Sewing is a year round activity, but many 4-H members have been power stitching during the summer heat in high anticipation of upcoming county and state fairs. They have scoped out their local quilt and fabric shops in search of the perfect fabrics, while 4-H leaders all along the way provide learning activities and guidance. A few have probably become quite proficient with the seam zipper too, but really who is not master of the seam ripper? We all do it. Ripping out is part of the sewing process.
Amanda Power Sewing with Perfect Posture
Amanda is sewing a dress for the Keith County Fair in Nebraska. After finishing one dress, she moves on to the next project . . .
Fabric selection, precision cutting, precise matching, straight seams and some laughs with friends, Amanda finished her quilt in only 3 days.
With thoughts of blue ribbons, meeting new friends and checking out competing projects, the season of complete 4-H projects has arrived. Next week I will be part of the excitement at the Pennsylvania 4-H State Fashion Revue. 60 participants that have already won their regional event, will again compete for top state awards. During the day they will attend workshops on garment construction techniques, design, and careers in fashion and textiles, while I will Get To The Point with my SCHMETZ needle class. Stay tuned, I will post my PA 4-H day. Until then, good luck to Amanda and all her Nebraska friends on their 4-H sewing projects!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
I love to see innovative mixed media garments. Last week while walking the Craft and Hobby Association's Summer Show in Chicago image my delight in finding a design contest. This is a wholesale show geared primarily to paper arts with a bit of cross-over into our sewing world. The challenge of the CHA Designers was to create original, mixed media Crafty Couture gowns using products, tools and ideas from the craft industry. CRAFT FUSHION was the result and the name of the wonderful display. Here are my favorite gowns:
This garment turned heads... and paper. Featuring ink and a fusion of mixed media, this whimsical dress is an explosive combination of a little vintage, grunge and elegance.
She Turns Pages Jennifer Priest, Hydrangea Hippo
Can't find your scissors? Here a solution - a belt of scissors. A wearable, craft fusion masterpiece incorporating both upcycled and mixed media elements all expertly remixed with Westcott Brand ExtremEdge Adjustable Tension Scissors and accent buttons by Blumenthal Lansing. An explosive fusion of sassy slashed style creating a decadent couture remix!
Upcycled Mash Up! Marisa Pawelko for Westcott Brand
Has a tape measure looked better? This collage dress was inspired by Alexa's love for photography and typography. Image transfer, stamping and fabric painting and embellishment are just a few techniques used. The dress was collaged and embellished using Tulip and Aleene's products from iLoveToCreative.
A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words
Alexa Westerfield, iLoveToCreate
There must have been about 20 garments in the challenge. 6 of the dresses will appear in a future issue of Cloth Paper Scissors magazine. What fun to see them in person. Check out the SCHMETZneedles Face Book page for garment close-ups and more pics: https://www.facebook.com/#!/schmetzneedles. Lots of ideas soon to be seen in your local stores.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
I love fabrics! All kinds of fabrics - knit, fleece, flannel, silk, velvet, velour, wool - fabrics from A to Z. One of my favorite fabrics is Cuddle. Oh . . . so soft and huggable, in pretty colors, gentle textures and fun patterns. Even in this unbearable summer heat, a Cuddle quilt is ever so soothing.
Cuddle fabric is a Minky (a generic term). Cuddle fabric is manufactured by Shannon Fabrics. At International Quilt Market in Kansas City, MO the Shannon Fabrics booth was ever so huggable with Cuddle fabric rugs, umbrellas, pillows, chair covers, and more than a few Cuddle quilts. . . . Cuddle fabrics galore!
Shannon Fabrics
Making the World a Softer Place
I was delighted to meet Pat Wodskow of Shannon Fabrics. Pat is an avid sewist, quilter and teacher. Since I have never sewn on Cuddle or Minky, I just had to ask for her needle recommendation. Based on her vast experience Pat had a definitive answer:
The SCHMETZ Stretch 90/14.
This summer heat wave is perfect sewing weather . . . provided you have an air conditioner. I'm going to grab a cut of Cuddle fabric and make up a quilt. But . . . before I insert a fresh SCHMETZ Stretch 90/14 needle, I'm going to watch Pat's YouTube videos on how to make a snuggly Sew A Row Cuddle Quilt.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda www.shannonfabrics.com http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwO0NNtDeSM&feature=related
Since 1984 Ron and Barbara Goldkorn have kept Austin, TX in stitches with their store Sew Much More. Recently I made not only my first trip to Austin, but had the pleasure of meeting many Sew Much More customers in my SCHMETZ: Get To The Point classes. We had a ball in class!
Sew Much More is an outstanding store winning many industry awards for machine sales and customer service. For sure customers are in very good hands with the knowledgable and jovial staff. I was surrounded by creative sewing experts that not only love to sew, but love to share their passion of sewing -beginning to expert levels.
Enjoy a few pics from Sew Much More!
By the way BBQ is mighty fine in Austin! I will be back for stitchin' and BBQ.
