As always, as camp winds down to the last two days, our students are working to finish up their projects and the energy level is super high!  Today was no different.

This camper made her little chihuahua totally by hand.  Then she decided that it needed a boat.  Not completely satisfied with that she decided her little chihuahua needed many more things to be comfortable...

He needed a bowl, a bone, a bed, toys and of course a little bag for his toys.  He also needed water to swim in.  How creative she is!!!  It was so fun helping her make all these things completely from her imagination!

Break time is quite the exciting time now that we have chicks.  The campers love the chicks and as you can see, the chicks love the campers!

These chicks are all getting so much bigger.  They are really comfortable with the campers and like just hanging out with them.

After break it was back to work.

You just gotta love this fabric!!

Doing the last little bit to close up her pillow.

This camper is making a quilt that can cover her.  Here she is measuring for the next sashing to be added.

Lots of fabric to choose from, lots of choices being made, and lots of projects being worked on.

The absolute best way to do some hand sewing.

This pillow is completely the design of this camper.  She drew out what she wanted and took off!  On the back is a little pocket for her phone.  How creative!!

This camper made two headbands in the space of about 15 minutes!  You go girl!

This camper was all wrapped up in another camper's quilt.  A great way to see just how big your quilt is - try it out on someone else!

We were so incredibly busy and had so very much fun today!

We are all set up and excited for our new week of sewing camp!  Our studio has been transformed once again from a...

Weaving Camp.

back into a...

Sewing Camp.

We are looking forward to another fantastic week of camp here at Let's Go Crafting!!  Woo Hoo!

Everyone finished their final projects today!  Woohoo!  Job well done!

This was the first project of the day off the loom!  The hem stitching is done - now this camper wanted to turn it into a pillow.

But first she wanted to embroider her name on it.  What a great personal touch!

All done!!  This is such a fantastic pillow - the fabric was completely woven by her, embellishment added, and hand sewn together.  Simply a great job!

A scarf that had been previously finished, needed the addition of beads to the end.

Actually, it needed the addition of beads to both ends!

Ahh!  Now the scarf is complete!

This camper worked so hard today to finish her weaving.

And so did this camper.

Once, this student's pillow was done, there was not time to warp up another project on the loom.  So...we made a little pin loom so she could do some pin weaving.

Ta-Da!  Another mat hot off the loom!

Success!!  A finished pillow!  Look at those specialty stitches - they are quite time consuming as they require the manipulation of the loom threads entirely by hand.  Great Job, Weavers!!

The weaving today was incredibly impressive!!

This camper is putting the final finishing touches on her mat that she wove in just two days.

Here she is modeling it as a shawl :o)

Doesn't this look fabulous?  She included pile weave and danish medallions in a pattern throughout.

A close up of her handiwork.

The final product!  Simply fantastic!

Another weaver chose the same stitches, pile weave and danish medallions, but with a very different look.  This is so fun and festive!

The start of more danish medallions!

This piece is just about ready to remove from the loom.  I can't wait to see her finish!

WOO-HOO!!  Today everyone finished their first project!

Our first finish of the day!

The second finish of the day!

New weaver experimenting with different weaving stitches.  The pile weave and some danish medallions are being done here.

This student is preparing her loom for her next project.

TAAA-DAA  That is such a beautiful scarf!!  So many lovely colors!

And another lovely, colorful scarf!!  By the end of camp tomorrow everyone will have started their next project.  Yeah!

Take a look at the beautiful things our students are making!

A few campers finished their weaving this morning and started the finishing process.  Here this student is learning how to hem stitch.

This student completed all her finish work and then decided to sew her scarf in half to turn it into a skinny scarf.

Isn't this scarf lovely?!

The same student immediately wanted to start her next project.  She picked her warp and started measuring it out.

Another student finished all her weaving and started the hem stitching.

More hem stitching.  These students should be so proud of themselves!

Of course we had break time and our new baby chicks were enjoying some play time.

Back to work and the measuring of the warp was finished, then it was wound onto the back beam. Now it is time to thread the heddle.

This scarf is just about done!!  Tomorrow the weaving will be completed and the finish work will start.

After break, we took our dyed yarn and started winding it into balls.

This is what it looks like after it has been dyed but before we wind it.

Don't you just love how different each one turned out?

After finishing the scarf, it was time to start a new project.  So it was time to learn how to measure warp.

The first warp is all tied on and the waste yarn has been woven.  New weft yarn has been chosen and the real weaving will begin tomorrow.  Can't wait to see what these campers will be up to tomorrow morning.

I always love the first day of a camp where students meet each other and they begin learning a new fun skill!!  None of the campers (except for one) had ever done any weaving before today.

But they all took to it very quickly.  In this picture, you see two of the students weaving with waste yarn.  We always start a project with waste yarn and soon move into the more fun and colorful yarns.

