Las Vegas Retreat Projects-Completed!

I was so excited to be able to go to the SAGA Retreat in Las Vegas in February and be able to take classes. I signed up to take the Paper Doll Dress squares with Brenda Shade and looked forward to actually making the two projects -Mother's Rose and Cottontail. I have owned Brenda's book  (Sweet Memories) for a number of years, along with a patterns for square yoke and bishop dresses, but I had just never got around to making even one of the designs.

 

My finished Mother's Rose Quilt Square

 

Vegas was my chance! But like all good plans, things changed as I went to Vegas with my right arm in cast up to my elbow as two weeks prior to leaving I fell on black ice and gave my wrist a multiple, unstable fracture- nothing simple for me, oh no! Having my wrist in a cast and very badly swollen and bruised fingers meant there was no fine hand sewing for me! But I decided to pick up a needle and at least thread it ready to smock on the tiny pleated dress skirt from the Mother's Rose kit. Then I got brave and using my right hand to guide the needle into the pleats and my left to pull it out I smocked the five 2 1/2 inch rows. It only took me nearly the whole day, but the smocking was acceptable and at least I was doing something!

My completed Cottontail quilt square

 

Anyway, after six long weeks in a cast I my wrist and hand were freed and I was able to use sewing as some of my therapy and sew I did. I completed the two projects and loved them. Did I say that I loved them? They are so cute and I am now planning a quilt and have five bishop papaer doll dresses ready to smock and make into squares and plans for several more dress squares. My stash of small fine fabric pieces will have found a use, along with those small pieces of lace.

Bunnies and a Bow!

 

So now I am getting excited as I am going to the SAGA Retreat in Chicago a month away in July and I have my paper doll dress squares to keep me busy while I wait for my flight. What classes am I taking in Chicago? None. I am going to be with my smocking friends and help out where I am needed and work on my paper doll dress squares. If you are going look out for me and ask me how my projects are going I will be happy to show you!

Did I say I love these little dresses??!

 

Shadow work bunnies and bows with pinstitched Madeira appliqued hem.

 

You can see other patterns and designs that Brenda has on her website www.kreationsbykaron.com

Her book, Sweet Memories is now out of print, but can be found on various Internet sale sites.



 



A little about Skokie

The next SAGA Retreat is a month away and as it is in a suburb of Chicago named Skokie, I thought I would share a little about the history of the place.

Its name comes from a Potawatomi word for "marsh". The name of the town was changed from "Niles Center" to "Skokie" by referendum in 1940. "Skokie" had previously been used as the name for the marshland on which much of the town was built;

Skokie promoted itself as "The World's Largest Village". Its population, according to the 2010 census, was 64,784. Sharing a border with the city of Chicago, Skokie's streets, like that of many suburbs, are largely a continuation of the Chicago street grid, and it is served by the Chicago Transit Authority, further cementing its connection to the city.

During the night of November 27–28, 1934, after a gunfight in nearby Barrington that left two FBI agents dead, two accomplices of notorious 25-year-old bank-robber Baby Face Nelson (Lester Gillis) dumped his bullet-riddled body in a ditch along Niles Center Road adjoining the St. Peter Catholic Cemetery, a block north of Oakton Avenue in the town.

And between July 16 and 19, 2015 the Smocking Arts Guild of America (SAGA) will be hosting a retreat at the Doubletree Hotel in Skokie!

Are you going? There are a few spaces open. Visit www.smocking.org to learn more about this retreat and the last one for 2015 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania in October.

An Interview with Busy Debbie Glenn

Who taught you needlework skills and when did you first start learning?
Sewing has always been an integral part of my life. As a child, I remember hours spent at my grandmother’s side hand stitching doll clothes, running tiny fingers over my great aunt’s delicately embroidered quilts, and lying in bed listening to my mother’s old Singer dreaming about her newest creation. At age seven I begged my mom to teach me to sew... her response was "first you must learn how to deal with mistakes, because they happen". I spent the next few days impatiently waiting until she handed me a straight pin and let me rip out some crooked stitches.  To this day I still get a warm fuzzy when helping students "rip out". Six month later I made my first "outfit", pink gingham baby doll pajamas. Soon I was babysitting on Friday nights to buy fabric for a new Monday outfit, and combining commercial patterns to recreate designer prom dresses and ski clothes. With each year my passion for machine work grew. Shortly after the birth of my first child I discovered heirloom sewing and smocking. I was hooked immediately and before long teaching others how to recreate my designs.

