LuckyStitches opens in Seattle in December!!!  I’m thrilled to offer Handmade Holidays, which includes fun ornament projects like Pom Pom Garland, Scrap Garland, Felt Ornaments and Bird Ornaments, as well as a Fabric Gift Bag workshop and a No Sew Scarf class.  And, of course, Sewing Machine Intro, because it’s time to meet your sewing machine (again or for the first time). So check out the Class Descriptions, sign up for the Announcement list, and please tell ALL of your friends, especially the ones that live in the Seattle area.  Hope to stitch it up with you soon!

The top tunic part is a lovely jersey with a surplice neckline and petal like hem.

The skirt part is actually multiple parts, both made of interesting gauze pieces that Libby draped and buttoned around her.

Note the lovely green Dr. Martins.  I think she has the largest collection of DMs ever!  Amazing! – and Libby – love the necklace choice….

Libby sent her party green fabric and they each made their own (or had help) dresses.  I think they all did an outstanding job. I love the green and red together.

Here’s a shot of Libby working on a dressform.  And here’s a shot of us playing with the paper pattern.

All photos © Coleen Rudolf

I find that being the mom of a 3 year old, I am getting much better at dealing with the time I have to do projects.  I find myself working through my creative ideas while doing the dishes, preparing meals, driving to the grocery store.  I dream about my projects, practice them in my mind, make a prototype in my dreams, all this so when I have the five minutes to try it, I can actually make it.

I’ve been spending the last month on what to make with all our scraps from our Eco-Quilts.  I’ll eventually post a list of all the projects I’ve researched – so you can use your scraps too.  But I’m really excited about what we’ll be making over the next couple of weeks in our HomeSchool Sewing Class.  Week one, we’re making Scrap Flowers (just in time for Mother’s Day).  Week two, Fabric Beads.  I think the LuckyStitchers will be all scrapped out by then, so we’ll be making a bucket hat during the latter part of the month.

What I really, really love about my classes at LuckyStitches, is that each person walks away with their very own creation.  Each quilt we’ve made last month is completely unique.  There was no set pattern, only a technique that was introduced.  These creative minds can explore cutting and sewing so they can dream about it too and create their very own items, articles and art.  Nothing is wrong.  Everything is right and wonderful.

At the end of next week I’ll post our Scrap Flowers and let you know how we did it, so you can make your own too (or for the mom in your life…Mother’s Day is coming!).  They are really, really quick.  In the meantime, go grab your scraps.  If you are sewing this week, don’t toss your tiny scraps, keep them.  They work perfectly for these next two projects!

The LuckyStitchers have been working like MAD on their Eco-Quilts. They are still being worked on and you can flip through all the photos on Flickr.  Our Quilt Show will be up in June, if you are a local yokel – please come for a visit!

Hiding behind a stack of strips cut from clothes from our clothing swap to find materials for our Eco-Quilts. Our quilts will be made from clothing, bed linens and other scraps of fabric. Unless of course…

we had to try the clothes on….

and on….

It was a little wild…ly fun!

If anyone wants to sew along, please do!  A note – you don’t have to have a wild clothing swap to participate.  While it’s recommended, it certainly isn’t required. But you do have to have some fun.