Christopher Nejman - Tulsa Ok

Once again, Christopher wowed them at B Sew Inn, Tulsa, Ok and I was fortunate to be there. We had an up close and real look at one of his handbags from his forth coming new book. You can see peeks on his web site, www.bagsandpillows.com .Mary Hess owner of B Sew Inn, was the very lucky recipient of this gorgeous bag and guarded it closely. Lol He also showed a bronze tote with one of his stunning embroidery designs.

Janie and I assisted him as the attendees to his seminar did hands on punching on brand new 12 needle Baby Lock Embellisher's. What a great machine. Christopher showed some new techniques and more new ribbon florals that were so creative. I can't begin to cover it all, but you could feel the inspiration and people wanting to run home and do new things. They did! The second day they came back with show and tell from what they had done after the first day.

And then there was the B Sew Inn. What a magnificent Baby Lock dealer. The largest in the US and the staff was like a sewing university. You asked, they knew and would show you how. Incredible! If you are traveling thru Ok and you sew, or think you want to sew, this is a must see store. Visit their web site www.BSEWINN.com and see for yourself.

First Ellegante2 Embroidery

Goodness, it's been awhile, with all the excitement of having a new machine and reading manuals and workbook; I finally have produced my first embroidery on my Baby Lock Ellegante. I played with some little things and then said go for it on the real thing. Of course, I made pillow!

I found the Ellegante to be very user friendly and it sews like a dream. I love using it. Of course there is a new machine on the horizone...the Ellisimo. I'm just going to look when it comes out this fall. Tee Hee

In Her new home

And ready to go. Software installed and love the Designer Gallery Interactive Embroidery Designs. What a great concept. In a flash you can make hundreds of designs. The one I have is home Decor. Think I will try this first.

So much to learn and so much I want to do. Time needs to stand still awhile. However, without Christoper Nejman, none of this would have ever happened and so I profusely "Thank " him again and to the wonderful Judges and sponsors, Babylock, Robison-Anton, Sulky and Amazing Designs...Thank you all again.

The Big Day

Eileen, the Baby Lock Representative and Richard Luster owner of Sewing World, Inc.,presented me with my new Baby Lock Ellegante2 sewing/embroidery machine. It was so exciting to see it, feel it and touch it. I also received the bonus pack which included Designer Gallery Software, Studio Plus, Interactive Designs, stabilizers, Robison Anton Threads and 2 free on-line classes.

I spent the day in class amazed at the machine threading itself and the unbelievable amount of decorative stitches.

Robison-Anton Thread Prize

Christmas in May. Today I received 62 spools of Robison-Anton Threads, a thread rack and 3 packages of pre-wound bobbins. I have gone to thread heaven. This is part of my prize for First Place. I immediately unpacked and found a home for all of them. There were a few spools of 300/4 Super Brite Polyester Floss. They are extremely shiny and just beautiful. I haven't used this thread before, but I am really anxious to try it. Look for this thread next time you are in a sewing/quilt store. You have to see it for yourself.

I WON

Excited isn't the word for it. I am ecstatic. I have won the Baby Lock Ellegante and Robinson Anton Embroidery thread. I have been on the Baby Lock site at least a half a dozen times looking at my new machine and all the features. It cuts jump threads, can you believe it? I cannot wait to embroidery on it.

This would never have happened without Christopher. He is the "man" that made all this possible and for us to step out of the box and go for it. He is the man who initialized this contest, got 12 amazing Judges that are tops in the sewing industry and Baby Lock, Sulky Threads, Robison Anton Threads and Dreamworld to provide these wonderful prizes. Thank you all.

Who would have thought that all this resulted from buying Christopher's Pillow book and joining his on-line Yahoo class a year ago to learn his methods?

2008 Punching Idol Winners

To view all the winners pillows go to www.bagsandpillows.com

Getting Ready

The Punching Idol Contest was almost upon us and with that in mind, it was time to clean up the sewing room. You all have done this, start cleaning and then run into a UFO and get side tracked. No, had to keep going. No distractions.

We would get instructions and there would be an unusual product used in this pillow project. I anticipated a lot of things and had them on hand. Never would I think of panty hose. That's right! Panty Hose was to be used to punch the base of the pillow. The theme was The Magical Forest of Good and Evil. In addition to making the pillow in a 3 day time frame, Power Point Presentations and beauty shots of the finished pillow had to be taken. A little stress here, you think?