 

What is your favourite form of embroidery?
My first love is definitely machine sewing, especially recreating handwork by machine, but almost all of my projects are include traditional handwork too. Like fairy dust adding a few pinwheel roses, lazy daisies or dimensional cast on poises make the entire garment, then everyone thinks my 10 second machine granitos are handmade!

What sewing tools do you carry everywhere and why?
A small pair of Japanese KAI black handled, micro-serrated, curved tip scissors & a purple thang. I use the scissors for everything from cutting corded scallops before satin stitching to trimming threads and the purple thang for encouraging lace (as it bends a bit, unlike a skewer) and it's also perfect for "un-smocking" (since it's curved and smooth, so it scoops into valleys & won't snag threads).

What other hobbies/interests do you have?
I love time with family (at the beach, football games in the fall, sailing, skiing), traveling, antiquing (I collect linens, sewing tools, baby bonnets & christening gowns), and English gardening, probably because it's a lot like adding delicate embroidery on top of geometric stitches to see flowers of different heights and hues bloom in front manicured evergreen bushes!

Have you a favourite location where you most enjoy teaching?
I've been fortunate to have taught and stayed with so many lovely SAGA members all over the country, making memories and and lifelong friends along the way.  Two of my favorite locations are Boston and Nashville... after a busy day of stitching what could be better than being in the heart of the Dixie listening to music at the Bluebird Café or in the chilly Northeast enjoying a delicious lobster dinner, it's the love of fine needlework that bind us.  Needles and pins, fabric and lace… these tie the women of SAGA together!

 

Where can we get to see your projects (magazines, stores etc.)?
For the past 24 years the answers been Sew Beautiful or the Martha Pullen's School of Art Fashion. I feel blessed that both of my children grew up on the pages of the magazine wearing my Love and Stitches designs.  Those “Sewing for Three” articles transformed my creative outlet into an opportunity to share my often unique machine methods with leaders and students across the country. Today look on my website, www.loveandstitches.com or Facebook™ for my latest projects, patterns, classes & my Making Machine Magic Schools.
I hope to see many of you in Chicago at the next SAGA retreat!

What do you do to recharge your creative spark?
Years ago I inherited a box of fancy eyelet cuttings and laces which my great aunt saved from her days in the garment industry. Tucked inside were original embroidery designs, hand drawn by my great grandmother, Scholastica Jochem (dated 1904-1920), with the corresponding “Industrious Needlewoman’s Pages” from The Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper featuring projects using the motifs.  Whenever I need a little inspiration I go through this box and my collection of vintage baby clothes.  They always inspires me to create a new garment or work on some new technique for recreating handwork by machine.

What technique still can’t you get the hang of…….. ?

              Needle tatting, I'm a complete failure!

What accomplishment are you most proud of?
For years I longed to reproduce my great grandmother’s exquisite work, but, was less than satisfied with my hand embroidery skills. Then in 1996, after attending the Royal  School of Needlework I found a little handmade dress stuffed in the back of a drawer in an antique store. The precious baby gown, reminiscent of earlier times, was beautifully hand embroidered with padded satin stitch bouquets and trimmed with tiny blanket stitched scallops. Re-inspired by that dainty confection and other intricate Victorian articles I’d studied at London’s Victoria and Albert museum, I set out to duplicate the high relief embroidery and scalloped edgings using today’s conventional zig-zag sewing machine. In September 2000, my machine made interpretation was awarded first place viewer’s choice at the Smocking Arts Guild national convention, but by far the greatest honor was receiving Margaret Boyles’ perfect scores in Design show.  SAGA members, students, shop owners, and fellow teachers insisted I share my “machine magic” with others leading to the release of my book Victorian Treasures Nostalgic Needlework.

