workshops

Registration of $5 is to be made with Marie Gartley, Education Chair, 941-756-5387, during the month preceding the workshop.

Supplies needed for each workshop: – sewing machine and instruction book (basic knowledge of your sewing machine is required), cords and foot pedals for machine, sewing machine feet, extra needles; and notions like rulers, pins, scissors, rotary cutters, thread, and extension cord.

More About Workshops
I would like suggestions for projects you would like in 2008. I have a few in the planning stages but would like some suggestions from you, the members.

We have had some really great times this year. The February workshop with Penny Jewel really encouraged us to think outside of the box when making clothing and accessories. She had many ideas to share and added spicy comment throughout the day. At the English Tea in March one of our members showed off what she had created at this workshop.

Those attending the Serger workshop went home no longer afraid of the machine and eager to put all the new knowledge to work. Carol has much knowledge to share. Thank you.

In April more than 20 members showed up to learn how to make a plain garment have pizzazz under Renie Wieder’s guidance. Hopefully we will see some of these garments at future meetings.

The rest of the workshops are in the schedule. Be sure to register. For ones with kits there will be deadlines one week before so the instructor has time to get the kits prepared.

Martiza Davis and Jaynie Steiff with show and tell at Dolores Higgins "How To Pintuck"

The other pictures are the pintuck class. You'll recognize some of your friends in the pictures. It is such a classy way of making your fabric look great and Dolores (in the blue outfit) was such a great teacher.

The challenge was to get everyone's sewing machine working in the "pintuck" mode. Dolores was great and everyone learned yet another valuable skill.

CLICK ON PICTURES FOR FULL SIZE IMAGE.

Sixteen ladies attended the Hope Yoder heirloom pillow case workshop in March. We had a busy day learning all Hope had to show us. There was a Cathedral lace strip, twin needle pin tucks, piping, roll and whip lace to fabric, all to enhance an otherwise plain pillow case. It is a very attractive pillow when finished. We learned new techniques to use again and again. Thank you, Hope. It was a fun and productive day.

A big thank you to Louise Landry who took a day off from work to teach us how to sew lingerie.

Louise is a design engineer by profession and has been sewing her own lingerie for 25 years. She gave us many new design ideas so that our panties fit correctly and suggestions on fabric and lace and elastic application.

This was a fun workshop and has renewed my interest in sewing my own panties that are COMFORTABLE!

If you missed this one, you missed a good one! At the March 2^nd workshop, we were honored to have Hope Yoder as our instructor, Hope is an author, designer, and instructor. She writes articles for many leading magazines including Sew News, Vintage Charm, and Sew Beautiful.

We learned several techniques that are used in heirloom sewing and many “helpful hints” from Hope. What a great guild to bring us such a great teacher as Hope and her assistant Ann Greene. We now all have a beautiful heirloom pillow case.

I feel so sorry for you-all who passed up an entertaining time at the ASG (I don’t know what it’s called) class on December 1^st!

It was the perfect day. The sun was shining. Spirits were high and speaking of lanes, I forgot to turn on Fruitville off of I-75 and we nearly ended up at the outlet mall in Ellenton .. but, because I had the eternally early Kay Liggett in my car, we were still the first "students" to arrive!

This was a Christmas Ornament Making class. Probably that wasn’t the official name but t hen I’m not much for that official stuff anyway. Marie and Norma were the hostesses and showed up with gobs and gobs of cool stuff. Sequins and rope pearls in many many colors, felt, cotton balls, beads galore, scissors, thread & needles, and even Norma’s sewing machine made a brief appearance. They brought several books and patterns out of which we liberally stole ideas right and left.

There was singing and griping .. sometimes from the same person! Griping because there was no music and singing because we wanted to. Marie pulled out a pan full of wonderful cookies at lunchtime or at least I heard they were. ( I couldn’t have any since I doubted they were on my Weight Watchers diet.)

Other events included a pity party for Elaine because no one listens to her and a second pity party for Norma but now I can’t remember why. I was laughing too hard.

In this season after Thanksgiving and before Christmas it was the perfect way to spend a stress free afternoon with friends. And sewing friends are the best friends ever.

I think Elaine’s Santa with either the chicken pox or covered with ladybugs (it depended on how you looked at it) took first prize. Annette came in second with her tarted-up angel. That angel just got more and more gaudy the longer she spent time in Annette’s hands.

Marie and Eva made a bunch of switch plate covers that I had to pass on because we don’t have those up and down kind here. They were really cute! Eva and Della had an assembly line going and ended up tied for making the most out of their time there. Jennie decorated some Christmas trees and helped cutting out patterns.

Marie Gartley, you have the right to remain sewing, anything you sew can and will be used in a court of fabric. You have the right to talk to a quilter and have her present while you are being questioned. If you can not find a quilter, one will be provided for you at a 40% discount.

Marie Gartley, Advisory Board Education Chairman has, willfully and with forethought, taught numerous women how to “stack and slash” fabric, therefore, causing fabric to be cut into various crazy-type quilting for table runners. She had a reported 15 to 20 accomplices. Said accomplices used various types of material, from Christmas designs, autumn and neutrals to make said table runners in said “stack and slash” fashion. The finished projects are reported to be most attractive and very useful.

All accomplices actually took great joy in cutting fabric in this manner and putting it back together again with a ¼ inch seam allowance. This group of women admits to having “sew much fun” that they are looking forward to their next workshop class.

Pictures were reported to have been taken and will serve as evidence at future meetings.

Sentencing hearings have been met and Marie Gartley is hereby sentenced to teach another workshop class in the immediate future with thanks from all her accomplices of September 1, 2005.

All accomplices pled guilty of “stacking and slashing” fabric in a fun fashion and will serve time by attending all future Marie Gartley workshop classes.

Our workshops during 2005 have gone very well. We have had some with 30 members attending and one with only a few. All have been enjoyable.

I have started planning for 2006. If there is a subject you would like to teach or have taught, please call me at 756-5387 Marie Gartley

The embellishment workshop had 20 members of varying expertise. June Colburn brought her white kimono and other items to show ideas for us to use. She worked with members new to bead work on how to get started and gave lots of advice to those with projects to embellish. It was a well enjoyed day and we went home eager to get busy on our projects.

On March 3rd there was a buzzing and whirring sound surrounding the North Sarasota Library. It was none other than the "Sewing Sarasota Chapter Sweatshirt Jacket Maniacs." There wasn't another table, extension cord or outlet to be had. There were 31 of us in attendance as Marie Gartley told us how to create a great jacket from a yard of fabric and a pullover sweatshirt. Everyone oohed and aahed over the color and fabric choices made by others. We started at 10AM, inhaled a brown bag lunch, and kept on going until 2:30. We've been so fortunate to have the use of the library every month. There are many more programs scheduled for the coming year. Come and buzz and whir with us at the next scheduled class.