SEWING DILEMNA? Ask Londa's FREE advice!!!

Yes...as a sewing educator for over 35 years, designer, and author with experience as a sewing machine dealer/fabric shop owner, custom dressmaker and more...I'm most happy to answer ANY and all questions to the best of my ability. Just contact me HERE with your question.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Engage with me in Merry Tossmas

Just got this email - and WOW! Do I ever agree! Be sure to click on the title of this post to watch the very entertaining - and pointedly true video on "Tossmas".

Here is the list of Christmas-friendly retailers - that I will support. In fact, I plan on going to Bed Bath & Beyond with my 20% off coupon, asking to see the Manager, then respectfully rip it up in their presence and tell them why and that I'm on my way over to Linen n' Things to buy that coffee maker for my hubby for a CHRISTMAS gift because they call Dec. 25 what it is - Christmas!

See below - and participate as you feel led. I feel better that I've shared it with you!

Focus on the Family Action’s2008 Christmas-Friendly Shopping Guide

How leading retailers’ messages rate
Last updated: 11/13/08
We welcome your use of these ratings in your shopping decisions. As an additional way to help you communicate with the retailers we evaluated, we are providing the convenience of a petition which you can sign by visiting focuspetitions.com.
Retailers will be presented with petitions – thanking those that embrace “Christmas,” and alerting those that have purged or marginalized “Christmas” that you object to the secularization of Christmas. We hope you will “stand for Christmas” with us and encourage the continued acknowledgement of this historic Christian observance in our culture.
"Christmas-friendly" retailers– prominent acknowledgment of "Christmas"
Cabela's Crate&Barrel Dillard's Eddie Bauer JCPenney Kohl's

L.L.Bean Lands' End Linens 'n Things Lowe’s Macy's Neiman Marcus Nordstrom Pier 1 Imports Sears The Home Depot Target Wal-Mart

Christmas-negligent” retailers – marginalized use of “Christmas”
Barnes & Noble Bed Bath & Beyond Best Buy Borders
Circuit City Dick's Sporting Goods GAP KB Toys Kmart Toys “R” Us

“Christmas-offensive” retailers – apparent abandonment of “Christmas”
American Eagle Banana Republic Bloomingdale's Lane Bryant Old Navy

Originally published by Focus on the Family Action. Copyright © 2008 Focus on the Family.

Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Londa's Way : now available

My new BOOK - a printed book - is now available for purchase. Color cover and step-by-step instructions inside for the 5 great jackets you see photo'd on the front and back covers, including the few patterns needed - all for just $18.95. If you've wanted to try one of my jackets, but were a bit intimidated, I wrote this book for YOU! All self-contained, but I also did construct a webpage with a video on fitting - just as an 'add-on' to 'train' you to the neat concept of utilizing the web to transfer even MORE info - as this is the way my patterns work...linking to webPAGES for all the photos.
There's a story behind this one - and I thank helper/friend Cyndi from the Novi show for her awesome listening to both my customers, and then my 'composing' it on the road on the way home. Once home from the American Sewing Expo, and convinced I should do a PRINTED book (in addition to my 'book' on DVD), I locked myself up for 2 days and just DID IT! With the stupendous help of my wonderful local printer, Upclose Printing, in Champaign, IL, I was able to 'debut' it at the Houston Quilt Market and Festival.
Just as with my pattern sales, I've promised to tithe on the sales of this book to my current charity: Miracles In Action - www.miraclesinaction.org
So far - the book is being very well accepted - I've even already had 2 nice orders from Nancy's Notions. Comment here about your experiences with my book.
New idea: another DVD - ALL video, and on the basics of fitting and embellishment. No PDF portion - so lower cost than my Ultimate DVD.
Not sure when that will 'happen' as I have wedding sewing in my future - as daughter is getting married in late May. It will be FUN to sew on silk and satin - rather than sweatshirt fleece for a change!




Guest spot on Pfaff's Now Sewing now airing

I'd been told that my 'spot' on the Pfaff educational site: http://www.nowsewing.net/ would debut on Oct. 24... but that 'happened' while I was in Houston, so what a 'treat' today when it occurred to me to log on to the site to see if I really was 'on'! Yep - Grandson Cole (3 1/2 now) even stopped his playing to "see Nana on the 'puter' TV".