 

Katrina-Debbie is teaching this at the SAGA Chicago Retreat!

 

What is your absolute favorite sewing technique and why?
Recreating handwork by machine, especially padded satin stitched scallops as they instantly transform any project, from a simple baby bonnet, collar on a smocked play dress, table linens, window treatment to a boudoir pillow into something special.  I just love how with the right recipe of threads, needles & stabilizers our sewing machines are capable of applying perfect
stitches with much greater speed than we could ever do by hand, making so many projects you might never have considered attempting doable!

What is your favorite thing about teaching sewing to others?
In class I love showing students how new products like wash away & fusible threads, glues, stabilizers & German interfacing, make sewing easier. Starting with a PowerPoint presentation then move onto samples covers students different learning styles (be that visual, auditory or hands on). Samples provide no stress practice, so students can get comfortable with the new technique before applying it to the class project.  I love sharing my unique machine techniques with students and watching them experiment and master them, but my favorite part is hearing that they've added the new technique to other sewing projects.

                                                                Thank you for sharing with us, Debbie!

You can find out more about the classes Debbie is teaching at the SAGA  Chicago Retreat by visiting www.smocking.org

A Teacher from Down Under-Susan O'Conner

Today we learn a little about Susan O'Conner a teacher from Australia who will be teaching at the SAGA Chicago Retreat.

 

Gail Doane and Susan O'Conner

 

Who taught you needlework skills and when did you first start learning?

My mother taught me basic embroidery stitches when I was a child. As I really enjoyed embroidery I then learned other stitches and techniques from books and classes.

What is your favourite form of embroidery?
If I had to pick a favourite I would have to say thread painting but I also enjoy raised embroidery and wool embroidery.

When do you find time to embroider/sew?
I don’t find much at the moment as I work full time but once I have started a project I try and do some stitching in the evenings and at the weekend.

What inspires your designs?

All sorts of things – historical embroidery, flowers, periods in history, poems and stories

Do you attend classes and workshops as well as teach at them?
I do enjoy attending classes but unfortunately the opportunities are few and far between these days.

On average, how long would you say it takes for you to complete a piece, from design concept to end?
That is a very difficult question to answer as it depends on the complexity of the piece and how close the deadline is!! 

Do you belong to a sewing guild of any kind?
Yes, I belong to SAGA and the EGA.

Do you smock?
I have been known to do some smocking!

Where is your favourite place to stitch?
Anywhere I can.

Are you married? Children? Pets?
I have been married for 33 years to Paul and we have a 24 year old son Clancy and one very ancient Siamese cat who rules the house.

What is your most favourite sewing tool?
A glass of wine – absolutely essential.

What sewing tool do you carry everywhere and why?
Well I can’t say scissors as you still can’t carry those on Australian domestic flights so I would have to say a needle.

What other hobbies/interests do you have?
I like reading and I used to do a lot of watercolour painting but don’t have time for that at the moment.

How often do you travel to teach?
Usually only a couple of times a year.

Have you a favourite location where you most enjoy teaching?
No, everywhere offers something different.

Where can we get to see your projects (magazines, stores etc.)?

My projects are published in Inspirations magazine and I have written two books. My projects were also published in Australian Smocking and Embroidery.

What do you do with your completed projects-frame and keep, give away, etc.?
Most things I keep as I teach them but I do give some things away to people who are special to me.

Do you have a favourite colour(s) that you tend to use more than others?
I am rather fond of green, lovely happy, grassy green.

Have you had another type of career other than in the sewing area?
I was a high school art and ceramics teacher in a previous life and I currently work as editor of Inspirations magazine.

How do you see the future of your sewing career?
I have no idea – I would like to have more time to stitch.

What do you do to recharge your creative spark?
I’ve never had to do that.

What technique still can’t you get the hang of……..      ?
Keeping my house tidy.

What is the biggest enemy to your creativity?
Not enough time.

For more information on the SAGA Chicago Retreat visit www.smocking.org.

SAGA Chicago Retreat

Registration opens at 10:00 am Central Time for the SAGA Chicago Retreat today-no joking!

