BROTHER INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION’ DREAM 1000 PROJECT PRODUCES SCHOOL BAGS FOR
JAPANESE EARTHQUAKE AND TSUNAMI VICTIMS

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The Dream 1000 Project

Customers and dealers overwhelmingly respond to global relief effort with much-needed sewn bags
BRIDGEWATER, NJ –When a Japanese engineer working for Brother Industries Ltd., the parent company of Brother
International Corporation, “dreamed” big, he could not have imagined the outpouring of international support he would receive.
The Dream 1000 Project, a global relief effort created in mid-2011, called for all of Brother’s worldwide employees
and its dealers to support those affected by the March 2011 Japanese earthquake and tsunami by producing 1,000 hand-
decorated fabric school bags for children to tote their belongings.

Photo 1: Tote bags created by Brother employees and dealers for Japanes children affected by the tsunami
came in an array of colors and designs.

The project combines Brother’s history and leadership of producing world-class sewing machines with its strong corporate
commitment to the community and its Japanese roots. The completed bags from the U.S. as well as Canada, Brazil, and
Taiwan, were shipped in late December. In total, more than 1,300 tote bags were produced and shipped to the Japanese
children.

Here in the U.S., project leaders asked for 100 tote bags but Dean Shulman, Senior Vice President of Brother
International Corporation and head of the Home Appliance and Industrial Products Divisions, set a higher goal. Shulman
asked for 300 tote bags from his associates around the country.

Photo 2: Dean Shulman (center), senior vice president of Brother International Corporation and head of the
Home Appliance and Industrial Products Divisions, created his own tote bag for the Dream 1000 project.

“In the end, our employees, dealers, and customers answered our request in an even bigger way and sent us 524 tote
In bags for the relief effort,”says Shulman. “
They completely surpassed our goal of 300. One dealer even sent 70 bags.”

Part of the allure of producing the bags was their easy pattern to follow. Participants say the bags took no more than 45
minutes to produce, depending on how much unique embroidery, quilting, or appliqué was added. The 20 x 20-inch tote
bags were made with heavy, durable fabrics such as denim or canvas and had a closure, either a button or Velcro, and
handles.

“Sewers and crafters are very compassionate, giving people,”says Shulman. “
They used their Brother sewing machines
to send hopes, dreams, and love to the children of Japan by creating these essential multi-purpose school bags. Nearly a
year after the disaster, the Japanese people still face basic needs to rebuild their lives.”

On March 11, 2011 a strong earthquake measuring 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the Pacific coast of Japan, followed
by severe aftershocks. It was the most powerful known earthquake ever to hit Japan and one of the five most powerful
earthquakes in the world since modern record-keeping began in 1900. The earthquake triggered powerful tsunami waves
that reached heights of up to 133 feet causing devastating human and physical damage in northeastern Japan and
destroying entire cities in the coastal prefectures of Fukushima, Iwate and Miyagi. The Japanese National Police Agency
confirmed 15,844 deaths, 5,890 injured and 3,451 people missing. The disaster damaged or destroyed more than
700,000 commercial and residential properties, leaving thousands of families homeless in the middle of winter.

According to Save the Children, an international humanitarian organization, the crisis in northeastern Japan directly
affected more than 100,000 children through displacement, loss of access to education, loss of family members, and
exposure to high levels of stress and anxiety.

Photo 3: Brother International Corporation’s president, Tadashi Ishiguro, admires the many tote bags produced
for the Dream 1000 project.

Coming to their aid, Brother employees, dealers, and customers from 17 U.S. states gathered together throughout the
summer and fall to produce the tote bags. Dozens of quilters from around the world created bags during the Houston Quilt
Show in November—the largest quilt show in the U.S. with 30,000 attendees. Terry Koike, president of Brother Industries
Ltd, participated in the project by making a bag, as did Brother International Corporation’ president, Tadashi Ishiguro and
his wife. Brother International Corporation’ Dean Shulman made a bag and decorated it with glitter, a guitar, and
handwritten message, “ Our Heroes in Japan from Your Brothers in the U.S.A.”Another donated bag was embroidered
To simply with the words “Love, love, love.”

Creative Threads, a family-owned two-store dealership in Binghamton and Greene, New York, contributed 12 bags to the
project. A note accompanying their donation said, “ We send our thoughts and prayers for those in Japan impacted by the
tsunami. We hope that these bags will help bring some joy to the children affected by this tragedy.”

