Young at hART: SEW EXPO 2017 IS OVER

Tuesday, March 7, 2017

SEW EXPO 2017 IS OVER

This was my first year working at the Sew Expo in Puyallup. I did love it, but I was gone for about 12 hours per day for 5 days straight. I showed up for a couple of hours on Tuesday to get the lay of the land and help with set up a bit. Then from Thursday through Sunday I was in the classroom from 7:30 am until typically 6 or 6:30 pm.

I worked in the Bernina classroom which was in the Expo Hall, separate from the rest of the sales booths and fun stuff, where we had 30 sewing machines and 15 sergers set up and 2 to 3 diferent classes each day. My role was to be in the classroom (there were 4 of us total) to help the students. If the sewing machine needle broke, we changed it, if they couldn't find the right sewing foot, we helped them find and install it. Thread breaks? We rethreaded and adjusted. If they weren't sure what the instructor wanted them to do, we would guide them along. We also checked in the students, collected the money for supplies, handled the door prizes and got to know each of our workmates along the way. The biggest challenge was trying to get all the machines set up and prepared for the next class. We only had 1/2 hour between classes and each instructor/project was different and we had to set up according to their needs. Then after the last class finished up at 4:30, we had to clean things up and prepare all the machines for the class in the morning.

We were always surprised when we would discover in talking to many of the students, that they had come from far and wide to attend the Expo. Some came from Montana, Nevada, Michigan and even 2 ladies on Sunday had flown in from London just to attend this event. I knew it was a big deal because I typically attend every year, but I had no idea it was THAT big of a deal! I had heard that there were about 1/3 less vendors this year and most of us noticed that it was less crowded and it was quite apparent to those of us who have experienced this Expo in the past that there were less businesses represented. Still, in all, it was fun. I only had about an hour and a half total to shop and that is just not enough time to really see all the goodies. My pocket book didn't take too big of a hit this year because of this!

Here are some photos from the 5 days.

One of our instructors had the most amazing coat on. Of course she made it, but she said it took her 8 years of off and on work to get it done! I know this photo looks a bit risque, but she is showing the people in the class that the inside of the jacket has lots of lovely embroidery work as well.

And here is the back

Gather around and learn this great trick.

I enjoyed learning a thing or two from the various instructors....when there was a lull in attending to the people in the class. Oh, and we actually had a few MEN that attended the classes.

We typically had 30 students in the classes

Sell those machines!

This is in the Make and Take area of the Bernina sales booth

Just a shot of some quilts that piqued my interest

I had already made a couple of these several months ago when I saw it in the latest Sulky (thread) technique book, but then learned a few more tips to make it even stand out more.

We didn't have any mahine embroidery classes or even free motion embroidery classes, but one of the instructors had this sweet pouch which she had made sitting on the table..

OOOHHHHH, there is Shelly (owner of Bernina of Renton) and Cheri with whom I had the pleasure of working with. Cheri and I hit it off and are looking forward to when we can meet up again. She lives down in the Puyallup area. They are both two very sweet ladies!

And here is one of the Bernina of America Ambassadors (most of them fly in from all over the country to teach and oversee things. She is standing next to Ken who was a HUGE help for the entire time. He and his wife (below) own the Bernina store in Aberdeen.