Designer Linda Lee and her "Sewing Workshop"

Meet Linda Lee of the Sewing Workshop 

 Topeka, Kansas 

I have always admired sewing guru  Linda Lee and her many talents.  She is well known in sewing circles for her wonderful patterns, and the place women gather to be creative and share their love of haute couture at "The sewing workshop" It was there many came for inspiration and classes.  The San Francisco store was home to many now famous sewers.  Most all who took classes there enjoyed the quality teaching and materials there.  The store was loved by many in the bay area before it was sold and she moved to Topeka.  Not only is she an author of nearly a dozen quality sewing books, she is also a teacher who travels the country teaching fine sewing techniques, and creative inspiration.  Linda is available for special classes, lectures and sharing her love of sewing for the home and creative clothing. 

Linda's books include:

• Sewing Beautiful Pillows
• Scarves to Make
• Sewing Stylish Home Projects
• Sewing Edges and Corners
• Mastering Miters
• Sew Sensational Pillows
• Designer Home Sewing
• Sew Easy
• Sew Easy Bags
• Sew Easy Scarves

Here Linda is showing us how a pattern is made.  Kathy is putting her last few updates on this pattern that is about to be released.   It is a wonder anyone goes into the pattern making business when you hear how long the process takes and what is involved.

Off the beaten path in the town of Topeka Kansas The Sewing Workshop is tucked inside this antique brick two story building occupying the entire 1st floor (and basement for storage)  Her store is full of beautiful fabrics and notions and garments that provide inspiration and opportunity for creating some distinctive garments. In the front of the store there are sewing machines along one long wall, set up and ready for sewing classes.  were    

 In the front of the Sewing Workshop there is an area set aside for teaching

This is Erin, she is behind the scenes at The Sewing Workshop.  I loved her fresh ideas and sunny take on everything.  She submits articles to magazines and teaches some of the classes.

Here Linda Lee shares a new pattern that they are in the throws of finishing.  We really liked the skirt pattern and it has arrived to market faster than my posting this blog.  http://sewingworkshop.com/shop/new-products?page=shop.browse&category_id=52

This is the Eureka top and skirt.  I am looking at fabric to make this in.  My Mom gets all of Linda's patterns shipped automatically so we got this pattern right away.

I really enjoyed how Linda and company enthusiastically bubbled on about the new patterns they had coming out.  They showed us some inspirational pieces they used when gathering ideas for a new pattern. Linda took us on a tour of her facility where we saw her video's, fabrics, notions, accessories, and racks of made to perfection samples, many which were going out in the mail to stores carrying her patterns as samples.

I really enjoy reading Linda's blog http://sewingworkshop.com/blogs there I find her patterns made up by class attendees and samples by Linda, Erin and Kathy. 

Some of Linda's older patterns were discontinued, and now are offered by a down loadable e pattern.  Kathy talked to us about E patterns and how they work.  They are doing well for those sewers who desire  patterns quickly. 

To download Linda Lee's patterns:

Downloading Sewing Patterns can be fast, easy and convenient. Linda's article offers great tips and tricks to make the downloading process a little easier!
DOWNLOAD -- PRINT -- SEW!
Every pattern company is different. Curious how our ePatterns work? Download our instructions: ePATTERNS-downloadinstructions.pdf.

There are advantages and disadvantages to consider before downloading a sewing pattern. The cost of a pattern download is less than buying a printed pattern. But the best part is the instant gratification: Buy it now and wear it tomorrow. I had to look into this a bit.  This article from Sew News was helpful

http://www.sewnews.com/articles/online_sewing_patterns

-Kathy was working out the latest pattern.  We got a sneak look at the samples – can’t wait until the pattern comes out this month – just my style

Back of store has beautiful fabrics that she collects for inspiration and to make samples of her patterns. These fabrics are for sale on her website too
http://sewingworkshop.com/shop
(Lucky for us!)

Linda recommended stitch magazine.  She showed us the jacket that is featured in the latest Winter 2012 magazine on p.49 sewdaily.com the features rectangle coat  byLinda Lee  Also Fall 2012 featured sewing with knits byLinda Lee
Secrets for mastering this versatile fabric
PLUS: Bonus T-shirt Project!

