checking in

Hello! I am working and working with nothing to show here, but I decided to say hello anyway and give you an update on how things are coming along.

A week or two ago I met with Lauren who owns Sew Easy, a sewing studio that offers afterschool classes for kids. Sew Easy has had a location in Needham, the next town over from us, for 15 years and I have driven by many times and always wanted to know more about it.  Lauren recently expanded her business and opened a second location down the street from me in Wellesley. She and I had coffee and I’m really excited to be able to teach some adult classes – a first for Sew Easy – right here in town.

In early December I’ll be teaching a felt stocking class and then in January a “get to know your sewing machine” class.  I’ve met many women in Wellesley who have sewing machines that they don’t use. In fact I was just talking to a mom in my neighborhood who sewed her daughter’s entire Hermione Granger cape by hand because her sewing machine is in the back of her closet and she felt like by the time she took it out and figured out how to thread it and get it up and running it would take longer than just doing all the hand-sewing.  I’m on a serious mission to change that.

And I’m finishing chapter 10 of my book. This project is all about jointing. It is unbelievable to me how much I’ve learned about fabric and thread, specialty tools, and construction techniques since I first began this book. For me, the most professional growth happens when I am under pressure and have to learn how to do it all RIGHT NOW. Thick pile faux fur used to scare the crap out of me – no more! Invisible button joints? Oh yeah. Seriously, I feel powerful.

So that’s the update. Nothing to show, but steadily working six hours a day five days a week. And I’m so happy!