about judi

Judi Morales Meyer: Artist, Upcycle Indie-designer,  Sewing & Art Instructor, Textile Shop Lead, Program Developer, Event Coordinator, Journalist, Webmaster

Judi has been sewing, designing and making art for more than 43 years, with a focus on sustainability and upcycled materials. She has been vending her creations for 28 years and has been teaching sewing and art-making to adults and children for 20 years.

Truckee Roundhouse Makerspace:
Judi has been the Textile Shop Lead at Truckee Roundhouse Makerspace since it’s opening in 2016.

Adult Classes:
She teaches adult sewing, serging, industrial sewing, upcycling, repairing, modification, pattern making, clothing design and how to become a vendor. Teaching and empowering others to make things, is Judi’s happy place. Guerilla Upcycled Sewing is Judi’s radical way of sewing without patterns, using upcycled fabrics and shortcuts. Judi believes sewing should be fun instead intimidating or complicated, so she specialize in teaching beginner workshops. Judi and Eli both volunteer at the Keep Truckee Green Fixit Clinics, and Judi teaches a monthly Textile Fixit Workshop.
Click here for adult workshops.

Art  & Sewing Instructor for Kids: Judi teaches youth camps for Sierra High, Aim High and the Tahoe Expeditionary Academy at and the Truckee Roundhouse Summer Camp program.
Click here for kids program schedule.

Her classes are based on Eco Art principals of using upcycled materials, student-imagined designs and the use of a variety of tools that encourage critical thinking. Judi saw the need for kids to learn to use tools and explore their creativity. Her experience as a Respite Care provider for children with developmental disabilities, taught her the importance of creative play.

Event Coordination:
Judi volunteers as an event coordinator for Roundhouse’s annual Maker Show in June, and Holiday Block Party in December, managing vendors and event maps, as well as recruiting exhibitors and community partners hosting activities. Over the years, she’s facilitated participation from Bay Area artists and makers. Judi also coordinates vendors for Obtainium Works events.

Journalism
Judi occasionally writes for North Tahoe Publication, Moonshine Ink, with stories about her local community.
Click here for Judi’s writings.

In the past, she’s written for Benicia Patch , the Burning Man Journal , BeniciaNews.com, eHow.com.

Obtainium Works, Vallejo:
Judi and Eli have been members of Obtainium Works art space since 2014, usually prepping and participating in the Robot Rumble, Obtainium Cup Contraptors Race and the Mad Hatter Parade. Judi also manages vendors for events and is the webmaster of Obtainiumworks.org.

Art Mediums:
As an artist, Judi’s mediums include Encaustic painting (hot beeswax), Steampunk clothing made from old clothing and reclaimed textiles, and making succulent gardens out of reclaimed wood. She finds beauty in naturally aged patinas, especially rust, and the craftsmanship and history of vintage artifacts. Her current project is hand-sewing Scrappy Critters out of fabric and clothing scraps.

Judi lives full time in Kings Beach, California, (North Lake Tahoe), and with her roots in Vallejo, California (North East Bay Area), she and Eli still participate in Bay Area events with Obtainium Works.