Original Sewing & Quilt Expo - Kansas City, MO

"Kansas City Here I Come!"  Last weekend with my colleague, Rita Farro, we marveled at the delightful examples of sewing. From multi-media to garment construction to machine embroidery, we saw a wide array of sewing projects. In my opinion, the most creative fabrication for machine embroidery was a screen door. Yes!  How adorable and creative! I'm thinking every screen door in America should have a personalized screen door with embroidery.

Thanks Betty!

Another sewing project that stood out was the raincoat ensemble created by a young talent! Look at the fabric - oilcloth with a comfy purple contrasting lining. This project continues with the cap sleeve blouse, skirt and even a wonderful wallet.

Macy, you are an inspiration to all of us!

Another few standout projects are Florilegium multi-media postcards and fabrics, the ruffled handbags, choi fish and the list goes on.  Enjoy the pics . . . .

No trip to Kansas City could be complete without a few good meals. Thanks to Virginia from the local American Sewing Guild for introducing Rita and I to fried chicken at Stroud's and the best BBQ around at Ricky's Pit Bar-B-Que. Delicious!

Those port ribs do not stand a chance with Virgina and Rita!
See Rita's interview with Ricky at www.Ritassewfun.blogspot.com 

Thanks Kansas City . . .  and special thanks to the best tour guide and sewing enthusiasts, Virginia!
Sew SCHMETZ!

www.sewingexpo.com

http://www.creative-drawings.com/

www.ritassewfun.blogspot.com

Original Sewing and Quilt Expo 2011 - Chantilly, VA

I love the word C.h.a.n.t.i.l.l.y..... as it rolls off my tongue.  I know it is silly but sometimes words amuse me.  When I hear Chantilly I think of beautiful fine lace and . . . . Jerry Lee Lewis - Chantilly Lace.   Chantilly, VA is actually named after a Civil War battle - Battle of Chantilly.  The area is rich with history and located only 24 miles from Washington DC and home to Dulles International Airport.  Last weekend I gave two lectures, SCHMETZ Machine Needle Education,  in Chantilly for the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo.     


Rita on the right with class participants

My colleague Rita Farro taught two classes - Quick Gifts That Are Faster Than A Speeding Bullet and Life Is Not a Dress Size.  Rita's classes are always full of great doable ideas - plus students leave class feeling good with a few laughs.

I am always scouting for beautiful sewing and embroidery.  Above I found Barbara Jones, Brother National Product Training Specialist, wearing this dynamite and finely detailed embroidered butterfly on the back of her jacket.  The workmanship was really breathtaking - no puckers, every stitch in its place.





Here is a gallery of wearables seen in Chantilly.  I love the variety of ideas, garments and the final design execution.  Rita and I are now off to the next Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Kansas City, MO.  We get quite giddy when we talk to sewists about their sewing projects. . . . and I love to take pictures!  Drop by to say hi! 

PS:  There are even more pictures from the Chantilly Dancing Ladies Challenge that can be seen on the home page of Creative DRAWings.

www.sewingexpo.com
www.SCHMETZneedles.com
www.Creative-DRAWings.com
www.Ritassewfun.blogspot.com

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Quilting Around Chautauqua 2011

Two weeks ago the roar of Niagara Falls reminded me of the beauty of sewing. Like a little droplet of water each creative sewing project begins with a single stitch on a journey that is sometimes unknown, yet can converge into a roaring display of creative magnificence. 

Niagara Falls USA

Thanks to Judy Fenton for inviting me to Quilting Around Chautauqua 2011 in upstate New York and only 70 miles from Niagara Falls. Judy is the owner of Millcreek Sewing and Fabric in Erie, PA and organizer of one of the most glorious quilt shows I have ever attended or lectured. Held on the beautiful Chautauqua Institute campus with winding brick trails, majestic full grown shade trees and quaint cottages, all roads led to the Athenaeum Hotel overlooking Lake Chautauqua. Well, there were so many twisting roads that once I found a route to my campus destinations, deviation was out of question since being lost could take a huge chunk of time to recalculate. Judy took over the lobby of the Anthenaeum with other vendors in the salons and sprinkled among other historic buildings on campus. My SCHMETZ table was located perfectly between the waiting line for the picturesque dining room and Judy's Baby Lock and Jinny Beyer's displays. 

