Saturday, April 30, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Thursday, April 14, 2011
Leather Seaming and Vinyl Sewing Demo On My Baby Lock Ellisimo
Many of my fans have written and said they would love to see a demo of sewing leather and faux leather seams. Some are in parts of the country I have not been to as of yet.
Two things- first, I will be coming out with an educational DVD next year (2012) that will compliment my CD book CELEBRITY BAGS.
Second, I put this short video below together demonstrating seaming and sewing on leather & vinyl on my Baby Lock Ellisimo. To learn more about how to make high end designer bags with professional construction methods and techniques, please go to my website to order my new CD book CELEBRITY BAGS.
My camcorder I travel with had a tragic death. The new camcorder I purchased, well, let me just say always stick with a brand name. Sorry for some parts that would not focus. I have since ordered a new camcorder for my quickie videos and traveling.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Atlanta, Georgia - Celebrity Bags Workshop Video Part 1
Here is video part one from my wonderful 2 day hands on workshop at Atlanta Sewing Center in Georgia.
http://www.atlantasewing.com
http://www.atlantasewing.com
Atlanta Sewing Center - Celebrity Bags Workshop
Atlanta Sewing Center - Celebrity Bags Workshop
Julie Pierce, the owner of Atlanta Sewing Center got to sit and construct a Celebrity Bag on the Baby Lock Ellisimo with me in my workshop with the students. Julie shared these photos of her finished bag with me.
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Sewing With The Grits In Atlanta, Georgia
Since I am a hugger myself, our departing was so warm and fuzzy after spending the past two days together in class.
This class was not only fun, but highly memorable with 2 major medical events. It was quite frightening.
Lord, it looked like Jesus being nailed on the cross with this needle going in on top of the finger and exiting out at the bottom. Both medical emergency lady's end results were just fine, thank you to the higher powers.
There is a list of students who could not get into this class because it was full. So I will be heading back to Atlanta next April in 2012. Look for videos of this workshop within the next few days after I get home and edit them.
As I sit here in the Atlanta airport waiting for my flight home to Tampa, I am smiling with thoughts of the past two days at Atlanta Sewing Center in Georgia for my Celebrity Bags workshop. This group of southern girls are really home friendly huggers.
Since I am a hugger myself, our departing was so warm and fuzzy after spending the past two days together in class. In Northern California, the people up there refer to themselves as "Urban Sewers". When I asked the Atlanta sewers what title they prefer, they said GRITS - "Girls Raised In The South".
To any out sider, I don't think they would know that has anything to do with sewing. But to the southern bells, it must be their secret code that girls in the South are raised and trained to sew from a young age.
This class was not only fun, but highly memorable with 2 major medical events. It was quite frightening. One student had seemed to have been having either a stroke or major low blood sugar, diabetic attack. She was in a state of mind where she didn't even know where she was. 911 was called and they shipped her off in a stretcher. Then, if that wasn't enough of a worry and drama, another student sewed a needle right through her finger.
Lord, it looked like Jesus being nailed on the cross with this needle going in on top of the finger and exiting out at the bottom. Both medical emergency lady's end results were just fine, thank you to the higher powers. The student carried off in the stretcher the first day came back to visit the next day and she was OK.
The self crucifixion student had another student who was a nurse yank the needle out. A trip to the rest room with peroxide, a band aid, and she was back in the rink for both days. What a trooper she was!
There is a list of students who could not get into this class because it was full. So I will be heading back to Atlanta next April in 2012. Look for videos of this workshop within the next few days after I get home and edit them. All in all, there is a TV show that comes to mind about southern gals after all this drama in the workshop. I found these videos on Youtube about southern gals. You have to know them well, to love them with all your heart as I do.
Atlanta Sewing Center
I had Jack the owner of Atlanta Sewing Center load up the Baby Lock Crown Jewel with recycled leather. He ran the auto design from the quilt motion program to create this beautiful "Chanel" looking leather which can now be transformed into a handbag.
Isn't is wonderful to see how much more these high end quilting, embroidery and sewing machines can do that never are truly shown?
Remember, if you limit your possibilites and the types of materials you use with these high end machines, you are not getting your full potential out of these machines.
