Yesterday I was on the Threads website (I let my subscription run out...whoops!) and came across this list of sewing events coming up in 2014. I'm REALLY interested in going to a sewing event or convention, and thanks to this list I see that there's one in my state in May (Original Sewing and Quilt Expo). Yay! I already devoured what I could on their website and wrote it on my calendar. Must. Go!
Someday I'd love to go to a crafty retreat, as well. It would be a total dream to do something like the Makerie. Last year they had a sewing-specific retreat in the mountains of Colorado. I mean, C'MON! How awesome would that be?
Looking at these retreats and conferences yesterday, it made me a bit lonely for an in-person sewing friend. You know, someone to go with me to these things (someone who cares about them, anyway! sorry hubs...). I've learned all my sewing second-hand from the internet and books, not from a real person. I'd love to have someone local for sharing purposes.
Enter the Sewing Buddy project! Have you heard about this? It's run over at Whipstitch and you only have until Sunday night to sign up! It's a project that links you up with a sewing budding, somewhere around the world. There are giveaways and challenges and all kinds of fun stuff. For reals: I found out about this last year in February, just weeks after the registration had closed. I've been waiting that long to sign up. It does cost $3, but I've already logged in and the platform is super professional. Whipstitch runs online classes, and this is set up in a similar fashion to an online class.
And yes, I realize I basically paid $3 to buy a friend. I'm okay with that :)
So talk to me, do you have a bunch of local sewing friends and you all hang out at fun conventions and be crafty and creative together? Or are you like me, sometimes feeling a bit lonesome in the midst of an amazing online community? (And seriously, I wouldn't trade the online sewing community for the world...but that's probably another post for another day!)
I do have local sewing friends, those who sew quilts and those who sew garments. It is fun to meet and sew, go on field trips and even the occasional retreat. I met most of them when my children were in elementary school over 20 year ago. We are always sharing fabric and advice :-)
ReplyDeleteLast year for the first time I attended the sewing expo in Puyallup Washington, and it was heaven. I hope to go again in a few years and attend several classes.
That being said, the online sewing community has been invaluable to my learning and skill building. I am self taught and always feel I am probably doing things incorrectly.
Thank you for the time you take to write this blog!
Well now you've definitely convinced me to go to a retreat or convention! And you're right, the online community is invaluable. There's no way I could have learned everything I know alone or just through books.
DeleteAnd thank YOU for the time you take to read :)
I'm intrigued and thinking about joining the Sewing Buddies as well. I have to figure out if I'm able to make the commitment - I'd feel horrible if I joined and then wasn't a very good buddy.
ReplyDeleteI think they ask for a minimum commitment of one email per week? All the other stuff is optional :)
Delete