More Checker Distributor 63 Anniversary Open House

I have been knee deep in my Power Suit Challenge art quilt and actually forgot to post yesterday....so without further ado....back to Checker's Open House.

Edyta Sitar, Laundry Basket Quilts, was as beautiful and pleasant as always during the Open House.

She has a new book coming out, Reasons for Quilts.  She had a few copies and they sold out fast!!

Edyta's designs are timeless and I think that is why so many of her patterns and books appeal to so many quilters.  I have been fortunate enough to hear Edyta speak on a few occasions and one of the reasons I really enjoy her lectures is because she focuses on relationships and events as themes for her quilts. Friendship Triangles and Friendship Strips and Scraps are a great example of relationship quilting because quilters are encouraged to share triangles, strips and scraps to make quilts with those swapped fabrics. 

 Shelly Stokes, Cedar Canyon Textiles, came in from Minnesota (you have to say that with the accent :) and she brought with her some fun rubbing plates, stencils and of course Paintstiks.

Paintstiks are so much fun...and believe it or not...easy to use.  Since I don't' draw, stencils and rubbing plates give me a boost for creating fun and interesting patterns on fabric.  I bet you are wondering why on earth there is a vegetable peeler in this photo.  The peeler works great for taking off the outer seal on the Paintsticks.

I love the sunflower quilt Shelly had hanging in her booth....check it out.....isn't it beautiful, bright and cheerful?

Nick Coman, Dragonfly Threads, had some fun and colorful....or should I say "de-colorful" inks to share at the Checker Open House.  Unfortunately I was so focused on the Handi-Iron he brought from Kandi Corp that I did not even take his photo....how rude is that?  Sorry Nick!!! 

 Nick co-authored, Fabric Color Magic, with Abby Riba and it is one very cool book if I don't say so myself.  The book is about stamping, stenciling and brushing on fabrics.  Lots of photos and step by step instructions so even a beginner can actually complete the projects.

 This is de-Colourant and Nick explained exactly how it works.  I had read about de-Colourant in magazines and still didn't understand exactly what it is used for. 

 Here you can see Nick had used a stencil and made a leaf on this black fabric.  The color was dull until he heat set it and then it really popped nicely.

Do you know what de-Colourant does?  Get this....it removes/de-colors the pigment in the fabric and replaces the area with ink and the ink is colored.  If you are like me you are thinking....what is the difference between that and fabric paint or Paintstiks...right?

 The difference is you don't feel any thing at all on the fabric.  It is like the batik fabrics where you don't feel the designs....they are just part of the fabric.  Cool ay?  I think so.

 Look how pretty this notebook cover is....some de-Colourant, thread and a few beads and now Nick has one spanky notebook/journal.

Nick gave me a pretty good explanation and education during the Open House.  He and Shelly Stokes from Cedar Canyon Textiles were using some of the same stencils and collaborating which I think is really neat.

There is more to come....so stay tuned!

POINT, CLICK, QUILT! Winner Announced

 There were lots and lots of comments from very excited readers wanting to win Susan Brubaker Knapp's latest book, Point, Click, Quilt!   If you didn't win....don't stop reading....everyone wins today!

BETH...Congratulations Beth!!  Please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com with your full address and Susan will ship your book as soon as she is back home (she is traveling this weekend).

For all of you who are laughing at my actual picture of my computer screen....I tried 4 or 5 different ways to print screen, cut-paste-save-save as- you name it and I couldn't get the comment to appear so I just beat blogger with my digital camera!!! 

There is still a prize for all of the other IHAN blog followers who love Susan's work.  I have a special going until Sept. 1, 2011....

You can now order Susan's brand new book, POINT, CLICK, QUILT! and her latest DVD, Master Machine Stitching at a great savings!  Click here to find out more :)  If you are serious about learning how Susan creates such amazing art quilts....this is your chance to find out how she does it and learn to make some of your own.

Smiles,

Kelly

It's All "Just Around the Corner"

Back to the "real" calendar now....it is Friday and yes I am aware of that....today.  Now tomorrow...all bets are off! :)

Today I get to tell you about visiting with Kari Carr at the Checker Distributor Open House last Sunday.  You know I was thrilled to be able to take photos of the quilts Kari has made for her new book, Just Around The Corner.  I had just received the book for review from Martingale & Co., perfect timing!

Just Around The Corner, Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders by Kari Carr

 

The fans were going and hair was flying on Sunday at Checker's Open House.  No complaints at all....we were all thrilled to have the cool air :)   

I had just read Kari's latest book, Just Around The Corner, Quilts with Easy Mitered Borders, so I was excited to see her pillow and purse with my own eyes.  What really grabs me about Kari's mitered borders is the variation of fabric colors in the mitering.  Can you see what I'm talking about?  Look at the bottom of the pillow above.  See the fabric that is pulled back?  It has the brown paisley and on the sides....you see the pink solid over the brown paisley.  The design in the center is fun enough....but with that mitered border...I think this pillow goes from "nice pillow" to "an eye grabber."  Very zippy indeed!

