Friday, October 25, 2013


CraftyStitches Sewing Studio is coming to Village at Leesburg 9/1. Check out our pre-opening
events, kids and teens are encouraged to come. Sew somethings fun with us!





About CraftyStitches Sewing Studio:

CraftyStitches Sewing Studio is a place where new and novice sewers can learn howto sew. We have classes from kids to adults. SEW Genius (for kids which focuses on STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics); SEWFashionista (for teens); SEWCrafty (for adults). Join us at one of our sessions. Open Studio time and private lessons
available



Catherine Michael at CraftyStitches Sewing Studio in Loudoun
Come visit us at:
1604 Village Market Blvd SE #105
Leesburg Virginia 20175
(Behind AT&T store)
(571) 291-5070

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

CraftyStitches STEM Sewing Studio is coming to Village at Leesburg in Loudoun 9/1


CraftyStitches Sewing Studio is coming to Village at Leesburg 9/1. Check out our pre-opening
events, kids and teens are encouraged to come. Sew somethings fun with us!





About CraftyStitches Sewing Studio:

CraftyStitches Sewing Studio is a place where new and novice sewers can learn howto sew. We have classes from kids to adults. SEW Genius (for kids which focuses on STEM, Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics); SEWFashionista (for teens); SEWCrafty (for adults). Join us at one of our sessions. Open Studio time and private lessons
available



Catherine Michael at CraftyStitches Sewing Studio in Loudoun
Come visit us at:
1604 Village Market Blvd SE #105
Leesburg Virginia 20175
(Behind AT&T store)
(571) 291-5070

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Sew Genius | STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Education Through Sewing

STEM (SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING & MATH) EDUCATION THROUGH SEWING  

CraftyStitches Learn To Sew Genius - Camps, Classes & Parties in Loudoun
CraftyStitches is so proud to announce that our movement will take on promoting STEM Education for Girls from Early Childhood through K-12.  We are dubbing it Sew Genius - a series of Sewing Camps, Classes & Workshops. These sew camps, classes & workshops will focus on a STEM based curriculum that aims to teach girls Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics skills through sewing. We need more women role models in STEM fields, and as mentioned on the White House page for Women in Science Tech Math & Engineering, we must foster an array of unique experiences and viewpoints in order to support young girls in STEM. In order to promote STEM for minority girls K-12, we need both
CraftyStitches Sew Genius - Young Girls sewing with Stem
formal and informal education to stimulate their minds at different activity levels.  Sewing is a wonderful medium for delivery, as it requires the scientific method and problem-solving analytical thinking while stimulating creativity and a love for beautiful things all at once! Our sewing classes, camps, & workshops will be held at our Leesburg location in the Village at Leesburg shopping center. We welcome students from all surrounding areas, Ashburn, Sterling, Leesburg, Loudoun County, Fairfax, Winchester, Middleburg & Front Royal.

Sewing and STEM

 
Our core education programs are based on a simple methodology to incorporate asking AND answering the following questions in all our projects:

CraftyStitches | Sew Classes, Sew Parties & STEM Sewing Camps in Loudoun CountyScience - How is cloth made?  How do different weaving methods affect the outcome of the textile?
Technology – What technologies are used to make fabric? How have these machines 
changed throughout time, and how have they influenced the different industrial revolutions that have changed how we live today?
Engineering – How do these machines work? What does it take to successfully finish a project?
Mathematics – What's your math? Measure twice cut once. Calculate your seam allowance and project before you cut.






Visit the CraftyStitches website for more information on our Sewing Classes, Camps, & Workshops.
Also come visit us in the Village at Leesburg Shopping center, our address is 

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Sew Food

Sewing has been such a soul searching journey for me. I am so glad that I decided to take this path. I've always enjoyed sewing and have found it as a part time passion. I put it to rest during college because it wasn't fashionable to sew your own clothes or sew your own purses. Everyone carried the Coach style leather bags. Thanks to Vera Bradley, sewn and fabric style handbags are now back in style. She really pioneered that movement of quilted accessories. Now riding on her coatails, I am obsessed with sewn quilted and fabric made accessories. Every time I walk into a store I look at the construction of every piece of accessory I can find and tell my husband "O I can make that". I must have made a gazillion different types of gadgety and fabric accessories. My box of failed attempts are laughable and embarrassing! :) However, this sewing journey has made me really passionate about being ME and accepting the quirkiness of who I am. Sewing has really fed my soul and filled me with a happiness that I never thought could happen. OK yes my family (2 girls and hubby), they make me happy too but a girl has gotta have more than about her life right? I hope all of you find your Sew Food :)

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

New Arrivals at CraftyStitches - Mineral Make-Up Travel Organizers

Features:
 - large zipper pocket for brushes
 - 2 slide tabs for additional brush organizing
 - 5 different size pockets fits 3 small makeup pods/lipstick; 2 large pods or compact sizes

This is such a organizer for the makeup artist who enjoys using their mineral make up even when they are traveling.

Monday, April 30, 2012

Celebrating 2 Year Birthday of "The Perfect Bridesmaids" Travel Jewelry Roll

Coupon Code - BDAY10 to receive our 10% Off Birthday Discount this week.

