Get Creative with Zentangle and Fabric Doodling 

Last night's Sew-phisti-cuts meeting was an opportunity for us to engage those little brain cells and go back to being a kid again back in art class.

Presented by Maura Kristofik, attendees worked on creating a unique design on paper or fabric with fabric marking pens.  Maura shared with us some of the 'doodling' she has done in the past, as well as her inspiration and uses for her completed items.  In the most recent project she transformed doodled canvas into a decorative zippy bag.  She brought along a couple of books with design ideas, to get those creative juices flowing. 

Maura's doodle book and some sample doodles.

Maura made a quilt with painted stencils enhanced by fabric markers. 

Maura's zippy bag made from 'doodled" canvas.

 

Pat's doodles.

 

Mary's Valentine

 
 SHOW & TELL TIME:

Ever wonder what to do with those fabric scraps?  Maura took some of her knit leftovers and serged them together into a scarf.  Pretty cool!

 

Connie's Mermaid quilt

Connie's Owl quilt

Kathia's quilt for herself is machine embroidered.

Mary's Tart tin pin cushion

Pat's tote with interesting handles

Pat's brother made her these adorable boxes from a vintage yardstick

Here is a list of Sewphisticuts programs for 2019:

January 9:  Holiday Celebration Dinner at the Eveready Diner
This evening we just kicked back and enjoyed a carefree dinner out with lots laughs and after-the-holidays socializing. Enjoy pics of some of the work that we finished over the holidays:

Quilt by Mary D for her soon-to-graduate                              Tote bag made by Mary D.   Patterned
college student niece.                                                    after her favorite travel tote.
                                                                               Sue Kreutzberg....does the fabric look familiar? :-)

Kathia's latest purse creation:      

 Judy has been very busy preparing and assembling "Days for Girls" packages.  This project allows girls in third world countries to attend school during their menses.

 

March 13th: Decorative Stitching

Maura will lead this meeting as I will be traveling.  Each person in the group will play with the decorative stitches on their machine to create a unique decorative piece of any size.  Use interesting threads, bobbin work, etc.  Bring your creation to the meeting and share ideas with the group describing what you did, what worked or didn't work, etc. 

April 10th: Make a Fabric Storage Basket with Handles

Pat Melilli will lead this program.  Bring supplies (a list will be provided before hand) and your machine and sew a storage basket suitable for fat quarters or other sewing room organization that stands up nicely on its own. 

May 8th: Make a Boxy Zippy Bag

Sandy Cussick with take the lead this month in making a boxy style zippered bag.  This style works well for storing a variety of items and is handy for traveling. 

June 12th: Christmas Gift Ideas for the Ladies of Grace Smith House

This meeting will be devoted to sharing of ideas for hand made items to be collected and donated to Grace Smith House as Christmas gifts for the ladies being sheltered by their organization.  Items donated in the past are simple knit or crocheted scarves, sewn items such as zippy bags, wallets, tote bags, shopping bags, etc.  Bring samples of anything you have already made and instructions to share with others.

July 10th: Piping

Group leader Peggy Norton will lead this program which will include how to make piping, when to use straight grain vs. bias cut fabric, and applying piping to straight and curved edges, and joining the ends of piping. 

August 14th: Pot Luck and Sewing Room Tour

This is an annual event.  This year's location is TBD. 

September 11: Squishy Fabric Bowl

Mary DuBois will lead this program where we will make a soft fabric bowl.  Mary made one and donated it to the raffles at the 2018 annual meeting.  These can be made in different sizes to suit your decor.

October 9th: Make a Difference Day Prep

This meeting will be used to prepare for the annual Make a Difference Day sewing event.  A project will be chosen sometime during the year.

November 13th: Make a Non-Slip Sewing Machine Foot Pedal Holder

This item was shown at the planning dinner in January.  It's made with non-slip shelf line bound with cotton fabric.  It's way cool and a nice item to have for home or when traveling!

December 11th: Make a Folded Fabric Star Ornament

Connie Pennisi will lead this program where the group will make one or more star shaped ornaments by folding fabric a certain way.  Come make ornaments as gifts or to decorate your holiday packages!

As this can be a fluid schedule, some of these items could change.  Please contact Peggy to confirm your interest.

                    FOLDED FABRIC ORNAMENT CLASS 

Did you attend our Annual Luncheon in November?
Then you remember that each attendee received one of those lovely folded fabric ornaments made by Andrea Diamond.  Each one was different as she used a variety of fabrics, crystals, beads, charms and ribbons.  And now is your chance to learn how she does it.

We've scheduled February 23, 2019 for this fun project and it only cost $5 for supplies.  As there is a limited number of spaces, be sure to sign up soon!  See the form below:

 

COLOR US HAPPY

Last Wednesday evening, the Sew-phist-i-cuts got a lesson in using a color wheel.  Most of us are familiar with rudimentary color wheels that show the three primary and the three secondary colors.  Group leader Peggy Norton demonstrated a color wheel tool (Dritz makes this particular one) that we could use to coordinate colors in all sorts of ways  Although the tool comes with some fairly extensive directions, Peggy walked us through the basics and then demonstrated with fabric samples from her own stash.  Many of us could see immediately how this would help us in choosing fabrics to go together, whether for quilts or clothing.  The color wheel tool is also useful when deciding on colors for home decorating.

A mock-up of the wheel for each of us to experiment with

Curtain Call

The Howland Cultural Center in Beacon NY is a non-profit group preserving and operating the historic 1872 Howland Circulating Library building as a center for arts and cultural activities.  Recently they approached our chapter with a request for curtains;  specifically, they needed to cover the artwork on the walls to provide a plain backdrop for performances and other events in the gallery space.  Judy Longacre and Maura Kristofik met with the staff to determine their needs, mocking up a sample to test their design.  The staff liked it, our chapter board gave the nod to proceed, and Judy began to round up volunteers.  The result was an almost all-day effort from Sandy, Isobel, Kathy, Peggy, Danielle, Mary P, Mary D, Judy, Maura and Sue (who put blood, sweat, but no tears, into her work!).  Jaye Vaughn also popped in and out during the day to help.  By 4 pm the Center had a stack of freshly pressed curtain panels all made up.  Judy did an awesome job of organizing everything - kudos to her for all her preparation to make the day go as smoothly as possible.  What was most impressive was how everyone worked as a well-oiled machine, picking up work wherever there was a backlog, and just pitching in to get the work done.  They all deserve numerous "curtain calls"!  Well done, eveyone!

Peggy at the serging station

Judy works the press.

Sandy marks the hems.

Sue carries on despite her collision with the rotary cutter.

Completed curtains in foreground;  Judy finishes up the last couple.

First completed panels are hung.

The work crew (minus Jaye who had to leave early)