Yesterday, I successfully helped 18 girls finish pajama pants and a pillow case in 3 days of 3 hours or sewing; 2 classes of 9. It was undoubtedly nothing but fun! The process can be stressful at times, but I feel I have really mastered the art of our annual Camp Snowy Nights class at the store. It really is a science. I have a time line for each step and know when girls are falling behind, because this is about the 7th year I have taught this class.
Their excitement as the finish their hems and run to the bathroom to change to get ready for the class photo, is priceless. It's that innocent bliss that fills their face and it is honestly a moment that shines above any of the stressful moments during the 18 hours that I may have.
My excitement as I clean the classroom on the final camp day, slowly drains and I realize I have to wait until Spring Break or the Summer to teach this class again. Regardless of any frustration during the class, I am sad when it is over but glad they all of successfully completed pajama pants and pillowcases. Luckily, I still have my weekly and monthly classes throughout the school year that are set up differently then these camps, but are just as rewarding.
Fitting the pants this year was like any other year; unexpected. You really can not know or ask the sizes of the girls, and many of them are child sizes while others are adult sizes. This year I went with a children's pattern and planned to do the pillowcase on the first day so that I could figure out who might need an adult pattern and could prepare for the next day. It worked out fine and I did have a pattern crunch moment, but it all worked out.
I think 18 pairs of pajama pants that make 18 girls happy, is really the end goal here. They really enjoyed the process and the fun we had in class. They made friends and they made pants. Because these 2 camps filled up so early, I added another 6 hour class on Saturday just for making the pajama pants. I am a little worried about the length of time for girls aged 7-10, but it should be another full days of sewing, with the same priceless bliss that ends it all.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
One Christmas Gift
I finally accomplished something that I have not accomplished in years. I successfully finished a project to give someone for Christmas. Although, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that it was only a set of pillowcases, but I have to remember that small steps are what get me to my end goal. Although, I have not set a goal for this Christmas yet. I mean it is December 16, and how much time do I really have to make more gifts? I could probably make time and I should. But first I must make a goal to aspire to meet.
Last night, was my sewing classes Holiday Party. We stayed and sewed from 4-8:30 and had some snacks and pizza. It was a blast if I have to say so myself! It's always so encouraging to see these 5 girls who have sewn with me for either 2 or 3 months to almost two years. They are spectacular and now it is much more fun for me when I can see how much they have grown and are more self-directed seamstresses. It really is a feeling of success for not only them but also for me.
One of my students has been fascinated with a new pattern called Snap-Its, and I have made one of them and absolutely love the concept. It actually uses a tape measure as the closure and opens somewhat like a clutch. I wish I had a photo to share but at this moment I do not. I finally found a tape measure that was perfect for her to use after testing out a few. I realize you can't go cheap on these tape measures or they just don't turn out right. I finally found one at Home Dept that was 25 feet of 1" wide, which can make as many Snap-Its as you will need in your life. I am sure that you can find this heavy duty tape measure at any hardware store, but to save time, don't even attempt to get the cheap ones from the grocery store or the dollar store. They will measure just great but they don't make this closure that is needed on this small bag. I think I am going to make some of these for Christmas gifts, this year. In nine days.
Last night, was my sewing classes Holiday Party. We stayed and sewed from 4-8:30 and had some snacks and pizza. It was a blast if I have to say so myself! It's always so encouraging to see these 5 girls who have sewn with me for either 2 or 3 months to almost two years. They are spectacular and now it is much more fun for me when I can see how much they have grown and are more self-directed seamstresses. It really is a feeling of success for not only them but also for me.
One of my students has been fascinated with a new pattern called Snap-Its, and I have made one of them and absolutely love the concept. It actually uses a tape measure as the closure and opens somewhat like a clutch. I wish I had a photo to share but at this moment I do not. I finally found a tape measure that was perfect for her to use after testing out a few. I realize you can't go cheap on these tape measures or they just don't turn out right. I finally found one at Home Dept that was 25 feet of 1" wide, which can make as many Snap-Its as you will need in your life. I am sure that you can find this heavy duty tape measure at any hardware store, but to save time, don't even attempt to get the cheap ones from the grocery store or the dollar store. They will measure just great but they don't make this closure that is needed on this small bag. I think I am going to make some of these for Christmas gifts, this year. In nine days.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Crunch Time
It's "crunch-time" in the fabric world for holiday season. This crunch time for most holiday shoppers is between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but not for us! We have to have the time to spend concocting an idea for the perfect gift for our loved ones AND the time to make it. I am at least this year acknowledging this "crunch time" and hoping I will go beyond the planning stage.
I realized yesterday in my youth class, that 3 of my students have already started making Christmas presents for their family. I got a deep sense of falling behind as I drove home last night. I have one student who is whipping up cosmetic bags for her mom and step-mom, and another who left class with a bag for her mom last night. Another came running up to me when she got there telling me that her sister wants a bag just like the one she had just made. Of course her sister has no idea that my student has already started making the bag for a gift. Their excitement about giving is phenomenal, but their dedication to spend the time to make their gifts is even more impressive.
I have read numerous articles in the newspaper and online this week about home-made gifts. Of course the major theme of them is to be thrifty, which I completely disagree with. As I have mentioned earlier, time is not priceless. Making gifts takes up an astronomical amount of time, and those who are not seamstresses or crafters sometimes don't understand this. I think every gift I give has an extra value. Not necessarily a dollar value but a different kind of value. A value that represents love and appreciation for the person who is receiving the gift.
