Smocking Arts Guild Convention Tidbits

Our National Convention was held in Atlanta, GA at the Westin Peachtree. It is the tall round building to the right. It used to be the tallest hotel in the world!

I am a little turned around in Atlanta, but I am heading in the right direction....

A better view up ahead on the left. It is missing a few windows. A tornado (the same one that hit the SuperDome a few blocks away) blew out many of the windows at the Westin and not all have been replaced. I have my trusty point and shoot camera in the front seat of the car and I am just shooting thru the window!

My first class on Wed is with Wendy Schoen. She is one of the best fine hand embroidery teachers I know.

We are learning 'Jacobean' Embroidery with 'Goldwork'. This is her sample piece in which she calls us up in groups to watch her demonstrate.

Her stitching is perfect. And she is fast! Her designs are beautiful. The class included a pincushin and embroidery scissors case. The needle case in the background is a different class.

If Wendy is ever in your area teaching a class or if you are ever in the Greater New Orleans area, check out her teaching/school schedule. You will not regret taking a class from Wendy.

Our convention planner takes very good care of us food wise. Look at this marvolous Ceaser Salad! And yes, it was as good as it looks.

And desserts!!!!!! Yum Yum!!!! Too much goodness!

And what do you do when you get too much goodness?

Enjoy a few bites then cover it with salt and pepper! Just in case you fall into temptation....
Now who was it that gave us that advice???? {tapping chin softly....}

Table decorations one day were the sweet smocked Wee Care/Preemie Gowns. Hundreds were made by members attending from all over the states and Canada, Australia (and I cannot remember if there were other countries represented or not.) The gowns were made by hand and donated to be given to the Greater Atlanta Hospitals and I think they were also going to be divided (one of you gals correct me if I am wrong with this statement) amongst the guilds represented to be taken back home and given to their local hospitals.

I have lots more to share. Tons more photos to download, etc. I have to share my roommate's (Maja Clayton of Maja's Heirlooms) adventure and her testimony that came out of it.

Sunday Video

Word of God Speak by: Mercy Me.

Smocking Arts Guild Convention

Oh man what a great time! I have seen Southern Matriarch (a few times) and plan (that is plan, may not do, we are busy busy!!!) to post some photos today!

Wendy, I have a friend who I am going to put in touch with you. She will get you in a smocking guild. :D You will love her she is a top artisan!

Almost time for class!

Project Time! Clipboard...

....tutorial. I am linking this with Just a Girl's I Can Make That Party. Y'all enjoy!

First you want to select the fabric and trim that you want to decorate your clipboard with. You will not need much. Make sure you have enough for the back and to turn up around the edges for 1 1/2". You will need at least 3 inches of extra fabric at the top of the clipboard.

Other supplies that you will need are scissors for fabric, scissors for paper, scrapbook paper and card stock. Clipboard, glue Mod Podge, and we may find we need a few other things as we go along.

Iron the fabric you selected. I rarely prewash, unless the fabric I pick is from my stash & was purchased during my "prewash when I walk thru the door with the new purchase" phase. But you do need to steam out any folds or wrinkles.

Add a few drops of water to your glue. But not too much.


With paint sponge, paint the glue onto the back of the clipboard.

Quickly position your fabric. Before you get to this point, you do need to consider a few things. The design of your fabric, who it is for, etc. This clipboard is for DD's piano teacher. I want to make sure a piano shows on the back. I also like to cut the fabric on the bias. But I do not do a lot of pulling and tugging to the fabric b/c it distorts design.

The diluted glue is forgiving to work with, so if you need to pull it off and do it again, you can. :D Don't do it too much though, clipboards are made of chipboard or something like that....

Using a boning tool or a straight edge (I am using a pencil) quickly rub all the wrinkles and air bubbles out of the fabric.

Clip some of the bulk out of the corners, put some glue around the edge of the clip board and
bring the corners in. Center the corner in first, then miter the rest of the fabric in and trim.

You will need a straight edge blade or zato knife to trim around the clip area.

You will need to get as close as you can. Mod Podge this area. It will keep it from fraying. And if you have any uncovered clipboard at this point, and it bothers you, just get some matching craft paint and cover it. No on will know but you. Then Mod Podge when dry.

I prefer flat embellishments on the back of the clipboard. I have made several. And bumpy stuff anoys me. This is grosgrain ribbon. You can use anything you have on hand.

Another thing to have on hand for this project is fabric glue. It is permanant and will not come off of almost anything so be careful where, when and with who you use it. (Ask me how I know?) Some fabrics and trims have sizing, or are made of polyester that Elmers and mod podge will not work on. Fabric Glue will work and work very well. It is not forgiving. So make sure you use it quickly and know exactly where you want it. No second chances.

While your fabric on your clipboard is drying, select your photos, crop and frame them on scrapbook paper.

After the fabric is dry, add a piece of card stock onto the top of the clipboard by painting the top of the clipboard with more of the slightly diluted glue. You may also have to use a boning tool or pencil to rub out any bubbles, etc.

Crop, glue and frame your photos with scrap booking paper and scrap booking glue. (I prefer the glue over the zots and dots. Zots and dots leave space. You do not want that. Then arrange your photos.

Using mod podge, paste the photos onto the top of the clipboard.

Because my clipboards get a lot of use and abuse, I Mod Podge the front and back. This preserves the photos and if 'stuff' gets onto the fabric, it just brushes off. (I got plaster of paris on one once. Did not realize it until it was dry. Brushed right off!)

Add any other embellishments that you desire. You can really get fancy with these. But I like them more simple. Silk flowers do tend to fall off. I do like to tie fancy yarn and ribbon in the clip portion of the board. They last forever.

Lovely gift for my daughter and for my daughter's piano teacher.

It is really very simple and fun. You can get carried away making them and they really hold up. Y'all make some and if I figure out how to do a Mr. Linky, I will do a Mr. Linky when I get back and we can share. :D

Next week, when I get back from my Smocking Arts Guild Convention, I will do the tutorial on the matching pencil cup.

Sunday Video

Soccer Mom

Fun morning! DD had a soccer game. DH and I, as usual, were on the side lines taking photos. DH took a photo of me shooting.

Here is another photo taken by DH. DD is after that ball.

She scored 3 goals!

Happy Anniversary!

16 years ago, my husband and I married. It has been a wonderful 16 years and I cannot believe how fast the time has gone by. (Happy Anniversary Honey. I know you read my blog every day. I love you and you are a blessing to me.)

We spent our honeymoon in the mountains. (I had two other photos to post, I took them this past June, but I can't find where I stored them.) I saw this heart hanging on the window in the gift shop of the Mt. Pisgah Inn on the Blue Ridge Parkway. We had arrived the night before and it was cold. I remember the inn restaurant had a salad and the most wonderful French Onion Soup. The next morning, after breakfast, I went into the gift shop and saw this heart. I had to have it. I showed it to Ed and he loved it as well. It has been hanging over the sink in my kitchen ever since.

This is my Friday Show and Tell! Thank you Kelli for hosting Friday Show and Tell.

Make sure you stop by Kelli's There's No Place Like Home and check out all the other Friday Show and Tell participants.