Announcement!

I Have A Notion blog and store have moved to:


the store can be found at


There is a much easier to navigate store, with new items. The blog has its own page as well... new content too.

The blog is now at www.ihaveanotion.com/blog

Please come and visit!

Saturday, April 17, 2010

What is in the Grand Prize for the IHAN 30 Days of Giveaways

Grand Prize
for
30 Days of Giveaways at I Have A Notion
First Anniversary Celebration

Isn't it  odd that no one asked exactly what was in the Grand Prize?  I did talk about a few of the items....but I never told anyone what was in the Grand Prize.  Trust is a major component of having a successful business and I thank each and every one of you for that gift.  I don't take it for granted.

Before I share what is in the Grand Prize, I would like to share with everyone why I decided to host the 30 Days of Giveaways.  This is a portion of the letter I sent to some of the people who have made the last year of my life so interesting and rewarding. 
"I Have A Notion" is having it's First Year Anniversary on March 21st, 2010. I want to celebrate by sharing with the blogging community about all of the wonderful people, designers, authors, artists, companies and products that I have been privileged to encounter this past year. So if you are getting this letter, I chose you/your company because I really like your products or designs and I want to share my great experiences with others. Even if you are not able to participate, I want you to know that I truly appreciate doing business with you. Thank you for one of the best years of my life!!!
Every word of that statement is completely true. This has been on of the best years of my life for me personally. I have met so many incredible people here at the IHAN blog. If you don't end up winning a physical prize....please don't overlook all the people who you now have the opportunity to interact with.....they are the true gifts, more valuable than any material object!!!

The Grand Prize idea really belongs to Iris Karp from Attached, Inc.  She agreed to send three large packages of Mistyfuse, one for each week, and an 100 yard roll for the Grand Prize.  How could I say no.....so thank Iris for the idea not me :)

Contents of the Grand Prize

Mistyfuse White 12in x 100yds 
from Attached, Inc.

Jewel Tone Mini Paintstiks
and Snowflake Stencils
from Cedar Canyon Textiles
I specifically saved these for the Grand Prize because I love Shiva Paintstiks from Cedar Canyon Textiles.  I "gently borrowed" these photos from the  Cedar Canyon Blog.  Look what Shelly Stokes is making with the Snowflake Stencils:


Who would not want to be able to embellish quilt blocks, clothing, hand bags, and even suitcases with Shiva Paintstiks?  I honestly think these are awesome for the artistically challenged folks like me.  I can be successful and make things that look awesome even though I can't draw a decent stick figure (100% truth).  Cedar Canyon Textiles also has a Learning Center that answers all of your questions. 




Trophy Case by Barb Sackel


Humbug Bag by Nancy Restuccia


Brilliant Bindings for ALL Quilters
package autographed by Debbie Wendt


Roc-lon Multi-Purpose Cloth 24 x 36 inch
from  Rockland Industries


Snap Bag Pattern and Tubular Frame
from Lacy Hill
This is another pattern I saved especially for the Grand Prize.  I love this pattern by Lacy Hill and she was generous enough to send the Tubular Frame as well.  You will be thrilled once you make this purse....it is very cool.

Sewing Notions Gift Package
This fun bag contains Size 12 Quilting Needles, a 45mm Rotary Blade, a Blue Chalk Liner, a Seam Ripper, a Fine Line Marking Pen, and a Little House Thimble

Orion's Star Quilt by Eleanor Burns
Orion's Star Quilt contains two classic quilt patterns that are combined to make this quilt, the Evening Star and the Log Cabin. There are two different sizes of stars to choose from, 6in and 8in. There are yardage charts are written for all sizes of quilts, wallhanging through King.





Please keep in mind none of these giveaways would have been possible without the artists, companies, designers, inventors and publishers who agreed to join IHAN in our First Year Anniversary Celebration. 

THANK YOU IHAN Blog readers and the following people and companies for making this past year and especially this past month so wonderful!!
Virginia Lauer inventor of the Easy Reach Thread Carousel and the Large Cone Easy Reach Thread Carousel
 

I invite all of you to Thank the above named  people and companies for giving us a wonderful opportunity to learn, laugh, get to know one another and for the incredible gifts they have provided. 

