Sew, Mama, Sew! fabric package, originally uploaded by zannestar.
I now have to order on-line because the only local place is Valley Fabrics. Francesca has an amazing selection of cotton fabric. (I hope she expands her fabric selection to encompass material other than cotton made for quilting!).
I was super pleased to get this package in the mail from Sew, Mama, Sew! Kristin and Beth, I think, really have their finger on the pulse of their customers. My package arrived super quick! I opened it to find these fabulous little packages. First – the fabric and pattern, sealed in plastic, protecting my new treasures. Then, the awesome hand written note thanking me for my order, in a package that contained a little fat quarter (from a promo) and a magnet business card. No doubt one of my NEW favorite places to shop. And there’s nothing like supporting other women in business. You go GIRLS!
Now this was such a contrast from my order from Spandex World. I’ve shopped in their store when I worked right around the corner. It’s a treasure chest of knits and basically 3 floors piled high with bolts. Too much to go through on a lunch hour (even an extended one). I placed the order on-line. (I need knits for my wrap dress and couldn’t find even a SOLID FREAKIN’ KNIT in all of Western Mass. that would be suitable for this pattern ARRGGHHH makes me really miss the city).
This is what I got in the mail a few days later:
A rumpled Freakin’ mess.
I folded them neatly so you could see what they look like:
I was astonished at the difference. Clearly – Spandex World is about the $$, but Sew, Mama, Sew! is making relationships. I’ll definitly order from Sew, Mama, Sew! again. I’ll look harder for knits from somewhere else. Anybody have a great on-line knit source? Share!
Dog Days of Summer, originally uploaded by zannestar.
Now she’s walking – well actually running everywhere. Walks up and down the stairs without holding on. I think it’s going to be a fun summer. We’ll go swimming in tthe lakes and rivers, on great hikes and have some fun picnics. Iz loves being outside. Today, she’s got her frog boots on and a raincoat. I’m sure we’ll do tons of puddle jumping.
ok. Must absolutely have these! I don’t find things with the letter Z often. Somehow, I think I should add them to my collection.
Ok – These are the before. Once you’ll take a long look, you’ll understand. It’s just way toooooo dark and dreary! The walls are covered in dark grey and black faux (and , boy do I mean FAUX) wood paneling. YUCK! I want light and bright. To me, it’s just more comfortable light and bright. Dark and dreary makes me want to cry and it seems so cold (not to mention that in the winter it is FREEEEEZING!)
So these are a couple of my machines (the rest are in boxes or at LuckyStitches) The one to the left is a Singer 5050. I bought it years ago for my Dad, when I was visiting him and needed to make him drapes. I ended up taking it home. It’s been a great machine since.
The one to the right is a Bernette 238 Serger. Yep. My baby! Long story….While I was in elementary and high school (from 1976-1989), I had saved money. From birthdays, allowance, odd jobs. You name it. I think once I graduated from highschool I had something like $1500 saved. This account had never been touched – I had another account that I used for my paychecks in HS – so this was all mine. I knew exactly what to do. One day, mom and dad took me to the Quakertown Sewing Center (no longer there, I think it is a billards hall…) , I checked out the prices on the sergers and this was the one I could afford. I think it was something like $800+ dollars. Great! That would leave me enough for some fabric too!
I took this baby to college with me. I made clothes for me and my roommate before we would go out clubbing for the night. I made so many clothes with this. Then came senior year. Our project was to design and sew a line of clothing. Everyone loved my serger. My instructor begged me to leave it overnight so others could use it. Big – MASSIVE mistake. Someone broke it. My heart broke! There was no way I could get this fixed. BUMMER! I carried it with me through all my moves. There was no way I was giving this up, after all I had gone through to purchase it.
Then, when Dad was visiting, he took it back to Quakertown and had it taken care of. A while later, it came back to me. AND IT WORKS! I love it. I’ve sewn a few things on it and now that my studio is organized and functioning, I’m sure I’ll be putting my little Bernette 238 to work again.
Once my space is in clean and working order, I’ll post pictures. These will be the before as I have major plans for at the least a fabulous coat of paint. Right now, it’s covered in dark grey faux wood paneling. DREARY.
It’s a good feeling, I just wish it was over, but once it’s done, it will be a much more fun place to create it. I’m going to set up a corner for Iz. She’ll have her table in there, markers, crayons, felt. magic in the making.
Now, if only the rain would stop and it would warm up a bit, we could get on with this spring thing!
Published on
April 23, 2007 in
Creating, LuckyStitches, Uncategorized, creative spaces, friends, inspiration, networking, photos, projects, sewing and totes and bags.
LuckyStitches – Friday Night Sew-cail, originally uploaded by zannestar.
Robin worked on a child’s quilt with fabulous prints from Purl. Tina FINALLY (jeez…I don’t know what she was waiting for) finished her tote bag that she started in the fall. Lex was busy sewing a baby carrier – with baby on her back once he woke up. Erin was busy knitting a bracelet (ooh…can’t wait to see this one finished). Helene was knitting a wool hat (yes in April…it’s for a benefit auction), and then sewed in a fleece lining. Stephanie was adding a loop (to keep her hair in place) to a hat she knit from Knitty. Marie wanted help with her draft of an A-Line skirt.
It was fun! So much fun…I can’t even remember what I worked on. Can’t wait to do it again! I’m planning on having LuckyStitches open almost every Friday for a Friday Night Sew-cial. 6pm-9pm in Northampton, MA. Check LuckyStitches.com for details.
I love blogs. I love them because of so many different reasons, but today especially because the ability to categorize posts really butters my toast! My lastest clicking obsession is finding patterns, tutorials and reviews of patterns. So here are a few of my favorite things (oh Maria…):
Craftzine.com blog – You can download clothing patterns too! Love this Burda pattern.
creative little daisy blog – Great directions andfab pictures.
How about orange blog - Oh, LOVE that inside this category are MORE lists of links to other tutorials.
Here’s to spending hours looking through tutorials! CHEERS! But be sure to take a few of those moments and actually make something…
It’s pretty exciting! The May/June schedule is now up at LuckyStitches.com. There are a bunch of really fun classes to take, like the Bagaholics Anonymous, Wrap Dress, Sew with Me! and lots more. So click on over and check them out! And don’t forget to sign up for the announcement list on the home page….
The Friday Night Sew-cial was a blast! I can’t believe I forgot to take pictures!!! We made bias tape. Fun, I know…and some of you missed it! The music was good, but my big job this week is to work on the playlist. I need to come up with some good Songs to Stitch by…Hope to see you at the next one!
I am so excited, tonight is the very first Friday Night Sew-cial at LuckyStitches. I’ve made tons of lists, trying to remember everything. Will the lights work, will all the machines work, will everyone kindly take their shoes off (it’s at a Kung Fu studio…), will it be a great night?
I’m finishing up a few things today, finalizing the goody bags, making sure I have everything I need to do a bias tape demo (I am going to make so many napkins after I’ve made all my bias tape!), do I have all my signs printed? Hopefully Iz will take a wonderful, restful nap and allow me the uninterrupted time to finish all these things, get them boxed up and into the car before she wakes.
I’ll post pictures here tomorrow and let you know how it went!
LuckyStitches!!XXOO
Recent Comments