Newsletter August 2014 Newsletter, Number 17

Create Main Attractions

Friday November 7, 2014

Denman Room: 10 am to 5 pm Brother Canada with Scan N Cut Hands on class by Brother Educator Lynn Swanson. You will have the use of a machine, learn how to create a pattern, scan that pattern and then cut out what you just scanned. After you learn the basics you move on to create other make and take projects for yourself. This is a fun filled day of playing and instant gratification. For those of you who already own one of these amazing

machines this class will be for you too because you will learn all sorts of neat tips and tricks on how to use your Brother Scan N Cut machine. All supplies provided. $35 class fee. Class limit of 20. Denman Room: 7pm – 9pm Hearts Table Runner with Cathy Newman. The table runner has been shown in our classroom for a quite a while and now Cathy will teach you how to make this lovely runner from start to finish. Use up your red and/or pink scraps for this stash buster project that is sure to please. No need to bring a sewing machine as they will be supplied for you. Supply list for this class provided upon registration and payment. $35.00 class fee. Class limit of 20. Denman Room: 7pm – 9pm Wine Bottle and Bag Make and Take Project with Debbie Flanagan. You receive a bottle of our CREATE wine plus the fabric kit to make a wine bottle

Island News What's new at the Island!

Island Sewing & Embroidery

bag for it. How much fun is that!?!? Join Debbie for this quick and easy yet oh so gratifying sewing project. Everything is provided in the class fee including the machines for you to sew on. $35.00 class fee. Class limit of 20. (*Note*: The Denman room will have both classes running in each 1/2 of the room during the same time. You are able to sign up for both if you wish) Friday November 7, 2014 Hornby Room 10 am – 5 pm Local Landscape With Trees with Susan Teece. (*Note* Please see attached PDF which shows photo's of this project. Sample of project also on display in the store. ) Learn the basics for a landscape wall hanging that features trees, water, sky and the shoreline. The finished size is approximately 26 x 21 inches. The tree you create may be cedar, fir, maple or arbutus. We will start with a basic background design and add scenery details onto the surface. You may work from your own photograph or use the pattern provided. Your own personal style will be encouraged.

Use your stash of fabrics (or buy more! ) and learn how to select fabrics for special effects and maximum impact in a landscape design. Various techniques for achieving texture and shadows will be discussed. Explore the use of interesting threads and various machine stitches. Your finished project will be unique. Skill level: intermediate Supply list provided upon registration and payment. Class fee: $58.00 Class limit of 18 students.

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Hornby Room 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm

Comox Trunks with Morgan and

Matt of Thread Theory. Morgan and Matt of Thread Theory Design (www.threadtheory.ca a Menswear sewing Pattern Company.) will walk you through all the steps necessary to create a close fitting and super comfortable pair of Comox Trunks. There will be an option to revamp these trunks from men's into the very current fashion of women's trunks if you wish. You will learn tips for sewing with knits and leave the class armed with a fabric resource list and all the knowledge to create a whole drawer of handmade underwear. Class size limited to 20 participants. Class fee includes kit for

one pair of Comox Trunks. $35 class fee.

***See attachment at the end of the newsletter for more details***

________________________ Please Note: We are waiting for a few other upcoming class educators and their information will be in the next newsletter. Unfortunately we could not provide timely information for this one.

Saturday November 8

Denman Room 10 am – 12 pm

Taking Machine Embroidery To The Next Level: Brother Canada's Educator Lynn Swanson takes you step-by-step through improving how you work with your embroidery machine and machine embroidery methods and techniques. If you have ever thought about purchasing an embroidery machine then this class is for you. If you already own an embroidery machine and want to learn more about how all of this works, then this is the class for you. Class size limit 20 participants. $15.00 Class Fee. Denman Room 1pm – 4pm Judy Farrow Trunk Show. Judy Farrow is a very well known local Quilt

Artist. Her classes are much in demand and very hard to get into. Judy is on a one year sabbatical but has generously agreed to do a special Trunk Show for CREATE. Join Judy on her Canadian Journey in quilting. See for yourself just how amazing talented she is and learn as your eyes are treated to jaw dropping quilts made with Judy's personal techniques. Judy also owns a Brother Scan N Cut Machine and has been busy playing with it to create her future works. Very exciting! Class size 30 participants. Class fee $15.00 Hornby Room 10 am – 4 pm Playing in the Trees: Susan Teece The sample wall hanging features arbutus, cedar and fir trees. Maple and oak are also possible. Patterns for trees and foliage are provided. The finished wall hanging is approximately 20” by 30”. The process for creating a tree is free form and lots of fun. It is based on raw edge appliqué and uses machine straight stitches. You will be encouraged to develop your own personal style and your tree will be unique. We will cover design elements, colour theory and will use various techniques to achieve texture.

