Thread Show & News

Blog 5-31-09: Thread Show & News

Dear A-Team:

This weekend, a devine force intervened in my work plans and gave Warren passes for the Thread Show in downtown San Diego. It did NOT hurt that he won a Saturday Night stay at the Hard Rock Café. For those of you who have never been there, or don’t understand what it is, visit this site: http://www.threadshow.com/ It is for all budding designers and manufacturers. This is a great avenue to show your work. I will be bringing business cards to class, so that you can get involved. If you are serious about starting a sewn product business. This will let you see….in one weekend, if your designs are saleable. I even saw one of my former students showing at the show !!!! Check out Corrina Paterno’s handbag line at http://www.onegirlsparty.com/.

Another big news item I found out this weekend is the fact that Sew Pro’s announced when their next LA fashion district and M & L bus trip will be. It will be October 10, 2009. Go and sign up. I will be on the bus. If enough people sign up, then they will get 2 buses. It’s $40 for the ride up and back. Takes about 12-13 hours. It is WORTH the price of the trip to leave the driving to the professionals……….

This coming week, will be the final week of Spring Classes.

Embroidery: Bring back your lace earrings and necklaces. I would like to take pictures. This week, we will be embroidering our hard to embroider fabrics and presenting them to the class. Yes, we will be embroidering in class. We will take the last hour and do the presentations. In the extra Thursday night class….we made the chiffon Christmas ornaments with a design on top. I completed mine. I will have it for show and tell in class. Very easy and very classy. The secret is: don’t rehoop. Just embroider right over the center of the ornament……

Basic Sewing: Leapin Lizards! It is time to bring your samples in for me to see. Bring in your portfolios and receive a graduation gift. We will be doing button holes in class. Bring in your sandwiched 8 ½” by 11” fabric. The mid part of the sandwich was interfacing. You can’t make buttonholes on fabric without a piece of interfacing. It helps hold the stitches in place and keeps the fabric from bunching up or stretching.

Patternmaking: We will be completing our curved dart dresses in class. Then we will have presentations.

The new summer schedule is listed to the right of the blog. Come and expand your knowledge this summer. I will be getting out the syllabi within 2 weeks. I will send the 4 syllabi to you all as attachments to emails. The 7 week classes start the week of June 15.

Links and things for personal and professional growth:

LA Fashion District - Sales at Michael Levine's
http://www.mlfabrics.net/newsletter/PDF/june.pdf

Craftstylish
http://ebm.e.taunton.com/c/tag/hBKIL1WBs5O-JB7t7BcAuxTDd.Bs5O-J0l/doc.html?RAF_TRACK=&email=mckenna@gothere.com&password=Bs5O-JAuxTDdBKIL1WboAyTQX3zUVR&FNAME=JOAN

Threads
http://ebm.e.taunton.com/c/tag/hBJ-v0yAri9wOB7tp-tAuxTDd.Ari9wO$f/doc.html?RAF_TRACK=&email=mckenna@gothere.com&password=Ari9wOAuxTDdBJ-v0yAvbWkon-TcLd&FNAME=JOAN

Memorial Day

Blog Date: 5-25-09

Dear A-Team:

The Memorial Day Weekend has gone by SO FAST!!!! As I get older, I want to work less and less on Memorial Day. I want to go to the cemeteries and help place flags on the graves. So many have paid the ultimate price so that I can sit here and blog to you. I can remember in the late 60’s…..how unpopular the Vietnam War was. How we all rebelled. How we all didn’t understand that unless we fight for what we believe in, the country won’t be here tomorrow for our grandchildren. Then came the bombings in Oklahoma City, and the Twin Towers in NYC. War destroys. AND it can destroy what we have all have built up here. Today….North Korea sent a message with their nuclear explosions. We all must be prepared. We never know what will happen tomorrow. Ellie sent me this flash movie. Watch it. It says a lot about this holiday and why we should participate ………… Thank you Ellie!!!

http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcard.asp?code=1221321706636&source=jl999

We have a week and half until the spring semester is finally over!!!! It has been an interesting semester. So many things happening!!!!

Semester Notes:

Those of you, who participated in the events of the fashion show, note that I am going to give extra credit.

Those of you who borrowed books and things from me…PLEASE bring them back. Each semester, I find it gets harder to lend things out, because sometimes I don’t get them back.

Parking Permits will be enforced starting Monday, June 8th. So when you come for the out.

Embroidery:
There is only one more class for the day class of Embroidery. In the last class, we will be embroidering our difficult fabrics and presenting them to the class. Your portfolio of 10 stitchouts are due. The stitchouts are: poly-cotton, name tag, printed heavy cotton, poly knit stitchout, toweling, polar fleece, coffee filter, 2-way stretch velvet, poly chiffon, lace. Those of you who are working toward your certificate of participation need to bring ALL your stitchouts for me to see. Also, remember to bring in your completed feather shirt, if I have not seen it. I will grade the presentations as they are completed.

