Park Bench Pattern Company has been busily working on various projects lately. Please check back soon for new announcements!
Sew Boat Retreat Sept 15-18, 2011
Loews Coronado Hotel & Marina
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Posted in Calendar, Park Bench Happenings, Retreats
Tagged Calendar, class, Class Schedule, Classes, Fall 2011, Park Bench Patterns, Retreat, Retreats, Sew Boat, Sew Boat Retreat, workshop
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Sew Boat Retreat on San Diego Bay September 16-19th
Join Mary Lou Rankin & Judy Stinton on picturesque San Diego Bay for 3 1/2 days of sun and ocean, sewing, inspiration, collaboration, creating & relaxing at the luxurious Loews Coronado Resort & Marina. Choose from a variety of classes including silk dyeing, jewelry and accessories.
Enjoy a sewing vacation at Loews Resort in the quaint and fabled village of Coronado, California. This pet-friendly 4-star resort and marina is reserved at an exclusive rate for the retreat.
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Our Online Calendar is Now Available!
Visit the Park Bench Pattern Company Online Calendar to keep up to date on the latest Classes, Shows, Retreats & Workshops!
We’ll be at the 15th Annual Del Mar Quilt Craft & Sewing Festival this weekend! Get a Free Admission Coupon and Stop By and Visit Our Booth!
Posted in Calendar, Classes, Shows and Expos, Workshops
Tagged Calendar, Classes, Coupon, Park Bench Patterns, Shows, Workshops
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Have You Made Your Appointment to Sew Yet?
2010 is the year to do things for yourself AND sewing should be on the top of that list. I have been giving out Appointment Cards to my customers for some time now…and I get a lot of smiles and promises that they will be used.
Get out your calendar and mark off days and times that are your ‘time to sew’. It can be once a week or once a month, but stick to these ‘appointments’. Dust off your sewing machine, get out your fabrics and plan on sewing!
During your appointment time remove any distractions; turn off the TV, don’t answer the phone every time it rings, forget the blackberry, texting, or whatever the latest thing that is eating up your time. It will all still be there after your ‘appointment’
At the end of June let me know how you are doing and how many appointments you have made and kept.
Posted in Park Bench Happenings
Tagged Appointment Card, Park Bench Patterns, Sewing Appontment Card, Tips
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Discover Park Bench’s Unique Sizing Concept
All designs have a ‘fit model’ they use when designing and sizing their patterns. They are not all the same.
In the new patterns I am working on I will be showing you my model’s measurements and the amount of wearing ease and where it is in the garment. Measure yourself and compare… Continue reading
Posted in Park Bench Happenings, Tips & Tricks
Tagged Fit Model, Measurements, Patterns, Sizing
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2010: The Year You Get Back To Sewing!
It is time to clean out the closets, re-organize your sewing room and fabric stash, service your sewing machine, mark your calender for sewing time, plan new sewing projects, make new sewing friends, and sign up for sewing classes!
Upcoming Classes by Mary Lou Rankin
Jan 8 (Fri) – Quilters Paradise**
Escondido, CA
760-738-9677
Jan 10 (Sun) – Quilters Paradise*
Escondido, CA
760-738-9677
Jan 18 (Mon) – Fabric Land**
Orange, CA
714-974-1214
Feb 21 (Sun) – Eddie’s Quilting Bee*
Sunnyvale, CA
408-830-9505
Mar 3 (Wed) – Eddie’s Quilting Bee**
Sunnyvale, CA
408-830-9505
Make reservations ASAP – spaces are limited.
*TAKING THE FIRST STEP
This class is for all of you who have a Park Bench pattern, BUT JUST CAN’T GET STARTED…..This is a hands-on class with LOTS of hand holding from beginning to end. Bring your pattern & several pieces of fabric & trims you are thinking about using, but can’t make a final choice. We will select the right fabric & plan your garment. I will help you do the necessary measuring & help with the cutting. We will discuss sewing techniques & embellishment ideas. You may not finish the complete garment in class, but you will be at a point where you can finish it at home.
**RIGHT PATTERN – WRONG FABRIC
If you have not been happy with the finished garments you make then this is going to be the most important class you will ever take! The biggest sewing mistake is not in your sewing skills BUT in picking the wrong fabric for the pattern. Every fabric will not do everything. This is a “hand holding” lecture class with lots of solid information you need to know before selecting fabric for a pattern design. There is a lot that the pattern instructions & sewing books neglected to tell you. You will see lots of garment samples to help you see & understand how fabric really works in a design. After this class you are going to love the clothes you make because you will know how to make good choices.
2010 Travel Schedule
Jan 14-17
Road to California
Ontario, CA
Jan 28-30
Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival
Phoenix, AZ
Fashion Show (free) & One Jacket For All Seasons (free)
Feb 4-6
Rocky Mountain Sewing Expo
Denver, CO
Fashion Show (free)
Feb 18-20
Quilt, Craft & Sewing Festival
San Mateo, CA
Fashion Show (free) & One Jacket For All Seasons (free)
Feb 25-28
Sewing & Stitchery Expo
Puyallup, WA
It is harder than ever to find what you need and want for your sewing hobby so plan on going to the sewing shows. You can buy new products, get great ideas and visit with other ladies who also enjoy this wonderful hobby of SEWING!
Coming Soon!
Piecing at its best.
Colors can be mild to bold. Fabrics from cottons to silks.
This charming design can be relaxed & casual or quite sophisticated
depending on your fabric choice.
Available January 30, 2010
Posted in Calendar, Classes, Park Bench Happenings, Shows and Expos
Tagged Class Schedule, Cottonwood Creek, New Patterns, Pattern 27, Show Schedule
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Fiber Art Fiesta 2009 – Albuquerque, NM
To all you ladies living in or near Albuquerque NM…..come join us at the Fiber Art Fiesta 2009. It is being held at the fair grounds. This is really a fun gathering for all the fiber arts…quilting, weaving, fabric painting/dying, sewing, doll making, beading, and much more. It is held every other year & it is a “must” on my schedule. I will be doing a trunk show so you can see the patterns made up in garments….so much more fun than looking at pictures. Get together with friends and come spend the day. Hope to see a lot of you there.
Spring Class in San Diego
I hope everyone is having a great Spring. I just finished my first all day class here in San Diego. It was entitled “Why Did She Do That & How Did She Make It Work?”. Everyone left with LOTS of notes and now want a hands-on workshop. I am already working on new dates. There is so much the pattern companies & sewing books just don’t tell you. My classes are as much about seeing & touching as they are listening to me lecture. If you are interested in classes let me know & tell me where you live. I am always on the look out for new locations. Let me know if you have questions & tell me what you are doing. I would love to hear from all of you.
Space Available at the April 24th Class
The Class “Why Did She Do That & How Did She Make It Work?” is available for you ladies in the San Diego area – If you are having trouble getting started….this class is for you. There has never been a better time to get back to sewing!
There are 5 or 6 spaces still available for the April 24th class. If any of you are interested let me know and I will send you info.