I spoke with a customer today, who last year made so many purses that I can't remember the number to give as gifts, and she told me again today that she never wants to buy a gift again. It made me realize that maybe it isn't important if the gift receiver knows about the dedication put into the gift. I mean aren't gifts all about the giving of them?
During this year's "crunch-time" I really am going to dedicate some time to the gifts that will be so wonderful to give to the ones I love and appreciate the most. This is at least the first step in the process.
I realized yesterday in my youth class, that 3 of my students have already started making Christmas presents for their family. I got a deep sense of falling behind as I drove home last night. I have one student who is whipping up cosmetic bags for her mom and step-mom, and another who left class with a bag for her mom last night. Another came running up to me when she got there telling me that her sister wants a bag just like the one she had just made. Of course her sister has no idea that my student has already started making the bag for a gift. Their excitement about giving is phenomenal, but their dedication to spend the time to make their gifts is even more impressive.
I have read numerous articles in the newspaper and online this week about home-made gifts. Of course the major theme of them is to be thrifty, which I completely disagree with. As I have mentioned earlier, time is not priceless. Making gifts takes up an astronomical amount of time, and those who are not seamstresses or crafters sometimes don't understand this. I think every gift I give has an extra value. Not necessarily a dollar value but a different kind of value. A value that represents love and appreciation for the person who is receiving the gift.
I spoke with a customer today, who last year made so many purses that I can't remember the number to give as gifts, and she told me again today that she never wants to buy a gift again. It made me realize that maybe it isn't important if the gift receiver knows about the dedication put into the gift. I mean aren't gifts all about the giving of them?
During this year's "crunch-time" I really am going to dedicate some time to the gifts that will be so wonderful to give to the ones I love and appreciate the most. This is at least the first step in the process.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
There is Never Enough Time!
I have never been deprived of fabric or creative inspiration. Only time. I grew up touching, gazing and dreaming of fabric and what all I can possibly do with it. My mother owns a quilt shop in Overland Park, KS, and I have spent much of my childhood and life at Harper's Fabrics and Quilt Co. I write her weekly newsletter and teach girls every week, while I marvel the beautiful fabrics and absorb the creativity and inspiration the shop has to offer everyday. I cringe with envy, every week when one of my students leaves with a fabulous project that I just don't have time to make. I am a graduate student, getting my Masters in Secondary Education of English right now and count down the days until Winter Break, when I hope to let my creative juices leak out. But even those school free times I never get accomplished the plethora of ideas and projects I have the vision for.
I started this blog to share with, whoever cares, my daily and weekly wish list of what I wish I had enough time to make. I also hope to share inspiring stories and projects of my students that I see every week. The girls who I have been teaching for the last two years, have ultimately inspired me to keep my passion thriving and my creativity going. They inspire me to remember the innocence life has to offer when we have just a little bit more time to do the things that make us happy. This for me is creating using fabulous fabrics and patterns. They create magnificent projects that often times I can not guide them though because of their growing skill level and my stagnant, but full of creativity and inspired mind.
I remember the feeling of finishing my first quilt. It was my first real project or accomplishment in the sewing world. It wasn't just a few scraps thrown together, like many of the bags, wallets or other "stuff" I used to make. It was my very first hand-pieced quilt that I picked each fabric out with careful consideration of every fabric, when I was only 7. I look back at it and am blown away by my change in choice of fabrics. Now at 23, I would never pick the traditional colors and prints, like I did a decade ago. I am now living on the edge with bright, bold, large prints. My favorite fabric designers are Amy Butler, Anna Marie Horner, Kaffe Fasset and the brand new Pillow & Maxfield (locally from Kansas City). I just stare and touch each of these designer's fabrics almost everyday, and dream up what I can do with them. It's my indulgence. Whether it's a bag, a purse, a skirt, or anything I can imagine up (time-permitting of course), I look forward to feeling of accomplishing at least the creative part of every project. Unfortunately, this vision I have is the first and only step I accomplish. I hope to share some of this inspiration with others, who maybe have a little bit more time, but I also hope to inspire my self to start finding time to do what I love.
I started this blog to share with, whoever cares, my daily and weekly wish list of what I wish I had enough time to make. I also hope to share inspiring stories and projects of my students that I see every week. The girls who I have been teaching for the last two years, have ultimately inspired me to keep my passion thriving and my creativity going. They inspire me to remember the innocence life has to offer when we have just a little bit more time to do the things that make us happy. This for me is creating using fabulous fabrics and patterns. They create magnificent projects that often times I can not guide them though because of their growing skill level and my stagnant, but full of creativity and inspired mind.
I remember the feeling of finishing my first quilt. It was my first real project or accomplishment in the sewing world. It wasn't just a few scraps thrown together, like many of the bags, wallets or other "stuff" I used to make. It was my very first hand-pieced quilt that I picked each fabric out with careful consideration of every fabric, when I was only 7. I look back at it and am blown away by my change in choice of fabrics. Now at 23, I would never pick the traditional colors and prints, like I did a decade ago. I am now living on the edge with bright, bold, large prints. My favorite fabric designers are Amy Butler, Anna Marie Horner, Kaffe Fasset and the brand new Pillow & Maxfield (locally from Kansas City). I just stare and touch each of these designer's fabrics almost everyday, and dream up what I can do with them. It's my indulgence. Whether it's a bag, a purse, a skirt, or anything I can imagine up (time-permitting of course), I look forward to feeling of accomplishing at least the creative part of every project. Unfortunately, this vision I have is the first and only step I accomplish. I hope to share some of this inspiration with others, who maybe have a little bit more time, but I also hope to inspire my self to start finding time to do what I love.
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