One of my latest creative endeavors isn't of a crafty nature.
Well, it kind of is.
I'm thrilled to announce the launch of the brand new Stitch Lab web site, designed and built by ... me! For the last six months or so, we've gone through countless versions, gathered massive amounts of content, edited hundreds of photos and built a ginormo-awesome web site for my favorite crafty spot on the planet. It was a huge undertaking, but even in its most stressful moments, was a true labor of love and a joy to work on.
It's so exciting to know how much incredible growth the Stitch Lab has had in the last few years. From a few classes a week in Leslie's backyard studio a few years ago, to dozens of classes a week (and more than 90 different classes on the roster) with almost 10 instructors and a bustling retail shop, I'm simply blown away by what Leslie has inspired and created.
The new web site is built to handle the high volume of enrollments, to share resources for students and to convey the spirit and fun of the Stitch Lab. I can't tell you how satisfying it is to see it up and running.
And it's still growing! More resources will be added, and a fully-functioning blog will be integrated so Leslie and Carol can share their favorite crafty tidbits and what's new in the shop. (mmmmm .... fabric .....)
I hope that even if you aren't in Austin, you'll pop by and check it out and let us know what you think. I feel really lucky to be a part of the Stitch Lab gang, and honestly quite honored to be tasked with creating the Stitch Lab online presence. I'm excited to see what growth the next few years have in store for us!
It's finally here! The Official Grand Opening Soiree for the Stitch Lab! Leslie and Carol have put together an amazing weekend of the most awesome indie crafters in Austin, and the Lab is all decked out for a glee-filled event. Saturday and Sunday, noon to 8PM, guests can peruse the goods of more than 20 of Austin's best-loved artisans, munch on seriously tasty vittles and sip festive bevvies. Best yet, all of the yummy fabrics and wool felt at the Stitch Lab are a whopping 20% off. I was just in the Lab this week, teaching a class, and saw some of the newest fabrics Leslie has stocked. Oh. My. Goodness. I wanted to lick every last bit of it! It was all so dreamy!
You can read all about the event and all the vendors over on the event page. I can't wait to get over there and splurge on some fabric and felt and other goodies as a little Christmas gift to myself. ;) Hope to see you there!
And in case you missed it, my good pal, Misty, did a beautiful write up and house tour of the Stitch Lab for Apartment Therapy. The pictures are divine! Enjoy!
The Stitch Lab move is complete, and the new location is one of the coziest, warmest, most welcoming and inspiring places I have ever experienced. Leslie's attention to detail is phenomenal, and every little nook and cranny has something special in it. The sewing space is large and open and fantastically functional. The handwork room is cozy and filled with inspiring embroidered pieces and the most awesome crazy quilt curtains you have ever seen. Even the bathroom is inspiring and fun! Come. ON! I love this place! I just want to hang out there all day long and make stuff!
As if the classes from the Future Craft Collective aren't enough to get you super excited, we're also working on the fall schedule at the Stitch Lab. We'll be working on the newsletter with the new schedule announcements on Wednesday (my favorite day of the week is newsletter day - it's loads of fun) There will be new rounds of the ever-popular Beginning I and Beginning II Series, some more hand embroidery classes from me, and maybe even a few new classes thrown into the mix.
To make sure you are first to be in the know, sign up for the Stitch Lab newsletter over on our web site. The newsletters aren't just schedule updates - we post loads of good information from our Notable Notions series, crafty news from around Austin and beyond, and pictures of Stitch Lab student creations from our Flick gallery. It's an email newsletter you'll actually look forward to receiving - even if you aren't local to Austin! So go sign up for it ... like NOW!
The new Stitch Lab class schedule is up! As usual, there are loads of fun offerings. I'm teaching more embroidery classes, so check the schedule and see if you can come stitch with me. It's a blast! If you are interested in a daytime class, just email and let me know. I'm toying with the idea of offering one.
There is an appliqué class this time 'round, though it was almost full by the time I left work this afternoon. The enrollment status reflects as of about noon today. I won't be back in the Stitch Lab until Monday to go through further enrollments. We had tons of registrations this morning, so if you see a class in which you are interested - grab a spot while you can!
