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Friday, November 18, 2016

Countdown to our second winter retreat....

We'll soon be attending the second Just Sew Retreat - Winter Session!   It will be held January 13 - 16, 2017 at Hallowood Recreation and Conference Center, Dickson, Maryland

If you're like me, you need to be super organized in order to get anything accomplished at a sewing retreat!!!!!

This means lots of prep time!!! 

I just returned from my annual American Sewing Guild retreat.  In the weeks before the retreat I was busy with a last minute request to sew 13 ice skater dresses.  Therefore, retreat planning was put on hold.  I managed to pack the fabric and supplies I needed to make the 10-minute table runners I plan to sell at an upcoming craft show and finish up some satin shoe bags.  I also put all the finishing touches on all 13 skater dresses!   

Although I had packed a few projects for myself,  I never touched them.


So I plan to take the un-sewn projects to the Just Sew Retreat Winter Session in January!  Talk about being ready ahead of time!!!!!

Since I didn't get to pre-cut, I will do that and also fuse interfacing if necessary to each project!!!!!!  I will double check my notions and group things together in my notions caddy.  It didn't help at the last retreat that I had notions in several different bags and locations!!!!

Let me leave you with a tip on some useful things that you can never have enough of at a sewing retreat:

bed risers - excellent for raising those tables up to avoid back strain!  We had several cutting and pressing stations and the tables were all at the perfect height.

mirror - nice to be able to look at your progress in a full length mirror




shelf liner - this will help to keep you sewing machine from vibrating across the table when you sew!!!




For more information on the retreat - shoot me an email  justsewretreat@gmail.com

Happy Sewing


 

Friday, October 21, 2016

Cruise bag

I made this fun little bag.  This is the tutorial. travel-tote-two-tier-wraparound-pockets It came together really nicely.  Fabrics are from fabric.com.  I choose them because the colors reminded of the sea.







Man sewing

I finally made my husband something. We'll be going on a cruise to Barcelona so I made my husband a toiletry bag and some bags for his shoes.

He loves them!

He loves the Redskins!!!!

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Retreat #2 Down

A wonderful time was had by all!  I was a little worried that only eight folks signed up----it turned out to be the best little gathering of sewers!  

Sylvia came down from Jersey and made like a zillion dresses!!! 



  Jerry embroidered some beautiful blocks for her quilt.  



Rirette mastered pants making as she will be going to S. Africa with her church to teach the ladies to sew!  What a blessing she is!



Tisha's figuring out how she's gonna tackle this fabric!  LOL

Tisha also made the cutest pin cushions for each of us and got quite a bit of sewing done too!
Howard cooked the most delicious meals.

Meal time was a great time for making new sewing friends!





My granddaughter's first sewing retreat!



Erika was so generous in making a fitting sloper for Myrtha.  Sylvia is adding her expert touch.
My work station.  I completed a few cruise garments.  Finally packed just the right amount of projects....not many UFOs left this time around.....

















   
Until next time....happy sewing!!!

Thursday, January 21, 2016

JUST SEW RETREAT PART 2

JUST SEW RETREAT “PART 2”

Friday, August 12, 2016

through

Monday, August 15, 2016 (begins 1 pm – ends 2 pm)

Place: Hallowood Retreat & Conference Center, Dickerson, MD www.hallowood.org

 Tickets: $380 (non-refundable)

 Deposit: $114 due March 5 
 2nd payment $100 due April 5
3rd payment $100 due May 5
 Final payment $66 due June 5
**includes: double occupancy & 9 meals**

Garment sewers, quilters, crafters, needle artists, etc. All experience levels. Join us for fellowship and fun! Bring your machine, supplies, and creativity! *sewing machine rental available*

Accepting: VISA, MC, Discover, AMEX or Paypal dressed2atee@yahoo.com (select friends and family option)
Questions contact Tee @  justsewretreat@gmail.com
Limited to the first 20 participants!!!!!

Sunday, January 17, 2016

What a time, what a time, what a time!!!!!

What can I say, God blessed us abundantly!!!  The weather was fantastic, the staff & facility--- awesome, the food  was delicious, and most of all the participants MAGICAL!!!!!  We all had a great time, old friends were reacquainted and new friendships were formed.  When you get a group of ladies together that share the love of sewing, nothing but magical things happen!!!!  

Some of us arrived before early and got busy setting up our prime sewing areas!  The early bird catches the worm!!!  Eventually everyone arrived safely!  Everyone all settled, let the sewing fun begin!!!  

Most worked on UFOs (unfinished sewing projects); some of these projects were started as far back as 5 years ago!!!!   We were able to complete many of them (pants, tote bags, pillow cases, dresses, aprons).


This is the beautiful lobby of our retreat center!  Such a joy to see this every day!!!


The beautiful fireplace -- we were fortunate to enjoy it the entire weekend!  Yes, I chucked a few logs in there too!  It was so nice to take a break every now and then and just bask in the beautiful warmth and glow of the fire.  


I made these name tag holders for each participant.  I found tons of inspiration by googling "sewing retreat badges."  I shopped my "fabric collection" and found the perfect fabrics!
 Lorraine and Mary, longtime friends are having fun at the pressing station.

Cheryl and Towanda getting it in!!!!


Yvonne is checking out the SWAP table!!!! 
 One of the many projects being worked on!

 The final results!!!!  These were made using upholstery swatches.

 Our rooms were nice too!!!

Ding, ding, ding, dinner time!
Appetites satisfied, Sharon is diligently working on pattern alterations to insure her pants will fit!  She will also cut a muslin before cutting the fashion fabric.
 Shots of the various work stations.
Yvonne uses fabric and thread scraps to stuff pillows.




Time for prizes and get to know you time!  Everyone had a ball telling a little bit about our selves and why we sew! 



Lori just picked Blondell's name for the next prize!!!  Lori attended Blondell's sewing school, The Sassy Sewer's Lounge, Parkville, MD.  Click on the link to learn more!


Lori won the Ott Lite!!!  She's a happy camper!!!
These are a just a few of the many door prizes provided by our sponsors!












More sewing fun!  


 Michelle's making a beautiful quilt!

LaToria is having a great time!!!

Shelly is cutting out a dress!

I'm making a 3-hr rag quilt!  I made two for Christmas gifts, I love them.  They come together very nicely.
Deborah is working on her dress.
Jannie is finishing her pet mesh tote bag.






































 
 New friends having a ball!  These ladies helped Arndrea out to complete her garment.  They donated a zipper, use of a serger, and interfacing!!!
 Jeree took power naps while her designs stitched out!

 Beautiful!
 My attempt at bra making....didn't finish---photos in directions were poor.  The company (Bravo Bra 2) is sending me new ones.


 Arndrea's showing Michelle (both teachers) how to match the design---they're working it out!!!

Mary made this gorgeous Amy Butler "Weekender Bag"
 
 Yvonne is working on her "Aunties Two Patterns - Getaway Bag"
  Dinah's cute crossover bag turned out great!
 Lori won the OttLite door prize!!!

 Blondell and Nancy - long-time sewing friends!!!!
 
WINTER
FALL
SUMMER
SPRING




A light snow began to fall as we departed.