Stack The Deck Revisited Winner Announcement

Stack The Deck Revisited by Karla Alexander

I said I'd draw a winner on Wednesday....and today is Wednesday....and the winner is:

Quilter In The Gap

Congratulations to you!  Please e-mail me at IHaveANotion@yahoo.com with your full name and address and I'll put your book in the mail to you.

Time to say thanks to Martingale Publishers who gave the book for review and then to be given away.  THANK YOU Mary and Martingale and Company :)

As many of you know I had the privilege of being a guest blogger on Stash Manicure yesterday.  Someone had to tell me to go over and read the comments....duh....so I did.  Clearly I don't have access to comment there but to everyone who was kind enough to leave a comment THANK YOU!!

Mommarock left this comment:

love your posts! It is good to have someone try out products before you buy them.. my question to you is... do you buy all of the products you try.. or do the companies send them to you to try and do demos etc.? Do you search out the products or do the companies now find you? okay.. more than one question LOL.

I e-mailed her with the reply and she suggested others may want to know too.  If Inquiring Minds want to know....I'll just tell ya....

There are many different answers to this question.  When I do a review if folks would like to know where I found the item please let me know and I may consider adding that as a routine part of my review posts.  (Time for a fun pix....too may words without something to brighten the black print)

Waldo's Market Place India Quilt (aka Mrs. Rosemary)

Ahhh....that ought to feed our eyes for a few more sentences.

Most all of the products I review I have purchased myself.  From time to time I am given something, like my Sizzix Vagabond, that rocks so wildly that there is no way on GGE I would part with it unless you had an AK47.  (did you see my review?  click here and here )  Every other product that is listed on the sidebar of my blog under Product Reviews I have purchased.  Frequently authors have book signings at Market and a copy of their book is given to store owners for their shop displays.  Since I don't have a physical store I feel reviewing it on my blog and giving it away is still in line with the spirit in which the book was given.  I've been given an EnviroMate Pronto P7 Steam Cleaner that I won't part with either.  Believe it or not...I've had it for months and I have done several videos while using it....however Mr. McSteamy has to get the time to edit the video so I can show everyone what I'm talking about.  I'm just grateful the folks at Reliable have not come to my house and repo'd it.  They would need an AK 47 too. 

I also review books for a few publishers and those who ask me to review their books.  When it is for a publisher typically I get to choose the books I'm interested in reviewing.  Everything else I just find and review.  I have lots of friends who give me a heads up when they see something I might be interested in as well.  I do all of the research and use it and then just say what I see....pretty straightforward stuff.

While many shop owners to go Quilt Market to purchase for their next seasons needs, I go to see all the new products and ask if I can try the new product.  If I like it....I review it.  If I don't like something....I smile and keep walking.  Just because it is not something that interests me does not mean that it does not have another audience...it's just not me. 

The  reason I try the products first is because of my lack of faith in advertising and marketing in general.  How many times have we all purchased something thinking it was going to be the best thing since sliced bread and were disappointed...either it did not do what the advertisement said it would do or the quality of the item was not really worth the price you paid for it?  My answer to that question is way too often. 

Time to feed the eyes with a little visual candy... a random photo from Market:

Frogfolio by Java House Quilts (photo taken at Fall Quilt Market in Houston 2010)

Aside from being known as "front street" I'm also known as the woman who returns things that are sub-par without embarrassment and requests her money back.  Not that I'm a know it all.....because I certainly am not....however I do Have A Notion about many things and I've always wondered why folks did not just ask me first....I could have saved them a lot of time and trouble...some things just seem clear to me that are not clear to others.  Why?  Who knows...I can't sing, dance (well), draw.....but I do seem to be able to see many things clearly and I'm able to communicate without much hesitation.  I guess if you like me....you really like me and if you don't....you really really don't. 

If you have any more questions you would like answered....just leave them here on this post and I'll do my best to reply....I'm pretty much an open book.

