Class sizes are limited to allow for personal interaction and practice teaching sessions. Topics include:

• Deciding What to Teach
• Deciding Where to Teach
• Planning Successful Sewing Classes
• Creating Lesson Plans
• Teaching Techniques
• Teaching in Retail Stores
• Teaching Sewing as a Business
• Risk Management
• Marketing & Advertising Your Services
• Presenting a Professional Image
• Sewing Up Your Business
• Practice Teaching to Group

The last stop in 2010 for the Trained Sewing Instructor workshop is Chicago on October 28-30, 2010.  To learn more, visit www.TrainedSewingInstructor.com.

Hands-on crafter and author Grace Dobush tells us how in Crafty Superstar, a 160-page how-to for aspiring crafsters to make some extra moolah in today’s economy.

Whether you’re looking for information about how to get some media attention, write a press release, keep track of your business funds, develop advertising, or set up for craft sale, you’ll find the great tips and tidbits of guidance in the pages of this informative book.

In addition to the wealth of knowledge contained in the chapters, there are several appendices with sample forms, crafting communities, supply resources, web sites, etc. to help you even further.

SEW-lution Tip: This book is available for your Kindle Wireless Reading Device.

Hmmm…now what will you make to sell?

The TSI workshop was recently noted in an ASG Notions article on Sewing for Fun… And Profit. Here’s your chance to turn your sewing skills into a money-making venture!

The preliminary exhibitor list has been posted on the quilt show website and it’s continuing to grow. The class list will be posted soon as well.  And don’t forget register for the quilt contest – you’ll find the link to the rules and application right on the home page.

I’m particularly looking forward to the quilt appraisals. In fact, I’m feeling that “Antiques RoadShow” type of anticipation. My quilt from grandma is priceless to me but I’ll be curious to know if the monetary value comes anywhere close to it’s high sentimental value.

Hope to see you there!

The Amish Country Quilt Show is April 8-10, 2010 at the Buckeye Event Center in Dalton, OH. Hours are 10am to 5pm daily. General admission is $7.00 per day and includes access to the vendor mall, quilt displays, contest quilts and Amish Quilting Bee. Seminars and workshops are available for additional fee. There will also be a 3-day Trained Sewing Instructor workshop held during the same time frame. More information can be found on the TSI website.

If you are interested in a business or career teaching sewing to others, you may be interested in the Trained Sewing Instructor program. The intense 3-day workshop, located in various cities each year, is business training to help you take the sewing skills that you already have and use them to become a successful sewing teacher. The course gives practical knowledge on topics such as Deciding What and Where to Teach, Creating Lesson Plans, Teaching Techniques, Marketing & Advertising, Risk Management and more. Students receive a 400+ page manual that includes professional pricing guidelines and even participate in practice teaching sessions.  Graduates have gone on to start home-based businesses, teach in retail outlets and start sewing schools and lounges. Graduates are also included in the searchable Instructor database located on www.sewing.org

Workshops are currently scheduled for Dalton, OH on April 8-10; in Orlando, FL on May 13-15, and Atlanta, GA on August 4-6 . Additional locations this year include San Francisco, CA and an as-yet-to-be-announced Midwest city. Visit www.TrainedSewingInstructor.com for more information.

Visiting a sewing lounge can also give you the opportunity to try out some new machines, as sometimes the latest and greatest machines are on loan from a local dealer.

Some sewing lounges require a small membership fee to help maintain the facility and pay the space rent; others are free and supported by a local sewing guild or sewing machine dealer.

Lounges are a great place to sew socially and learn from others attending, even if no regular classes are offered. Remember, most lounges are staffed by volunteers so do you part to help. To see if there’s one in your area, do an online search.

The first is a rotary cutting machine. You simply set the width you need, up to 2 1/4″ wide, step on the pedal and voila–it zips the fabric through the rotary blade and cuts your strips evenly. A pinking blade comes with the cutter so you can created zigzag edges as well as straight ones using the standard blade. If you make an initial cut on the bias, this machine will zip out bias strips for bindings in no time. More decorative blades will be coming out soon. In addition to cutting fabric, it will also cut paper, so scrapbookers will love this one too.

The second new notion is an electric bias tape maker, destined to fold and press 12 yards of bias in 60 seconds. No more tediously trying to press bias tape into shape and burning fingertips. Several folder sizes are available, depending on the finished width you need, and the temperature of the pressing unit is adjustable for various fabrics. There’s even an auto-shut-off (after 10 minutes of non-use) for safety.

Remember, it’s not too early to start a holiday wish list!

Serging is also another means to create things quickly, yet with a professional finish. Ready, Set, Serge, by Georgie Melot, offers 32 great projects that you can create in only minutes with the serger. Plus, she includes comprehensive serger information if you’ve forgotten the basics of this wonderful machine.

