You are what you eat...

Do you believe that? You are what you eat? I really do. I've been heavily exercising for the last year and have been trying to watch what I eat, how I eat and when I eat. I can tell that when I do eat right I have the necessary strength and energy to weight train and endure one hour cycling class. (!) Eating well for me means that I need to eat more protein. I eat well already, don't eat snack foods and drink only water...and lots of it. But I know I need more protein for my body to function correctly. So it's a daily task to make sure I give myself good things only.  (Yes, I fail sometimes and eat chocolate...how can you resist??!! )

My mother-in-law came over yesterday looking poorly and still sick from a few weeks ago. We talked about what type of food she's been eating. Well, she's never been one to take much care of herself...and I think that she just never learned. But my husband and I suggested she keep a food journal. Write down EVERYTHING she eats and drinks for a few weeks. I also said she should write down what she does, how she slept the night before, and other pertinent info.

She came by today and looked much better. I asked if she ate breakfast and she said she had. Well, imagine that!! If you eat correctly, you feel better.

Try it and I bet you'll feel better too!

New class open for registration!

Images on Fabric

Class start date: Friday April 20, 2012

Images on Fabric

Print and transfer images onto fabric from your inkjet printer

 

When your crafting moves into mixed media, there may come a time when you want to produce an image onto fabric. But where do you start? Can you really put a piece of cloth into your inkjet printer and get a good result, and not a mess of tangled fibers? What about an image transfer onto fabric? What products, techniques, and fabrics work the best? Can you use these images on a washable bed quilt?

Join me in this class as we print and transfer your own photos, clip art images, computer generated text and more onto fabric. We'll use a variety of products and techniques that work with your home inkjet printer.

Students may use one or all of the products & techniques we will work with in class. All the projects can be made with any method:

1. Direct inkjet printing onto various commercially prepared printable fabric sheets such as printable cotton, canvas, and/or organza
2. Direct inkjet printing onto fabric we'll prepare with Bubble Jet Set
3. Image transfer to fabric using acrylic medium and water
4. Image transfers using various commercially prepared transfer materials
5. Printing and transferring with some newer products you may not be familiar with: Lutradur and Transfer Artist Paper (TAP)

Each week students will make various projects such as fabric post cards, a simple folded fabric book, fabric art quilt, and more. You can use fabric glue, fusible, or machine stitching on your projects. Instructions will be given for each option.

(Please note: We will only work with techniques and products for an inkjet printer with either pigment or dye-based inks.)

Class start date: Friday April 20, 2012

Duration: 4 weeks

Price: $25

**Click here for supply list and to register for this class**

Hope to "see" you in class!

Free online Quilt Expo

That's right, I said free! "Inspired To Quilt" is a full-blown online quilt show event with all the trimmings, held for the purpose of honoring the quilt instructors who have most inspired quilters in 2011.

When: March 7 - 10, 2012

Where: Event will be held online at our virtual quilt expo.

What: This expo will be 4 days full of quilting excitement! Here's just some of the agenda: Featured Interviews/Presentation, Demonstrations/Workshop Rooms, Vendor Exhibits and Quilt Exhibits. 

Yes, it's all free but you have to register HERE

I'll "see" you there!

March is National Craft Month!

My Creative Classroom and I would like to invite you to join us as we celebrate National Craft Month. Every year in March we say thank you to our students during National Craft Month. If you purchase a class in March (it does not need to start in March) you will earn a free seat in an upcoming class. Purchase more than one class and you will be able to earn more free seats. The seats you can earn are in predetermined classes, but we worked hard to choose classes that would have broad appeal, all are valued at $25 or more. Click here to learn more.

During the next three months we have some wonderful classes for you to choose from. I personally will be teaching the following courses in March and April: 

• Cricut: All About Birthdays (class begins Feb 27th)
• NEW! Love Your Sewing Machine - Class begins Mar 7th
• Cricut: All About Flowers - Class begins Mar 12th
• Alter THIS! The Next Chapter (Altered book 2) - Class begins Apr 2nd
• Guys Card Boot Camp: Boys to Men - Class begins Apr 3rd
• Fabric: What, How, and WOW! Class begins Apr 5th
• Crafting with the Cricut: Beyond Paper - Class begins Apr 9th
• NEW! Love Your Sewing Machine (repeated class) - Apr 13th
• NEW! Images on Fabric - Class begins Apr 20th

 I'll "see" you in the classroom!

New class open for enrollment!

All About Ribbon

a class taught by multiple My Creative Classroom instructors

 

Got ribbon? We do! And we have boatloads of it. If you are looking for some ribbon inspiration, look no further as we explore borders, bows, flowers and faux ribbon. We'll even cover how to organize those unruly knots and how to use up that stash! Join 12 My Creative Classroom Instructors for this fun class.  Click here for course description and to register.

Ready to get your stitch on?

I've just opened up a new course I'll be teaching this semester at My Creative Classroom.  It starts March 7th.  Check it out.

Love Your Sewing Machine

Does the thought of using your sewing machine leave you feeling a bit intimidated or overwhelmed? Maybe you've sewn a bit but have gotten frustrated with broken thread, skipped stitches, or a "bird's nest" under the fabric. Would you like to actually make something that you can be proud of? Well, it's time you learned how to properly use your sewing machine.

Come join me for this 4-week class to learn basic machine skills, increase your confidence, and make a BIG head start into becoming a proficient sewist. We'll begin will all the basics of machine use and move quickly into creating practical items with fabric and thread. 

Click here for full course description and to register! 



What? You already know how to use your sewing machine? Well for all you intermediate or advanced sewing enthusiasts you must check out Superior University over at Superior Threads. The folks at Superior Threads are the most knowledgeable about thread quality and service that I've come across.  Superior University is a monthly "project club" with a carefully designed project including featured products and threads. You will receive a simple pattern and easy-to-follow instructions to create a project that may only take 30-90 minutes to complete.  Many projects will include a product or technique you may have never tried before.  The purpose is to help you increase your knowledge and use of threads and related products which will add more possibilities to your sewing projects. One of the many great things about it is that there is open enrollment so you can start and stop any time. No contract. No registration fees/federal excise taxes/dealer prep/fuel surcharges, or other fast-talking hidden charges.

I've signed up and can't wait to get my first project materials to arrive. 

Sewing Machine Cover

You can find patterns online for your sewing machine, but the ones I've seen don't allow for the clear slide-on table that I like to keep on my machine.  Plus I usually like to do my own thing.

I began by creating my own pattern. I roughly measured the height, width and depth of the machine and added a bit for seam allowances. I cut the blue fabric to the size and pinned it, WRONG sides together.  This blue fabric looks great the "right" way and the "wrong" way, so I made use of both on the sides and edges.

I quilted the front and back with my walking foot with the guide in a diagonal pattern. It looks really great.

I sewed all the pieces wrong sides together so I could stitch on a bias binding over the seams. I added in openings for my cords on the right hand side.

It sort of looks like a big covered toaster(!), but I am pleased with it.  On the left hand side I had to add in some inverted pleats to account for the slide-on table(that I didn't realize was much wider than the machine...how did I miss that?!)

I learned a lot along the way.  There are so many steps I didn't do in order that would have made it so much easier to stitch had I thought about them before I began stitching.  I have a new-found respect for people who  make patterns.  It takes a lot of brain power and time.