Sew Much Fun
Janet Loy, Leader 941.445.7386
jloyostoin@gmail.comFirst Monday 1:00 - 3:00 pm (new day and time and place)
Jacaranda Public Library
4143 Woodmere Park Blvd, Venice
March/April 2012
In January, with the return of our "snow Birds" and four guests, we had a lively and enjoyable meeting. The Show & Tell was fantastic, with items such as a quilt that was the oldest UFO ever, started by a grandmother and recently finished by her granddaughter, several silk scarves and high quality garments made by a guest from Chicago. One of her garments won a First Place at the Chicago Sewing Expo. Our project for the day was making name tags with Loralie "sewing Ladies" fabric. It will be fun to see us all wearing our "lovely ladies" next month. We are looking forward to our March meeting, when Crazy Quilters, a new fabric and notions store in Venice, will visit. They are going to tell us about their classes and services and they will demonstrate an adorable "onesie Dress". Kits will be available for purchase.
January/February 2012
On Nov. 28th, we joined The Wearable Arts Group in Englewood. With our garbage bag smocks on, we learned how to use “Memories Mist” fabric spray paints. In December, we celebrated the holidays enjoying lunch at Boca Royale Country Club. There was nice turn-out of 32 ladies from Sew Much Fun, Wearable Arts, and Sew What's New. A good time.
November/December 2011
On August 30, six ladies met to cut fabric for “clip-on flowers” to be used as a “Make & Take” project for our National Sewing month Open House. These wonderful ladies took the cut fabric home and did the necessary prep work so that our guests would have an easy project to make and take home. Thank you Ladies! The Open House was held at the Jacaranda Library and, despite the weather, we felt it was successful. There was a nice array of projects displayed and some yummy treats, enjoyed by all. The flowers were a big hit! The library staff even came in to make a flower and, best of all, we gained a couple new members. In October, Mary Baker led our group in making a fun and useful project—”Back Pack” Beach Towels. Thanks Mary for the great presentation! These would make great gifts.
September/October 2011
We had so much fun from January to June, we had to take off for the summer. We will join Wear-able Arts Group for the September 26 meeting.
July/August 2011
In May, Mary Joanne Eckinger showed us how to make “clip-on Flowers” using fabric tubes, a glue gun and a wooden clothes pin. It was great fun and enjoyed by all. Several of us stayed to make flowers and happily took home our treasures. Thank you, Joanne.
Our June meeting was presented by Jan Loy , who shared with the us the history of aprons and a nostalgic look at the time hon-ored traditions associated with aprons. Jan had several aprons to show us and our group members also brought their favorites. A challenge was sent out to our members to bring 1 yard of fabric to cut out an apron and to bring it back in September for our National Sewing Month open house. The challenge was to pick a theme and be creative.
May/June 2011
In March, Kathleen Heinicke travelled to Venice to meet with a combined Sew Much Fun and W.A.G. group. Fourteen ladies watched and listened intently as Kathleen explained how to draw a graph-like pattern on our “would be” placemats. About half of the group actually started their placemats. We can’t wait to see the outcome. Thank you, Kathleen, for sharing your time and talent with us. In April, Sew Much Fun travelled to Englewood for another class taught by Kathleen, the Ribbon Scarf.
March/April 2011
In January, we enjoyed listening to our guest, Pamela Cameron, from “Sew Fun” in Venice. Her new venture in retailing is a labor of love and a dream come true for Pamela. In spite of ill health, she has opened a small store and is offering classes to fulfill her goal of bringing her love of sewing to more people. Her store is located at 528 Venice Ave., Venice, Fl 34285. 941-488-9888 or 941-716-3838. Closed Mon-Tue. To receive her newsletter, email : pamcam-eron5@verizon.net. Our February meeting was a “hands-on” project making fat quarter placemats. Kathy Stephenson led us through this fun project. These placemats are a perfect way to add a seasonal touch to your home. Thank you, Kathy; now we all have a new look for our tables.
January/February 2011
In November, we made many welcome bags for the regional meeting to be held in February. Members also took fabric home to make more bags.
In December, we enjoyed our Holiday Luncheon with the “Wearable Arts Group” and the “Sew What’s New” Group at Boca Royale Country Club. The cuisine was great and “Show and Tell” was terrific! I have never seen so many varied items made by our members in one gathering! Everybody enjoyed time for chatting, the delicious choices for lunch and the varied hand made items that were shared with the group.
Thank you for the lovely card and gift. I have enjoyed being a member of the group for many years (about 9), treasurer for about 7 years and a leader for 2 years. Already some fabric has been bought and my sewing machine now has a much-needed tuning (thanks to my husband), so I am anxious to get started!
Thanks to all of you! Have a wonderful, healthy, prosperous and Happy New Year!
