Saturday July 16th at 11:00 am

This month we met at Lucia Jhonston's house in IB. We had a larger group this time, adding Patricia, who is a wonderful artist/painter, and Jan, also a really talented artist/painter. Also in attendance were Mary (our "chief grand-poo-pah" we like to call her - or president of our sewing circle), Tori, Lucy, Paula, Julia, Vita, Lucia, Felicia, Summer, and Lucille. Uncle Ken was there, but he was onto more important things (the video games were a'callin his name). Love Unc! What a comfortable and beautiful artist's dream home my great Aunt has! And she is the best hostess - she had sandwiches and chocolate dipped fruit, along with other munchies (lots) for us to lunch on while we chatted. It was so much fun getting to know each other, we all have something great in common - our creativity - I think this common thread makes our group of ecclectic personalities really mesh. We began sharing our projects around 12:30 with Tori showing us her beautiful blue-flower patterned sheer sarong. Just a large rectangular piece of woven fabric, finished on the edges. The fantastic thing about sarongs is that you can wear them many ways, here is a link called "20 Ways To Wear a Sarong": http://passionforplusfashion.wordpress.com/2010/02/27/sarong-me-im-sick-of-winter/
She showed us a few different wrapping techniques, and also had a matching scarf/head-band to go with it. She also shared the fabric she found for a large bean-pillow she will make to go with her to her college dorm room (at UCSD yay!). It's a black and white "Blondie" comic-strip, so cute! She also brought her very first Halloween costume that her mom (me - Lucy) made for her when she was 5 months old. It was an "Elvis" costume, Tori came into this world with a large amount of very dark hair that was perfectly coiffed Elvis-style - I just had to take advantage and create this light-up bedazzled wonder complete with jeweled sun-glasses and drawn-on side-burns. She looked so cute, and even though I would've loved to see her in it again, the only part that would fit was the cape which reads "The King" in gold glitter. I remember making lots of costumes for the kids, you can really get creative at Halloween and mistakes are usually not frowned upon, you can just count on the dark to conceal any mis-haps or make them part of the fun. Lucy was next, she shared some "dont's" first. One was a olive-green poncho made of jersy, just a square with a neck-hole. The don't happened when I cut out what I thought was a very small diamond-shape, turned out to be a hole big enough to drive a truck through. Now, I know I have a big head, but this was ridiculous - so I will fix it with some crochet around the opening, maybe some olive green, I picture wood beads as well. Next I shared a pink-lace poncho made of two rectangles. I learned later a different way to match up the rectangles so that it would hang nicer, but I thought this lace was too heavy and just not my style at all. I do, however, think of Aunt Loosh when I look at it (I have since I've laid my eyes on it) so I will pass it along to it's rightful owner asap. Lucy also shared her completed (almost) child's apron made with two place-mats. This apron is a very fun project, and so very easy. Thank you Grama! for the beautiful place-mats and eyelet for the edges. Lucy also shared her completed "vintage" apron, made of rose patterned lined-curtain fabric and lime-green leaf detail. I enjoyed learning how to box-pleat, that part came out nice, but the torso was too long so Julie showed me how to shorten it (ty!). Patricia was next. She brought a painting that she is working on, it's of her "new life" - her walking shoes, hat, vase, flowers, etc... good composition on the original photo that she took to create the painting from! There is meaning for her with each item, hearing her story behind the painting was so much fun. Then Patricia shared some of her daughter's coin art, miniature canvasses and a mug with a wrap-around design. Such detailed beauty! Her daughter, Kimberly, now teaches classes to novice artists who want a fun group experience to go along with creating a beautiful paintingHere's a link to her daughter's website: www.thepaintedcork.com
