Tidbits-May 18, 2007

Project Runway:

The last couple of days I felt as if I was part of the TV series “Project Runway” while I frantically finished my category items for the Annual ASG Creativity Contest. I have to finally admit that I am fickle, extremely so as all the embroideries, laces, trims etc that I had stitched out over the past several months somehow just didn’t want to speak to me now and so I ended up using totally different embroideries etc on the garments. Speaking of garments, what I had originally planned also did not take shape as I saw it in my mind’s eye but evolved into a mixture of several ideas that I had. Those of you not familiar with “Project Runway”, it is a reality show on Bravo TV.  Check it out here: http://www.bravotv.com/Project_Runway/   It is one of the many shows that promotes sewing in our world today and is a total suspense filled series…I have to admit I’m anxiously awaiting this year’s series.  Speaking of promoting sewing in our world, some while back a friend sent me the link to YouTube. I typed in the word sewing and was rewarded with  hundreds of mini movies regarding it. Just for enjoyment: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=sewing   For even more fun, type in Machine Embroidery and see what all comes up. We truly are living in the digital world….hmmmm should I upload a mini YouTube video??? Might, who knows….

Another interesting email sent to me some while back was from the HSA. I’ve often mentioned the organization HSA: Home Sewing Association:  http://www.sewing.org/   The association is well into preserving and promoting anything to do with sewing and I’m pleased that it is now having educational seminars to promote the love of sewing. The organization is probably one of the oldest organization promoting the love of sewing. It is not only involved in sewing but anything to do with the field, including machine embroidery. I strongly advice anyone interested in promoting sewing, embroidery or anything to do with affiliated fields to become a member and promote this love of ours.

Note: Message for the “birds”….note the address on the HSA website….LOL.

Speaking of the “Birds”:

Okay…so I had refrained from saying anything regarding those wonderful “birds” whose sole mission has been to create havoc and misrepresent reality by misconstruing it so it would represent their own motives. But alas…they continue their agenda and the latest is the misrepresentation that Sadia’s Designs is a member of ESPC…..refrain buying anything from her as she represents the organization as well as boycott anyone who is a member of the said organization. Further more, due to the tactics of ESPC, all its members have withdrawn except Bernina…..Well, sorry to be the bearer of bad news but perhaps my posting above and remarks regarding it in the past blogs might click that light bulb. First of all, I am not a member of ESPC. I promote ESPC as an organization which protects not just machine digitizers but also home embroiderers and gives information and relief to many queries in regards to the infringement of copyright in the field. Second….ESPC opened its doors to private individuals (digitizers) to become members and took down all members information due to the harassment and misleading comments of “certain individuals”. It is a business decision and  has nothing to do with anyone leaving membership. If the light bulb had lit up, then perhaps it will become apparent that even ESPC is a part of one of the oldest organizations and will continue to exist despite various individuals whose main goal has been to dismantle and destroy its purpose. The question as to why I am not a member….personal decision and has nothing to do with the organization. There are many organizations out there…I belong to very few and those that I do belong to I work like crazy with their agendas. There is only so much that I can do and so many organizations that I can belong to.

Heirlooms on the Embroidery Machine:

Just a bit of a sneak preview of something very interesting that I have been working on with a dear friend the last couple of weeks. Yup, it is insertion laces and bands created in the hoop of the embroidery machine. The entredeux and the delicate embroideries as well as delicate insertion laces is one of my utmost goals to achieve. I am rather pleased with the results so far and hope to have something in the near future in this regard. I’m working alongside a dear friend to create something absolutely fantastic. One of my goals has been and still is to recreate heirloom stitches and works but with a twist to the modern day look. The pintucks were done on the Evolve and are courtesy of Missy B who taught me that the serger can create the look of pintucks so very easily.

I spent the last several days cleaning and organizing my sewing room while frantically trying to finish the ASG creativity contest items. The room was a total disaster and there was not a single scissor or measuring tape to be found so it had to be cleaned. While I was organizing I found my black tearaway stabilizer which had gray streaks on it….puzzled I asked one of my dealers and found that stabilizers should never be left out in the open air as they tend to absorb moisture, and other elements. A trip to Walmart and several plastic drawers later….I have to say that is probably the best way to organize. A word on these plastic drawers…not only are they stackable but also great for storing fabrics, notions, threads, stabilizers etc. While I was at organizing and cleaning my sewing room, I found several items that I had finished but never used.

One of the items I found was this long cutwork runner.  The runner uses designs from Heirloom Lace II and I had used an antique damask table cloth. I find that these antique table cloths are excellent to recreate heirloom linens for the house as they have aged and been through washings so will not shrink and or loose their quality. You can usually find them at any antique store and they really last a long while in creating items for the house especially if you  happen to purchase a large table cloth. Something about their sheen and hand of the fabric is excellent than the damask table cloths that I find today in the market. Usually from one table cloth, one can create several items and I will post more pictures soon.