Imagine...If Wishes Wore Wings

PinkWhimsies For Breast Cancer

2009-03-18T09:49:00.002-04:00

We need your help!
Calling all quilters, embroiderery owners, knitters
felters, crafters & seamstresses!

PinkWhimsies Workshop Unveiled
Knecht's is going national with our new program, Embroidered ARt from the HeARt and we are thinking pink...Introducing PinkWhimsies: our kick-off project & event! But, as every successful undertaking would have it, we can't do it without a large group of you by our side!

What is it? We are making MiniWhimsey ARtAngels who's surfaces are filled with words of inspiration and hope. These small pink creations will then be stuffed, assembled, pin backs attached and placed on pretty tags ...and their mission: they will be passed on to local breast cancer treatment centers and women's oncology offices. These small collaged works of stitched art are meant to be a reminder to all women to never give up, fill their day with hope and share a few words of encouragement. Time doesn't alway permit us to make a quilt for every woman we know who could use a lift in this challenging time of her life...so we created ARtAngels. And we think these mini whimseys will be the perfect little blessing!
It's a day of learning, sharing, and creating. . .our MiniWhimsies were just introduced nationally last week through a live Webex presentation and demonstration NotionsNow, sponsored by two of the largest sewing machine companies in the world, PFAFF and Husqvarna Viking...with your help, these pink minis will touch hundreds of local women in our community!

Who & How you can help...
Everyone!!!! We are looking for anyone to donate PINK scraps or a fat quarter of PINK cotton fabric, yarns...any print , any shade, any size! ...Even tiny scraps will work for our KreativeKollage technique!

Quilters!!! Come and help us stich and assemble...share your pink scraps! We need your help 'piecing' her together.
Knitters & Felters!!! Bring your pink yarns and make felted surfaces for our whimsies! If you have a felting machine, bring it!
Embroidery Machine Owners!!!! Bring your machine and your largest hoop...we will fill your hoop with scraps and tulle and introduce you to the miniwhimsey ARtAngel design and newest hoop technique!
Crafters & Seamstresses!!!! We would love to have your help with the ARtTags, pinbacks and adding beads!

Join us either day!!
Friday, March 27 10am - 5pm
Saturday, March 28 10am-4pm

Please, call (437-0962) or e-mail us to let us know you are coming so if necessary, we can better arrange our space! Can't make it one of these times, we hope you will consider dropping of any pink scraps prior to the event and we will put it to good use!!
What to bring:
Quilters, Seamstresses & Crafters...any pink pieces of fabric scraps - any size (can be prints or solids) or ribbons, your favorite sized hand needle. It may be necessary that we put you behind an embroidery machine to get fabric kollages done...but don't worry we will show you what buttons to push!

Embroidery Machine Owners...You will be learning our new KreativeKollage technique just introduced nationally on NotionsNow live Webex last week. We will supply the design use for the day and our 'special ingredient'. Please bring your embroidery machine, your largest hoop, favorite stabilizer, pink emrbroidery threads ( or we will have plenty to share).

Felters, Knitters and Felting Machine Owners...We would love any of your leftover pink yarns...and if you own a felting machine, please bring it to create felted ARtAngel surfaces that will then be hooped and stitched!

OUR 2-DAY GOAL:
200 Pink MiniWhimsies ARtAngels
...can you help us meet or beat our goal?

Thank you...thank you...thank you...thank you...thank you...

KreativeKindness...No geographical boundaries

2009-01-25T22:22:00.003-05:00

I currently have hundreds and hundreds of sew-ers, quilters and stitchers on my email list...so I try to stay in touch by doing weekly (approx) emails. Some of latest emails have told of our free classes, the projects coming up and weekly specials...and we have asked you to help us out...and boy, have you! We have been flooded with generosity when we asked for you to do some early spring cleaning and give us any sewing and fabric extras you have for a group of young girls in El Salvador who will be sewing for their families and to make money to help support their families.
And others have answered our plea for donations of time and personal products for our local Sarah House, a facility that gives family members of local hospital patients a place to stay at little or not cost. You have stepped up and I say thank you...all these small 'kreative' steps help to make a big difference and I thank you for making my heart smile!
Those of you wishing to still make a donation for El Salvador can do so by dropping items off by Saturday, January 31st! Hugs!

