Creating the Future

I have been an educator for over 40 years.  I've taught all levels of public school and taught in three states.  Now I teach people how to teach, and it's a very rewarding career.  Tomorrow I try something new--I'm going to work with four college age young women who want to sew.  Two of them have machines that haven't even been out of the boxes.  Talk about a challenge!

It's been a time of gathering lots of information, cutting squares for them to make a holiday patterned trivot, and hoping that all of their machines work!  I'm actually loaning my trusty Bernina 1230 to one of the ladies.  I still love the way she sews after all of these years.  My kids got lots of clothes made on it and its the machine I sewed my dissertation jacket on--the made-from-scratch denim jacket that has a ton of applique in a great scene all around it, and it took me a couple of years sewing  moments here and there when I was working on my doctorate.  That was 24 years ago, and it's a little tattered and torn now, but I LOVE that jacket.  It's actually one of the things I'm taking to show what you can do.

If you have any ideas for great sites for beginners, I'd love for you to leave a comment!

Much Needed Sewing Retreat

I had the most wonderful weekend!  I actually got to sew for three entire days.  I love being productive.  Oftentimes when I sew like this I'm working on one big project, but this time I actually worked on many different things.  I put rolled hems on six napkins and cut out six more to finish at home, free motion quilted six placemats and a matching square for the center of the table, cut out two sets of doll clothes and sewed them up except for buttons and buttonholes, cut out a long sleeved top for myself and sewed it up, cut out a top for daughter #2, wound bobbins for the quilting of my Christmas quilt my friend put on her frame and she quilted for me with her fantastic system and mostly had a lot of fun with my two sewing friends!