Pincusion Swap Sunday, April 28th at Alewives Fabrics!

"Bold Flower Pincushion" by Anna Maria Horner, found on the Better Homes and Gardens website, here.

Hello Seamsters!

The date for the next SEAM meeting has been set for Sunday, April 28th at 1:00 pm at Alewives Fabrics.

Since the official SEAM logo is a pincushion, we thought it was high-time we held a super-fun pincushion swap!

 How will the pincushion swap work?

As with all SEAM meetings, the pincushion swap is free and open to anyone to attend.

 Each participant will make their own pincushion for swapping. 

(Hint: there are lots of ideas and inspiration and links to free tutorials, books and patterns with pincushions on the Alewives Fabrics "Pincushion Love" Pinterest board right here.)

Next, wrap your pincushion up like a present so no one can see what it looks like... make it look extra scrumptious so everyone will want to unwrap your pincushion.

Finally, bring your wrapped pincushion with you to the meeting at 1:00 pm on Sunday, April 28th here at Alewives Fabrics and we will hold a "Yankee" style pincushion swap.

Any questions?

Just let me know here in the comments and I will answer within the comment thread.

Be sure to keep up to date with SEAM and the pincushion swap on our facebook page, too!

~Rhea at Alewives

Cookie cutter pincushions, found on the Country Living website, here.

 

S.E.A.M. Gathering at Z Fabrics

S.E.A.M. Gathering at Z Fabrics                                

Saturday, January 26th 5-7pm FREE!

With the frenzy of the holidays over and the rhythm of the new year just settling in, it's a good time to get inspired, and a great time for a S.E.A.M. gathering!  We'll have special guest Anne Emlein joining us, she's the Head of the new Textiles, Apparel & Fashion Program at Maine College of Art! She is a welcome addition to the creative community in Portland, come hear what she has in mind for this emerging department.



                    Anne Emlein is an artist, designer, and educator with a passion for creative expression via textiles,     
                    apparel, and fashion.  Earning her MFA in Textiles from RISD and her BFA in Textiles from 
                    California College of Arts and Crafts, Anne's core expertise includes teaching knitting, textiles for
                    apparel, and fine arts textile courses.  She has exhibited her knitwear, apparel, and fine arts work 
                    throughout the country.  Anne maintains an in-home studio practice, adhering to traditional hand 
                    processes and employing timeless design along with a commitment to sustainable, local materials.  
                    Her knitwear enterprise is an extension of her fine arts work.  Anne's professional experience 
                    includes a strong emphasis on pursuing collaborative opportunities for the sake of lifelong learning
                   and inspiration.  In addition to chairing the Textiles, Apparel, and Fashion Department at MECA, she 
                   also teaches in the Textiles Department at the Rhode Island School of Design.   
                                                             (http://www.meca.edu/faculty/textiles-apparel-fashion/faculty/anne-emlein)



Plus bring fabric and patterns for swapping, and of course, bring something to share for the Sew and Tell, we want to to see what you've made, or what you're are working on!  Hope to see you there!

The October SEAM meeting will be at Fiddlehead Artisan Supply in Belfast on Sunday, October 21st. Starting at 4:00 we will have a demo and materials for a small project, followed by a Show and Tell. So, bring your own projects to share or work on, try out our demo, or just come by to chat and hang out for a fun late afternoon!

Fiddlehead Artisan Supply is in Downtown Belfast at 159 High Street, between Darby's Restaurant and the Colonial Theater.

Mark your calendars August 18th for a "Chicopee" fabric launch party with Denyse Schmidt at Alewives Fabrics!

Edited to add:
Denyse's latest line of fabric, the much anticipated "Chicopee" has just arrived at Alewives Fabrics!  We will be celebrating the launch of this brand new collection, in addition to holding a meet & greet/ book signing with Denyse at the next SEAM meeting.  There will be lots of fabric (from Denyse Schmidt collections both old and new) to browse, plus a few fun surprises for attendees!  Trust us, you don't want to miss out on the fun! 

The next SEAM meeting will be held Saturday, August 18th from 5-7 pm at Alewives Fabrics with none other than the "Queen of the Neo-Hillbilly Quilts" herself: Miss Denyse Schmidt!