The Athenaeum Hotel, Chautauqua Institution

Besides giving 3 lectures on SCHMETZ needle education, my mission was to answer machine needle questions, sell needles and showcase the new and very cute SCHMETZ Gift Box. I enjoy meeting fellow sewists and take great delight in learning about their sewing adventures. Check out a few inspirational sewists and their creative projects. 





Thanks Judy and your staff - especially Eveyln and Sandi - for a special sewing experience!

http://www.millcreeksew.com/
http://www.ciweb.org/
www.quiltingaroundchautauqua.com

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Sewing Machine Madness

Anticipation has been high with announcements of new sewing machines.  Machines that stitch a medley of designs while humming at the touch of a button.  Sewing machines have certainly evolved with technology.  I recently returned from two major shows - Baby Lock Tech and Janome Institute.  These were wholesale shows.  Dealers from around the world marveled at the newest machines that soon will be in our local stores. 

Here are a few friends I met along the way in the machine vendor malls:

Check out Eileen's wonderful embroidered neckline.

One of my favorite embroidery magazines is Designs in Machine Embroidery which just happened to be my booth neighbor.  Eileen Roche, the fabulous and inspirational editor, taught many embroidery techniques.   In fact you should visit her blog for clever tips.  I am especially intrigued by her recent posting on how to install a zipper using an embroidery hoop.   Really!  How very clever..........

Yes, this necklace is made entirely of zippers!

Speaking of zippers Linda McGhee at Ghee's also has a clever way of using zippers in non-traditional ways.  This necklace was stunning.  Who knew that zippers could be manipulated into masterful necklaces, bangles and brooches.  Linda has sourced beautiful zippers with rhinestones, lace and neon, iridescent and unusual colors.  I just will never look at a zipper the same way. 

The HoopSisters with their 2011 and 2012 EmbroideraBlock Quilts.

Annie and Lynda, The HoopSisters, were another neighbor.   They create exquisite quilt blocks in embroidery hoops.  That's right!  Let your embroidery machine do the quilt work!  Their technique is so successful that they developed Battlilizer, a batting and stabilizer in one, that is easy to hoop and provides a great foundation for quilt blocks.  Really love Annie and Lynda's traditional quilting with a 21st century twist!

Doug showing a trio pack of Hot-Wire Kreinik threads.

Love beautiful threads?  Kreinik has exquisite threads for a variety of uses, including fly fishing!  Doesn't every fish deserve an alluring line?  Whether you fish or not, Doug, owner of Kreinik, has a thread for your special projects.  An adhesive thread for use in scrapbooking and on multi-media postcards, and luscious metallic, silk and embroidery threads.

Just in time for the holidays ...
The SCHMETZ Gift Tin

  ....... and what was new with SCHMETZ at these two shows?  The new SCHMETZ Gift Tin was presented just in time for the holidays.  One tin holds up to 20 packs of needles and contain that ever handy SCHMETZ ABC Pocket Guide for easy reference.  More details coming, but as the holiday approaches look for this tin in your favorite sewing store.  The SCHMETZ Gift Tin is the perfect stocking stuffer!   

Sew SCHMETZ!

www.dzgns.com/blog
http://www.ghees.com/
http://www.shoopsisters.com/
http://www.kreinik.com/
http://www.schmetzneedles.com/

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IPCA Midnight Magic Contest

What do these 8 great design companies have in common?

Dana Marie Design Co.

Fashion Patterns by Coni

Great Copy Patterns

Islander Sewing Systems

Kayla Kennington Pattern Collection

L.J. Designs

Petite Plus Patterns

Saf-T-Pockets Patterns

They are members of the IPCA, Independent Pattern Company Alliance.  If you are looking for a creative, well drafted, professionally graded pattern with illustrated pattern guides, look to IPCA for wonderful wearable patterns.  IPCA has just announced a fashion sewing competition.