Yesterday with comfortable sandals, I grabbed my husband and walked through the sunny street of quilts... hundreds of quilts. The sun was shining and good riddance to that nasty wind. It's summer quilt season! Right on Main Street of my local community, Village of Oswego and Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe set up the first of many - I hope - Celebration of Quilts Festival. Block off the traffic, offer food, fabrics and a special guest and watch quilters laugh and plan their next quilt projects.
100's of Quilts on Main Street
Modern quilts, traditional quilts and every kind of quilt in between. Viewers were surrounded by colors and patterns.
Edyta Sitar Captures the Attention of Quilters
Around the corner on a patch of grass, a tent and 200 to 300 quilters gathered to marvel at over 50 quilts by Edyta Sitar, quilting star, author and designer from Marshall, MI. Edyta owns and designs for Laundry Basket Quilts. Edyta loves flowers and nature and uses both as inspiration for her quilt patterns, books and Moda fabric lines.
Edyta and Me
I had just seen Edyta in Kansas City at International Quilt Market where she was promoting her newest book Scrappy Firework Quilts and Moda fabric lines. I'm pretty certain she found it hard to recognize me in that goofy hat - but the sun was shining!
Triple Stripes, My Favorite Quilt of the Day
My favorite quilt of the day was this Triple Stripes, pieced by Anita Marsh and quilted by Dan Kolbe. I could feel this quilt humming a rhythm while lime green ginkgo leaves tickled the colorful batik fabrics.
Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe Better Homes and Gardens Quilt Sampler Featured Shop 2011
Let the celebration of summer begin! Get out and support your local quilt shops. They work hard at bringing you the best fabrics, the best classes and the very best ideas to color your world with quilts. . . . .
Support Your Local Shops
and when you start sewing again, between all the quilt festivals and gardening projects, remember to change your needle!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.prairiestitchesquiltshop.com
www.laundrybasketquilts.com
Spring International Quilt Market was more energetic and visually exciting than ever. Seems that around every corner I found beautiful fabrics, new patterns and friends of SCHMETZ. Quilt Market is a wholesale show, but I took about a 1,000 pics to share with you. So until I get all these pics organized, here are a few favorites to hold you till a photo gallery is in place.
Jim Suzio designed an exquisite dress from Ty Pennington's Impressions quilt fabric by Westminster Fabrics. That dress was a knock-out! Look for Ty's fabrics and more beautiful voiles from Westminster. Bravo to Jim for a breathtaking dress!
Jim Suzio's Dress using Ty Pennington Fabrics
Our friend Linda McGehee has been busy designing Queen of the Night for Hoffman California Fabrics. Linda's sense of color and movement is sure to inspire not only quilters, but garment sewers too. Linda's husband Jack models a shirt not only made by Linda, but using her fabrics.
Quilt Market is international for a reason. Retail buyers and designers from around the world trade here. Listen to Wenche from Norway talk about her designs called Northern Quilts.
Saw more modern quilts, embellishments and children clothing than ever - and sometimes a combination of all. Loved, loved, loved the adorable dress patterns by Bananafana. Below really look at the combination of fabrics, colors, trims and unmatched buttons. Delightful!
Bananafana Girls Dress Pattern
Finally I have to include a picture of me with the fabulous Mary Engelbreit! I have always loved Mary's whimsical, colorful and cheery designs. What an unexpected treat to meet her... and not only that, but she signed a wonderful ME print, a young girl concentrating on her sewing machine project. My first challenge was getting the print home without wrinkling or tearing, now I am on the hunt for the perfect frame. Mary has a beautiful fabric line called Flutterby by Andover Fabrics.
Mary Engelbreit and Me
If you have time, move on over to You Tube to view several short SCHMETZneedles videos I made from the Quilt Market floor. I interview Tula Pink, Jackie Robinson, Denise Schmidt with more videos on the way. I was surrounded not only by visual bliss, but by friends who also love to sew and quilt. All the fabrics, patterns and books I saw, you too can see soon in your local quilt, fabric and machine dealer shops.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
Fabrics, designers, authors, editors . . . over the next three days I will be gloriously surrounded and energized by the creative ingenuity of International Quilt Market. This is a wholesale market melding the quilt industry with quilt retailers. Everyone is looking for the next best "must have" item. I will be viewing new patterns...
Betsy and Margaret MorninGlory Designs
talking to writers...
Karin Hellaby UK Quilt Shop Owner and Author showing her new title Pineapple Express
finding creative uses of ribbons and embellishments...
Ribbons, Ribbons and More Ribbons River Silks . . . Ribbons of course!
wishing I took more time to sew . . .
Love the chair and rug Sorry I don't remember the fabric vendor
and visiting with friends along the way . . .
My friend Zsuzsanna (right) is a Bernina dealer from Switzerland. Zsuzsanna always wears spectacular suits that she made. Check out the embroidery on her sleeve. Kathy Davis is signing her book.
International Quilt Market with all its creative talent and new products is a visual bliss that you will soon see in your local quilt shops. I'm off now for Kansas City, MO, The City of Fountains!
