November 14th, 2008 by Sandy
Hi...I'm a little behind schedule but I have decide on the color scheme. I found a beautiful scarf in my drawer that I have always loved the colors. While looking at it I also realized the other years I've tried to start the SWAP and never quite got to it (life kept getting in the way) I was using my birthstone, the Alexandrite as my inspiration. So the colors here are what I'm going to go with this year also.
You can tell from the stone that it pretty well matches the scarf. So I'm going to maintain my name from a previous year..Alexandrite Personified. The great thing about this is that I have all of the fabrics for these colors already. Since my SWAP is more casual than I would have made in the past, I may have to do some digging, but my goal is to buying nothing for this SWAP, No even thread. I still have to find all of my fabric in my storage but I do have some of it out. I'm working on the patterns now. Hopefully I will have them sketched them out this weekend so I can post.
October 20th, 2008 by Sandy
Ok, I've decided to enter the SWAP 2009 over at the Stitcher's Guild at Artisian Square They've actually had this for several years (6 years, I think) but this will be the first year that Timmel Fabrics won't be sponsoring it. Julie retired this past year and she is sorely missed. Although she was in Canada, I ordered fabric from her a couple of times and it was wonderful. However Julie has given her blessing to continue the SWAP at the same place. SWAP = Sewing With a Purpose Read the rest of this entry »
October 7th, 2008 by Sandy
I just received notice of a great exhibit at the Mill Museum in Windham CT. They will be showing over 50 antique machines and the name of the exhibit is Sewing Revolution: The Machine That Changed The World.
I do hope that schools in the region take advantage of this and take students to see it. This is a craft that goes back so many generations and I believe is making a major comeback. What a great opportunity to see the early machines that started it and made today's machine possible. It might even encourage more of the younger set to begin sewing. I know that Project Runway has helped push the design aspect of sewing, but as anyone can see if they watch the show, that sewing is secondary to some of the designers and it shows. They really need to learn some sewing with style.
A British retailer, Argus announced in April that sewing machine sales for Brother and Singer had increased by 50%. That sound like a good sign. There is a tremendous choice of machines available today on the market for all budgets and capabilities. Now, if we can just convince the schools to bring back sewing for the younger generation.
October 5th, 2008 by Sandy
Halloween is fast approaching. Have you made those costumes yet for your kids or grandkids? I love the variety that you see out there, but it sure has changed from when I was a kid. It seems we were scary, silly, cute, some that were considered cool but never did I see a child dress as "sexy". In looking at the costumes available out there today nothing is off limits. Young girls dressing up as a hooker? My mother would not have let me even leave the house dressed like that even if it was Halloween.
My next door neighbor does very little sewing. But yet she sews the most beautiful costumes for her daughter. This is the costume from last year. Have you every seen anything so cute? She made a basic simple dress and then bought silk leaves from the craft store and hand-sewed everyone of them on the dress. She even made a pair of thongs from cardboard (you can tell this is a warm climate) and still twigs and leaves on them.
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This year her daughter wants to be a black fairy. I'm not even sure what that is, but she is making it for her. I'll post photos when she gets it done. Read the rest of this entry »
