That Crafty Lady at StitchCraft

Well, I got up early, got my coffee and drove down the country road to Petaluma. I went to have a private sewing lesson with Nicloe Vasbinder, owner of StitchCraft http://www.stitchcraftonline.com I have been taking Nicoles classes for a few years now at StoneMountain and Daughter Fabrics in Berkeley. But, in February, Nicole opened her own studio with fabrics, notions, patterns and classes. It is SUCH an adorable, bright, sunny studio in down town, historic Petaluma, CA. Anyway, we worked on several different things: we talked about buisness--Nicole teaches a great ,"starting a small buisness class". The we went over some sewing techniques--we went over snaps and grommets. We also discussed the importance of a manual hole puncher and a manual button hole cutter. Man--it was an action packed lesson. What is SO wonderful about Nicole is the lessons are always so informative and super fun! After our lesson, we went next door to see her neighbor and owner of Maude http://maudeshop.com/about.php. It is an increadible childrens shop with rare finds of clothing made out of vintage and recycled fabrics--the clothes are amazing. The store itself is such an enchanting experience and I did not want to leave. But, alas...eventually I had to get back on that country road and head back to the bay area.

Some Sewing Time....

I have been so focused on trying to set up shop and the studio, I am having a tough time escaping to just sew for fun. I have dedicated saturday nights, after the kids are in bed to disappear in my studio and sew. I recently finished one of Liesl Gibsons patterns from Oliver+S http://oliverands.com/ . It is her bubble dress and such a great pattern. I will probably start using it as a shower gift for friends who are pregnant. Anyway, I made it for my oldest friend Tracy's little daughter Lily. It is so strange to have grown up with someone, as Tracy and I did and now our little daughters Annie and Lily are only six months apart--I only hope they have as much fun growing up together as Tracy and I did.

So Many Stories

So, still working on the studio and it is really coming a long. We are converting our dinning room into an addional space of of the studio for cutting and fabric storage. Our china cabinet is now my offical storage unit for fabric! It is an old 18th century dishrack which works very well for a rolled up fabric stash. As I was putting them away last night, each fabric brought back so many memories of things that I have sewn and loved or have been utter disasters! Fabrics that I bought just because I loved the pattern, but have yet to make something out of. And seeing it all together, I can really see a common theme of colors and textures I seem to LOVE. Pinks/reds and browns. There is a lot of blue in there too. Here is a picture of the stash--I am so glad I did it because it is very inspiring to be around so much beautifully crafted fabric.

The Golden Gateway Seamstress

So, now you know...my passions--sewing(of course....)who couldn't be passionate about fabric, all the colors, the textures and the possibilities of what one can make...it makes me dizzy sometimes thinking about it. But..how did I get here...how did I fall in love with fabric? Well, mostly from my mother, who was once a seamstress in San Francisco. She tells me stories of goofy alterations people asked her to make. She often talks about "the submerine" that she worked from--her small dining room and cabinet she created to do her seamstressing in...all with a baby in tow, supporting our family. It is these stories that inspired me to draw back on some of the sewing lessons she gave me as a child---Now, years later...I know what the sewing lessons were for. They were my moms life lessons for me, woven and sewn with little gems of wisdom:don't quit, look deep in yourself and find your passion, as long as you are creative--you shall not be lonely and can always put a penny in your pocket. So, this is where my passion for sewing started, from the example of my mother. Here is a picture of my mom and dad, during her days as a seamstress in SF. My dad is no longer living, but my mom resides in Menlo Park: still working long days in real estate; which she has practiced for 36 years--as the soul supporter of my brother and I. She also continues to carry on with her passion for sewing and hand crafts: she makes dresses for my little muse, Annie. She has also been working, hours a day for a year on a Mary Engelbrieght needle point tapestry for Annie's first birthday. And...if you look in her purse at anytime, you can usually find some knitting needles and a current project. So...this is where my craft passion comes from--my mom...and dearest friend..

Busy Setting Up Shop

Wow, I have not entered a post since July...what have I been doing? Well, setting up the studio to teach classes from great pattern designers like Shannon Richards, from Muse http://www.museonline.net/. I LOVE, LOVE her patterns! Her cosmetic bag pattern is one of my most treasured aquisitions because I make them for "any occasion gifts". I have also been playing with Betsy Ross patterns from owner and propriatress, Aimee Dolby. I have had so much fun making her new raglan top pattern--I adore using old vintage fabrics for this top. And last but not least--my greatest undertaking yet...sewing some clothes for my, little Annie Pants. I have been using a lot of Oliver+S patterns, by Liesl Gibson for my little gal. There is something so special about Liesl's patterns and I am addicted to the flicker group on her blog! I have also been purchasing some vintage dress patterns with yokes and the famouse, two piece jiffy dress, I can't wait to add some great trims and fabric covered buttons to them!

I have also been working on MAD's first project to raise awareness and money towards the cause of Human Trafficking. This is MAD's first sewing/awareness theme and I am SO excited about the project. So...that is where I have been, held up in my studio--setting up shop and working up a new pattern that I will soon unvail as MAD's first project to combine a passion for sewing and a desire to make a difference!