Our party today was a high success!! All the party goers had a blast and finished their very own unique project!
Our classes did not meet last week because of Thanksgiving break, but it was fabulous to be back creating today!
These students have been working away with such enthusiasm!!
We had a fantastic time yesterday!! Our fall classes started up and the enthusiasm and excitement running through the studio was like an electric current.
Some students are finishing projects started at the end of the school year...
Other students are working on new things...
Everyone was having so much fun!
I love that the students discuss their project choices and fabric choices with one another.
Such a fun and fabulous day!
Monday has rolled around again and a new camp is starting. This week it is sewing and our new group of students are fabulous!
Today was our last day of camp for the week. Everyone was laughing and talking and working on their projects.
I simply cannot believe how quickly all these students have learned to sew! They are amazing and focused and extremely creative!
We had our first day of sewing camp today and what a blast it was!!
We are now hosting mother/child workshops at Let's Go Crafting's studio. The most recent one was so much fun! They chose the Lined Book Bag for their project.
All fabrics cut and placed on our worktable.
Purring the bags together.
We always prepare carefully for our workshops. All tools and necessary items are placed within easy reach on our work table.
The students first pick their fabrics and then we get right down to pinning and sewing. "Tux the distractor" usually gets into the mix asking for attention.
Sewing, sewing, sewing.
There are more than enough sewing machines for everyone to work at the same time.
WOW!
Check out these bags! I had some very fun designer fabrics on hand and decided to offer these for this project. Don't they look fabulous?!
They all turned out great!
Happy kids.
The mommies stayed in the back ground and let the kids take center stage for this photo.
Designer fabrics.
I really loved this fabric and was happy it was used for such a nice bag. Contact us to schedule your mother/child workshop.
We organized another fun-filled birthday party this past weekend!
Before any party, we make sure all the pieces necessary for the project and the tools needed are all set up and ready to go.
Once the guests arrive, they pick their fabrics and get started right away. Here they are cutting out and attaching the eyes.
I don't know how they do it, but each student manages to pick the perfect eyes to go with their owl.
Each owl turns out different and totally cute. Some of the party goers decided to add embellishments to their owls. I really love when this happens!
Such cute tail feathers!
This really is a sewing class. No, really!
Check out that ribbon trim!
Yes, it's still a sewing class, but we have taken a bit of a turn for to do some weaving. Making cloth - not just sewing cloth :o)
A little while ago, I led a Girl Scout Sewing Workshop that was tons of fun! I had to come up with an idea that they could complete in one session so I created the Lined Book Bag (click on the link to go to the tutorial). There were 12 girls who came to our workshop - only one of those knew how to sew.
The first order of business was to show the girls how to use the machines. Then they practiced on scrap pieces of fabric until they got the hang of sewing a straight line. This usually only takes about 20 minutes.
After picking their fabric for the bags, they got started right away. Then they were off an running!
The girls also learned to use an iron safely - a very important skill to have!
All 12 girls went home with finished book bags! What a great group they are!
I am so excited about what has been going on in the sewing studio lately!! We have had many finishes:
These shirts are quite complicated. They are not "kid" patterns, they are real patterns. The front of the bodice is totally lined and has interfacing in it. There are pleats - both front and back and it is sewn on knit fabric. Job Well Done!
This little puppy is done completely by hand! Isn't he cute?!
He wove this scarf for his mom!
These blouses are coming out so lovely. Lots of hard work and lots of time go into these. Great work!
This bag posed it's own set of difficulties for this student. She chose some gorgeous fabric, but it is a very fluffy fleece and is very hard to sew on. But she persevered and it turned out beautifully!
Celebrating her blouse finish.
Another weaver!
They were taking a little break and I was able to capture them - such a happy crowd.
Last week we mixed things up a bit in knitting. I find that sometimes, especially on warm, sunny days, the kids get restless about half way through class and need a bit of a break. Knitting for an hour and a half is hard work!