Amy Phipps, an employee at Creative Threads, joined four others who produced the school bags. “ We thought it was a
great idea on Brother’s part to extend this invitation to make the bags and help the children. They are so far away in
Japan and you don’t know what to do to help. You can contribute money but it seems so impersonal. Knowing that these
bags are needed gave us the opportunity to help out, especially for the children who sometimes seem to be forgotten.”

The five from Creative Threads found the pattern very easy to follow. They enjoyed, said Phipps, being able to customize
the bags for either boys or girls using their own fabrics and embroidering Disney characters on some of them.

Keren at Arts And Crafts Plaza makes a bag to donate to the kids affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan.
How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag

At sewnow! in Lafayette, California (outside of San Francisco), co-owner Susan Goldie assembled her pre-teen and teen
sewing class to produce the tote bags. The 22 teens worked at different stations and produced 20 bags for the project.

“Our core business is to teach sewing skills to children and adults,”says Goldie. “ We incorporated the project into our
teen sewing class. The kids found it super fun to make the bags and they were aware of the disaster in Japan and felt it
important to help other children.”

Goldie’s group produced tote bags for both boys and girls using blue and grey denim fabric and accessorizing them with
floral or plaid straps. The more experienced sewers took the roles of precision sewing techniques such as top-stitching
and button holing whereas the new sewers produced straight-line stitches.

“We even had a few guys come to work on the tote bags,”recalls Goldie. “
They are usually more interested in the
technology behind the sewing machines. This project really highlighted that area on our Brother machines since we used
the Quattro® 6000D model with the scanner and camera features. The Brother machine also has hundreds of built-in
embroidery designs that we could use on our tote bags and that captivated their interest.”

To learn more about Brother International Corporation, visit www.brother.com.

About Brother International Corporation
Brother International Corporation has earned its reputation as a leading supplier of innovative products for the home sewing enthusiast. Through a
growing network of sewing machine dealers and retail outlets nationwide, Brother offers a full line of home sewing machines, from basic to top-of-the-line
sewing and embroidery machines. The company is recognized for its high-quality, state-of-the-art machines and accessories, offering ease of use and
flexibility at affordable prices. Brother is a wholly owned subsidiary of Brother Industries Ltd. With worldwide sales approaching $5 billion, this global
manufacturer was started almost 100 years ago by sewing fanatics. Brother offers a diversified product line that includes fax machines, Multi-Function
Center® machines, P-touch® Labeling Systems and both color and mono laser printers for home, office and industry. Bridgewater, New Jersey is the
corporate headquarters for Brother in the Americas, from Canada to South America. It has fully integrated sales, marketing services, manufacturing,
research and development capabilities located in the U.S. In addition to its headquarters in Bridgewater, New Jersey, Brother has facilities in California,
Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee, as well as subsidiaries in Canada, Brazil, Chile, Argentina Peru and Mexico. For more information you can visit
the website at www.brother.com.

A behind the scene look, how to set up your booth for a craft show.

You’ll start off with a blank space.
Unless you order booth extras such as carpet, tables, table skirts, chairs etc.

Best to start off with hanging your samples/fliers on the walls of your booth.

Have gorgeous quilts? Use them as table covers.

Try out a few layouts as you’re spreading things out.

Use stands to maximize the table’s space.

Take boxes, flip them, cover with a pretty quilt and you’re got a one of a kind stand.

Play with placing your samples and wares.

Carousel stands are a great way to save on space.

Bring or rent a dolly, it will save you valuable time on trips into your booth.

Have a machine you want to demo?

Have everything set up in advance so folks can easily get a feel for the machines.

Bring your tools for any last minute adjustments.

Hang fliers so folks know what they are looking at and can refer to it.

Think about having enough clearance to walk around and several ways in and out of your booth.

Front of your tables is prime real-estate, use it!

A big thank you to ‘Always Quilting’ for letting me tag along!

Check out Always Quilting web site:
www.alwaysquiltingonline.com
To visit the store:
4230 Olympic Avenue
San Mateo, CA 94403
Phone: 650-458-8580

Bring fabrics to cover your booth at the end of the day.

The San Mateo Sewing and Quilt Show is FREE to attend!
You can find more information about the Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival

Enjoy!

Came across “Put a Serger in My Stocking Contest” on www.PrudentBaby.com
As I would love to put my hands on a serger I decided to give it a go.

