Sewing Expo 2008
April 5th, 2008. Filed under: Sewing on Saturday.Last month I attended the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Tampa. This was a four day orgy of classes, demonstrations and vendors with lots of goodies for the sewing, quilting and knitting enthusiasts. I did something different this year. I volunteered. I paid for a few hands on classes that I particularly wanted to try – intarsia knitting and needle tatting. I discovered that by volunteering not only could I help out the expo, but also be able to glean the knowledge from many classes with exchanging my dollars for their expertise. There are officially three days of the expo, but there is a pre-day class on Wednesdays for the ambitious. In 2007 I had nearly non-stop classes from Wednesday morning until Saturday afternoon. I was exhausted but with a smile on my face.
This year I helped set up the exhibition hall on Wednesday, took entry tickets to the hall on Thursday morning, and served as classroom assistant all day Friday and a couple hours Saturday. Ladies, this is the way to go! My expenses were only a third of what they were last year and that included a few purchases. Okay, guys, don’t even go there. A woman can’t be subjected to all those goodies and not find something necessary to aid her in her addiction. Oops, that should read aid her in efficiently applying the new techniques learned at the event. Alright, already. I was able to refrain from adding to my stash or buying any of the wonderful machines available. I only purchased a few notions, patterns, a DVD on making slopers and a quilt DVD. No, I don’t quilt, but the machine embroidery is beautiful and can be used in many beautiful creations. Now I just have to conquer the embroidery capabilities of my sewing machine. But that’s another post for another day.
If any of you are interested in attending this event you still have time if you are in or near Chantilly, VA, Chicago, IL (St.Charles), Kansas City, MO, or Minneapolis, MN.
If you’ve attended any of these expos, what did you enjoy most? Have any of you volunteered?