Summer Sewing

Published on June 26, 2010 in Sewing and summer sewing. 0 Comments Tags: , .

Our machines have been buzzing!  Summer dresses = super easy sewing.  Here are a few examples.

This is a variation of the popular pillowcase dress.  It can be a dress, swim coverup, or top.  Simple seams and tie straps finish it off easily.  A fabric flower was added to the front of this one.  This is a great  beginner project that can be finished in just a couple hours using under one yard of fabric.  I know you have something in your stash that would be perfect!

Beautiful silk fabric with elastic shirring at the top, which can easily be done to any fabric.  It’s a simple rectangle of fabric, this one has panels of contrast fabric along the bottom.  I”ve had this fabric in my stash for years, and this was the perfect project for it, it was just under one yard, so the fabrics along the bottom added length and matched perfectly don’t you think?  Oh, and don’t forget a fabric beaded necklace-a snap to make and fun to wear.

Etsy Craft party… you know you wanna come!

Published on June 17, 2010 in Creativity boost, Customer focus and Events. 0 Comments

Etsy Craft Party is a global initiative to energize your local community, make art together, and throw a party in your neck of the woods. We want to celebrate crafting together on June 18, 2010 (which just happens to be Etsy’s birthday) with as many celebrations across the globe as possible.

Help us celebrate Etsy and stop by for our bash! We’ll have some demos (paintsticks, stenciling, and patchwork artists’ canvases), some snacks, and some fun. If you are an Etsy-ite come in and share your craft… it’s a great way to broaden your customer base and get familiar with some other local Etsy artists!

If you’ve always wanted to check out Etsy but have been too nervous to jump in and create your own site, use this opportunity as a creativity boost! Over the years we’ve heard a lot of questions and hesitation regarding Etsy… why not get some advice from Etsy artists in our area and a little bit of moral support?

Let’s celebrate our community’s creativity together! June 18th from 6 – 8pm… be there!

It’s Summer-yay!!! June workshops

Published on June 10, 2010 in Classes. 0 Comments

School’s out for the summer…now take some fun classes!

Pillowmaking workshop – using two patterned fabrics, applique a monogram on a simple square pillow with a zipper. Beginner.  June 12, 10am-1:00.  $45.

Pillowcase Dress /tunic – a very simple but very impressive project!!  (it’s not really made from a pillowcase)         Yes, you can finish it in 3 hours, too-even beginners!  June 15, 12-3, $45.

Stuffed animal workshop – Sock monkeys & glove  puppies, you choose the animal!   This is a fun & relaxed  class for all ages and levels of sewing.  June 17th, 12-3, $45.

Summer dress – Learn how to smock using elastic thread and make this super easy dress, which can me made shorter for a tunic.  An easy intermediate/beginner project.  This can be made in any size. (black gauze would make a sweet summer party dress!) June 19, 10am-2, $85.

Name applique pillow –  This is a very impressive intermediate/beginner project that will impress everyone!  Int/beginner.  June 20, 12:00-3pm, $65.

Easy Peasy Quilt – back by popular demand! Any sewing level, an excellent beginning quilt project.  June 24 & July 1, 6-8pm, $65.

Toddler T-shirt applique – use one of our silhouette stencils, or design your own!  June 26, 10am-1, $25.

Summer fun!  A Pajama Party & more great classes coming in July – wrap skirt, alterations clinic, toddler’s bucket hat to name just a few. Sound like fun?  Call for more details.

Supply lists available when you register with payment.  Please register 2 days in advance so we can prepare for the class.  Sorry, class fees are non-refundable.

We wanna hear from you!  Post a comment about the Pajama Party and be entered in a drawing to win a yard of Amy Butler fabric!

Party time!

Published on May 31, 2010 in Amy Butler, Creativity boost, Customer focus and Trunk show. 0 Comments

Hi all! We’re so excited that the Amy Butler trunk show has arrived. During Church of Craft we took a sneak peak at the goods. We were interested in how the laminated fabric looks since we’ve had a hard time getting it in. Wait until you see it! Hope ours comes soon!

We’ll be hosting an Amy Party on Friday, June 4th from 6 – 8pm. We hope you can join us. Since she will be unable to attend, Ms. Butler sent some great prizes for us to give away and we’ve gotten in some cute new things, too (this photo is a hint)! We’ll be doing several drawings during the festivities and oohing and aahing over our Student Trunk Show as well!

