GET WELL, LAURA!!

One of Expo's CTA's, Laura Lee Mendoza -- recently had surgery which I've been following on her Facebook posts. Even though she is recovering from surgery, she managed to have a 4-H sewer come to her house...apparently, she was teaching while resting in a Lazy-boy...(which is how I like to work, too!)

Thanks for all you do, Laura. Your sewing enthusiasm in WHAT THE SHOW IS ALL ABOUT. Here's a picture of you from backstage at the Coats & Clark 2010 Pink & Red Fashion Show. YOU LOOKED MARVELOUS...



Happy to hear you are feeling better every day...!

Coats & Clark Pink & Red Fashion Show

Okay -- in the interest of FULL DISCLOSURE -- I struggle with handling pictures on my computer. The good news is -- my niece is giving me lessons -- but I still have a LOT to learn. Part of the problem is that I just have SO MANY GREAT PICTURES from the 2010 Expo -- I want to show you ALL OF THEM...but sometimes they get "mis-filed".

Like, for example -- I THOUGHT these audience shots were from the Coats & Clark Pink & Red Charity Event. But maybe they're from Friday Night LIVE...

Do you see yourself? What event were you attending??





But I AM SURE this is me & Mary backstage -- right before the fashion show...

And -- two other sewing celebrities...in some pretty amazing outfits...


Mary & I got to wear our ridiculous outfits in Beaver Dam last weekend...and I've been blogging about that event on Rita's Sew Fun....but I'm saving her most original idea. Let's just say I've been trying to talk her out of it for two years...and, yes, it does involve a very large bra...

Be sure to check out the ULTIMATE RECYCLING PONCHO...

Baby Lock Kids

THIS IS SO MUCH FUN!! I just started to work with the 1000 PICTURES we had taken by a professional photographer during Expo. Her name is London -- and she got some awesome pictures of you!! I have a whole year's worth of audience shots, class room shots, style show shots -- you name it!!

Remember our Sunday community events? One of the afternoon style shows was put on by a group of elementary school children. And this is their fabulous GROUP SHOT.



Who's that tall guy standing in the back? Steve Jeffery from Baby Lock. They have been very supportive of the kids' program -- and Steve came into town early so he could visit the kids at the school. Remember the Baby Lock sweatshirts he gave all of them?

Steve fits right in with these kids! Nobody had a better time than he did that day. His personal (and business) motto is..."FOR THE LOVE..."

In a future blog post, I'll post a picture of the TWO Baby Lock machine winners from Eleanor Burns Quilter's Night Out. Remember how that happened? Were you there?

YES -- they really did give away TWO ESPIRE Baby Lock machines that night...

Hey -- reason enough NEVER TO MISS a special event, eh? After all -- somebody's gotta win!!

2011 Planning Meeting!!

As you read this message, I am in Puyallup -- sitting in the planning meeting for the 2011 Sewing & Stitchery Expo. AND -- HEY -- I STILL HAVE 1000 PICTURES TO SHARE WITH YOU FROM THE 2010 SHOW...!! Not to mention videos!! For me, blogging with videos is a lot like Forrest Gump eating chocolates...I never QUITE know what I'm going to get... Last week, I was delighted to discover the interesting little demo in the Oliso iron booth. I saw Eshan at the Sewing Weekend in Beaver Dam, but I forgot to tell him that I HAD HIM ON VIDEO... . If you missed the Oliso iron at Sew Expo -- I think you can see it at your local Pacific Fabrics store. If you live in another area, check out the Oliso website for a store near you. Being about to SEE ALL THE NEW STUFF is one of the very BEST things about Expo, isn't it?? I can hardly wait for the 2011 show...and, hopefully, next week, I'll start making some ANNOUNCEMENTS... Now -- I wonder what this mystery video will be about???

The BEST BLOGGERS

This is a nice picture of Jan and Bonne -- our "Inspired 2 Sew" team -- right before their FREE PROGRAM up on the stage on Thursday -- the first day of the show...

Here they are with their sewing mentor, Linda MacGehee -- AND their two very capable assistants..(Princess AND???)

The HEY RITA tote (designed and sewn by Jan Potter HERSELF) -- is relaxing, watching her birthmother do her show...

THEN -- suddenly -- she realized she had two SISTER-TOTES nearby!!!

For me, Jan and Bonne are what Sew Expo is all about. Two friends who come to the show every year because they SHARE A LOVE OF SEWING. They both have busy lives with lots of people to take care of -- work, family, drama, tornados -- we all have to deal with that stuff. But isn't it great to look forward to four days at Expo -- when it can simply be ALL ABOUT THE SEWING??


