IPCA Ticket to Paradise

On Sunday, the IPCA (Independent Pattern Company Alliance) -- had their contest -- this year the theme was Ticket to Paradise. Our audience picked up passports and went to each booth to vote for their favorites. On Sunday, the finalists were on the stage -- and this year they ANNOUNCED THE WINNER...IT WAS SO MUCH FUN....Great job everybody. The companies, the contestants and our attendees...the best audience in the sewing world...

Emma Seabrook -- Sewkeyse

A new speaker this year -- Emma Seabrooke. Her specialty is knits -- and I am a big, big fan. Emma has a great eye -- and she's coming to Puyallup fresh from a fabric-shopping trip in the cutting rooms of Los Angeles garment district!!

Emma travels all over the world teaching sewing -- and she LOVEs what she does. Here home is in the Florida Keys in a town in the upper keys called Islamorada, the fishing capital of the U.S. (and her husband loves to fish!)

Emma says, "I was born with sewing DNA as my great-grandmother was head costumer for Barhmin/Bailey Circus. Her daughter and my grandmother was a trapeze artist and her husband my grandfather did all the theatrical lighting for Flo Ziegfeld and was the only man allowed to work the with Houdini and his lighting and props. On my other side all my female relatives sewed. I learned to sew from my mom and went on to study under a couturier.

For me, the best part of sewing is making it all come together. I like to design the pattern, find the right fabric in the right color for me and then make it fit me. If I do this right the sewers will tell me I love your outfit and can you show me what fabric to buy and which pattern did you use so I can buy the fabric, the patterns and instructions and feel just as pretty when I am done. Hopefully they too will enjoy and pass this along to others.

I am teaching two hands-on classes, the Nancy Cardigan and the Suzanne Wrap. Both are garments that will add a new spark to you wardrobe -- and they make great gifts as well. The Lecture/Demos are New Tee Necklines and Using Stay tapes to improve your sewing with knits. I like using a basic tee or top and change things so no one sees that it is the same pattern used again and again. The Stay Tapes I developed to improve the look of the knits and not have them look like a poorly home made garment. My Tapes make hems lay flat no ripples, my side seams are straight and look well sewn, my necklines don't sag or fall away. The Stay Tapes keep the knits from fighting with each other or woven fabrics.

If you love knit clothing (and if you look in your closet you will find that you probably do), it is because it is comfortable and easy to wear. You should make knit clothing and I can show you the easy ways to work with knits and have them look good so you will proudly wear them."

SEE YOU SOON, EMMA...thanks again for playing my blogging game!! I CAN HARDLY WAIT TO SHOP YOUR BOOTH...

Buying Tickets AT THE SHOW

If things are going according to plan -- you received the last e-newsletter today. You are putting the finishing touches on your ZEBRA outfit (Friday mostly -- but Rita is wearing zebra every dayjust because she can... talking in third person, as though she was SUEDE)...

And now you're checking out this blog to make sure you didn't miss anything.

We have crews setting up at the Fairgrounds. They are placing the chairs in the classrooms, building the stages, setting up the booths. On Wednesday, the vendors come onto the grounds to set up their merchandise..
So by the time you arrive -- everything is in place. You know the Showplex...

This is the building where we have our ticket office...there will be bulletin boards on the wall, listing the classes that are available. You can use these boards to save yourself some time in the line...

Because standing in long lines is not a good use of your time...

If you go to the boards first, you can see if the classes you are interested in are available -- and write down the number (i.e. #1021)-- our very capable ticket office staff can very quickly SELL YOU THE TICKETS...


As you read this blog -- I am cutting some fringe on my obnoxious maxi-dresses -- to pack into my suitcase to fly to Seattle. AND I CAN HARDLY WAIT...my cousin Jackie is coming from Oklahoma City and I MADE HER A ZEBRA DRESS, just in case she didn't get the memo....

Lisa Shaw ROCKS

Lisa Shaw is on a new path -- this year "re-inventing herself" at SewExpo as Lisa SewBubbles. When I asked what she would be doing -- she sent this...

Dear Rita,

Normally I provide a handout stapled with coupons and goodies

This year because I'm here at the show as Lisa Shaw - Machine Embroidery Software Specialist I thought I might just go a bit hog wild. Some of my friends who are digitizers and have worked with and supported me over the years have really gone above and beyond for me this year.

We have put together a CD containing over 20 professionally digitized designs, some projects, tips and tricks! I think its priceless, but it is at least worth $75 just for the 20+ designs. Everyone that attends one of my classes is going to get this CD as my gift to them! Yes, this is in addition to the bundle that is normally stapled and I will figure out a way to get it all together...

AND WAIT there's more! Sheesh I feel like a Ginsu knife commercial! You all know that I love machine embroidery and believe that the computer is supposed to help us be creative not be an anchor dragging us down. Well I've found new to me software that is easy, and fun, and affordable AND will run on a Mac or a Windows Computer - yes you've heard that right! Affordable and will run on either a Mac or a PC -- I know I couldn't believe it either so I had to try it out for myself. And because I am so excited about these programs that - I am giving away a free copy, a $50 value, in each of my seminars. I told you, I am going HOG WILD this SewExpo! I might even wear zebra stripes on Friday!

So what have you got to lose? Worst case scenario you get to take a 40 minute break, get a CD of designs, spend some time with me in the classroom and learn a little bit about what you can do with machine embroidery software. If you have a Mac and always heard that you have to use Windows to do machine embroidery - let me show you otherwise! Even if you are just thinking about joining our addiction -- whoops I mean thinking about getting an embroidery machine - or better yet, you have an embroidery machine and the embroidery unit is still in the box…yes, I've met a few of you over the years :-) Sign up for this one needle class, #1090 and see what this is all about.

Can't wait for SewExpo 2013 to begin -- this will be a stellar event!

all my best, Rita -- safe travels! SEE YOU SOON...great job on the blog -- Lisa Note: the quickest way to see Lisa's schedule is to go to the SewExpo website and type Lisa Shaw into the search box. ALL her classes will come up! She is really turning up the heat this year!!

The Zebra Games

For me -- 2009 was the year of the GREAT Zebra gift...
Ann Sagawa told me she when she saw this zebra watch -- she just HAD TO buy it for me... (and I wore the band OUT!)

AND -- no list of Rita-loves-zebra- would be complete without a picture of the HEY RITA TOTE...designed by fabric artist Jan Potter. (who, as one of the Inspired 2 Sew girls -- HAVE A DEAL WITH SIMPLICITY to design totebag patterns!)

In 2010 -- I wore zebra on the RECYCLED DENIM DAY... (great pic, Charlotte!)

And in 2011 -- the Ya Ya Stalkers actually MADE ME AN IRONING BOARD COVER out of zebra fabric (and red t-shirt fringe!!)


That year -- Claire gave me my favorite zebra scarf (which I wear all the time) -- AND I also got a zebra jewelry case...



My point is -- HOW MUCH FUN IS THE ZEBRA??? so -- BRING IT ON, PEOPLE...!!! JOIN ME IN MY ZEBRA FOLLIES...
I have heard from lots of Sew Expo fans -- and they will BE PLAYING THE RITA ZEBRA GAME. On Friday -- Bonne and Jan, and Linda, Lisa, Amanda, Molly, Laura, Deb, Carol, Amanda, Amy, Diana...

IF WE ALL WEAR ZEBRA -- THINK HOW EASY it will be for us to FIND EACH OTHER...I am sooo excited!!
Counting the days now...