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Threads video

1/28/2016

Hey folks!

If you didn't see the link I posted on Facebook yesterday ... take a look!

When I was at the American Sewing Expo in September, Threads Magazine made of video of me giving tips on modifying sleeve patterns to give more mobility in the underarm area.

And I'm posting it below.

If the video doesn't play, us this link to go directly to the Threads website to watch it there.

Threads video link

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Santa Barbara update

1/21/2016

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So ... I'm in the middle of my third week here in Santa Barbara. My husband took this photo of me in my studio/shed this morning. As you can see I have on a zip-up polar fleece jacket AND a down vest over it. This little shed is not insulated, so when it is 49 degrees outside in the morning, it is 49 degrees inside, too. But, then the sun comes out and it warms up. I think this little shed would be quite hot in the summer.

BUT .. it is so beautiful here. We are just one mile from the beach so I can take a walk here when ever I like. Which I need when I am working hard, which I am.

I knew I would be busy during our stay here. These winter months are the traditionally the busiest time of the year for me. It is when the new patterns for the Autumn catalog are made, which is the biggest collection of costumes since that is the Halloween catalog.

BUT how could I pass up an opportunity to spend the winter in Santa Barbara?

So sorry can't talk about what I'm making right now.

This is my view from the window in my shed when I'm sitting at my loaner sewing machine. See how the ground has green stuff growing!!! It's been raining. When I got here it was completely brown. See my previous blog post.

The one thing that has been difficult is getting dress forms in the sizes I need. Store display mannequins are much cheaper than a proper dress form, so for the kid's patterns I'm working on now, that is what I've purchased. And actually these mannequins are great because they have arms and legs and even heads, which is really useful when making costumes. But the measurements are a bit off. Basically these display mannequins are way too skinny, like a professional model, I guess.

But, I have charts with all Simplicity's regulation measurements, so I just make sure the garments measure correctly and Simplicity will double and triple check things after I send them in.

Also, to make life even more interesting, in the midst of being displaced and being loaded down with lots of costumes to design and make ... I can't forget about this very cool event I will be teaching at in April.

Good think I took care of most of the prep work before leaving my home studio. I'm teaching a pattern combining class and do plan to find tune my lesson plan in the next couple of months, but all the class supplies are purchased and ready to go.

As a registration incentive there is a drawing for a new Reliable Iron.

Not just any Reliable Iron, the Velocity 200IR Sensor Steam Iron! Not familiar with that model? That's because it hasn't even been released yet.That's right, not only could you win this iron, but you are going to be one of the FIRST people to own it. Click here to learn more about this fabulous iron.

If you register before January 31 you get two entries into the drawing and by February 15 one entry. T_hey are cooking up another prizes, too (to be announced!)

This is being run by the folks who do the American Sewing Expo in Novi, Michigan every year. They know how to put on a great event and are pull out all stops to make this new event really fun and educational.

This link will take you to the latest newsletter with the most up to date information.

And this link will take you to all the pertinent information ... registration, accommodations, etc.

HOPE YOU CAN JOIN ME!

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Design Studio West

1/3/2016

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This little shed is now Schewe Design West!!

My husband has a three month job in Santa Barbara and I figured I could set up a workroom anywhere. I wasn't going to let him go to sunny California alone, but it has been harder than I thought moving and setting up.

What would YOU take if you needed to sew away from home for three months?

We have been here for three days ... this is what the room looked like yesterday.

My boxes arrived a day early! The stuff on the left came in one of my suitcases on the airplane.

The small box had my ArtBin FILLED to the gills with ...

you name it ... several scissors, seam rippers, thread, pins, needles, snaps and hooks, pens, pencils, safety pins, thimbles, rotary cutter and MORE!

In the larger box I packed bigger things in amongst my yoga mat.

My best home iron and sleeve board. My sleeve board is something I could not do without.

Box tape and scotch tape. I go through so much tape when working on and correcting a pattern. Much easier to tape on paper to correct a section of a pattern than trace out the entire thing again.

A few basic patterns to get started on a new project.

Some different kinds of interfacing, bias tape, elastic and ribbon for experimentation when working out how to sew something.

Basic drafting tools and a small rotary cutting board.

A folder with measurements for all Simplicity's samples sizes and some of the other forms I use when sending in a new pattern.

AND!!! everyone told me how nice the people are in Santa Barbara, and this proves it.

Ana, who writes the blog Sew Santa Barbara loaned me her daughter's sewing machine (her daughter is away at college)

Her blog is fabulous for people who are interested in sewing in the Santa Barbara area. I found her a few months ago when I started looking for sewing stuff in this area.

She also writes a second blog called The Lost Apron. This is a lovely blog filled with sewing project for children ... a great resource.

So, now my studio looks like this! I do have a chair, it's just not in this picture. I had to buy a few things, the dress form, the small table and an ironing board.

Ana also loaned me the big table. I feel very blessed.

Ready to start work tomorrow. I think I have everything I need, but it will be interesting to see what I miss. I know I will miss the space I have in my home studio.

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Threads video

Santa Barbara update

Design Studio West

From Andrea

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