All of the campers got quite far on their scarves today.

After break time today, we learned how to dye yarn.  They had all different colors to choose from and it will be so fun to see what their yarn looks like when it is dry.

Don't you just love those stylish aprons?!!  They have to wear aprons because the dye will stain clothing.  I made these out of trash bags :o)

Look at that bright, yummy yarn!  I really like the contrast with the dark colored warp.

One of our students finished weaving her scarf today.  Woo Hoo!!  She hem stitched and finished the other end and now she just needs to finish up this end.  Tomorrow she will learn to warp and also learn some specialty stitches along with some beading if she wishes.

We are ready for our weaving camp that starts tomorrow!!  Our studio has had a change from...

Sewing Camp to...

Weaving Camp!

Each loom had to be warped in preparation for our students tomorrow, but I had a lot of help!  Two of my daughters helped to measure warp,

and thread the looms.  I tied the warps onto the front apron rod.  It's great to have help :o)

All of the looms are warped in this black yarn.

And these are the yummy, bright colors that we will be using as our weft.  I can't wait to see which colors each student will choose.

Lots and lots of bright solids and variegated yarns.

Something for everyone!

Friday was our last day of this session of sewing camp and the campers really worked hard to finish their projects!

We started out the day with a cute pair of jammie shorts.

And started new projects.

And more ironing.

And more hand sewing.

Second finish of the morning - a very bright a lively stuffed dog.

The next finish of the morning.

This camper was VERY busy today :o)

Purse strap designed by this camper and sewn on the machine - all other sewing done by hand.

This fawn stands up independently and is sewn completely by hand.

Same bag started by this 3rd grader, but then turned into a top.  Such creativity!!

Another project that stands independently and is sewn completely by hand.

I am completely amazed and impressed by these students!  They can sew so well and are so very creative!  It was a huge joy to teach them.

Our fabric painted pillows are done!!  And they look great!  First we removed the freezer paper from the fabric and then we picked fabric for the pillow backing.After cutting and pinning...We sewed up our pillows, then ironed them and stuffed them.  They all turned out great!  And they are all so different from each other.All the campers were thrilled with their pillows!  Many other things got done today as well.This camper was making letter pillows for family and friends.This camper is finishing up her jammies.  In this picture, she is working on her waistband which is now complete.  Tomorrow she will hem them and they will be done.Such cute fabric - and look at those prairie points at the top.  They are perfect!These two students have spent all their camp time standing at the table working on their various projects.  Such small projects require great concentration, lots of fine motor skills for all those tiny stitches and loads of patience.Nothing better than picking fabric and starting a new project.This student decided to turn the owl pillow pattern into a bag.  I love her fabric choices and just look at the buttons she chose!  Cute, cute, cute!This 3rd grader is amazing.  The coin purse is also a very small project that cannot be sewn on the sewing machine.  It is all hand sewn and has a zipper inserted into the top.Tomorrow she wants to make a strap for it.  I love how these students take a pattern and put their own spin on things to make it just the way they want.A pillow of her own design.  Recognize that fabric?  It's some of the left overs from her robe :o)  Take a look at the photo bomb of  our other student having some fun.

Today is the halfway point of our sewing camp this week.  We worked on our projects and completed some fabric painting that was started yesterday.

Yesterday, we started work on some fun freezer paper stencil art on fabric.

Today we took our stencil art and added additional details with more paint.

Everyone worked on one and ALL of them are different and beautiful.  Tomorrow we will remove the freezer paper, iron them to set the paint and turn them into pillows.

Even with all the painting, this student managed to finish up her quilt.  Don't you just LOVE those fabrics?!

Gotta LOVE these letter pillows!

We have so much fun and accomplish so much, I am always surprised when noontime rolls around and it's time for all the campers to leave.

Today we had another major Taa-Daa moment for one of our students!

This student finished her robe today!!  This was a very long term project, that required lots of patience and determination.  And she is ROCKIN' it!

I can't believe this student and another student were able to make these!  The look and fit great - good job girls!

Lots of other things were going on today as well.  Starting on the second day, the students know where everything is stored and can start right up as soon as they arrive - no waiting :o)

These two are really enjoying their tiny work.  Tiny pieces of fabric and tiny stitches!  They enjoy it so much, I couldn't get them to take a break or get snack!

Campers can work anywhere they wish.  Some stand, some sit on the floor, and some use the shelf top to work.  Whatever makes them comfortable is perfect.

Today two students decided to make letter pillows to spell out their names.  Such fun to pick fabric and sew these up.

She finished her apron!!  Great job!

It is fun to work on sewing with others.

Tomorrow will bring more fabulous fun!

Another week begins with Let's Go Crafting Sewing Camps!

New students have joined us and all are sewing on the machines now.  It only takes about twenty minutes for them to learn to sew a straight seam and to make crisp corners - they are amazing!

