New items at the St. Clair Aeronauts Etsy Shop

Purses and Bustle and Zeppelins, Oh My!

Get them at the St. Clair Aeronauts Etsy Shop!

Private Sewing Classes This Summer. San Jose

Have you got a sewing project in mind that you think would be perfect, but you don't have the skill to make it on your own? Consider taking a private sewing lesson with Sophia St. Clair of the St. Clair Aeronauts.

I have been sewing my own clothes and costumes for over 20 years and I have been designing my own patterns and pieces for over 10. On top of that I am an education professional, teaching high school history for over 15 years. I know how to break complex tasks into do-able pieces and I know how to teach skills and technique to beginners.

I also have a dedicated sewing room with all the tools of the trade, so you don't even need to own a sewing machine to take these lessons.

Check out some of the things I've designed and made Here.

Evening classes can be scheduled Monday or Wednesday 6pm - 10pm or for the hours you specify- $30

Day classes can be scheduled Wednesday, Thursday or weekends from 11am - 6pm or for the hours your specify- $50

You bring the ideas and materials and we'll make your project together.

Contact Me at Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com

Cargo Bloomers Sewing Class, San Jose, July 11th

Design, draft a pattern and sew a pair of Cargo Bloomers at this one day class. Not only are they comfortable in hot weather and attractive on all body types, but they are practical too!

You will go home with a pattern and a pair of cargo bloomers. No experience necessary.

Only 4 openings available for this class. Cost is $20 per student to be paid by Paypal when you sign up for the class. Scholarships are available from the St. Clair Aeronauts for people in need. Please submit a note of explanation. Please email Sophia St. Clair at Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com to reserve your spot in the class. First come first served.

There is a high demand for this class, so please do not take one of the few positions unless you really mean to attend. I hate to see a long wait list and then get a last minute cancellation.

The Details:

Where: Our House- 501 Raymond Ave, San Jose, CA, 95128
Phone: 925.787.2591
Time: Sunday, July 11th Noon - 6pm.
3pm- Tea Time (snacks and tea provided by your hostess)
6pm- Clean up and dinner (probably walk to the Chinese or Mexican restaurants 2 blocks from my house)

What to bring:

I have access to at least 3 sewing machines. Bring your own if you like....

Snacks if you are likely to want them
$10 - $15 for Dinner if you will be joining us
Whatever you like to drink (we have water and tea available but that is it...)
Pens, Pencils, Project book or paper for notes.
Newspaper and tape (for your pattern)

Cargo Bloomers Materials:

Enough fabric to go from your waist to the ground twice. Generally between 2 and 3 yrds of fabric.
Regular hand sewing needle
Thread to match your fabric
Scissors
Seam ripper
Pins
Fabric chalk
Extra machine needles (mostly size 11 or 14)
Enough no roll elastic to go around your waist and both ankles.

To Decorate your cargo pockets and bloomers:

Ribbon in different colors and widths (you will need 1" ribbon to make proper ribbon roses and such)
Lace or other trim (even scraps can be useful, but you can do a lot with 2 yards or more (if you add tassel trim this becomes a dryclean only item)
Random fabric accents (doilies, patches, sequin decorations, embroidered bits, vintage scraps, beads, buttons, bells, tassels, etc)

Fabric Types:
Natural Woven Fabrics: 100% cotton or linen is the best way to go. Anything else, especially synthetics or brocades, will be hot and uncomfortable. Also, you can wash linen and cotton. Please no knitt or stretchy fabrics.

I have one machine that will sew thin garment weight leather.

Fabric Stores (other than Joe-Ann's and Hancock Fabrics):

Discount Fabrics: Two Locations- Berkeley and SF- http://www.discountfabrics-sf.com/
Fabrics R Us: (best place to by $4 linen!) San Jose- http://www.yelp.com/biz/fabrics-r-us-san-jose
SCRAPS (Goodwill for craft supplies, esp. Fabric and trim): SF- http://www.scrap-sf.org/

St. Clair Aeronauts Summer Sewing Classes!

Summer Sewing Classes, sponsored by the St. Clair Aeronauts
Learn to modify and sew your own clothes and accessories!
Learn to design and draft your own patterns!
Stay busy over the summer!