A special Thanks go out to the IHAN Staff and Mr. McSteamy for all their support!!

Appreciative Smiles,
Kelly Jackson
Owner
I Have A Notion

High Expectations for the Winners of the IHAN 30 Day of Giveaways

I may have forgotten to inform all the IHAN Blog readers that I have high expectations for the Winners of the IHAN 30 Day of Giveaways.  Oops....just a small detail.  Well, I'm still working on the post and I have no idea how many hours I've spent going through entries and then drawing the winners.  The post is in the process of being written....I should have it done a few more hours or sooner.  No worries....that leaves everyone more time to enter the 32nd Days of Giveaways for the Sew Red Silk Dupioni Collection from Brewer Quilting and Sewing :)

Please take the time to watch this entire video....not just the beginning....so you know what I expect of you if you should win!!! 



ROFL!!!  Video compliments of my friend Dana :)

Smiles,
Kelly

ZZZZZZ 27, 149....ZZZZZ

Ok folks, I'm a going to bed...it is 1:00 AM and I'm beat!!!  I finally have every one's entries straight.  I promise I will post all the winners tomorrow.  Or if you can't wait...break into my house....pile through all those pieces of paper on my desk.....and look for your name.  While you are at it, please do the dishes, laundry and vacuum before you leave!!!

Smiles,
Kelly

Friday, April 16, 2010

Giveaway Update

Wow there are a lot of comments.  My eyes are rolling!!!  I am not even 1/2 way through the the names for each day so I'm thinking you'll have until tomorrow sometime to leave comments for the beautiful silks.  Sorry for the wait....I had no way of knowing the person assigned to counting would need to back out.

Smiles,
Kelly

Day 32 of 30 Days of Giveaways - Sew Red Silk Dupioni from Brewer Quilting and Sewing Supplies

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 32
(who wants this to end?  not me :)


I knew there would be a few of you lingering wanting to know what I was going to post today.  I'm sure the folks at Brewer thought I was actually going to keep these "to die for" red silks.....but I'm not. 

The Sew Red Silk Collection features 16 colors of dupioni silks (18 x 22)   That is 4 yards of Dupioni Silk!!!  Red no less.....good thing I'm a person of my word or these beauties would be made into a quilt for my bedroom.

This is the In and Out Sew Red Quilt Pattern by Blue Underground Studios.  Oh I just dream of wrapping up in a Sew Red Silk Quilt.  I can also see a beautiful jacket for the holidays. 



Piecing the Sew Red Silk Collection and making one of these jackets would be gorgeous I think.   

Brewer Quilting and Sewing Supplies was so very generous to join IHAN in the First Anniversary Celebration.  I told them how much I love their Silk Dupioni and this what they sent for the celebration:



My only regret is not saying I also like a new home with a sewing studio that overlooks a garden!!! 

If you would like an opportunity to win this incredible box of Sew Red Dupioni Silk Collection you need to leave a comment on this post telling us what you will make if you win.  Feel free to give us all the details....those are so much fun!!!  This drawing will be announced along with the other winners from the IHAN 30 Days of Giveaways....so stay tuned!!!  (hopefully today perhaps as late as tomorrow....I'm still counting folks :)


THANK YOU Brewer Quilting and Sewing!!!!

For all of you who are asking yourself, "what about the Gift Silk Collection, I didn't see that posted yet?"  It is going to be in the Grand Prize!!!
Smiles,
Kelly

Please don't worry about me.....

All of you may be excited about the potential of winning a great prize....but I got my prize right here baby!!!!


Look what Rosemary and Susan brought me tonight!!!  OMMMMMGGGGG I'm in HEAVEN.  Many of you may be new to IHAN blog....you'll learn fast that if there is something that really rocks my socks....I'll let you know.  Tim Tams are Australia's number one cookie.  When I went to AU I learned about them and my body has taken to them like oxygen....I can inhale a package of Tim Tams faster than any Aussie on this planet....no kidding (Ok, I've never timed myself....but I'm just saying...lol).