One great opportunity that's coming up starting this weekend is a spot in our Beginning I Sewing Series. This is a class that typically has a wait list three times the spots available, but we've had a hitch with our July Saturday session: turns out lots of folks are traveling and won't be available all three Saturdays. That means that if you've been interested in taking the Beg. I series, you can sign up right now with no wait. The classes start this Saturday, July 12 and continue on July 19 and 26 from noon to 3:30 PM. Grab this opportunity while you can - it won't last long.
Come get creative and crafty with us! You won't be disappointed. :)
July is going to be a slim pick'ns blog month for me. I've got a regular work load a few other special projects that have to be done this month, and it's the only month of the summer where I have zero child care and will be out of town for 10 days. Just writing that last sentence almost made me puke!
So for now, I'd like to pass on a little something fabulous from my best pal, Leslie. I've told you before how awesome the Stitch Lab weekly newsletter are, and that you should sign up for them even if you aren't local to Austin. Leslie and I have a blast putting them together each week. Aside from our awesome sewing class schedules, we put loads of great information in each newsletter. The last few newsletters have been especially informative, thanks to a new series Leslie has written about basic sewing notions.
The series is called, "Notable Notions" and so far she has covered basic sewing supplies, thread and presser feet. We've had fun setting up and taking pictures of the various notions (the piles of vintage spools of thread were my fave) and Leslie has included some awesome information. As always, she's able to present a lesson in an easy-to-understand, fun, practical way. She's magic like that.
Go sign up for the newsletter. Our latest one just went out this afternoon, so until the next one, you can enjoy the Notable Notions archive on the Stitch Lab website.
So I mentioned briefly that I taught an embroidery class at the Stitch Lab last month. It was loads of fun, and the women in the class were really great. I was nervous, and having such fun, sweet, enthusiastic and warm gals in the class really helped ease my nerves. I loved it. It ended up being a really relaxed, fun evening.
I designed a basic sampler for the class - we've got backstitch, split stitch, stem stitch, satin stitch, chain stitch, blanket stitch, lazy daisy and herringbone. My hope was to create a fun design that the students might be able to use in some way after the class.
And that's just was Amy of Sewcial Butterfly did - and she knocked my socks off with her display of her classwork. She's framed it in a beautiful shadow box and even added paper and embellishments that coordinate with the Stitch Lab logo - love that! Even better, she did a journal panel on the back of the frame. It's such a cool way to capture a memory. There was a recent discussion on the Flickr Embroidery Group about ways to display your finished embroidery. I think Amy's ranks up there as one of the best. Sure, I'm a bit biased, but .... ya know.
And, yes, as she reveals in her journaling, I did give her a tiny peek at the Secret Tea Towel for Jenny Hart. As we sat there and stitched in class, we talked about the great online crafting community and about all the people whose work we admired. She mentioned several people whose work was on the towel. Seeing and admiring someone's work online is one thing, but holding it in your hands takes things to a whole nutha levol. I can't deny anyone that joy.
I'm teaching another class at the Stitch Lab in June. If you're here in Austin, please join us!
Have I mentioned how much I love the Internet? I don't want to say I'm *addicted* because, really, I don't mind when I'm away from my computer (I kinda like it, actually) but if I'm working or just at home, the Internet provides me with all kinds of fun, interesting stuff.
Like this. Leslie sent this over the other day, and we included it in the Stitch Lab newsletter this week. It's a 1948 video from Simplicity patterns called, "A Pattern for Smartness" about sewing your own clothes so you can "look smart."
It's stunning in its vintange sewing goodness .... and a little bit frightening to remember how women used to be. It follows Betty as she explains how her Home Economics class changed her life by teaching her to sew her own clothes. Before you know it, there is a giant pattern envelope in the middle of Betty's room, and women come out from behind it and "give life" to the pattern. We follow Betty as she chooses fabrics, cuts the pattern pieces and ultimately puts together a very smart dress (that she points out can be jazzed up with some quick fashion accessory changes! Oooh!) Finally, Johnny, her boyfriend ... or friend who is a boy, tells her she and her home ec friends should put on a fashion show to raise money for equipment for the boys' basketball team. Of course! Why not! That's a swell idea! It's hilarious ... and a little scary.
