This information copied from AAA's Friday, September 3rd email.

Gift Card Blast Off!

Super-size your money with our Gift Card introduction.

Yesterday our new Gift Card system was installed. We are now pleased to offer Gift Cards for your convenience. Gift Cards may be purchased in any amount, and look just like a credit card. You can even re-load them with more funds as time goes by. They are convenient and safe, and are something we've been wanting to offer our clients for some time now.

To kick off our new Gift Card program we are hosting a Blast-Off Increase-Your-Card-Value sale! For every $100 dollars you spend on a Gift Card, we will load up $120 on the card. Yes, that's right! You'll spend just $100 and get a Gift Card worth $120! This will work for any full $100 amount. For instance:

Buy a $100 Gift Card - receive a card worth $120
Buy a $500 Gift Card - receive a card worth $600
Buy a $1000 Gift Card - receive a card worth $1200
And, so on...

Take advantage of this special offer for yourself, or take care of your Holiday shopping early while getting more punch for your buck!

Valid one day only: Saturday, September 4, 2010

We'll be open regular business hours Saturday, which are 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Come in early to get your Blast Off Gift Cards, and then enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend knowing you are a savvy shopper who got a TERRIFIC deal!

Sewingly Yours,

Amina, Aman, Salima, Sohail, and Suzy
AAA Sewing & Vacuum Center

Oh, there are so many sites to visit, patterns to see, videos to watch, and beautiful fabric to inspire. I'm hoping these will foster creative thoughts as you head into the holiday weekend.


Quilt Binding

Pat Sloan shares her technique for applying quilt binding by machine, and using a blanket stitch on the front. Her pictures and video are very clear. She makes it seem so easy!

Jennifer at That Girl ... That Quilt created a method of binding the edges of her Hexagon quilt. Lots of tutorial pictures to follow. And I really like the look of her table runner using the hex shape:



Apron tutorials

A Girl's Garden Party Apron

And then I searched for "free apron patterns". Oh my! These ought to keep us busy making aprons for the Fashion Show! The sites have long lists, but some of the links have nice patterns. Click here and here and here and here.

Three-tier apron by Shabby Fig


Sewing, non-quilt items

Camera Strap Cover
Nice idea to customize a camera strap with the beautiful fabrics of your choice!

Scrappy Strip Rose
Embellish a sweater or purse. Here's a sample from the author's site, Cluck Cluck Sew:


Soft Fabric Basket
As part of a baby gift set, or for displaying fabric or yarn, or holding guest hand towels ... Many uses.

Amy Butler Hourglass Pillow



Quilt patterns

Amy Butler Daisy Chain Strippy Quilt

Piece O' Cake Designs Dutch Tulip and Simply Color

Did you know that September is National Sewing Month? I think that means we have an excuse to spend just a little more time sewing or adding to our stash, right?

NationalSewingMonth.org has a list of ideas for getting more involved with sewing this month:

• Teach a family member or friend to sew.

• Volunteer your time and teach sewing to a local youth organization like Girl Scouts and 4-H Clubs.

• Make it possible for someone to learn how to sew. Give employees time off work so they can volunteer their time; or donate fabrics, equipment, and sewing supplies.

• Sew more often. If you haven't been sewing lately, find out what's new in the sewing world at a local fabric or sewing machine store.

• Join your local chapter of the American Sewing Guild at www.asg.org and participate in its activities.

• Register for a class at a local fabric store or sewing machine dealership and take a friend.

• Contact your local public television station and make a contribution that supports sewing programs.

• Create your own sewing circle of friends; it's fun to sew with others!

The National Sewing Month website also has written instructions and a video for making either a Kindle or an iPad cover.

And lastly, there is an "Accessorize Your Life" contest through the month of September. Your accessory can fall into one of these categories: Fashion/Garments, Personal Items, Home Dec (including kitchens & outdoor), Sewing Room, Travel, Pets, Office/Work, or Auto. Guidelines and the entry form are available on the contest page.

We'd love to hear how you plan to celebrate your love of sewing!

I received the following information from the Bowers Museum about their upcoming event. First, some information on the quilt faire, and second, an opportunity for quilting vendors.

Quilt Faire:

The Bowers Museum is proud to showcase the art of quilting in its contemporary forms with our Quilt Faire weekend. Browse the colorful, detailed works of local quilters and take a piece of the beauty home with you! Also, please check out our Quilts special events held in conjunction with the faire.

Lecture: Saturday, November 13, 2010
Keepin' 'Em in Stitches: America's Funniest Quilts
Julie Silber, quilt curator and historian, reveals the hilarious anecdotes behind some 19th and 20th century quilts.

Film: Sunday, November 14, 2010
Hearts & Hands: 19th Century Women and their Quilts
Highlights women's greatest achievements in textiles during major historic events of the 1800s.

Saturday and Sunday
November 13 and 14, 2010
10:00 AM - 3:30 PM
John M. Lee Court
Admission: Free; Does not include admission to the museum or special events
For more information please call 714-567-3677

Vendor Opportunity:

The Bowers Museum is proud to host a Quilt Faire on Saturday & Sunday, November 13 & 14, 2010 held in conjunction with our current exhibit, Quilts: Two Centuries of American Tradition and Technique.

We are currently looking for creative local quilters to serve as vendors for the faire. The weekend events will include quilt sales, demonstrations, hands-on projects, a lecture and film screening.

For more information, please click here to download the Bowers Museum Quilt Faire informational flyer.

To apply, please click here to download and fill out the application and return to the Bowers Museum Education Department at education@bowers.org no later than September 10, 2010.

If you have any questions please call 714-567-3677 or email education@bowers.org.

We look forward to your participation in this wonderful event!

Thank you,

Nancy Warzer-Brady
Vice President of Education

Bowers Museum
2002 N. Main Street
Santa Ana, CA 92706
www.bowers.org
 

I came across the Auckland Patchworkers and Quilters Guild site, and decided to look around. (Which reminds me that I'd like to explore websites and quilts from Guilds around the world. But that's for another day.) The Auckland site has an article listing "stretching tips to help avoid problems associated with long periods of repetitive stitching." The information was originally provided by Sarah at The Good Use Company and I've included her suggestions below.


Hold each stretch for 3 seconds as you exhale and repeat gently 3 times.

Shoulder Stretches to ease neck stiffness:
1) Roll your shoulders in large circles, up, back, down and forwards 3 times. Reverse the direction and repeat.
2) Lift one arm across your body, taking your elbow past your nose, and feeling the stretch behind your shoulder. Repeat with your other arm.
3) Drop one hand down your back and gently increase the stretch by pulling on the elbow with the other hand. Repeat with your other arm.
4) Stretch both arms above your head, clasping your hands high above you and squeezing your arms in to your ears. Breathe out then lower your arms.
5) Clasp your hands behind you at bottom level and pull your hands down, bringing your shoulder blades together and opening the front of the chest.

Forearm stretches:
6) Put the palms of your hands together and, keeping the whole hand and fingers in contact, press downward, stretching the under side of your wrist. Roll your fingers to point toward the floor then back to point at your body.
7) With arms at your side, straighten your elbow. With your shoulders relaxed, flex your wrist, pulling your fingers up, and slowly rotate your whole arm as far as possible in each direction.
8) Drop your arms at your side, flick your fingers and hands, stop and pause. Combine with a long breath out for good micropause effect. Stop, drop, flop and pause for 3 seconds.

Micropause every 15 minutes when sewing continuously but if arm or hand pain occurs, micropause every five minutes.

Do you have any other favorite stretches for quilters?