Nancy Zieman

Maybe you already saw this on my personal blog...maybe not...it's REALLY GOOD...

Mary Mulari sent me the link to this little promo about the "Kick It Up A Stitch" show she did with Nancy Zieman. Remember, ladies -- YOU SAW THEM IN PERSON at the 2009 Sewing & Stitchery EXPO. The exciting news is that Wisconsin Public Television taped their show -- and it is being used as a fundraiser this Saturday in the State of Wiscconsin. So -- if you live in WISCONSIN -- you can watch the whole show. Apparently, it will be used in other parts of the country later on...


AND -- don't forget -- Nancy Zieman is coming back to Expo for 2011...so I'll keep you posted about her all-new-just-for-the-2011-Sewing-and-Stitchery-Expo..!!

Bates Technical Show & Elvis

There is SO MUCH HAPPENING at Expo during our jam-packed FOUR DAYS -- I'm sure there were events you didn't even know about. So -- hey -- it's my job to tell you what you missed so that maybe next year -- you'll be aware...right??

On Sunday afternoon, Bates Technical College put on a fashion show. The students simply walked to music -- the commentary was in their program. They wanted it to feel like Fashion Week in New York City.

Then -- the event took a detour -- to Memphis, Tennessee...




Oh, yeah -- it's important to remember there is no such thing as "TOO MUCH FUN"...

Speaking of New York City -- be sure to check out my personal blog -- Rita's Sew Fun -- to see how Jan & Bonne are progressing with their New York City sewing challenge!! Also -- I posted the gorgeous pictures last week of their irst NYC challenge projects -- but I'm TAKING THOSE PICTURES DOWN tomorrow...

Laura's Recycling Project

Laura Mendoza is a friend of the show -- a CTA, one of the original Yahoo Group fans, a frequent blog reader and poster...In 2010, she made an outfit for the Burdastyle Pink and Red fashion show...



At our Friday Night LIVE event, Mary and I decided to give our "doorprizes" -- which were more JOKES than actual PRIZES. But, the fun thing has been that the recipients viewed them as SEWING CHALLENGES -- and we never really anticipated that!

Here's the 80's angora sweater we gave to Laura...Don't you wonder what on earth she could possibly do with THIS SWEATER??


WELL -- HERE IT IS..!! NEVER under-estimate the power of a woman who sews, people!! We are capable of just about anything. We can turn a pigs ear into a silk purse...
And this project PROVES IT..!!


ISN'T HE ADORABLE?? You made my day, Laura!! THANKS AGAIN FOR PLAYING OUR SEWING GAME. you rock...

And, once again -- it's good to be reminded that we SEW ALL YEAR LONG..!! Even though the show is only four days -- here we are, in the middle of the summer -- enjoying something Laura made that was born at the 2010 EXPO...!!

thanks again, Laura, for playing our sewing game...and I'm glad you're feeling better and back to work!!

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HEY -- don't forget to check out Rita's Sew Fun blog this week to check out how Jan & Bonne are approaching the New York Sewing challenge!! SUCH FUN...

2010 Ya Ya Sisters STALKERS

You've heard about them before -- the "STALKERS". I cannot remember what year it happened...but here was the beginning.

Mary Mulari and I were doing our little "Ya Ya Sister Act" at Expo and some extra sessions had been added. During our third show -- I noticed two smiling women in the first row...and it suddenly hit me that they'd been in both earlier sessions...so I said, "hey -- weren't you here before?" They grinned and said, "we come to every Ya Ya Show".
Mary & I were both stunned...I asked, "you know we do the same show every time, right?" And their reply was, "Oh, no it isn't! It's always different!"

That's when I started calling them "stalkers"...the name that has stuck with them for years now...

And the rest, as they say -- is history!! Chris and Judy have been sitting in the front row of every show we've ever done in Puyallup. Their story is that the two of them DRIVE to Expo from their homes in Oregon. They come for ALL FOUR DAYS -- and they keep EXTENSIVE NOTES about each and every class they take.

