if you're in LA this weekend...

check out this totally DIY-style sale my bi-coastal costume-designing friend julie puts on in her yard! she's been doing it for years and i've always wished i could go, (sigh)... kelly mulloy will be selling her hot felted items, and jane d'arensbourg will be there with her surreal glass jewelry. i don't know any of the other makers' work but i bet there'll be tons of cool stuff; go see for yourself and support your local designers!

more etsy classes

i am happy to report that i am now teaching a bunch more classes at the amazing craft paradise known as the etsy labs! there are still spaces left in the beginner crochet class (3 weeks, starting THIS sunday 5/27) if you'd like to learn a new skill this holiday weekend. crochet is so fun and portable, it's great to do at the beach, picnic, or while traveling (that's me above, crocheting my way across ireland by train!) for more info and pics, and to register, look here or click on the panda in the sidebar.


Class: Patternmaking
Date: Tuesdays June 12, 19, 26 and July 3 (4 weekly classes)
Time: 6:30-8:30pm each class
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Description: If you love to sew, but are frustrated by the patterns you find in stores, this is the class for you. Here you will learn the basic principles of flat patternmaking, and start having fun designing the clothes you picture in your mind! You will draft patterns for a t-shirt and an A-line skirt (like those in the photos above) based on your own measurements. Then we will manipulate these patterns into other style variations. We will also cover how to 'rub off' a pattern from a pre-existing garment. Basic sewing experience is helpful to benefit from this class.
Students are required to bring the following materials to the class:
a roll or pad of newsprint, drawing paper or patternmaking paper, at least 14" wide
hip curve or french curve
eraser
1 yard of muslin or similar inexpensive woven fabric
1 1/2 yds of t-shirt jersey or similar knit
All other materials will be provided at the Etsy Labs!

Class fee is $180.00.

For more info, pics and to sign up go here


Class: Intermediate Sewing, make a sundress at the Etsy Labs
Date: Thursdays, June 21, 28 and July 5, 12 (4 weekly classes)
Time: 6:30-8:30pm each class
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Description: In this class you will learn some of the finer points of sewing: seam finishing, darts, inserting invisible zippers, bias-tape necklines and embellishing with trims. The project is a versatile strappy dress (two versions shown in the photos above) which can be customized in several ways, making it span from cocktails to casual, depending on fabric and detail choices. The pattern will be provided and you will learn how to make basic pattern adjustments to fit your body. Happy stitching!
Students are required to bring the following materials to the class (which can be found at your local craft store):
2 yards of a light-to-medium weight, stable woven fabric (cotton prints, eyelet, broadcloth, lightweight denim, pinwale corduroy, etc)
1 pkg single-fold bias tape
1 (12" or longer) invisible zipper
invisible zipper foot
decorative trims or ribbon for straps or other embellishment (1-3 yds)
thread to match fabric and trims
All other supplies will be provided by the Etsy Labs.

Class fee is $180.00.

For more info, pics, and to sign up go here

Class: Hand Spinning
Date: July 10th, 2007
Time: 6:30-8:30pm
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Description: If you've been crocheting or knitting for a while, you may be getting the itch to make your own unique yarns. Spinning with a drop spindle is compact, inexpensive, portable, and a great introduction to spinning on a wheel! We will learn how to prepare raw fleece by carding, and spin it into a singles. Then we'll ply it to make a balanced 2-ply yarn and wind it into your very first skein!
Students will be required to bring the following materials to the class: drop spindle (can also be borrowed or purchased from instructor for $12) and 1 oz. wool roving

Class fee is $40.00

For more info, pics and to sign up click here


Class: Embroidery
Date: Saturday June 23
Time:2:30-4:30pm
Location: Etsy Labs, 325 Gold Street 6th Floor, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Description: Embroidery is a skill you'll find so many uses for, you'll wonder how you ever survived without it! It's a perfect way to customize and personalize items for gifts, for yourself or for sale. It's also a great complement to knitting or crochet. We will create a sampler of a dozen basic stitches that will start you off on decorating everything you own!
Students are required to bring the following materials with them (which can be found at your local craft store):
a fat quarter (or 18" x 18") of muslin or other medium weight cotton (gingham works great as the pattern gives you a grid to work off of!) and embroidery needles (look for a decent-sized EYE). All other materials provided at the Etsy Labs.

Class fee is $40.00

For more info, pics and to sign up go here

brimfield!

last weekend was the first installment of brimfield 2007 (it happens every may, july and september). we went up to hudson for the weekend and then went to the flea market for the day on saturday. i got lots more doilies, a beautiful crochet sweater, and these really cool cast cement mushrooms. i will take pics of the stuff i got but here are scenes from the market. the weather was PERFECT, about 70 degrees and sunny!

for lunch we had lobster rolls (which i was so excited about that i completely forgot to take a picture of them) and then for afternoon snack we had lemonade and lime rickies and strawberry shortcake, the kind made with a biscuit out of Bisquick. YUM!



colleen's goal was to buy a bike "that's not brown" and she found a lovely blue one for $14. here she is test riding it back in hudson, and gertie sunbathing on the porch. we had a lazy sunday gardening in the backyard, smelling lilacs and just enjoying the glorious day!

SAPLING sidewalk sale and lemonade stand this sunday!

this coming sunday the SAPLING society will present our first ever
SAPLING SIDEWALK SALE and LEMONADE STAND!

when: sunday, may 20 1-6pm
where: treehouse, 430 graham avenue (between withers and frost) in the lovely Williamsburg
just a hop and skip from the Graham stop on the L
what: REAL lemonade and baked goods, samples, overstock and past seasons' merch from hodge podge, becky lee, sirius and 31 corn lane, bric-a-brac, surprise sale items from the depths of the treehouse, and a secret treasure chest of goodies! don't miss out!
why: support your local independent designers and makers!

brookyn general store

have you been to brooklyn general store yet? it is the best yarn, fabric and craft supply store i have found in nyc, possibly excepting P & S which i also adore but in a totally different way. brooklyn general is a cozy, spacious, beautiful space; it is housed, as of about 6 months ago, in the former frank's department store which was apparently quite a cobble hill landmark itself. the store inherited most of the fixtures of the former inhabitants, so they have amazing floor-to-ceiling shelves (with 3 sliding ladders!) and their cutting tables are the old store counters. they sell knitting and crochet supplies, roving and wool to spin or felt, new and vintage fabrics, sewing patterns, notions, books, kits, hand-dyed embroidery floss, handmade goods, and way more. and of course, they offer classes, which is where i come in!
currently i am teaching a 4-week beginner sewing class (the next session will begin saturday june 2nd from 11am to 1pm). i am also teaching an intermediate sewing class where we'll make the Built by Wendy dress/tunic/blouse pattern (Simplicity 3964) starting wednesday may 30 from 7-9pm. and i will be teaching a one-day embroidery workshop on saturday june 2 from 1:30-3:30pm. give them a call for the complete schedule, as the website isn't updated at the moment, or stop in and take a look at the chalkboard or pick up a schedule flyer. their new blog should keep you informed of what's happening, and you might also want to read amylou's unbiased opinion of the place!