You may use a variety of fabrics, threads, machine stitches, beads, metallic's and yarns. The background technique is easy. Once your tree takes shape, we will place it in a great landscape. I call the process - a quilt on a quilt. Skill level - Intermediate Class size 18 participants. Class Fee $58.00 Please Note: These are the Main Attractions Only. Demo's will be in the next Newsletter with schedule and description. If time allows Educator Lynn Swanson will be doing an evening class which is to be announced. It will be a make and take class.

And now to our regular Newsletter!

“Change is constant, and there is very little we can do about it other than to embrace the changes that occur.”

Because we live on an Island, our communities tend to be smaller in population, standards are Island expectations and unique, and things tend to move at a slower pace than on the Mainland. We do

things at Island Pace, and with Island Mindset. This is all good! Actually it's awesome! Hurt one Islander and you hurt

them all, please one Islander and you please them all. Word gets

around faster than the speed of light and if it's not good, stand back! Top that with sewing/quilting being a prolific but tight knit

community on the Island and surrounding Islands plus Powell River and all of the above is compounded. As a business we are held up to the

standards, expectations, and ways of Mainlander's who just don't understand how close knit our

communities are. We, as a business

are expected to do things the way that they do on the Mainland and that is where the problem starts for us.

We have a code of ethics. It is posted at the front desk and we work very hard to stick by it. We

tell the truth, which quite honestly is often difficult because in this industry many people are used to being told otherwise. We will not compete in the ways of other

similar stores and sometimes that costs us money, because people believe what they are told until it is too late. The sale is made, the stories they were told turn out to be a fable and they are left hanging

without support or help. We don't do that! We really don't.

The machines we sell are ones we stand behind but more than that, we stand behind YOU the customer

and give you as much help as you

need or want without a time limit or restrictions. It matters to us that YOU are happy with your

purchase and that it fits your needs. Ask any of our customers and they will tell you exactly how we did.

That is also true in the repair end. Pride, care, value for your dollar

and honesty are all things we insist upon. If it can be fixed it will be. We won't tell you that “a mother

board from XYZ” can't be obtained and therefore you need a new

machine unless that is the truth. We stand behind what we do and do so proudly.

Ok, so then why the comment about change? Well, because we are held up to “other stores” and mainland stores”, we decided to Change the way that THIS store

does business. We won't budge

one inch on honesty, integrity, customer support, kindness, compassion, respect and caring for our customers .... but ... we also recognize that by doing this we are forcing change within the industry.

It's slow (more like a snail's pace) but it hopefully will happen. They must change! It's inevitable in this fast paced plugged in age that the word will get out about the shenanigans others have been up

to in the name of sales and

hopefully they too will realize that sales can be made without all of that and change their ways. We

ask that they do so, and ask that they too embrace change for the good instead of for the almighty dollar alone. There are a rare few

stores like ours .... but they are the good guys, just like us.

Many things are “up and coming” and here is the rundown:

Featherweight Club

Last Saturday of each month from

10 am to 4 pm. Please email islandsews@gmail.com to confirm that you wish to participate in this Club. (We are starting this as if it

was a new club) Club Fee: $20 for one year.

Pfaff Club

Last Wednesday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm.

Please email islandsews@gmail.com to confirm that you wish to participate in this Club. One project by Pfaff

for Pfaff sewing machines provided each month. Club Fee is $10 per meeting.

Brother Scan N Cut Club

Last Tuesday of each month from 11 am to 3 pm. We have sold a lot

of these amazing machines and have decided to start a gathering so that we can all learn the wonders and time saving tips through experience. We will be working on Fabric of various types,

card stock and vinyl. Please email that you wish to join this monthly meeting: islandsews@gmail.com Club fee is $10 per meeting.

Embroidery Club

Will be held the last Friday of each month.

There will be a project each month for this club and you will learn at each meeting. Time is 11 am to 3 pm.

Please email islandsews@gmail.com to let us know you wish to join this

club. All embroidery designs included as well as instructions for each months project. Club Fee is

$10 per meeting.

Block of The Month is coming

up with two options. They start in January of 2015 for a 12 month project to finish a quilt. Both of

these projects are Brother Scan N Cut friendly but it's use is not mandatory.

One option is Sincerely Yours

which gives you

the choice of hand stitched turned appliqué, machine stitched raw edge or

turned appliqué, or machine

embroidered appliqué along,

with conventional piecing to create

a stunning quilt. This quilt is stunning! Each month you receive the pattern portion, embroidery designs, instructions for that

months Block(s). The final month you receive the CD with all embroidery designs and instructions. For an additional

nominal fee you also get the use of our Brother Scan N Cut to cut out each month's appliqué pieces if you

wish. (guidance and help provided throughout this project) Fee: $30 per month.

Option Two is the

Radical Rooster Quilt

which gives you a pattern each month for 12 months, the chicken

wire fabric and the fabric to make it look like each rooster is inside a chicken coop, along with instructions on how to make the

quilt. There are 12 different

patterns containing all of the pattern pieces to make one block per month. For an additional nominal fee you also get the use of our Brother Scan N Cut to cut out each month's appliqué pieces if you

wish. (guidance and help provided

throughout this project) Fee: $35 per month.