THANKS FOR VISITING THE BLOG...I post something new every single week -- usually on Tuesdays. Next week I'm putting up some great new audience pictures...

Right this minute, I'm on my way back to Puyallup for the 2011 PLANNING MEETING. Here's one of my favorite pictures from last year's show....me with Jan, Linda and Bonne.


Jan and Bonne are the sole reason that I write on my BLOG every single day... If you think you can stand a daily dose of me -- be sure to check out my personal blog:

Rita's Sew Fun

Over there -- I write about ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING...yesterday it was all about my favorite food. And it's often about my favorite baby. For the next few weeks, I will be obsessing about my recent trips to New York City AND Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. My goal is to blog EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR A YEAR...and I started July 30, 2009.

I should make a shirt that says, "Help me. I'm blogging and I can't shut up..."

A show video??

Okay -- as I "hone" my blogging skills -- there are a few things you need to know. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE letting other people tell their "stories". And I hope to do a lot more of that. But I am limited by my technical abilities. I got lucky last year, because I accidentally discovered my little point-and-shoot camera did videos that were actually decent. But I broke that camera -- so now I have to START ALL OVER AGAIN...and it will be painful. Ugh. Luckily, I have a few video interviews in the can -- but I didn't do a great job of labeling them. sorry...but, because it takes a LONG TIME to upload these suckers -- I'm just gonna assume somebody said something interesting... So, for the next few weeks, I'll be posting these mystery videos. IT WILL BE FUN, PEOPLE!!

Email from an Expo Fan

Hi Rita,

I THINK I received a newsletter from sew expo regarding all the suggestions and "complaints".

I just wanted to let you know how much sewing expo means to me -

a chance to hang out with creative people who enjoy what they are doing,
a chance to attend wonderful seminars,
a chance to meet the teachers I have admired from afar - TV, Magazines, Books,
a chance to bounce my own ideas with experts,
a chance to meet new friends,
a chance to bond with my daughter, granddaughter, and yes, husband. He comes to one day with me every year,
a chance to meet people from previous expos - almost always at the same booths so that we can compare notes,
a chance to boost my moral in the middle of the rainy season in Seattle.

I admire all the organizers of the shows. The people, the setups, the parking, etc. I cannot understand the petty - the sewing expo is a home show for sewing and crafting. It is wonderful.



THANKS, Barbara, for taking the time to write! SEE YOU NEXT YEAR...!!

April Newsletter

Sometimes, it can be discouraging. No matter how hard we try -- some people will be unhappy. In the April newsletter, Joanne Ross addressed the suggestions and/or complaints we received about the 2010 Expo. Our hope is that the Expo audience will understand why things happen the way they do...and we want you to know that WE DO LISTEN...

AFTER that newsletter went out -- we received many emails from you -- our dear, sweet, appreciated audience -- saying you were shocked that ANYBODY would complain...lol...here are a few -- and THANKS for taking the time:

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"Thanks for all the feedback in this newsletter. It was fun reading what people suggested -- what a bunch of cranks:)! I hope you got many accolades as well -- the show was fabulous once again. I am a new participant and invited my sister from the midwest to join me this year and she LOVED it too. Keep up the good work and know that what you do is appreciated by MANY.

Bonnie
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Bless your hearts! I just read all the responses you wrote in the Sewing and Stitchery Expo eNewsletter # 35. All I can say is Amen and Amen. You ladies are AMAZING, patient, and gracious. Thank you for all that you do.
I got to attend the Sewing Expo last year and loved every minute of it. It was a blessing to have special accommodations to sit near the front because I have vision problems. Only once did one lady tell me I shouldn’t be sitting there because it was reserved for the handicapped. I smiled and said, “I know that, but thank you”. She didn’t say another word. I think it’s just the “mother” in us all to want to correct one another. J
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Hi, no story to share, just a great big "THANK YOU" to those who work hard to provide us with such a fantastic event. I, for one, appreciate it very much.
Kay
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I want to thank you for the Expo....I love it and go every year! I really appreciate this particular newsletter. I have never had a problem with anything (except the rolling carts that I've tripped over). The expo is a very well-run event.

I missed Philosopher's Wool this year, and I hope Ann is recovering. One thing I have accomplished is learning fair isle knitting!

Again, thank you for years of bringing pure joy into my life.

Yvonne
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THANKS again for taking the time to write, ladies. We know how much you love EXPO, and, hey -- WE DO, TOO!! We will continue our efforts to make your 2011 Expo experience PERFECT...

Next week we'll have our BIG PLANNING MEETING -- and I can hardly wait to start telling you what will be happening next year -- keep your fingers crossed!