Step out of the box and see your possibilities.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Behind The Scenes - Celebrity Bags Photo Shoot
Many may not know, but the legs on the cover of my CD book CELEBRITY BAGS is a 69 3/4 year old lady. A power sewer and fashion guru she is! What fun she is and a great friend I met when my book PILLOWS came out. She became a groupie and had attended several of my events across the country. I guess by now, I should put her in charge of my fan club! Another wonderful model in my CD book, is Pam Mahshie, the Educational Ambasssador from Baby Lock sewing machines. You will see her in many of the Baby Lock videos on their website and Youtube. I always said she reminded me of Sarah Jessica Parker and when she was done with hair and makeup for the photo shoot -- another star was born in her! She instantly became the glamorous movie star I always knew I could turn her into. The gold lame gown in my CD book was made by Kenneth D King. An author, TV personality and professor at FIT in NY. Kenneth is a couture sewer who made many, many hats for Elton John and garments for other famous celebrities.
Kenneth was gracious to fly down to Florida to create this gown for my CD book. It is a replica of the gown Marilyn Monroe wore for the movie "Gentleman Prefer Blondes". Watching him create with his special methods was a site to behold.
It was a wonderful week end for myself and my models. They all got to be glamorous movie star models. This is why I do what I do.
Showing what we are all capable of doing and making in the home sewing world, makes it even more fun!
You may have heard that sewing today is not your grandma's sewing. Well, in this case, even the grandma's are stepping out of the box and putting glamour back into their lives. You are never too old to feel and look good! With the power of the sewing machine, dress for success is a true statement!
In every economic recession, fashion has always made a statement and people have always headed to the movies!
Factory Machines At Work
I really enjoy watching videos of the inside of a textile garment factory seeing machines at work. I have a passion for the sewing machine. Creating something from the ground up is like the old days when mom and grandma would make a cake from scratch. People who create like this can truly understand the feeling of accomplishment.
I really enjoy watching videos of the inside of a textile garment factory seeing machines at work. I have a passion for the sewing machine. Creating something from the ground up is like the old days when mom and grandma would make a cake from scratch. People who create like this can truly understand the feeling of accomplishment.
Monday, April 4, 2011
The Next Generation Of Sewers
If you are interested in learning this fine craft of sewing that can one day lead you to a career, visit your local progressive sewing machine dealer and check out the classes they offer.
Many now have added -
* The fundamentals of learning the mechanics of the sewing machine
* Proper ergonomics of sewing
* Garment fitting
* Pattern design
* Alterations
* Draping
* Making your own dress form
* Upholstery
* Fashion accessories, and more.
Many of these sewing machine dealers have fashion design college graduates teaching their classes. Many also bring in celebrity designers for special workshops.
Call or stop by your local sewing machine dealer and ask about the classes they offer.
Check out all the new diversity of samples they have displayed in their store to see how they can meet your educational needs.
Many classes are now online for those who do not have local sewing machine dealers who offer these classes or where a dealer is not near you.
http://www.raleighworkshop.com/
Sewing With Nancy Episode
Watch the full episode. See more Sewing with Nancy.
Watch the full episode. See more Sewing with Nancy.
Inspiring The Youth To Sew
Rose Golsner from Ocala Sewing in Hudson, Florida, donated her time and brought sewing machines to help me introduce these young adults to at the Florida youth camp.
Rose is an expert at upholstery. Her husband rebuilds vintage cars and Rose does all the upholstery and embroidery in the cars. This car was so exciting for the young adults to see the sewing and how many different avenues there are in the sewing trade.
Every day we sit in cars and how many times have we looked at the seats we sit on? Quilted vinyl and leather. Piped seams and embroidery.
Being it is done on this medium and in a car, brought a whole new light of sewing to these fine young adults to see.
This brought so much inspiration for these young people to see what other avenues they can make money at in sewing.
Rose Golsner from Ocala Sewing in Hudson, Florida, donated her time and brought sewing machines to help me introduce these young adults to at the Florida youth camp.
Rose is an expert at upholstery. Her husband rebuilds vintage cars and Rose does all the upholstery and embroidery in the cars. This car was so exciting for the young adults to see the sewing and how many different avenues there are in the sewing trade.
Every day we sit in cars and how many times have we looked at the seats we sit on? Quilted vinyl and leather. Piped seams and embroidery.
Being it is done on this medium and in a car, brought a whole new light of sewing to these fine young adults to see.
This brought so much inspiration for these young people to see what other avenues they can make money at in sewing.