A full half hour of my techniques all about fitting and embellishing my fashionable jackets made from sweatshirts is the latest spot - and garnering pretty good reviews, I see! :)

This site began as a way to educate the Pfaff dealers - and was so popular that the dealers asked for it to go 'public'. The offerings can be seen when you click at http://www.nowsewing.net/index/webapp-register-form.
I've registered for the Platinum at $29.95 because it gives me unlimited access to ALL the "Behind the Scenes" interview/lessons with Sewlebrities from both 2007 and 2008 AND acess to the projects that go along with those spots.
Gold Membership is $19.95 - giving access to only 2008 spots, or you can also just buy a 'ticket' to a single viewing of a spot (like mine!) for $3.95 - but my understanding is that you only get to see it once. If you go with the Platinum or the Gold, you can see the spots over and over at timing good for you.
My 'spot' is in the dropdown menu on the pay per view, and labelled:
Londa Rolfing Not Your Average Sweatshirt Jacket.
Say - they forgot that 'h' in my last name - Rohlfing - but with an opportunity like this - what's an 'h'???
Again - thanks, Pfaff! What an opportunity - and even I enjoyed watching it, I gotta say. Kinda weird to see/hear yourself on the computer...AND, I know I"m re-focussing on those neck-firming exercises!!!

Say - if you are one of the first 3 people to write me to tell me what I say and have not DONE on my jacket as worn in the video, I'll reward your astuteness and attention with a FREE signed new Book: Creative Sweatshirt Jackets - Londa's Way.

Election night Fashion?

Politics aside - all I guess I can comment on that 'dress' that Michelle Obama selected for the Election Night acceptance speech is.....thanks for a wonderful new example of some extremely POOR design! TWO 'centers of interest' - and NOT in places that, I, as a lady, would want to draw attention. Besides that - TWO, not the design-wise 1 or 3, but 2!!!
For me, the ultimate thing I teach is that I want to wear the clothes, the goal being that the clothes flatter ME. THAT dress certainly 'wore' her, if you know what I mean. What did you see? Her or the dress? I saw - only that dress!!!

Ughhhhhhh..... and I'm not alone in my sentiments. I'm just hoping that she finds some new designers with some good training before she starts being my 'First Lady'.

Houston Quilt Show Ramblins'

FINALLY back from the Houston where my friend, Glenda and I manned booths at both Quilt Market (wholesale) & Festival (retail)!!! On the road on Monday, 11/3 I got a call inviting me to come on up to the Original Sewing and Quilt Expo in Minneapolis to sub for another teacher who had a family medical emergency...so, with the van all loaded anyway - why not?!? Sew.....after one night in my own bed (loving on my cats who desparately missed me during my 2 week absence), I took off again - but this time with my wonderful hubby for my helper! Yea!!!!!
The management of those shows is amazingly wonderful, and I had a great time. I taught my 'wing-it' version of Basic Sweatshirt Jacket fitting - which turned out to be such a wonderful one hour class, that I'm adding that to my class offerings as I travel. Same goes with "Embellishment"- another new one. God works in mysterious ways, He does, He does!

FINALLY home then late last Sunday night to 2 VERY desparate and starving felines - who have hardly left my side day and night. I think I'm caught up on orders, and rested...lots of work, but all-in-all VERY exciting. Looking now at travels for next year already. Always find those listed on the front of my website. Houston brought bookings from two more stores in Florida for February. This Illinoisan says "Twist my arm!"

Some photos from Houston...








The 'store' on the left...





Helpers Extraordinairre: Glenda on the right - my helper who traveled with me and was both great help AND company, and Pat in the middle - our Houston new friend who helped out at the booth, giving us both a chance to have some 'shopping' time ourselves! My wonderful little sister also drove up from Austin to help on Friday - ALWAYS appreciated!
On Halloween, across from us in the booth all about Singer Featherweight machines - we were treated to these characters - how original! Another past helper, Darlene, sent me this link: http://planetpatchwork.com/travel/houston08.htm saying to scroll down to read what a quilt shop owner posted about my offerings at the market. Another picture of yours truly - in my 'Promised' Jacket. Click there and scroll down to read it for yourself.