So, I’m here – like, in person….in San Diego! I’m so excited because I get to hang out with the amazing Elena of Charity Wings, I’ve never been to California before, I’m getting to meet some people I’ve only known online prior to this, and I get to see and participate at the Charity Wings Art Center for the first time IN PERSON. Now mind you, me, the oh-my-goodness-but-I-despise-hot-weather girl that I am arrived here just as they were having a heat wave WITH humidity but even that didn’t tempt me to head back home. Not once I caught sight of Elena, one of my favorite people on the planet, and the Charity Wings Art Center. This past weekend I even got to take part in a class taught by the – oh I don’t even know if I can find an adjective that adequately sums up just how incredibly talented and inspiring Ruth Rae is!!! I had been feeling a bit like I had lost some of my artsy mojo lately – too much time on the computer and with my face buried in spreadsheets I guess but now I just want to create, create, create!
Look how adorable Ruth Rae is! She made an outfit to match the project we’re making (shown in the first picture – it’s a bag that has a fabric book inside of it and a bundle of love letters. Mine is going to be a special gift for my daughter. She just turned 25, she graduated from university, and she’s getting married next year. Seems an appropriate time for something unique and handcrafted.
Even the kits for the class looked like beautiful Ruth Rae projects!
All of the photos of me in San Diego so far make me look extremely tired. I am extremely tired. It’s been busy and my body is still on Eastern time but Ruth Rae’s class is DEFINITELY worth staying awake for! I learned some great tips – the basics of how to do free-motion sewing, that I adore Janome sewing machines, that Ruth Rae is da bomb!, about using gardening gloves to grip the fabric to make free-motion easier, all kinds of tricks for dyeing fabrics, how to do free motion on a sewing machine that doesn’t allow you to lower the feed dogs, and most importantly, how to get my creative mojo back!
Some of the beautiful creations Ruth Rae brought along to show us (many were even for sale!).
I simply adore that necklace. I was SO tempted to buy it but then decided maybe I should try making something similar for myself with my own words on it – ones that are especially meaningful to me.
I also really loved these cuffs. Ruth’s work is so detailed and just when you think you’ve seen everything a piece has to offer, you realize that there’s yet another little bit you missed. It makes me happy to discover something new every time I look at her creations.
I did allow myself to buy a copy of Ruth’s book: Layered, Tattered, & Stitched (review coming) and two bundles of those luscious fabrics hand-dyed by Ruth.
My first crude attempts at free-motion sewing. I felt like I was a child learning to write for the first time again. With some practice, I started getting a bit of the knack but I still need more. I also found that once I switched to the Janome machine, it was a lot easier for me. I guess everyone has that one certain machine that works best for them.
Starting to lay out a design for my book. I’ll be sharing more with you over the next few weeks as I work to get it completed.
In the meantime, definitely check out Ruth’s blog and Facebook page to learn more this amazing fabric artist.
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