This evening I am going to my first sewing expo in Puyallup, Washington. This thing is a BIG DEAL....hundreds of vendors, over a hundred classes offered each day, fashion shows and lectures galore. Hotels within a 15-mile radius routinely sell out for this event, which stretches over a period of four days. We will be there for just two.
And, there are two reasons why I'm going.
First of all, I recently inherited my mom's old Bernina sewing machine. It's a quality machine and I've actually used it before, so I was pretty thrilled to receive it. But it has sat, nearly unused, in our office ever since. My problem is that I don't really know where to begin. I know how to operate the machine, and I can effectively sew two pieces of fabric together. Beyond that.......there is an entire world of feet, needles, tension, seam allowances, and other sewing lingo that I only have the most generic grasp of. So I am hoping this week to gain some knowledge - and some inspiration - so I can start actually using the machine that many seasoned sewers would be delighted to have.
The second reason is actually the more compelling reason. While my mom can't make it this year, much to her great disappointment (especially since she has been hinting for months that I should go with her this year) I will be attending with my Aunt Terri and two of my best friends, Selina and Jen.
Selina is quite a seamstress. Having majored in Interior Architecture at the University of Oregon, where we met and became friends, she has an amazing talent for color and design. She creates beautiful home dec items, recovers furniture, and constructs fun items of clothing for special occasions. She and her mom made her wedding dress together, which was nothing short of a work of art - just absolutely stunning. So basically, she knows what the heck she's doing when she gets in front of a sewing machine.
Jen just started sewing at the end of last year, but she has dived in headfirst. A friend of hers finally taught her how to use the machine her husband had bought for her as a gift some time before, and the next thing we knew she had made boxer shorts, curtains, pillows, and even some knit tops for herself (which to me seems awfully daunting). Given her busy schedule - she's a lawyer and works for the Department of Justice in Salem - I am impressed and inspired by how quickly she has picked it up.
So, several weeks back, the three of us sat down (while the boys played Munchkin in the other room) and poured over the class schedule. We selected a good range of classes - some individually, most together - and submitted our registration.
The reason I am most excited about this trip is to get in some good GIRL TIME! I can see us staying up late, oohing and ahing over gorgeous fabrics, and giggling uncontrollably over all of the BAD fashion we are guaranteed to see ("Embellish a Themed Sweatshirt Jacket" - come on! ). As much as I love my husband, and enjoy spending time with family and other couples, there is absolutely no replacement for time with your girlfriends.
Men do not understand why women attend sewing expos. Every single man I've told about this trip has, intentionally or not, given me a look that says "Why on earth would you want to do that?" This is because men do not really understand the depth of female friendships, and that we attend events like this because they are as good an excuse as any to get together.
These are girls with whom I can be both silly and serious, sometimes over the same cup of coffee. We have shared common experiences and interests over the years, and our conversations are filled with inside jokes and quotes from TV shows we all enjoy. We encourage each other, celebrate together, and sometimes cry together. We are willing to stand up and fight for each other.
I am lucky to have such friends in my life.
Puyallup, here we come!
And, there are two reasons why I'm going.
First of all, I recently inherited my mom's old Bernina sewing machine. It's a quality machine and I've actually used it before, so I was pretty thrilled to receive it. But it has sat, nearly unused, in our office ever since. My problem is that I don't really know where to begin. I know how to operate the machine, and I can effectively sew two pieces of fabric together. Beyond that.......there is an entire world of feet, needles, tension, seam allowances, and other sewing lingo that I only have the most generic grasp of. So I am hoping this week to gain some knowledge - and some inspiration - so I can start actually using the machine that many seasoned sewers would be delighted to have.
The second reason is actually the more compelling reason. While my mom can't make it this year, much to her great disappointment (especially since she has been hinting for months that I should go with her this year) I will be attending with my Aunt Terri and two of my best friends, Selina and Jen.
Selina is quite a seamstress. Having majored in Interior Architecture at the University of Oregon, where we met and became friends, she has an amazing talent for color and design. She creates beautiful home dec items, recovers furniture, and constructs fun items of clothing for special occasions. She and her mom made her wedding dress together, which was nothing short of a work of art - just absolutely stunning. So basically, she knows what the heck she's doing when she gets in front of a sewing machine.
Jen just started sewing at the end of last year, but she has dived in headfirst. A friend of hers finally taught her how to use the machine her husband had bought for her as a gift some time before, and the next thing we knew she had made boxer shorts, curtains, pillows, and even some knit tops for herself (which to me seems awfully daunting). Given her busy schedule - she's a lawyer and works for the Department of Justice in Salem - I am impressed and inspired by how quickly she has picked it up.
So, several weeks back, the three of us sat down (while the boys played Munchkin in the other room) and poured over the class schedule. We selected a good range of classes - some individually, most together - and submitted our registration.
The reason I am most excited about this trip is to get in some good GIRL TIME! I can see us staying up late, oohing and ahing over gorgeous fabrics, and giggling uncontrollably over all of the BAD fashion we are guaranteed to see ("Embellish a Themed Sweatshirt Jacket" - come on! ). As much as I love my husband, and enjoy spending time with family and other couples, there is absolutely no replacement for time with your girlfriends.
Men do not understand why women attend sewing expos. Every single man I've told about this trip has, intentionally or not, given me a look that says "Why on earth would you want to do that?" This is because men do not really understand the depth of female friendships, and that we attend events like this because they are as good an excuse as any to get together.
These are girls with whom I can be both silly and serious, sometimes over the same cup of coffee. We have shared common experiences and interests over the years, and our conversations are filled with inside jokes and quotes from TV shows we all enjoy. We encourage each other, celebrate together, and sometimes cry together. We are willing to stand up and fight for each other.
I am lucky to have such friends in my life.
Puyallup, here we come!
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