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Sewing students

I Don’t Want Your Money

Seriously. There are times when you and I are just not destined to enter into a business relationship.

My business is teaching people how to sew, and puh-leeze don’t get me wrong—I LOVE teaching. Almost as much as I love sewing. Nothing makes me want to jump out of bed faster than the prospect of seeing that “AHA!” moment click in a student’s brain. (Well, maybe a double tall latte. 😉 )

Sew Maris Sew Camp students

But sometimes I am not the right teacher for you, or not the right teacher for your child. Sometimes, I just don’t want to take your money.

1. I am a process sewist. I like to sew things together well. I like to use advanced, couture, designer techniques because I think they often (tho not always) produce a better-looking finished garment. For me, the process definitely matters.

It is OK with me if your type of sewing is to lay a pair of pants/leggings/underwear on an old T-shirt, cut around it, and sew it up any old which way. Have at it! Have fun! Just don’t ask me to teach you to sew that way. That is not my way. You don’t have to like my way; you don’t have to agree with my way; you can sew any way you like and I promise not to judge you. I also promise that if I am your teacher, I will show you how to sew MY way. Because it’s all I got for you, sister.

2. Older is usually better when it comes to machine sewing. Kids can start hand sewing much earlier than they can sew on a machine. After a few lessons or a few days of sew camp, I expect my young students to be able to wind a bobbin, thread their own sewing machine, troubleshoot basic problems, and read simple, written instructions. Can your seven year-old really do all that? Most can’t. It is not because they are not smart enough or mature enough; they just haven’t had enough time on this earth to develop the necessary manual dexterity, problem-solving, reading comprehension of written, technical information, and concentration skills to be able to excel at sewing. Even if they beg you, waiting another year (or two!!) will always result in your money being better spent. What’s the hurry, anyway?

3. Sewing birthday parties. Please see number 1 above. I never do sewing birthday parties for adults or children. Sugar (or wine)+excitement+lots of chatting = wrong environment for learning. Not my jam. Not at all.

Sew Maris Sew Camp students

If you are a super-sewing-nerd who loves to geek out about which needle is best for which type of fabric, can spend hours in a fabric store without getting bored, love to read sewing books as much as mystery novels, then I might just be the sewing teacher for you. Schedule a private sewing lesson for yourself or a sew camp for your child, and we’ll see what kind of business relationship develops. Sometimes, actually often, my students become my fast friends. Because we share the love of all things sewing.

Happy sewing!

Maris

 

Hooked another one

Watching a kid light up with enthusiasm for a new interest totally rocks. You can almost see those synapses firing away as they connect all the dots, right?

Making PJ pants

And those funny “faces” you can design on a stuffed tomato with pins —priceless!

Pincushion fun

It is a little thing, yet not. A bit of fabric. Some thread on a spool. A machine that stitches the pieces together. Someone to help guide you in the process.  Added all together; magic.

Checking for problems

I have so many reasons I love to teach sewing. Their names are Helen, Gabby, Devon, Leah, Mavin, etc.

Happy sewing!

Maris Olsen

 

Another new beginning

You know how the race to the finish feels.

August/early September felt like trying to make it across a half-marathon finish line. Kids Sew camps, private lessons, blogging, babysitting my DGD, planting, harvesting, designing new projects, a short vacation with my DH, and plenty more. Calgon, take me away!

September always seems like a mini-new-year to me. New schedules, students, cooler evenings, yearning for soups and stews, yarn that wants to become knitted, coats and jackets calling out to be made. Finally, life is starting to take shape around here. The new shape of fall.

One of my new students this fall is young (8), and oh-so-enthusiastic. It is amazing what kids can accomplish with focus, interest, and a little direction.

Malia working on a zippered bag

A completed zippered bag of Halloween theme fabric – all ready for pencils or any other small treasures. Nice work, Malia!

Malia's Halloween zippered bag

Welcome fall, new students, and another new beginning.

Happy sewing!

Maris Olsen

 

Gain a little self-esteem

I am old-school. <begin rant>I think people develop positive self-esteem by actually acquiring and mastering skills, not just by being told incessantly how awesome and perfect they are </end rant>.  One of the great benefits of teaching sewing is I actually get to witness the concrete progression of skills that students attain over time. Like watching C cut out a new skirt, for instance. Maybe not 100% accurately, but a darn good job for a nine year-old.

Cutting out praactice

Nice work, C, keep it up!

Happy sewing!

Maris Olsen

Stampede ready!

Western costume front

Doesn’t she look all ready for the Calgary Stampede parade? This little gal has worked might durn hard on this costume, and is righfully proud of her work. C. has not been sewing that long, and Simplicity 2843 is definitely not a pattern for a beginner. There were plenty of concerns about how hard it was along the way, but there was one proud little girl in my sewing studio today when the garment really came together. Tomorrow we need to hem and add some finishing touches, but she will definitely be modeling this garment in the parade later this week. I am pretty sure she learned something about pushing thru a hard job, too. It is really not that big a deal to accomplish a simple task, but it feels pretty darn great to struggle a little and then finally accomplish something really worthwhile. Who knew? Sewing offers life lessons, too. ;-)  Nice job, C!

Western costume back

Happy sewing!

Maris Olsen

Rockin’ the apron project

Fierce apron!

How’s this for a “fierce” sewing project? Delaney’s grandma recently gave her a sewing machine as a gift, and she has been taking lessons with me for the past few weeks. This Four Corners apron is only her second sewing project ever, yet she managed to complete this UH-dorable apron for her grandma in just 4 hours. I am telling you, this girl knows how to stay on task!

My young sewing students constantly amaze me with their creativity and focus. Delaney has definite ideas about the projects she wants to make, and when she is in a lesson she is all business. She has a nice eye for design—I love her apron fabric and pattern choice—and you ought to see the cute Halloween napkins she is also working on. I just get a total kick out of working with her, and can’t wait to see what else she is going to sew. Go Delaney!

Happy sewing!

Maris Olsen

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