After an absence of two years -- Mary & I were exited to be doing the Ya Ya Show for the 2010 Friday Night LIVE event...and, of course, we were delighted that Judy and Chris got tickets. But we were NOT EXPECTING THEM TO COME IN COSTUME...

Dressed like the stalkers they are -- their Blues Brothers outfits were quite the hit in the audience...




We brought them on stage -- where they revealed their special renditions of Mary Mulari's apron pattern...


THEY ARE AMAZING...

AND -- they plan their outfits for every single day of the show. Here they are on SUNDAY -- AT THE PINK & RED CHARITY EVENT...

This is what Expo is all about...women friends, getting together with other women, to embrace and enjoy this hobby we love. THANK YOU YA YA STALKERS...you always play our game, you celebrate with us, you sew your garments, you attend our classes, you come every single day of the show and YOU DO NOT MISS A MINUTE of fun.

YOU BOTH BRING IT...AND WE LOVE YOU FOR IT!!

P.S. - Recently, both Mary and I received a package in the mail! YES -- A GIFT FROM OUR FAVORITE STALKERS....Oh My...They went to a lot of time and trouble to actually PRINT a picture of the Ya Yas and the Stalkers, then FRAME it -- then, most remarkably -- SEND it via snail mail to us. You two are amazing. SOOOO much fun...

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU...

Inspired 2 SEW Challenge

This is a picture of Jan Potts, getting ready for the 2010 Inspired 2 Sew lunch show up on the Expo Runway...

London snapped this pic of them, right before the show started. LOOK AT ALL THOSE GARMENTS..!

Great shot of Bonne's jacket...these girls have SUCH DIFFERENT TASTE...

That's why it's going to be so much fun to watch one of their challenges in progress. I shopped for them during my recent visit to New York City -- and will be following the New York City challenge every Monday over on my personal blog: Rita's Sew Fun

We kicked it off on Monday, July 5th -- and there will be an update EVERY MONDAY until they get 'er done....the big finale will be August 8th...!

Jan and Bonne are SEWING FOOLS...and to me, they are the spirit of Expo. They are two friends who LOVE to sew....after taking a Linda McGehee class many years ago -- they became friends with Linda and have shared many wonderful sewing adventures with her. (I once ran into Jan in the McGehee booth in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania). Linda loves to have them test her new products -- and Jan and Bonne always come up with TWO DIFFERENT VERSIONS...

Next year, Inspired 2 Sew will be the Friday FREE lunch event up on the Expo runway....and this New York City challenge is your SNEAK PEAK...

2010 Coats & Clark Pink & Red Fashion Show

Yes, it's early -- but at 8:30 AM on Sunday -- YOU CAME TO the Coats & Clark Pink & Red Fashion Show...

This year, the money wuld benefit the American Heart Association and the American Cancer Society...we had one very special historical sewing group who participated to honor of their family members who have suffered with breast cancer and heart disease...

As an audience, you dressed in pink and red...and came with your usual good cheer...Expo audiences are THE BEST...

Backstage, moments before we start -- I am in my goofy outfit, with Lynn Browne, from Coats & Clark -- in her much more sophisticated pink and red outfit...

In this photo -- Lynn Browne and Alden Davis of Burdastyle are with some of the top vote getters. 116 sewing enthusiasts uploaded pictures of their pink and red outfits -- and Burdastyle had over 200,000 page views!! IT WAS AMAZING...

Here I am with two of my favorite Expo fans. The Ya Ya Stalkers...Judy and Chris. hey -- didn't somebody get a picture of the four of us? Where's Mary Mulari???

Coats & Clark is back to sponsor the 2011 Charity Event and we have lots of exciting changes to announce. The recipient will be the wonderful pediatric hospital in Tacoma -- Mary Bridge.