Seminars and Conventions – Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Archive of ‘Seminars and Conventions’ category

Friday Night Live @ Sew Expo

February 18, 2015 by eileenroche / Eileen Roche, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Stitching Sisters / 69 Comments

It’s your chance for an evening of fun and luck! Luck? If you come to Friday Night Live at Sew Expo, Puyallup, WA on February 27th you’ll have a chance to win not one, not two, but FIVE machines! Baby Lock is giving away over $6,000 worth of machines. All you have to do is buy a ticket to Friday Night Live and come and enjoy the show. Of course you have to be present to win. And why wouldn’t you? Because not only do you have a chance to win a machine but you’ll also enjoy a night of education and hilarity!

My stitching Sister and I have been working on our presentation – it’s has a Tonight Show theme and although I can’t promise you an appearance from Jimmy Fallon or Justin Timberlake – I can tell you we will have as much fun in Puyallup as they have in Times Square. What can you expect? The traditional Tonight Show Friday night format kicks off with Thank You notes. These thank you notes won’t have anything to do with New York tourists. Oh no, our thank you notes are focused on our industry. We’ll share our tongue-in-cheek gratitude to Singer, Viking, Pfaff, Brother, Bernina and Baby Lock.

A few weeks ago, I hinted to the possibility of a lip sync battle performed by our special guests. And our special guests have agreed! Right now, they are working on their routines and perfecting their form. I have to say they are not only great sports but they’re bringing their ‘game’ – full of enthusiasm for this unique opportunity to showcase their previously hidden talents. Who are they? None other than the President of Baby Lock, Steve Jeffrey and local favorite, Eddie Schultz of Issaquah Sewing & Vacuum! So who do you think they should impersonate? Jennifer Hudson, The Bee Gees, Elvis, Rod Stewart, Barry White, Stevie Wonder, Johnny Cash? Oh my, the possibilities are endless!

But we know you want more than fun – you want to learn and win some prizes. We have the fun handled, the education is a given (Marie and I are unveiling our top 30 embroidery tips) and we’ll hand out tons of prizes! Over $6200 worth of prizes! Five machines – complements of Baby Lock plus books and notions from Designs in Machine Embroidery.

Rachel: MSRP $800.00

Imagine: MSRP $3,000.00

Tempo: MSRP $1,400.00

Molly: MSRP $500.00

Anna: MSRP $400.00

Hope you’ll join us for a night of edutainment! Reserve your seats now!

Here’s your assignment this week:

I think we’ve all been guilty of playing a little air guitar or having a jam session in the car every once in awhile 😉 Tell us your absolute favorite song that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs. We will pick 4 random comments and they each will receive a $25 gift certificate to Zippy DesignZ! Good luck and happy stitching.

The winner of last week’s assignment:

Tell us how long you can hold on to a box of chocolates. One random comment will be chosen to win… a box of chocolates! Mmmm! Yummy!And the winner is: Ellen M.
“As long as I don’t take a bite I can keep it for a month. But once I break down and have a bite, they are gone within the week. I have no self control with chocolate.”

Behind the Scenes: Cutting-Edge Serger Techniques

December 17, 2014 by Denise Holguin / Be The Difference, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Sewing tips / 73 Comments

We recently took a trip to Austin, Texas where we dropped in on our friend, Barbara Goldkorn who was teaching a 3-hour hands-on class. What a fun event!

Students made their own version of the Woven Table Runner featured in Barbara’s new book, Cutting-Edge Serger Techniques. Students made the table runner entirely with their own Baby Lock sergers—this way they’d be comfortable applying the techniques they learned in class on their own at home.

I’ll be the first to admit, I had no idea a serger was packed with so many innovative and creative features! What a great way to spend a day!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

As the students discovered, making the table runner was the chance to learn new techniques and apply more familiar techniques in unexpected ways. The end result is not just a table runner—but new skills that can be used on countless other projects. What a great opportunity to expand the use of a serger! And if you don’t own a serger, you may be inspired to purchase one now!

When you think of binding, more than likely you imagine binding the edge of a quilt. But Barbara uses the technique in a more creative manner. Students attached a single fold binder to their Baby Lock sergers. Then they serged the binding fabric to the fabric strips.