We usually start with a sachet as a first project because there are a ton of skills packed into such a fun project.  The students learn about the right side and wrong side of their fabrics, 1/4" seam allowances, how to sew a straight seam, how to turn corners, the importance of ironing seams, hand sewing a neat edge and putting on a button.  WHEW!!  That's a whole lot!!  But no matter the age, they are all up to the task.

Every new sewer finished their sachet and started a new project this morning.

This student was with me last summer and decided to renew her skills by making a bean bag first this morning.

It was a little cold and windy this morning so the campers decided to have snack time inside.  At least the ones that I could convince to take a break :o)

Once the students have made their sachet, they have many other projects to choose from.  Everyone found something that appealed to them and jumped right in.

Some chose bigger projects and some chose smaller projects - there is something for everyone.

Everyone had so much fun picking their fabrics for their projects!

This week of camp has been so much fun.  Although not all the campers knew each other in the beginning, they formed friendships the first day that continued until today.  And hopefully when they meet up again around town, they will continue to be friends.  It's fun to see them all working together and supporting each other.  I am sad to see this group go.  I am excited that some of them will be joining us next week!

Today was an exciting day of finishes.  Earlier this week we did some painting on fabric.

I had squares of white fabric ready for the students.  They taped the fabric to newspaper and then proceeded to tape out designs on the fabric.

Everywhere tape was placed, the paint would be blocked.

Some of them got really creative and made circles and flowers.

Others were equally creative by cutting the tape "thick and thin" to make lines of varying widths.

After each student was finished with their design, we painted on the open fabric areas.

When the fabric was ready, the campers turned them into pillows.

They picked out a backing fabric, sewed the front to the back, stuffed it and TA-DA a pillow is complete.

Each pillow came out different.

And the backing fabrics chosen were also very different.

Talking and sewing :o)

Working on the finishing touches to his project.  Will he finish by the end of today?

After completing their pillows, these campers were ready to start on something new.  They decided on headbands - could they be any cuter?

This stuffed animal is deceptively difficult.  It appears to be just a simple sewing project, but it really is complicated.  There are many, many pieces.  Most of these pieces have darts that need to be sewn to add depth and structure.  Additionally, it is much harder to sew small pieces on the machine than larger pieces.  She did a fantastic job!

 Note the skirt she is wearing - this camper came to camp last summer and that is the skirt she made!! It was so great to see her in it.

 

She made her next two items so quickly there was no time for a photo in between so here you have it, her headband and her letter "H" pillow, both together.

Once their headbands had been made, they still had a few minutes left of class.  They decided to make one last project before the day was done.  Bean bags!!!

I just LOVE the face on this bean bag!

Check out that super cute flower.  She cut 28 individual petals, assembled them and added a button all on her own - no pattern - no picture- just an idea in her imagination.  Fabulous!!

With six minutes left to the end of class this camper decided to make yet another pillow!  I love it when they enjoy sewing so much, they don't want to stop.  Again, note the skirt she is wearing :o)

That student we were looking at earlier and asking if he would finish his "bug" pillow?  Well, yes he did!!!  He learned something new on this pillow - sewing in "relief".  Usually, for this pillow, the kids cut out circles of fabric and sew them to the front.  In this case, he sewed a lining fabric to the back of the front fabric, traced circles onto the front fabric, sewed on those lines, cut out the center circle and now he has some POP in his project!  Doesn't he look proud?

I am excited to see what sewing camp next week will bring!

The last two days of camp have been so much fun!  All campers have completed at least two projects.  I am so proud of all of them!

This is a big, huge TAA - DAA moment for this 7th grader.  She finished her robe and it is simply beautiful!  The workmanship is very professional-it took a long time and a lot of work, but it was well worth it!

Look at that neat and even stitching!

This is a project to be proud of!

Then we have this super cute bat stuffie.  One of the things that makes this so fun and special is the fact that there are pipe cleaners inserted into channels in the wings making them posable.

This camper worked hard selecting just the right fabrics for her quilt and for her backing.  Such a great job!

This camper brought in her favorite stuffie and wanted to make an article of clothing.  Without a pattern, she decided to make a robe.

It's just sooo cute!!  And it fits perfectly!

This 7 year old worked really hard on her backpack.  She has no prior sewing experience and it turned out really well.  Can you tell she is thrilled!!

Another young camper with no prior sewing experience finishes a backpack in no time.  Great job!

This 7th grader made this pillow for her grandparents - it is a special food item that they love.  Isn't that sweet?

O.K.  I have to admit that I simply love these jammies.  I have been wanting one of my students to make some jammie pants since I started teaching sewing.  Now they have been made and they are as cute as I had envisioned them - maybe cuter because of the fabric that was chosen!

They have these perfect little pockets on the sides - Gotta love the contrasting fabric!

