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Puyallup Sew Expo is Feb 28 to March 3, 2013

Tuesday, February 19th, 2013

Did you know the nation’s largest event for sewing enthusiasts takes place right here in the Pacific Northwest? The Sewing and Stitchery Expo is a non-profit educational event that features inspirational seminars daily, hands-on workshops, style shows and vendors from all over the country with booths that specialize in the latest in fabrics, tools, and supplies! This year Sew Expo will be taking place February 28 – March 3rd at the Puyallup Fairgrounds. In addition to all the daily happenings, special guests, such as, Nancy Zieman, Mary Mulari, and the “Hot Fusing Chicks” will be flying in to make special appearances . Nancy and Mary will be presenting their second “Kick it Up a Stitch” and if you joined them last year, you know how much fun time with them can be! in addition, television host Ellen March, will be conducting a live audition for her television show “Sew it All”!

Be sure to check out Sew Expo’s website for all the details you need to know about the show. You can download a registration brochure which features all the seminar and class descriptions. Additionally you can register for the daily seminars on the Expo website. You can purchase Sew Expo tickets at all Quality Sewing locations while supplies last. Pre-sale tickets are only $10.00, they will be $12.00 the day of. The Sew Expo website also features an updated blog and some fun links including:

Pillowcase Patrol As a part of the “Million Pillowcase Project”, the 2013 Sewing & Stitchery Expo will be a collection point for handmade pillowcases. Create cheerful pillowcases for the children who are undergoing treatment at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital. Check out the Expo web site to download your free pillowcase pattern. Expo collected more than 5,000 pillowcases last year. How many more can we give this year?

Be Sure to Visit the Quality Sewing Booths – This year we will have an exciting notions and threads booth in the Pavilion. We have been shopping and negotiating with our various vendors for several months to bring you an amazing array of hot buys! We have combed our stores for close-outs and one-of-a-kind items that will all be priced to sell fast. We will also feature the new items that Nancy Zieman and Sue Hausmann will show in their seminars, all at special Expo prices.

We have many sewing experts on-hand this year and this will be a great opportunity to meet them. Across from the notions booth in the Pavilion, we have multi-needle embroidery expert George Moore and special guests long arm quilting expert Denise Applegate-Schober. Be sure to visit Simon Haskins, all the way here from Australia, over in the Showplex building. He will be showing his amazing techniques and designs along with his brand new designs that have just been released. In the Showplex, you will also find our main booth which will be filled with awesome special on machines and Floriani products. Across from our main booth, we will have special guest Ed Moore, the lead designer for Koala Cabinets. This event is not to be missed as it only happens once a year! View our 2013 Sew Expo Buyers Guide that showcases some of the fabulous deals to be had at this year’s event.


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Posted in Community Service, Crafting, Events, How To Guides, Machine Embroidery, New Products, Projects and Techniques, Quilting, Resources, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities, Sewing Studio, Show and Tell, Tips & Tricks | 1 Comment »

Project Runway Bling Machine

Tuesday, August 2nd, 2011

Did you see the crystal-encrusted sewing machine that Brother will be awarding to this season’s winner of  Project Runway?

This machine was unveiled today at the Brother Convention and will truly be a “shining” symbol of the winner’s achievement.

Wouldn’t it be a fun machine to have?

It makes me wonder how long it took to place each of the stones with such precision. The lettering on the machine is readable and even the buttons are all dressed up.

So if you are wondering what machine they dressed up for the event, this is the Project Runway Limited Addition NS40.  In its original form, the NS40 models a fashionable shade of subtle pink and it has functions and features that make it easy to create beautiful designs of your own. With 40 built-in stitches, one-step auto-sized buttonholes, and smooth free-motion sewing, this machine can just about do it all.

In addition to the NS40, there are 6 other machines in the Project Runway line. Prices for these feature-packed machines start at a very affordable $300.

The newest addition to the Project Runway machine line is a great serger that is very easy to thread and runs very smoothly: The 5234PRW.  I really like this machine! It has a free arm and even comes with a generous, extra-large extension table that also opens up to hold whatever notions or feet you may want to have on hand.

You can see all of the machines in the Project Runway line on the Brother website.

Who knows, maybe one of us will win a machine like this someday!

Reva


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Do You Dream of Designing? Project Runway Starts Thursday

Sunday, July 24th, 2011

Don’t you just love the feeling of using your creativity to make something spectacular?  This time of the year I sure can used ajump start to my creative process.  Well just in time, it’s Project Runway to the rescue.

I just love the thought of being given a random challenge and seeing what one will come up with.   Not that I my sense of style always agrees with what the designers on Project Runway comes up with, but the show does hold a full pallet of inspiration and ideas for projects that I am planning and working on.  It sure has me looking at life around me with a whole different perspective.