Located in historic Folsom CA just north-east of Sacramento, you can bring a bottle of wine and "take the fear out of painting one sip at a time!". Cute. She supplies you with all you need to create a beautiful painting to take home, in about two hours. Sounds like so much fun! Someday... Next we got to see some of Paula's art and jewelry, as well as some re-cycled fashions she has created. She shared her sparkle-bra, worn over a camisole and bustier, all be-dazzled with pink and silver jewels. She thought she was going over-board with the bedazzling, we all called for "MORE!", the more the better Paula! Lucia made her a beautiful orange bolero, adding a black flower-broach. All this goes with her black fun pants with frilly panties worn over, and loads of large pink buttons (that she gives away), the makings of a very creative and sparkly-fun-face-painting costume. Love it! She also shared a skirt that she made out of a pair of capri pants, ripping the in-seam and adding snake-skin fabric and lace from panties! She shared anther denim skirt made with blue cat-eye triangles and lots of buttons, so creative! She shared a wand she made of a small tree branch wrapped in fabric ribbon and "jewels" and things - very unique. We also got to see some of the first pieces of jewelry she made out of rock, amber, and ocean glass wrapped in wire. She also shared a mod-podge head wearing a bone-necklace, very artsy! Paula told us about the San Diego Lapidary Society - here's the link: http://www.sandiegolapidarysociety.org/default.htm
Membership is very inexpensive as they are "Dedicated to the advancement of the earth sciences by stimulating interest and encouraging the study of the geological and mineral science and lapidary arts", so they encourage new membership and keep it do-able. Love it! Paula has finished some really beautiful rocks, cut, ground, and polished, for her jewelry in their workshop. Next, Julia shared many creative and very beautiful works of quilting, doll-art, and purse-making. We didn't hear enough of her tips and how-to's, I'm hoping to have more details at our next meeting from her. But she did pass around her beautiful pillow made of quilted pieces and beading, such creativity! We also got to see her lovely Frida Khalo doll, complete with uni-brow. SO cute with her beautifully made clothes and flowers in her hair. Grama thought the stuffing of the limbs was well done. We also saw her circle-pillow made of a sweater material, and circles of felt and buttons. It was so cute, and the colors and materials went so well together. She said she looked for 100% wool garments at thrift stores to make items with, I will certainly be looking for some on our tour which will be our "Weedy Weedy", or "thrift shop" tour in August. She also shared her beautiful origami cards, and her quilt - beautifully done. Next Felicia shared her "grapes" pot-holder/trivet that she had bought on the way over at a yard-sale for $1! It was crochet-over-bottle caps, something I thought I remembered my Grama having around the house. Loved the idea, it brought to mind many things we could make from this idea. Also, she shared her very lovely dark-plum colored crochet shawl, made for her lucky friend. It was so beautifully made we all wanted to take it home I think! She also shared her crochet circles and a pattern, lovely. Next Jan shared about her Jazzy doll made of pipe-cleaners and scraps of yarn and fabric, with a painted wood bead for the head. Cute! She also shared her photo album of paintings she had done, lots of beautiful art that I hope we get to see in person some day. A few of her pictures showed paintings done on Queen palm fronds, so wonderful. Vita shared next about her hat and scarf she is making for her daughter, light olive green and plum colored. She also shared her crochet trivet made of cotton yarn, smart because synthetic yarn would melt with too much heat. She shared about the beads she found at Sunroad Beads, I tried to find the link but I think I have the name wrong so can someone correct me so I can get the right link here? Thank you! She got lots of great strung-beads for little money, good deals to be had there. Some day we should do a bead-shop tour! So many tours, so much time to do them, and so many fun lunches together to go with too. Vita also shared that you can find great ribbon for a buck at Walmart, and lots of it too (5 yards!). She then shared her pretty Teddy bear made of floral fabric. It was supposed to be a "two-piece-only" pattern, but she said it turned out to be more like four. She also said she would make her own face next time, she didn't like the face (I thought it was great, but when it's your own you see it more clearly maybe). Next Lucia shared her toll-painted plate, beautifully done, that would've won 1st place at the Del Mar Fair (they told her) except that she didn't paint the back! She also shared her cat-rock, hand painted and lovely. She paints good rocks... Lots