Visit the SAGA website (www.smocking) to see the brochure for classes and retreat events.
You will also find the link to the hotel reservation site here.

Meet Jeannie Baumeister!

Today we learn a little about teacher Jeannie Baumeister. Jeannie will be one of the teachers at the SAGA Chicago Retreat in July.

Susie Gay with Jeannie at a SAGA Convention Banquet.

 

Who taught you needlework skills and when did you first start learning?

 My Mother taught me to sew using her Featherweight Sewing Machine (it is now my Featherweight Sewing Machine) and my favorite color is always Blue!

What is your favourite form of embroidery?

Featherstitching is my very, very favorite embroidery stitch but I love them all.

When do you find time to embroider/sew?

I stitch almost every day. As far as finding time to do it?  I think we can always find time to do things that are important to us. 

 What inspires your designs?

My designs are mainly inspired by old things.  I love old baby clothes.  I examine old baby garments for inspiration and am lucky that many people share their treasured baby clothes with me. Many of my designs/patterns and classes came from garments shared with me.   I am especially drawn to the styles from 1900 through 1940's.

Do you attend classes and workshops as well as teach at them?

I am really interested in developing my needles skills further so I do take classes when possible. My favorite classes have been ones I have taken in England and France. I am excited to be teaching embroidery at the Chicago Retreat where I will sharing some of these Whitework stitches. 

 

Do you belong to a sewing guild of any kind?

 I love to smock and I do belong to a local chapter of SAGA, The French Handsewers.  I believe it is essential for us to support local and national guilds to keep the stitching I love so much alive.  Remember:  Ask not what Saga can do for me, but rather ask yourself "What can I do for SAGA?"

Where is your favourite place to stitch?

I have two favorite places to stitch.  In the warm weather it is my garden.  Natural light is so wonderful for stitching and the flowers and birds make me happy!  In the winter, I love to stitch by the fire.*

 What is your most favourite sewing tool?

My most favorite stitching tool (besides scissors and needle of course) is the Thimble. I carry it with me for any type of sewing.  I don't know how anyone stitches without one.  It makes your stitching so much faster.  I think everyone should use one.  If you learned to use a fork….you can learn to use a thimble!

 

Of what accomplishment are you most proud?

Of which I am most proud?  And had the most fun of all doing it?  I did some research at the Louisiana State Human Ecology Textile department years ago when I was allowed to go through their clothing collection of Infants and Toddler clothing.  I was overwhelmed with ideas as I looked at the baby clothes and helped them catalog several of their garments.  When they ask me to be guest curator for their museum exhibit, I was thrilled.  The LSU textile exhibit ran for a year and is the thing in my career that I am most proud of and enjoyed enormously. I masterminded the entire display and the textile department did all the museum work, creating a professional exhibit.   I chose the garments, wrote the information, decided on every part of the theme and arranged the order of the display.  I titled it "Dream Stitches: Baby's Layette". The exhibit focused on the stitching and planning of a Baby's Layette, displayed appropriate items, information and garments dating from 1854 through the 1930's.  It was fabulous!

 

* As to a favorite location for teaching.  The location is always a classroom regardless of what is outside the door.  My favorite is always the classroom full of excited women who want to learn new stitches and improve the ones they know as they enjoy doing it.  Not cooking dinner is a plus!

 

I don't think a person should be too serious about sewing.  Do your best and enjoy every stitch!

 

Thank you, Jeannie and you can visit Jeannie's website :

 The Old Fashioned Baby

www.oldfashionedbaby.com

 and her blog:

OFB Sewing Room Blog!

http://oldfashionedbaby.blogspot.com/

 

For more information on the SAGA Chicago Retreat visit www.smocking.org

 

Wes Wins!

Wes won one of the raffle baskets at the Las Vegas Retreat banquet Saturday night!

Spring fabrics!

 

He was  so happy to hear his name called and look what a lovely stash of fabric he won. Of course, being a nice bear, he will share it with me! I am already planning what to make (once I can start sewing again).

Thank you to all those who donated baskets. They were all lovely and Wes had a hard time picking which ones to put his tickets into, although those baskets containing chocolate were especially tempting!

