Open Studio is a time for you to come in and make some headway on your sewing projects (in relative peace and quiet, in the company of other stitchers) and get help and advice on tricky steps. 

I will be available to help up to four students at a time during these sessions, and access to the sewing machines and tools is included.  You may bring in any sewing project you like, or even multiple projects, and you may come in for 1, 2, or 3 hours at a time.  Take advantage of the Studio’s big cutting tables, easily accessible machines and supplies, and my sewing and pattern-reading skillz.  Sometimes you just need to get away from the distractions of home to get things done!

Alternating Sundays 1:00-4:00 pm and Wednesdays 6:00-9:00 pm

Summer 2009 Open Studio dates: July 1, 5, 15, 19, 29; August 2

for more information, visit Craft & Sew Studio’s website:

http://www.craftandsewstudio.com/craftandsewstudio/Open_Studio.html

I have also started a new Sewing Circle that will meet once a month at the Studio!

Stitchers of all levels (including beginners) are welcome to attend.  This group is sponsored by www.burdastyle.com, which is an amazingly stylish and useful open-source sewing website.  Here is what they have to say about the aims of the group:

“A BurdaStyle Sewing Club is a group that meets on a regular basis where people can drop by and ask questions, practice their craft and be creative together.”

The focus of this sewing circle is mainly on fashion sewing, but quilters and stitchers with other areas of interest are welcome as well.  It’s a chance to get together with some like-minded diy folks, make new friends, and get advice on sewing dilemmas. We may also do some stitch-alongs or tutorials if members would like to!

Our first meeting is on this coming Sunday, June 28^th, at 6:00 pm.

Attend a Burdastyle Sewing Circle meeting at Craft & Sew Studio during June, July, or August and receive a 20% discount on one class.

Join the Meetup Group here:

I hope to see you all at the Studio soon.  I can’t wait to see what you’re sewing this summer!

-Kristin

King Neptune watches over the Boardwalk Art Show

It was a hot one but well worth the sweat! If you are headed down this weekend I highly recommend you wear a bathing suit so you can dip in the ocean before you have to turn around and go back.

Local artist and family friend Mike Dennis won a $1000  prize for best in wood working. I think he said it was his first time in this art show! Congratulations Mike!!

Tanya Tyree, from Afton, VA has some beautiful raku sculptures….they were very soothing to me…I would have really liked to have picked one up!

Robert Kastrinos is an imaginative potter who’s work I have admired in the past. I bought a wall hanging lantern to stash away for a Christmas present…I love this devil guy…I wish he’s have come in the wall hanging style.

Joachim Knill worked was by far my favorite in the show. I would have a hard time explaining what he does better than him…so go over to his site and read up!!!

He actually had this balloon thingy with the legs at the show…very cool. I was particularly interested in this mans work because I have often thought about creating scenes with my gourds to take pictures of…..so needless to say this was a tremendous inspiration!!

***all photographs taken from the artists web sites….which I have added links to***

Last Saturday, Shannon from Life, Love and Yarn organized an awesome night out for Worldwide Knit in Public Day.

We met at Finn McCool’s in Virginia Beach and enjoyed the cool breezes out on their nice screened in deck area! There was a great turnout and fun was had by all. Knit Wits donated some great door prizes and we all had fun competing for them.

We played what is now officially called “Stupid Yarn Tricks” - games including 10 fingers and alphabet game.

Chocolate, yarn, some drinks, lots of laughs and awesome company. What more could you ask for?? Thanks Shannon for putting on such a fun event!

Here are a few shots from Saturdays  Who Arted Art Show…Kelly has posted some great pictures over in her site.

A big Thank You goes out to Kelly for organizing this great little art show. A nice variety of talented folks and a pretty decent turnout of shoppers. Even though we had some rain they  still came out armed with umbrellas!

I have to say that Kelly’s husband John was AWESOME! he was so helpful and patient with all of us and I really appreciated all his help!!!

As always I met a ton of fantastic people and had a lot of fun.

Handmade Parade Planning Meeting Report

We had a really productive planning meeting last Sunday, and have made big steps in getting ourselves organized for this year’s Handmade Parade! We have a wiki site set up for planning purposes, all details about the event planning and running the event will go there.

If you are interested in being part of the planning committee or being involved in Handmade Parade in any way, please send me an email and I will give you the login information for the wiki. The planning committee will have monthly check-ins, we are doing some exciting stuff!

Our tentative date for Handmade Parade 2009 is Saturday, December 12.

Who Arted? Art Show

The Who Arted group (www.whoarted.ning.com) is hosting their first art show this Saturday, June 13, 2009. The event will take place in the lot next to Chic Cheap Resale Boutique located at 3617 Shore Drive, Virginia Beach.

We have a few spaces left, so if anyone is interested, please contact kellygstudio@gmail.com

Worldwide Knit in Public Day

7 Cities Crafter Shannon is organizing an awesome event: Life, Love and Yarn (her super cool blog) and KnitWits will be celebrating World knit in Public Day a whole new way this year! Knit or crochet all day at the store and join us at 9pm this Saturday, June 13 for fun filled yarn out at Finn McCool’s in Virginia Beach! Music, food and drinks! $2.50 glass of wine and house drinks! Door prizes and more! Please bring cash as the restaurant will only allow is to have 1 check. Also bring a chair to Knitwits for the daytime! Please RSVP if possible on Facebook or in our forum.

Hampton Roads Burdastyle Sewing Circle

7 Cities Crafter Kristin (owner of Craft & Sew Studio) is starting a Burdastyle sewing circle. You can view the group on Meetup.com and get updates about it here.

This group is about SEWING! Stitchers of all levels (including beginners) are welcome to attend monthly sewing circle meetings at Craft & Sew Studio in Virginia Beach. This group is sponsored by www.burdastyle.com, which is an open-source sewing website. Here is what they have to say about the aims of the group:

“A BurdaStyle Sewing Club is a group that meets on a regular basis where people can drop by and ask questions, practice their craft and be creative together.”

The focus of this sewing circle is mainly on fashion sewing, but quilters and stitchers with other areas of interest are welcome as well. It’s a chance to get together with some like-minded DIY folks, make new friends, and get advice on sewing dilemmas. We may also do some stitch-alongs or tutorials if members would like to!

Craft & Sew Studio has four sewing machines as well as a full stock of tools and supplies, which group members are welcome to use during meetups. Please see the website for more information: www.craftandsewstudio.com

Bring in your sewing projects for show and tell, advice, troubleshooting, or just to make some progress on them! We will also discuss possible stitch-alongs for future meetings.

The first meeting is scheduled for Sunday June 28 at 6pm

Handmade Parade Planning Meeting

Thursday, July 9, 2009 7:00 pm @ Azar’s in Ghent

Our monthly craft-together for July will be cancelled because of the holiday weekend, but the following week we’ll be having a little followup meeting for Handmade Parade, our big annual arts & crafts show.

Please come to Azars for yummy food and to get ourselves organized on sponsorships for Handmade Parade. Azars is at 2000 Colley Avenue in Norfolk’s Ghent.