American Sewing Expo 2010 (Sewing Expo Review) 
Michigan, UNITED STATES |
| Viewed 5006 times |
|
Review rated Very Helpful by 8 people |
| Posted by: |
ggf2005 |
 |
| About ggf2005
|
| TX USA |
| Member since: 2/26/09 |
| Reviews written: 58 |
| Sewing skills:Expert/Couture |
| Favored by: 13 people |
| expos reviewed: 1 |
| Bio: more...
|
|
| Posted on: |
10/4/10 0:12 AM |
| Rating: |
 |
| Web site/URL: |
 |
This was the second year that I attended the American Sewing Expo in Novi, MI. Last year when I told people that I came from Texas most people were like...you came all the way from Texas for THIS! As a consequence I was a little defensive when I told people where I was from this year; however, most responded differently...I'm guessing those other people were not passionate about sewing.
Initially was on the fence about attending the Expo this year, but when my blouse was selected for the Natural Fiber contest, I decided that I would attend, besides I really wanted to get my hands on fabrics that I can't find locally.
I took three classes: Cool Tricks, Sewing and Crafting for Profit, Leather 101, and Stablalization 101.
Friday morning 8:30 a.m. (yikes! I'm getting up early on my vacation!) Cool Tricks with Kenneth King... awesome! Kenneth is a very down to earth, approachable, and appreciative person. I've been sewing for 40 plus years and yes this old dog learned a couple of new tricks. This particular session was three hours long and hands on. How I wish that these classes could have prerequites. I know how to do most of the things he showed us but there were some folks who appeared to have never taken a sewing class. Thus, he spent a lot of time explaining sewing basics which burned up our time for the hands on stuff.
I grabbed a bite to eat at Mr. Popcorn...can I say that I was too excited to eat, but I knew I needed to put something in my stomach. At any rate I spent the rest of the afternoon shopping. It appeared that there were fewer vendors and demos than last year but I knew which vendors I wanted to see. Can you say Haberman's Fabrics? Oo la la with the cashmere wool and luxurious faux fur. Then Vogue Fabrics, had to get some shearling, and the funky trims that my DD went gaga over. A new vendor and nice surprise African Fabrics from Kenya; I just had to have some mudcloth. By the time I put these goodies in the car my PR pal KMQ had made it to the Expo and we perused the marketplace together. Ok, I won't tell you all the details of what I bought, because I bought a lot of stuff...but that was one of the reasons that I attended the Expo.
Saturday 9:45 Sewing and Crafting for profit more good information here; but, I have a degree in accounting and well... Later the *Squeals* fashion show. I had a blast with meeting PR pals and hanging out at the PR booth until fashion show time. I even had to opportunity to do a little teaching when a desperate seamstress showed up with a sewing 911(see profile photo). The fasion show was so cool, the last time I did this was back in the '90s when I was working on my Fashion degree and we had to volunteer as dressers for an annual fashion show at the apparel mart.
Sunday 8:30 a.m. Leather 101 with Kenneth King. This was a six hour hands on class. I already knew some of the techniques,i.e., how to do a flat felled seam, a lapped seam, and a bound buttonhole; but not which ones would be appropriate for leather.
Sunday 4:00 p.m. Stabilization 101. Which stabilizer to use when doing machine embroidery was the focus of this class. The instuctor really knew her stuff and I learned a lot that I can now apply when using my embroidery machine.
The Expo closed with drawings for great prizes...you could feel the excitment in the crowd!
Back to the hotel to pack for the trip home on a 7:15 a.m. flight Monday morning. Oh yeah, last year I paid $65 extra to bring all my goodies home on the plane, this year I went to the 24/7 Fedex/Kinkos office and shipped the bulk of my fabric home for a meer $13.34.
happy sewing!
|
|
|Login|Help]
I'm glad you had a good time. Hope you come again next year so that we can hang out. BTW you forgot to mention that Friday way your birthday and that I treated you to dinner. Not my fault the food wasn't so good! LOL
10/4/10 9:07 AM
What a great write up of your experiences at the show. It was nice to hang out with you at the PR booth.
10/4/10 1:31 PM
I am so glad you were able to make it this year. Having not met you until now, I enjoyed talking with you. I hope that you are able to return! Do keep in touch. L
10/4/10 8:27 PM
Thanks you guys and especially KMQ. You were receptive to a request from a stranger and now I have a sister friend in MI! The food may have been blase', but the company was awesome! Thanks for helping me celebrate my birthday!
10/5/10 10:45 AM
This review makes me sorry I missed it this year. Love your fedex idea.
10/7/10 6:41 PM
Glad she had a good time at the expo. I have been attending for many years.
10/15/10 3:47 PM
As a native Michigander/Michiganian, I'm terribly sorry to hear the negative response you received. My guess is it is more of shock that someone would travel so far for a sewing expo. Only those of us who have it in our blood can understand the passion behind the craft. This was my first year to attend although it's been on my list for over 10 years! I was in heaven! BTW, thanks for the FedEx tip! Please come back and visit us again.
11/18/10 9:28 PM
kaycee959...thanks i will!
11/19/10 2:52 PM
Hi! I found your review very descriptive and it provided me with ideas to use in a future sewing trip. I love the idea of mailing the stuff home. I have started doing that on trips for visits. I also think maybe you could send a note to the Expo directors about having an assistant to help with the classes (beginners slowing down the classes) would be fabulous to incorporate. You said you went to 3 classes, but I counted 4: that is indicative of how excited and overwhelmed you were! LOL. I cannot imagine doing a bound buttonhole in leather, but I have them on all my garments. They are unlike a wool type though (I think). When I have gone, I have blown big bucks on books, and PatternMaster by Wild Ginger, I am on my 5th upgrade; I have never got one to print a pattern yet. : ))) Oh well. Sewers do it with patience! Regards!
12/19/10 5:58 PM
Swilliams, thanks for your note. hmmm...I'm guessing that I only counted the classes that I paid for--the fourth was a freebie for signing up and paying on line.
12/20/10 10:57 AM