Sunday, April 3, 2011
The Young are Rebuilding The USA
Two young people started Raleigh Denim textile factory making jeans in the USA. This is passion, dedication, creating jobs, and fulfilling dreams for themselves and the country. Watch all their videos I have posted. They talk about that it is not about making more money by having their jeans made in China, it is about employing America. Please support the made in the USA label.
Do you know how to sew? Have you taught someone to sew?
Do you own a sewing machine dealership? Have you ignored the needs of the youth and adults who want to learn how to make clothes by not offering garment fitting and construction in your class rooms? Are you only looking for the older housewife who quilts? Why? Why do you continue to prevent expansion of growth in our country?
Then you have contributed to the downfall of our textile society. Just like when I wanted to learn how to garment sew over 20 years ago, unless I wanted to quilt and wear a cut up quilted sweat shirt, there were no classes offered for true garment construction and fitting from scratch.
I have written many times how the youth have been inspired to sew again and are looking for classes at their sewing machine dealers. And I am not talking about an apron, wall quilt or placemat. I am talking about the overall concept education of learning the mechanics of the sewing machine, learning the different garment type seams, creating a garment from scratch. Learning how to alter and even make patterns, learning how to make a dress form and drape. Programs like Project Runway have made sewing "cool" again.
You have the power and the backbone to train the next entrepreneurs of America and also employ college graduates in fashion design to teach at your stores to your customers.
Not everyone can afford to go to college today. So we all must be able to offer this education and training for our future generation of factory owners and workers who will employ your great grandchildren.
Congrats to this young couple for showing the dream of America is still alive!
Riccar Vacuums - Made In the USA
Next Stop - Atlanta Sewing Center
I will be at Atlanta Sewing Center Duluth store location for my Celebrity Bags workshop April 9-10.
If you have not signed up in time, the store is sorry to announce the workshop is full. However, they are taking sign ups for future classes, date to be announced. Please call the store to be added to the list.
The store has added an evening reception book signing, trunk show for many who could not sign up in time for the workshop so you can get a preview and see in person the many things I do with fiber art from my book "Pillows" and my "Celebrity Bags" CD book.
I will be signing books and demonstrating some fun techniques.
Come and visit with me at this evening reception, trunk show and book signing on Friday, April 8th at 6:30 pm.
My faux leather handbags that I teach the home sewer how to make in my workshop, feature the styling and design elements of the most exquisite designer handbag labels.
My fiber art pillows that feature the use of the Baby Lock Embellisher, will open up a whole new world of creative possibilities for you.
Please call ASC Duluth for details at 770-622-1880.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
In my venture to learn how to sew and after finding Sewing With Nancy on PBS, one day this program came on called "Sewing Today" that completely had me jumping for joy! OMIGOSH!! A real fashion design garment construction sewing educational show!
Many years later, I would have never guessed Kenneth would become a friend of mine.
You never know where life will lead you and the wonderful people you will meet along the way!
See the opening video to the show below.
Many years later, I would have never guessed Kenneth would become a friend of mine.
You never know where life will lead you and the wonderful people you will meet along the way!
See the opening video to the show below.
What a cute video this is below, I love it!
What would our industry have ever done without shows like Project Runway to inspire the next generation of sewers?
Before Project Runway, the youth would look at sewing as a homemade grandma "not so cool" thing.
Lord knows when I first wanted to learn how to sew way back when, I wanted to learn how to make garments, I was 21. Tried again when I was 30 years old too.
Every sewing store I visited looking for classes only offered the maternal homemade housewife looking projects. Nothing serious for the person who really wanted classes on real garment construction. Not buy a shirt and redo it, but like the old fashioned cooking from scratch way of doing things.
Thank goodness I discovered PBS when I moved to Florida and the teacher angel of my dreams; Nancy Zieman of Sewing With Nancy.
She was very diversified in all the genres of sewing. I found her during the height of her tailor making jacket and clothing garment era.
Today, she concentrates more on the quilting and crafty projects. However, some of her most recent videos have brought her back into the world of fashion sewing again. She is the leader in garment construction and a whole diversity of real designer looking sewing projects. Not to mention all the special technical sewing methods and sewing machine instruction she taught us.
Then I found Kenneth D. King who was the couture of sewing. The show he was on called "Sewing Today" only lasted for 2 seasons. Not because people didn't love it, but the producers didn't budget the production money correctly. You better believe I was buying up those videos to add with my Sewing With Nancy library!