If you have shopped at IHAN then you know I do my very best to make certain folks are happy with their purchases.  People call me all the time asking questions about products and they'll tell you...I don't try to "sell" them anything.  I'm all about edcuation and getting a good fit....the right item for the need/want.  If you've not purchased from IHAN.....dang....what are you waiting for?  Get over there and find a treasure and bring your friends too :)

Smiles,

Kelly

"Passing the Sacred Orb" Finished Plus...I'm a guest blogger at Stash Manicure Blog

Before I share my finished quilt....I have to tell you I'm a guest blogger....for the first time....over at Stash Manicure.  If you are not tired of seeing my "type talk" head over wave at me...LOL.

 "Sacred Orb" was designed by Terrie Kralik, Moose Country Quilts.   This is the pattern I used to make my Market Place India quilt. It will be auctioned and the money raised will go to a group of women in India.  (If you missed that post you can click here to read it.)

I have titled my quilt, "Passing The Sacred Orb"....I really should have called it "Passing the Psychedelic Orb."  I used my friend Dale's long arm machine to quilt it and I broke all the quilting rules.  I can hear the gasps....but I also know many of you are probably cheering too...am I right?  I figure it can be sent to the "Quilt Priest" for absolution....then it can go it's way piecefully.

The quilting is barely noticeable unless you are very close to the quilt.  I wanted the fabric to do the speaking not the quilting.  All of the embroidery you see was on the fabrics that I started with.  I am delivering it tomorrow and of course I'll be sad having it go....and joyful that I've had this opportunity.  This is the dedication I've written:

When I heard about making quilts from the fabrics that other women had made clothing from I was intrigued. The women who made these articles of clothing and household goods are very good seamstresses. I know they could easily make much more impressive quilts than the one I have made. At the same time, I can imagine it would not feel very good to get the clothing and household goods back and attempt to then make a quilt with them.

There was a win/win solution suggested and I agreed to be a part of the process. Quilters in the US could agree to make a quilt from these ladies lovely creations and then the quilts could be auctioned and the money would go back to support those women who had originally made the clothing and household goods. Women helping women.....a wonderful solution to show the connectedness of women across cultures and continents.

I chose a pattern by, Terrie Kralik, Moose Country Quilts, (Bonners Ferry, ID), "Sacred Orb." I have named the quilt that I have made "Passing the Sacred Orb." The circle symbolizes our connectedness too one another and reverently dedicated to the spirit of women.

Kelly Jackson
Perrysburg, OH
Finished 3/7/2011

Smiles,
Kelly

"Stack The Deck Revisited" by Karla Alexander Book Review and Giveaway

Karla Alexander, Saginaw Street Quilt Company,  published another book with Martingale Publishing / That Patchwork Place in 2010.  The title is, Stack The Deck Revisited and I have the good fortune to review the book and also offer it as a giveaway on my blog :) 

I had the pleasure of meeting Karla at Checker Distributor's 62nd Anniversary Open House last year.  If you are a IHAN blog follower you may remember my post.  Karla has several beautiful quilt patterns as well as being a designer for Creative Grids Rulers.

Before I get into her latest book, Stack The Deck Revisited, I just want to take a minute to show you some of her work that I also love:

I know these have absolutely nothing to do with Stack The Deck Revisited, but I figured if you are anything like me you might want to see some of the author's work and other creations along the way.) 

For some reason the photos of Karla's book don't look as bright on the Internet as it does in my hands so I took my own photo of it for you to see.

Karla has updated her patterns from Stack the Deck, her first book.  I like Karla's style of writing and the photos that accompany the patterns clearly explain the process she is following to complete the quilts successfully.  Karla also goes into a discussion about fabric choices, finishing your quilt and variations on block designs. 

This one is "Going Green" and I thought it was a great example of a variation because the initial blocks were shuffled and combined to make an interesting pattern and then it was changed by adding the black inner squares.  So much more interesting and balanced ....don't you think?
I have really enjoyed reading Stack The Deck Revisited and I'm going to hate to see it leave however, I know it will be equally enjoyed by one lucky IHAN blog reader!  To have an opportunity to win Stack The Deck Revisited, please leave a comment on this post telling me if you have ever made on of Karla's patterns or used one of her Creative Grids Rulers.  If not, just let me know what intrigues you about the book and your name will go into the drawing.  A winner will be selected on Wednesday March 9th.