The end result – strips of fabric with a beautifully finished edge. These strips will be used for weaving as shown below.

Behind the Scenes: Cutting-Edge Serger Techniques

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

One of the really fun aspects of taking a class is the opportunity to see the different color schemes people select for their projects.

I love these traditional Christmas colors.
Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

On the other end of the spectrum are pretty pastels! What a great way to welcome Spring any time of the year!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Here are some elegant snowflakes.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Festive reds!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Holiday prints with red and gold.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Students also learned how to shrink fabric. Yes, shrink fabric! There wasn’t a magic wand involved but I hear it was a seemingly magical product known as Texture Magic.

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

Here’s a look at the assembly process. There’s nothing like the feeling of accomplishment!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

I don’t know about you, but I’m eager to create a table runner of my own. The hardest part—deciding what colors to use!

Eileen's Machine Embroidery Blog

If you missed out on this fun class – don’t fret! Barbara’s book, Cutting-Edge Serger Techniques gives easy-to-follow step by step instructions with photos to ensure success.

Here’s your assignment this week:

One of these things is not like the other. Spot what’s different in the photo above? Two random comments will be chosen to receive $50 gift certificates at Stunning Stitches! Good luck.

The winner of last week’s assignment answered the following question…Leave a comment and tell us if you think the chandelier or stipple designs will look best on the Sun Kissed quilt. One comment will be chosen at random to receive a $25 gift card to use on the DIME website. Good Luck!The winner is… Ellen P. “Chandelier it would look great and different. Love it.”

Come Sail with the Stitching Sisters and DIME

October 22, 2014 by eileenroche / Eileen Roche, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Special Offers, Stitching Sisters / 40 Comments

My Stitching Sister and I are so excited to sail on the Royal Caribbean Allure of the Seas – voted the Best Cruise Ship by Travel Weekly. Click here to see why we think this is the best ship on the water.

When you’re not marveling at all the Allure has to offer, you’ll head into an embroidery studio filled with top of the line Baby Lock machines. Marie and I will guide you through three days of designing, digitizing, stitching and quilting with an embroidery machine. But we’re not heading to sea by ourselves, oh no, we’ll be joined by one of DIME’s Inspiration Consultants, Flash Sewing and Baby Lock staff. You’ll be in good hands for three days of embroidery fun and exploration.

You can learn more about the cruise and select your cabin at the special rate by visiting http://www.flashsewandquilt.com/dimecruise.html

Marie and I have already booked our rooms and we’re working on the class materials now. Since we want all of the projects to be fresh and new for this special occasion, we are making sure all of the latest techniques, ideas and trends are included in the three days of embroidery fun. So details on the stitching portion of the cruise will be available at a later date. But it’s a good idea to grab your cabin now at the special offer rate!

Please call Lenore Deck Travel at 352-270-8658 or email to cruiselady@tampabay.rr.com. There is limited space in the embroidery studio so get on the list today.

Hope you’ll join us on the Allure!

Here’s your assignment this week:

It’s not often you get to embroider in such wonderful settings as floating in the ocean on a beautiful cruise ship. What is the most unusual place you have embroidered? One comment will be chosen to receive a $25 gift certificate to the DIME website.

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Urban Threads is giving away four (4) $25 gift certificates to their website. Just leave a comment below about a design you re-purposed for something new, something different! Maybe you turned a kitchen towel project into some doll clothes or made a bracelet out of a sashing – whatever it is, we want to know.

And the winners are: Meg A, Georgia N, Sandi M, and Michelle C – congratulations to all and thank you to everyone for sharing.

Heading to a BERNINA Dealer near You

July 14, 2014 by eileenroche / Behind the Scenes, Multi-Needle, Seminars and Conventions / 11 Comments

I had a sneak peek at the E 16 this weekend at BERNINA University. Dealers were excited to see the machine, learn about its features and explore the possibilities with this new multi-needle machine. The E 16 is heading to BERNINA dealers soon, very soon. In fact, some stores already have a floor model.