In the Thursday night EXTRA class, (May 28th), we are going to do the Christmas Ornament stitchout on Chiffon with a truck on it. In this stichout, we will be doing the ornament first, then going back and putting the truck on as second embroidery. We will NOT be editing it in software first. We will be using our machines to get the truck(s) where we want them to be.

Remember to bring the stabilizers you need to embroider correctly. If my Monday day class, would like to do the ornament, you can come to my Thursday night class. I always have room. Bring back your earrings. I would LOVE to take a picture of all of them……….

Patternmaking:
We are finally going to be cutting and sewing up our half scale curved dart dress to check the fit. Come to class with the dress cut. We will use the next 2 weeks to sew it up and present them to the class. (I definitely tried to put too much into this class. Can’t wait to see your class evaluations to make this class better !!!!) For the certificate of participation you will need to have turned the following in for me to see (for grading). The ½ scale arm, the muslin test fit sloper, and the curved dart toile.

Remember to bring in a bobbin for a Janome, Pfaff or Bernina sewing machine. You will also need a package of Schmetz needles. I suggest a universal needle in a standard size of 90/14. This is an all purpose size.

Basic Sewing:
We did zippers in the last class before the holiday. The two we did, centered and lapped are only the beginning. There are many different applications for zippers. YOUR sewing portfolios are due on June 1st. Leave an open page for us to put our buttonhole samples. We will be making machine made buttonholes the last day of class. For those of you who are going to go on into the summer class, there will be an assignment for you to turn in the first day of class, June 15th. (Leapin Lizards……You will laugh and laugh !!!!)

There will be a summer threads show on May 30 – 31, 2009. See http://www.threadshow.com/ for more information.

Contract Work:
Patternmaker is looking for someone who wants to translate the Patternmaker program into Spanish. If you are interested, contact me and I will put you in contact with the correct personnel at PatternmakerUSA. In payment, they are giving a copy of the Professional Studio. They are also looking for illustrators. If you can draw well, and are interested, email me.

Here's a sneak peek of an article in the June issue of Stitches. In "The New Credit Rules," we look at how decorators can make adjustments to how they spend, collect and borrow in today's unstable economy. Click here to view the PDF.

Here is an article about the costume designer for Dancing with the Stars. Pretty interesting article !!!! http://www.threadsmagazine.com/item/7025/interview-with-dancing-with-the-stars-costume-designer

Read the Moment: http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/04/aussie-posse-australian-fashion-week-roundup/?emc=eta1

Make Money with Your Skills !!!!!!!!!!!!

Sucess !!!

Blog Date: 5-10-09

Dear A-Team !!!!

Success !!!! What a Great Week !!!! West City Center’s Open House / Fashion Show was outstanding. Such team work !!! Nothing went wrong. It was just perfect !!!! I was told that about 800 guests came to check us out !!!! Everyone loved our machine embroidery and ½ scale dress form display. Our part of the fashion show was terrific with the feathers. It said a lot about recycling. Those of you who presented assignments (from my courses) for the Open House or Modeled or staged us for the Fashion Show will receive extra credit.

The end of the week was capped off by our semester trip to the LA garment district. Two students took advantage of coming with me. Of course, I spent too much money. BUT I keep thinking of the savings I got up there; verses what I would have spent picking up the same things in San Diego.

We have 4 weeks left till the end of the semester. Come to class and learn some more !!!!
Stimulate your curiosity. Discover the answers to questions that you just can’t put into words. Master at least one new technique. Come to class.

Embroidery:

This week, we are embroidering on Chiffon. I gave you each a piece of it. You will need to bring: Clear dissolvable “Solvy” on top and some kind of dissolvable “Aqua Magic” on the bottom. You will also need to bring some Rubbermaid draw liner. This rubber-lace drawer line comes in 2 thicknesses. You will need the “thinner” kind. This will help your chiffon stay in the hoop. I MUST thank Grace for the tip on the Rubbermaid draw liner. This is SO much better than wrapping your hoop with adhesive bandage tape. I just NEVER want my machine or hoops to ever be gunk’d up…………..

For those of you who are going to continue on in the summer embroidery class, please buy your text book early. The name of the book is: Machine Embroidery Wild & Wacky: Stitch on Any and Every Surface by Linda Turner Griepentrog and Rebecca Kemp Brent. www.Amazon.com has it for 14.99. Make sure the embroidery disk of designs is in good shape. The first day of class, we will be deciding on what we will be doing the rest of the summer semester.

Basic Sewing:

We will be continuing with our Portfolios. We are almost completed. We still need to do buttonholes, zippers, necklines, unlined pockets, inset pockets, and I don’t believe we covered all the seam finishes. There is so much to learn. AND…in LA…I got you each a graduation present. When you turn in your completed portfolio, you can start work on this….. WHAT FUN !!!!

Patternmaking:

The class decided that it will take us the rest of the semester to complete our curved dart dress. This is fine. This means…that next September, we will be continuing this class. The name of the Fall 2009 Patternmaking class will be: ½ Scale Production Patternmaking. I don’t want to push through this process. There is a lot to be learned so that when you need to do this for your own companies, you do it easily.