An ARtAngel in Tucson

2009-01-22T08:16:00.003-05:00

An incredible brainstorming and shopping invitation from Sue Hausmann has turned into a creative journey to Tucson! I'm loading up the girls, goods and gear and heading west in February to Cathey's Sewing Center to teach embriodery machine owners KreativeKollageTM techniques and making ARtAngels in their hoops...I hope she was kidding when she said her goal was 100 participants! Hey, bring it on Tucson, the more the merrier!
We're always learning and this post holiday season is no exception...it was a tech-ie Christmas for me so I am working on learning new equipment, lighting and the benefits of a photo tent for projects...with the help of' "Fred", my engineer husband who's 'git 'er done' approach to photography has my head spinning. I'm having a flashback to the time when he tried to teach me to golf when we were first married, or skiing just recently or scuba diving a couple years ago...I probably don't need to say much more! I have lots of new pics from my new camera to post here and if you email me, I am happy to share project details and instructions for anything you see on this blog. If you don't own an embroidery machine but would like to make an ARtAngel (all you quilters out there...this would be right up your alley!) I am publishing a pattern of raw edge applique and KreativeKollageTM techniques so you can create along side us! I am also working on kits of my hand-dyed fabrics for you to use for your angel...as you can see, it's a perfect project for your cotton and specialty fabric scraps...making this a very 'green' project. Hopefully you will make several and share them. It's a perfect girls weekend-in project...especially if you live in upstate New York!
Off I go, packing up If Wishes Wore Wings projects to ship to Florida!
Stay tuned if you're local...I'll be doing a lecture/demo presentation for the Candlelight Quilt Guild focusing on ART QUILTS for the traditional quilter ...stay tuned for the date!

F.Y.I.: My 2009 Business Plan

2008-12-11T07:20:00.002-05:00

I just love this time of the year...especially this year! Those of you who know me, know I will never buy into any doom or gloom...I quite simply refuse. And it's not a 'head in the sand' approach...it's a creative approach really.

As talk show host Rick Gary from NewsChannel 9 put it to me a few years back, he referred to me on the air as the MacGyver of creativity...those of you who remember this tv series, this man could make a winter coat out of rubberbands, a found tube of caulk and tissue paper rolls. Those of you who know Rick, know he is very creative in his own right. If this came from a fellow sew-er I might have been a bit offended about the implication but coming from a man, I took this as quite a rather large compliment. Those of you who know me, know I run my creative business the same way. Often in classes and clubs we take a pile of paint buckets, some leftover fabric strips and an iron and make a wallhanging that would make any guild member turn their heads!

Seems like many in business today are gearing up for a bit of an 'unknown' in 2009...I am gearing up for a fabulous upcoming year! For years (15 to be exact) you have all supported me and my business, encouraged me when I came up with new ideas, visited us during promotions, store events and have followed us from Fayetteville to Fairmount and back to the east...and as many tighten their belt notches, I intend to extend mine. It is important to me personally to continue to create, share and inspire no matter what is going on in the stock market or repeatedly run by news media. This industry has proven one major thing for sure in the last 60 years... in good times, people sew and in bad times, people sew. Make no mistake, in the last 3 months we have all been thinking, but somehow sitting behind a machine creating, quilting or embroidering takes us to a different dimension of sorts. Imagine what one piece of cloth cut up in pieces and a single stitched seam can do for our mind, body and soul?!

So here it is: my 2009 Business Plan...it's about US giving back to YOU.
The tailend of 2008 has been quite successful for us and I appreciate your business more than this blog could express...As we approach the upcoming year, there is only one thing I'm buying into and one thing only...the importance of time together, giving of ourselves and sharing. Sounds a bit story book but here's my big 2009 business plan: KreativeKindness...I intend on offering you a regular schedule of FREE creative classes and a place for you to come by for regular jolts of inspiration, positive thinking and kreativity! It wont matter what machine you own or what your skill level is...Our small shop will be positively busting at the seams with new projects and an awareness to create with your stash, try new things and think outside the box a bit...BUT...here's the only cost to you ladies: you have to pass on an act of "KreativeKindness" to someone else. Your fee for these free workshops is quite simply returning the gesture in some way to someone else. Pass on an act of random kindness: teach someone a new project, share an idea, give a project you've made to someone you haven't met yet, sign up to teach a free class with us or come by and visit with the group. Sew-ers have been given such an incredible talent and opportunity to overcome through creative venues, share with others and be part of such an inspiring network...so I'm pulling out the duct tape, cheese cloth and the rusty window screen and getting busy for 2009...if you're in upstate NY, we hope you will pencil in these classes in your 2009 calender! Our schedule will be out right after the Christmas Holiday!