The challenges remind me of the classes that we have in our stores. Have you ever noticed how each person in a class can make the same project but they all look so different when they add their own fabric choices and personality.  I just love seeing what is created in a class!

This years season looks promising with a group of contestants that have such a wide variety of personalities and styles.  We will also get to see designers who’s ages range from 21 to 57, one is even Snohomish and two are from Portland.

I have found a ton of information about the designers and have gotten a glimpse into what they are like by going to the Project Runway info page on LifeTime. Here you can even see what their work spaces look like.  If you have Comcast, I did find that all of the video clips are “OnDemand” under “Tv Series”.

The new season of Project Runway starts this  Thursday, July 28th @ 9pm on Life Time.

If you are not able to watch the series at the scheduled time, it is usually re-aired during the following week.  Also in the past, LifeTime has posted the current episode on it’s website within a couple of days and is available for a short time period.

This is a great way to share an experience with the younger ones in your life and may even ignite a spark of interest in sewing.  Even though my family does not share the same interest in sewing and design that I have, it has been fun to interact with my husband and two teenagers through this show while listening to their opinions on what each show presents.  Also, my best girlfriend lives in California and this show can always give us something fun to talk about!  So consider “watching” the show with your friends, kids, grandkids, or nieces/nephews. If you are not able to watch it together in the same room, compare thoughts with each other via texting, email, or Facebook.  You just might be amazed at how much a simple TV show and Social Media may open up dialog and actually give you one more thing in common with someone you care about.

Join me in watching!  We can all watch it together and chat about it on the Quality Sewing Facebook page.

I will meet you there!

Reva


Posted in Events, How To Guides, Projects and Techniques, Resources, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities, Show and Tell, Tips & Tricks | No Comments »

Pacific West Quilt Show is Coming Soon!

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

Are you ready to be inspired?  This may be just what you are looking for!  The Pacific West Quilt Show (formally known as the APNQ Quilt Show) is coming to the Tacoma Convention Center August 26-28, 2011.

The Show is presented by Pacific West Quilters and offers a Juried & Judged Quilt show & Contest with prizes equaling $25,000 and more than 500 quilts on display.  There will also be many other events of interest to quilters and sewing enthusiasts including a  Quilt Auction, Merchant Mall, Fashion Show, and Lectures.

The centerpiece of the quilt show will be the 227 finalists in this year’s contest from the 18 US states and Canadian provinces of the Pacific West region: Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, The Northwest Territories, Oregon, Saskatchewan, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and Yukon.

In addition to the contest quilts, there will be hundreds of quilts in several Special Exhibits. These Exhibits encompass various themes, Living Colour, Spice of Life, Wish You were Here, Telling Secrets, Basic Necessities, Invoking Spirits, and the Elements: Earth, Wind, Fire & Chocolate.

Love to shop? There’s also will be a Merchant Mall featuring over 100 vendors where you will find beautiful fabrics and all types of sewing items as well as see the latest in sewing and quilting technology.  Make sure to come see  us at the Quality Sewing booth!

Reva


Posted in Crafting, Events, New Products, Quilting, Resources, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities, Show and Tell | No Comments »

Sewing with Betty Cotton

Tuesday, June 14th, 2011

This past weekend I was at the Puyallup Store and Audrey was giving a class on Cotton Theory by nationally sought after Author and Designer Betty Cotton. It has been a bit since I have made a project using the Cotton Theory. After seeing how much fun everyone was having, it has encouraged me to start another one. I think that I might make one that is fall on one side and Christmas on the other. I love 2 for 1 projects!

In a nut shell, how the process work is that you complete one section or block at a time: top, batting, backing and quilting. All of the pieces of fabric and batting are small enough to be very easy to handle.

There are several things that make this system so great to work with.

Some of these include:

  • It is fast! When the sections are stitched together, then that part is complete. Just move on to the next section.
  • It is easy to handle! Since each section is small in size, it is just as easy to make a queen sized quilt as it is a table runner
  • It is reversible! Since all the seams are finished as the sections are assembled, a completely different back fabric can be used so that you will have 2 projects in one.
  • It is dimensional! The texture that is created by the unique and easy seam finishing technique adds so much more personality to the project than traditional quilting can give.
  • It is fun! Such a fun way to explore working with reversible embroidery, decorative stitching, and beautiful threads.
  • Hey, did I mention fast? I know I did, but it is sure worth repeating! :) Those of us who are into more of an “Instant Gratification” type of project, this is right up our alley!

