the last 4 weeks in short or why I was a ghost at A&S -- can be found on my LJ blog -
http://broider-barones.livejournal.com/
more soon
Monday, June 15, 2009
Tuesday, June 09, 2009
San Mateo Area Chapter - EGA at the Maker Faire, wins a Judges Choice Award and is featured on Craftzine
Here is the link to the article in Craft-zine last weekend
Here is our article for the San Mateo Area Chapter newsletter with link to pictures:
San Mateo Area Chapter EGA went to the Bay Area Maker Faire 2009 this past weekend - May 30-31, 2009. Our outreach education project was the 1000 Hands Quilt. Over the weekend we had approximately 100 people stop by the booth and stitch on the quilt blocks.
My co-booth coordinator, Julie McAuliffe and I developed the idea of the 1000 Hands Quilt as a way to reach out to the public and encourage participation. The idea of a cooperative stitching project is not new; think back to prior generations and the quilting bee. This take on the concept was to create 24 crazy quilt blocks and then encourage people to stop by the booth and decorate them. Many thanks to the members of the San Mateo Area Chapter - EGA, the staff of Always Quilting, and the patrons of Always Quilting who donated the majority of the materials -- fabric, lace and ribbon bits, buttons, bead soup, threads and more. Thanks too to the people who came to work at our booth -- Julie McAuliffe, Catherine McCausland, Judy O'Brien, Pat Funke, and Sue Hans.
Over the weekend about 100 people stopped by the booth for 5 - 30 minutes to add a bit to the blocks. Rarely were our stitching stations empty. We had children and adults of all ages and ethnicities. We had beginning stitchers to experienced needleworkers. After all anyone can stitch on a bead or button and for some this was their first time. Many were, also, excited about the concept of a cooperative needlework effort.
On Saturday Rachel Hobson, of Craft Magazine stopped by to stitch on the quilt. On Sunday she came by to give us an Editor's Choice Award.
Only 8 of the quilt blocks received some decoration. We have 16 more to go. We also have 400 more people to go. This project will be continued through out the next year and make appearances at meetings, the county faire, and other venues. We hope to have the quilt completed by the next Maker Faire in May 2010 so it can be displayed before being auctioned off.
Photos of the booth, some of the participants and the blocks as they are so far are available for viewing at my album.
Robin Berry, Co-Coordinator
Here is our article for the San Mateo Area Chapter newsletter with link to pictures:
San Mateo Area Chapter EGA went to the Bay Area Maker Faire 2009 this past weekend - May 30-31, 2009. Our outreach education project was the 1000 Hands Quilt. Over the weekend we had approximately 100 people stop by the booth and stitch on the quilt blocks.
My co-booth coordinator, Julie McAuliffe and I developed the idea of the 1000 Hands Quilt as a way to reach out to the public and encourage participation. The idea of a cooperative stitching project is not new; think back to prior generations and the quilting bee. This take on the concept was to create 24 crazy quilt blocks and then encourage people to stop by the booth and decorate them. Many thanks to the members of the San Mateo Area Chapter - EGA, the staff of Always Quilting, and the patrons of Always Quilting who donated the majority of the materials -- fabric, lace and ribbon bits, buttons, bead soup, threads and more. Thanks too to the people who came to work at our booth -- Julie McAuliffe, Catherine McCausland, Judy O'Brien, Pat Funke, and Sue Hans.
Over the weekend about 100 people stopped by the booth for 5 - 30 minutes to add a bit to the blocks. Rarely were our stitching stations empty. We had children and adults of all ages and ethnicities. We had beginning stitchers to experienced needleworkers. After all anyone can stitch on a bead or button and for some this was their first time. Many were, also, excited about the concept of a cooperative needlework effort.
On Saturday Rachel Hobson, of Craft Magazine stopped by to stitch on the quilt. On Sunday she came by to give us an Editor's Choice Award.
Only 8 of the quilt blocks received some decoration. We have 16 more to go. We also have 400 more people to go. This project will be continued through out the next year and make appearances at meetings, the county faire, and other venues. We hope to have the quilt completed by the next Maker Faire in May 2010 so it can be displayed before being auctioned off.
Photos of the booth, some of the participants and the blocks as they are so far are available for viewing at my album.
Robin Berry, Co-Coordinator
Wednesday, June 03, 2009
SMAC-EGA goes to the Maker Faire and receives an Editor's Choice Award
San Mateo Area Chapter EGA went to the Bay Area Maker Faire 2009 this past weekend - May 30-31, 2009. Our outreach education project was the 1000 Hands Quilt. Over the weekend we had approximately 100 people stop by the booth and stitch on the quilt blocks.
My co-booth coordinator, Julie McAuliffe and I developed the idea of the 1000 Hands Quilt as a way to reach out to the public and encourage participation. The idea of a cooperative stitching project is not new; think back to prior generations and the quilting bee. This take on the concept was to create 24 crazy quilt blocks and then encourage people to stop by the booth and decorate them. Many thanks to the members of the San Mateo Area Chapter - EGA, the staff of Always Quilting, and the patrons of Always Quilting who donated the majority of the materials -- fabric, lace and ribbon bits, buttons, bead soup, threads and more. Thanks too to the people who came to work at our booth -- Julie McAuliffe, Catherine McCausland, Judy O'Brien, Pat Funke, and Sue Hans.