I find it very difficult to find a purse pattern that I will actually carry.  I'm very conservative when it comes to handbags...I don't want them screaming from the roof tops (quilts are another story all together).  This bag is actually a bag I would carry....choosing my own conservative fabrics of course.  The pattern and directions are in Just Around The Corner....along with the pillow pattern and 7 other projects.

Everyone knows the directions have to be VERY clear and have lots of pictures if I'm going to be able to make something from a book.  Kari used to be a school teacher and she is very good at explaining the process and steps to make the projects in her book.  Even I understood completely what she was saying...and that my friends....is impressive :)

 Kari also is the inventor of the Clearly Perfect Angles template you see here in the photo.  She uses it in her book but you don't have to have it to make the projects in Just Around The Corner. 

The Clearly Perfect Angles Template is a soft flexible template that clings to acrylic sewing tables. It is easy to peal back and reposition if you are taking your sewing machine for a walk (just checking to see if you are still reading...:). There is a 1/4 inch and 5/8 inch seam guide along with the angles for be able to sew accurate 45 degree angles for triangles, flying geese, snow balls and mitering bindings etc.

Since Kari was demonstrating at Checker's Open House....I took advantage of taking a few photos even though my main focus was on her new book.

So what do you think?  Do you like what you see?  I want to know what all of you are thinking about Cari's new book, Just Around The Corner.  If you are kind enough to leave me a comment....I'll choose one very lucky IHAN blog follower on Wednesday August 31st to receive my copy of Just Around The Corner.  If you can't wait....no worries....you can order the book now at IHAN and save money....until the end of Aug. only.

FYI....lots of folks have left comments to win Susan Brubaker Knapp's latest book, Point, Click, Quilt....but they are no-reply bloggers or anonymous and there is no way to reach those folks to tell them if they win....so they loose and I draw another name.  That drawing is open until 9PM tonight....so if you were one of those...better get back there and leave an e-mail addy and if you didn't know about it....you better get over there and leave a comment.  Like how bossy I'm feeling this morning?  LOL

Smiles,

Kelly

Raise Your E-Notion IQ - Kandi's Handi-Iron Product Review

If it's Wednesday then it is time to Raise Your E-Notion IQ here at IHAN.  Am I the only one who thought today was Wednesday?  Honestly....I was so focused on the Yellow Monster that I didn't even realize Wednesday was yesterday.  So...lets pretend today is Wednesday...just for the time that you are reading this post :)

I was introduced to Kandi's Handi-Iron while at the Checker Distributor Open House this past Sunday.  I thought it looked interesting....definitely worth a product review so I bought one.

 

 

 

Nick Coman (Dragonfly Threads), the guy who was demonstrating the iron for Kandi Corp at the Open House, told me the iron gets up to 425 degrees (linen setting).  I thought that was impressive and I also liked the handle design, the weight (10 oz) and the fact that it is 110/120V and 220/240V by just turning a dial. All you girls in AU will be thrilled about that! Just use your adapter and you are good to go.

This is what Kandi's Handi-Iron looks like out of the box.

The piece that looks like a nose guard for the iron slips off and guess what?

You just slip it under the black clip and that is the handle for the iron.  Cool ay? 

 

After I plugged it in, I turned the dial to linen (of course) but I realized I didn't know where the indicator was for setting the temperature  Upon closer inspection, I found it....see the arrow and the line in the photo above....smack dab in the center of the iron...yep that's the one....that is the arrow that tells you where to stop the dial for your settings. 

The first time I plugged in the Handi-Iron it smoked.  Nick told me it would.  The smoke is from condensation inside the iron and it stopped after the first time I heated it up.  I'm so glad Nick told me it would smoke....I would have thought something was wrong....nope...just burning off condensation.

Next....I need some very wrinkly fabric....so I wadded up some Kona Cotton.

 

 I started ironing the very wrinkled Kona Cotton fabric....and.....

 

Wahhhh Lahhhhh....and you see....no more wrinkles. You know I was surprised and impressed.

 

Then it dawned on me that the Handi-Iron was supposed to get up to 425 degrees.  How on earth was I going to figure out how hot it gets?  I only have a thermometer that takes human body temperatures...and this iron doesn'tave a tongue to stick it under.  So I ran to the neighbors and asked if they had a cooking thermometer.  This is the best I can do folks :)

 

Here is the neighbors thermometer (used for Thanksgiving I bet) cold.

 

Then I put it up against the Handi-Iron and took pictures while the dial moved up ...remember it was on the highest setting.

 

The red dial kept going....and going....

 

and going.....

 

Before it stopped back where it started.  I realize this thermometers not intended for irons and it stops at 190 degrees....but you will notice it kept going almost back around to the 130 mark again....which says to me this iron is pretty darn hot.  My hands could tell it was pretty dog gone hot too because it was tough holding on to the thermometer (don't try this at home....this was done by a trained professional...rofl).

Then I wanted to know how hot the Handi-Iron got in comparison to my "Hot Harriet" (my old cloth cord iron made by Westinghouse that I know gets very hot).  I'm in love with "Hot Harriet" for fusing because she doesn't have any steam holes on the bottom....which means no marks (little circles) left behind on your fabrics....and you might have noticed the Handi-Iron doesn't have those either....very cool!