Unfortunately, this was not the winning stocking 🙁

Start of with a drawing of a stocking.
I digitized it on PE-Design Next and added a few Christmas teamed designs.

Hoop your stabilizer and fabric.
Optional, spray starch to keep your fabric nice and crisp.
I use, Mary Ellen’s Best Press, The Clear Starch Alternative.

As this embroidery is done on the bigger hoop and it has a number of designs, start of by selecting the basting option.
This will help the fabric from pulling at one spot or misaligned embroidery.
It’s best to select a similar thread color to your fabric color.

This is the base stocking with all the embroidery designs added.
The software helps with sizing down and moving the designs around until you are happy with the result.

Start Embroidering.

All the designs were Embroidered.

Time to cut all the tread connectors.

Print your stocking base.

Cut your stocking base and use it as a template to cut the other pieces of fabric needed.

Cut out your Embroidered front stocking.

Use a double layer of low loft batting.
Trace and cut.

Cut a matching color fabric for the inside of your stocking.

Select a coordinating, in this stocking a Christmas related fabric was chosen, trace and cut.
Remember, this one needs to be a mirror image, so cut fabric with toe facing the other direction.

Base stitch around to keep your 3 layers from shifting.
Repeat for front.

To attach the front and back of stocking, use bias tape.
Fold under at edge so there are no raw edges.

Start by adding the bias tape to the top of your front and back of the stocking.

Put your back of the stocking under the front and pint the bias tape around.
For the stocking, a one step attaching bias tape was used.
See how to attach bias tape in two steps on the apron project.

This is how it will look.
When you make your own bias tape or use a thinner bias tape it will be easier to go around curves.

Use a ribbon, in this case a Ric-Rac Ribbon in coordinating color to create a loop to hang your stocking.

Add ribbon to the back of your stocking. Saw on the same sewing line you attached bias tape.

Your bag is now complete.

Happy Holidays!
Let’s create something!

Happy Thanksgivings everyone!
Brother started ‘Dream 1000 Project’ by requesting folks to make a bag to donate to the kids affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan.

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 1

To create the straps of bag, take one of the 5″ x 20″ strip pieces.
Fold it in half, right side of fabric facing out and iron.

Open fold.
Fold each side towards just created center fold.
Iron in place.

Take both sides and fold together.
Iron into place.
Repeat for other strip.
Top stitch on both sides of strips.

To attach strap to bag, measure 5″ from side of bag.

Attach to inside of bag, pin and stitch a square for added strength.
Make sure straps are aligned with each other and are not looped.
Cut a piece of paper the size of the square and use it as guide to have uniform square stitches.

To attach the button, find center position and mark 1/2″ from top of bag.

Clover caulk pens are easy to use for all your marking needs.

Center button on marked line and mark on both sides of button.

Use buttonhole foot, marked as A. Buttonhole # 9 was selected for this type of fabric.

Cut open your buttonhole and make sure button goes through.
Attach button on inside of bag.

Attach button on inside of bag.

Bag is now ready for your final touches of decoration should you chose to add some.

Start of by removing any remaining pieces of the water soluble topper .

Add a few Swarovski Crystals or Rhinestones hot fix to bag.

Final touches:
Cut off any loose thread
Remove caulk markings

Bag is now complete.

Be proud! you just made a kid in Japan very happy.
Don’t forget, deadline to ship bags: December 8, 2011

For more details about ‘Dream 1000 Project’: www.artsandcraftsplaza.com/?p=689

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 1

Let’s create something!

Thanksgivings is fast approaching and with that spreading some goodwill.
Brother started a ‘Dream 1000 Project’ by requesting folks to make a bag to donate to the kids affected by the Tsunami and Earthquake in Japan.
Deadline to ship bags: December 8, 2011
For more details about this project: Dream 1000 Project

Are you a beginner sewer? Just want to check out how the bag is constructed before taking it on?
Let’s get started!

Suggested fabric: Denim or Quilting fabrics.
Start of by cutting your fabric to:
One 40″ x 20″
Two 5″ x 20″
Optional pocket, one 6″x 6″

As these bags are not lined, it is important to serge or overcast all raw edges of fabric.
For those without a serger, use a G foot and choose one of the overcast stitches.

Put your fabric against the metal part in the middle of your foot.
Use same color thread as your bobbin.
Suggested thread: Polyester Mettler.