If you’ve been wondering what all the hubbub is about, then check it out for yourself. The E 16 is a quick stitcher – maxing out at 1400 stitches per minute. Plus it has a HUGE sewing field – 400 x 350 mm – without flipping the hoop!

Controlled by a computer, accurate placement is achieved with a pinpoint laser. The laser is illuminated with the touch of a button and stays lit (if desired) during the trace function. Look closely at the image below and you’ll see the laser dot in the middle of the stitched number one.

BERNINA is proud of the Go Pro Tension System – thread flows through the tension just like water through a spigot. Instead of being squeezed between discs, it is released from the thread pipes at the proper tension for the fabric under the needle. The ‘pipes’ are the white tubing under the thread tray feeding into the thread guides.

Swiss engineering fans will be happy to know the rotary hook system is the same dependable rotary system they have enjoyed on all BERNINA machines.

And don’t forget, it has 16 needles. That means 16 different colors without switching a spool. Very easy to assign colors to needles, there’s even a slide-out cheat sheet at the control panel.

Don’t get its large sewing field confused with its ability to do small jobs. It boasts the industry smallest cylindrical arm and when coupled with the right hoop, you can into the tiniest areas on onesies, pockets, bags, straps and more.

You can read more about the new BERNINA E 16 here and find a dealer near you to see it in person!

Bernina Part 2

December 26, 2013 by eileenroche / Behind the Scenes, Home Decor, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Sewing tips / 94 Comments

Day 2 of the BERNINA Ambassador Reunion found me in BERNINA educator Debbi Lashbrook’s class. Debbi’s talent extends far beyond the teaching podium. Her eye for design is unique and yet not so far out of the box; her style appeals to everyone. She stretches the imagination and backs it up with solid stitching techniques while making everything look simple. And under her guidance, it is. In her class, we decorated three fabric strips with decorative stitches and played with those fabulous BERNINA feet on the B 580! We used the leather roller foot (#55), pintuck and decorative stitch foot with clear sole (#46C), edgestitch foot (#10C), 3-groove cording foot (#30) and more.

By this time, our group was quite comfortable with each other and laughter was heard throughout the morning. Debbi gave us the freedom to embellish as we desired. She had great samples for inspiration and we really enjoyed playing with the feet and decorative stitches.

As an embroiderer, I obviously love to add thread to fabric but I usually let the machine do all the work. Guiding the fabric as the machine stitched meandering lines of thread is something I haven’t done in a long time and I thoroughly enjoyed the process and the result. I love the organic look of the long vertical panel.

Next, we played with the circular sewing attachment. I forgot how cool it is to sew in a circle! A variety of stitches brought texture and dimension to the circles. Stitching off the edge of the fabric added an asymmetrical touch to the large panel.

Since I’m gadget girl, I really enjoyed making the corded pintucks. The pintuck and decorative stitch foot with clear sole (#46C) creates flawless corded pintucks.

Really, there is no thinking involved, just stitch! The cord slips under the thread and fills the fabric channel. Then move the fabric keeping the freshly-corded pintuck in one of the foot’s grooves to stitch another parallel line.

Some members of the group are known for over -the-top embellishing so the jokes began to fly around the room. It was an atmosphere I don’t normally sew in so I quite enjoyed the banter. Here’s part our group: Angie Steveson, me, Kaye England and Vicki Tracy.

We all started with the same materials and wound up with different pillows. I wish I had the foresight to take photos of everyone’s pillows but in the scramble to get the job done, I forgot to snap more photos. Lesson learned – you can never have enough photos!

Once the embellishing was complete, we pieced the strips and finished the pillow. After heart-warming goodbyes we went our separate ways for our journey home. I’m sure I speak for many when I say it ended too soon!

Give yourself the gift of time this week and sneak off to your sewing room. A few hours to yourself at your machine may just be the best gift of all.

Here’s your assignment this week:

Tell us how you ‘de-stressed’ during the hustle and bustle of the season. Did you sew, watch a movie, sit in front of a Christmas tree or maybe hold a sleeping child in your lap? We’d love to know how you unwind. A lucky winner will win a $30 gift certificate to spend at the DIME store!