Sorry for the blurry photo. Sometimes it's hard to photograph someone's finished project as it is waved in front of the camera - the kids are just so excited about their creations, they can't hold still! This student made a pom-pom last week and turned it into a smiley pom-pom this week, which promptly retained the name of "Mr. Smiley". So cute!
About half way through class time, the students were getting a little bit restless so we took a small break and played "The Marble Game".
First, I hand each student a paper towel tube that has been cut in half. Then I show them a marble and explain the rules of the game. The object of this game is to work together and keep the marble rolling from person to person without dropping it.
Once the marble has passed from your tube to the next person's tube, you run from the start of the line to the end and get ready to catch the marble again. These students had a great time and managed the all-time record of four rounds!
Then it was back to their knitting!
Sewing was a BLAST! We saw a huge Spot Dog come to completion.
Isn't he cute?!
Sewing classes are in full swing and going really well! Lots of new starts and some projects that are ALMOST done!
I wanted to share a few of our student's finishes that have not previously made it to the blog. These finishes represent a LOT of hard work an a LOT of learning in order to complete them.
This dachshund stuffie is such a cute toy. It is done completely by hand - no machine sewing at all.
It is made completely out of felt.
Check out all those small even stitches!! There are hundreds of them!
He can stand alone because of all the gusset pieces. This student did a fantastic job!!
This is another creation that is done completely by hand. This coin purse comes complete with a zipper.
This student took our Costume Workshop. She wanted to be one of the My Little Pony characters. She made pants and a crossover shirt in just a few sessions! Boy did she work hard!
She made her wings out of fabric and created her tail and mane out of curling ribbon - sooo creative!
Isn't this a fabulous costume?!
We are having a great time in sewing! Each week our students work on their different projects - either starting something new, working on an ongoing project, or finishing up something. What we have now added is weaving for those that are interested!
This student is a very accomplished sewer. He has been sewing with Let's Go Crafting for quite awhile now - he also sews at home. What he really wanted to learn was weaving - so we brought out one of our student looms and got him set up to make a scarf. Now he is weaving like a champ! I can't wait to show you the finished scarf - he has chosen such bright, fun yarn that I know this scarf is going to be lovely.
This student came to class this week with the idea to make an infinity scarf. She thought it out, designed it and made it all in one class! Beautiful!
Two students working on different projects, but together.
One of the things that I LOVE about our classes is that they foster friendship and camaraderie. The kids are all very supportive and helpful to each other - they share their thoughts, their ups and their downs. The atmosphere created here is wonderful for their social and emotional growth.
Please also note the hat she is wearing. She knit that hat in the round. The fit is perfect and keeps her warm on these chilly mornings.
Let's see what the kids have in store for us next week!
Sewing classes at Let's Go Crafting are always amazing because our students are amazing. The things that they create and think up are so fabulous!
This 4th grader finished his shorts today!
Working with knit fabric is not an easy thing to do, but this 5th grader is making great progress.
Once this student saw his classmate making some shorts, he knew he also needed a pair!
These students are working together on their projects. They are all at a point where there is some hand sewing and it's just so much more fun to do this and chat at the same time.
Another letter pillow for this student. She is making her name in pillows and says she wants to hang them on her wall. Hopefully she'll let me take a picture of all of them when they are hung - I'm sure that will be a focal point of her room!
Yesterday we had such a great day in sewing class!! The energy level was super high and so was the enthusiasm!
We had a great session at our most recent Halloween Costume workshop on Sunday!
This student finished his costume and was completely thrilled!!! Doesn't he look fabulous?!!
Simply wonderful work for this 4th grader!
Next up is a third grader who wants to be an alligator. This is her tail.
She really did a great job getting all those spikes on her tail!
This is the top part of her alligator costume. This costume is so perfect for the elementary aged child - it is easy on and easy off - and leaves the hands free. And of course it looks wonderful on her! At our next session she will make her face mask and be done. What a great costume!