"If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person." - Fred Rogers
Mending Workshops at Old School Sewing
I’m happy to announce that I’m pairing up with Chelsea’s Zero Waste Coalition and will be offering two mending classes in March. I have been wanting to host mending workshops and this will be a great start.
Sewing Repair DIY Workshops
March 11 and March 25
9-11 AM
118 S. Main St. Chelsea, MI
Do you have clothing hanging in your closet in need of repair but don’t know where to begin? Lynn Carson Harris of Old School Sewing in Chelsea and Stephanie Doll from Chelsea’s Zero Waste Coalition will provide instruction on basic sewing skills so you can do your own minor repairs and give those clothes a second life! This is not a course with a curriculum. Instead, bring your item to Old School Sewing’s studio in town and learn through doing: sew a button, repair a ripped seam, fix a hole, hide frayed edges, replace elastic, etc. You may opt for a simple fix to make your garment wearable or decide to be creative with a visible mending technique for a fun new look! Sewing machines are available in studio, though many repairs will be done by hand. If you have sewing tools (needles, scissors, etc.) and supplies (thread, buttons, material, etc.), please bring, otherwise some will be available for use. Walk-ins are welcome. Though if you can register in advance, we can try to evaluate what tools and/or supplies might be needed.
Ages 10 and up.
RSVP to LynnCarsonHarris@gmail.com. Please give name, description of garment and repair needed.
No charge for instruction and use of sewing tools, but donations appreciated to offset cost of any supplies used such as thread, material, etc.
Royal School of Needlework
This year I decided to take some time for myself and focus on creating for no particular reason other than to create and to learn some new skills.
I signed up for some online classes through the Royal School of Needlework. The first class I’m working through is Jacobean Embroidery. I learned about the waste knot and anchor stitches as well as some new to me embroidery stitches. They also recommend using a hoop on a stand. It’s very different to be able to use both hand for stitching and thread manipulation.
Traveling with two fifty pound suitcases of quilts can be exhausting! It is nice to have this relaxed time at home to focus on my own work and spend more time with my kids and grandkids. I am excited to see how the new embroidery skills may show up in my future work, for now I’m having fun learning.
Star Update
I’ve been slowly adding stars to the wall for this WIP and I ALMOST have enough for the quilt I’m making. Here’s a closer look at some of the reproduction prints I’m using.
Toledo Museum of Art
Once a month my friend, Debbie Grifka, and I try to have an art and inspiration outing. This month we went to the Toledo Museum of Art. We had advance tickets to see “Fireflies on the Water” by Yayoi Kusama.
While there we also got tickets to see “Between Light and Shadow: by Anila Quayyum Agha.
We also saw/listened to "Everything is Rhythm", pairings of mid-century art and music - well done and interesting.
Trying Something New
I’m trying something new with this project. I’m free form quilting which I have done before but this time I’m leaving the knots on the top. I think it suits the theme of this little quilt.
In looking at the photo it also appears to me that I should try adding some variation in the density of stitching.
Polka dot knitting
My second grandson was born last January. I recently remembered that I hadn’t made him a Christmas stocking. I made his parents the stockings below.
My first grandson got the striped stocking. This time my daughter-in-law requested a polka dot stocking. At first, I wasn’t sure how it would go but I love the finished product. Now we are all set with the stockings.
I have already moved on to the next knitting project.
New Christmas Stockings for Grandchildren
I’m expecting a new grandbaby. The due date New Years Eve but I made him Christmas Socking just in case he arrives a few days early. The striped stocking is for the baby, the red and green stockings were made a few years ago for mom and dad.
Family Time - Holiday Weekend
We had a fun family weekend. It involved cookie baking, holiday lights, and lots of music.
WIP Wednesday
I’ve finally been spending some time in my studio this fall. I’m back at making these little star blocks. I have 81 out of 100 made.