How your raw edges of fabric should look like.

To create the pocket, we start by Embroidering it first.
Hoop a tear away stabilizer, use Spry adhesive to attach your 6″x 6″ piece of fabric.
On top of that put your water soluble topper with spry adhesive.

Embroider something you think the kid that will get this bag will appreciate.
Think about color combination and overall look of the bag.

Change the foot of your machine and select a straight stitch.
This straight stitch uses a J foot.
Experiment with a scrap of fabric first and then adjust width and length of the stitch.

Measure 1/2 an inch from top of pocket.

Fold to the back of pocket.
Iron in place for ease and better result.

Top stitch top of pocket.

Folder back other 3 sides of pocket 1/2″ and iron.
Find center position on front of bag and pin.

Stitch both sides and bottom of pocket to bag.

Should you have any marking on fabric like this fold on fabric on back side of the bag, it’s a chance to decorate.

Make a straight line mark with caulk on unwanted fold line.

Add a ribbon in matching or contrasting color.
You may want to add another piece of fabric instead of ribbon.
Top stitch ribbon on both sides to secure to fabric.

With right sides of fabric facing together, Stitch both sides of bag with 5/8″ seam allowance from edge of fabric.

Trim and access ribbon or any loose thread.

Iron open the side seams.

From top of bag fold towards the inside of bag 1 1/4″ and iron or pin.

Use straight or decorative stitch 1 1/4″ from top of bag.
This picture shows straight stitch.

To create depth to the bag, add a gusset.
At bottom side of bag, measure 1 1/2″ from corner and mark.
Mark other bottom side as well.

Stitch over line on both sides.

Turn bag right side out.
View of how gusset changed appearance of bag.

 You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 2

Let’s create something!

Celebration of Craftswomen took place in November 11-13, 2011, San Francisco.
Bask in the view of San Francisco when you come to this festival.

It began in 1976 as a small crafts show.
For the past three decades, The Women’s Building Celebration of Craftswomen has allowed Bay Area residents, along with visitors of San Francisco from throughout the world, to discover the work of the nation’s best female artisans and fine artists.
Celebration of Craftswomen is the largest event celebrating the craft of women in the nation.
www.celebrationofcraftswomen.org

To follow on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/celebration.craftswomen
Among the contemporary and traditional handcrafted items you can fine:
Functional and decorative ceramic and glass vessels.
Sculpted wood and works of metal.
Polymer  clay, beaded, stone and precious metal jewelry.
Women, painted silk, leather clothing and wearable.
Home Furniture and accessories.
Fine art sculpture.
Photography.
Watercolor and oil paintings.

Don’t miss the hidden treasures as you walk by them, such as, Greens Restaurant, Fort Mason in San Francisco for some beautiful bayside vegetarian dining.
www.greensrestaurant.com
The Oatmeal raisin cookie was to die for!

THE WOMENS BUILDING (TWB) is a multi-service community center whose mission is to provide women and girls with the tools and resources they need to achieve full and participation is society.
The Women’s Building is located at 3543 18th Street in San Francisco.
For information call 415-431-1180 or visit www.womensbuilding.org

Always ask the artist permission to take a picture of their booth and/or individual item.

A recap of select booths:

Rene Almon Woodworks, her inspiration comes from organic shapes and the wood itself. Building long lasting quality furniture, pleasing to the eye and inviting to touch.
www.renealmonwoodworks.com

Alexandra Von Burg, creating Fairy Tale imagery with soft sculptured dolls and fiber paintings
Look for her workshops to hone the art-making skills that enhance anyone’s natural talent.
www.alexandravonburg.com

Anne Klocko, produces different types of artwork, Vinyl Clay Artwork, Figurative Sculpture and Ceramic Sculpture are whimsy original works of art.
www.anneklocko.com

Margaret Grisz-Dow, passionate about art, her ceramic work & drawing she is integrating these by making incised drawings on the surface of her clay pieces.
Teaching  in a relaxed aesthetic environment, which is often in her own beautiful home studio.
Contact: mgriszdow@yahoo.com

Tess McGuire, hats are knitted on a knitting loom out of wool yarn and then felted using hot water, soap and friction to turn a loosely knitted fabric into a warm, solid, and virtually waterproof garment.
www.tessmcguire.com

Mountain Exotics, taking the beauty, texture of wood to form our unique products.
We create heirlooms from ‘Tree to Street.
www.mountainexotics.com