The winner of last week’s assignment:

Leave a comment below about what sewing tool you hope Santa puts under your tree. Six comments will be chosen to receive a one month membership to the Silver Threads Golden Needle Club courtesy of OregonPatchWorks. Good luck!

And the lucky winners are: Judith D, Tammy W, Madeline L, Gail B, Denise F, and Jill H. Congratulations to you all!

An Early Christmas Present

December 18, 2013 by eileenroche / Behind the Scenes, Hooping, In-the-hoop, Monograms, Planning Embroidery, Quick Gifts, Seminars and Conventions / 141 Comments

Last week, I gave myself an early Christmas present – the gift of time to focus on one of Designs’ valued partners. I have to admit, it had been way too long since I had the opportunity to spend such quality time with my friends at BERNINA. They invited me – along with some other very lucky embroiderers, quilters and sewists – to learn new techniques from the BERNINA sewing wizards at their new BERNINA Creative Center.

Upon arrival, we were asked to give a 2-minute speech on who we were, where we lived and what we were currently working on. I have to tell you, it’s a humbling experience. The talent in the room is breathtaking. Just to name a few (and I’m leaving out many) – Charlotte War Anderson, Georgia Bonesteel, Kaye England, Mary Mashuta, Melody Crust, Pat Bravo and Robbie Joy Eklow. As one attendee said, “It’s like visiting with your bookshelf.” I couldn’t agree more.

I was delighted to spend time with Lisa Archer, Pickle Pie Designs – my shuttle bus seatmate; and Angie Steveson of Lunch Box Quilts –my stitching compadre.

Every single artist/teacher was gracious and warm, all of us excited to be there. The next morning, we couldn’t wait to get started. A heart-touching presentation from Ricky Tims set the tone for the two-day hands-on seminar.

After we broke into smaller groups and marched to our classrooms, I thought of a conversation I had with my daughter before departing for the event. She asked if I had any concerns about the event. I responded, “Yes, I’m worried I won’t be able to behave like a good student!”

I needn’t have worried. BERNINA kept us entertained and busy. It was fascinating to quilt with BERNINA’s 820 under the tutelage of Debra Rutledge in the QuiltMotion class. Amazing how the movement of the 820 was controlled by a tablet! So easy to design right at the quilt and then watch it stitch. We worked on a huge canvas and stitched all morning. After a relaxing lunch, we headed to the next classroom to work on the new 780.

Jeannine Cook-Delpit led us on a fun in-the-hoop eyeglass case. An excellent teacher, Jeannine gave us an overview of the 780 and steered us around its editing screen. We selected a design, added custom stitches and a monogram. Then we switched out the needle with the cutwork tool and voila! Our peeper case was cut to precision. It didn’t quite seem complete until we added the custom crystals. Ingenious! Jeannine thought through every detail of the design so that all students finished without a hiccup.

I had fun playing with the cutwork tool. If you know anything about today’s cutwork, you know that the cutting is done by a blade inserted into the fabric at four different angles. Cutwork systems have four different needles requiring the user to insert the correct blade at the proper color sequence. BERNINA’s is quite different as it has one blade that rotates when needed. You stitch color 1 with the blade at position 1 and then spin the dial to rotate the blade for color 2 and so on. In future posts, I’ll be telling you more about the cutting tool and some other goodies I brought home with me. After all, it is Christmas!

Stop back next week and I’ll fill you in on the second half of the seminar. In the meantime, take a look at our assignment and special prizes for next week.

Here’s your assignment this week:

The winner of last week’s assignment:

So how is your holiday stitching coming along? Are you stressed? Are you going to make your deadlines? Let us know how it’s going and we’ll pick a random winner to receive a fold flat stocking, perfect for personalization.

And the lucky winner is Elisa T.

It’s all about the Fabric

October 30, 2013 by eileenroche / Behind the Scenes, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions / 96 Comments

It’s all about the fabric. At International Quilt Market that is. International Quilt Market is the industry’s trade show for machines, notions, furniture, patterns, embroidery designs and fabric – lots of fabric. The fabric companies really outdo themselves! They put months of work into their displays and it takes a team – well, maybe an army to pull off the chosen theme.

