It's been a busy, yet fun, time here at Hip Stitch.....
Customer Jennifer came in to share this adorable- reversible - jumper she sewed.....using our Moda fabric and brown corduroy. That is one special little girl who gets to wear it!
We have 2 new teachers! I'm so excited to welcome Melisa Hart and Shirley Kay Wolfersperger. Both of these women are enormously talented, and I feel very fortunate to have them at Hip Stitch. Look for a schedule very soon of classes they'll be teaching, as well as more about them......
Coming soon......flannel, in Funky Monkey. Some really adorable prints! Alexander Henry fabrics - a few we've had in the past, but went too quickly - back again.....I'll post some pictures soon.....
I occasionally get to join in on a class......I'm taking Pants with Sharon Hatcher. I'm going to make....JEANS! Last week, in class #1, I made pattern pieces from my favorite pair of jeans. This week, I'm going to make a mock-up w/muslin. And next week, the real deal - sewing with denim! Stay tuned......
Coming in early November, a remodel of the store - I'm so excited! Look for more info. in the near future!
And lastly, some photos of.....fall in New Mexico!
Whether they know it or not, Ellen and Alexandra (Ali) are inspirations to me every day as I try to branch out in photography......it's out of my comfort zone to look for shots that are, well, more artistic...thank you, gals, for your beautiful photography!
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Saturday at Hip Stitch was the Notepad Cover class, taught by Lois Warwick. I didn't have my camera, but whipped out my cell phone to get a picture of this one, made by Julie. She chose Anna Maria Horner's Innocent Crush for the outside:
It was stunning! Alas, I didn't get shots of the other ones made - but they were just as adorable.
It's that time of year......Halloween costumes! This may be my last year of making costumes for my girls. Actually, only one - my 7th grader, Jane, will probably just throw something together, because I don't think it's all that cool to wear a costume sewn by mom anymore!
(no, my feelings aren't hurt)
So for Claire, I'm making this:
Now, before you start thinking I'm making a trampy costume for my 10 yr. old, I'm going to alter things a bit to make her into this LITERARY character:
Violet Baudelaire, from Lemony Snicket. So I'm making the LONGER version on the pattern, and we're going to add some sleeves and maybe some fishnet hose on her arms? (I think that's be the easiest thing rather than trying to make long sleeves out of fishnet fabric) And then I'll cry because my Halloween-costume making days are coming to an end......or maybe I'll feel a sense of relief, too!
Sunday, October 3, 2010
Kids & zippers & lots of fun
Saturday wrapped up Part 2 of the zippered bag class for kids. The girls left with finished bags, all different fabrics, all with different experiences to remember. Hannah learned how to change a machine needle, as hers broke on a zipper. Natalie, who'd never sewn before this project, finished Saturday and went on to make an apron for herself - no pattern, just an idea in her head. Aline, a very experienced sewer, patiently waited at times as I helped the newbies, and took the time at the end to hand-stitch a spot where the zipper end showed through her bag (this greatly impressed me....her attention to detail) Cambree learned that sometimes, the backstitch function on a machine just DOESN'T work!! Emma finished her bag and was so excited to keep sewing that she whipped up a mini pillow, stuffed and all.
So here they all are, with finished bags:
All in all, a good afternoon.....and I hope to work with them again, because they were just so darn fun to spend time with!
In the meantime, fabric that's on it's way to the store:
I ordered 7 bolts of my very favorite colors and patterns from this collection.....I didn't love ALL of it, but it was hard to narrow down what to select. I hope it will be here by end of week!
Hope to see you at the shop soon!
So here they all are, with finished bags:
All in all, a good afternoon.....and I hope to work with them again, because they were just so darn fun to spend time with!
In the meantime, fabric that's on it's way to the store:
I ordered 7 bolts of my very favorite colors and patterns from this collection.....I didn't love ALL of it, but it was hard to narrow down what to select. I hope it will be here by end of week!
Hope to see you at the shop soon!
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
What's here.....what's coming......
What's here:
And on the way:
Yes, I said ON THE WAY! Shipped out - from California - to Hip Stitch - via UPS! Confirmed!!! (can you tell I'm just a wee bit excited?!)