Smiles,
Kelly

Karen Kay Buckley DVD - Scissors - Perfect Circles and Bernina Fun :)

Last Thursday on our way to PA I made sure to pack my little DVD player for the car and my new Karen Kay Buckley DVD, Hand and Machine Applique the Karen Kay Buckley Way.  I also packed some hand stitching because I knew we would be in the car for 8 hours and I'd be able to enjoy some stitching too. 

 

I must say I was very impressed with Karen's DVD.   It is not easy to be "natural" with a video camera on you and Karen did a wonderful job of conveying lots of great information and demonstrations with a natural presence.  If you are interested in Applique, machine or needle turn, and you want to have private lessons....this is the way to go. 

I had also packed a charm pack and Karen's Perfect Circles and Bigger Perfect Circles templates.  While going down the road I managed to cover all but two of the templates with fabric from my charm pack.

When I got home I mixed 1/2 water with 1/2 StaFlo starch and covered the edge of each of my circles

just putting a little on the edge to get it damp before the next step.....

I ironed them  (with my Digital Velocity V50 by Reliable....my personal favorite iron...Mr. McSteamy has the Digital Velocity  V100 on "his" ironing board!").

Look how nice they all look.....just like Karen said, Perfect Circles. 

I snipped the thread and removed the templates (they are heat resistant so you can iron with the template inside).

See how nicely the circle held it's shape?

Then I trimmed the excess fabric off so I can get ready to applique them to a quilt top.  The funny thing is none of this was planned.  We were packed and ready to leave when I ran back downstairs and saw my Perfect Circles....I grabbed them and a charm pack and ran back to the van.  I love to hand stitch so I wanted something to do in the car other than quilting.  I was so excited by the pretty circles that I began planning a quilt for them....talk about fun, spur of the moment creativity....now that is a Vacation!

Chapter 2

A visit to the Ann Arbor Sewing Center yesterday was an absolute ball. 

Debbi, the sewing machine sales woman was so much fun.  I never once felt like I was being "sold" a machine.  She spent quite a bit of time getting to know about me and what type of features I was looking for without up-selling me features I am not interested in or need.  My kind of person for sure. 

Hey Alex, check this out!  They keep Aurifil in their demo models.....I smiled and told Debi....we just have to get a pix of this .... he's gonna love it.  (It does not get me any closer to winning that suitcase of thread in the challenge....but....I'm still dreaming :)

I am the proud new owner of a Bernina 430 with the Stitch Regulator...oh yeah baby!  I also got the felting foot....I can do needle felting too.  What a wonderful day! 

THANK YOU Debi for the help and your time!!!  If you go into the Ann Arbor Sewing Center....stop by and say Hi to Debi....she is a neat person.  Consider yourself warned about their fabric selection....don't blame me if you come home broke....they carry Kaffe Fasset, Art Gallery Fabrics, M and S Aboriginal Fabrics, 4 walls of Batiks....and so many more....very impressive selections.

But wait...that's not all....Diane and I went into an Estate Sale Shop....the owner does Estate Sales and they also have a small shop in Ann Arbor.  While looking around I found this quilt top....made of vintage feed sacks.....doesn't it look nice?

Yep, a proud new owner of a vintage feed sack twin size quilt top too!  I feel like a thief because it was marked 20.00.  I said the the fella at the counter...."I think this is worth more than 20.00."  He said, "I'm selling it for 20.00"  naturally I replied, "SOLD." 

Now you know where I've been and what I've been up to....why I have not had time to post....So....what have you been up to?

Smiles,

Kelly

Slice Fabrique Product Review

Edited 3/3/11*

The Slice Fabrique arrived here at IHAN headquarters yesterday and those who have pre-ordered them, they are on the way!! 

I'm going to do a review and I'm warning you it is a long post with more photos than probably should be here...but if I do it by video camera...I have to wait for Mr. McSteamy to edit and post....well....it may be awhile....so go to the bathroom now, turn off the oven, get a drink and then you might be ready :)

Please don't make any conclusions until you read the entire post.  I will link it to the side bar on this blog under Product Reviews in case you want to read it another time.

Since I'm as good of an "anybody" as anyone else, I decided to give it a whirl.  This is the box....

and this is what is inside.  It comes with everything you see here: Slice Fabrique Cordless Fabric Cutter, 6 x 6 tempered glass cutting mat, power cord, reposition able adhesive, foam brush, 3 replacement blades, blade adjustment wrench, applique basics design card, user manual and 3 6 x 6 fusible web sheets.