Elsie Mason
P. S. I want to thank my husband, Chuck Mason, for all his support and for teaching me more about digital photography and imaging over the last 3 years while I was Newsletter Editor
November/December 2010
In September , Elsie demonstrated how to plan & make additions to a snappy bag project as well as make an easy, dressy hat for travel or for a special occasion. The varied show ‘n tell items were terrific, as usual!
In October , Janet Loy show us how to make a Fabric Gift Bag for a special Birthday, Anniversary or Holiday. After the meeting, those of us who wanted to make one that day stayed and did! Thank you, Janet. Happy Sewing everyone!
Elsie Mason
September/October 2010
In June, we finished and made 36 soldiers’ pillows with 78 cases for God Bless America Day. Thank you to all who helped! In July, we brought in ideas for places to visit and items for show and tell. Even though our group was small, we learned of some new shops in Ft. Meyers as well as two new ones in Venice and Sarasota. We plan to visit some of these in the near future.
On August 2, Jan Loy brought patterns for each size of t-shirt. Everyone took their measurements and were able to copy the right sized pattern to take home. Jan showed us many choices of necklines that could be used with knitted (stretch) fabric to enhance the look of a short, ¾ or long-sleeved blouse. Thank you Jan for an interesting program!
Elsie Mason
July/August 2010
In May, we brought in our foam core boards and did pin weaving. Janet Loy brought in examples of purses that she had embellished. We all had a good time talking and weaving. Thanks, Janet!
In June, we postponed making the fabric gift bags, so we could make pillows and pillowcases for our soldiers. We cut, ironed and sewed fabric for many pillows with two pillow cases for each pillow. Dorothy Grode, who brought in 12 pillows and 24 pillow cases, stuffed hers and all of the pillows made that day. Others of our group had brought in pillows and cases, also. We set up an “assembly line” and finished most of the pillows and cases. Four of us took home the remaining fabric to finish. These will be turned in on July 3rd, “God Bless America” Day.
Thanks to all of you for a job well done!! - and over quota!!
Elsie Mason
May/June 2010
In March, we had a surprise - our own Barb Callahan, creator of Barb Originals, showed us how to use wing needles to make elegant finishing touches on garments that we have sewn! She also showed us some of her lovely work on blouses, jackets, skirts and dresses made of natural fabrics like linen. We were so lucky to have her between the Expos in Tampa and Atlanta (!) where she was teaching. We also served refreshments. It was a great meeting! Thank you, Barb!!
In April, Henrietta Kelly-Driggers showed us step-by-step how to make an origami blouse or jacket. We appreciated her presentation even more, when we found out that she had just come home from the hospital a few days before! I talked with her a little while ago and she is doing fine. Thank you very much, Henrietta!
We also shared some of the things we made and/or classes we attended at EXPO in Tampa! All of us who attended agreed that we had come away with more knowledge of and enthusiasm for sewing! It was a wonderful day! Many thanks to Marie Gartley and her daughter, Mary Jane Fuller, for making it possible!!
Happy sewing!
Elsie Mason
March/April 2010
In January, members brought donations for community service –including soldiers’ bags and items for the seniors’ ditty bags. Thank you to all who donated!
When most of us arrived at the library, we found that there was a building-wide plumbing problem and the library was closed for the day! Unable to find a place close-by on short notice and some having to travel 25 minutes more to my home, the final decision was made to postpone the meeting until February!
The February meeting included what we had planned for January. We ironed the labels in the veterans’ bags that we had made and sewed around the edges, so that they would be permanently placed inside the bags. Irene Ferguson, our NG Community Service Lady, will send the bags to Care, Inc. Janet Loy presented many ideas for programs. More ideas from other members were included on the List. We voted and came up with programs for the next three months. (See opposite page.) Happy planning and sewing!
Elsie Mason
January/February 2010
In November, Members brought in donations for community service –including items for the ditty bags. Thank you! Also, thank you all for the nice bazaar donations: attractive purses, pretty lace-trimmed baby socks, a lovely fall-print tea cozy, coaster sets, knitted baby bonnet, etc. Elsie demonstrated one way to make a purse divider and handed out directions (with sketches) for making them. Our neighborhood group voted to and has donated $100.00 to the library for some Fashion Sewing books. There were many, many books on quilting but only a few on fashion sewing or tailoring. This donation should help! Thanks to all of you!
The December Holiday Luncheon was held at the Boca Royale. Everyone enjoyed the delicious food and the camaraderie. Thanks to Maryanne Manganello for making arrangements for us. Joyce Sargeant made (by hand) soft, thick wool thimbles for everyone! Thank you Joyce for such thoughtful, useful gifts! We welcome Janet Loy as our new Co-Chairman in 2010. Jan has lots of good ideas that you won’t want to miss at our January meeting! Come help us plan for an interesting, fun year!
Check out the picture see how the different fabrics come into play with the technique. Thank you Brenda for putting the class together!
Elsie Mason