News from the Park Bench

Fall is in Full Swing

parkbench — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 00:24:28 +0000

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

parkbench — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:42:57 +0000

Loews Coronado Hotel & Marina
San Diego, CA

3-1/2 Fun Filled Days
Where Sewing, Fabric, Design & Color
All Come Together!

Mary Lou Rankin, Judy Stinton and Susan Ludwig

sea breezes & clear skies
lunches on a private houseboat
make new friends who share your interests
dinner & a little shopping
in San Diego’s Old Town
round table discussions

Don’t you & your friends need a small vacation?

Sew Boat Retreat – $495.00

Included:

Meet & greet aboard the houseboat
3 days of instruction
3 continental breakfasts
3 lunches aboard the houseboat
1 dinner aboard the houseboat

Not included:

Rooms at Loews Coronado Resort
Your travel
1 dinner in San Diego’s Old Town

The hotel is providing a very special price of $149 per night (single or double occupancy) for the retreat. You won’t find a better price on Coronado Island. Loews is a 4 star hotel with beautiful rooms, views of the bay & San Diego’s skyline of lights at night. The classroom is located in the hotel makes classroom access easy.

Sessions Include:

A Day of Fitting – Fitting Your Figure
Silk Dyeing for the New Artist, Parts 1 & 2
Love that Lace!, Parts 1 & 2
What Styles Look Good On Your Figure?
Wrapped and embellished Necklace
Fiber Connection
Fabulous Two-Seam Garments
Puttin’ on the Ritz
Sewing with Silk
The Classic Scarf
Open time to work on projects of your choice

For detailed information please Contact Us

or give us a call at (619) 269-9808 or (619) 233-9960.

Space is limited so register early.

Extra: Judy will be available in the evenings (by appointment) for personal color & figure analysis. It is always good to get an update every few years. Our colors change over time. This information keeps you updated & gives you new choices.

Sew Boat Retreat on San Diego Bay September 16-19th

marylou — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 05:03:58 +0000

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.

Thursday – September 16th

Margaritas on the Marina Welcome Party & Trunk Show

Friday – September 17th

Continental Breakfast on the Boat
Right Fabric/Wrong Pattern – (Mary Lou)
Color Analysis & Figure Discussion – (Judy)
Lunch on the Marina
Dress Your Spirit (Mary Lou)
Silk Dyeing for the New Artist, Part 1 (Judy) (Kit fee $15)
Dinner on Your Own
Classroom Open All Evening

Saturday – September 18th

Continental Breakfast on the Boat
Taking the First Step – Part 1 (Mary Lou)
Wrapped & Embellished Necklace (Judy) (Kit fee $15)
Lunch and Shopping in Old Town
Classroom Time with Mary Lou & Judy
Dinner on Your Own
Classroom Open All Evening

Sunday – September 19th

Continental Breakfast on the Boat
Taking The First Step – Part 3 (Mary Lou)
Sewing with Silk (Judy)
The Classic Scarf (Judy)
Lunch on the Marina
Silk Dyeing, Part II (Judy)
Bon Voyage on the Boat

Sew Boat Retreat Cost

Attendees Lodging at Loews Resort $450

Attendees NOT Lodging at Loews Resort $520

Included:

Margarita Welcome Party & Trunk Show on Boat Deck
3 Days of Professional Instruction
3 Continental Breakfasts and 2 Lunches
24 Hour Open Classroom
Shopping Excursion for Fabric and Embellishments

Not Included:

Evening Meals and Entertainment
Lodging
Transportation and Parking Fees
Sewing Machines (If you have a problem bringing your own machine check with Judy)

Class fee must be received by August 15th.

You can pay by Credit Card or Mail a Check to: Judy Stinton, 6011 Hillandale Ct., San Diego, CA 92120

The Sew Boat Sewing Retreat is being held at:

Loews Coronado Bay Resort and Spa
4000 Coronado Bay Road
Coronado, CA 92118
For reservations call 1-800-815-6397

Our special discount room rate is $149 per night (single or double occupancy). Please mention Sew Boat Retreats when making reservation to get the special rate. Hotel Reservations must be made by August 15th to get the discounted rate.

For a Printable Copy of the Sew Boat Brochure and Registration Form Click the Following Links

Sew Boat Brochure Page 1

Sew Boat Brochure Page 2

Visit Our Calendar

Bring your own Sewing Machines (talk to Judy if you have a problem). Supply lists will be sent out when you register

Questions? Contact Judy Stinton at FStinton@cox.net or Mary Lou Rankin at parkbenchpatternc@cox.net

Instructor Bios

Mary Lou Rankin is a designer, educator & the creator of the Park Bench Pattern Co. pattern collection. She has long been admired for the ability to mix colors & fabrics in delightful & unexpected ways to create interesting & unique clothing that are attractive & comfortable. Her motto is clothing should be comfortable, pattern designs should look good on all figures, sizing should be uncomplicated & sewing should be fun.

Judy Stinton is an educator and textile artist with a studio in San Diego’s Spanish Village Art Center. She produces award-winning hand dyed silk clothing that’s really wearable as well as jewelry & accessories. She is an author, teacher, artist, color & image consultant & designer.

Bring your own Sewing Machines (talk to Judy if you have a problem). Supply lists will be sent out when you register

Class fee must be received by August 15th.

You can pay by Credit Card or Mail a Check to: Judy Stinton, 6011 Hillandale Ct., San Diego, CA 92120

For a Printable Copy of the Sew Boat Brochure and Registration Form Click the Following Links

Sew Boat Brochure Page 1

Sew Boat Brochure Page 2

Questions? Contact Judy Stinton at FStinton@cox.net or Mary Lou Rankin at parkbenchpatternc@cox.net

Our Online Calendar is Now Available!

marylou — Thu, 20 May 2010 06:10:57 +0000

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!

Have You Made Your Appointment to Sew Yet?

marylou — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:00:02 +0000

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.

Discover Park Bench’s Unique Sizing Concept

marylou — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 04:44:42 +0000

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…

I suggest you lay this silhouette out on pattern paper and measure yourself and then re-draw the side seams in or out where your measurement changes. This will give you a good view of where you will adjust the pattern when cutting.

Don’t forget wearing ease

Always allow 8-10″ bigger than your measurements. Big is good because you can adjust where needed at the ‘on-the-body’ fitting before finishing.

If you have been collecting Park Bench patterns but haven’t made one yet then take another look – get out a piece of fabric you are no longer in love with & give this pattern a try. Walk through the steps, get a feel of the through process of the design and instructions & see how the sizing works.

You don’t even have to finish the garment – this is a test run

Now you are ready for the real thing.

If you have questions let me know. I am happy to help.

2010: The Year You Get Back To Sewing!

marylou — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 05:55:50 +0000

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

Fiber Art Fiesta 2009 – Albuquerque, NM

marylou — Tue, 19 May 2009 20:02:11 +0000

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

marylou — Sun, 03 May 2009 13:20:11 +0000

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

marylou — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 09:18:24 +0000

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.