You might notice there is a "Quick Start Guide" (upper right).  I figured that must be the way to go because who wants to drag out the process....giddy up go baby.

First thing, paint some adhesive on the glass cutting mat -CHECK (let it dry 2 min)
Run over and iron the Slice Fusible onto a piece of fabric - CHECK
Set the button to Applique  - CHECK
Press the Cut Button on the Side - CHECK

Cut out the letter I - CHECK

Press the button and select the letter H and press cut CHECK

Then repeat for the letter N - CHECK  (wonder what I'm spelling don't ya?  I didn't think so...easy one to guess.)

Here is a close up of the right side of the fabric.  You can barely see where the N is until I did a close up photo.

 

Here is the back side.



Neat isn't it?  Then you peal off the paper backing and press with a hot iron (no steam).

These are like stickers, you have to pull off the paper backing.  I had no trouble removing the paper backing,  but if you have a manual dexterity problem this may be very difficult.

I wanted to conserve space on my fabric and cut out more than one letter but I could not figure out how to place the cutter so I could maximize the fabric.  I only have the 3 pieces of Slice Fusible Web that was included with the cutter.  I read the Users Manual and there is no mention of  how to place the fabric on the cutting pad so you can get more than one cut out of the fabric.  Which makes me wonder, why the measuring lines on the glass cutting pad?  What difference does it make if you can't line it up to get another design cut. 

Now I'm thinking to myself, perhaps there are tips and additional information on the Making Memories Website.  On their website there is a Quick Start Guide posted  so I looked to see if it was the same one that just came in my brand new, just released, Slice Fabrique.  The information they have there is not the same as I have enclosed in my box.  This must be for the other Slice Cutters.  There was  no additional information to help me trouble shoot.  There is a phone number and yes I obviously can phone them....but for now, my job is to be the "average person" and do what everyone else does....open the box and start using your Slice Fabrique....isn't that what most people do?

At this point I have used  2 of the Slice Fusible Web sheets that came with my Slice Fabrique Starter Set, so I figured I would do a test of some other fusible that I had handy. 

The first one, Pellon Fusible Wonder Under Regular Wt. 

then Steam-A-Seam Lite

and lastly, Steam-A-Seam 2.   Keep in mind there are many paper backed fusible I did not have handy...you could also try Heat and Bond.  I did not have any handy.  

I decided to refer to the Slice Fabrique Fabric Cutter Users Manual because I had read in the Quick Start Guide under" Step 8 - Additional Tips: #2 For thicker materials, be sure to adjust your blade housing 3/4" of a a turn to the left (counter-clockwise).  This lowers the blade to allow Slice Fabrique to cut through thicker materials." 

Being somewhat normal, I could not figure out what they were talking about in the Quick Start Guide.  No where did they mention anything about the "blade housing" much less how one would turn anything.  I made an educated decision and referred to the Users Manual.  I do not understand why they would have a "Quick Start" booklet when really....you have to refer to the Users Manual to really understand what you are doing.  My opinion....waste of paper. 

This is when the whole operation stops.  Now I have to understand what they are saying in the Users Manual. 

Page 12 Basic Operations

Step 5 Turning On Slice Fabrique - CHECK

Step 6: Homing the Blade (for initial use) No CHECK 

"6.1 Press Menu button.  The menu screen appears with the Settings option highlighted. "  Not mine, mine started with the "Applique" highlighted....see photo below....if you are thinking the darkened in Applique means highlighting....then it would reason that if you pushed the Menu button the homing the blade would appear....it doesn't.  I turned off the machine and restarted the sequence to be sure I had not messed something up (operator error)...the same thing happened.  (no operator error...at least not that I can figure.)

Ok, onward...the Blade is now "homed" - CHECK

I selected a little car design.  As you can see it cut the paper but not the fabric. I remembered Step 8.2
Then I went back to Step 8.2 (copied from above) Step 8 - Additional Tips: #2 For thicker materials, be sure to adjust your blade housing 3/4" of a a turn to the left (counter-clockwise).   No photos of this in the Users Manual....and no photos of how to change the blade either.  I'm a visual person....what can I say

 

The fabric was scored but not cut through.

