Posts tagged ‘classes’

I sewed my first tote bag!  I love how it turned out, and I’m really pleased with the fabric (It takes me a painful amount of time to make fabric choices).  I took the Intermediate Sewing Skills Tote Bag class from Martha at Craft Akron, and she was amazingly patient & encouraging.  This is my first time doing a zipper, button hole, and using interfacing.  Actually, this was my very first sewing class because I’ve been self-taught.  This class revealed a few things I thought I was doing right but wasn’t.

Thank you Martha!

inside of tote

Did you know you can get lectures from universities & colleges for free on iTunes U?  I’ve been looking for info on sustainability and found lots to listen to while I drive or do things around the house.  There’s no way I could take college courses at this moment in my life, so this is the next best thing.

I’m teaching this free class at the Highland Square branch of the Akron-Summit County Public Library .

Iris Paper Folding Wall Art

Come use recycled paper and Iris Paper Folding techniques to make a 5″ x 7″ frame-able wall art. Iris Paper Folding is basically layering paper in a pattern and using it as a background behind a shape cutout. Participants are welcome to bring their own recycled papers such as envelopes, junk mail, greeting cards, or discarded books to use, but a selection of papers will also be available. If attendees have a paper trimmer, they are welcome to bring it, as cutting paper strips will be much quicker.

Sign up is required, and begins August 16, at 330-376-2927.

If you can’t make it to class, I also wrote a  tutorial for this project.

I’m not talking about my “I found this in the car & won’t get sunburnt hat” in the left picture.  And I didn’t buy a hat either.  I did buy a headband though.  Isn’t it pretty?  I met Paula Singleton of What A Great Hat! at the Akron Arts Expo this weekend (she’s wearing pink in the left picture).  Her vintage style hats are each originals with the most delicate & perfectly classy embellishments.  Plus she’s getting ready to begin teaching classes.  I suggested a hat embellishments class where you bring a thrift store hat and learn how to add flowers, beads, feathers, etc.  But she also does the blocking herself for the straw hats, so I’m guessing she’ll teach that as well.  I wish I got a close-up of the brown hat above my right hand.  The base is hand blocked straw of the most wonderful pattern.  I’d take a class to make one of those!

*Update*

Paula send a photo of that hat for us!

hat by Paula Singleton

Here’s the work my students and I did on Friday and Saturday night at Craft Akron. I must say I am really proud of the work they did. The fabric choices are outstanding, the conversation was enticing, and as craft classes always do- it felt more like a girls’ night out than work. This is the Buttercup Bag, which will be put back on the schedule again in August, as it is a great class with a great outcome.

The pattern, for those of you who are advanced enough to not need a class, is free on Made-by-Rae.com. Rae, very kindly allowed me to use her pattern as a class. I must say, that her patterns are quite easy to follow, and adorable to boot. She has a few others on her site worth giving a go, especially the kid backpack pattern.

Here are pictures of the wire-wrapped sea glass jewelry I taught for a private class at Craft Akron this week.  The women were so much fun!  They go to Lake Erie together to collect sea glass & wanted to learn how to make it into jewelry.

My next investment is to buy diamond-tipped drill bits so I can drill holes in sea glass and teach classes on it.  As long as baby doesn’t come early, I’ll be at Monday’s Jewelry Guild meeting where the demonstration is “Drilling Beach Glass”.  And, If you want to learn wire-wrapping, I did a tutorial on how to make the earrings you see in the upper left picture.

In this class, I’ll help you fix your broken jewelry & get it wearable again.  I’m teaching Thursday at Craft Akron.  Here are the details:

Fix your Broken Jewelry Class

$15 plus supplies fee of $5

Bring your broken jewelry stash to class & learn how to restring or resize beaded necklaces and bracelets, reattach missing clasps, or even reconfigure earrings that have lost pieces. Basic supplies included (such as beading wire, thread, ear wires, eye & head pins), but if you have a special clasp you want to use or must have sterling silver ear wires, bring them with you.

Also, if you have a jewelry project you’re stumped on, you’re welcome to bring it to class as well.

Please preregister by at least 24 hours before class at 330-865-1100 or info@craftakron.com.

A week from tonight I’m teaching a Fringe Earrings class at Craft Akron.  You’ll make two pairs of earrings (your choice of bead kits).  Cost is $15 for class & $10 for two bead kits.  Please preregister & prepay for class, as I have a ten space limit.

If you can’t come to class, you can buy a bead kit from me.  It includes beads for two pairs of earrings (tell me which two you’d like-the focal beads on the left pair are fire polished, center are blue/gray shells, and right are Swarovski crystals), step by step color instructions, ear wires (do you want silver-plated, gold-plated, or something else), beading thread, and two beading needles for $17 (includes tax & shipping).  Just email colleen@clevernesting.com & tell me which two sets of earrings you’d like to make, ear wire preference, and your address.  I’ll send you a Paypal invoice.

I’ve got a date to teach my Journal Class coming up in the next couple of weeks. I’ve had a quite a few people interested in taking it so I want to make sure you all get the memo.

We’ll be at Craft Akron working on our handbinding skills on Thursday, February 18th, from 2pm to 4pm.

You can even sign up for the class online here. Isn’t that convenient? I’m really looking forward to the class, hope to see you there. Oh, and bring a friend!

I know this update is a little last minute, but I wanted to post about my class at Craft Akron tomorrow. I have been finding time to put the kits together, but not to write my post!

Tomorrow in class, using silk, ribbon, lace, wool and jewelry scraps we will make attractive and versatile head pieces called “fascinators” in time for your Valentine’s Day date. Kit will include everything you need for your project. If there is something you’d like to use for your piece, please bring it to class.

Date: Saturday, January 23
Time: 2:00pm – 4:00pm

Cost: $20 plus $5 kit fee.