Child’s Own Studio

A few years back Wendy Tsao began her business in making softies based on children’s drawings: Child’s Own Studio. Since then, she has custom made around 400 soft toys based on children’s drawings, each one as unique as the child who drew it.

Below are some images of her work, but her own website and Flickr Photostream are truly inspirational and worth looking at.… Read the rest

Quilting…240 Miles above Earth

Below you’ll find an article from NASA about Astronaut Artist Karen Nyberg and her crafting adventures in space.

Mention the words “NASA Astronaut” and you’ll usually conjure up the image of a brilliant, number-crunching engineer or a super-smart scientist. Yet, rarely are we given the chance to consider the other dimensions to this elite group of explorers or that they may share some common hobbies many of us more Earth-bound citizens enjoy.… Read the rest

April – May – June Newsletter online

Wow! It is hard to believe that spring is here. The past few months have just flown by.

We’ve just posted the latest Plano TX Chapter newsletter. It can be downloaded here. You’ll need your Plano ASG password to get into the page.

This edition of the newsletter has articles about:

  • the ASG/Simplicity “Anyone Can Win Contest” 2013
  • the Anyone Can Sew Fashion Show & Pot Luck Brunch
  • 2 new Neigborhood Groups
  • our Annual Retreat in January
  • 2013 ETA Dallas
  • T.A.G.
… Read the rest

Floriani’s First Ever Texas Sit N Stitch

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May 3-4, 2013, Floriani Embroidery and Plano Sewing Center are organizing the first ever Floriani Sit N Stitch at Hyatt Place Dallas/Garland.

Learn to embroider like the Master of Embroidery himself, Mr. Walter Floriani.

Two days of hooping and hollering – six fabulous projects all created to teach you Mr. Floriani’s techniques to beautiful embroidery every time.… Read the rest

Winter Retreat 2013 Pictures

The 9th Annual ASG Winter Retreat took place January 17th-20th. Here are some pictures of the weekend event.

TJ Tamny picnic blanket 2

TJ Tamny – picnic blanket

TJ Tamny picnic blanketbag

TJ Tamny – picnic blanket/bag

Sheryl hard at work

Sheryl hard at work

Bonnie Dearing in her big chair

Bonnie Dearing in her big chair

Brenda Toub - Sewing workshop jacket

Brenda Toub Sewing workshop jacket

Carol & TJ

Carol & TJ

Carol Johnston

Carol Johnston

Jan Worstel

Jan Worstell

Jan Worstell

Jan Worstell

Sandie Griego

Sandie Griego

Sheryl Belson

Sheryl Belson… Read the rest

Carol & Jane at Children’s

Check out these cute pictures of Carol and Jane bringing finger puppets, blankets and hats to Children’s Medical Center, Legacy.

From July 1 to December 31 Plano ASG members donated over 592 hours of their time to make at least
529 items including fleece lap and baby blankets, receiving blankets, finger puppets, demise gowns
and gel pacs for preemies.… Read the rest

Monthly Chapter Meeting March 23rd

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Come play like you were a kid. Saturday the 23rd of March we will be making Easter egg treat bags.

Raid your stash for bits of trim, lace, ribbons, buttons and felt to decorate these small bags. The decorations can be glued or sewn, your choice.

Please bring:

  • Trims/ribbon/ric rack- as little as 5″ will work
  • scraps of felt
  • fabric scissors
  • glue or needle and thread
… Read the rest

Indie Pattern Designers

Looking for a different pattern than one from ‘the Big Four’? Here’s a good list of smaller pattern designers.

Here’s part of the list:

  • Colette – There’s little that I could say about Colette that hasn’t already been said – vintage inspired designs with excellent community support.
  • Sewaholic – From Vancouver, Tasia designs for pear shaped women but these classic patterns would look good on many shapes and sizes.
… Read the rest