Next up: August meeting

AUGUST: simple machine sewing, cross-stitch and embroidery

We will have at least two working sewing machines on hand for folks to share. Think summer! Simple A-line skirts, aprons, beach bags, summery linens like tea towels, pillowcases - whatever strikes your fancy. We are pairing simple sewing with embellishment so you can do both at once in you want, or just focus on one. I plan to sew a pillowcase and embroider it with ridiculous designs. We will have a few members present with skillz in embroidery and cross-stitch to get us started.

To bring:
For a sewing project: fabric, thread, and a pattern if you need one.
For embroidery or cross-stitch: needles, colored floss, fabric or kit, hoop. Other helpful cross stitch items include a highlighter and some masking tape.

Place: My house (766-B Princeton Place NW 20010)
Time: 3:00
Date: ???

We decided that we would meet on Sunday the 24th... but I can't do it! I am flying out to San Francisco that day. I've added a POLL to the main page - vote for your favorite day.

SEND THIS LINK ON TO WHO EVER YOU THINK MIGHT BE INTERESTED.

First meeting of Sew Watts Cookin'!

So! I feel like the first meeting was a wild success, don't you? Sorry it's taken me a day or two to post. I am easily distracted. For those of you who couldn't make it, here's how it went down: you are all banned from the club. Forever.



No really, the first meeting went just as I had hoped. We sat around and brainstormed about different projects and themes that interested each of us, and hashed out a rough schedule from now through the winter holidays. I'll also be jazzing up the blog this week, to include photos from the meeting, and some links to exotic locations on the web for inspiration.

THINGS WE DISCUSSED

Projects for future meetings:
embroidery
sewing (hey, pretty vague, eh?)
lamp making
cross stitch
mosaic tiling
mat cutting for frames
general scouting/summer-camp skills (fire-making, cooking, whittling?)
Printmaking and letterpress
Silkscreen
Re-wiring ceiling lights and wall sconces
beaded jewelry
soap and candles
herb infusions (vodka, olive oil, vinegar)
homemade wine (i forgot to bring this one up, but i thought it would be a dandy...)
reupholstering and slipcovers
Possible themes for a meeting: Lampshades! Buttons! Cork! Felt!

Meeting structure:
1) Craft or skill presentation
2) Break down into two groups: those working on the presented project/skill, and those working on whatever project they brought along
3) Wrap-up, and reminders/details about the next meeting on the schedule

Miscellaneous:
- My house is a good default location, as it has lots of space to spread out, but anyone is free to host
- Some meetings might be a field trip - park, G Street Fabrics, anyplace fun and relevant to the project at hand
- If the featured project involves special supplies, I will post a shopping list on the blog in advance of the meeting. If you want to participate in the project, bring the stuff on the list! If not, bring something else to work on.
- If the featured project/skill involves food, the presenter will bring the ingredients to make enough for everyone to sample/snack on afterward! If there are no food-related projects being presented, snacks are welcome... :)
- We'll try to take lots of each meeting to post on the blog - especially photos to document step-by-steps of the presentations. for folks who couldn't make it, and for general instruction/reference for later.
- In the weeks leading up to each meeting, I will post shopping lists to the blog as well as possibilities for inspiration related to the project or theme.

2008 Schedule:

AUGUST: simple machine sewing, cross-stitch and embroidery
We will have at least two working sewing machines on hand for folks to share. Think summer! Simple skirts, aprons, beach bags, summery linens like tea towels, pillowcases - whatever strikes your fancy. We are pairing simple sewing with embellishment, so you can do both or either. I plan to sew a pillowcase and embroider it with ridiculous designs. We will have a few members present with skillz in embroidery and cross-stitch to get us started.

SEPTEMBER: campfire baking, and intro to knitting
Meet at a picnic area of Rock Creek Park, where we'll learn fire-making skills, and how to make excellent little orange cakes around the campfire! Knitters of varying skill levels will be on hand for helping you start that fall scarf or hat, or sweater.

OCTOBER: Print making - letterpress, hard-carved block printing, silk screen
More details in development.

NOVEMBER: Beaded jewelry and other holiday gift ideas
More details in development.

DECEMBER: Holiday baking and project "wrap-up"! (finish lingering projects from other meetings, and make your own wrapping paper...)

JANUARY and BEYOND: we'll get to that later.

The birth of Sew Watts Cookin'?

Okay, so I borrowed the name from a 4-H club near where I grew up. But I've always loved the name. It makes me think of Nancy Drew, for some reason. Or some other old-fashioned girl heroine.

Sewing, cooking, messing with electricity. How fun! How about gardening, home improvements, and using power tools? Web design, photography, bike repair, self-defense? I know some of this stuff, and you might know some of this stuff. But the rest? That's where you all come in. Bring your own knowledge over to the party, along with a project that you are working on... or maybe a project that has you stumped.

For those of you who were ever in 4-H, we'll have a similar format. We'll try and schedule short, informal "presentations" by attendees on some kind of skill or interest. Sometime I'd like to make a presentation on something I know about - maybe gardening, or tools?

However, at the first meeting, we'll just hang out and be excited about stuff in general. Think about what you're good at and we'll hash it all out at the meeting. Then we'll drink wine.

What: Inaugural meeting of SEW WATTS COOKIN'
Where: My house (766-B Princeton Place NW)
When: July 27th (Sunday), 3:00pm
Why: Because, that's why

Foward this to anyone you think might be interested. RSVP in the comments section, so I know approx. how many people are planning to show up.