Denyse is considered by many to be the mother of the modern quilting movement, and for the past several years has been teaching workshops on her signature improvisational style out of her studio in Bridgeport, Connecticut.  She has written two books on quilting: Denyse Schmidt Quilts and the recently released Modern Quilts Traditional Inspiration, both of which have become instant classics in the quilting genre.  Denyse has also designed several quilting patterns and over 10 fabric collections: from the super-popular Flea Market Fancy collection to the much anticipated Chicopee, which will be available this August, just in time for Denyse's visit to SEAM.

Denyse will be hobnobbing with her fans, signing books, sharing insights and much, much more at this meeting.  There won't be a formal "talk," but instead this will be a chance to connect with Denyse in a more intimate, one-on-one setting.

Be prepared with any questions you've always wanted to ask Denyse, and of course, if you have something made from one of Denyse's many amazing fabrics and/or patterns, be sure to bring it for a show and tell. As with all SEAM meetings, this event is free to attend and open to anyone who would like to participate... no need to sign up or RSVP!

We'll have plenty of Denyse's books on hand, including her newest book Modern Quilts, Traditional Inspiration.   If you already own a copy, bring it with you and have it signed!

Light refreshments will be served (if you have a signature dish you'd like to bring, please feel free to contribute!).  The meeting will be held at Alewives Fabrics on Saturday, August 18th from 5-7pm.

We can't think of a better way to spend a Midsummer's Eve and we would love to see you there!

It's Z Fabrics turn to host S.E.A.M!

Mark your calenders- Saturday, May 26th at 5pm

Food, Fun, and Fabric Swap!

S.E.A.M. is a safe place for like-minded seamsters to geek out over the latest in fabrics and sewing.  We share your fantasies of running away from it all, with nothing but your sewing machine and a backpack full of your favorite Japanese pattern books.  Come to Z Fabrics.   Southern Maine is loaded with incredibly creative sewing enthusiasts- it's about time you all met each other.  

Join us at our new location in the Historic Time and Temperature Building in Downtown Portland.  We are now at 477 Congress Street, across from Monument Square.  Our storefront is on Preble Street (past the old Portland Public Market and Slainte). Please wear or bring something you've made from one of your favorite patterns (or of your own design).  We want to hear about it.  

 Do you have fabric you've decided just isn't right for your project, but is too good to waste? How 'bout a pattern that just isn't working for you - or did work for you, but you've moved on?    

SWAP IT!   Bring your fat quarters or yardage (cut selvage to selvage, no scraps please), and any patterns that you don't want anymore. It's Spring Cleaning! Please keep it 100% cotton, or cotton-linen blends.  And mark if the pattern has been cut or not (and to what size if clothing).

We are so excited to host S.E.A.M at our new space, it's gonna be a blast.  We'll have light fare (you're welcome to bring treats to share) and a good time. Like all S.E.A.M. meetings, it's free and open to all. See you at Z's!

SEAM Meeting this Saturday at 2:00!

SEAM Meeting this Saturday at 2:00!

Fiddlehead Artisan Supply will be hosting the next SEAM meeting this Saturday, the 24th, at 2:00 pm. Here are some sample felt and paper flowers that we will have demos for. We will have a table for making fabric ones as well! Bring along another project if you like. See you then!

Fiddlehead Artisan Supply is in downtown Belfast at 159 High Street - between Darby's Restaurant and the Colonial Movie Theater. www.fiddleheadartisansupply.com  207-338-8422

SEAM Meeting March 24th in Belfast

Following the wonderful meeting at Alewives Fabric this past January, Fiddlehead Artisan Supply is holding the next SEAM meeting on Saturday, March 24 at 2:00 pm.

We’ll celebrate the spring equinox by crafting flowers from fabric, felt, and paper. Feel free to bring another handwork project you're working on as well. Light refreshments will be provided and a good time is sure to be had. Grab a friend or two and head on over to the heart of beautiful downtown Belfast. Fiddlehead Artisan Supply is located at 159 High Street between the Colonial Theater and Darby’s Restaurant, with plenty of other shops and restaurants nearby.

Like all SEAM meetings, anyone interested in fabric or sewing is welcome to attend this free event.

Come craft with us!