TCCE in a nutshell

I think I have a TCCE hangover! I'm having the hardest time getting back to work and I have soooo much to do. This happens to me every time I return from Quilt Market too. I think it's just all of that creativity surrounding me coupled with the lack of sleep, sugar overload and long hours on the road (or in the air, in this case)... eventually it catches up to you. So, I figured if I blogged today, maybe I can finally put that chapter of my life behind and get on with it... haha (we'll see)

The day I arrived I immediately gravitated towards "the fabric gals"... we pretty much stuck together like white on rice.


From left to right: Kris and Kim from The DIY Dish, me, Jana Nielson, Paula Prass, Betz White and Lizzy House.

But do you blame me? These girls are a hoot!





Here's me with The DIY Dish girls and Paula Prass...



One of the best parts about this trip for me was to be able to spend some quality time with my fabulous room mate, Betz White. Here she is all dolled up for the autograph party...



I was also thrilled and honored to be a featured artist on The DIY Dish. Here we are after filming the segment... passers by kept asking us if we were all related! haha! Kim and Kris are always a pleasure to talk to and they tell me my show will air sometime in November. I did a fun Holiday craft on the show and talked a little bit about my upcoming book, Sewing MODKID Style. I'll let you know when the show is up so you can all check it out!



And I thought it was an absolute treat to be able to hear Holly Becker and Cristina Ferrare speak at the Keynote Dinner the first night. They both had such inspiring stories and one of my goals was to get to meet them in person... and I did!

Here I am with Holly Becker. She is actually about a foot taller than I am, but she was sweet enough to crouch down to my level...



Here she is signing my copy of her DECORATE book, which I love, by the way!



Here I am with Cristina Ferrare (who, by the way, does the best Oprah impersonation I've ever heard!)



Lastly, I was honored to be asked to teach two classes at TCCE and I can't say enough about my sweet students.... they were THE BEST!!!

My cutting table with the goodies donated by Olfa and Prym-Dritz:



The classroom was outfitted with Janome sewing machines and each student received a kit containing everything they needed to complete the project.



My Sun & Surf Tote students cutting their pieces...



My French Window Pillow students sewing their hearts out...



Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of all my students, but here's a few I grabbed before they left. Thank you all... your projects turned out so awesome!!



Phew... now wish me luck getting through everything else on my plate. I have a 7-year old's birthday party to plan, a sewing pattern release to complete, and a booth to design for Quilt Market.... each just as important as the next.

Counting down the days

The Creative Connection Event is exactly 2 weeks from today and I simply can. not. wait. It's gonna be so awesome meeting up with all the great personalities at this show... I already have a list as long as my arm of women I want to get to know. If you haven't made a decision as to what classes to take, I want to let you know that although my Friday classes are now closed, I still have a few spots open in my Saturday classes.

Click on the links or photos below to learn more about my two classes...

FRENCH WINDOW PILLOW COVER
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Teacher: Patty Young

Time: 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Registration code: SPM

SUN & SURF TOTE
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Teacher: Patty Young

Time: 11:00 am - 2:00 pm

Registration code: SAM

And if you are a beginner sewer and are a bit apprehensive, please don't worry... I will have EVERYTHING there for you to get started with. You only need to bring your smile and eagerness to learn something new. :)

And, in case you haven't seen my prior posts on this subject, I have A TON of goodies to give away to all my students... rotary cutters, rulers, self-healing mats, and lots of other things!! So, in addition to a super cute project made by YOU, you will be going home with some awesome freebies from my sponsoring companies, OLFA, Prym Consumer USA and Dill Buttons. How cool is that!?!

Hope to see you all there!!

The Creative Connection Event

Have you heard about this thing? It's three whole days of creative, crafty goodness, or as they say on their website: a national conference and market celebrating creative women and entrepreneurs. I couldn't attend last year because it happened around the same time as my first manuscript was due for my book and unfortunately I just couldn't tear myself away. However, I was tickled pink when co-founder, Jo Packham, asked if I wanted to teach at this year's event! Of course I said yes... and now I want to tell you all about it...

I'll be teaching two classes (click on the name to be taken directly to the class page):

Sun & Surf Tote
At the start of this class I will hand you a kit that contains everything, and I mean, EVERYTHING, you need to complete this awesome tote... from the fabric, to the interfacing to all the notions, including buttons, grommets and even the thread! You will even get the original pattern, so you can take it home and make it again and again. You will walk away with a finished tote, just like the one pictured below, that is perfect for a trip to the beach, swim lessons or a day at the park. Hmmm...maybe it can even become your carry-on luggage for your return trip!





French Window Pillow Cover
Just like with my other class, you will receive a signature MODKID bag containing everything you need to complete this adorable pillow cover, including all the fabrics, the printed tutorial, the binding, thread and even a cute MODKID woven tag! All fabrics are from my Sanctuary line for Michael Miller Fabrics.





Last week, all the materials started arriving from all the wonderful companies I'm working with. Check out this awesome stack of fabric bolts courtesy of Michael Miller Fabrics...



And how about these adorable decorative buttons from Dill Buttons of America, Inc. There are enough buttons here for everyone to have 1 and then some (whatever we don't use, I'll give away at the end of the class).



And last, but certainly not least, I received a box of goodies from my good friends at OLFA. There are circle cutters and rotary cutters galore. We'll get to play with these in class and at the end of the class, I'll draw names for a giveaway.



So, in case you missed it above click here to read more about the Sun & Surf Tote class and here for the French Window Pillow class. Register soon because these classes fill up fast and there's limited enrollment!

Oh, I will also be participating in a roundtable pitch slam session -- Pitch To Become A Designer for a Textile/Licensing Manufacturer. If you've ever wanted to become a licensed textile designer, here's your chance to pitch your collection to a group of experts! I will be sharing the roundtable with Heather Bailey and Suzy Ultman. After pitching their ideas, participants will be able to spend some time with artists that have been through the whole licensing process. The experts in this category are Kathy Miller and Lilla Rogers. Learn more about this Pitch Slam session here.

Hope to see you all there this September! Let me know if anyone has any questions. And if you're attending, let me know too... I'd love to get to know my students in advance!

xoxo