The three of us went to lunch at noon driving to her favorite Mexican food place.  We have known each other for nearly 20 years so we spent lunch reminiscing about our past projects and people and the good old days of "The Sewing Workshop" when she was in San Francisco.  It was nice to catch up from our last visit when Linda was a speaker at a trunk show in Sacramento.  We hope to see her again in February when we attend the The Sewing and Stitchery Expo is the largest consumer sewing show in America. The 2013 dates are: February 28, March 1-3, 2013, at the Puyallup Fair & Events Center in Puyallup, Washington.  http://www.sewexpo.com/about-expo.htm

Tennessee Music Highway - Tennessee USA

Memphis in December

"From Elvis and Tina Turner to Carl Perkins and The Kings of Leon, the Tennessee Music Highway is the most important geographical location of musical influence on the planet."  http://tnmusichighway.com/  This was the stretch of road for me today.

First thing I noticed when I walked off the plane was how polite everyone is. The moment you step off the plane there are senior greeters, there to say welcome to Memphios and give you direction to your next gate, the baggage claim or a quick stop for food or shopping.  I also noticed that most everyone  was reffering to me as  "Mam" and in a completely positive, well manored way.  And never mind that it made me feel a bit "old"

I rented my car (Budget, and yes it was a "budget" especially for a one way rental) and hit the road for my first three appointments.

With an afternoon free we shopped at Worlds Away www.worlds-away.com.   We went there to see interior furnishings and accessories that are sold in the larger and finer department stores.

My recommendation is to give yourself plenty of time to go through the store.  There is so much to see and it's a little un-organized.  (See picture below)

What we discovered is that they carry seconds and returns, all priced to sell, off their retail floor. Many items are damaged with deeper discounts that reflect it.

World's Away also has showrooms in Atlanta, Chicago and Los Angeles.  This one in Memphis is their public outlet. Worlds Apart is located right next to the Liberty Bowl.

Designers can shop wholesale at Worlds Away, and anyone can browse the stock.  Their items are manufactured abroad and sold to high end store and through catalogs.  They carry small furniture, light fixtures, home decor and fabric from the company's collections catalog.  (TI went online and ordered their catalog when I returned home.)  If your in Memphis I say "Check it out!"

http://www.worlds-away.com/
Contact:
HOME OFFICE:
WORLDS AWAY
322 SOUTH HOLLYWOOD
MEMPHIS TENNESSEE 38104
(901)529-0844
(901)527-3406
PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT TO OUR
SALES MANAGER, NEAL EDWARDS

I found it!

The "ah ha" moment of the day was discovering the most delightful shoes.  Yes delightful and shoes in the same sentance.  These comfortable smart looking shoes were for sale in the back of the showroom.  These shoes are hand made by the Charleston Shoe Company and the owner of this showroom is the mother of the developer of these fantastic fabric shoes.

Www.CharlestonShoeCo.com

We loved the colors, simplicity and contemporary style. I decided to try on a few and they were indeed comfortable.  They are made of elasticated fabric, and they can be machine washed in cold water on the gental cycle.  (I saw directions on YouTube.com) I fell in love with the wedge bootie ( in black) and the flat brown suede pair.  I went online to see what else they offered and will be ordering the boots soon.  I'll keep you posted when I get a list of locations that sell these shoes and a review when mine arrive as to how they fit.

We had a long drive ahead the next morning, and bad weather to boot so I turned on my GPS and drove East on the Tennessee Interstate freeway. Highway 40 traverses the entirety of the state from west to east, running from the Mississippi River at the Arkansas border. We drove the stretch of land between Memphis and Nashville also known as the “Music Highway”  Driving across the state we noticed the landscape was beautiful and getting ready for winter. The trees barren of leaves now were thick and lined all the rivers and creeks.  More on my trip tomorrow

Jonelle'

 

 

The Night Lights of Nashville

 

Nashville Country Music Capital  

 

The drive from Memphis to Nashville was a wet and scary adventure. We probably picked the wrong time of year to explore the countryside. We slowed our travel down considerably with sheets of rain rolling across our windshield. 