Monterey Fiber and Design by Margaret Thompson

Naoko, Creating botanically themed felt and glass Jewelry.
10% of sales are donated to humanitarian non profit organizations.
www.naokonojiri.com

Alchemy, Fine chocolate, pastry, & baked delicacies, Savory catering, Classes.
www.facebook.com/pages/Alchemy/130946720282942

Ruxton Designs, mixed media art, vintage buttons, metal hardware, felt all combined in a unique way by Nicky Ruxton.
www.ruxtondesigns.com
Sharing a booth with Laube photography, a joyful rendition of California by Nancy Laube.
www.nancylaube.com

Large Leather is a beautiful store in Sonoma, California.
Choose from in house designs to custom orders, by Paul Terwilliger and Jessica Zoutendijk.
www.largeleather.biz

JYC Arts, Fine Arts painter, Illustrator, Fiber artist as well as Jeweler and quilter.
Working with non traditional fabrics in traditional ways.
www.janecorich.com

Janice Cormier, functional and non functional ceramic art, sculptural vessels, figurative sculpture, small series of functional pottery, and Jewelry.
www.janicecormier.ca
Sharing a booth with Judy Beebe Designs, Merino wool scarves and gloves.
Creating elegant, comfortable, neck pieces with rich texture & color.
www.etsy.com/shop/judybeebedesigns

Theresa Honeywell, provocative imagery and macho icons are rendered into delicate and beautiful pieces of art.
Her inspiration comes in the contrast between art and craft, macho and feminine.
www.theresahoneywell.com

Booths 421-422 is a collaborative mixture of a group of women, a web site is in the pipe line.

To contact the artists directly:
Wanda Fudge, wfudge@peoplepc.com
Colleen Ehle Patell, mixed media figurative art, www.wildwackywomendesigns.com
Suzanne Duran, artist, miblu3@yahoo.com
Mary Porter Vaughan, fine art dolls, www.mpvdolls.com
Donna Perry, art dolls, mixed media artist, dreamandplay.blogspot.com
Zanaib Nia, artist, zniagreen@yahoo.com
Stephanie Smith, doll maker, smitharts@yahoo.com
Bonnie Hoover, Whimsical cloth doll creations, bondonhoov@sbcglobal.net

Tree Stump, Master wood artisans Christine and Ron Sisco prove Fine Art can be functional.
In addition to custom furniture, their most popular pieces are spoons and bread boards.
www.treestump.biz

Santa Barbara Felted Fibers, wearables fiber Art, soft and billowy, exciting and sometimes just wild and crazy.
www.sbfeltedfibers.com

Enchanted Burl, Burls form as an outgrowth on the trunk of a tree and/or within the root system transformed to tables, chairs, lamps, clocks, vessels and serving platters.
www.enchantedburl.com

A close up look on this gorgeous crafted chair.
The vessels have been used as food servers, three-dimensional wall art, center conversational pieces, and even spiritual baptismal vessels.

Browse the list of the entertainment schedule that was offered at the rear stage
www.womensbuilding.org/craftsfair/Womens_Building_Craft_Fair/ENTERTAINMENT.html

Zola De Firmian, Fine Art Ceramics and tile design, one-of-a-kind porcelain and stoneware pieces are hand-built, or cast, then carved, using simple molds of own design.
Project Greenheart, First, 10% of sales go to support programs that connect youth with art and nature.
www.zinfusionz.com

Dawn Mountain LeatherArt, creating and designing original Leatherart pieces.
Decorative techniques such as trapunto, pleating, weaving, and beading are frequently used on one-of-a-kind pieces
www.dawnmountainleatherart.com

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE SHOW CONTACT:
TEEVAN PRODUCTIONS
1557- 15TH AVE.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94122
PHONE: (650) 615-6838
FAX: (415) 731-6794
EMAIL: CRAFTSWOMEN@GMAIL.COM

Hope you enjoyed Celebration of Craftswomen!
Didn’t make it this year? Try and make it to next year.

All pictures were taken after approval by the artist.

Let’s create something!

Came across this blog post at http://www.manycreativegifts.blogspot.com, enjoy!
It’s a great blog with lots of ideas and information.
With the holiday season coming, you are sure to want to create something for your family and friends.

