Find a seamstress in Denver, Colorado, sewing organizations

Next Meeting is Thursday, July 26th, from 11 am to 1 pm. Join us to connect with other sewing enthusiasts who share your passion. The meeting fee is $5 and a menu is available.

Meeting Location:
Perkins Restaurant
1995 S Colorado Blvd (at I-25 and Colorado Blvd) Denver, CO 80222
Phone: 303.757.7155

Please call 303.346.3388 to make your reservations by Monday of the meeting week, and remember to press 1 when using the automated phone system. Otherwise, your message will not be recorded.

It's the height of bridal season and I am no longer of sound mind and body. On one hand I always feel I must compete for the business. On the other hand, I have to repackage my ego every night as referrals are determined to get in my que. It is nice to be wanted.

I hope you experience that as well. When people pick up our brochure or check the website, they express relief that they have the resource to fulfill their sewing needs.

Have you noticed how valuable we are becoming? Have you been paying attention to the subject of China? Our textile industry is all but dead in the US. There is an overwhelming amount of textiles produced in China and shipped to the US, sold at phenomenally low prices unimpaired by tariffs or price controls. As our government works to get a trade agreement that weds Canada, the US and all of South America, the textile trade will land where there is the cheapest labor and shipping. It is unlikely however that countries within this trade group will be able to subsidize their clothing production like China does. And I wonder how long China will continue the practice. And what happens when they don't subsidize the industry? Do we have instant inflation of our textiles?

Right now American brides have access to elaborately designed and embellished dresses from China that don't fit. The public has access to amazingly low priced garments that don't fit. While I resent the decimation of our domestic industries, I must say, making these garments fit provides a fine, though stressful, income. I'm thinking that no matter which way the textile industry goes, we profit. If we maintain the skill sets to produce or alter, we always have business. And those that use textiles as artist expressions need never worry about an audience.

This security provides the basis for sharing our clients and referrals. The board will continue to work to expand both membership and clients. The more each member helps, the more they will profit. Remember to reimburse $10 for any referral you receive within the group. And, encourage other textile hounds to join. There is plenty of business for all.

Marcie Heiser continues to impress us with her sewing skills, so now see what secrets she has to share to save money and retire early.

I have been clearing out much of my collection of sewing-related reading materials. An article in the American Sewing Guild Spring 2006 issue of NOTIONS gave me a nudge to review, again, how important it is to support the local independent shop owners. The article written by Margo Martin, Executive Director of the ASG, began with quotes from a letter to NOTIONS from a shop owner - no name or location given.

"We independent retailers need..support to be able to continue to offer..fabric, classes and services..in our local communities. Where will they go to find fashion fabrics, purchase and service their sewing machines, and take classes when there are no more stores like mine?"

Ms Martin observed that, even though products could no doubt be found and purchased other places at less cost, we need to learn to, and to continue to spend the extra dollar or two with the independent shops who support our sewing community with customer service, classroom space, specialty items and personal attention. Intense competition for every one of our sewing dollars is right there from JoAnn, Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart.

Fortunately in our large metro area we have not seen all the independent fabric and sewing machine shops close. Part of preserving and practicing sewing as a life skill and art form is the need to give encouragement to local businesses that provide goods and services. They help maintain sewing as a vital, pleasant, challenging part of our lives and the lives of the next generation of sewists. The way we help is with our wallets, not just our voices.

Many of these stores are not in a position to offer discounts and other monetary incentives They can and do go the extra step to offer meeting and class space, answer individual phone calls and questions, present programs, support members of SRN and other sewing organizations.

Americans are ingrained with "save a nickel" or "save a dollar". What we should be trying to save as well is the ability to own an independent business which can provide much more choice and personal service. Owning an individual business is what every member of SRN is doing - also against lots of competition. Before you step inside a "big box" store again, take some time to explore more of our local independent retail sources.

August 10 & 11, 2007
(check the website for times)
at Denver Seminary
6399 S Santa Fe Drive, Littleton CO

I have a client looking for someone that has a heat press, and can do label transfers. A household iron will not work, they need to have the even hot heat of a press.

If anyone has one or know someone who has one and would like to contact my client, please call Toni Fitzwater 303.838.5122

Embellishments, a Greenwood Village custom embellishing clothing business is closing and the entire inventory of fabric, faux fur, trims, clothing samples, displays, yarn, buttons and padded hangers will be priced for much less than cost!

Sample of Inventory includes: fabrics--from home decor to silk and polyester; trims--from beaded, fringe and velvets; faux fur in many colors and styles. You will find a very unique collection of these items from cities such as Denver, Los Angeles, New York and Dallas.

If you are interested in participating in a fabulous bargain hunt,call Peggy Zimmerman at 720-313-1821 or email at wearableart4@aol.com to set up a time to shop. Friends welcome. We will be selling inventory through the 2nd week of August. Cash is our preferred method of payment.

For sale a practically new (only used 3 times) Babylock Blindhemmer.
Asking $500 obo.

Anyone interested please e-mail or call Sandra at the phone number below.
Sandra_Clark@comcast.net
Phone: 303-748-0504

SRN Sponsors
Don't forget to check out the latest class offerings from our SRN Sponsors!

Emily Griffith Opportunity School
If you would like to expand your skills or simply need a refresher, please consider signing up for any of the EGOS courses in the Professional Sewing/Design or Upholstery series.

You can change your address that the newsletter is sent to by clicking the link at the bottom of the newsletter Update Profile/Email Address . Ask send an email to Toni Fitzwater at toni_fitzwater@msn.com, so she can update the membership roster and update the SRN website.

Members may pick-up membership rosters and brochures at any meeting. New rosters will be printed for the March, July & November 2007 meetings. If you can not attend a meeting, and want a roster or brochure, please email Toni at toni_fitzwater@msn.com, and request it and she will mail it to you.

Membership About to Expire?
To avoid being deleted from the membership list, please have your dues paid no later then one month after your membership expiration date.