 

 

 

 

Nights & Lights Tour
Nashville is a lovely city that reminds me very much of my home city of Sacramento.  After my appointments we decided to tour the city that evening by Grayline Tour bus.  We signed up for the lights of Nashville tour and were very pleased with our guide Brian who was a retired history teacher and budding storyteller. The Nashville Nights & Lights Tour is the perfect way to see Nashville.

http://graylinetn.com/services/sightseeing/nashville-nights-lights

 

We started the tour with dinner at Rippy's BBQ a local staple for awesome ribs.  The place was crowded, but they brought us next door where a prefix dinner was offered.  Other groups were also dining there and the atmosphere was lively.

 

 

They served flat pancake like cornbread, ribs with your choice of a sweet sauce and spicy sauce (that they make in house). We also had sausage slices that were yummy, shredded pork, coleslaw (I liked it as it was all minced into small bits and blended nicely with light dressing) and really creamy baked beans - ah yum!

 

http://rippysbarandgrill.com/

 

Next a quick check of Tootsies  because of it's reputation.  Tootsies is a country western bar that is always filled to overflowing. It can be a little shocking to find out that that it is so small and rundown, but if you sure can appreciate it's history- many country entertainers got their start here.  There on the wall behind the band are photos of many of those who payed there before they became famous.  I can't believe it but they have live music from Live music from 11 am through 2:30 am.

 



http://www.tootsies.net/




Down from Rippy's a short walk to Ernest Tubb, nicknamed the “Texas Troubador”, Record Store.  Ernest was a pioneer of country music in Nashville and his store carries CD's and music









Next we (nine in our group) boarded a small bus and tour guide Brian recounted the old buildings in the downtown and stories of the businesses that occupy those structures. We saw the waterfront that was stunning at dark with the beautiful bridge all lit up.  We saw historical sites, the states capital, college campuses, Historic Riverfront Park, the Ryman Auditorium, Schermerhorn Symphony Hall, The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, the State Capitol,  Bicentennial Mall, LP Field (home to the Tennessee Titans), The Parthenon in Centennial Park, country music business district and several downtown parks.

One interesting thing about centennial park: the east side of the park features the Walkway of Counties that contains a time capsule from each of Tennessee's 95 counties. These time capsules will not be opened until the Tercentennial in 2096. More information:http://images.enhancements.org/1-Ped-Bike-Facilities/Bicentennial-Mall-Nashville-TN/8742687_LJpCVr/578368327_zVZfHBp#!i=578368327&k=zVZfHBp


I also liked the "Pathway of history" a 1,400-foot Wall of History engraved with historic events that have occurred over the past two centuries. A granite pylon marks each ten-year period along the wall. The wall 'breaks' at the time of the Civil War to represent the divisive nature of the war on the state.Read the engraved items from the Wall of History (pdf)

http://www.tn.gov/environment/parks/Bicentennial/historical/index.shtml

 

Not only is Reba McIntyre  beautiful, and great country singer, comic, television star and actor on Broadway she looks like she might be a savvy business woman too.  This Queen of Country, having sold more than 70 million records worldwide has an office building on country music row

What a great way to see the city, learn the history and hear the stories to really bring a familiar feeling to a much talked about town.  Last stop is filled with fun as you get your boots to scootin’ to the live music of Honky Tonk Row enjoying free time in downtown Nashville.

This was a 5 hour tour, but with all the difficult driving, meetings and travel I did that day we asked Brian if we could call it a night as he dropped the group off at Tootsies to experience the night life.  He, in his Tennessee way, smiled and said he'd be glad to obliged us and would drop us right to the hotel. What a wonderful night

 

Next visit I am planning to visit:

 

Grand Ole Opry2802 Opryland Drive

Nashville, TN 37214
(615) 871-OPRY
opry.com
Every week, the Grand Ole Opry takes the excitement of a live audience, the heritage of the world’s longest-running radio show and an incredible mix of talent to the world, broadcasting it live over 650 WSM-AM, Sirius Satellite Radio, Opry.com and Great American Country (cable TV). What was originally known as the WSM Barn Dance and broadcast live from a modest studio in downtown Nashville has evolved into a multi-media music production with some of today’s most talented artists. In its early days, while the program was growing in popularity and audience size, the Grand Ole Opry moved from venue to venue before settling in at the famous Ryman Auditorium. After more than 30 years at the Ryman, the program made its home at the Grand Ole Opry House, just a few miles from downtown Nashville.