I encourage you to give this a try. I started with a table runner and many others have started by making place mats. Betty Cotton has several books and patterns available, check one of our stores to see what they have in stock and try this today! If you are near the Puyallup Store, go in and take a look at Audrey’s great samples (She is a Certified Betty Cotton Instructor) and while you are there sign up for one of her classes.

If you have made a project using the Cotton Theory by Betty Cotton, send us a picture or post it on our Facebook page. We would love to see what you have made.

Hope to see your pictures soon!

Reva


Posted in Crafting, Events, Fast Projects & Gifts, Home Decor, How To Guides, Machine Embroidery, Projects and Techniques, Quilting, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities, Show and Tell, Tips & Tricks | No Comments »

Who are the “Stitching Sisters” you ask . .

Tuesday, May 24th, 2011

They are only one of the most talented and fun Sister teams around!  This dynamic duo is made up of Eileen Roche (embroidery innovator & Editor of Designs in Machine Embroidery Magazine) and Marie Zinno (sewing sensation & Eileen’s real life sister).

Eileen and Marie, both, became infected with the love for sewing as young adults and have a fresh perspective on the craft.

Here are some fun facts about the Stitching Sisters:

  • Middle sisters of 6 girls – no boys.
  • They grew up playing on the beach of the Atlantic Ocean – in the small resort town of Wildwood Crest, NJ
  • Marie drinks coffee; Eileen drinks tea (which Marie thinks is nothing but a big hassle).
  • Eileen is older (by a lot of years); Marie is funnier than Eileen.
  • Eileen coaxed Marie into doing these types of events after Eileen’s appearance at Nancy Zieman’s Sewing Weekend.  Eileen fell in front of 200 people and broke a tooth off 10 minutes before presenting a seminar. After a few minutes of recovery, Eileen convinced Marie to go on stage and go through the seminar while Eileen narrated from the back of the auditorium.  Marie survived and Eileen had a root canal right after the seminar (there is a dentist for the stars in Beaver Dam, WI).
  • Since their first experience as a team, Marie and Eileen have taught over 3,000 people across the United States.
  • To find out more about Eileen, check out her blog here!

If you love learning and love embroidery, you will LOVE the Stitching Sisters. Don’t miss the fun this June 4th & 5th at the Puyallup Fairgrounds where Quality Sewing is hosting the Stitching Sisters phenomenal 2 day event! You can sign up here.

Can’t wait to see you there!

Reva


Posted in Events, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities | 2 Comments »

Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party

Thursday, May 5th, 2011

Have you ever been to an Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party? If you haven’t you are missing out on tons of fun! What better place can you imagine than a room filled with beautiful top of the line embroidery machines surrounded with happy and excited sewing & embroidery enthusiasts? All gathered together in one place to learn and be inspired by one of embroidery’s best, Steve Wilson from Anita Goodesign!

In Everett, this past week the Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party was two days of total fun. There were seven projects to enjoy and everyone left with a CD of all the designs used so we can make as many as we like. Of course, all of the projects were great, but a couple of my favorite techniques that we learned were Three-Dimensional Flowers, a Christmas Stocking completely in the hoop, and Shaped Edge Tea Towels.

Steve brings so many wonderful samples for us to see, touch, and be inspired by, every where you look there is something beautiful. He also gave us a sneak peak of the designs that will be coming out in the next few months—they are really neat!

One of my most favorite things about this Party was getting to meet wonderful folks who love to sew just as much as I do. I came away so energized and inspired. Check out the fun we had in the video below:

Everett Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party April 2011

If you love embroidery or are even just curious about what it is all about. Don’t miss our other upcoming special events!

Looking forward to seeing many of you this week in Puyallup.
Reva


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Leading Edge Tips & Techniques with Steve Wilson from Anita Goodesign

Thursday, April 7th, 2011

If you are unable to attend the Anita Goodesign Embroidery Party on April 28-29th, come visit with Steve Wilson on Saturday April 30th, from 10am to 1pm at the Everett store. Steve will show the newest Anita Goodesign collections and even offer you a sneak peak of what’s coming out soon. He will also teach his “quilt as you go” class and teach you the same technique that he taught at the event. There will be prizes, refreshments and of course specials on all of the Anita Goodesign and Quality Sewing products. Don’t miss the fun! Leading Edge Tips & Techniques with Steve Wilson from Anita Goodesign is Only $10.00 for Sew Fun Members and $15.00 for Non-Members. Space is limited, sign up today!


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The Love of Sewing Retreat with Special Guest Nancy Zieman

Friday, January 21st, 2011

We recently hosted the Love of Sewing Retreat with special guest Nancy Zieman at the Puyallup Fairgrounds.  This was a unique opportunity for our customers and employees alike as Nancy only presents four sewing retreats a year. The event was a success and I think everyone had fun!

