Replies

1. 
   solosmocker | Apr 25, 2007 05:39am | #1

   I have a friend who is currently traveling the country with her spouse and she timed it so she could attend a sewing camp. She will be draping and completing a blouse, jacket, and skirt with some machine embroidery elements on the blouse but mostly emphasis on garment construction. I will try to get more info but it is tough getting a hold of her. She will go a while between powering up the laptop. I THINK, this is the week of the class. I will let you know more as I find out.

   
   

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   Edited 4/24/2007 10:40 pm ET by solosmocker

2. 
   MaryinColorado | Apr 25, 2007 07:27am | #2

   I just wrote of creating our own seminar in the 5'4 and under thread.  Learn, eat, drink, and be merry or Mari or Mary or Connie or Pat....after a few drinks, we won't remember each other's names anyway, but we'd be merry!!!  We could call ourselves the merrymakers or merrymachiners or whatever.......

3. 
   ctirish | Apr 26, 2007 12:05am | #3

   You may want to read through the pages in the back of your Threads magazine.  Many of the professionals have ads there for their classes and tours. Susan Khaljhe just had one in April that went to NY and toured the garment district as well as sewing classes.  John Deer did a cruise this past winter for embroidery enthusiasts.   If you check any out or get additional info don't forget to come back and tell us al about it.  We would all like to go..  thank you, jane

   
   

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   Edited 4/25/2007 5:06 pm ET by ctirish

4. 
   fabricholic | Apr 26, 2007 12:47am | #4

   Also, check out Marcy Tilton's website. She takes a group to Paris every year. I suppose she has other field trips closer to home.

   Marcy

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Apr 26, 2007 02:14am | #5

   Oh yeah, Paris, New York, a cruise.....no thanks.  I am just a simple gal who loves nature and small groups of "easygoing" people.  I have an extreme dislike for cities, trafic, and crowds and pushy agressive angry people.  Been there, done that, burned the t shirt!  Now I just want to escape all that chaos and enjoy a simpler lifestyle.

   I could go for a seminar near a lake, ocean, forest, even a campground would be so refreshing and inspirational. 

1. 
   Crazy K | Apr 26, 2007 03:19am | #8

   Oh Mary, you're my kind of gal.  I live in a metro area but am a simple country girl at heart.  I was raised on a farm and appreciate the finer things in life......green grass, fresh air, clear blue sky (no smog!).......you know, the 'finer' things!

   I think a lakeside seminar would be great..............with just a few good-hearted fellow sewists!!

   Kay

1. 
   MaryinColorado | Apr 26, 2007 05:21pm | #9

   I grew up in a small town and now live near a Metro area too.  It must be like a child who has been cooped up in the house too long, I want to "go outside and play"!  "Away from the maddening crowd"!  Maybe it is "Spring Fever" but I am craving "Wide open spaces"! 

1. 
   Crazy K | Apr 26, 2007 05:55pm | #10

   Sounds like a serious case of 'spring fever' to me! LOL

2. 
   MaryinColorado | Apr 26, 2007 06:28pm | #11

   Oh yeah!  I see a roadtrip in the near future before I go batty!  My brother and I are planning a trip (back home) to Illinois very soon!  It should be a hoot, hope we don't get into too much mischief without the spouses to keep us in check!  ha ha 

   I ran into a snag on Mom's quilt though and just have to finish it so I can deliver it!  The stabilizer I used was too lightweight and caused a major mess.  My fault.  I had to walk away from it.  Hopefully all will go well today and I will finish the embroidered squares.  Also I am overthinking it and just need to remember to enjoy the process and relax!  Mary

3. 
   Crazy K | Apr 26, 2007 07:01pm | #13

   I kind of had the same problem with the valance for PJ.........no major messes but it wasn't turning out as I had hoped.  All in all, it worked out fine, PJ loves it and that's all that matters.  I find that choosing the correct stabilizer is sometimes the hardest part of the embroidery process.  I haven't had anything really bad happen but I have had some that puckered a bit.  Sometimes its best to walk away and go back later with a fresh outlook.  Sounds like you're doing that.

   Have fun on your trip.............if you get anywhere near Minnesota, give a yell......I'll wave!! ha

   Kay

4. 
   SewinMari | Apr 27, 2007 04:29am | #14

   I was thinking sewing "camp", just because I'm lining up the summer weeks for my 10 year old and 14 year old daughters.  "Camp," in the sense of well lighted, too many electrical outlets, etc.  We just lost our wonderful fabric shop because the owners were getting too old.  All that is left is Hancock and Walmart.  I want to touch and feel elegant fabric and experience haute couture.  I try to intelligently order fabric off the internet, but am fearful.  I haven't really had bad experiences.

   I just want to go to a big city and shop for fabric.  I want to accumulate so much fabric stash that it becomes a fire hazard. 

5. 
   Ckbklady | Apr 26, 2007 02:30am | #6

   Awright!!  A sewing camp with Martinis???? I'm there!!!

   I'll watch this thread carefully - if someone comes up with one, I'll join you!

   :) Mary

6. 
   Josefly | Apr 26, 2007 03:12am | #7

   Two or three months ago, I got an email notifying me of a week-long fitting seminar offered by the compony from which I had ordered a flexible ruler. The source had appeared in a Threads article. I'll look it up and post the source for you. I seem to remember that the course was to be held in Salt Lake City, and there were two or three different dates available this spring and summer.

   EDIT: Okay, it's "Fabulous Fit Retreat" offered by Judith Rasband of Conselle Image Consultants. You can find out about it at

   http://www.conselle.com

   and scroll down near the bottom of that page and click on "Fabulous Fit".

   Can't testify for it since I haven't tried it, but when you mentioned "sewing camp" it rang a bell. I think sewing camp is a terrific idea. Wouldn't it be fun to meet some of our Gatherings crowd at a week-long camp?

   
   

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   Edited 4/25/2007 8:56 pm ET by Josefly

7. 
   maggiekintex | Apr 26, 2007 06:46pm | #12

   Look up "Sewing Workshop" on line, also Sandra Betzina has workshops in San Francisco.  I have a friend who goes to the SW classes in CA, loves them.  Also look at ads in Threads, I recently saw one with Fred Bloebaum advertised.  I attended a one day workshop with her a few years back and loved it.  Marcy Tilton may have some also. 

8. 
   Teaf5 | Apr 28, 2007 12:08am | #15

   Every time I see this thread topic, I want to yell, "Me, too!" It sounds like so much fun, although I wonder how I would transport all my stash and necessities for sewing to any other location....

   I don't know about commercial sewing camps, but here's an option that has worked for me: getting some sewing done when I'm visiting someone else. Once, on a visit to my sister, I made a baby quilt from her stash to donate to her locate charity auction. The fact that I had just two days meant I worked like crazy, but I could talk with her and the family while I worked. While I had her machine out, I adjusted and oiled it, and that inspired her to do a couple of alteration projects she hadn't gotten around to. We had a grand time talking, and the quilt was a big hit.

   On a visit to a friend in another state, we were staying for a week but had no specific plans. Ahead of time, she asked my advice about several home dec sewing projects she was stalled on. When I arrived, relaxed and enjoying her hospitality, it was fun and easy for me to complete her projects (and one of my own) while she focused on cooking great meals and sharing conversation.

   Not exactly "sewing camp," but a deligthful way to spend some time sewing!

9. 
   dressed2atee | May 01, 2007 04:00am | #16

   Well. this is not a sewing camp, but a sewing retreat I've organized in the MD area.  It's being sponsored as an ASG event, but others are welcome.  There will be a pattern draping class and a demo on the Wildginger softward.  See attached.