Sophia St. Clair will be offering beginning sewing and pattern drafting classes this summer in her home. All classes are for beginners and intermediate sewers. No experience is necessary. Mrs. St. Clair also has sewing machines and other necessary sewing tools but there are only 4 places in each class. Classes are $10 - $20. Scholarships are available. Please inquire if you would like to apply for the St. Clair Crafters Scholarship. Students are responsible for purchasing materials like cloth, patterns, buttons and thread. A list of needed items will be given out before each class.


Two types of classes:

BROP- (Bring Your Own Project)- Know what you want, but don't know how to make it? Bring your materials and we will make it together. I can teach you how!

One Day Workshops- Look for one day workshops on making Bustles, Bloomers, Bags, Spats and more. Even more topics on demand. Tell me what you want and I'll make a class for it! Show up with your materials and go home woth a finished piece.

Interested? Contact Sophia St. Clair to get on the mailing list, sign up for classes or find out more:

Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com
Stclairaeronauts.blogspot.com
925.787.2591

Picnic and Winchester Mystery House Pics...

We had a truely wonderful time. First, just scads of people showed up for the picnic at the Rose Garden and everyone brought the most delicious baked goods. We made wreaths out of flowers and ran through the roses. And the weather was perfect!

The Winchester Mystery House was also Awesome and we decked the statues with our wreaths.

Here are the pics....

Steampunks in the Sun

May 1st Steampunk Picnic at the SJ Rose Garden and Winchester House Tour

We can only hope the weather will turn more toward spring and so, let us put our faith in sunshine and flowers and plan a picnic at the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden. We'll sport our sunniest Steampunk outfits, sit on the grass, eat sandwiches, baked goods and other delicious picnic edibles, drink tea and admire the roses. I'll teach a quick tutorial on making flower wreathes for a lady's hair with ribbon, twine and a typical bouquet of fresh cut flowers for anyone who is interested. Then in the afternoon, we can caravan over to the Winchester Mystery House for a proper Steampunk tour. NOTE: Regarding Tickets to the Winchester Mystery House: If we can get 15 or more people to commit by April 20th, we can even get a group rate. Email (Stclairaeronauts@gmail.com) or message me if you want to be part of the group rate. Otherwise it is up to you to get tickets to the 3pm tour.

When: May Day, May 1st, 2010
Picnic at noon in the San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
Grand Estate Tour of the Winchester Mystery House at 3:00pm.

Where:
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden- Corner of Naglee and Garden Drive in San Jose
Winchester Mystery House- 525 S Winchester Blvd, San Jose, CA 95128


Please join us for a lovely afternoon at one or both parts of the day....

What to bring:
For the Picnic:

Yourselves and your friends and family
Small children if you have them
Goggles so we know you are one of us
Your favorite picnic sandwich
Something to share (enough for yourself and 4 other people)
Thermos of Tea (hot or cold!)
Teacup to drink it from
Blanket to sit on
Camera to catch the flowers and the action
For the Flower Wreath Tutorial:
Ribbon to match what you are wearing
Flowers from the market (longer stems are better, one large bunch will suffice or two small ones)
(Don't worry about twine or scissors. I have all we'll need.)

For the Winchester Mystery House:

Tour Info: Grand Estate TourAdults (13-64) $33.00
Seniors (65+) $30.00
Children (6-12) $30.00

Includes Mansion, Behind-the-Scenes, and House Garden Tours. Children 5 and under are not allowed due to safety concerns

The Winchester Grand Estate Tour is a 2 ½ hour experience that takes guests on a 65-minute guided tour of the Mansion interior and a 55-minute tour of the Behind-the-Scenes.

Also included in the Grand Estate Tour are the Historic Firearms Museum, which houses the largest collections of Winchester Rifles on the West Coast, and the Antique Products Museum. The Antique Products Museum displays a wide variety of everyday products manufactured by the Winchester Firearms Company in the early 1900’s. The Garden Tour is Self Guided.

Tour Length: 2 Hours, 30 Minutes

New Steampunk Medals in our Etsy Shop

The Medals for Heroic Tea Service won't be around much longer....But we have other medals too. Visit us at www.etsy.com/shop/stclairaeronauts