This Fabulous Fourth-Quarter Frenzy

2008-12-07T21:06:00.004-05:00

Blog Post #6
It’s December and it’s what I like to call the ‘Fourth-Quarter Frenzy’! I think it should actually be declared it’s own season…it’s that time of the year when we’re cramming it all in before the holidays are here, the year comes to a close and we continue to make daily and unrealistic lists of things to accomplish before your head hits the pillow…The nicest thing about Fourth-Quarter Frenzy is if you’re like me, the winter weather of upstate New York and shorter daylight seems to give permission to the creative-at- heart to lock themselves up in their favorite room and get down to creating…since the garden and outdoor repairs just have to wait ‘til nicer days!
It’s also a good time to take an afternoon and take a deep breath, hang out with some fellow machine embroiderers and give back a small bit this season. I know sometimes giving back at the holiday can seem overwhelming, when so many are asking so much from you already. But look at it this way, aren’t we just begging for an excuse to stop the hustle and sit behind our embroidery machines? Don’t we just long for an excuse to play with our machines especially when our lives seem the busiest. You know the therapy and feeling of accomplishment a project gives us.
A QUICK PROJECT FOR MY FRIENDS...I spent the day on Saturday with some embroidering friends in a class at the shop...we stitched some great holiday tags using "KreativeKollage" and a shape that was built right on to their machines...we had a great time snipping up small holiday colored fabrics, adding sequins and metallic fibers was a bonus 'bling'! We made 10 tags in the hoop...all ready to attach to gifts, glue onto blank cards, make into fun holiday pins or stitch two together and make a gift card holder...they were all fabulous!

How about a holiday ARtAngel this season? What better way to create and send holiday thoughts and blessings…and get that slow-paced creative fix that can really help us maintain our balance and save our state of mind?! They stitch up quickly while your machine combines embroidery, applique and KreativeKollage! You'll love the mixed media!

In the Studio…”When Time Flies”

2008-12-04T08:26:00.004-05:00

Blog Post #5
I promise to get the pictures of all the projects I’ve made using IF WISHES WORE WINGS up for you to view. Being a new blogger has presented me with new challenges…like learning a new camera and it’s video settings so you can really watch what I’m doing ‘live and in person’, and of course finding regular times to fit my blogs into the day…I am enjoying the virtual journaling and hope you aren’t finding my carrying on too boring…I know we are all visually creative people and photos keep us inspired. So thanks for your patience with me.
I can tell you a little about my latest project now being finished up in my studio right now… “When Time Flies” using our IF WISHES WORE WINGS embroidery design collection. I have used the wings on the design collection and the new KreativeKollage technique done in the hoop to create a fun wallhanging clock…this project also uses several if not all of the other design components on the collection. The final finished surface we layer, collage and create will then be stretched over a painters canvas and a simple working clock hardware will be added in an offset corner.
A noteworthy product note: I just love SewSoft batting (check with your sewing machine dealer – and encourage them to carry it if they don’t already) It is a fabulously soft, lightly fusible sheer batting. And I use it on all of my fabric pieces in the IF WISHES WORE WINGS’ design collection. It is light enough to embroider on for a bit of ‘loft’ texture and yet, fine enough to be included in the ¼” construction seams of your project. You may still want to use a light tear-away stabilizer. I ‘line’ all of my fabric pieces with this fusible batting and then embroider them. Most other battings that I have used end up to thick to have in the seam when piecing.
I want to share one of my absolute best tips if your machine has an embroidery basting feature (this might just be one of the very best things they have ever thought of!): When stitching out a collection of textured and embroidered borders I like to use the largest hoop that’s available for my machine…I use the 360x200 or larger. I hoop a layer of medium weight stabilizer in the hoop. Next, using the screen of the machine, I strategically plan to fit as many of the border section pieces as will fit in the hoop. But…bring them in one at a time. Then I baste a stitching line on the stabilizer only. This is an indication where to lay my fabric piece. If you printed out my hand-dyed fabrics I’ve included on the CD, this will also allow you to use your printed pieces of the fabric without any waste. After I lay my cut piece of fabric down on the stitched stabilizer, I repeat the baste stitch to hold the fabric border strip in place. Then I embroider the piece. When finished move the border or bring up a new border and place in the screen and repeat the process. This helps save you time by not having to re-hoop and gets the most out of your hooped stabilizer piece.
Tip#2: I’ve intended these textured and embroidered border designs to be stitched in the hoop, cut up in smaller sections and stitched back together altering the order of them for a fun border effect on your wallhangings, handbags or quilts. If using a long or endless hoop, combine two borders end to end, and stitch. This may save time and since these sections embroidery quickly anyway, you will be able to make several in no time at all!
We have a class on Saturday making Holiday Tags in our hoops...wouldnt it be great to add a small set of wings to your tags...add some clear vinyl to the mix and you have a great gift card holder...pix are on the way (finishing up samples for class and then will post!)

