It’s gotten really crowded in here. Lots of people are talking about the same thing and they’re talking all at once. How can we possibly sift through the noise and find the best stuff when this sea of craft content is constantly rushing past? If you run an online business, like I do, this is…
Do You Need an Agent to Publish a Craft Book?: A Chat with Kate McKean
Do you have a book in you? If you think you might like to write a craft book, all sorts of questions begin to pop up in your mind. What’s the first step? How do you write a proposal? What kinds of ideas are appealing to publishers? Will you need an agent? I know…
Book Review: Flip Dolls and Other Toys
“That’s so clever!” If you hear this remark when you show someone what you’ve made you know you’ve done it right. We are drawn to things that are designed with an element of surprise. Think about some of the evergreen toy designs, like the jack-in-the-box. No matter how old you are, you’re going to smile…
How to Build Buzz for a Product Launch: Indie Designers In Conversation
How do you generate excitement about a new product or pattern? What can you do to build buzz in advance of a product launch so that the day your product goes live customers are clamoring to your shop to get what you've got to offer? A lot goes in to orchestrating a successful product launch…
Why Isn’t There a Site Like Raverly for Sewing?
Edited: Threadbias responded to this post and I published their response here. The longer I’ve worked as an independent sewing pattern designer, the more it’s become apparent to me that those of us who sew are missing out on something amazing. We are missing out on Ravelry. Ravelry is a free site for knitters…
Why I’m Uncomfortable With the Term “Work/Life Balance”
This post is part of a six person blog hop on the topic of work/life balance. A chat on Twitter sparked this discussion. This is a big topic and I think our perspectives will vary in interesting ways. Okay, here we go! In 2004 I became a mother and left my full-time job. It was…
The Position of Soft Toy Makers in Today’s Sewing Industry
One of things I like best about sewing dolls and stuffed animals is that it gives you permission to jump into sewing without knowing the rules. The language of sewing is intimidating for a lot of people. Not sure what a dart is? Can’t sew a zipper yet? Don’t really get grain? That’s totally…
How I Made Exercise a Part of My Life
I woke up one morning a few months ago in a terrific mood. I got the kids ready for school and walked them over to the schoolyard. As I was headed home I ran into a neighbor. She’s a mom, too, and we sometimes talk on the way to and from school. She’s tall and…
How to Reassure Potential Customers and Help Them Overcome Objections
Have you read The $100 Startup by Chris Guillebeau? It’s excellent. Real, actionable steps to improve your online business, launch a new product, and build a community of customers. I’m taking many of Chris’ ideas and applying them to my own creative business. Right now I’m focusing on writing an FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). I’ve…
The Real Truth About Crafting For Charity
Wherever you are right now, you are fortunate. Why? Because you’re reading this post from a screen of some kind, which means you probably have electricity. And most likely you’ve got a warm place to sleep tonight and enough to eat for dinner. We know that not everyone is so lucky. Every few months there’s…
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