Digital Goddesses . . . and they love to sew too!

Wow!  I'm excited about our daytime line up of diverse, creative and inspirational digital goddesses that will "tell it like it is" at the SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp.  Here's a glimpse into their lectures.   Hang on to your hats because these gals have moxie to share with you!

+Jake Finch, Co-Founder and Publisher of Generation Q Magazine

Pinterest:  Friends with Marketing Benefits and

Kickstarter:  Kick Your Way into Non-Fat Funding

Pinterest is the social media craze overflowing with creative people seeking the latest and greatest.  Come laugh with us as we find out about the good, the bad and the glory of using Pinterest for your evil creative blogging purposes.  Then, we will look at how Kickstarter can be a blogger's answer to those funding prayers for that next business idea you have dreamed of launching.  It is a lot of helpful info packed into a fun session, complete with chocolate!

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+Sarai Mitnick, Owner and Designer, Colette Patterns

Know Your Audience:  How To Learn From Your Readers

What can good design teach us about growing a blog or small business?  Sarai, founder of Colette Patterns and former user experience researcher for Goggle, shows how the universal principles of design can help you to communicate meaningfully, increase your online presence and engage with your audience.

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+Angela Mae Jorgenson, Etsy Extraordinaire

Crack the Google Code!

Angela cracked the Google code.  It wasn't easy - it took lots of trial and error - and she sometimes didn't shower or eat for days on on end - but she cracked it!  That is how she moved up to #1 in the Google search engine - and sold over $100,000 of handmade wedding merchandise on Etsy in her first 14 months.  Angela has been in the Etsy trenches - and has real opinions on what you should name your Etsy store, how you should handle shipping and how to turn every customer into repeat business. . . .  your success depends of cracking the code!

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+Niamh O'Conner, Evil Genius of www.UrbanThreads.com

Urban Threads:  Purveyor of Fine Machine & Hand Embroidery Designs

Niamh talks about her new and innovative approach to both machine and hand embroidery.  Hear how social media marketing has played a big role in the website's growth, as well as what it's like to take risks with non-traditional products in a traditional market.  When it comes to embroidery and crafting, the only limit is creativity.

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Registration includes a sewist's delight goodie bag - a $200+ retail value, hands-on evening classes 2013 New Product Review and a VIP and One Needle Session passes to opening day at the Sewing and Stitchery Expo. 

Do it now! Download the Boot Camp brochure and register at www.SCHMETZneedles.com.
Save $50 and register now before January 1!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHEMTZneedles.com

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Merry Christmas from SCHMETZneedles

Are your sewing projects done?

Just a gentle reminder to have an extra stash of SCHMETZ needles readily available for sewing late into the night. 

@Santa says "Share your Stitches!"

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

May your stockings be filled with beautiful fabrics, sewing notions, SCHMETZ needles . . . and a surprise gift to attend the SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp, February 27th & 28th in Puyallup, WA.  Check www.SCHMETZneedles.com for details.

 

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Love to Sew & Blog? A Special Event for You!

Love to sew?  Love to blog?  Well I have just the event for you.  The first ever SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp. 

Be a better blogger.  Meet like-minded bloggers.  Expand your digital circle with like-minded bloggers learning from sewing and blogging experts.  You probably already read the blogs and use the designs and patterns of our speakers. . . and if you don't, you will.

Join us February 27th and 28th in Puyallup, Washington for two days of sewing and blogging bliss. Learn how in increase your influence and readership from lecturers of Urban Threads, Colette Patterns and Generation Q Magazine as they talk about their creations and their digital steps and missteps.

About 120 attendees that love to sew and blog are meeting to learn even more about our digital world . . . . 'cause it's changing fast.  Our speakers of the day are covering not only blogging and insight into their creative worlds, but their successful use of Pinterest, Etsy, Google and Kickstarter to name just a few.  Plus through the help of generous designers and manufacturers you can see, use and review a 2013 New Product . . .  You'll be the envy of your friends!

Register now via SCHMETZneedles.com to save $50!   The SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp is organized in conjunction with the largest sewing party in North America, the Sewing and Stitchery Expo.  Sign up for the Boot Camp and you will receive a free pass to the Sewing and Stitchery Expo.  Watch this blog for more scoop on this exciting event!
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
Click here for the brochure:
Brochure SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp
Now check out the Sewing and Stitchery Expo blog:
Sewing and Stitchery Expo Announce The SCHMETZ Sew-cial Bloggers Boot Camp

SCHMETZ Stocking Stuffer

Last year we introduced the SCHMETZ Gift Box as a fun, economical and reusable sewing gift.  Yes, a practical secret santa sewing gift!   They have been so popular I thought you would like to see a picture of them on the production table before the lids were closed and sealed.