So as I count, I'll be breathing shall we say...

Big Happy Grateful Smiles,
Kelly
PS....It is April 15th and I asked to have my blog and website returned to it's original state at this time.  So all of you visitors please know .... we typically don't live in a paint factory explosion....that was just the party dresses for the girls (blog and website).  Party isn't over yet though....but at least we can read in peace now.  LOL

Thursday, April 15, 2010

30 or 31 OK 32 Days of Giveaways at IHAN

Are the Giveaways Over?

NOPE, NO Siree Bob......NOT Happin'

I have good news and bad news....which do you want first? 

Half of you said Good and the other half said Bad....make up your minds will ya?  I'll go the Good News first.  The Giveaways continue....for one more day!!!  HURRAY!!!!!  The Bad News....the person who was to tabulate all the entries has not counted them.  So that leaves a whole lot of comments to be counted!!!

If you are impatient like me you will be tapping your fingers screaming at your screen, "count faster."  If you are laid back you'll be drinking some ice tea and enjoying yourself while I count :) I figure if you  took the time to leave a comment or go the extra mile and do other things for extra entries, you want those to be counted correctly and entered, right?  I thought that would be your response :)

I've read quite a few posts that said, "Pick Me."  For the record, I'm not picking anyone for the prizes.  Everyone names will go into a container, the container will be shook up, a random number will be generated at Random Numbers Generator and then we will count down to that number.  You can't get much more random than that!!!  I don't want anyone who put their comments in first or last to have less of a chance.  I'm one of those people who wants to win everything so I understand the excitement and wanting to know when the winners are named.  I will work as fast as I can but it may take me a day or so.  I'll keep everyone updated :)

The comments on all posts prior to this post will close at 10:00 PM CMT which is in one hour.  So if you want to hop over to something you missed and add a comment...go right ahead.  I will begin tabulating after 10:00 PM.

If you get tired of waiting....you can wander the isles of IHAN.  You just might discover all of the AccuQuilt products are on sale up to 35% off.   There are other items great notions on sale as well.

Tomorrow's Giveaways are open until I'm done counting all the entries.  Before I post the winners, I post everything that is in the Grand Prize Package!!!! 

Smiles,
Kelly

Day 31 of Giveaways - Clover Needlecraft

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 31

All from Clover Needlecraft 






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!!!)



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

Day 31 of 31 Days of Giveaways - Twice As Nice...Plus More

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 31

by Anne Dease
and



We can't stop the giveaways until everything has been given away right?  RIGHT!!  Everyone is going to want this Twice as Nice....Plus More pattern booklet by Anne Dease.  Why?  Because with this pattern you can make two or three quilts at the same time.  All you need is a Jelly Roll and a few additional fabrics to make two and even three quilts. 

Quilt in a Day didn't stop at the pattern, they also sent the 9 1/2 inch Triangle Square Up Ruler to go with the pattern.  Now all you need is a Jelly Roll and some fabric for borders, binding and backing. 

Thank you so very much for these lovely gifts Quilt In A Day and Eleanor  I will really enjoy them.....oops I mean.....a lucky IHAN blog writer will enjoy these....ok I've got to get this straight....one lucky IHAN blog reader will be thrilled to win and I'll be so sad to see the 9 1/2 inch Triangle Square Up Ruler and Twice as Nice Plus More pattern booklet leave IHAN headquarters. 

If I were not counting  hundreds of comments I'd run downstairs and whip up a sample to show everyone Twice as Nice Plus More quilts....but I would make lots of folks very sad so you are just going to have to settle for the beautiful photos on the pattern. 