Here’s a look at some of our favorites.

Shannon Fabrics Dude Ranch

They had a whole barnyard full of animals – well not the breathing and moving type but life-like definitely!

And check out the cactus – soft enough to pet!

Riley Blake Fabrics created intimate vignettes for shop owners to place orders.

Think batting can’t be exciting? Well check this display by Fairfield!

Moda went for the big splash with anchors adorning all of the chairs.

Timeless Treasures made umbrellas from their upcoming collections.

While Michael Miller was a sea of blue and white.

But it’s not all fabric – two of my pattern favorite designers were in attendance: Kim Christopherson from KimberBell designs and Amy Barickman from Indygo Junction.

Quilt Market is educational, inspirational and sentimental. It’s a time to say hello to old friends, meet new ones and ogle over gorgeous quilts. I can’t wait to show you what I found in the Schmetz and Janome booths but you’ll have to wait til my next posting!

Here’s your assignment this week:

Walking the show and admiring all the fabric was so inspiring and with the holidays around the corner now is the perfect time to start stitching. What holiday projects do you have lined up for this year? Post your comments for a chance to win a Stipple! Holiday 2 Collection.

Stipple Holiday 2

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Tell us how you use your embroidery software and what you like most about it. One lucky reader will win $25 to spend at the DIME store. Thank you and good luck!

And the winner is:
Judy Williamson! “I purchased a software package last year and am just now learning to use it. I hope to be able to do all kinds of wonderful things once I learn!”

Louisville

July 31, 2013 by eileenroche / Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Stitching Sisters / 142 Comments

I spent a fun-filled weekend in Louisville last year and learned there’s something for everybody in that town – sports fans, foodies and embroiderers! I’m very excited about going back to Louisville and this time I’m taking my Stitching Sister with me. We’re going to have a blast with the Smocking Shop team for two full days of stitching, sharing and camaraderie. The Smocking Shop told me the other day that they want to keep the event small and intimate. To make sure every student feels pampered they are limiting the enrollment and only a few spots remain. Click here to learn more. I hope you’ll join us. We’ll be teaching our favorite techniques and we’re getting an early start on holiday stitching. We’ve uncovered the best techniques for embroidering tricky holiday projects like stockings, faux fur and more. After a weekend with the Stitching Sisters, you’ll be ready to tackle any holiday project.

Here are my top 10 reasons to visit Louisville.

10. Rub shoulders with Oprah Winfrey, George Clooney, Bobby Flay or David Letterman at world-famous Graeter’s Ice Cream. I can’t wait to stand in line at Graeter’s and see the flavor of the day!

9. Enjoy the official drink of the Kentucky Derby – a mint julep.

8. Pay homage to the NCAA men’s basketball champions – the University of Louisville Cardinals.

7. Get an engraved Louisville Slugger baseball bat.

6. Take a carriage ride through the quant old section of downtown Louisville.

5. Get your photo taken with the world’s largest baseball bat.

4. Tour the hallowed grounds of Churchill Downs.

3. Hone your skills for upcoming holiday stitching.

2. Shop at the Smocking Shop.

1. Spend two fun days with the Stitching Sisters.

Here’s your assignment this week:

Leave a comment below and tell us how you currently store your hoops. One comment will be chosen at random to receive Perfect Placement Software for Wearables by Eileen Roche and Nancy Zieman – now available at a lower price of only $39.99! Thank you for sharing and good luck.

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Sometimes you just have to pamper yourself. All for Me – Delightfully Feminine Projects Made in the Hoop by Shelly Smola has 6 beautiful projects just for you! Inside you’ll find:

Tea Party Luggage Tags
Glamour Girl Makeup Case
Petite Purse
Vintage Apron
Time for Tea Pillow
Time for Tea Quilt

Leave us a comment below about the last thing you made for you and only you. One random comment will be selected to win their very own copy of All for Me – Delightfully Feminine Projects Made in the Hoop by Shelly Smola! Thanks for reading and good luck.