 
Choose a pattern from any of the above 8 IPCA member pattern collections, then let your imagination create a mystical, magical, marvelous wearable.  The theme is "Midnight Magic".  Submit a photo of your creation by January 26, 2012.  The semi-finalist entries will travel to the fabulous Sewing and Stitchery Expo in Puyallup, WA, where expo attendees will vote for their favorite wearable.  The semi-finalists will also be presented in a slide show on BurdaStyle.com where an international audience will vote on-line.   ... and that's not all!  The semi-finalists will be presented in Las Vegas at the exclusive International Textile Expo in the IPCA fashion show.

What a great opportunity to create a marvelous garment for viewing by an international audience. . . . and of course there are great prizes including SCHMETZ needles!

Go to http://www.patterncompanies.com/ to view the contest rules and to download the entry form. 
What needle will YOU use for your entry?

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RTW Suit Taunts Until Machine Embroidered

For a while now a lovely rose coral suit has hung in my closet . . . really taunting me for embroidery.  At last it became a summer sewing project.  This suit was a steal when I bought it - a $200 suit for only $19.99 with the bonus that it is fully lined and fits perfectly.  

My first step was auditioning embroidery thread colors.  I wanted cheery colors.

Then I played with a few different designs and created a few stitch-outs.

This design is one of 2000 in Creative DRAWings.  I had seen it seemingly a million times on my laptop and never really liked the design, yet remained curious about it.  So after stitching a sample I realized that for this suit project, the design would be quite nice mirror imaged on the center lower back jacket above a soft gathering line.  By the way I had to rip out the jacket hem to release the lining.

The embroidery stitched out easily.  To add more interest the little floral design was replicated and centered between the horizontal design.  Seemingly I thought this project was finished, but now I am wondering if a few little orange dots in the empty design area might finish the design better. 

I will be wearing this suit at a variety of consumer shows this fall.  If you see me vending or teaching, look for the orange dots.  If I decide to add them, I need to do so this afternoon as I will be wearing it tomorrow at Baby Lock Tech.  A SCHMETZ Embroidery 90/14 was used.

www.SCHMETZneedles.com
www.Creative-DRAWings.com
www.babylock.com

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Curtain Ties

A while back when my husband and I moved into our new house, we found ready-made floral print curtains that were not too boisterous and were insulated.  We really like these curtains for the protection they provide from the weather extremes in Chicago land.  Time has past and dust was settling noticeably on the curtains, plus there seemed to be a smudge mark on the coordinating sheers that I just happen to know was from chocolate ice cream.  :)  Anyway, I dust the house quarterly, but I admit the curtains had never been vacuumed nor cleaned.   Yes, this was a summer project.  I tell this story not because of my valent cleaning spree, but because sewing was involved.

One whole weekend was devoted to curtains - washing, tumble drying and although I really wanted to just hang those curtains with just a hint of wrinkles, I just could not do it, so ironing - lots of ironing was involved.  Although I discovered a certain zen to the process, the sun was shining through the very clean windows that my husband washed inside and out.  Yes, he scored huge points with window washing!  ... and I had a chance to watch a few old black and white movies that I had never seen in their entirety on TCM including Spartacus and Mutiny on the Bounty. 

Even ceramic wildlife were recruited to keep valance corners from rolling until I had a chance to iron.

When the curtains were purchased all fit the windows perfectly, full length to the floor except for one over the sliding glass doors.  I really hated having to alter the curtains, but only one length was available.  About 8 inches were trimmed from the curtains, then I remembered in my stash were a couple different upholstery trims - perfect for curtain ties.  Yeap!  My sewing machine was soon purring away making the 5 ties needed.  A Jeans 110/18 was used with upholstery thread.  An old pair of khaki slacks were cut up as lining for the ties and two plastic rings were hand stitched to the back side.

 My curtain cleaning spree is over for about another 6 years, while dusting around the house will get done again in the fourth quarter... unless chocolate ice cream is involved!

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