Monthly Archive for December, 2007

Crazed

Published on December 23, 2007 in about me. 1 Comment

I don’t know how it is I still enjoy the holidays. I set lofty goals, and get so overwhelmed and behind, I almost make myself sick. I’ve been busy. Too busy to answer so many of your emails (SORRY! I will I promise, maybe at the end of the week). I’m about to leave in a bit to pick up Dad at the train station. I haven’t cleaned my house in a while. I’ve been busy with LuckyStitches and my attempt at making all my gifts this year. I did however manage a trip to the grocery store, so there will be food to eat for at least the next 2 days, hopefully more. We did make it to Target. And somehow, somehow, somehow we were able to leave.

I’m planning on enjoying myself over the next couple of days, even if the house is a Wreck (note the Capital W), and I didn’t finish my presents on time (a few late packages). I still love the holidays and Christmas. Iz is ready for Santa to come down the chimney, we’re ready for her to enjoy her presents.

I’ll talk to you all later this week. Have a very, very Merry.

xxoo Zanne

Working on More Slippers

Published on December 12, 2007 in Creating, HomeSchool Sewers, LuckyStitches, classes, design, fabric, fashion design, sewing, sewing series, sewing with kids and slippers. 2 Comments

Lots of fun and exploring today while I got the group started on making their own slippers. We traced our feet and soles to start our pattern. We talked about smoothing the lines to make pattern pieces that will sew together well and give each person the shape slipper they are looking for. Then…we made a muslin.

The feet dresses! Next – sew on the sole.

Probably the toughest part is fitting the sole onto the body of the slipper. Hard because we are making up our patterns from tracing our feet, and not measuring. So, lots of pins and slow and smooth sewing.

Then, once the muslin fits, moving on to the actual slippers.

Pictures next week of finished slippers, and hopefully pics too of our next project – Scrap Scarves!

More News…

Published on December 12, 2007 in ArtStar, LuckyStitches and news. 1 Comment

There’s a lovely article in today’s paper (sorry – you need a subscription – major bummer about this paper) about ArtStar with a sweet mention of LuckyStitches.

Yay! Isn’t it great! Lovely pictures of Marie working her Art Magic.

Ok, here’s the story on LuckyStitches!!! (If you want to read the article in whole, just click on the first image in this post to go to Flickr, or click on this link.)

Isn’t it wonderful! Thank you Hampshire Gazette and the wonderful Reporter, Deborah Doulette!

We’re Going To Make A Gingerbread House

Published on December 8, 2007 in Creating, craft and family. 1 Comment

DSC01889, originally uploaded by artstarmarie.

I am so excited I can hardly stand it. I love gingerbread houses. I’ve seen the display in Seattle 4 years in a row. I stop and look at the kits in the stores. I remember making them when I was a kid. Making the gingerbread, buying all the wonderful candy, cutting out the shapes, baking the gingerbread, WAITING for it to cool, then getting to work. Now, I watch Martha make them and I really want to do it, but think it is just too much for me to handle. Well, now that my friend Marie is having a GINGERBREAD HOUSE WORKSHOP!!!! (scroll down) we are going to continue the tradition with Iz. I think it will be loads of fun, especially since Iz has just discovered CANDY (it’s the only thing Santa brings – she says). There are 3 different workshops planned, it’s sure to be a blast.

LuckyStitches Gift Certificates

Published on December 8, 2007 in LuckyStitches and gift certificates. 0 Comments

I’ve already announced the Gift Certificates at LuckyStitches, but I’ve just now taken a picture. The gift that keeps on giving, LuckyStitches Gift Certificates are good for classes and lessons, and never, ever expire. Interested? You can find all the details over at LuckyStitches. If you don’t live nearby, how about a Gift Certificate to your local fabric shop for classes or yardage for the creative stitcher in your life. Inspiring gifts leave a lasting impression. Happy Sewing!!

Art, Soft Trees and a Bag Sew

Published on December 6, 2007 in Creating, Flickr, HomeSchool Sewers, Iz, LuckyStitches, The Bag Sew, art, bag sew, classes, cool ideas, craft, design, inspiration, projects, sewing, sewing series and sewing with kids. 0 Comments

We’ve been busy making things over here.

Iz has been working on some of her Christmas presents. Here’s a sneak peek:

I’ve been busy with my AWESOME HomeSchool Sewing Series Class. It started on Wednesday. We spent a good half of the class learning about the sewing machines, how to wind a bobbin, how to thread the machine and what all the lines and numbers mean and what happens when you move them all around. Then we made soft trees. We made our own patterns (because you know I like to do that…), but it was all inspired by Stephanie Congdon Barnes’ pattern on little birds handmade. Check out what these creative and super talented kids made and their wonderful personal touches of beads, stitches and embroidery:

Check out the Flickr group for more soft trees.

Later that night there was another Bag Sew :: Sew-cial at LuckyStitches:

Bag Sews will be happening at least once a month at LuckyStitches, and they happen at other times too, at other places around the Valley and Hilltowns. Sew-cials happen almost every other Wednesday at LuckyStitches.