on display in her house, along with many other beautiful gourds (the purses!), and other glass, fabric, painted, and rock things to see. We had so much fun just looking around... Next she shared a painting that really took my breath away, the characters, the animals, the faces, the brush-strokes and colors she used, all so very deeeep. I was mesmerized, especially when she said that she had this painting in her head a week before the Japan Tsunami, and it wouldn't let her rest until she painted it. But when the tsunami was over, so was the painting - somewhat unfinished - but just so neat to look at all the same. There is an element of Japan in it, the way the figures stand, the faces, the eyes, the hair, can't put my finger on exactly how as it's very subtle, but there all the same. Next she shared a poncho made from fabric she found on our last fabric-store tour. Beautiful blues and browns, and a matching scarf to go with it. Next she shared an older quilt she had hand-sewn, took her months to do. It is all faded now, she says, but the red star in the middle still says "cozy" to us (we all told her we just love it). Next Summer shared a picture of her brother Chad and her. So cute! Loved the picture, her mom took it around the holidays as she does this for a living. We got to ask her some questions about it, she is very good at sharing. Lucille and Summer had a great time together having their own time of sharing and giggles during our circle. Next, Mary, the founding presiding president of our sewing circle, shared some beautifully sewn items that really said "experienced seamstress in your presence, you may now bow" to me. Her many years of sewing shows in the tea-cozies she made, one with many yo-yo's and the other adorned with buttons. She also shared an orange-velvet and lace purse that's she's been trying to finish for a long time now, and used a cute silver flower button she found on our last time to do it. She's right, it is perfect for that purse. There was one more thing that Lucia wanted to share, Dover.com, but I didn't find a good link for this so can you give me more detail (Lucia) so that I can correct and add more info? TY again! Next sewing circle will be held at Mary's house, in Linda Vista, in September (date to be determined). Also, we are planning a "Weedy Weedy" tour (thrift-store for those of you who are weedy-challenged:), in August. If you'd like to come with us, but I didn't add you to our list, please contact me here or via Facebook (you can add comments and questions to our Sew Lo Mio page too). We'll be shopping three stores, and doing lunch at a buffet style restaurant in between, it will be loads of fun as we look for fabric finds and recyclable fashions! Please share comments below, love to get feedback on our circle time and maybe even new ideas to share!

Sunday, June 12 at 12:40pm

This month we held a "Sewing Tea" at Lucy's house. We had about a half-hour to snack on goodies and drink tea, and then we all shared about our sewing history and projects. In attendance were Grama Mary, Loosh, Vita, JoJo & Seslie, Lucy, Brittany, Paula, Felicia & Lucille, and Julie. Grama began by sharing a jacket she was wearing with beautiful pink flower applique on black, that she made in 1981. The wonderful thing about the jacket is that the shape and style was just as relevant today as it was in the 80's, I had no idea she made it so long ago (30 years!). She also shared the child's place-mat apron that she had already made, and that we were going to make as a group project. Hers was so cute with red rick-rack and red handkerchief patterned fabric straps. We asked her how she picked patterns that would go together. It looks like she just chooses to match based on color - since there was a little red in the place-mats she chose to bring out the red with the straps and rick rack. Grama also passed along the cash box that she and Aunt Nina used to use for Mari-Loo. Our first piece of "business" equipment, it will really come in handy when we sell our wares at the Farmer's Market - Thank You so much Grama! Felicia shared about a book called Craft Inc. She explained that the book shared all about crafting as a business. We are going to try to find a copy of this book and share with each other as a group out of it. Loosh shared next. She gave Paula a piece of beautiful flow-y orange fabric and also brought some vintage fabric to share. She brought an apron in the works, red and lovely. I hope she finishes it soon so I can see how she makes her aprons. Loosh shared that the poncho material she bought - cotton - was not