One of the most wonderful things about going away is coming home, especially when you come back with so many ideas and so much energy that you're worried there might not be enough hours in the day to work your way through them. Of course, the answer to that is to start which is what I intend to do this week - the work. And there's my 2013 intention making itself known again - do the work. I love the way it shows up all the time.
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Apparently the event in Puyallup is the biggest Sew Expo in North America. There were crowds and for the most part, that's okay - I enjoy people watching - but it does get a bit much after awhile since I'm not used to being around so many people. It also makes it hard to get non-blurry photographs although I think the lighting was a factor. It's rather harsh.
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Patti and I took a lot of breaks. We'd go to a lecture, wander a bit, sit down, and then repeat. We were in bed by 9:00 both nights and then up and eager to go in the morning. Early birds travelling together is a good idea.
We arrived in Puyallup on Thursday afternoon and decided to check our directions and find the location ready for the morning only instead of driving by, we popped in for a couple of hours which turned out to be ideal. Thursday night was far less busy than Friday day. Unless there's an early talk that I want to see, in the future I would plan to be there later in the day.
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There were a lot of quilting related booths that didn't interest either of us. It was nice to be on the same page. I heard that the number of fashion related booths has grown considerably over the years. Good. I wouldn't say there were lots but there were definitely enough. Only four booths impacted me significantly enough to photograph them. The felted hats above were beautifully done. They're from the Longbranch Fiber Farm in Lakebay, WA.
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Fibers Etc. from Tacoma, WA had a HUGE booth. I'd need a good dozen photographs to show it from every angle. They must have moved the entire store to the exhibit grounds ! ! I couldn't find a website to link but did read some positive on-line reviews. Since this was my first trip to Sew Expo, I don't know if they've had yarn and knitting supplies in the past but how wonderful to be celebrating all aspects of fibre.
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This was my favourite skein. The colors just glowed but not enough to come home with me. My focus was on fashion fabric and although I'm making progress, I need to knit my stash down some more before buying at which point I'll also concentrate on higher quality yarn as I plan to do with fabric - both courtesy of Over-Dressed.
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This detail image is of a vest made from dying, doilies, and crochet. The artist is Anita Luvera Mayer who is teaching a workshop - One Vest: Twenty Variations - in September at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville on Whidbey Island, WA. The vest was absolutely gorgeous. I thought about how to apply the idea to a coat, blouse, or cardigan since I don't wear vests.
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The highlight for me was hearing Marcy and Katherine's talk. I could have driven down, heard their talk, shopped at their booth, and gone home and that would have been enough of an adrenaline shot. I came away inspired.
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Here's half of Marcy's booth on Friday afternoon. As you can see, it was crowded. Don't fear. I came away with goodies. I'll show them in tomorrow's post.
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When I walked into the booth on Thursday night, Marcy greeted me by name. That certainly makes you feel special. I introduced her to Patti and the next day Marcy remembered her name from that one introduction made at the end of the long busy day before. Patti was really impressed.
At Marcy and Katherine's talk, I was in line with, and then sat beside, a wonderful woman from Portland. She was friendly with a delightful sense of humor. That's one of the things I like about these events. It doesn't matter if you're traveling with a friend or traveling alone because you start out with something in common with everyone there and go on to find individual points of connection. Nancy, the lady from Portland, offered to take me fabric shopping when I stop in Portland on my way home from the Design Outside the Lines workshop in June. I'm sure you can imagine how much I'm looking forward to the workshop already - and the shopping - only I need to do some sewing between now and then to a) have something to wear and b) have space for fabric in my stash.
Something that Patti and I both noticed at the event was the Marcy and Katherine influence. Two examples stood out. One was a lecture and the other a booth in which we both looked at each other and mouthed Marcy because it was so obvious that they were copying, inspired, influenced by - whatever word we use - her work. Imitation is supposedly the greatest form of flattery. I'm not sure I agree with that completely HOWEVER...
... imitation can also push you to keep growing and to be more innovative in your own work. I feel that way. Instead of thinking W. W. M. D. - what would Marcy do, I've been thinking W. W. M. D. - what will Myrna do? What a fabulous question. I don't want to imitate Marcy and Katherine. They are highly creative, wonderful women. I admire their work, enjoy their patterns, and am thrilled to have met them but I have no desire to be a groupie. Instead, I want to be inspired by what they are sharing and use that inspiration to take my own creativity in a personalized and individual direction that works for me and my lifestyle.
BUT... right now... Myrna is going to tidy up her studio, wash and put away her new fabric, and pull out the blouse she cut out before leaving to try the sloping shoulder adjustment that Ruth suggested. It's been tickling away at my subconscious all weekend. I'm so excited to have it work. It would make sewing so much easier and I've a mile long (maybe two... possibly three...) pile of patterns waiting to be sewn.