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Sewing Retreat
Well, I think it's safe to say that Saturday's Sewing Retreat was a success! A variety of sewing projects were worked on, our demos were full of a wealth of information, lunch was yummy and filling, and we finished the day with luxurious mini-massages given by Onie, (who is my personal source of stress relief and relaxation every other week!)
From a purse to a tunic, a quilt to a Halloween costume, a skirt to home decorating, all the gals were so fun to visit with, bond with, and hopefully, will come together again for another future retreat.....along with YOU?
Michele giving a demonstration on gathering/ruffling/pleating techniques.
.....and Julie taking off with the gathering foot on her machine.....
Look at those PERFECT gathers! A Snow White costume, done that much more quickly!
Amy made a purse....with so so cute handles......
Missy's skirt - so beautiful.
Thank you, ladies, for all the fun you contributed!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Hip Kids' kick off Saturday
Well, this afternoon kicked off the fall Hip Kids' classes.....and I had just as much fun participating as they did! Today was a fabric mosaic/collage on a spiral notebook. Simple: Mod Podge, fabric, scissors, spiral. Sometimes, there's nothing like a simple art project to get the creativity flowing:
And an afternoon giggling with little girls, as we cut and glued and talked and sang (Pandora radio is awesome).
In the store now:
......and these are just a few that arrived!
Saturday, September 4, 2010
It was a day to remember....
It started about 2 weeks ago.....with a phone call from a woman I've known for some years from church. We used to run the kitchen during Vacation Bible School - did it every year for about 5 consecutive years. I hadn't seen her in a while, as our lives didn't cross paths. She called me to tell me that she and her husband were moving into a retirement home....it was time. His health wasn't so good - she couldn't keep up with taking care of the house and yard, and she was tired of cooking. Did I want to come take any of her sewing supplies? I didn't hesitate - YES!
I went over and started looking at everything......fabric, irons, thread, batting, interfacing, scissors, pins, buttons, trims, needles, patterns (oh, the fun of looking through patterns from the 70s!). Then I saw it:
My breath caught in my throat.....
I could hardly ask......"are you parting with THIS?" I asked. Yes, she was. A local sewing machine repair shop gave her an offer some time ago. "Are you interested?" she asked. I nearly yelped out "YES!" The offer was good - I asked if I could give her that amount. Sure, she said. I told her I'd check w/my husband, and come back in the next week or so to pay for it. In the meantime, she took me outside to her peach tree, where I loaded bags of peaches, and then we sat on her back porch, chatting.....I always love to hear stories from her of her life - her husband was a pilot in the military, they lived all over the world, and she's had some adventures. The most touching moment was when she told me that when she looks in her husband's face, she still sees the young fighter pilot that she knew way back when.....she doesn't see the elderly man he is today. I'll never forget those words.
Fast forward to yesterday.....I went back, she gave me more sewing notions, I wrote her a check for this:
A Singer Featherweight, in pristine condition - oiled, tuned up, shiny - in it's case, with the manual. When I opened the manual, here's the line I loved:
I took it home, gently set it up, read through the manual to make sure I had threaded everything exactly the right way, and gingerly started sewing. Well, what can I compare that moment to? Putting on my wedding dress the day of my wedding? Seeing the ocean for the 1st time after being away from it for 10 years? Giving birth and seeing my daughter for the 1st time? Well, it was pretty darn close. For those of you who love sewing, who sew and sew and sew, who burst with pride when you finish a garment, or a quilt, or a purse....you understand. Right?!
Oh, and my friend had me rummage through the last of what was to be given away to charity, and I eagerly claimed this:
And my girls and I have been having loads of fun typing away:
Someday I'll be an elderly woman (if it's the plan for my life), and I'll have all my sewing supplies. I don't know if my daughters will be interested in them. I certainly don't ever want them to feel like they have to take my belongings.....I hope that my things will make someone else happy. I hope someone else will take them, and know that sewing made me very happy. I hope my friend knows that what she parted with has made me very happy, and I'm very grateful.
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