Learning Batik in Bali

by Markita Hall-Gumble

I spent almost 4 weeks in Bali.  I had so many textile experiences while there, including 3 different batik classes. First, what is batik?  In a simple answer, batik is a form of printing on fabric using wax as a resist.  Batik has a rich history and it’s origins are over 2000 years old. 

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To Box or to De-Stash?

by Maria Quian
After many years of just dreaming about it, the right house came along. My current house is in Texas and I am moving to Colorado. It is a now or never situation for many reasons.

But in life, all good things also come with other not so good things we must do.… Read the rest

Planning for Fall Sewing

I decided to try something different this fall, actually planning out more than one garment :). To start off I used my custom coquis from the https://www.mybodymodel.com/ app. I walked through Erin’s online class called “paperdolls for adults”. I was inspired to pull out some markers, patterns, fabrics and plan out an entire fall wardrobe.… Read the rest

I decided to try something different this fall, actually planning out more than one garment :). To start off I used my custom coquis from the https://www.mybodymodel.com/ app. I walked through Erin’s online class called “paperdolls for adults”. I was inspired to pull out some markers, patterns, fabrics and plan out an entire fall wardrobe.… Read the rest

Dollmaking in the time of COVID

By Jami Roux

The Covid lockdown gave me an opportunity to practice my doll making skills. When the lockdown began my first thought was to make a doll as I didn’t need to sew more clothes for myself. I also knew everything to make a doll was in my stash.

With all the time to sew, I have made fourteen dolls for gifts, group challenges, tested new patterns, and just because I wanted to try something different.… Read the rest

Fireside Chat with Ann Williamson

Creative inspiration Alert! Our newest Fireside Chat with Ann Williamson is sure to get your creative juices flowing full force. Watch our 30 minute chat with her to learn about her creative process, her love of kimono silk, and her fun interaction with Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Follow Ann on her blog and Instagram.… Read the rest

Upcycle

verb reuse (discarded objects or material) in such a way as to create a product of higher quality or value than the original.

At the end of this interesting year, I would like to share with you 3 upcycle projects. In Dallas/Ft. Worth we have many talented and creative folk. Some of them share and inspire on the Facebook page DFW Wearables

First up Aimee Wilson, who also just happens to have started and is an admin for the Facebook group DFW Sewing .… Read the rest

Red Hot Mess Challenge

What do you do when you receive a donation of a LARGE bolt of red knit fabric and a TUB full of tape measures? How about a challenge?! Our Special Events team created a fun challenge to find ways to incorporate both into any kind of project our members could dream of.… Read the rest

Makers Gonna Make

Plano member, Annette Berlyn, splits her time between her home in South Africa and her daughter’s home here is Texas.  If one thing is true about Annette, it is that she will create the most interesting things out of anything she can get her hands on!

We hope you enjoy her story of how a simple museum visit with a friend turned her into an entrepreneur artist for the museum gift shop.… Read the rest

Meet Monica of Sew Your View

Sew Your View August 2020 Tecoma Blouse by Mood Sewciety

You too can be a part of Sew Your View ! Just follow the page on Facebook and/or Instagram to find out the pattern selection. Customize, design, and sew your own style into your creation. Then post by direct messaging SewYourView on Instagram.… Read the rest

March Madness and March Sadness

Plano ASG member Melanie Fredrickson has three great loves – family, sewing and sports … March Madness basketball in particular.  But time is at a premium so how could she bring all three of her great loves together? How could she get quality time with all three? 

The perfect answer to this question emerged when Melanie’s son gave her a surprise birthday gift in 2017. … Read the rest

Summer Sewing Inspiration

Are you thinking about summer sewing?  We are!  We reached out to a few of our members and asked if they had any summer inspiration to share.  Whether you are looking for machine embroidery, quilting, garments, bags or even beading and weaving, we have a few ideas to get your summer creative juice flowing!… Read the rest

After the Masks

When COVID sent us all inside, our minds were consumed with questions like

WHAT NOW?

We needed something to combat all kinds of feelings.  Fear.  Boredom.  Lack of purpose.  And we had to find the solution to those feelings within the confines of our own homes.

Because we sew, many of us found the solace we needed right inside our sewing room. … Read the rest