well suited for this garment. She and Grama thought that a rayon or other silk type fabric would fall better, the cotton seemed too stiff for her liking. Vita suggested that she wash the cotton and then use fabric softener. Julie said that you could even find sarongs for $10 to make ponchos out of (great idea!). Loosh also shared her dollar finds that she got from the "Fashion Fabrics" store in National City, on the corner of Broadway and Palomar. She got some really cute fringe and yokes, as well as a cute butterfly applique that she gave Paula for her new face-painting costume. She also showed us her "The Softies" book, she's going to make stuffed fur animals. Paula told us about "Red Dirt" shirts, made from dye from the ground. I'll Google this and add the link to the FB wall. Felicia then shared her Christmas skate ornament craft using paper-clips, felt, and yarn. It was cute! Vita shared her scarf made from a piece of black and white flowing fabric she got at Yardage Town. She used the rest of the fabric to make a poncho, she said it was warm despite that it didn't appear solid. She also made another poncho out of some very pretty white with black flowery pattern cotton, she used a crochet yolk to finish it at the neck. She said that if you use the cotton for a poncho, use the 42" wide, if you use the polyester use the 60" wide so that your poncho will fall better. She also shared about the purse pattern she traced onto pattern fabric - used to save your paper patterns. This is a good solution to being able to save your paper patterns from over-use. Also, she is making a purse out of fabric sample squares found in fabric sample books. Very clever idea! In this economy it doesn't hurt to always be on the look-out for fabric sources and also she re-iterated, "Never Throw Anything Away!". JoJo shared a little girl's apron she was given in a bag of clothes for Seslie. She's going to put new straps on it because one fell off. Way to recycle! She also made Ses a pair of PJ pants and a matching pillow case out of cloud patterned flannel. She can make a matching sheet out of the rest of the fabric - how cute that Ses can sleep like an angel in the clouds because of her mom's sewing talents! Felicia also shared about Ravelry.com, a website for the knitting and crocheting community - a good place to connect with other crafters for support and ideas. Brit shared her Batman Blanket, made from yellow felt cut into little bats and sewn onto a black back-ground with "Luke" in the middle in blue. So cute! Lukey is a lucky nephew, his auntie really loves him. She's also making him a Hobb's doll, she found the instructions online, not a pattern - just a way to sew pieces of black and yellow strips together to make the end result into a stuffed toy he will love forever. She is sewing this by hand, Julie was impressed that she was taking the time and had the skill to do so much hand-sewing! Paula shared that she is a face-painter and she loves working with rocks - wrapping them in silver wire. She also is in need of a new costume for her face painting. We threw out many ideas, but the over-all consensus was that she should use lots of color and do her hair crazy! We had a great time thinking about that with her so we hope to see the results of that discussion some day, maybe on a Wednesday evening here in OB as she face-paints for the Farmer's Market. Paula used to make her own clothes (boy I'd love to pick her brain), but since fabric has gotten so expensive and her machine burnt out she decided not to sew any more. We reminded her of some different places you could get recycled fabric or even cheaper new fabric. I hope she picks up sewing again, I'd love to see an original Paula design! Julie has been sewing for many years - she's made many many quilts, garments, purses, clutches, and alters thrift store finds for Felicia (a really cool thing to know how to do, I think I'll try picking her brain on that one too some day). Lucy will get to share next time, tentatively to be held at Loosh's place in Imperial Beach on July 10th at noon. Loosh also let Lucy borrow her Indian embroidery book to look at and copy some things out of. It will be neat to see how the Indians create such beautiful garments. Lucy also gave Brittany the chocolate brown and light blue apron. It looked so cute on her! Lucy will also make a vintage apron out of the fabric Loosh gave her. At our next meeting we hope to get a tentative list of things we wish to sell at the Farmer's Market and start working on those projects, maybe we'll have our very own Sew Lo Mio booth this summer.

