The August calendar at Rocky Mountain Sewing and Vacuum is jammed-packed with events. The store managers and their staffs are busy planning both  the 10th annual Tech Party and the monthly Sew Fun.

Tech Party

What is a Tech Party? Well, get ready for some fun, as Rob shows us new designs, notions, accessories and machines that are being released by the manufacturers. I’ve been to several of these parties and have ALWAYS walked away with something new and exciting that Brother or Bernina or PFAFF have some up with.  Great machines like the Brother Dream Machine are unveiled at Tech Party. Rob first demonstrated the Scan and Cut at Tech Party. Last year we saw the Dream Frame. This year, I’m excited to see a preview of Pfaff Creative Icon coming in October.

What I really love about Tech Party — besides hearing Rob’s presentation — is that he works with the manufacturers to offer special discounts and savings to those attending.  There will be no better time to purchase that upgrade to your Dream Machine, or place a pre-order on the PFAFF Creative Icon. You’ll have to come to the Party to get the details and the deals!

Tech Party Sessions

Rob is going to be worn out by the end of the week as he holds two sessions at each of the stores.

Arvada: Wednesday, August 23, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Aurora: Thursday, August 24, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Colorado Springs: Friday, August 25, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Littleton, Saturday, August 26, 10 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Click on the time you’d like to attend at your store’s location and register.

Sew Fun

As usual, our Sew Fun Presenters have whipped up a variety of fun projects for you.

The Big Book of Strip Quilts

In an earlier blog I described how to create a Jelly Roll Race Quilt, but check out The Big Book of Strip Quilts to find other fun ways to turn a jelly roll into a beautiful quilt.

Cut strips from your stash or gather your favorite precuts to make fabulous strip quilts that shine! Each pattern will inspire you with its remarkably versatile look and scrappy style, easily achieved with simple strips.

This book illustrates how to make 60 stunning strip quilts. What a great value–just pennies per pattern!

You can choose from sizes ranging from wall hangings and baby quilts to bed-sized quilts, all by top designers.

No matter if you are an experienced quilter or a beginner, you’ll find just the project for you in a variety of attractive patchwork styles.

Homemade Lampshades

This inspiring, tantalizing project book shines a light on the most artistic, well made, innovative, and beautiful lampshades you can now make yourself. Bursting with 750 gorgeous photographs to spark your creativity, as well as a multitude of tried-and-true tips and ideas, Handmade Lampshades features 16 contemporary projects presented in useful step-by-step tutorials.  In addition to the huge, pictorial lampshade gallery, which will fuel your own ideas, Handmade Lampshades provides comprehensive techniques you need to know to construct stunning lampshade designs that are fundamentally sound.

 

You’ll learn how to:

• Create a soft-sided lampshade using hand stitching, hand stitching and glue, or machine stitching
• Apply laminated PVC to create a drum shade, pleating, and balloon linings
• Avoid the cost of a shop-bought lampshade and create something equally, if not more beautiful, as well as totally unique
• PLUS, there’s a detailed chapter dedicated solely to the different techniques you’ll need to know in order to make a fabric lampshade for yourself

A striking lampshade can spark an entire look for a bedroom, office, or family room. In addition, the fact that you made it yourself makes it even more special. With Handmade Lampshades, you’ll encounter today’s most creative lampshade makers and find out how they make their masterpieces. At the end of the book, there’s a useful resources section plus a visual feast for the eyes: several pages of nothing but beautiful lampshades.

Design and make a lampshade that suits your personal style and home décor. You can even match it to that quilt you’re making! You will be so happy with the results.

 

August Sew Fun Sessions

To see what else we have in store for you this month, be sure to attend one of our Sew Fun sessions.

With multiple sessions at day at each of our locations, how can you miss it?  We hope you can join us at one of these times:

Aurora: Tuesday, Aug 15, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m or 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Littleton: Wednesday, Aug 16, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m or 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Arvada: Thursday, Aug 17, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m or 2 p.m. – 4 p.m. or 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Colorado Springs: Friday, Aug 18,  1 p.m. – 3 p.m. or 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Come join the fun and eat some chocolate. Find those projects that you didn’t even know you wanted to make!  As always, we hope you’ll bring along something you’ve made to “show and tell.”

Take a look at some of the great projects shown at the July Sew Fun on our Facebook page.

Please Party With Us

Sew Fun and Tech Party are very popular events and seats fill up fast! So come early, claim your seat and do a little shopping while you wait. As always, the stores are well stocked with new machines, notions, accessories, books, embroidery designs, vacuum cleaners, and many more items too numerous to mention.  You don’t need to register for Sew Fun, but please pre-register for Tech Party, so we can make sure we have enough food and chairs!

Miss these Parties, and you’ll miss a lot!