Blog 4-12-09

Blog #1 April 12, 2009

Hello A-Team !!!

I do hope you like the new A-Team format. I don’t have to worry any more about the size of what I write. I can add pictures. I can put links in the links place on the blog and/or in the blog itself. Everyone who has a computer can read this. I won’t get any returns from the Mail Administrator any more. (I was beginning to see him way too often.)

The blog needs followers. Please sign in below. It is okay if you do not want to add your picture. The more followers, the more I will be aware of how big my audience is…on a continual basis.

So Enjoy !!!!! As always, my classes are open entry/open exit so if you decide you want to join….come on down to West City Center on (3249) Fordham Street in Pt. Loma. I have NOT figured out how to remember how to use the Yahoo Account, (yet), for email. I am sure, I will understand more as time goes on. For now…if you need to contact me, use my home email address: mckenna@gothere.com.

Embroidery:

Last Week: We embroidered on Coffee Filters. This was very fun to do. We practiced our feather stitchouts. Next week we will be working on our “feather” shirts. So I hope you used Spring Break to get a shirt and take out the underarm seam. All week long, I have been working on my butterfly suit. I have ½ of a huge (8 ½ inch square) butterfly done on the back. When I finish it, I will bring it into class one last time…to show you what it looks like before I sew back the under arm seams.

This week, I will bring in my stitchouts. One stitch out took me 8 hours !!! (Yes, I slowed down the machine to do this.) You may want to learn this technique during the summer. It is called reverse appliqué. I bought the design from http://www.designbydawn.com/ This is also where I get hot-fix crystals. You can take a look at the Ulysees butterfly at http://www.designbydawn.com/1CrystalEmbDesigns.htm . Scroll down to the bottom of the page. The design is $27.00. Well worth it. You learn SO much when you do it !!!!!

Over Spring Break we held our NO HOST dinner at Chevy’s in Del Mar. It was terrific!!!! Darin Anderson of http://www.embroidery.com/ is SO knowledgable !!! I just can’t thank him enough for coming and speaking to all 16 of us !!!!! What a treat !!!! It was most exciting to learn how he started in this business. Life takes so many different twists and turns!!!!

Basic Sewing:

Last Week: We learned how to do some special hand stitches. We practiced hemming with the slip stitch, blind stitch and my personal favorite: the catch stitch. You will find that this is the most versatile of the three. If you missed this class, you will find these 3 hemming stitches in most sewing books. Practice them in woven straight grain fabric, woven bias grain fabric and in your knit. There are tricks to be learned, so coming to class is a good thing.

This Week: we are going to learn how to sew on closures: Snaps, hooks and a variety of eyes, holed buttons, and shank buttons. There are a variety of ways to do this. AND they all work. No one way is the proper correct way. Come to class and learn ONE way. I MAY have a guest who will show you another way. Bring your hooks, eyes, buttons, snaps, needles and thread.

Patternmaking:

Last Week: Slopers and Muslin Toiles were due. Everyone had their turn putting their muslin toile sample on the half-size dress form and critiquing it.

This week, we will be correcting our master sloper patterns in preparation for learning how to flat pattern your first dress. (Note: As soon as I figure out HOW…I will be starting a glossary of industrial sewing, fashion, and marketing terms in one of the links on the blog. Keep an eye out for it. (You will find that wherever you learned your skills; that is the terminology that you gravitate to. As an example: I went to fashion school in upstate New York. I now in San Diego. Hence my language is East Coast….)

I need to give a giant thank you to Gitta. She cemented the final details for the summer patternmaking course, during the break. What fun we had !!!! We went to Parkway Plaza afterwards. What an experience !!!! Retail sizing is ALL over the board !!!! Unbelievable !!!

Inspiration!!!!

On Sunday, April 26, from 10-3 PM. 1274 Chestnut Avenue. Carlsbad, CA 92008. There is a Spring Show and Sale of ArtWear !!!! These are true San Diego artists. This is the group where I bought my fabulous holiday sweater. (Picture above)

There is a special San Diego Event that you all need to see. This was and is very inspiring. I went to see the cows !!!! Go !!!! See what it is like to walk the streets of LA Jolla (Girard and Prospect). Check out all the sales !!! Here is a link so that you can see what I am talking about. Then you will udderstand the above picture. http://www.cowparadesandiego.com/.

Quote of the Week:

Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. Helen Keller

With the final quote, I want to leave you with one last picture. The lights were going in the new WCC parking lot the week before Spring Break !!!! Remember the parking lot is supposed to be ready to use on April 20, 2009. (1 week !) Can’t wait to see what they accomplished during Spring Break !!!!