I posted Eleanor's book, Day and Night Quilt  earlier in this giveaway and let everyone know about her Newsletter, Community Forum, and Blog....I think I left out her Facebook page....but I want to know who signed up for the Newsletter, checked into her blog or Facebook page.  If you did please leave that in your comment on this post....I'm just curious :)  I forgot to mention there are Free Patterns on Quilt in a Day's website...we love free patterns :) 


Don't forget to pre-order Eleanor's new book, "Quilt Blocks on American Barns."  I don't know who started the rumor that the title of the books was, American Tattoos on Biker Babes Booties (a lie).  Some folks just can't get their facts straight :)

There are move giveaway announcements tomorrow so stay tuned!! 

Smiles,
Kelly

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Day 30 of 31 Days of Giveaways - Susan Brubaker Knapp from Blue Moon River

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 30



The Tulip Bag Pattern has a large outside pocket, lots of inside pockets and come with a pattern for a cell phone case. What a perfect bag for Spring!!!


Orchid Series Note Cards are photos of Susan's work

 Hi Susan :)

Oh I'm so excited to share with everyone a fun story about meeting Susan Brubaker Knapp.  Last fall I went to Huston for Quilt Market.  I was sitting on the sofa in the lobby of the hotel blogging (only free wi-fi and you know I'm frugal) along with several other folks who were using their laptops.  As usual I struck up a conversation with some of the gals sitting around me and Susan happened to be one of them.  I had absolutely no idea I was meeting such an incredibly talented woman.  We exchanged business cards and I checked out her blog.  Talk about feeling lucky.

When I decided to do this Anniversary Celebration 30 Days of Giveaways I wrote to Susan right away.  I absolutely love her work and I had read about her Orchid Series Note Cards (photos of her work made into note cards) on her blog.  She not only agreed to give a lucky IHAN blog reader a set of her Orchid Series Note Cards but she's giving them The Tulip Bag Pattern too!!!

Think I'm just embellishing the way I talk about people?  Then check this out....who's work is splashed all over the cover of Quilting Arts Magazine


Oh yea baby.....that would belong to none other than Susan Brubaker Knapp!  See I was telling the truth and I was not embellishing the story one bit.....she really is incredibly talented :)

I asked Susan about what it is like to create, where does she begin and this was her reply:
Each piece is an emotional catharsis, and begins when I am filled with a strong emotion: awe at the beauty of nature, joy in nursing a baby, anger at an injustice. Art is my way of celebrating and documenting the deep mysteries of human beings’ relationships with each other, with our innate creativity, and with the natural world. Much of my work explores metamorphosis and transformation.
Creating fiber art is an intense tactile experience. My core materials — cloth and thread — are the result of my background as a traditional quilter. But I also use substances foreign to traditional quilters, such as fabric paints and dyes, Tyvek, Angelina fibers and water-soluble pastels, to transform the cloth.
Susan speaks to Guilds and Teaches as well.  I've not had the good fortune to take a class yet but if I get the opportunity I'm going for sure. 


This is Susan's DVD, Free-motion Stitching and Thread Sketching, it is available at the Interweave Store.  I have found DVD's have been a great resource because I'm a visual learner and I'm not a fast learner so I can take my time and review the material over and over. 

If you would like to have a beautiful set of Orchid Series Note Cards and The Tulip Bag Pattern then you'll need to leave a comment on this post telling us about someone special you have met just by chance. 

There is no requirement to follow Susan's blog, but you may be very glad you did because she shares great information and inspiration.

Thank you Blue Moon River!!!

Susan you continue to inspire me and I am very appreciative...big hugs to you. 

Grateful Smiles,
Kelly

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Day 29 of 31 Days of Giveaways - #3 MISTYFUSE

Edited 8:40PM...yes I'm getting punchy here folks :)

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 29 Giveaway # 3


Are you wondering if I'm on the payroll over at Attached Inc.?  Really I'm not (the truth)  but I do want everyone who wants a chance to win some to get their name in the drawing.  Remember I was telling you about making note cards using Mistyfuse?  (Honestly Barb, I did say it....it is just your memory again!! :)  How about using Mistyfuse to make your own paper fabric?

You can layer your collage items between two layers of Mistyfuse and make paper fabric.  What can you make with paper fabric you ask? 