I'm embarrassed to show you "Hot Harriet's" behind....I'll address that issue later.

I put the thermometer up against "Hot Harriet" ...she was set to linen as well.

Up and up the red dial went.....

and it continued to go up.....

Until it stopped back where it started....just like the Handi-Iron.  That's all I needed to know.  If this 10 ounce Handi-Iron gets as hot as "Hot Harriet" then that is enough proof for me....I'll never need anything hotter.

Another feature that impressed me about the Handi-Iron is the cord....it doesn't get in the way weather you are right or left handed.  The other small irons have the cord coming out the side....those flop over on me and I've gotten burned.  Excellent engineering in my opinion.  There was no excess packaging either....I really, really, really like that!!! 

The bottom of the iron is a non-stick surface and I was told it just wipes off if you get fusible on it.  So I tested that too....

 

here is a piece of Mistyfuse on my Goddess Sheet.....

 

and now here it is stuck to the bottom of my new Handi-Iron.....not pretty.  You have to admit that no matter how careful you are....some how some way....that fusible gets on your iron...right?  Right!!  So it's a good idea to know how well the iron cleans up.

 

This is what the iron looked like after I rubbed it on the fabric.  It did not come off....it sort of rolled up a bit.  I tried to scrape it lightly with the edge of thin plastic ID badge....and it still didn't come off.

 

I didn't want to hurt the beautiful non-stick finish on my new Handi-Iron so out came my Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner (this stuff so totally rocks). 

 

Look how well it cleaned off the fusible... like brand new! :)

So I treated "Hot Harriet" to a sauna as well....don't you think she deserves it?  Look how she shines........Faultless Hot Iron Cleaner is the best iron cleaner I've ever used...bar-none...including baking soda and water.

OK back to my new Kandi's Handi-Iron review.....

I highly recommend it for travel, workshops, classes and anytime you need a light small iron.  Do you need a heated flat pallet for straightening out ribbon?  Heat up the Hot Fix Crystals?  Check this out...

I took the handle off and plugged it back in.

Then I took this wrinkled ribbon and

pulled it back and forth across the surface of the Handi-Iron.  You can see for yourself....it straightened that ribbon out toot sweet!  

I called Kandi Corp and spoke to Dave, the owner, about the warranty on the Handi-Iron.  There is a one year warranty and they pay shipping if it is defective.  You know I loved that....nothing worse than buying something...having a problem and then having to pay more money just to get it replaced.  Dave also pointed out that on Kandi Corp's website there is a place to click in the upper right hand corner and you can have a live chat if you have any questions.  

Well, I think I did a good job of running the Handi-Iron through the necessary tests....I'm giving it 2 thumbs up!!!  Money very well spent!!

Smiles,

Kelly

The Yellow Monster Came

A big ugly Yellow Monster came and ate my monkeys this morning....leaving me in tears.  It had big ugly red eyes on the front and the back....I'm telling you it was really ugly.  I was minding my own business and the next thing I know....my monkeys are GONE!  You can imagine I have spent most of my day sad and crying.  I know you all expected more posts on Checkers Open House....and they will come....once I compose myself.

Just look how sweet and innocent those IHAN co-worker monkeys looked right before their capture

They are so precious and sweet.....and now they are in the belly of that big Yellow Monster with red eyes. 

 

One thing I know for sure is that Yellow Monster will be felling ill and will likely throw them back up into my driveway and I can't wait....know what I mean?

One fun thing has happened during this Yellow Monster fiasco that actually lifted my brown-out....check out what I just found on my doorstep.....

You have no idea how happy I was to see the Martingale 2012 Award Winning Quilts Calendar.  I know...to you it may be a small thing and you may be wondering how something so small could lift my heavy heart.

What you don't know is that I love calendars....it's true...I do.  It is a big deal every year to decide which wall calendar I'm going to use to keep all those important dates and appointments....after all I have to look at it several times a day and I only want to look at something I absolutely love.

I can't show you every page....well...until next December...LOL...silly humor...but remember I'm in a brown-out and you have to give me some slack today.  It was difficult choosing just one picture to show you....I chose April....it was done by Pat Holly of Ann Arbor Michigan.  She won the Maywood Studio Master Award for Innovative Artistry...Sponsored by Maywood Studio...Original Design (copied from the description on the Award Winning Quilts Calendar so I would get it all correct :).  This photo has lifted my heart and on a day like today....that really says something!!!

Are you a calendar lover too?  What is your criteria for choosing a new calendar for the upcoming year?  Do give calenders as gifts?  (I do...cuz I love them so much).  I want to know if there are more calendar lovers out there like me....and if you want to get ahead of the game....check out the special price IHAN has on the Martingale Award Winning Quilts Calendar for 2012....think you can order several for holiday or guild gifts...or just spoil yourself....we all need to do that every once in a while...and there are no calories in this years calander...LOL....remember now...you are giving me some slack today!!!

Smiles...sort of,
Kelly