These little boxes are so cute and . . . . they are flying out the door! 

The SCHMETZ Gift Box is a terrific stocking stuffer, priced at less than $25. Inside find needles nestled into a foam insert that will later hold and organize up to 20 packs of needles, a Sulky PolyLite sample thread spool, and the ever popular SCHMETZ ABC Pocket Reference Guide.

Choose from five needle collections: Embroidery, General Sewing, Quilting, Universal and new this year, Stretch. Give one or bundle all five!  You or your friends can never have enough needles! 

Order right now at www.SCHMETZneedles.com.

PS: The General Sewing collection is especially terrific for the young or returning sewist as it offers the widest needle assortment.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

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Sewing Machine Needle: myPad Machine Needle Organizer

What do you do with those lightly used sewing machine needles?  Needles that are still sewing worthy.  Return them to the original needle cartridge with a black mark indicating the needle has been lightly used?  Place the needle in a sectioned-off pin cushion indicating needle type and size?  Toss the needle in a nearby dish thinking "I will remember the needle type and size?  Hmmmmm, do these scenarios sound familiar?  Yep, been there and now . . . . have the answer:

The myPad by Grabbit Sewing Tools.  Here's the cool thing about myPad, not only can you organize your lightly used needles by type and size, but use the white flower head pin to identify the needle currently in your sewing machine.  Hello, this is so easy!  Why didn't I think of this? 

The myPad can be found in your local quilt shop or machine dealer.  It retails for less than $15.  I have 3 machines, so I might just get a myPad for each machine.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com
www.grabbitsewingtools.com

Sewing Machine Needles: Colors of Thanksgiving

On this day of Thanksgiving, I want to share a few pictures from my travels.  I am rather surprised to not find so many Thanksgiving projects, rather the autumn color of orange was easy to find in my photo stream.  So enjoy of few pics.  I hope they inspire you.


Lumination II
Susan McBride Gilgen
2012 International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX

Glorious hues of orange, red and gold.  Yes, this is a quilt as if you are standing at the foot of a forest looking up to the sun.  Susan describes these Japanese maples as a forest of fire in fiber, a lumination to the mind.  This stunning original quilt is made of hand-dyed cotton and batiks.  Her techniques are spontaneous design application, free-motion  machine embroidery and machine quilting.



2012 Sewing & Stitchery Expo
Puyallup, WA
 

Nice example of blending patterns, techniques and colors. This vest is a stunner! I love when sewists can wear their projects to sewing and quilting events.

 

Lobby, Aladdin Holiday Inn

Kansas City, MO

This spring International Quilt Market, wholesale fabric and quilt supplies show,  took place in Kansas City, MO.  Staying at the Aladdin Holiday Inn was a treat.  I especially loved their lobby with the beautiful over sized orange red glass perched upon a circular sofa flanked by regal pillars glowing with gold detail.  The vaulted lobby ceiling was outstanding.  This little boutique hotel restored its original art deco ambiance with a touch of vintage charm.  The Aladdin is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was easy walking distance to Quilt Market. 

Triple Stripes

Pieced by Anita Marsh, Quilted by Dan Kolbe

Meandering through quilt festivals is always a pleasure when traveling.  This summer my community had their second annual quilt festival.  The weather cooperated and the quilts were special.  This quilt caught my eye reminding me of modern quilts which are so popular now.  Anita found the pattern at her local quilt shop, Prairie Stitches Quilt Shoppe, and used batiks from her stash.    It is always good to support your local shops, and yes, Prairie Stitches does carry SCHMETZ needles.

Shopping at Haberman Fabrics

2012 American Sewing Expo, Novi, MI

Staying with the autumn color theme, especially orange, you are looking at my next sewing project - beautiful nubby wool to be made into a jacket.  Plus I found a delightful orange paisley jersey knit with a touch of turq for a companion blouse, or if I am lucky a Magic Bias Dress.  Soon I will find out as this is my Thanksgiving sewing project.

On this day of Thanksgiving, enjoy your family and friends.  Share your love of sewing.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com

Sewing Machine Needle: In A Pickle Over Dull Needle

A sewing friend clipped this cartoon by Brian Crane.  How apropos!  The November blog posts have all been about the sewing worthiness of your machine needles.  It is true, a needle will not last forever! The solution is so easy and inexpensive - Change Your Needle!

©2012, The Washington Post

Reprinted with Permission

So, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, I hope you find some sewing time to create and rejuvenate. Unlike the last frame of this Pickles comic strip, go out and buy a couple packs of needles from your local store.  Be prepared to sew!

Have a grateful and terrific Thanksgiving holiday.
Sew SCHMETZ!
Rhonda
www.SCHMETZneedles.com
http://wpmediaservices.com/comics/pickles.htm