October 2, 2009
Our first class of the season, yielded some creative sighs and giggles from the participants. We fused and free-motioned an array of colorful vamps into Halloween wall hangings. I love when the students bring great ideas to the class.
Making Witch Hair
Zig Zag Zig Zag
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June 5, 2009
My wonderful young women sewists are producing the most extraordinary projects. Here are just a couple from last Sunday.
They used some of their scraps and other fabrics to make decorative guest towels or wall hangings. Aren’t the colors just “Springy.” They really took off the with sewing machine decorative stitches like pros.
Sandy fussy-cut a Heather Bailey flower for hers.
Debbie Zig-Zagging
Brave and patient feather stitching
Aqua, lime and brown are a great combination!
We will get everyone else started on this project next Tuesday, when our class changes day and time. Don’t miss it!
September 15, 2008
It has been difficult to report lately, but if I don’t start documenting the incredible activity at the store, I’ll forget to include something. Although I take lots of pictures every day,(my camera battery can hardly keep up) people are emailing pictures to be posted as well. It suggests that maybe some of our readers would like to contribute their hand and home made products as well to be viewed, but more importantly, the short story surrounding them.
Tuesday the 9th, Silvermine Quilt Guild met at the Quilter’s Alley after the summer hiatus. The meeting was busy with lots of catching up, but show and tell demonstrates that folks still quilt during the hot summer months.
Tuesday afternoon was the meeting of the A Better Chance group who decided they wanted to learn to sew.
I have no pictures yet, but since have gotten permission to take some for the blog. This afternoon reminded me how wonderful high school women are and how much I love to interact with them.
They are showing early signs of being natural designers, arranging the fabrics with great thought. Their first project is a book bag.
Wednesday, an enthusiastic group of women joined me for a basic pillow making class for beginners. Measure twice, cut once is the tune I can’t get out of my head. We have two pillows shy one circle because I was rushing. We had a lovely discussion about doing things quickly and when to slow down. It all turned out great in the end, and I really believe that mistakes are the best learning tools. Everyone is raring to get working on the table runner project for beginners.
From the email box come a delightful pair of fabulously designed pillows that my daughter made on my first sewing machine. She started one of them when she visited a couple of weeks ago (Lasky/Bobola Weekend) I am so impressed with her ability to determine good proportion of stripes. She was pleased to be taking her time and working toward better craftsmanship in this project. It paid off! Love you, Ally!
Another customer, who has shared via email before, finished her Buck-A-Block quilt from 2007. Great job Pat!
Friday, Sashiko & Applique started it’s five session run. I actually had a minute to sit in on part of the lesson and learned a bit about the “rules” of Sashiko. Pictures to follow.
Saturday, the Saturday Sewing Series (for young women) begins for the season and I’m looking forward to helping the girls find their sewing muse(s). After the initial intro to the sewing machine, they will make a pillow case by the end of our second meeting.
Monday-The Wilton Historical Society (CT) quilt show opens for two months. I am proud to be participating in this amazing timeline of quilts.
July 21, 2008
Behind the scenes, I’m almost obsessively working on completing the illustrations for Molly’s book. This project is more than a year old, and it will be good to finish. I had no idea that projects like this took so long, or were so much work for that matter. But I guess anything worthwhile takes time. So I have spent more time in my tiny craft closet with my old watercolors and the drawings than I have doing anything else lately. Two more paintings are left to do and then I can continue on my lollypop trees among other pressing ideas.
July 8, 2008
I was thrilled to hear about a group of women from our local museum who were meeting at one of their homes to have a sewing party. I doubt if there were balloons, but I’m sure there was food and lots of shared knowledge about hemming and such. The finished skirt, made from gorgeous Lecien fabric with two coordinating trims turned out great. (Picture in the works,)
Whenever we hold a sewing class, it’s a celebration of sorts. We make learning the day’s skill a success for everyone. We might have cake and usually there are decorations – mostly projects hanging. This week six teachers dropped in to learn how to make a pillow decorated with raw edge applique circles. Only one or two of them had ever run a sewing machine. They picked it up quickly and we have the pictures to show for it. Don’t they look like they had fun? I sure did. Thanks to the organizer: Jinx.
We hope to start a series of classes that build on beginning skills while producing an adorable project at the end of the day.
Finally, another happy beginner who made this quilt block for her friend. We borrowed the paper doll applique from our good friend, Cathy Corcella of Ohio Star Patterns. Her patterns are sold at our shop.