Friday, May 27th, 2011 - 10:30 am

We began by looking through Grama's pattern book. She explained that you can find them (used) for really cheap as the store brings in new ones. Out with the "old" in with the new, although after looking through them one can see that most of the styles, if not all of them, are wearable today. Just pick what you like and make it! Then we saw some very nice curtains in this book which sparked a discussion about different ways to make them. Vita suggested that we could find inexpensive sheets at a discount store and explained that since they already had a casement (where you'd put the curtain rod through) built in, any sheets would do. Grama said not to worry about the thread count, since you're not sleeping on them. Grama also said you could add tabs to the tops of the sheets (if your curtain rod won't fit through the casement or you just like the look of tabs)and hem them too, if you wish. We then discussed different types of sewing machines. Grama says that an older metal Kenmore (I have one!) will last you forever, she had one too. Loosh had an older heavy duty metal Singer that she found at a sewing machine repair shop for 30 bucks - what a steal! Vita also got a metal Singer (?) online for a bargain. So keep your eyes open, just because a machine is older doesn't mean it's ready to retire. I had my Kenmore stored for many years and all it took was some WD40 to make it sew like a charm. Loosh gave Grama some stretchy fabric that she used part of to make a really neat scarf - she was wearing it over her lovely curls and it sort of hugged her head. This fabric was somewhat loosely woven (you could almost see through it) and delicate. She didn't want to make the poncho she had planned for it out of it anymore because it kept catching in her needle/bobbin. Grama explained that if you put tissue paper on the bottom of your fabric before putting it under the foot that your needle and bobbin won't catch and mix up the thread - making a terrible knot. Then afterward, just tear away the tissue. Loosh showed us the trim and other deals she got from Fashion Fabrics. She got some really neat things to use in creative ways for only a buck or two, such as some black beaded trim that we suggested that she use on a denim purse she plans on making. This is a store we'd all like to "tour", to be scheduled at a later meeting. Vita borrowed Loosh's YoYo book, Lucy borrowed Grama's poncho pattern, and Loosh borrowed Grama's moomoo and sweater patterns. I shared the beginnings of my very own fabric "stash" and asked for advice about how to use it to make aprons. I wanted to know how Grama chooses her colors and patterns. I'd like to continue to make aprons like Grama's because her's are so beautiful and creative, but Vita suggested that I find my own taste and start simple. Great suggestions, as I tend to try to eat the whole enchilada at once. I then shared my kid's apron idea using two wipeable place-mats (the vinyl type). We are planning to make these as our group project at our Sewing Tea, to be held at the Voltaire Street house in OB on Sunday, June 19th, at 1:00 pm. I will be having a small buffet style tea and snacks, and I plan to set up a very long table or two for room enough for everyone to create their own child's apron. Grama has donated some materials (place mats, yoyo's, and eyelet for the edges) for the group project, it's our goal for everyone at our Sewing Tea for everyone to be supplied to make one of these aprons (I will shop for some extra place mats too!) Loosh and I will bring our machines, and hopefully Vita will be able to bring hers too. We also discussed making a list of items that we could sell at a booth at one of our beach communities' farmer's markets. We are hoping Sonia, from mermaidincali.com, will come to our Sewing Tea as a guest speaker of sorts to share the how's and what's of her Etsy site. Then, at Grama's prompting, we all discussed different names for our group as Grama thought it should have something more modern and catchy. We had some pretty good laughs as we threw out some pretty wild names and looked them up (all taken), but then Grama came up with "Sew Lo Mio" and we ALL loved it. Found out it wasn't taken yet and viola! Our new name, which when we start sewing as a business will go on our labels. Exciting! Sew Much To Do (oooo that one would've worked too! Probly taken...) and so little time to do it. Don't forget to save the date for our Sewing Tea to be held on June 19th, 2011, at 1:00 pm, at 4948 Voltaire St. #2, San Diego, CA 92107. If you need directions call 818-923-1383 (Lucy).