FabMo’s Blog

Understand & Maintain Your Sewing Machine - Workshops May 11 & 12 at FabMo

Mon, 7 May 2012 09:56:01 -0700

Do you want to know more about cleaning, adjusting and maintaining your own sewing machine? Would you like to to understand how some of the fancy features work? Maybe you have a hand-me-down from your mother that you’d like to use. Is your machine temperamental?
We are fortunate to have Mr. Rich Douglas as a local expert, who has agreed to give some FabMo classes, particularly on the older, mechanical machines, including upkeep, troubleshooting, and adjustments. He will teach you how to “read” a stitch, talk about fabric weight, needle type and stitch length. plus much more. He will spend time with each attendee, dealing with his or her own machine.
Bring your sewing machine and have Rich share knowledge and tips to make your sewing experiences fuller. Though brands and models of machines are different, they frequently share mechanical similarities, so if we group folks with similar machines, discussing one is also of value to others overhearing the conversation, helping everyone to get maximum benefit from the class.
This has now been scheduled as a series of hour and a half classes in conjunction with May’s Selection Event, Friday afternoon May 11, and Saturday morning, May 12. Class size is limited so reservations are necessary. Schedule yourself here. Be sure to include your machine brand and model info in the notes section. The hour and a half gathering will cost $20.
Rich has a long time Palo Alto connection with fabric and sewing machines in the landmark Douglas Sewing Machines & Fabrics store on University Avenue which was in operation from the 50s until closing in 1995. Since then, Rich has been applying his considerable knowledge of sewing machines to servicing them for individuals and maintaining the machines for Palo Alto Adult Education.
He is an engaging speaker, with a wealth of experience which informs his presentation.

Our new Volunteer Coordinator

Wed, 2 May 2012 11:52:53 -0700

FabMo’s volunteers ROCK! They are the essence of what we do. We’ve had some great help in scheduling and coordinating volunteers for specific activities, for which we are very grateful.
Now we have a Volunteer Coordinator, Rebecca Saylor, with a headful of ideas of how we can develop our program into one of the best in the Bay Area. We’ve been seeking such an advocate for some time. She’ll be communicating with past volunteers and will be the point of contact for all new ones before they are scheduled.
Rebecca is helping with the job descriptions that Estelle and Bron have advanced so far. She also expects to participate as a volunteer at many activities. If you have comments or suggestions, I know she’ll want to hear them from you. Contact her here.
The Volunteer Coordinator role is one of those essential behind-the-scenes ones like communication, information technology, board membership, newsletter editor, event coordinator, etc., which do not necessarily take place on a particular schedule or at a specific place.
Thank you, Rebecca, for taking this on. It’s very important to have a strong, passionate, and creative advocate for all volunteer issues!
And a big thank you to all in the FabMo community who take the time and effort to help others. You’re the best!

May’s Selection Event - May 10-12

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:44:03 -0700

We have a wonderful selection of designer textiles, carpets, wallpapers, and more which will be available for your selection starting at 4pm on Thursday, May 10. We’ll be open all day Friday, and until mid-afternoon on Saturday (5/12), as well. Appointments are necessary except for the last hour on Thursday & Friday, and Saturday starting at noon.
The calendar is open for you to self-schedule starting about a week ahead of the event. Click here to schedule.
This event happens in the usual location at 2423 Old Middlefield Way, Suite C, Mountain View, 94043 (Map here).

Exhibit, Activity Table, and Blue Ribbon Competitions at SM County Fair, June 9-17

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 14:46:53 -0700

For each of the last two years FabMo has had an interesting exhibit in the Sustainable Living section of the San Mateo County Fair. Last year we also had a very popular activity table on kids’ day, where kids of all ages made hand puppets. The quality of items displayed - all handmade by you, the artists and craftfolk of FabMo - was exceptional, and I wished that more of you had submitted your projects in competition for the ribbons and prizes.
We’re going again, and we’d love your support. At the moment it looks like we’ll have activities on two occasions, which will be publicized in advance, unlike last year. Expect an enthusiastic crowd!
Likely times for the activity tables:
Saturday, June 9, (opening day) from about 1-3pm,
Monday, June 11 (Kids’ Day) from 1-3pm.
(There are other special promotions which you can see here.)
We have several interesting and fun projects that could be presented without much additional preparation, but we would welcome 2-4 volunteers each day to help the kids. If you’re interested and available, please let us know here.
We like our display to show the wonderful variety of projects that people make with FabMo materials. If you have something to show and will lend it to us for the week and a half of the fair, please bring it to FabMo (next Selection Event May10-12) or ?? Be sure to identify it as yours, and don’t forget to collect it again after the fair. You can also put out business cards to get leads on sales.
Do you have an artistic eye (stupid question!) and want to help us set up the display? Setup will be Friday afternoon, June 8. Let us know of your interest. And thanks!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE consider submitting your projects for judging. The incredible creativity and craftsmanship of what you do should judge very well. Just by submitting an entry you get two free passes and a parking pass. See all the judging opportunities at the County Fair website. You do not need to be a resident of San Mateo county to enter and win!
But hurry, because the deadline for entries is May 9th.

Selection Event Next Week, April 5 - 7

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 07:56:42 -0700

We have a wonderful selection of designer textiles, carpets, wallpapers, and more which will be available for your selection starting at 4pm on Thursday, April 5. We’ll be open all day Friday, and until mid-afternoon on Saturday (4/7), as well. Appointments are necessary except for the last hour on Thursday & Friday, and Saturday starting at noon.
The calendar is open for you to self-schedule starting about a week ahead of the event. Click here to schedule.
This event happens in the usual location at 2423 Old Middlefield Way, Suite C, Mountain View, 94043 (Map here).