And the winner is… Michelle H – “It’s been so long I cannot remember the last thing I made myself, I think it was a T shirt with embroidery on the front”

Now I know how my Stitching Sisters attendees feel!

June 12, 2013 by eileenroche / Behind the Scenes, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Stitching Sisters / 88 Comments

Many of our students tell me one of the things they love about attending a Stitching Sisters event is they just show up. They don’t need to do any prep work, lug any machines or even bring a piece of stabilizer. They walk in and begin to stitch.

Last week, I had the same experience when I went fly fishing for the first time. We scheduled an outing with a fishing guide and then drove to the Crooked River near Bend, OR. He met us on the river bank, opened his truck and completely outfitted us. We looked way more professional than our skill level but it made our first-time experience quite enjoyable. He did all of the hard work and let us just enjoy the experience, just like a Stitching Sisters event.

The whole reason I was able to dabble in the clear waters of Oregon was my Stitching Sister, Marie Zinno, and I taught two Stitching Sisters events, one in Kennewick, WA and the other in Bend, OR last week. The stores, owned by Karen and Ed Jarrett, are located 247 miles apart. Marie opted to return home for the four days between events while my husband joined me in Bend for a little R & R. What a week!

It started with a drive through the Columbia River Gorge from Portland to Kennewick. Marie and I had never been east of the Cascades in Oregon so imagine our surprise at the landscape we traversed. We saw everything from lush forest to dry desert. We met delightful students in Kennewick and had a very successful event – so many new Brother Quattro sewing and embroidery machine owners!

Then my husband joined me and Marie headed out for the airport. Pete and I took the scenic route from Kennewick to Bend and boy, what a drive! We saw miles of unspoiled terrain under a crystal blue sky and not another car on the road. It was an all-day affair and then we were rewarded with the little-known jewel of Bend. Charm oozes from the river that runs through Bend. Mirror Pond is the town’s center of attention with the reflection of the Sisters Mountain gleaming from its smooth surface. Every turn produces another gorgeous vista. Pete and I were stunned by the region’s beauty and the warmth of every person we met.

We spent a few leisurely days fishing, sightseeing and eating. Bend has fantastic restaurants! We drove to Crater Lake – jaw dropping; the High Desert Museum – educational; and the Stitching Post Quilt Shop – a delight.

Eventually, it was time to get back to work and I said goodbye to Pete and hello to Marie again! The Jarretts rented a light-filled empty store front for the event and before you knew it, it looked like sewing event! As we set up all of the equipment, I thought of my fly fishing experience. I remembered how great it felt to try something new under the guidance of an experienced professional with only the best equipment. That’s how a Stitching Sister student feels – pampered and ready to learn! I hope you’ll join Marie and me at an event in the fall – we’ll be heading to Louisville, KY, St. Louis, MO and Portland, OR.

Here’s your assignment this week:

Look closely! Tell us what you think you see in the Stitching Sisters image at the top of this post. One comment will win a mystery prize! Oh the suspense…

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Oh the stories we could tell! Leave us a comment on your oddball embroidery problem and solution if you found one. One comment will win a $25 gift certificate to the Designs in Machine Embroidery website. Thank you for visiting Eileen’s blog.

And the winner is…“My problem was with my 6 needle BMP9. I could never put the bobbin in correctly. I purchased the magna-glide magnetic core bobbins and now I know that the magnet tip goes into the bobbin case. No more problems! P.S. Eileen, I had so much fun at the Stitching Sisters event at Moore’s. I really learned a lot! Can’t wait to get a class from you on Craftsy.” – Karen R.

I can’t wait to meet you!

January 8, 2013 by eileenroche / Alignment and Placement, Behind the Scenes, Continuous Embroidery, Embroidery Techniques, Embroidery Tips, Hooping, In-the-hoop, Just for Fun, Seminars and Conventions, Stitching Sisters / 59 Comments

Have you been itching to ramp up your machine embroidery skills? A two-day Stitching Sisters event may be just the thing you need to breathe new life into your hobby. My Stitching Sister, Marie Zinno, and I travel the country to teach team embroidery classes which feature hands-on projects that cover tons of techniques – everything from terrycloth to continuous machine embroidery. Take a look at what you can expect.