Over the weekend about 100 people stopped by the booth for 5 - 30 minutes to add a bit to the blocks. Rarely were our stitching stations empty. We had children and adults of all ages and ethnicities. We had beginning stitchers to experienced needleworkers. After all anyone can stitch on a bead or button and for some this was their first time. Many were, also, excited about the concept of a cooperative needlework effort.
On Saturday Rachel Hobson, of Craft Magazine stopped by to stitch on the quilt. On Sunday she came by to give us an Editor's Choice Award.
Only 8 of the quilt blocks received some decoration. We have 16 more to go. We also have 400 more people to go. This project will be continued through out the next year and make appearances at meetings, the county faire, and other venues. We hope to have the quilt completed by the next Maker Faire in May 2010 so it can be displayed before being auctioned off.
Photos of the booth, some of the participants and the blocks as they are so far are available for viewing at http://picasaweb.google.com/bayrose.robin/EGA_MakerFaire_2009?feat=directlink.
My co-booth coordinator, Julie McAuliffe and I developed the idea of the 1000 Hands Quilt as a way to reach out to the public and encourage participation. The idea of a cooperative stitching project is not new; think back to prior generations and the quilting bee. This take on the concept was to create 24 crazy quilt blocks and then encourage people to stop by the booth and decorate them. Many thanks to the members of the San Mateo Area Chapter - EGA, the staff of Always Quilting, and the patrons of Always Quilting who donated the majority of the materials -- fabric, lace and ribbon bits, buttons, bead soup, threads and more. Thanks too to the people who came to work at our booth -- Julie McAuliffe, Catherine McCausland, Judy O'Brien, Pat Funke, and Sue Hans.
Over the weekend about 100 people stopped by the booth for 5 - 30 minutes to add a bit to the blocks. Rarely were our stitching stations empty. We had children and adults of all ages and ethnicities. We had beginning stitchers to experienced needleworkers. After all anyone can stitch on a bead or button and for some this was their first time. Many were, also, excited about the concept of a cooperative needlework effort.
On Saturday Rachel Hobson, of Craft Magazine stopped by to stitch on the quilt. On Sunday she came by to give us an Editor's Choice Award.
Only 8 of the quilt blocks received some decoration. We have 16 more to go. We also have 400 more people to go. This project will be continued through out the next year and make appearances at meetings, the county faire, and other venues. We hope to have the quilt completed by the next Maker Faire in May 2010 so it can be displayed before being auctioned off.
Photos of the booth, some of the participants and the blocks as they are so far are available for viewing at http://picasaweb.google.com/bayrose.robin/EGA_MakerFaire_2009?feat=directlink.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Makers Faire - The 1000 Hands Quilt
Tomorrow is the set up for the Makers Faire. If you are not familiar the Makers Faire (makerfaire.com)it is one of the largest - if not the largest DIY festival. They promote anything that people make. This year the theme is Remaking America -- as in reuse of stuff. It should be interesting.
The local EGA chapter is taking a booth. Another lady and I are the event coordinators = we work the whole time. Thursday is set up. Fri am and midday are bus loads of kids. Friday afternoon is a maker to maker time. Sat is 10-8 and Sun 10-6. Long days ahead.
We are doing a crazy quilt from scrapes and donated items. I cut the pieces for 24 blocks and the other lady is sewing them. We will put 4 at a time on stretcher bars and encourage people to stop and take a stitch or 2. We are calling the project, the 1000 hands quilt. Who knows. They expect 65,000-80,000 people through the doors. Yes I think it is VERY important that EGA have a booth there.
The other lady is one of the owners of the quilt shop where we meet. She has put together kumihimo foam "circles" with information about her shop and our guild. There was a lot of donated yarn from the boutique so we are expecting to hand out about a 1000 with simple 7 strand - over 2 braids.
It will be crazy. It will be fun. It will be tiring, but hey why not.
The local EGA chapter is taking a booth. Another lady and I are the event coordinators = we work the whole time. Thursday is set up. Fri am and midday are bus loads of kids. Friday afternoon is a maker to maker time. Sat is 10-8 and Sun 10-6. Long days ahead.
We are doing a crazy quilt from scrapes and donated items. I cut the pieces for 24 blocks and the other lady is sewing them. We will put 4 at a time on stretcher bars and encourage people to stop and take a stitch or 2. We are calling the project, the 1000 hands quilt. Who knows. They expect 65,000-80,000 people through the doors. Yes I think it is VERY important that EGA have a booth there.
The other lady is one of the owners of the quilt shop where we meet. She has put together kumihimo foam "circles" with information about her shop and our guild. There was a lot of donated yarn from the boutique so we are expecting to hand out about a 1000 with simple 7 strand - over 2 braids.
