About Me

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Brookfield, Wisconsin, United States
I am passionate about quilting and teaching others to quilt!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

More Project Linus News

This Saturday, Rebecca is coming to collect the quilts for Project Linus. She has to sew labels on all of them! (remember we collected about 300) I offered to round up help for her. We are going to sew labels on Saturday afternoon. Let me know if you can come and help. They can be sewn on by hand or machine.

Sunday, February 22, 2009

Project Linus




We collected almost 300 quilts at Frank's Sewing Center for Project Linus. The women who braved the snow made 30 blankets on Saturday. The sewing machine was won by Sally S. Thank you to everyone who particpated!

Sunday, February 15, 2009


Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day! I taught my scarf class in the morning. We had so much fun. In the afternoon, it was on to Beloit to Tori's gymnastic meet. It is amazing how young girls can flip and bend in ways I never ever did!

My Basic Plus class at WCTC still needs a couple people...3 in the day and 2 at night. It is such a cool quilt. It looks complicated but is quite simple. Sign up by Tues afternoon or it will be cancelled!
Here is a picture of it in progress. The completed quilt is hanging in the classroom at Frank's Sewing Center.

304-620B-009 21793 Quilting - Basic Plus 3 0 Rieves, Wendy L $49.00 .25 03/03/09-03/24/09 T 09:00am-11:55am WK115

304-620B-010 21794 Quilting - Basic Plus 2 0 Rieves, Wendy L $49.00 .25 03/03/09-03/24/09 T 06:00pm-08:55pm WK115

Operator Assisted Registration
Call 262.691.5578

Monday, February 9, 2009

Scant 1/4"..what is that!

Sewing a scant 1/4 inch is so important for getting your piecing accurate. If you measure your seam and it is exactly 1/4 inch it is too big! You must allow for the folding of the fabric when you press the seam to one side and for the thread used in the seam. Make this allowance by either moving your needle position slightly to the right, or using a quilters 1/4 inch presser foot. (even here you must double check that it really is scant!)

Here is a site that has some good information about that elusive scant 1/4"
http://www.scrapquilts.com/accurate_seams.html

Some people find the scant 1/4" and then mark their machine with a Sharpie, or put a piece of tape there, or a piece of Moleskin or a stack of post it notes to mark the spot.

Please post a comment if you have other ideas on how to find that scanty thing!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

scarf class



I am doing a class on silk scarf painting for my guild this weekend. Valentine's day from 9-12 at Trinity UCC in Brookfield. The cost is $25. I could still take a couple people. Let me know if you are interested

Classes at Frank's

If you go to the Frank's web site you can download the class schedule but I thought I would include it here, as Brad did not have a chance to let his customers know it had been posted.

Franks Sewing Center
272 W Main Street
Waukesha
547-7774
Frankssewingcenter.com
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Spring Class Schedule

Join One of our Clubs!
Embroidery Club meets every other month on the 4th Wed at 1 or 6. Each session of Embroidery Club is full of embroidery designs, projects and ideas that can be used on garments, home dec, kid’s stuff and more. You will receive full color direction sheets for several projects as well as original designs on a diskette in your particular machine's format. No need to download from the Internet or convert designs. During this fun lecture-demo class, held every other month you will also learn helpful hints on embroidering and hooping techniques, stabilizers, marking and new products. Bring your own projects for “show and tell” and there’s always a chance to win a door prize. Join in anytime! It is hosted by Patty Otto. Cost is $20 The dates for the rest of this year are: April 1, May 27, July 22, Sept 23, and Dec 2.
Serger Club also meets every other month on the first Thursday at 6:30. It is hosted by Wendy Rieves. Cost is $5 Dates:Feb 5, April 2, June 4

Sewing Club is held the first Saturday of every month from 10 to 12. Different topics relating to sewing and embroidery are presented by members. This is a free club!

Block of the Month Club meets the second Tuesday at 1PM or the second Friday at 6PM. The new Block of the Month begins in Feb! Wendy Rieves is the designer and host of this meeting. Contact Wendy directly if you are interested in joining this group so she can give you all the information and sign you up! wrieves@aol.com

Classes:

Wool Mittens: Come and see how you can add new life to an old wool sweater. Students will felt a sweater at home before class and then learn how to make a pair of lined mittens. Use of the Baby Lock embellisher will also be shown for decorating them. These warm mittens are perfect for our cold winter! Great gift idea.
Date: Feb 12th 6-9 or Feb 17th from 1-4. Cost: $25. Instructor is Wendy Rieves.