I am...

2008-11-30T22:58:00.004-05:00

Blog Post #4

Since I am a mixed-media crazed woman (defined as absolutely loving to use my sewing and embroidery machine with so many different medias, textures, quilt and embellishing techniques) I knew this collection had to make mixed media with the embroidery machine simply beautiful…or should I say simple and beautiful?
Since I am a poet and might be mildly obsessed with books filled with positive and motivating prose it was important to me that this collection was full of inspiring heartfelt expression and that words of inspiration danced on the collaged and embroidered hooped surfaces.
Since I am a texture, fabric and ‘bling’ addict, this collection had to have the opportunity to use different materials, stamps, tulles and layers of texture, bling and baubles. I love to use sequins, fabric bits and pieces in the KreativeKollage process…since I throw not a single scrap away! And the embroidery machine has no problem stitching over shiny sequins held in place with layers of fine tulle.
Since I am a machine shop owner working with women daily, I have had the opportunity to develop hundreds of friendships, hear thousands of personal tales, while hysterically laughing and sharing tears alongside many different women of the same thread.
Since I am a mother, sister, daughter, wife and friend I have discovered it’s important to explore a whole different level of creating combining the tools and equipment we are blessed to have, the talents we’ve been given and to share the process or projects with others not as fortunate as we may be today.
Since I am lucky enough to take an idea and be given the chance to share on some sort of ‘worldly’ level, it is most important to me that these designs are stitched out and shared in hopes of lifting someone, inspiring someone or simply letting them know through threads, fibers and stitched words how much they mean to you.
And I hope that possibly not knowing that someone yet won’t stop you from creating for her. Join together with others to create your quilted, embroidered and embellished ARtAngels. Share the process, learn together and embellish as you go. (Sounds a bit like life itself, doesn’t it?!)

And then, pass her on.
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When an idea is more than an idea…

2008-11-30T19:10:00.003-05:00

Blog Post #3

So after one single creative AHA moment, “If Wishes Wore Wings”, our first KreativeKindness embroidery collection has made it way to embroidery machine owners around the country…(sounds like a quick and easy process –not! And I must send out many, many thanks to some pretty amazing and creative people who took time out of their busy worlds to hear my ideas, brainstorm with me and believe in the powerful concept behind this embroidery machine collection). After hundreds of hours of doodling, sketching, coloring, photos, instructions carefully constructed, sample projects stitched and packages re-designed, this new Cactus Punch collection is now officially available! Yahoo! The best feeling in the world is to have this tugging idea in your head you just have to get out on paper or in fabric because it is so incredibly important that you figure out some way to share it.