There has been a Grand Opening in our Point Loma neighborhood !!! Apparently, it sells home décor items, fabrics and trims. Check it out and let me know !!!!! The store is located need the corner of Rosecrans and Midway next to Tuesday Morning. Monday-Saturday 10 – 6. Closed Sundays.

Mariana Lifestyles.
3555 Rosecrans Street
#107B
San Diego, CA 92110
619-223-2339

I once gave Gitta the name of a specialty store in Parkway Plaza that specializes in enhancing body parts. They also have girdles that mold your figure after post-partums, operations and other plastic surgeries. The store’s name is: Colombianas: Slender Bodies. Their phone number is: 619-447-3252. I had a report this week, stating that what this store sells helped someone with their back problem. I want to pass this on, in case you too, need be helped.

Here is a link to a video about washing your hands: http://www.my-ce.tv/?rnd=419691410

Job Listing for a Costume Designer (Thank you Tina !!!):
http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/med/1156178869.html

Free Embroidery Design: http://www.advanced-embroidery-designs.com/newsletter/20090504.html

MAKE MONEY WITH YOUR SKILLS !!

Busy & Exciting Week

Blog May 3, 2009

Last Week’s Blog left you with a cliff hanger. The designers in the picture are as follows from left to right, top to bottom. 1. Donatella Versace 2. Betsy Johnson 3. Miuccia Prada
4. Elsa Schiaparelli 5. Madeleine Vionnet 6. Coco Chanel (See below for the picture !!!)

This week, we have the West City Campus Open House and Fashion Show on May 6, 2009. Here is a time table of the goings on…………… The timing is from 10 – 2 PM.

Fashion Shows will be in room 211:

Show I: teachers and students from room 211, Clothing and Textile room, 11:30 to 11:50 Students in the first show should line up near the jewelry room at 11:00.

Show II: teachers and students from 209, Industrial Sewing room, 12:15 to 12:35 Students for the second show line up right after the first show is finished near the jewelry room.

Donna Namdar, program chair, will greet the audience for each show and go thru the first few slides that introduce the program, stop the power point and then the instrumental music will start and the models will begin to enter the room.

****Students line up outside the door of the classroom closest to the jewelry room on the outside stairs. They enter the room from the door closest to the jewelry room. They stop, strike a pose, Sam will be positioned with his camera as they enter the room. They continue to walk across the room, stop for a quick pose to the audience before they exit. They wait quietly in the hall way until the show is over. Walk with confidence and with good posture !!!

Helpers/Docents will wear paper name tags that say Fashion Show Assistant, and should arrive at just before 11:00.

Demonstrations:

Joan McKenna in Sewing Storage 216 doing a Patternmaking demonstration 10:30 to 11:00

Patti Fuhrer in hallway between sewing rooms doing a Textile Surface Design demonstration 12:45 to 1:15

Jenne Hill in hallway between sewing room doing a Tailoring demonstration 1:15 to 1:30

Karen Cunagin will complete the empty bulletin board and have a quilt on display.

Displays: Room 211: Clothing and Textile Room Using the three cutting tables: Table 1 and 2 Kathleen, pillows and purses 3 Patti Fuhrer. Department power point going in a loop after the show.

Displays Room 209: Mannequin modeling on cutting tables. Other course displays on the lower tables. Department power point going in a loop
Foods and Nutrition:

Tray passed appetizers served by students on the first floor only.

Culinary demonstration room will play a looped Foods and Nutrition Power Point and chocolate making video when Chef Sara is in between her chocolate dipped strawberry demonstrations.

Tours will be able to view the demo kitchen but not the industry kitchen as students will be preparing food.

The formal presentation with Chancellor Carroll will start at 10:30.

This update is current as of today and is subject to changes.

http://www.valentinomovie.com/ is opening on May 8th. Call the “Gas lamp 15” for more info.
619-232-0410

May 9th, is Sew Pro’s trip to the LA garment district and M & L fabrics. I will be on the bus. Here is a link to see what is on sale at Michael Levine’s. http://www.mlfabrics.net/newsletter/PDF/may.pdf I do hope to see MANY of you there !!!!

Embroidery: Monday, May 4, is the collection day for our feather shirts if you will NOT be modeling in the fashion show on Wednesday. If you have finished your shirt, we will be embroidering stretch velvet. You will need Solvy topper and a cutaway stabilizer.

Basic Sewing: Monday, May 4, is collection day for your sewing portfolios. I know, they are not finished yet. BUT…I want to present our work at our display table. Bring to class what you got !!! We will be making more samples in class.

Patternmaking: All bets are off as to the speed we are making in this class. This is a very involved class. There are lots of side points that we are hitting like finding jobs in the Apparel Market in this tough economic time. Check out my job links. Last week, we worked on the sleeve. We still need to add seam allowance to the rest of the pattern pieces, do facings and interfacings and sew up our first garment to check the fit of our patterns.

I made a jpg image out of my 4 flyers for my summer 7 week classes. I will attach it to an email. In this way, you can print it out and it will be readable.

Make $$$ with your skills !!!!!!!