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Field Trip: Corning Museum of Glass

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3839612465_25aeac4b67When you think of glass do you think Corning? Well if you don’t you should. And if you can take a glass vacation The Corning Museum of Glass is the place on the east coast to go. It’s located in Corning, NY which is upstate from NYC. they have a studio where you can take classes and see glass blowing and they have the coolest museum that houses an incredible collection of the history of glass. I went years ago for a Society of Glass Beadmakers conference (before they became the International Society of Glass Beadmakers), before they renovated the museum. I am really looking forward to my next east coast vacation so I can fit in a trip over to the museum.3840401436_1fb5c6f699

If you wander around their web site you can see the museum is chock full of activities and glass learning experiences. The pictures I’ve posted show a bit of the museum’s attempted at creating the world’s largest glass pumpkin. Crazy…but totally cool. Check out their flickr account to see all of the pictures. Just traveling around their web site and their flickr account will make you want to go to Corning to check it all out. I know I want to go.3840401522_7267decb0b_m

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Learn All About Sewing Velvet Fabric

 

I’m always tempted by the pretty velvets at the fabric store.  So much texture!  And the way the fibers catch the light!  But sewing on velvet is trickier than you’d think.  That nap that lends beautiful texture also likes to slip and crawl.  That nap can also spell disaster if you cut a piece the wrong direction.  That isn’t to say you shouldn’t use buy that velvet and sew it into something gorgeous, you just need to go into your velvet sewing project prepared.  And Melissa at Melly Sews has a post that takes you step by step through sewing on velvet. 

Velvet is such a luscious fabric, especially for winter sewing projects.  Of course there are velvet Christmas sewing projects – stockings, tree skirts, santa hats – but velvet is beautiful for all winter.  Think of all the gorgeous velvet dresses, evening bags, hair accessories, even pillows and other home décor that you see all winter long. 

Melly Sews’ post gives you the tips and tricks you need to know in order for your velvet sewing project to end up a success.  There are types of projects better suited for velvets, and kinds of projects to avoid.  She describes the different types of velvet available.  And she also tells the best way to lay out and cut your pattern pieces from velvet fabric.  Her tutorial also covers marking, pressing, and of course sewing that beautiful fabric.  There’s also a video included in case that’s your preferred method for learning.

Head over to Melly Sews to learn how to sew on velvet fabric. 

And if you want to learn more about that lovely blue velvet dress shown, she has a post that tells more about it including 2 ways to style it depending on if you want to be more dressy or more casual.

[photo credit: Melly Sews]