I am holding a supply swap at Common Space in Toledo as well as a small show featuring handmade clothing and accessories. Please contact me with any questions! Everyone is welcome to come and all proceeds from the craft swap will go to benefit Scrap4Art Toledo. Also, you can follow the even on facebook at this link http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/event.php?eid=141458725864914 . Or search "Frocks, Bags, and Baubles: A Wearable, Carryable Art Event".
Date:    Saturday, August 14, 2010
Time:    12:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:    Common Space, N. Reynolds Rd., Toledo OH

I am teaching some classes at the Hancock Fabrics in Sylania soon and I thought some of you may be interested. If you need any more information send me a message!

Duct Tape Dress Form Workshop
Saturday April 25th at 12:00 noon
Make an exact replica of your body to use for alterations or pattern making. You will leave at the end of the day with a finished dress form and instructions on how to do it again. All of the materials will be provided by me, but you will be required to wear a tight fitting outfit so that your clothing does not interfere with the process. The cost is $150 for one person, but the price drops to $100 per person if you bring one or more friends. Space is limited to ten people, so please sign up at Hancock Fabric ahead of time.

Beginner Serger
Friday May 1st 6:00pm-8:00pm
Learn the basics of using a serger and how it will benefit your sewing. You are requqired to bring your own machine. The cost is $25 per person.

Serging With Knits
Friday May 8th 6:00pm-8:00pm
Learn the basics of sewing with knit fabrics on your serger. You are required to bring your own machine. The cost is $25 per person.

Weaving For Beginners
Friday May 8th 6:00pm-8:00pm
Learn basic weaving techniques and complete a small project. All materials are provided but I strongly encourage you to bring yarn scraps from your own stash! The cost is $40 per person.

On March 21st at Lourdes College in Sylvania Ohio there is going to be a fabulous art festival! It is a womens arts festival and there will be crafts, fine art, entertainment, and food. If you have the day off or even a few minutes to pop in I and everyone else would appreciate the support.
Also, if you know of any other art festivals, craft fairs, or exciting goings on in Northwest Ohio please do post them here. I think we are all happy to see the ridiculous amount of snow we had this year gone and we need a day out.

This is so exciting!
Starting November 10th I will begin teaching classes at the Hancock Fabrics store in Monroe Street in Starlight Plaza. I guess it is technically in Sylvania but close enough!
On the 10th I will be teaching Sewing Machine Maintenance and Troubleshooting. It will cover how to clean and oil the entire machine, and how frequently it should be done depending on how frequently you use the machine. I will also cover troubleshooting and tips to keep your machine sewing perfectly every time you use it.
On the 17th I will be teaching Serger Maintenance and Troubleshooting. It will basically be the same agenda as the sewing machine class, but for sergers.
On the 24th I will be teaching a "Fabric Design Sampler". I will be showing examples of stenciling, stamping, screen printing, batiking, tie dying, resist painting, and painting. I will be showing you how to do some of these with household staples as well as where you can buy the supplies that are not. Also, student will have the opportunity to try one of these techniques.
For now those are the only three classes but I hope to be doing many, many more! I would love more than anything to teach classes for some of the specific fabric design techniques but I can only do that if people are interested. If you have any class suggestions or would like to learn how to do something by all means PM me! If you do not like the classroom setting I also offer in home lessons for just about anything sewing or fiber arts related.

[Here is the the first place winner]

So, earlier this year I entered into the Babylock Passion for Fashion Sewing challenge at the American Sewing Expo in Novi Michigan. To enter you have to mail a finished garment to them along with an entry fee and wait around to see if you got in. Well I was in the competition last year (placed in top six!) and all I sent in this year was a pair of patchwork pants so I figured I would not get in (they get hundreds of entries). I payed for a ton of classes and then about two days later I got the call, I was in again! So I had to give away All of my classes to family members (poo).
This competition is similar to Project Runway, the only difference being that you are designing and sewing the garment while you are on display in the middle of the sewing expo while hundreds of people walk by and stare at you (hard core stare at you...even when you are just taking a break or eating lunch). Thursday night we picked and measured our models, then Friday morning the other 11 finalists and I were given a challenge and then $100 to shop the floor and buy our fabrics. We had from 8am to 7pm on Friday to sew, and then from 8am to 3pm to sew on Saturday. Our models arrived at 3pm on Saturday for a final fitting and we had until 5:30pm to make all the finishing touches.
The final runway show started at 6pm on Saterday and the judges were Carmen Webber (from project runway), Carmia Marshall (Carmen's BFF), Carolina Torres (last years winner), Judy Raymond (VP of Simplicity Pattern Company), and Rob and Corinne (from threadbanger). There was also a special appearance by Kenneth King (awesome designer). So in the end I was in the bottom six but I LOVED what I made and so did everyone else I spoke to (I won ). Here is my final garment!
Front

Back

Taking a serious breather after some solid sewing hours

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Ok, here we go!
"This year's challenge is to create an outfit that goes from the work place to an evening event. You will be asked to explain "who she is", where she works and what the evening event is. You must also base your outfit on one of the following four elements of nature; earth, wind, fire or water."
I thought that the challenge this year was very overwhelming and would have been a little easier to handle if there had been less to it. Any way here is what everyone came up with, both front and back pictures!
Here is the the first place winner


Second Place


Third Place


And eveyone else!


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WOW! I would love to hear what everyone thinks!

I use my serger nearly every day and have it serviced about every six months to keep it in tip top shape and I know all of its quirks...except for this new one. I changed the needles this morning and serged for about 3ft when suddenly the lower looper thread went wild! It was as though there was no tension on the thread at all. So I rethreaded the machine completely, blew it out, and readjust the tension but to no avail. I have tried everything I can think of other than taking it to be looked at, but that was just done last month and it is just too expensive. Any ideas as to what the problem could be? thanks!!

Hello all
I bought this spree for $100 not working, switched a few things around, did some cleaning and she ran! I took the plastic pieces from my non-running Spree and did some spray painting. Here is the before and after. Too cute!!

Where do you sell or display your items? I used to sell clothing at The Happy Badger when they were in Toledo, but with gas prices being what they are and Happy Badger having moved to Bowling Green, that is out of the question at this point. Is there anyone who sells or displays anything locally?

My boyfriend loves Andrew Zimmern and all of the crazy things that he gets to eat, so when I saw oxtail on sale at the market I had to buy some. Only problem...I have never cooked it and I have no idea how it should be prepared. Does anyone have any recipes/tips/advice? Also, I will be taking me second shot at Japanese ramen for dinner tomorrow so I will actually have pics and hopefully a tasty broth! (the last broth was missing something...)

I had dread locks for quite a while which took a toll on my head. My hair has never really been the same since I cut them all off and my natural hair is very very ridiculously curly. I also dye it every few moth because my natural hair color is so dark it is almost black and I am pasty white pale. Does anyone have any suggestions or remedies to very dry, frizzy and damaged hair?