Free Craft and Crochet eBooks

I’m so glad to be able to pass along two new and free ebooks from the FaveCrafts folks!
The first one has 17 popular crochet items that are easy enough for a beginner to make, like a fun little caplet, a bottoms up hat, and a really neat 8-point ripple afghan.
You can find the free and instant download at:
http://www.allfreecrochet.com/Miscellaneous-Crochet/17-Popular-Free-Crochet-Patterns-eBook

The second book will start to get you in the mood for the holidays.

This ebook has 7 fun craft projects for Christmas time.
I think I’m going to give the Christmas Card Saver a try!
Also included are the Felt and Wire Angel (pg. 5), the Christmas Candy Jar Labels (pg. 11), and a Wine Cork Wreath (pg. 19).
You can get this eBook free at:

http://www.allfreechristmascrafts.com/Christmas-Ornament-Crafts/7-Thrifty-Christmas-Craft-Ideas-eBook

Happy Crafting!!

Brother company is sponsoring a wonderful project, ‘The Dream 1000 Project’. As we all heard, Japan had a major disaster this year, Earthquake followed by Tsunami that devastated the area. The folks there are still struggling to put their lives back together. Brother’s goal is to collect school bags for the children made from a pattern that takes approximately 45 minutes to complete. The bags will be collected and distributed to the children affected by the disaster. Some Brother dealers agreed to collect the bags and ship them, check with your local dealer to see if they are participating. Follow the link below for the Dream 1000 project information and instructions on how to construct the bags and where to send them.  It’s the little things that make a difference. The kids will appreciate any and all efforts. The complete bag must be shipped by December 8, 2011.

See how to make this bag:
You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 1
You can find: How To: Dream 1000 Project Bag – Part 2

See information Brother provided and consider joining for a great cause:

The Dream 1000 Project – Tuesday, October 25 at 8:00am – December 8 at 9:00am

Brother Industries Ltd., parent company of Brother International Corporation, created the “Dream 1000 Project” with the goal of collecting 1000 bags for young school age boys and girls in Japan who were affected by the earthquake and tsunami in March 2011. We’d like to surpass this goal, but we’ll need your help.

We invite you to use your sewing machine to send hopes, dreams and love to the children of Japan by creating multipurpose school bags.
Send bags to:

Ship by December 8 to:

Dream 1000 Project
Brother International Corporation
Attn: HAD Shirley
100 Somerset Corporate Blvd.
Bridgewater, NJ 08807

Please send by a trackable method (such as UPS).

In the link below we have provided the specific instructions on how to create and where to send the bags.
The bags can be constructed in less than an hour and embellished with embroidery, quilting or applique.
You can find the instructions below:
http://ow.ly/d/o3X

For your convenience, see information:

Join the event on facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=235853446469748

Remember, the goal is 1000 bags, the hope is to far surpass this. Thank you for all your help!

Houston, TX
Visit Brother at the George R. Brown Convention Center!
1001 Avenida De Las Americas, Houston, TX
Brother “drop-in” classroom #361A
Monday, October 31 – Saturday, November 5
8:00 am – noon. 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Sunday, November 6
8:00 am – noon only
All materials for creating the bags will be available in the classroom!

Central California
Central Valley Vacuum & Sewing Center customers, we are participating and will allow you to come into the store and use one of our Brother embroidery machines so that you can also participate.
We will even ship them to save you the postage. info@cvvsc.com
41453 Avenue, Madera, CA 93636     559-822-3300      www.cvvsc.com

East Bay of SF, CA:
We are hosting a free sewing bee using all of our fabulous modern sewing technology to sew and embroider tote bags for children in Japan who are still greatly impacted by the effects of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. Joining Brother dealers across America, our joint goal is to donate at least 1000 totes for school age Japanese boys and girls.
sewnow! will provide all the supplies and set-up, as well as refreshments and a take home gift for all participants. Basic sewing skills required – ages 8-100 are welcome for a morning of sewing fun.
Register by clicking the facebook event or email info@sewnow.com to confirm participation.
960 Moraga Rd., Lafayette, CA 94549   925.283.7396     http://www.sewnow.com
Join us at sewnow! to participate in the ‘Dream 1000 Project.

To see some pictures of the area affected and how it’s changing:
http://blogs.sacbee.com/photos/2011/09/japan-marks-6-months-since-ear.html

Let’s create something!

You love to Embroider as well as making your own Greeting cards? Why not combine your passions?