Today, Kenneth and I are friends and watching him work in person is such an honor and hard to believe even being in the same room with him! This will be some of my next posting topics and videos.
It is nice to see that a select group of adults are taking the new generation of sewers and forming independent schools to cater to the needs of these fine future fashion designers that have been ignored by many sewing machine dealerships for years. Even many adults who want to garment sew had been ignored. I was 30 and was trying to be forced to make a granny quilt when I asked to take sewing lessons. I didn't want to wear a granny quilt at the age of 30!
I still had my youthful figure back then!
I wanted to learn how to make those Versace shirts and designer jeans!
(The shirt photo above is what I learned to make by watching all those wonderful shows on TV when the local sewing stores only offered traditional quilting.
Another great DVD for industrial garment making and techniques is islander sewing at: http://www.islandersewing.com )
Seriously, when someone wants to learn how to sew garments inspired to them by fashion shows and garments in magazines and at the department stores, and they go to a sewing store and are told they can learn how to make an apron or a cut up sweat shirt, or a granny quilt and those are your only class choices, my gosh that hasn't changed in decades in many places.
That is what happened to me years ago. Let alone looking for a class on different seaming construction.
Oh, no, it was a quarter inch straight seam on cotton only fabric and that is all home sewers were allowed to do and use when you went into a sewing store to take lessons.
So why did I need to buy a $5,000 sewing machine back then if all you say I can do and use is a straight stitch quarter inch seam on cotton only fabrics?
People can do that on a budget machine from Walmart.
Would those $5,000 sewing machines sew on different fabrics besides cotton? Could they sew silks and leathers? Would you show me samples please and do you have classes????? I want to learn how to sew!!
Alas! New days are here! For those not able to attend fashion design colleges, the home sewing world has opened up new possibilities to learn this fine art.
Today, many "progressive" sewing machine dealers have diversified their genres of sewing class rooms. They have recruited some of the top teachers and sewing designers to come into their stores to teach workshops in a whole diversity of the different genres of sewing.
There are even sewing lounges and cafes popping up across the country. Rent a machine and rent a teacher!
From garment fitting and construction, to home dec, fashion accessories to the traditional and modern art quilting.
Now, the home sewer can see the potential of the new modern computer sewing machines and all the different fabrics they can learn to sew on to make their creativity soar! They can learn to make those garments from scratch, home dec luxury items, fashion accessories and designer handbags. Then add beautiful embroidery to them and not just on cotton fabrics, but on leather and silks too!
Something for everyone is now what many of the sewing machine dealer class rooms and independent schools offer. But still not in all areas of the country or world.
Kudos to these young adults in this video and to the adult who leads them by starting this school for the youth. This school covers all the genres of sewing as it should be in quality diversified sewing education.
Here is their creative sewing video below and here is a link to their website:
Learn how to make high end designer handbags using your home sewing machine.
http://www.christophernejman.com
http://www.christophernejman.com
Friday, April 1, 2011
When my dad married my mother, my mother looked just like this photo above of Elizabeth Taylor. The hair, makeup and the whole look. I used to think my mom was a movie star when I was growing up.
It was so sad to see Elizabeth Taylor leave us. The news all wrote she was the last of the major glamour movie stars from that era. I have to agree. Not only did she represent the glamour and beauty of a woman, but she also wa a true humanitarian.
Being a hair stylist, I dream of the day when fashion brings back that glamour era. The hair, makeup, clothing, etc. The days when a lady would never leave the house without her lipstick on and her hair all fixed. What happened to the pride of the female in the world today? The elegance, is it gone?
If you think Hermes is the only bag company that makes you wait 3 years, well, for me, maybe not 3 years, but these bags will be worth waiting for.
The prototypes I have made that I have been traveling around with tell me what needs to be changed, how it wears, how it looks after 9 months, etc. You will be very impressed. The outside of these bags look as brand new today as the day I sewed the last stitch before I filled them up with my "stuff" and took them on the planes traveling with me. They have been thrown around, tossed, beat up, abused, you name it. And they still look brand new!
I am just in awe of the beautiful leathers I have and the designs I will be coming out with, I know you will be as well. I am working hard to get them made to have enough to post on my website because all the locals here have put their deposits down already.
I did not expect this to grow this fast. I am now also training people to work in my little factory with me. Keep checking with me and look for the first postings of the new retail line this summer. YES, made in the USA!
