More Upside Down and Backwards

bring your sewing supplies we have more techniques to try.

I got new furniture

I have been keeping company (aka baby sitting),with my 15 tear old grandson while his parents were away. So when my new furnitre arrived on Friday I just ran home to welcome the delivery guys. I am so excited, but have not had the time to do much but admire it so far. The other photo is my firplace re-do. Now I can quit wondering and worrying about how it is all going to look. I love the look! Now I will get back to busy on class projects and such.

Merry Christmas

We are off for two weeks. Enjoy the Holidays, I know I will.
Thank you all for the card filled with love and money. What a surprise. I love you all and am so blessed to be your class leader. I hesitate to say teacher; because you all help me with the teaching by sharing your multiplicity of talents.

When we return on January 5 we will be doing Speciality Threads. Here is a bit more information about what to bring.
I will be gone most of the two weeks and may not get back to the blog so enjoy the pictures and get ready for some fun.

Upside and Backwards

bobbydi@charter.net

Things to bring:

Sewing machine, with a darning or free-motion foot
Needles: 80 or 90 Universal, 80 or 90 metallic needles,
100 topstitch needle, 80 or 90 embroidery needle (optional)
small screwdriver to loosen tension screw on bobbin case or extra bobbin case
Embroidery hoop that fits under your presser foot. Wood, plastic, or spring hoop ok
15” square fabric sandwich. Top fabric (silk, or cotton), batting (any kind okay), backing white or light colored cotton preferred
white or beige thread to match the backing.. fabric
3-4 empty bobbins
large eye hand sewing needle
# 2 pencil

You will receive :
Specialty fabrics for technique samples
Threads for making samples
Wash away stabilizers for samples (different kinds for different techniques)
Jewels, sequins, etc.

Many of the specialty threads are too large for the needle, but you can sew upside down and use them in the bobbin. Don’t be afraid to adjust the tension on your bobbin case or invest in another bobbin case so you don’t have to mess with the tension on your regular bobbin case. Just remember “righty tighty and lefty loosey”

New Class, new projects

A new calss has started and we have a man come to sew. His name is Alex Pena and he is a student of Kathy Sterling.
I know coming into our class can be overwhelming at the begining, but what a great oppertunity for a young person to learn from all of you. I really am blessed to be your leader, and sometime teacher. I learn so much from you maybe I should pay the entrance fee.

I am going to go into my "Studio", (you all know it is really the garage) and make samples for the neckline of the "Chiffon Circle" top. We will be making our 2 scarf jackets so bring your 2 scarves or fabric and now that you have made samples of possibilities for the front of your jacket bring the embellished fronts or the things to embellish the front. We will put it all together and then make a few samples for the Circle top.

Or you can work on anything you wish. I just thought these two quickies would get us up to the holidays and on our way.
See you Wednesday.



This jacket is an adaptation of a design shown by Sherrill Kahn at her workshop
for WAC.

Materials needed:
2 silk scarves 30” to 35”
thread
embellishment of choice
sewing maching and sewing supplies

The big advantage of using scarves is that the edges are already finished by
a rolled hem.

1. Cut or tear one of the scarves down the middle.

2. Embellish the front openings by turning each torn or cut edge to the front or back about 2" and stamp, stencil, stitch or whatever along the band formed. You may need batting or intrfacing to stalilize it and if doing decorative stitching do use tear away stabilizer to make the stitching smooth.

3. Sew the shoulder seams by sloping the seam from the neckline to the shoulder about 1" to 2" lower at the shoulder.

4. Sew side seams by coming down 12 " from the shoulder seam and stitching the side. Option: leave a slit in the side seam.

5. Add a couple of tassels or a few beads to weight the bottom of the fronts and you are done.

Time to Start Sewing Again

This is me after the WAC Suzi Click Workshop. I have got to go shopping for good accessories; however
I was not at the Mall over the Holiday, I was with family and having fun.

Now I am home again and it is time to get the new class ready to go.

Wednesday we will start with the 2 scarf jacket, so if you painted, or dyed two scarves or fabric which amounts to two squares of 30" to 35" square bring them. This is the easiest jacket in the world to make, but we want to do something fun with the front opening. Bring your sewing machine and let's sew.

Houston Report

It was a busy month for me. I took painting classes in Pasadena for two days, then flew to Eureka, CA and dyed 100 yards of silk chiffon at Hanah Silk, came home and slept one night in my own bed then off to Houston for 11 days of non-stop activity and teaching. I did take two classes. One on How to print and sell your own patterns. I don't think I will do that. Then a Forum on Machine Quilting. I loved the work of an Austrailian woman, last name Bower, I want to try her technique. I have bought some Kafee Fassett prints to try it out. My quilt "Tidepools" looked good in the show. I didn't win, or place but I did show. The show was great this year. I am so amazed at the quality of work and creativity displayed. They are all so good!
They ran out of 50,000 tickets on Friday and had to print another 10,000 for Saturday and Sunday. Jammed with people. It did keep me from buying very much, so I guess that is okay.

In class Wednesday bring your sewing machine if you want to work on the animal quilt. I also left the dye in the closet so you can dye silk if you want. I am busy planning for the next session. It starts on Wednesday December 1 and we will have three weeks then two weeks of Holidays and back January 5 for the push to the fashion show in February.

My Internet was down

When I arrived home from Houston I was so ticked that my cable and Internet were both out, now four days and two repairmen later I am up and running again. I apologize for to those of you who didn't know what to bring to class on Wednesday, but I had no way of updating the blog announcement. (No Internet, remember)

I left the dye in the classroom closet so you can dye silk next time or bring your sewing machines and work on the animal quilts. I will try and post more information over the weekend, but now I have to go do the things I couldn't; because I have been waiting for repairmen to show up. See you.