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 . Check out what these creative and super talented kids made and their wonderful personal touches of beads, stitches and embroidery:
Check out the
Later that night there was another Bag Sew :: Sew-cial at :
Bag Sews will be happening at least once a month at , and they happen at other times too, at other places around the Valley and Hilltowns. Sew-cials happen almost every other Wednesday at .
And then, I just have to share the most wonderful note I received just a few hours after a class:
Original art card:
Monday night a bunch of bag (and lucky) stitchers got together at for a little Sew-A-Bration. It was the launch day in Florence for . Florence Hardware, Leather & Lace and Cooper’s Corners all now participate in . 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 is Dec 5, 6pm-9pm. Hope you can make it. We have so many bags to make!
Ok, first – if you are a local yokel – than please visit me Monday night, 11/19 at 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?
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.
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 . 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…
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.
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 . 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!
This one is made from a throw. It’s groovy bag – check out that fringe!
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 – )
Labels get sewn onto the bags as they are finished.
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 and partially donated by (Thanks – it was awesome!)
These are the keys. They belong to the space I’m renting with my friend . They open the door to the new lounge. They hang on one of my most favorite fobs, a wire ball given to me from my .
These are the chairs. I immediately contracted goosebumps when Marie and I found them at . Not only were they super affordable, but they are comfortable too! They stack beautifully, leaving lots of room for a dance party
This is the vintage 1940s Industrial Singer that will be up and running soon. Perfect for heavy fabrics, like canvas or leather (yummy!) bags. Soon it will be available for Lucky Stitchers to visit and rent.
And this is the messenger bag we’re making in . This one is mine, made from a thrifted vintage bed skirt. The colors are quite lovely, and seemed so appropriate to make during these summer October weeks.
I had my first LuckyStitchers in the space tonight. It’s always fun helping people learn how to use their sewing machine and stitch up a groovy project of which they can be proud. I’m excited to see the fabric next week for the Messenger Bags we’ll be making. I’ve given them a basic design, and if they’d like they can tweak it, so we’ll do a little pattern making 101 too. So much to learn and it’s so fun when LuckyStitchers bring in their cool, sometimes old, some new machines, with really beautiful fabrics and fresh ideas.
And a reminder – tomorrow is the Wednesday Night Sew-cial and Bag Sew. This bag was made from a nightie. The armholes make perfect sleeves, and the neck, the perfect opening for groceries and other goodies you might need to carry.
I made this bag for The Old Creamery Grocery in Cummington, MA. It’s a pair of shorts I never wore (they were a gift, ahem). I cut across the legs to open the crotch seam, and stitched a line across. I stitched across the bottom corners for a flat bottom (ha ha) to the bag. I used the part of the short legs that I cut off to make handles. I actually love it because it has pockets and a drawstring “waist” to help separate the goodies. It probably took me 30 mins or so to stitch up.
Get ready to stitch up your very own bag:
This makes from found items and makes them even more unique by adding a little bit of art.
Come stitch up a bag to donate to The Bag Project: Cooper’s Corner in Florence:
Bag Sew at
Wednesday, October 10 6pm-9pm
Brassworks Building, 132 Main Street, Rte 9, Haydenville (2nd floor above Steenburgh Real-Estate in the building closest to Northampton)
413.695-3092 for more info
was started by . . The bags sit near the register, and customers may borrow the cloth bags to take home their groceries. The bags then get returned to the basket for the next customer. All in hopes of reducing the paper/plastic bag use. It makes sense doesn’t it? And, why buy fabric, when there are tons of clothes, sheets, pillows that are headed for the landfill, when they can be snipped up in such a way that they make perfect bags for toting things around? The Bag Project is catching on. Other towns want to participate. We need 3000 bags by November 19 when the project launches at Cooper’s Corners in Florence. So, come to The Bag Sew on Wednesday, and stitch it up.
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