Just like last year, you can bring in your Amy Butler items for us to display in the shop with the Student Trunk Show this week and get a cute little prize! Bring them by during our regular hours anytime this week and we’ll keep them on display throughout next week. It can be anything Amy… something from one of her patterns, something from her fabric, or something from her pattern and fabric! Last year we had some great items. I can’t wait to see what you can cook up this year!

We’re looking forward to seeing you Friday for our little party! Come help us kick off our third year as Stitch Cleveland and a whole month of customer appreciation surprises!

Church of Craft rapidly approaching…

Published on May 24, 2010 in Church of Craft. 0 Comments

Hey all, it’s that time of month again! Church of Craft is meeting for our monthly craft-on this Saturday, May 29th from 1 – 4pm. We’re looking forward to seeing you there… don’t forget to bring your latest project. Or the one you started last year and haven’t touched since. For real. We’ll help you get right back on track!

Wondering what this is all about? Church of Craft is open to all creative types that want to stop in and get crafty. Our space is free to you for the afternoon, but remember to come early to get the spot you want! We’ve got plenty of room for you to spread out and work hard on your project!

We’re there to help answer questions and give our advice and humble opinions, but remember, for uninterrupted time with a Seamologist you should schedule a private lesson!

New Amy Butler patterns on their way!

Published on May 16, 2010 in Amy Butler. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Have you seen the new patterns?  Adorable raincoats made up in laminated fabrics-way cool!  A new shipment of Amy’s patterns is expected to arrive shortly-can’t wait to make one!

Our calendar is filling fast, call to schedule your summer lessons today!  Schedule  a group lesson with your kids and their friends, we have plenty of easy beginner project ideas geared expecially for them.

Or, what about you?  Make a quick summer top, a breezy dress, new placemats or a couple cheerful pillows!

Check our Class schedule here.

a new local artist…

Published on May 4, 2010 in Creativity boost and Success stories. 0 Comments

I’m so impressed! One of our weekly students came in tonight for studio time (we rent out our space if you need more room to work then what you have at home) to work on her new venture… she has started her own business!

Last week Claire came in for her usual classtime and decided to work on some awesome t-shirts… she’s upcycling logos and letters to create her own Claire-Wear. She’s started a blog (can’t wait to see what else she writes about) and a great website to sell her work.

By the way, those adults that are always complaining about today’s youth better eat their words… Claire is in 7th grade!

Just wanted to give you another example of how productive you can be with your artistic talent and creative abilities!

Amy Butler Trunk Show coming soon!

Published on April 30, 2010 in Amy Butler, Events and Trunk show. 3 Comments

That’s right! Mark your calendars for June 3rd through the 17th and be sure to make time to stop in to see Amy Butler’s new trunk show! Although Amy won’t be visiting this year (we had a great time with her last year), she is sending samples of her great new patterns for us all to look at and be inspired by. We’ll be stocking our shelves with new fabrics and patterns leading up to the week of the show to give you more reasons to stop on in.

In honor of our new place (and to give ourselves a set goal date to be finished with painting, decorating, and unpacking) we’ll also be planning some great customer appreciation events for the month of June all to be kicked off by a little bit of celebrating!

The ‘liverpool’ is one of Amy’s new patterns. We’ve got several in stock and it sure does work up cute! This sweet tunic can be made long or short to be worn as a shirt or dress. So perfect for summer! Imagine it with some great vintage buttons…

Church of Craft is in the new ‘hood!

Published on April 22, 2010 in Church of Craft. 0 Comments

This weekend will be our first Church of Craft meeting at our new location! Come on in and try out the new space… Bring in your current project or just come in and get inspired by some of the things other people are working on! I’ve been telling myself for weeks that I should be sewing more clothes for myself so I think I’ll get started on Saturday during our meeting! Hope to see you there on Saturday, April 24th from 1 – 4pm!

Heather Ross & Keds!

Published on April 15, 2010 in Creativity boost. 1 Comment

I love the Heather Ross prints but always felt shy about sporting them on a garment. I see that Ms. Ross created some cute little Keds for sale at zazzle.com. These sporty little numbers are just the right amount of unicorns for a grown women to wear… You can even customize the trim colors! Just another way to be crafty. Just yesterday Heidi and I were saying we wish we could make shoes… now we’re one step closer!