Two of Nancy’s samples that inspired me the most were the Trace n’ Create Lone Star Quilt Template and Trace n’ Create Dresden Quilt Template. These templates are fantastic because you can create a 36″ block in the same time it takes to make a standard size quilt block. Using these Trace n’ Create templates, you are able to make a 12″,24′ 32″ or 36″ quilt block. It takes just as much time to make a 36′ block as it does a 12″ block. Either one of these large blocks would work well to create a queen size quilt in no time using a quilting machine!


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Posted in Events, Projects and Techniques, Quilting, Sewing, Sewing Celebrities, Show and Tell | 1 Comment »

Interview with Nancy Zieman

Friday, December 31st, 2010

Nancy Zieman and I at Baby Lock Convention this Summer

I had the opportunity to interview Nancy Zieman this week! It was so much fun. Thank you to everyone who emailed me ideas of questions. You can see the questions and answers below. If you enjoy reading this interview be sure to attend one or both of the Nancy Zieman lectures at the Love of Sewing Retreat next week. Nancy is teaching the Appetizer Reception and Tips N Tricks Presentation January 7th, 6pm – 9pm and the Behind the Scenes on Sewing with Nancy lecture January 8th, 9am -12pm. These lectures are only $20 each or $10 each if you are a Sew Fun member!

Interview with Nancy Zieman:

Q: When did you start sewing?

A: I started sewing when I was 10 and joined a 4H club and I have not stopped since.

Q: How did you get involved in creating your own sewing show?

A: It was a fluke – I was traveling a lot giving seminars promoting Nancy’s Notions. I started Nancy’s Notions in 1979. Then in 1981 someone asked me to do a cable television pilot. At the time cable television was no what it is today and thankfully they had very few viewers at the time. The local producer did not want to produce it. I did not want to produce it myself but I knew that if I didn’t, I may never have another opportunity. I negotiated a 3-month contract, they took a chance and I took chance on producing and the rest is history.

Q: Where do you get inspiration for your new ideas?

A: This is an ongoing process and not from one source. I read blogs and magazines like Real Simple and Martha Stewart Living. I watch the trends that are out there, outside of the sewing market. I also go to publishers and see new books.

Q: What sewing technique have you found the most difficult to master?

A: I am not an intricate quilting piecer, I like to free from art quilt. Different personalities gravitate towards different techniques. That is the beauty of it; we now have Nancy’s Corner at the end of the segment where we interview different artists.  It is so interesting to me to see a variety of personality types that are interested in sewing. College students, architects, men and women making all different things garments, arts quilts, a great diversity of skill levels and interests.

Q: If you had one piece of advice for sewers and quilters, what would it be?

A: Don’t point out your mistakes. Enjoy the process.

Q: What are your favorite time saving tools?

A: The thing I use every time I sew is the 5 in 1 sewing gauge. Very simple but I use that all the time. I have an obsession with scissors, different scissors for different projects, kind of like a cook in the kitchen with knives. The new Stack ‘n Stitch Thread Tower has been fun to design – from conception to seeing it next to my sewing machine, that is the neat part. (To read more about this check out Nancy’s blog post.)

Q: When you are not working what is your favorite type of sewing projects?

A: At home – I basically do landscape quilting.

Q: What was your worst “Blooper”?

A: Oh yeah, I have had lots. One time I could not say Alamagora, New Mexico. It took seven or eight takes.

Q: If you had a crystal ball – what would you predict for the future of sewing? You have seen the world explode with new technology, what do you think sewers will be doing different in 5 years.

A: The world of embroidery will continue to have exponential growth but not all people gravitate towards embroidery. I see a resurgence in the 20-40 year olds sewing in a different way, a very free form non-traditional way. There are not fabric stores or sewing stores that cater to that.

Q: Is there an Ask Nancy sort of website?

A: The best way to ask me a question is via Facebook or my blog.

Q: How do you balance your personal life with such a busy and demanding career?

A: This has always been a challenge, learning to say no. When our youngest son was born, I took great efforts to say no and I have never regretted it. Many times I lose business opportunities but I keep my sanity. Having priorities, doing normal things, volunteering locally, doing things that do not benefit my business. Everybody has to brush their teeth in the morning!

Q: If you were going to be doing something different than your current profession, what would it be?

A: I would like to be the Ambassador to Norway!

I hoped you enjoyed reading this as much as enjoyed interviewing Nancy. I love her tip, “Don’t point out your mistakes. Enjoy the process.” It is so true! What was your favorite part? Be sure to comment and let me know.

Happy Sewing, Carmen

PS: If you want to know which question Nancy liked best – check out her blog post here!


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