Ideas are always a great way of expression but when your idea is able to be sent out to the world in hopes of making a difference in women’s lives, it becomes an overwhelmingly proud moment. Proud of everyone involved, everyone who encouraged it to happen, everyone who stuck their neck out to bring an unconventional and new embroidery concept to life…and most proud of what others will do with it to make a difference. Sounds a little on the heavy side but when you’re a creative person (which I know most of you reading this are in your own way) you just love ideas, right? Isn’t an awesome moment when a plan comes together from one single idea?
Here’s my idea for you…use this collection to learn new things on your embroidery machine (ie: our new technique KreativeKollage, appliqué, ARtQuilting, layering, beading.) Use this collection to make your next quilt borders and stippling or your first ARtQuilt. Use this collection to share an ARtAngel with someone celebrating life or healing from the loss of one. Use this collection with my hand-dyed fabrics included on the CD that you can print on your computer printer or pick fabrics dear to you. Make your ARtAngel whimsical, victorian, dainty or layered with pieces home décor fabrics you’ve embroidered with textures. Fill her surfaces with ephemera and assembled words of your own. Enjoy this creative journey as you bond with your machine in a new art level of sorts, create with your personal message and ‘soul’ purpose…

And then, pass her on.

An AHA moment...

2008-11-04T07:24:00.008-05:00

BLOG POST #2
Spending the last few years filling my spare moments riding in the car or sitting waiting for kids, I have feverishly doodled creative projects of things I want to accomplish before I depart (that bucket list of sorts) or share with others while I am able. I would scribble sketches of things I would love to create someday on my machine. Projects that I would someday be able to make and inspire others to try.
And then one day, Darlene walked into my small sewing machine shop. She stopped by to show me two mini art quilts she made. I had not known Darlene for a very long time but knew she had recently been shocked with a breast cancer diagnosis and was in the beginning of treatments. As any sewing machine shop owner would do, I respectfully asked her if I could display her works of art to show others (you know we are always looking for great samples). She offered to leave me one but explained to me that the other was being delivered to a woman she had just met at the treatment center during her visits. Darlene was on her way to the center to surprise her new friend who was celebrating her last treatment at the center that afternoon. (Here's where the AHA moment happened for me). Here was a woman who was helping another woman celebrate life and her successes. She was on her way to surprise her new acquaintance with a hand created gift, a piece of art, a part of herself. And to a woman she barely knew. Her creation was completely a message of support, camaraderie, understanding and inspiration, a job well done, you did it! With tough weeks still ahead for Darlene herself, she found a reason to create, share and celebrate. What an inspiration!
Now for the previous months I had been doodling out my ARtAngels on paper with colored pencils, hand-drawn beads and sketched words of inspiration all over their surfaces…in hopes of someday bringing them to life in a stitched fabric version. I knew with their spaces filled with words, doodles and beautiful fabric pieces that they would be perfect to carry messages of encouragement, celebration, healing and inspiration. (AHA) A hand-created gift to share, they would be. And so the collection began, “If Wishes Wore Wings…I would send this your way”.

Darlene, thanks for helping to make someday happen for me.

In the Beginning...

2008-10-15T07:47:00.013-04:00

BLOG POST #1

As a new blogger, I am pretty excited to be able to 'journal' and share my creative thoughts, ideas and inspiration. I have been a writer, doodler and 'stitcher' since the early years of junior high. I have had an incredible amount of people in my world who inspired and encouraged me...from family to teachers. My grandmother, Mary nurtured my new found interest in sewing by purchasing a mail-order red floral calico cotton bikini kit intended as one of my first teenage sewing projects. Now I have to tell you, I have never had the body shape or nerve for a bikini but she thought differently and that was enough for her... so daily we worked together on this cotton bikini (which by the way, I did wear in the pool...with my dad's white t-shirt over it "to prevent sunburn" but we were both happy about my new accomplishment). Teachers in my very large high school encouraged and supported my passion for sewing and business by offering me independent and specialized courses (after I had taken all the formal curriculum classes in these areas by the time I was a junior) What a huge boost for my self esteem as a tall geeky redhead with aviator glasses who pretty much had to sew almost everything I wore... And of course my mom, Florence, who's strength and tolerance showed me to accept and deal with what life hands you, make the most of it and have fun (the lemon to lemonade theory).
Three powerful influences and so it began...this passion for creativity, sharing and passing on inspiration to others...
So, here it is...For the last 15 years I have had a career selling sewing machines and love what I do. But to let you in on a secret...what began as a means to help support my family turned into a bigger reason... the pleasure in inspiring and spending time with others who also look at cloth and thread as way of expression, therapy, camaraderie, art and life. And many AHA moments have occured in my career but my 'mini quilt encounter' with Darlene was a biggie and helped birth IF WISHES WORE WINGS.

2008-10-14T06:18:00.002-04:00