So, I used my trusty Dovo scissors (they have the sharpest and finest point).  No worries....I got the little car free.  But I thought the Slice Fabrique was going to cut it all the way through.....hmmmmm.  I remember reading about adjusting the blade....time to refer back to the manual.... 

Then I went back to Step 8.2 (copied from above) Step 8 - Additional Tips: #2 For thicker materials, be sure to adjust your blade housing 3/4" of a a turn to the left (counter-clockwise).

So I figured out how to turn the blade to raise it so it will make contact with the fabric...that took me a few minutes to figure this out.  I did exactly as they suggested and moved on to the fabric with Steam-A-Seam 2.

 

Same result....it cut the paper but not he fabric.  By now you can imagine my frustration.  Either I'm doing something wrong or the Slice Fabrique won't work with other fusible.  I keep moving on.....

This time the screen says "Shadow"....I don't want the shadow....I want the 4 inch Car I had cut the first time.  I could not change the setting so I did what I figured most folks would do....turned it off and back on.  Still the Shadow.  Next I pushed the menu button and the arrow buttons to see if perhaps I'm just "slow".....

I start to see these screens....go figure....no mention of this in the Users Manual....ok...none of my business I guess....keep moving.....

The Users Manual (Step 7 Setting the Cutting Speed) does say to adjust the speed of cutting to low or medium  or high.  The low and medium speed is for using embossing tips.  Oddly enough....mine only has two settings....low and high.

Ok, time to use my last remaining piece of Slice Fusible Web....I should have stocked up...LOL  At this point I was thinking it was the other fusible webs that just would not work....I was wrong. 

 

 

The cutter would not cut through the Slice Fusible Web on the fabric either.  So...I've adjusted the blade just as the instructions indicated....did it three times to be sure I was doing it correctly.  Ok...forget it....I'm installing a new blade and if it doesn't work....then I know it is the cutter and not me.....

PERFECTION!!! 

Not only with the Slice Fusible Web....but also with the Steam-A-Seam Lite and Steam-A-Seam 2. 

(After I wrote this entire review...I went to You Tube....and of course I might have noticed that I was supposed to have the fabric facing up....well my, my, my....guess I caused a great deal of my own frustration!  So you may ask....why didn't I just erase the above and skip to the chase?  Because I report what I find and what I've done.  Mistakes is how we learn sometimes and it may help the Making Memories folks see what us "regular untrained folks" do...not to mention what other people might do too!  :)

and the Wonder Under....HURRAY!!! 

Gotta love when you get it right :)

I think this is an excellent video and you should definitely watch it first, even before referring to the Owners Manual.

Even after my initial frustrations and some things not being clear....I still think the Slice Fabrique is a great way to cut appliques and alphabet (from 1 inch to 4 inches in 1/2 inch increments).  Talk about easy hexagons for Grandmas Flower Garden...you can even cut the paper templates and then the fabric...gotta love that!  English paper piecing just got a whole lot easier!!!  Embellishing children's clothing with their names....that will be very fun!! 

Cutting blades and design cards are interchangeable, that is great if you already have one or find a sale on them.  Some designs are more intricate and are meant for paper and not fabric so keep that in mind when you are looking at the design cards.

The Slice Fabrique is really light weight, the cutter alone weighs 1 lb 13 oz here on my postal scale.  The design cards are small like a camera card which I find convenient.  It would be a good idea to store them carefully so you don't loose them.

Just a reminder for those with manual dexterity issues....you might want to try a friends first to see if you have any problems.

I have no reservations about recommending the Slice Fabrique....definitely a good investment if you like applique.

 Edit:  Since I mentioned Grandmothers Flower Garden the question came up....do you have to use fusible because most of us don't fuse our Grandmothers Flower Garden....darn good question Jenn!!!
No, it will not cut just the fabric....however....I did spray some 505 Temp Adhesive on a piece of fabric and then put a piece of copy paper on the back...cut perfectly.  Thanks Jenn!!  Anyone else have any questions or recommendations...e-mail me at ihaveanotion@yahoo.com   Thanks !

Kelly