would not suggest to anyone that working for free is a good thing.....unless you have agreed to do that in advance :) Now if USPS and FedEx wants to ship for free....then you know for sure I'm all over that and your order will definitely ship for Free!!!
But you do see "Giveaway" often on the IHAN blog. I love to do giveaways because it gives people just like me a chance to try something new, read a book they might not have otherwise considered and sometimes to simply lift the spirits of someone who might benefit from something fun in the mail.
Since opening IHAN I've learned that advertising can mean something as simple as letting people know I'm here and open for business. No tricks no gimmicks....just a simple Howdy....come on over if you like.
It was another blogger that taught me about advertising.....a simple thing really. Gene Black, from ArtbyGene Blog, made a button and put it on his blog to let others know IHAN is a shop and it is here on the Internet. I have been absolutely floored and appreciative for those folks who have shopped at IHAN and on their own accord have spread the word.
What I love the very most about IHAN is this blog. Blogging has changed my day to day life and the way I look at the world. I thank each and every one of you for reading, leaving comments, sharing and being a part of my experience.
I want to thank everyone left a comment and visited Blue Moon River. I wonder how many of you clicked on the photos in Susan's Gallery? Did you know if you click on the photos that a description of the work pops up and some of them are for sale? I clicked on one just by chance and then clicked on all of them. I would say they are extremely reasonably priced too.
Oh I so badly want this DVD myself it is going to be tough to put it in the mail tomorrow....good think it is sealed in cellophane....I would not have been able to stop myself from watching it.
The Random Mr. McSteamy asked to pick the number....after dinner....so I checked the number of comments and there were 93. He said number 22 which was
Michele Bilyeu #22
Love everything Susan does, but I must admit her chickens were unbelievable. I'm still wondering what she sold that piece for. It was so amazing! I'd love to own her/your DVD..I've just started trying to teach myself some thread painting on the art quilts I donate to AAQI and I'm sure I could use more than a few tips!!!
Please e-mail me with your full name and address so I can get your DVD into the mail before I open it and watch over and over and over again.
Stay tuned....more giveaways are on the way. If you are not a follower, you may want to become a follower because there will be some giveaways for followers only (subscribing to the blog by e-mail or RSS feed won't work to be eligible for those giveaways). You have a few days, but I thought some of you may want to know.
It should come as no surprise that this is right up my alley!!! The freedom of allowing the mind to play ....and the joy that comes out of the journey....ahhhhh....definitely my kind of fun.
First, I want to thank the blogger who sent me an e-mail reminding me about the drawing last night. I'd like to say I drew the number last night like I promised.....but I got busy and it slipped my mind. I am going to have myself electronically reminded of such things so I don't forget. Please forgive my tardiness.
.....The Random Number Generator says it is number 27,
Donna who said,
I fell head over heels in LOVE! with the Rose of Sharon quilt the first time I saw a picture. It is my must make! - one day. Thanks for the chance to win the autographed (Wow!) book. Happy quilting!
Congratulations Donna!!! Please send me your full name and address to IHaveANotion@yahoo.com and I will put your book in the mail on Monday :)
