Plymouth Art In The Park 2012

Hooray, that is my very real excitement to be accepted into this huge show. This is an annual event in downtown Plymouth Michigan held mid July over a three day weekend. I grew up in Plymouth and have attended this show many times, it is a huge show all over the downtown area.

In my New Years Resolution post I vowed to do 8-12 shows this year and got up the courage to apply to this show. I said if I got into this show less shows would probably be the case as this is a biggie. It is a juried show, which most are but it is huge in attendance, they hope this year to have 300,000 over the three day time period. This will also be the first real outdoor show I will have done, so another first for me.

I am in crazy get ready mode, I hope to bring around 1000-1200 items for the show, I have about 500 done right now, I would guess to this cut and waiting to sew another 100. I have lots to do, not to mention the few weeks leading up to the show I will have a child home on summer break.

I am very excited and looking forward to getting ready and attend this year's Art In The Park.

In Metro Detroit, save the date:

In and Around Kellogg Park downtown Plymouth

July 13, 2012 11:00am - 8:00pm
July 14, 2012 10:00am - 7:00pm
July 15, 2012 10:00am - 5:00pm

Sewing over Pins

So I suppose this is a great debate among sewers, do you sew over pins or not sew over pins? Strictly talking safety you should not, when the sewing needle hits a pin it can break or shatter the force of the motion of the machine can send these shards flying, I have been hit in the eyebrow one time by a piece of metal, thankfully that was my closest call. You can also damage your machine or the piece you are working on, I have had some pins get wound into the seam I am sewing and pieces of pin/needle go into the bobbin shuttle, I have never damaged either beyond repair.

However I still do sew over pins, and as you can see with some interesting results, mostly they just bend and are then discarded. This was very odd to have happen as you can see the sewing machine needle managed to ht the needle so perfectly that it just sunk the pin into the bobbin area, it was obviously jammed but freed easily, I think my machine needle did break, at least the tip.

I try not to sew over pins removing as I go, for this reason I keep a small pin cushion right next to my sewing at the machine and usually pull out before they reach the needle. Keeping this pin cushion very close is a good reminder to remove pins. This particular pin cushion is filled tightly with sand so it is heavy for its size, so it does stay in place.

In very general terms I use very few pins as most my items are cotton sewing straight edge to straight edge, my high speed tasks do not require pins. So if I am using pins it is at a much lower sewing speed so they is little breakage and more importantly not much chance for pins and needles to go flying. I have actually considered getting some lightweight safety glasses to keep at the machine for use when there are lots of pins in my items.

March and April Sewing Challenge

The last of the April Kanzashi and Yo Yo's, still a few loose threads

I finished my March sewing challenge of making at least two kanzashi flower or yo yo's per day. While I missed a few days of making any, overall I surpassed my goal, the final count is 62 kanzashi and 23 yo yo's.

I am giving myself another challenge for April, from my New Years Resolution to do more piecing and making these into more items for sale. I am not going to set a hard goal of number but just a general desire to work through scraps and make more quilt inspired looks. I hope to do about 10-15 this would be an item every 2-3 days, which is sort of realistic. This first week here in April is spring break, with kiddo home I am getting much less done through the 9th of the month.

Pieced rectangle, this will be a large list taker, retro brown fabrics, one of my personal favorite things to piece, I have loads of these types of scraps.

I also hope to make a new item for my line, a request I get often an over the shoulder bag. I am also hoping or planning to combine this with my piecing above. I hope to offer a few styles and sizes so lots of prototypes and probably time spent with the seam ripper. In this item I will also be adding a zipper top....gasp another long time requested item.

Should be a fun and busy month!