I watched the whole thing and managed to jot down loads of funny lines that I loved ... and then accidentally deleted the text file with the notes. ooops. The website has some quotes listed, though:
"Your pattern catalog is a book of magic. For it transforms all who use it into creative artists. Yes, just as the portrait artist uses the paints and the brushes to express his impression of a personality, so you can use fabrics and lines and colors to express your own personality."
"A good pattern is one of a girl's best friends."
and the video ends with:
"Happy sewing to you all!"
Happy sewing, indeed!
The video is a little on the long side (about 19 min) but is so totally worth watching.
Speaking of the Stitch Lab Newsletter, we sent out a new schedule last night. If you're in Austin, do take a look and join us for some stitchy fun. And check it out! I'm on the schedule! I actually taught my first hand embroidery class last week at the Stitch Lab, and it was a total blast. I'll write more about that later, but I've got the teaching bug big time now. I taught high school for three years before I had kids, and while that was ... interesting ... I've got to say that it's loads more fun to teach something with which I am so in love to folks who are just as excited as me to be there. I'm teaching another hand embroidery class in June. Check it out and join me!
We had a fun night tonight - the kind of night where I come home and still have to pinch myself and say, "Really? This is part of my job? Seriously? I'm that lucky? Dang!"
I'm wound up, but also tired, so the post will be short and sweet with plenty 'o pictures to show how much fantastic fun it was to teach 75 people embroidery ... in one room ... in three hours.
We were lucky enough to be invited to hold a Stitch Lab event at Design Within Reach in downtown Austin. It's an amazing furniture store - the kind where you walk in and want pretty much everything in there (ohh .... the aqua leather couch ... it has my name written all over it ....) Leslie thought a hand embroidery night would be fun, and of course, I'm not going to complain about that. Long story short: we ended up with more than 75 people in this amazing furniture store and taught them all some basic embroidery.
It was amazing. Imagine a beautiful, artful space, filled with small groups of 10 or so people hunched over embroidery hoops. There was lots of talking, lots of laughing and lots of fun creative connections. Pretty much heaven to me.
The people were so fantastic, and were very receptive to the crafty goodness of embroidery. There were all ranges of ages, women and men, and they all seemed to really enjoy picking up the needle and floss and get to stitching. Several people talked about having not embroidered in decades, or how they used to watch their grandmothers embroider, and it was great to hear their stories. Mostly, it was just great to see people laughing, connecting and enjoying the craft. Honestly, my little embroidery-loving heart was down right overflowing. It was almost too much to handle.
So I'm still wound up, but still exhausted, and really needing to get in bed. So enjoy the pictures of the stitchy fabulousness!
These gals were adorable and had a blast stitching up their napkins.
Jenny Hart and the Sublime Stitching gang donated the transfers we used on the napkins. They were perfect for fun stitching! Thanks, Jenny!
Lots of laughter and fun.
Victory! A sassy, fun napkin and a new skill all in one night!
Mmmmmm .... floss .... Participants picked a few colors and got ready to stitch!
Must. Go. To. Bed. I'll be dreaming of embroidery.
I was super excited when Leslie said this week's newsletter would focus on Embroidery. It's my favorite craft. I went a little overboard (as far as e-newsletters are concerned) and filled the thing with loads of information - not just blog love. So I'm posting the info here, 'cause there was some good stuff. Again, if you are local to Austin, you can sign up to receive the newsletter here. Even if you aren't in Austin, it's a fun newsletter to get ... see why below!
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Don't call it a comeback! The Creative, Calming influence of hand embroidery is as contemporary as ever!
Our Favorite Embroidery Books
Our Favorite Embroidery Web sites:
The Embroidery Flickr Pool - needing inspiration for your next project? Five minutes in the Flickr Embroidery Pool, and your mind will be brimming with new ideas.