It will be crazy. It will be fun. It will be tiring, but hey why not.
Monday, April 27, 2009
Goldwork - Plimoth Jacket and More
I have been meaning to post about last weekend's class for a week. Sometimes time runs too fast.
The class was a 2 day class with Tricia Wilson Nguyen , sponsored by the Bay Area Sampler Guild, held at Needle in a Haystack. In theory the class was about a 17th C sampler and we spent 2 days learning 17 different goldwork stitches. However, it was soooooo much more.
Tricia is a fabulous teacher. Her handouts are clear. Her demonstration of stitches clear. Her patience - let us say she has a lot of patience. I first took a class of hers at Sampler Gathering, many years ago. Her scientific background shows through in her interest in getting into the technical details of what makes something work; whether it is the needle, the thread, the path the thread takes, etc. Unfortunately, she only teaches a few times a year, something about family and regular working job. The good news is that she is looking to find new avenues of teaching -- books, web classes, etc.
The sampler , which I will never do, is based on an actual sampler in her possession. She has worked hard on determining how many of these esoteric stitches were done. In many cases the results of the historic stitches were similar, but different from piece to piece. There are multiple plaited braids and "simple" braids. Fun!!!!!
For class we were using a faux version of the #4 passing thread which Bill Barnes of Golden Threads makes for the Plimoth Project. Yes I was able to get a spool of the gilt with silk core as well and will hoard it for the right project. It was surprising to see how well the #4 actually "sews". Yes it breaks and has other issues, but it really makes a difference. We have #370/5 in our kits as well, but while they work, I find them too fine and lacking in metal. I tend to use the 2% gold "superfine" passing when I need to go small for the metal content. Metal makes a BIG difference - faux or otherwise.
As we stitched Tricia told us the history of the Plimoth jacket project and the decisions that were made as the jacket progressed. I better understand the compromises that were made, knowing the process that they went through. I may have made other choices, but I understand. I also really APPRECIATE the fact that we are getting some wonderful threads as a result of the project.
Tricia also brought 2 pieces of the project with her. We were offered the opportunity to sew on either a jacket part or the forehead cloth. We could also just be a spangler. I opted to just sew on a few spangles, but then I love spangles having now sewn on a couple hundred on my own projects. The jacket will reside in the Museum of Boston and a list of the workers, including the spanglers, will be included in the files of the Museum. It would be stretching it to say, my work will hang in a museum, but it will be the literal truth :). Yes I have pictures for a later post.
More soon including pictures of the class work.
PS you can purchase the threads through Tricia's website and support the project or through a couple of the stores around - Needle in a Haystack or Hedgehog Handworks.
The class was a 2 day class with Tricia Wilson Nguyen , sponsored by the Bay Area Sampler Guild, held at Needle in a Haystack. In theory the class was about a 17th C sampler and we spent 2 days learning 17 different goldwork stitches. However, it was soooooo much more.
Tricia is a fabulous teacher. Her handouts are clear. Her demonstration of stitches clear. Her patience - let us say she has a lot of patience. I first took a class of hers at Sampler Gathering, many years ago. Her scientific background shows through in her interest in getting into the technical details of what makes something work; whether it is the needle, the thread, the path the thread takes, etc. Unfortunately, she only teaches a few times a year, something about family and regular working job. The good news is that she is looking to find new avenues of teaching -- books, web classes, etc.
The sampler , which I will never do, is based on an actual sampler in her possession. She has worked hard on determining how many of these esoteric stitches were done. In many cases the results of the historic stitches were similar, but different from piece to piece. There are multiple plaited braids and "simple" braids. Fun!!!!!
For class we were using a faux version of the #4 passing thread which Bill Barnes of Golden Threads makes for the Plimoth Project. Yes I was able to get a spool of the gilt with silk core as well and will hoard it for the right project. It was surprising to see how well the #4 actually "sews". Yes it breaks and has other issues, but it really makes a difference. We have #370/5 in our kits as well, but while they work, I find them too fine and lacking in metal. I tend to use the 2% gold "superfine" passing when I need to go small for the metal content. Metal makes a BIG difference - faux or otherwise.
As we stitched Tricia told us the history of the Plimoth jacket project and the decisions that were made as the jacket progressed. I better understand the compromises that were made, knowing the process that they went through. I may have made other choices, but I understand. I also really APPRECIATE the fact that we are getting some wonderful threads as a result of the project.
Tricia also brought 2 pieces of the project with her. We were offered the opportunity to sew on either a jacket part or the forehead cloth. We could also just be a spangler. I opted to just sew on a few spangles, but then I love spangles having now sewn on a couple hundred on my own projects. The jacket will reside in the Museum of Boston and a list of the workers, including the spanglers, will be included in the files of the Museum. It would be stretching it to say, my work will hang in a museum, but it will be the literal truth :). Yes I have pictures for a later post.
More soon including pictures of the class work.
PS you can purchase the threads through Tricia's website and support the project or through a couple of the stores around - Needle in a Haystack or Hedgehog Handworks.
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