For about the millionth time, I wish I could be in a few places at once… and this weekend, I would love to be in California! We are planning a trip down there in May and I can hardly wait to visit these super crafty places and learn a thing or two.

Tonight is the kickoff party for Home Ec, Jenny Ryan‘s lovely craft studio venture with Tootie and Billie of ReForm School! As a bonus, along with the crafty treats to check out, classes to browse, and cupcakes to enjoy, she’ll be signing copies of her fantastic new book, Sew Darn Cute.

It sounds like such a fabulous evening — if you are in Southern California and get to go I would love to hear all about it! Home Ec is offering some amazing classes, including paper-maiche jewelry, power tool empowerment for women, and this awesome kids’ charm bracelet class taught by Laura Stokes-Estrada.

Meanwhile, in Petaluma, Nicole Vasbinder of Queen Puff Puff is celebrating too — her StitchCraft studio has been open for a year, so she is offering her customers 20% off on all her fabric and craft supplies!

Besides all the pretty things she has for sale, Nicole also offers some amazing sewing and craft classes, from a-line skirts (my personal favorite sewing project, ever) to running your own crafty business, pattern-making and draping, and creating a custom-fitted duct tape dress form (which I have always wanted to do). Here’s a photo from one of her recent handbags classes… so cute.

I got to stop in and check everything out the month StitchCraft opened, and it’s such a lovely place to find something pretty or learn something new! Be sure to keep an eye on the blog for more shop + class announcements, too.