Meeting Christopher Nejman

Well, I have a little catching up to do, but my memories of meeting Christopher at Jackman's Fabrics are still very vivid. I have never attended a class with such interest, enthusiasm and attention. This two day class of students soaked up more techniques and ideas, then going to week of classes. In addition to being excited about what they were learning, they giggled, laughed and danced in the isles.

And then there was the shopping. What a wonderful store! One of the finest I have ever been to in my travels. Baby Lock machines, quilt fabric, decorator fabrics, trims and I could go on and on. If they didn't have it, you might not have needed it. And the only thing to top off great shopping, would be the staff at Jackman's. They are exceptional. Put this store on your list of places to go.

You ask "Whose Legs are these"?

Christopher has said many times, sew with your lipstick and high heels on. I said "Oh, I do." (jokingly) His response? Prove it.

So my husband said, send him your picture with your high heels on. Being creative we came up with a picture and sent it to Christopher. After he settled down from laughing, he said it would make a great poster for our up and coming Punching Contest. With his paint brush in hand, he created this poster. Not what you would think of as a poster for the sewing world, but Christopher's Master Punchers think "out of the box".

So not bad legs for a 69.99 year old lady, having a great time. Would like to hear from you all, so please leave a comment or E mail me. sewsweet22@gmail.com

We're on a roll now!

It was exciting enough just to be graduating and becoming one of Christopher Nejman's Certified Teachers, but the Punching Contest is just over the Top. With some of the biggest names in the sewing world judging. Prizes to die for. What unknown project will they have us do, color, scheme, style...too much to think about right now...My brain will just swell up and burst.

Whose going to St Louis?

I am! Have to shout about going to Jackman's Fabric's to meet and assistant the MAN. Mr. Christopher Nejman, live and in person. I have studied, read, punched and made pillows for a year now, learning machine punching, wonderful new techniques and creativity "out of the box". So needless to say I am very excited to meet the man who has certainly been my greatest influence, mentor and leader to get me this far...and much further. My star is starting to glow.

What a Thrill!

The Pillow on the heading of my blog has a Christoper Nejman embroidery design from his Elegant Decor 1 design pack. I manipulated the design, altered and inserted another design from his CD collection and came out with the elegant design you see. Christopher loved it and sent it to Amazing Designs.

They are now going to include this design in their advertising on their web. I am so honored and thrilled. So I just had to brag and boast.
.http://amazingdesigns.com/

Tropical Winds

When I showed this pillow to a very good friend of mine, she said it reminds me of a water spout. Well Yes, that made me feel like I accomplished the assignment. This pillow was created by Christopher as he watched a hurricane pass over, with swirling winds. Now that is creativity.

Desert Turquoise

This pillow is delicious. From Christopher's book, He wanted this pillow to represent stones. I can imagine this pillow in luscious browns and calling it Chocolate Buttercream. I believe this pillow done in any color is a true center piece.

OH, The Ra Pillow

Representing the Egyptian God of Ra, with its royal color and sunburts. So majestic.

This pillow was wonderful to recreate from Christopher's Book " Pillows" and Master class.
http://bagsandpillows.com

Along came Christopher Nejman

I watch and tape a few sewing and quilting shows. About a year ago I was watching an episode of Sewing with Nancy. She had a guest named Christopher Nejman on her show. He was using a Babylock Embellisher and punching an assortment of fabric (no cotton); satins, linings, silks.
I was amazed. I had an Embellisher for just about a year and a beautiful box of colored rovings. I had punched rovings, made some flowers, a cat, some designs, but it was just to blah for me and the machine just took up space and gathered dust. This guy had metallics threads, angelina, crystals, gems, glitter, paints and a BOOK coming out that I could learn how to do all this. He was punching happy glittery shining fabrics and creating beautiful designer pillows. I watched this episode 4 times, each time I was more excited. I went to his Bags and Pillow web site and immediately ordered the Pillow Book.

It all began

I have sewed most of my adult life, you know cute little dresses for the girls when they were little, a few creative outfits for modeling. That didn't last long. Tried many other crafts along the way, nothing held my interest. Back to sewing again, this time clothes for me. Along the way gifts, home decor stuff and baby gifts. Then I had a lull in sewing until I retired. Never tried quilting, so I took a class (you know the basic Tip Around the World) and off I went on a quilting spree. After a lot of squares, rectangles, half sq. triangles, rulers, templates and books, I discovered that I really wanted to create art. I wanted to do something different. So I searched around again with books, classes, quilting shows and played with a lot of different methods. I thought, you want to do something creative, but whoever said I was an artist and did I have the creativity to do this? Well I found the gentleman that said "yes" you can.