Archive for the 'bag sew' Category

Art, Soft Trees and a Bag Sew

We’ve been busy making things over here.

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

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:

Soft Trees @ LuckyStitchesSoft Trees @ LuckyStitches

Soft Trees @ LuckyStitchesSoft Trees @ LuckyStitches

Soft Trees @ LuckyStitches

Check out the Flickr group for more soft trees.

Later that night there was another Bag Sew :: Sew-cial at LuckyStitches:
The Bag Sew @ LuckyStitches 12.5.07
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.

And then, I just have to share the most wonderful note I received just a few hours after a class:
Original art card:
thankyousomuch
and inside:
PS I Wrote This In The Car

Sew-A-Bration!

Sew-A-Bration

Monday night a bunch of bag (and lucky) stitchers got together at LuckyStitches for a little Sew-A-Bration.  It was the launch day in Florence for The Bag Share.  Florence Hardware, Leather & Lace and Cooper’s Corners all now participate in The Bag Share.  So there was much to celebrate.  With pizza, yummy soup and a bunch of other goodies all to sustain sewers, we stitched up more bags to contribute to the cause.   Fabric had been donated, a bunch of machines were on hand, people were busy and the machines were humming.  Oh, how I love the sound of sewing machines.  The next Bag Sew at LuckyStitches is Dec 5, 6pm-9pm.  Hope you can make it.  We have so many bags to make!

Messenger Bags and The Bag Share

Ok, first – if you are a local yokel – than please visit me Monday night, 11/19 at LuckyStitches 6pm-8:30pm for a Sew-A-Bration. We’ll be sewing up more bags for the Florence Bag Share which launches the same day (celebration). So come on down! Bring a dish to share, a machine to sew and fabric will be available for bags. If you have questions: info(at)luckystitches.com or 413.695.3092 Hope to stitch it up!

On to regularly scheduled business. The latest round of newbie sewers finished their messenger bags this weekend. I know you’ve probably heard me say this before, but I just have to tell you again. Hearing these guys and gals tell me that there is no way this is going to work and be a bag, then watch as their faces light up when they turn their bags out (we sew linings into them). It’s just so freakin’ precious! I love it. I also really love that each person is able to make their bags their OWN individual bags. All the choices are their own, including what to appliqué, how many pockets, inside pockets, length of strap, closure. I really want people to leave knowing that they can really turn what they are working on into something original, even if it is from a pattern. fun right?

LuckyStitches - Appliqué

LuckyStitches - Appliqué

We practice a bunch of different things, just so people can become familiar with their machine. I encourage pressing all the buttons, levers, turning all the knobs, trying all the widths and lengths. Everyone brings different types of fabrics (above is a thick fleece – she’s using a cool fish print and a fun stitch on her new to her (but previously owned) machine and came up with something that looked like seaweed.

On the other, he used some pink satin to appliqué a one-eyed robot demon guy onto his black corduroy bag. It’s so cool! The thread he brought was a little thick, so experimenting with all these things were really fun, and what a cool surprise it was for these to become actual bags they can use.

LuckyStitches  - Sewing Machine 101 Messenger BagLuckyStitches - Sewing Machine 101 Messenger Bag

and what lovely “LuckyStitches poses”!

Oh – on to the next…I’m working fast and furious to finish up the JanFebMar 2008 schedule.  Fingers crossed, I can finish tonight!  I’ll be repeating some classes, like Sewing Machine 101 (that will happen every month), Jeans and a few others, and there’s some cool stuff for the late winter and early spring.  A coat class, a skirt class, a wrap dress class.  Some pattern-making 101 classes, like Full Bust Adjustment and Sewing Patterns 101.  I’m also introducing a Homeschooling Sewing Series.  That actually starts in December.  It’s starting to fill up, so if your are interested, please register sooner than later.  I’m also thinking of running the winter hat class again.  I so LOVE the pattern I made, it’s perfect for kids and adults.  So many projects and only 3 months…

Ode to Buttercream and a Happy Bag Sew

LuckyStitches - The Cake

Oh Buttercream, I love you so. Not too sweet, but oh so rich and fluffy, creamy, smooth, buttery, creamy, heavenly, LOVELY! Ok, more about the buttercream in a minute.
LuckyStitches - Bag Sew

11 fantastic fabric bags made from scraps of fabric, curtains, stashes, a throw and a nightie. That’s what we made Wednesday night. These little loverlies will get donated to the Bag Share, a Hilltown Sustainability Initiative. A local shop will get a basket of reusable bags, mostly made from fabric like what you see above, that will sit next to the cash register. Customers can borrow the bags, instead of using paper or plastic, then return them to the store (or another in active in the Bag Share program), for the next person.  Extra special thanks to Tracy, Marie, Jen and Julie who stitched it up!

LuckyStitches - Bag Sew

This one is made from a throw. It’s groovy bag – check out that fringe!

LuckyStitches - Bag Sew

This is made from really cool old green curtains. (This is Marie. Hi Marie! She and I are sharing the space, she’s holding art workshops – ArtStar)

LuckyStitches - Bag Sew

Labels get sewn onto the bags as they are finished.

LuckyStitches - Bag Sew

It was a really fun Sew-cail. We’ll be doing it again, more regularly after the holiday season. While we were able to finish 11 bags, we still got in a few good stories (note the arms in the air) We had coffee, tea and lovely, lovey cake, baked by Marie and partially donated by Bread Euphoria (Thanks – it was awesome!)

LuckyStitches - The Cake

LuckyStitches - The Cake
LuckyStitches - The Cake

LuckyStitches!! xxoo