Both of these quilts will be on

display for CREATE November

7th and 8th at The Old House Village Inn and Spa. These Block Of The

Month projects are email friendly if you live out of town. Both require one meeting at the beginning of the project, one in the middle and then a show and tell at the end. Out of towner's will be included via Skype

in these meetings. We have a new website which is fantastic, and all of the items in the store are now available through on

line purchases. The downside is

that we have to switch our Point Of Sales System from being in house to being on line, and that demands that we do a full and accurate inventory before doing the switch.

Therefore, we sadly must close from August 18th to August 22nd.

We apologize if this causes any

inconvenience to our valued customers. We open again August 23rd ....hopefully with smiles on our

faces because it all went smoothly.

If we appear grumpy, you will know it did not go well or we are exhausted!!

Our Demo's start up again and as promised we are starting them later in the day so that those folks

from out of town can get to the store in time. Stand by via the Class Schedule and future

Newsletter's for upcoming Demo's and times. Demo's now require

you to sign up via email or phone call and there is a $5.00 fee for each Demo but that $5 will be removed from the purchase fee of

the item being demonstrated.

Attached you will find upcoming classes and information regarding

CREATE ______________________________________

#3-2260 Cousins Avenue, Courtenay, B.C., 250-871-3050

www.inspiredcrafters.ca Sells select fabrics, crafting supplies and a ton of very unique buttons. How exciting is that?!?! You get to the store

via 26th Street until it becomes Cousins

Avenue. Their store is in the same complex as U-Store It and just past Tin Town. We support local business and this is one we wholeheartedly support. Since we don't have the room for Fabric and Buttons (Two of our most favourite things by the way) we are happy that they will fill that void for us. ______________________________________

Due to the length of this newsletter, Peter will be back next month!

_________________________________

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#105-2100 Guthrie Road

Comox, BC, V9M 3P6

250-339-1940

email: islandsews@gmail.com

Articles!!

If you have something you'd like to share with the Island's Islanders, stories, techniques, successes and failures, give us a shout!

We are always on the lookout for things of interest to all the Sewers, Quilters and Embroiderers out there.

The Island Proudly Endorses

_____________________________

Ask us about financing your

next machine purchase!

_____________________________

Island Sewing and Embroidery is proud to represent these fine brands

If you would like to place an ad in our newsletter or post a community event just drop us a line at islandsews@gmail.com

Playing in the Trees Susan Teece

The sample wall hanging features arbutus, cedar and fir trees. Maple and oak are also possible. Patterns for trees and foliage are provided. the finished wall hanging is approximately 20” by 30”. The process for creating a tree is free form and lots of fun. It is based on raw edge appliqué and uses machine straight stitches. You will be encouraged to develop your own personal style and your tree will be unique. We will cover design elements, colour theory and will use various techniques to achieve texture. You may use a variety of fabrics, threads, machine stitches, beads, metallics and yarns.

The background technique is easy. Once your tree takes shape, we will place it in a great landscape. I call the process - a quilt on a quilt.

Skill level - Intermediate

Classes

August 2014

Saturday/Sunday/Monday August 2nd/3rd/4th/

Store Closed For B.C. Day

Store Closed For B.C. Day

Store Closed For B.C. Day

Wednesday August 13

10 am to 5pm

Curvy Log Cabin Class includes Creative Grids Ruler $45.00

Teacher: Christa

Thursday August 14

10 am to 5 pm

Free Drop In For Our valued customers

No fee

Saturday August 16

10 am to 4 pm

B.B.Q. Apron Class includes Apron and Design $25.00

Teacher: Christa

Monday through Friday August 18 -22nd

Store Closed For Inventory

Store Closed For Inventory

We apologize for this inconvenience!!!

Wednesday August 27th

5pm -9 pm

Sew Pants

Join Morgan of Thread Theory Designs Inc. (an indie sewing pattern company) for an evening of sewing. If you have dreamed of sewing yourself some custom pants but have been unsure of where to get started, this will be the perfect opportunity to make the leap! Bring the pants sewing pattern and materials you would like to use (fabric, zipper, and any other supplies your pattern calls for).

Morgan will walk you through common stumbling points during the sewing process: You will learn how to sew a fly front, how to create flat fell seams, how to sew high end French seamed front pockets, and how to apply bias binding and rivets to your pants so that they look as good as, if not better than, store bought! Snacks, bias binding and rivets will be provided Expect to leave the class with your pants sewing process well underway and the confidence to create pair after custom built pair!

Teacher: Morgan

Fee: $35.00

website:

www.threadtheory.ca

Thursday August 28th

10 am – 5 pm Free Drop In For Our Valued Customers

Free No Charge

Saturday August 30th

10 am – 4pm Featherweight Club Free No Charge