Quilt Market

This week -- we were all busy doing the FINAL EDITS for the Registration Brochure. Well, at least most of the seminars were picked and the initial grids have been built. We have SO MANY EXCITING CLASSES to pick from -- it's always hard to make the final selections. And we have some new speakers and vendors -- it'll be fun to introduce you to them in the coming months...

As I write this -- I am NOT in Houston at the International Quilt Market. But thousands of people from the sewing industry ARE...at the George R. Brown convention center...

Everybody who is anybody is in Houston this week....I usually work in the Schmetz Needles booth -- it's a great opportunity for me to touch base with our speakers and vendors. Here's a picture of Luveta Nickels at her booth last year...

And in 2009 -- I had lunch with Eleanor Burns to talk about her Quilter's Night OUT...

Lynn Browne from Coats & Clark -- we enjoy brainstorming the new twists to the Coats & Clark Charity event on Sunday morning...(the spear in her hand is actually the Schmetz Super Needle)

I am laughing with Eileen Roche of Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine -- and Rhonda Pierce from Schmetz...as I write this -- they're both in Houston...WITHOUT ME...

This picture from the Moda booth (two years ago) gave me a great idea...

Wouldn't it be fun to set up one of those 'PHOTO BOOTHS" at the show this year? Since we have a "Sewing Sisters" theme -- you may want a souvenir pic, eh? My sister Deb is coming... aa RARE OCCASION...I'd love to have a picture of us...

Do you know anything about setting up a Photo Booth? Email me... ritafar@aol.com

Look Who's Coming

Eileen Roche—Meet the person who wrote the book on embroidery!

Eileen is the founder, publisher, and editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery magazine. She is also an innovator in her field—developing products in the embroidery industry that save time and money while enabling embroiderers to fulfill their creative passion for machine embroidery. Eileen is a sought-after teacher whose enthusiasm for embroidery and sewing is contagious.

She is a frequent guest on Sewing With Nancy and she also hosts the Embroider It Yourself educational video series. She is the author of Contemporary Machine Embroidered Quilts, Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Fashions, and Contemporary Machine-Embroidered Accessories.

Eileen and her family call Dallas their home. And it's been a long time since she taught at Sew Expo!

Here's what Eileen has planned...

Eileen Roche
Two needle – Quilting With An Embroidery Machine
Learn revolutionized quilting techniques that turn traditional quilting upside down. You’ll quilt, then appliqué and finally piece instead of piece, appliqué and quilt. The secret to successful machine embroidered quilting and appliqué lies in four key factors. Embroidery expert Eileen Roche demonstrates how to select the right fabrics, hoop a quilt sandwich, stitch continuous borders and piece with reversible piecing.

Three Needle – In the Hoop Posh Pincushion
Worse than potato chips – you can’t make just one of these addictive, charming in the hoop pincushions. You’ll learn easy editing right at the machine and then “sew” with an embroidery machine. Finish by adding a trio of one-of-a-kind trims and learn how to ‘tuft’ with two shank buttons. This Posh Pincushion will be your new go-to gift for 2012.



We are DELIGHTED to have Eileen returning to Sew Expo!

As we put the final touches on the class grid -- in the next few weeks, I'll tell you who's coming to the show and who's teaching what.

Read this show blog on Mondays for the latest announcements -- AND some information on new teachers and vendors who will be coming to the show next year...

My Newest SEWIST

This is a picture of a piece of homemade Shoofly pie. It could just possibly be the most delicious thing I've eaten this year. And believe me -- I'VE EATEN A LOT OF DELICIOUS FOOD IN THE LAST 12 MONTHS...

The baker of this delicious pie was my friend Kathy Keefer. We were visiting John's family in Pennsylvania -- and while John is golfing I always look forward to spending a day with Kathy. She is the BEST COOK I know. Her baked goods are legendary....

But the most exciting thing is that Kathy just STARTED TO SEW!! Here's a picture of the curtains she made for her bedroom....(out of an old bedskirt)...

And the cute new curtains for her kitchen...

GREAT JOB, KATHY!!!

Kathy was so delighted with her newfound creative sewing skills -- it made me realize how lucky I am. Because I have always loved to sew. And sewing is one of the few things I can think of that only brings joy...

And -- HEY -- it's not fattening...

Really. It is the PERFECT HOBBY...

And you should invite your sewing buddies -- from wherever they are -- if they're experienced sewers or newbies -- TO SEW EXPO...Mark your calendar...March 1-4, 2012...!!

The Sewing Sisterhood

I believe that sewing makes me a better person. I'm not kidding. I also believe that women who sew are the most giving, generous people in the world today. We sew mostly so we can MAKE THINGS for the people we love...

And you don't have to be biologically connected to be a Sewing Sister...Mary Mulari is the reason I know this for sure...And it seems to me that the Sewing & Stitchery Expo has always brought sewing sisters together....like our friends the Inspired2Sew duo -- Jan and Bonne

Here I am again with the Ya Ya Stalking Sisters....Chris and Judy...



There are sewing sisters ALL OVER THE SHOW...
Sometimes -- LARGE GROUPS of sewing sisters -- coming from another continent, even...

And two of the show favorites -- Helen and Wendy. Who come together in Puyallup every year, even though Wendy now lives in North Carolina (I think...)

Next year -- for the first time -- I've been bugging my ACTUAL SISTERS...Deena sews, and so does Ronda. They would SEW LOVE EXPO...and we could stay at Gail's condo in Tacoma...we would have such a great time!!

But I'm pretty sure DEB IS THE ONLY ONE COMING...she already has some friends in Nashville who come every year...



And she has been embroidering my Expo jackets for several years now...For the 2012 show -- we'll have to make some look-a-like outfits...

THIS IS GOING TO BE SO MUCH FUN...

Send me your sewing-sister-stories! I'd love to write about you and what brings you to Sew Expo!! ritafar@aol.com

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital

DO NOT FORGET to make some pillowcases for the children at Mary Bridge! The other day I got an email from Chris (of the Judy & Chris Ya Ya Stalker duo) -- and she wanted to know if we were still doing the Pillowcase Patrol.

The answer is a resounding YES, YES, YES...

They used up every single one of our pillowcases, ladies!! SO START SEWING THEM RIGHT NOW...I can't imagine a better use for your sewing talent...!!

According to Barbara -- our contact at Mary Bridge -- your pillowcases PUT MANY SMILES on the faces of children who are in a very scarry place.

Barbara said, "sometimes, we have to tell the kids that their Mommy or Daddy can't go in the room with them -- but they can take this pillowcase..."