May is a big month at CraftyStitches.  My birthday is May 9th (and I don't want to reveal my age cuz ya know a girl's gotta keep some secrets).  May 1st marks the 2nd birthday of the The Perfect Bridesmaids Travel Jewelry Roll.  Wow! 2 years old already.  Happy Birthday!  It feels like only yesterday that I sat in my little apartment dinning room table cutting my first jewelry roll for my girlfriend.  Now over 4500 pieces and sold in over 4 countries.  I can't believe it!  Seriously, here I am thinking that it was a small hobby in my living room and turning it to a full time living has been a true dream come true.  Lots of growing pains but all worth the ride.  I have to attribute all this to my family and close friends for their endless support.  If you have not seen the latest Martha Stewart Show on Etsy Show, the head of marketing have mentioned to all Etsy Sellers that we join a team.  Being the Captain of our local street team (CRESTArtisans), really helped me live up to the what I say and what I do.  That accountability and resources is invaluable.  Of course not to mention our team spirit.  We are a great tight knit group.  It's taken us 2 years to get to this point of a great fan page, group facebook page, and etsy team page as well.  When I started I really felt alone and the team made me feel part of a true community with the same passion.

The Perfect Bridesmaids Travel Jewelry Roll is all grown up out of the infant stage.  So for toddlers, this means we are mobile and fussy twos are just around the corner.  Yes we are going to get fussy.  How?  

The Travel Jewelry Roll will be launching a new line of unique handmade local fabric and print designers of Spoonflower in June.  I'm so excited.  The new selection of fabrics are all made and printed here in the US of A.  In support of the spirit of handmade, CraftyStitches will launch a new line of Jewelry Rolls with a selected group of fabric designers from Spoonflower.  Stay tuned for more details and sneak peaks.  not to mention discounts and coupons and freebies too.  :)  heee

Friday, April 27, 2012

The Martha Stewart Show - Etsy Show

The Martha Stewart Show was definitely an incredible experience.  I'm was so excited when I received the invite through Etsy.  It's like a once in a life time event.  I felt like a superstar for a whole week.  

The Etsy Show featured an all Etsy Seller audience, Etsy Fashion Show and 2 special Etsy Seller Artists how to make their awesome craft.  Of course, the star of the show Martha herself is such a graceful lady and an awesome presence in itself.

I arrived to the Chelsey Studios and her staff was ready and prepared to receive all of us.  A blue bus for free coffee and pastry was available to all who are standing in line to get in.  That's a pleasant touch cuz standing in line for 1 hour can get discouraging.  The coffee made you feel like you are a superstar and since it's free, you can drink all you want.  

After checking in with the staff who were all so pleasant and kind, we are seated in a waiting room and greeted by an over energetic and cheerful crowd pumper.  That's his job!  yep all he does is get you excited!  I tell ya he really was an energetic man.  He was giggly, happy, and full of talking points, instructions and just can't stop.  Loved having his energy cuz after standing outside and waiting and overdrinking coffee and now my feet hurt, I was ready to be cranky.  SO having him was key to getting me back in the mood again.

Inside the studio was directed to a specific seating arrangement.  Before I could sit down, I was in awe of the set up.  Each piece of furniture was real and not props.  The kitchen was a dream space cuz that's kind of kitchen I wanted.  The craft table was amazing cuz I too want that in my studio sewing room.  The room was well lit and staff everywhere prepping for the lady to show up.  

Finally Martha walks through the prep kitchen and her magic filled the room.  I felt like I was in the presence of royalty.  Her success definitely speaks volumes and when the person arrived to the set, she lived up to all my expectations.  She's obviously not a woman of waste.  Her every move and speed seemed so calculated.  Her smile right on time.  Her hair perfectly laid and falls just so that it looks natural.  It all seemed so unreal yet real because it is right in front of me.  I was captured!

Here I am sitting in the same room as the lady that has risen, fall, and risen faced challenges and conquered them all.  I wanted to ask her.  I wanted to hear her story straight from her heart and mouth.  She's right there.  Then, it was time for the show to start.  I watched how she handled every reading and line so smoothly.  She didn't need redos or retakes.  In fact, any redo or retakes were due to technical issues and not because she did not study or know her material.  WOW a multi-million dollar corporation and she knows every word, every note, and every segment.  I was so impressed with her (can you tell?)  

When the recording of the show end, she allowed 1 question.  She advised us to "believe in what you do" and boy that's really true cuz we loose faith too easily. After that, she did the most amazing thing and asked her staff to list everyone of us in the audience on her website.  That's huge to me and all sellers who are on etsy-that's just what we needed.  I could have been a lost visitor of the millions that have come and seen her show.  But this time she gave us a moment of her space and TONS of staff labor to make that happen.  I can't thank her enough to have that as a mention to you all today.  THANK YOU MARTHA!  I now know and feel who you are!  You are a real person a REAL REAL honest to GOODNESS person who unlike what they have said about you truly showed a good heart and knows your craft!  So I left there feeling GREAT!  I left there feeling like a superstar and part of something incredible.  THANK YOU MARTHA!