OK, so I have collected many things in my life. For example, I have over 20 years of Sewing With Nancy videos in my library. For those of you who are not aware, this is how I learned how to sew. I would buy a new video from Nancy every pay check and no matter what topic it was, from quilting to sewing women's underwear, I learned it from her.
I always encourage people to go beyond that 1/4inch foot and be diverse in your sewing rooms. I mean, think about it. Some people own those top of the line sewing machines that cost up to $12,000 and all they do is embroider tea towels and quilt with them. Hey, it is their choice, that is why we sew. But when they go to a sewing class and are asked to change their feet or their settings on their machines, many sit there with a diluted look on their faces. Why is that? Because they have not gone beyond that 1/4inch foot and experimented with many different genres of sewing and especially with different fabrics.
They can do oh, so much more, but it is all up to the owner of the machine to use those machines to their fullest potential. And they do sew on more than cotton fabrics. Ask me how I know???
Well before I write a book on that topic of diversity (and here I am off topic a bit), I have now become an official collector's item.
Yes, me a collector's item! Hey, I am still having a hard time with this celebrity title that I have been given now in the home sewing world.
It hasn't hit me yet. I guess I am more concerned with getting people to know their sewing machines when I teach than getting in the frame of every video I shoot. My students are the stars! I'm just the teacher!
My dream of being on TV with my teacher Nancy Zieman did come true and the DVD she produced from my episode is now out of print. So if you own one and you had met me and I signed it, hang onto it. You won't regret it. I promise you!
You might want to check eBay as well to see if they have any on there in case you never got a copy.
Next up is Atlanta, Georgia for my Celebrity Bags workshop. This event is sold out as well. However, they already have started a list of people who could not get in. So if you are interested, be sure to go to their website and call them to be put on the list. Also, I will be there the night before the workshop to sign books and I will be doing a demo trunk show. So if you could not get into the workshop this time, stop in for the Frida evening reception event. Click on the photo below to take you to their website. I was there last ear to do a demo lecture for the Nanc Zieman Love Of Sewing event. This will be my first full workshop there. I am told California "Urban Sewers" will have a run for their money. Atlanta sewers sound like "Urban Sewers" as well! 
To see more photos and videos from my Santa Rosa event, Pam has a special page on their website. Be sure to visit her site and check out one of my students whom after my workshop went home and quilted leather on her longarm and made another handbag. Here is the store's website link. http://www.mysewvacplace.com/ 
Santa Rosa was a blast! I will be heading back there next year. Pam told me many people could not get in and want me to come back for another bag workshop. Here is Pam with her completed bag in the workshop.
Santa Rosa was a blast! I will be heading back there next year. Pam told me many people could not get in and want me to come back for another bag workshop. Here is Pam with her completed bag in the workshop.
Next, I flew out of Palm Springs to San Francisco. It was late evening and cold. There was bad weather which delayed my flight. I am not used to this cold weather even through I grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania which gets wind chill factors of below zero. I guess I have been in Florida too long. Took a shuttle from San Francisco to Santa Rosa, California for my next Celebrity bags workshop at:
Back to see my good friends Pam & Louie Cortese. The last time I was there for my fiber art event, the place was sold out. Well, they did it again, the bag workshop was sold out! I got to see some friends I met the last time I was there and met more new friends. There was even a student in my class who was a teacher herself at the fashion school in San Francisco. This class rocked. Also, they do not like to be called, sewists, sewers or quilters up in this neck of the woods. They don't even like to be called fiber artists. They are known as "Urban Sewers". I asked them what separates them with that title? Many told me that they sew everything, are not afraid to sew anything and try new things and they know how to use their sewing machines! And by gosh, these gals knew their machines inside and out! I have to hand it to the owners Pam and Louie who have a diverse genre of sewing classes they offer. Pam tells me garment fitting classes fill up faster than she can put the next ones on the book. These gals also have the latest tools too. I got to test out some of them. They may like to be called Urban sewers, but in my book they are "Trekkers"..:) (as in Star Trek with the gadget and technology). These gals tell me they empower themselves beyond the 1/4inch foot. And by golly, they do! Many of these students are high end corporate people who enjoy the thread and needle after negotiating contracts all day. I did a 3 part video which you can watch on my website http://www.christophernejman.com On the Travel Schedule page along with other classes I have taught across the country.
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