Talk soon - Myrna
Grateful - WWMD - being me
Apparently the event in Puyallup is the biggest Sew Expo in North America. There were crowds and for the most part, that's okay - I enjoy people watching - but it does get a bit much after awhile since I'm not used to being around so many people. It also makes it hard to get non-blurry photographs although I think the lighting was a factor. It's rather harsh.
Patti and I took a lot of breaks. We'd go to a lecture, wander a bit, sit down, and then repeat. We were in bed by 9:00 both nights and then up and eager to go in the morning. Early birds travelling together is a good idea.
We arrived in Puyallup on Thursday afternoon and decided to check our directions and find the location ready for the morning only instead of driving by, we popped in for a couple of hours which turned out to be ideal. Thursday night was far less busy than Friday day. Unless there's an early talk that I want to see, in the future I would plan to be there later in the day.
There were a lot of quilting related booths that didn't interest either of us. It was nice to be on the same page. I heard that the number of fashion related booths has grown considerably over the years. Good. I wouldn't say there were lots but there were definitely enough. Only four booths impacted me significantly enough to photograph them. The felted hats above were beautifully done. They're from the Longbranch Fiber Farm in Lakebay, WA.
Fibers Etc. from Tacoma, WA had a HUGE booth. I'd need a good dozen photographs to show it from every angle. They must have moved the entire store to the exhibit grounds ! ! I couldn't find a website to link but did read some positive on-line reviews. Since this was my first trip to Sew Expo, I don't know if they've had yarn and knitting supplies in the past but how wonderful to be celebrating all aspects of fibre.
This was my favourite skein. The colors just glowed but not enough to come home with me. My focus was on fashion fabric and although I'm making progress, I need to knit my stash down some more before buying at which point I'll also concentrate on higher quality yarn as I plan to do with fabric - both courtesy of Over-Dressed.
This detail image is of a vest made from dying, doilies, and crochet. The artist is Anita Luvera Mayer who is teaching a workshop - One Vest: Twenty Variations - in September at the Pacific Northwest Art School in Coupeville on Whidbey Island, WA. The vest was absolutely gorgeous. I thought about how to apply the idea to a coat, blouse, or cardigan since I don't wear vests.
The highlight for me was hearing Marcy and Katherine's talk. I could have driven down, heard their talk, shopped at their booth, and gone home and that would have been enough of an adrenaline shot. I came away inspired.
Here's half of Marcy's booth on Friday afternoon. As you can see, it was crowded. Don't fear. I came away with goodies. I'll show them in tomorrow's post.
When I walked into the booth on Thursday night, Marcy greeted me by name. That certainly makes you feel special. I introduced her to Patti and the next day Marcy remembered her name from that one introduction made at the end of the long busy day before. Patti was really impressed.
At Marcy and Katherine's talk, I was in line with, and then sat beside, a wonderful woman from Portland. She was friendly with a delightful sense of humor. That's one of the things I like about these events. It doesn't matter if you're traveling with a friend or traveling alone because you start out with something in common with everyone there and go on to find individual points of connection. Nancy, the lady from Portland, offered to take me fabric shopping when I stop in Portland on my way home from the Design Outside the Lines workshop in June. I'm sure you can imagine how much I'm looking forward to the workshop already - and the shopping - only I need to do some sewing between now and then to a) have something to wear and b) have space for fabric in my stash.
Something that Patti and I both noticed at the event was the Marcy and Katherine influence. Two examples stood out. One was a lecture and the other a booth in which we both looked at each other and mouthed Marcy because it was so obvious that they were copying, inspired, influenced by - whatever word we use - her work. Imitation is supposedly the greatest form of flattery. I'm not sure I agree with that completely HOWEVER...
... imitation can also push you to keep growing and to be more innovative in your own work. I feel that way. Instead of thinking W. W. M. D. - what would Marcy do, I've been thinking W. W. M. D. - what will Myrna do? What a fabulous question. I don't want to imitate Marcy and Katherine. They are highly creative, wonderful women. I admire their work, enjoy their patterns, and am thrilled to have met them but I have no desire to be a groupie. Instead, I want to be inspired by what they are sharing and use that inspiration to take my own creativity in a personalized and individual direction that works for me and my lifestyle.
BUT... right now... Myrna is going to tidy up her studio, wash and put away her new fabric, and pull out the blouse she cut out before leaving to try the sloping shoulder adjustment that Ruth suggested. It's been tickling away at my subconscious all weekend. I'm so excited to have it work. It would make sewing so much easier and I've a mile long (maybe two... possibly three...) pile of patterns waiting to be sewn.
Talk soon - Myrna
Grateful - WWMD - being me