We kickoff the event with a behind the scenes look at Designs followed by our Hooping Clinic. Marie and I hoop over 30 items in standard machine embroidery hoops, Magna-Hoops, Snap-Hoop and border hoops. We discuss why you select each hoop and what to do when you don’t have the ideal hoop. Attendees find this information priceless. One recent attendee in Puyallup, WA said, “I could walk out of here after this lecture and feel I got every penny worth of admission.” Here’s what some other attendees have had to say:

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Eileen and Marie,
Thanks so much for coming to KC! LOVED the event and all your stories/energy. WOW! It was awesome to have 2 days to get to study under you and learn so much. LOVE the Stipple products and techniques. Looking forward to seeing you again! – Judy Brennan

Eileen and Marie, we had so much fun in Atlanta. The information you gave and taught us was immeasurable. You two are definitely gifted in your talent and love for the embroidery industry.
Best blessings in everything you do. Signed had fun in Atlanta – Jackie Wallace

Hey Everyone! I’d highly recommend going to the Sewing Sisters Event if you get the chance. I live in Oregon and I went to PuyallupWA with my friend from LongviewWA. We had a great time! I personally never won anything but I did receive a wealth of knowledge and inspiration not to mention all the fun ladies I met and new friendships made. The projects we did were great and we got the CD-rom to go home to make more. I’m really looking forward to the next event! Thanks Eileen and Marie!! It was great meeting you! – Jane

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Marie and I cover tons of embroidery challenges during our two-day, hands-on, team-sewing events: what to do when your fabric pops out of the hoop, stitching on terrycloth, vinyl, sheers, quilting with an embroidery machine, stitching multiples (and getting them to match!) are just a few of the 50 techniques we cover. You’ll use all of Designs in Machine Embroidery products – everything from Magna-Hoop Jumbo to Snap-Hoop to placement kits. You’ll have access to several hooping stations so you can test different methods of hooping. Once at the machine, you’ll navigate in the hoop like a pro.

You’ll learn three ways to do continuous hooping and find out what methods works best for your machine and your project. You’ll meet PAL and PAL2– and see how these helpful little tools can make hooping square a breeze. Treat yourself to two-days of embroidery fun and education – you’ll go home with a smile on your face and some new-found knowledge that you’ll be inspired to put into immediate action.

New-found friends in Santa Rosa, CA

Why don’t you join us? We’ll be hitting the road and landing in a town near you! February 8-9th finds us in beautiful San Marcos, CA at SewingMachinesPlus.com. There’s still room – click here for more information.

We are so excited to head to Timeless Treasures in Crofton, MD on April 12-13. This will be the first Stitching Sisters event in Maryland, so if you’re Mid-Atlantic region, this event is for you. Click here to visit their website or call 410-451-0400.

After Maryland, we head back to the West Coast and teach two events for Moore’s Sewing. April 30-May 1 finds us in Pomona, CA and May 3-4 is in Huntington Beach. You just won’t believe how much fun you can have at a sewing event until you’ve been to one at Moore’s. Join us in Pomona or Huntington Beach. Visit Moore’s website here.

Marie and I hope to see you at a Stitching Sister event this year. Don’t wait any longer; come with a friend or by yourself. Everyone is a sister at a Stitching Sisters event. Click here for summer and fall events in 2013. And, check out our new Stitching Sisters photo gallery!

Here’s your assignment this week:

Great things come in pairs. Shoes, diamond earrings, Stitching Sisters! Comment below on why you’d like to attend a Stitching Sisters event or if you have, what you liked most about it. We’ll award one lucky winner with two $20.13 gift certificates, one for you and one for your own stitching sister to spend on the Designs in Machine Embroidery website. Good luck!

The winner of last week’s assignment is:

Tell us your embroidery resolution for 2013. One lucky winner will win a $25 gift certificate to spend on the Designs in Machine Embroidery website!

And the winner is… “2013 I plan to create my own embroidery designs, organize my sewing/embroidery room, organize and catalog ALL my embroidery designs, and last but not least open up a shop on Etsy” – Angie G.

1 2 3 Next