I hope everyone enjoyed the Las Vegas Retreat as much as Wes and me. He made lots of new friends and had fun in class. Now is the time to think about the Chicago Retreat in July. The full brochure will be on the SAGA website very soon and registration opens April 1-no joke!

Las Vegas here I come!

Today I leave for the SAGA Retreat in Las Vegas!

Am I ready?

1. Class requirements.

2. Artisan Card

3. Basic Sewing Supplies.

4. Camera etc.

5. Clothes.

Yes, I am packed and ready to leave.

One thing- the expression:

"What Happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"

Not happening!

I will share all that happens!

If you aren't coming to Vegas, we will miss you but maybe you are going to Chicago or Valley Forge? I hope so because you don't want ot miss out on all the fun, do you?

So visit the SAGA website www.smocking.org and get signed up as we Smock Across America!

It's in the mail!

                                                  SAGANews Volume 36 Issue 1 that is.

We have gone 'green' for this issue with two great smocking designs.
It also contains details of the second SAGA Retreat of the year in Chicago.

Will you be stalking the mailman waiting for your copy to arrive?

(If you really can't wait for the hard copy to arrive, then you can view the PDF by visiting the SAGA website www.smocking.org , but you have to be a member to see it!)

Smock Across America Contest

Are you planning on entering the Smock Across America contest?

The first contest will be in Las Vegas and the colour that your piece must contain is RED.

The rules are as follows:

1. Piece must include the following color specific to each site. It can either be the fabric, fibers, buttons, lace, etc. The piece does not have to be totally executed in that color, but must include it somewhere on the piece. 

 

Las Vegas – RED 
Chicago – WHITE 
Valley Forge – BLUE 

2. Edges must be finished. 

3. It can be anything you want to make, “Think outside the box!” ( No pun intended for #8! )

4. One entry per person per Retreat and it must be a different piece if entering at more than one Retreat. 

5. NO, you do not have to live in that particular region to participate. 

6. Winner will be selected by attendee ballot at each site. 

7. One winner per site. 

8. Piece should be able to fit into a medium flat rate box. FED EX 12 3/8” x 3” x 17 ½” or USPS 12 5/8” x 11 7/8” x 3”. This is so everyone has an opportunity to participate even if they cannot personally attend. Return paid shipping label must be supplied and included in the box!

Details can be found on the SAGA website (www.smocking.org)

 

 

A New Year and time to renew old friendships.

Many of us make New Year resolutions and within a month, week and even few days have forgotten them, but renewing an old freindship is one that can be done very easily and prove very rewarding.

So have you renewed your friendship with SAGA by paying your dues for 2015?

SAGA has so much to offer:

Retreats in 2015 (Las Vegas, Chicago and Valley Forge) where you can take classes.

Local Meet Ups planned.

Chapter meetings to attend.

Correspondence Courses.

SAGA Stitches programmes.

SAGA website.

Facebook page.

Artisan Programme.

Wee Care.

Friendship.

And lastly, SAGANews which if you do not renew you will not receive as it is a Members Only publication.

Think of all you might miss- so visit the SAGA website (www.smocking.org) and renew your membership today. You will be renewing a friendship that keeps on giving!

Smock Across America!

Did you see the latest email from the SAGA Board?

The locations for the 2015

 Smock Across America Retreats

 were anounced!

The locations and dates are:

Las Vegas, Nevada -February 26 - March 1, 2015.

 

Greater Chicago Area-July 16 -19, 2015

 

Valley Forge, Pennsylvania- September 24-27, 2015

 

 





Teachers and classes to be announced later, but start planning as there are so many decisions to make:

 

Visit a place you have never been and make a vacation of it?

Pick a city close to home so you can take classes without the expense of flights?

Attend all three, because you just can't miss out on the chance to take classes and meet freinds?

 

Whatever you choose, you can be sure you will have a great time!

 

Want to experience a SAGA event before 2015?

 

Then sign up to attend the Sewcation in Orlando, Florida September 16-21, 2014!

Visit the SAGA website (www.smocking.org) to see all that is on offer for the 35th SAGA Convention.