Jelly Bargelly: Join in the excitement of combining colors into a beautifully patterned wave. This pattern can be made with yardage, fat quarters or jelly roll strips. Purchase of pattern is required. Dates: Feb 26, March 5th and March 26th from 6-8:30. Cost $50. Instructor is Wendy Rieves

Basic Serger: Let’s use your serger to the max! Learn how to adjust your serger for the best stitch. Learn a balanced overlock, flatlock and rolled edge stitch along with some easy shortcuts. The use of regular serger thread and decorative thread will be taught. Dates: March 12th and 19th from 1-3:30 Cost is $45 The instructor is Joan Gapinski. Class min is 5 people.

Serger Project Class: It’s time to sew for Spring with ruffles and flourishes using your serger. Try some new Picture Frame Placemats using decorative threads in your serger’s loopers in the morning and in the afternoon, we will ruffle away trimming basket liners, runners and even clothing. You can use the ruffler attachment with bias strips and rolled hems. Pick up materials list when registering. Bring a bag lunch. Date: March 28th from 9-3. Cost is $45

Puffing and Star Pincushion: See what happens when you combine heirloom techniques with a little appliqué! Joyce Ensor will guide you through the delicate art of Heirloom sewing. Date: March 14th 9:30-12:30 Cost: $30

Free Motion Quilting: In this class students will learn how to drop the feed dogs and sail into free motion quilting. No mark patterns will be shown as well as how to use a stencil for quilting. Students are asked to bring a quilt to use as part of a discussion on where to put quilting and how to put it there! Date: March 17th 1-4 or March 19th from 6-9 Cost is $25 Instructor is Wendy Rieves.

Beginning Quilting with Diann
Make an easy log cabin quilt. This is a very popular quilt pattern. Skills to be taught include fabric selection, rotary cutting, strip quilting, simple block matching, border construction, and basic machine quilting. 4 student min Dates: April 20,27th May 4th and May 11th from 6-8:30 Cost is $55

T-shirt Quilt: Are you looking for the perfect graduation gift for someone special? A t-shirt quilt is a great way to showcase life’s memories. (and get all those t-shirts out of the drawer!) Date: March 22 Sunday 1-6 or May 9th 9-2. Cost: $40. The instructor is Wendy Rieves

Young Adult Sewing Classes:
Make a Pair of Comfy Lounge pants! The class is designed for students ages 8 and up, with or without an adult partner. Date: April 3 and 17 from 5-7pm Cost: $40 Instructor is Wendy Rieves

Make an Appliquéd Fleece Lap Blanket. This fringed quilt is two sided with an appliqué in the corners. A variety of appliqués will be presented. Date: March 21 from 3-6 Cost:$25 Instructor is Wendy Rieves

Class Registration Information
Sign up early as classes fill quickly! You may register for classes at the store, or by phone (262) 547-7774. Payment must be made at the time of registration. If you wish to register by telephone, please have your credit card ready. Most classes require a minimum of four (4) students. Supply lists should be picked up at the store. We would appreciate it if you purchase your supplies at Frank’s. We will be happy to assist you in gathering all the necessary materials, and give you a 20% discount! You must cancel at least two (2) weeks in advance to receive a refund. No credit for no-shows. We look forward to having you in class!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Project Linus

I am not sure how effective Brad has been at getting the information out about Project Linus this year. Everyone has a chance to win a sewing machine....So you should enter!!!


10th Annual Make a Blanket Day
February 21, 9-5
Frank’s Sewing Center


Donate a blanket from now until Feb 21,or come and sew with us on the 21st and you will be entered into a drawing to win a Babylock Grace Sewing machine from Frank’s Sewing Center.
See the Project Linus website for ideas and size recommendations if you are making your own blanket. http://www.projectlinus.org/
Blankets can be knitted, crocheted, or sewn.

Please sign up so we know how many people to expect on the 21st. Participants are asked to bring 1 yard of a fleece fabric. Bring your own sewing machine, scissors rotary cutter and pins if you are able.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Everyday things get a little better at the Rieves and the Korslin household. Tomorrow I get to go and read a story to my nephew's second grade class. I am reading Robert the Rose Horse. It was a family favorite as I was growing up since my brother's name was Robert. I often wondered why there was not a book with Wendy in the title. I will have to settle for Wendy being a major character in Peter Pan.

My friend Chris Kirsch has come to my rescue and is finishing the binding on the BOM quilt. I had it sewn on and some of the hand work done but this morning it was more than I could handle. She is taking it to Frank's as soon as it is finished.
I had Julie Meeks quilt the quilt except for the borders. (She did a great job) That was a great way to go. It kept the cost down and it let me add my own flourish with my feather quilting in the two outside borders. Another added benefit of that is that it was basted around the edge so I did not need to do any pinning. I really like this quilt. The Block of the Month groups will have a great time making it. The club starts next week! (except for my Monday Ladies) We will start with a simple block and you will not need any of your own fabric for this block. It will be great fun!
Be Creative!