(CLEVELAND, OH) . . . Reality TV! Trading Spaces, Extreme Home Make Over, Project Runway, What Not to Wear, How Do I Look, The Look for Less, Craft Corner Death Match . . . hold on. Has the extent of your creativity come down to being a spectator watching from afar but not participating? Or, are you paralyzed by the thought of “I want to, but where do I begin?”
Stop viewing and jump in with the knowledge that the fate of your creativity, your style, your individuality and your desire to satisfy your DIY gene is now easier than you think, thanks to the new MIY, Make It You™ (www.makeitu.com) program.
MIY, Make It You, gives you the inspiration to take your creativity to the edge using, of all things, a sewing machine, fabrics, a book and, oh yeah, your imagination. Watch out Craft Lady of Steel! This is not sewing, like “Becky Home-Ecy,” but taking old thrift store finds and duplicating high-priced readymade fashions, creating trendy, edgy things for your home that reflect you and even making a warm, cozy quilt to cuddle under (with someone special, of course).
The Make It You program is geared to give you, that all important 20 to 30 something, the courage to discover your creativity through the incredible life-skill of sewing and the rich traditions of quilting. And, it’s the complete package. Make It You features illustrated and easy-to-understand instructions for sewing fun; awesome fabrics that compliment any wardrobe or home and are sure to be the envy of your friends; the Sew Hip book of project ideas; as well as the enthusiasm that screams, “I can do it!”
And you can do it because MIY is more than just stuff. Studio MIY™ is an educational program designed to bring you together with your fellow “artists.” Once a month, Studio MIY retailers (www.makeitu.com) will host creative classes teaching you the ins and outs of your new hobby and featuring fun projects like belts, bags, fabric accessories, photo collage quilts and more. A new take on the old fashioned “quilting bee,” these sessions will bring together the best and the brightest of your peers to share the love of creating, the love of community and the sense of self-satisfaction you can only get from “doing-it-yourself.”
Now, when you think of sewing or quilting, don’t think of your grandmother or that old metal thing with wood tone accents that was your mom’s sewing machine. Think high-tech, mother boards, gigabytes and USB ports (www.husqvarnaviking.com). Think of downloading data, new stitches and designs onto a USB stick and a machine that sews all by itself. You can literally download i-Tunes®, IM a few close friends and drink a Diet Dr. Pepper®, all while your machine stitches or updates itself via the World Wide Web.
Technology has made today’s sewing and quilting PC friendly – not just politically correct but truly like your personal computer. With the advent of 21st century technology, today’s sewing machines make sewing and quilting a fun, easy and really cool proposition.
So, if you’re thinking of Trading Spaces with a close friend, destroying your denim to copy the $200 jeans you saw at your favorite store or simply setting yourself free and spending a day making something completely new, remember to Make It You.
Make It You is the brainchild of Husqvarna Viking sewing machines, Pfaff sewing machines, RJR Fabrics, C & T Publishing and Primedia Publications. To learn more and to find your nearest Studio MIY retailer visit www.makeitu.com, the one and only website that let’s you Make It You.
April 21, 2006
Editors Note: For project photos and ideas, contact Nancy L. Jewell, Publicity Director