  • You can make Artist Trading Cards

  • Make really fun file folders for all those patterns you have printed from on-line tutorials (I do that too!!)

  •  How about making gift bags for special gifts or kids birthday parties. 

  • You could have the most interesting wallet and hand bag going if you put together some really fun things for your paper fabric.
Obviously I could go on and on and on....but you get the idea....there are so many fun things you can make with paper fabric.

Bradie Sparrow from A Quilty Kind of Girl Designs uses Mistyfuse to bast her quilts.  Oh why did I not think of that first?  So smart!!!  Birdie you got it goin' on girl!!!  Who hates to baste their quilts?  Me too.....now we can use Mistyfuse between the batting and fabric and press it.....and it's basted!!!  Holey Smokes that is an excellent idea.  Mistyfuse is light so you'll never even feel it.  Go over and check out Bradie Sparrow's tutorial on basting with Mistyfuse, you will be glad you did.

Thank you again, and again, and again.....and 100 yards worth of AGAIN Attached Inc. for celebrating with IHAN....You rock Iris :)

Edit begins here: Good grief....I really am falling off my rocker, for real this time!!!  I forgot to put my seatbelt on...when will I learn.  I have trained everyone so well you've already been leaving comments and I didn't even remember to tell you to leave a comment.....oh thank you :)  Big Hugs around.

Iris, owner of Attached Inc., has sent 3 large packages of white Mistyfuse (20x 10 yards) one package per week and then a 12 x 100 yard roll for the Grand Prize Drawing just for the IHAN blog readers.  Tremendously generous is all I can say.  I have been very good and have not opened one package or even played with it....and that has been very difficult I must say.

So if you would like to win a 20 x 10 yard package of White Mistyfuse....jut leave a comment below....say anything you want....the sky is the limit...tell us a joke, share a fun story.....tell us a story about a famous person you have met....anything at all.  The only stipulation is you MUST have "Mistyfuse Rocks Big Socks" somewhere in your comment.  (Gene you have to come back and re-post so I can see what you say...lol...everyone else who has posted a comment before the edit is exempt from this little fun game....unless you just want to play and have fun too.)
Tired Smiles,
Kelly
Where do you know you can go for 3 giveaways in a day?  IHAN....oh yea baby!!!

Day 29 of 30 Days of Giveaways - McKenna Ryan from Pine Needles

IHAN's 30 Days of Giveaways
Anniversary Celebration
Day 29 Giveaway # 2



Hi McKenna :)
McKenna let me introduce you to the IHAN blog readers.  IHAN blog readers this is McKenna Ryan (as if you didn't know...LOL).  I have had the wonderful opportunity to meet and speak with McKenna.  She is one incredibly talented designer.  As a matter of fact you might want to go back and read that post because I took photos of her design boards for Easy Applique the McKenna Ryan Way.

McKenna will be giving one very lucky IHAN blog reader all the patterns for her A Journey To Light multi-block quilt.


 A Journey to Light is only one of McKenna's multi-block quilt patterns.  

 Silent Night (18 x 27)
Midnight Clear (32 1/2 x 19 1/2)
Beneath His Wing (18 x 27)
Guiding Light (26 x 27)
Humor In The Midst (21 1/2 x 19 1/2)

A Journey To Light is one of McKenna's multi-block quilt patterns.  She also has series quilts and to see all them you can check out McKenna's website, Pine Needles

There seems to be a spiritual quality to McKenna's work.  Wouldn't you just love to have this holiday quilt at your house?  I know I would.  If you are not up to an entire quilt, you can make lovely wall hangings too.  McKenna has fabric recommendations posted on her site as well as helpful tips and suggestions

Thank you McKenna for joining IHAN in our First Anniversary Celebration!!!

If you would like an opportunity to own A Journey To Light please leave a comment on this post and share with us a spiritual experience you have had while either looking at your own work or another person's work.

Smiles,
Kelly
PS....guess what?  There will be 31 days of giveaways and not 30....someone does not know how to count....shhhhh don't tell anyone :)
PSS: The word Spiritual can mean anything you want it to mean for you.

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