Today was even busier than yesterday.  New projects were being started, other projects were being finished or worked on and the energy level was super high!

These two campers were so proud of their pillows.  Look at that super cute fabric and buttons that they chose!

Those same two campers immediately started new projects.  They both decided on back packs and jumped right in.  This camper did not even want to take a break. She worked straight through!

Today almost all of the campers chose to sit on the couches.

Break time did not last long today.  All the campers were excited to come back in and work on their projects.

You may recognize this pattern - it is the owl pillow that has been done by a couple of other students over the course of the past year.  This particular camper chose to change the pattern to turn the pillow into a bag.

Isn't it so cute?!  I love her fabric choices and I love her ingenuity.  Note the owl fabric handle for her owl bag - so fun!

This bag is so perfect!  Great fabric, great construction, great idea - well done!

All students learn to iron and amazingly enough, they like it!  This camper is working on her back pack.

In order for seams to look nice, ironing is a must.  These campers are getting really good at it!

This camper is also making a back pack.  She is waiting to use the iron to put the finishing touches on the lining.  Tomorrow she will make the outer bag and start adding the casing.

This camper decided to make a quilt as her second project.  Just look what colorful fabric she has chosen.  Isn't that such a fun and happy quilt top?!

What you see on that chair are the legs of a pair of pajamas.  I can't wait to show you the finished project - the fabric is just so cute!  See you next time!

Today was our first day of sewing camp and we started out in an upgraded space!

Check out how much space we have!!  Let's Go Crafting's Sewing Studio now takes place in a very sunny, large room with lots of storage and lots of space to spread out and work.

We have better storage for all our fabrics that is much easier to access for our students.  They can see everything available and can pick what ever they feel is perfect for their project.

We have added to our fabrics and now have all the tools and notions organized in those little green drawers.  The tools are much easier to take out and put away!

Even more cabinets for supplies.  And take a look at those mirrored doors on that huge cabinet!  The students can now see themselves in the things they make.  I love, love, love our new sewing studio!!  And after this morning of camp, I love it even more!  The students had a great time and it was so much easier for them to help themselves to the supplies and tools that they needed.

Brand new sewers practicing using a sewing machine.

The first part of camp was super busy - new students were learning how to safely use the sewing machines, and more experienced students were picking their projects and their fabrics.  Snack time occurs about half way through the morning and is a great time to chat and have fun relaxing.  There are two main areas for the students to have their break - at the patio table and...

on the couches.  At this time of the morning, it is very nice outside.  Shady and cool.

First finished project for this camp.  This student turned her practice square into a little pillow with such cute buttons!

This student came to our sewing camps last summer and didn't quite have time to finish her robe.  She is back and should finish up tomorrow!  Camp today was a huge success!!  Tomorrow should be even better!

We have been having such a good time and working on so many great projects lately in our sewing classes.

Lately, our 3rd graders only want to work on tiny, palm held, felt animals.  These can actually be quite hard to put together - the pieces are super tiny and have to be hand sewn carefully.

Isn't this the cutest little puppy?!

The exact opposite of those tiny projects is this summer robe.  This student is doing a fabulous job of putting together her robe - she is quite a bit farther along than this photo shows - she has inset both her sleeves and sewn up the underarm seam.  Not much longer now and she will be totally complete.  WOOHOO!

This student worked so hard on his stuffed dog!  Doesn't he look proud!

I had to show a close up of that cute face!  I love the fabric and color combinations and the eyes are just precious!

These small pouches come together really quickly - both students completed their pouches in two sessions.  Great sewing!

Carefully chosen and cut fabrics to make a...

Beautiful Pillow - monogrammed and everything!

When our students need to do any hand sewing, you can most often find them out on the front patio enjoying the weather and friendship.

These animal pillows are so much fun to make!

Any fabric and colors can be chosen to individualize them.

And lest you think it's all work, work work...

A little levity to make you smile :o)

They are playing around with a knitted pillow sample that had not been quite finished.

Maybe it shouldn't be a pillow, maybe it should be a hat!!

And the knitting continues!!  Our students are having sooo much fun and creating so many great projects!

When we knit, we all sit together at the picnic tables at the local elementary school.  As  you can see, they are just having such a good time.  Nothing better than knitting and chatting with friends!

This is a first project for this third grader.  She has worked so hard on this and she is now having such a nice tension and getting a great fabric.

Lots of collaborating happens in these classes.

One of our third grade students knits quite a bit at home on her own.  She decided that she wanted a bag and created one.  How fabulous is that??!!

Doesn't it look just great?!  It's the perfect size for her, just what she wanted and it hangs exactly where she wanted it to hang.  What an accomplishment!

Here is that monster in all it's glory.  I love it!  The color of yarn she chose is so festive and happy.  This is her first project and it came out simply marvelous!  Now she is on to her next project - a teddy bear - a perfect knitter, always something on her needles!