Start by hooping tear away or cut away stabilizer.

Using spray adhesive, such as, Sulky KK 2000.

Put a piece of colored felt on top of the stabilizer.

Take a piece of Solvy.

Using spray adhesive to put the Solvy on top of the felt.

This step is not a must but it will help achieve a better embroidery.
Add a border with wide stitches, bigger than the design you are about to stitch.
It will help prevent bunching up as well as shifting.
It is best is you use a similar color to your background.

You now have your creative license to change the colors that you are using from the suggested colors.

As it keeps embroidering it starts looking like a picture.

We changes many of the colors suggested, the cat as well as the Yellow for the light effect in the pumpkin.

Now that you are done with your embroidery design. Take it out of the embroidery machine.
For this project we used Brother PE-780 model.

We recommend using this type of scissors to cut your jump stitches.
Because they have a curve you will be better able to cut close to the design without cutting the stitches.

Take your design out of the Embroidery hoop.

We will start working on the back side of our Embroidery.
Take a seam ripper and remove the bobbin thread of the border.

Continue taking out all the stitches around.
This will give you better result then trying to take the stitches out on the front of your embroidery.

Once you have removed all the bobbin thread, the front thread will just come off as a long piece of thread.

Now that we have just our embroidery, it’s time to remove the Solvy from the top.

Tear it off as best you can, most of it should come off easily.

Since it’s water soluble, should you have any pieces left behind, a little water will take care of it.

We recommend using Pacesetter Embroidery thread.
You get great quality thread for a reasonable price.

We bought greeting cards that have a photo frame cutout pre-made.
Feel free to make your own. When you select what Embroidery you want to use, make sure it will fit the frame size.
Some machines will let you resize your designs, take advantage of that.

We start with a blank card and decorate it with several stamps.

The Words “Happy Halloween” with a stamp on top.

We chose to use Uniball silver metallic pens.

We fill the empty spaces in the letters with our Orange color pen.
You will end up with a blend of Orange and sparkling Silver.

We love to sparkle so we’re going to putt some Bo-Nash sparkles on our card.

Great shiny colors they offer.

For a more precise result we will use the Bo-Nash glue pen.

Once we have our stamps in place, we will trace a few lines with the glue Pen.

When you use the glue pen, the glue will come in Blue color.
You know it’s ready to use once it dries Clear.

Put a finger into the sparkles, they will attach to your finger because of the oils you naturally have on it.
Then just go over the glue a few times. You are done once you see all the glue has been covered.
A quick no mess easy way to add some sparkle.

Add as many stamps and decorations as you like.
Now it’s time to put your embroidery into the picture frame.
Cut your Embroidery to size and gently tuck it in.

Make sure your embroidery is straight. Secure with a few dabs of glue if needed.

Your project is now complete! enjoy.

We start by tracing the Apron’s pattern to our fabric

We decided to add another color by framing the apron with quilt binding.

We start by cutting a piece of the biding to cover the top of the apron.

We are now working on the back side of the apron.
We pin the binding on the short fold to the apron’s fabric.

We sew it with a straight stitch.

We turn our apron to the front side now.
This is how it should look from the front.

We will fold the binding to the front of the apron.
Stitch it, making sure to cover the stitch that is already there.

The stitch from a closer view.

We are now going to repeat the process around the rest of the apron.

Closer look at the corner top of the apron.

The binding stitched around the entire apron.

Closer look at the top corner.

We cut the straps, one for around the neck and two to tie the apron.

We fold the strap in half and iron.

We now fold from both sides into our center fold and iron.

We hide the edges by sewing a ribbon in matching color to our binding.

We pin the strap to the back of our apron.
Be sure to measure equal distance from both sides.

We sew the straps by making a square to secure it to our apron.

Cut any access thread and put a dab of Fray Check to make sure it wouldn’t come unraveled.

We fold the end of the strap and sew.

A look for the back side of the strap.

We cut the fabric for the pocket.

We will now embroider a chef on our pocket.
See instruction for Embroidery on our post: “Mickey Mouse Embroidered on a Towel“

The Embroidered pocket.

We will use a narrower quilt binding in the same color for the pocket.

We will make sure our corners meet at 45 degree angles.

We will attach the pocket to the apron.
Remember to reverse your stitches at the top of the pocket to secure it better.
We stitched around the pocket twice.

A view of the pocket from the back.

Your project is now complete! enjoy.