Needlecrafter - This site is undergoing some updates after a long hiatus, but there are still dozens of amazing FREE vintage embroidery designs that you can download, print and transfer for your next project. Enjoy!
Our hand embroidery classes have always been favorites, and you can join in the fun with our latest scheduled classes. Enjoy this traditional craft with a few modern twists. And, if you'd like a taste of what hand embroidery can be, join Leslie at Design Within Reach this Monday (Feb. 4) for a free hand embroidery workshop. We'll even be using some transfers from none other than Sublime Stitching! There will be a large group, but it will be a great way to whet your appetite for the flossy goodness of embroidery. Click here to read more and RSVP for the event.
And my weekly Blog-spiration:
It's safe to say I am a full-blown embroidery nut. Of all the crafty goodness I explore, it really is my favorite. In fact, it's what first brought me to Leslie! I took a hand embroidery class from her almost two years ago.
I love to mix my embroidery and blog addiction, and here are a few of my favorites (if I listed them all ... well ... we'd need a full separate newsletter for that).
Feeling Stitchy - this blog accompanies the Flickr Embroidery group. Aside from posting highlights from the Flickr group, they also post tutorials, interviews with fellow needle artists, and have some great educational series as well. It's a group blog, so there are lots of talented folks writing for them.
Vintage Transfer Finds - meet Floresita, a New York-based artist with an incredible collection of vintage embroidery transfers. She scans, cleans up and posts a selection of her collection with information on the transfers. You can download the transfers and use them on your personal projects. Floresita's own embroidery projects are down-right amazing. Check out her Flickr gallery to see what I mean.
Needle N Thread - you have to scroll through some google ads at the top of the page, but the content is worth it. On this blog, you'll find some great video clips of embroidery stitches - perfect for when you need a quick refresher in the middle of a project.
And for a little more inspiration, here are some of my favorite embroidery projects I've seen through the Flickr Embroidery Group:
Thinking Embroidery
by Amiee Ray
Sad Girl Embroidery
by Floresita
The Lucy Portrait Pillow
by doe-c-doe
And, because I LOVE embroidery with a sense of humor ....
Don't Tase Me, Bro!
by SewClever
Apron of Anxious Treats
by SwampThing
And ... one of my own creations - a zombie makeover on one of Floresita's vintage embroidery patterns
Zombie Jitterbug Girl
by Average Jane Crafter
Embroidery can be beautiful, delicate, chunky, modern, retro, fun and artistic. Few crafts can cover such a range. Grab a hoop, some floss and a needle and hurry on in for one of our embroidery classes. The next embroidery enthusiast may be YOU!
******************************Grab a crafty pen pal and participate in the Back and Forth Project!
Austin is a hotbed of boundless creativity - we all know that. Here's a great new Austin-based project that combines crafting, good old fashioned snail mail and blogging.
Kathie Sever and Shannon Lowry have started the Back and Forth Project.
From their web site:
We'd like to build a tribute to the physicality of moving something back and forth between two people- and utilizing the internet as a means to document the beauty of getting back to a more multi sensory, visceral experience of staying connected. ... We invite YOU to submit a project you and a friend will make and pass back and forth through the mail as you each embellish it.
Read more about the project and see how you can submit your project on the Back and Forth Project Blog.
I had yet another fun, fabulous class with Leslie tonight. It was called "Monsters, Dolls and Plush Toys" and it was a blast. I'm tired, and my back hurts from bending over the table, hand stitching eyes and beaks and wings, but I'm stoked with what I brought home.
Yes, owls are over done. But I just couldn't help myself.
And aside from coming home with a super fun little plush-o-love, I also FINALLY mastered the blanket stitch and learned the secrets to the perfect ladder stitch (hidden stitch) close. I had all sorts of new worlds opened to me tonight. So much fun!
But I'm pooped. I'm heading to bed to snooze and try to come up with how I'm going to fight my daughter for this little dude in the morning.