Along with our need for quick, there’s also some times when more serious information is needed. Deborah Jones has penned Machine Embroidery on Difficult Materials to answer those questions about embroidering on things like velvet, vinyl, leather and 16 other surfaces that can be a bit tricky. Get the low-down on stabilizers, needles and hooping these eccentric fabrics for embroidery success.

The goal of the book Fabricate, by Susan Wasinger, is to put emphasis on the fabric. There are 17 projects utilizing unique fabric effects, like pleating, cording, applique, etching, burning and pleating. So, if you need to play and love fabrics, this book is great fun.

If simple garment making is more to your liking, Chic & Simple Sewing, by Christine Haynes, is a book you’ll need. It offers full-size patterns for more than 20 wearables–like skirts, dresses, tops and jackets. Detailed sewing techniques are included with each project, so the learnings transfer to other garments and accessory sewing as well.

So, kick back on the next sunny day (or even a rainy one will do) and curl up with a good book. There are many to choose from, depending on your interests!

Walking the 1, 141 booths is no easy task, and definitely not one taken lightly as I’m trying to eek out new product information. The booths are fun, colorful and often laden with elaborate displays of not only quilts, but garments, small projects, and of course innovative tools, trims and notions that will be available to us as consumers in a few months. The companies are now taking orders from store buyers, and some things will be shipped in the next few weeks.

With this many booths, it’s sometimes hard to soak everything in, so I find that it’s helpful to take some time to stop and visit with friends along the way and ask what they’ve seen that’s new and that I shouldn’t miss. I reciprocate and share new things I’ve seen as well.

So, what did I see that’s new? Lots of things and I’ll be writing about them in future blogs. In general, I saw lots of crocheted trims–on garments, quilts, aprons, bags, etc. If you can crochet, you’ll be able to put this skill to some fashionable use this coming season. If not (I can’t), look for these great trims by the yard in your fabric store.

I also saw lots of rickrack–mostly the very GIANT version that you purchase by the yard, as opposed to being pre-cut in a package.

Kits were also a popular item–whether pre-cut strips in a “jelly roll” package (narrow strips rolled up), or pre-cut triangles or squares, the manufacturers really want to help those of us with limited time so they’ve taken some of the work of the cutting process for us. Good idea…and perhaps a bit more accurate as well since they’re die-cut.

Animals seemed to be a theme of many booths–from bugs, fish and butterflies, to bunnies, chickens and zoo inhabitants. Another popular theme in fabrics was fairies.

I went to a class on making fabric beads, and I’ll share some of that information with you soon. For now, I’m going to put my feet up for awhile, and then be happy to sleep in my own bed!

Whether you attend a local guild sewing event, or travel to attend a regional or national show, here are some helpful hints for maximizing the experience:

• Make a plan

Usually the show information is posted online, so you can see what vendors will be attending and who will be teaching classes. There might also be a discount coupon available for reduced admission. If you want to attend classes, register early online to ensure a space if that option is available.

• Take both money and credit cards

Not all vendors take credit cards–some smaller companies may take only cash or perhaps checks. It’s a good idea to have both with you, and also access to an ATM if there’s a “must-have” item you can’t live without. If you need to limit your spending, it’s easy if you pay for everything in cash and when the set amount is gone, that’s it for purchasing.

• Balance shopping and class time

Don’t overload yourself with classes and leave no time for shopping. Attend the show multiple days if you are able to do so to conserve your energy.

• Check for photography policies

Many show have exhibits, contest winners, etc. and some can be photographed if you have your camera. Others do not allow photography, so be sure to check with posted policies before you snap.

• Visit with sewing celebs

This is the time to purchase new patterns, books, videos and DVDs from sewing stars, and have them signed while you’re there. Also, give feedback to pattern designers if you like their work.

• Take time to eat

It’s easy to get caught up in shopping and classes and not take time to eat, but soon you’ll be dragging. Allow time to refresh and nourish your body. Carry a bottle of water with you, but note the rules for where you can and can’t drink it. If you’re local, perhaps bring your lunch and save money for fabric.

• Participate in a charity sewing event

Many venues offer a sew-for-charity event during the show time–perhaps you can make a quilt, a hat or other item for a worthy cause. Projects are planned for minimal sewing time, so help out while you’re visiting.

• Group effort

It’s always more fun to go to a show with a group, so gather a friend or guild member or two, or three, to go with you. If you don’t stay together, set a meeting time and place to share findings, then allow some time for going back to vendors once you see what others have unearthed that you might need as well.

Overall, have fun at the show and support the vendors, so they’ll continue to come back, and stay in business.