Imagine making a baby’s first favorite toy – a soft, huggable, handmade teddy bear. This bear has embroidered features and machine-sewn arms, legs, and ears. There are no small parts that might come off, even after years of snuggling and play. And make a cute matching blankie, too, perfect for the crib and complete with…
Archives for April 2012
Softies For Sale Series: Showing Your Work in Galleries
For this installment in my series about sewing softies for pleasure and profit I am focusing on gallery shows. Scattered all over the country, and all over the world really, are a select few very special galleries that show indie art. These are places that are run by people who are savvy to the online…
Felt Hibiscus Flowers for National Nonwovens
This week I've been making felt hibiscus flowers for National Nonwovens' booth at Quilt Market next month. National Nonwovens produces gorgeous felt in all varieties. Last year I sewed butterflies for their booth which was a lot of fun and they kindly provided me with all the felt for my new book. It's always an…
Upcoming Workshop: Design Your Own Stuffed Animal
I am teaching a new workshop at Gather Here in May called, "Design Your Own Stuffed Animals." In the class we will start by sketching and then work to transform our drawings into sewing patterns for stuffed animals. You'll learn how and where to add gussets and darts to make your design truly three-dimensional. Don't let…
A Collaboration: Forest Creature
Last week I posted about a collaborative project I am working on with Kristy of Fog and Swell. We sent eachother some fabrics that we will both use to make forest creatures and ocean creatures. Here is my pile at the beginning of last week. Kristy started with ocean and made a stunningly beautiful crab with…
Custom Bear for a Print Ad
Over the winter I got a call from an art director who was making a print ad for a pharmaceutical company. The ad was for a new pre-natal vitamin that helps alleviate constipation and the art director was looking for a custom teddy bear that was, well…constipated. Making this bear qualifies as one of the…
Plush From a Child’s Drawing: Simon’s Snail
Simon came home from Kindergarten with this snail drawing a few months ago. I think it was a pretty slapdash effort, actually, but to me this snail had such incredible personality. I squirreled the drawing away upstairs for a future plush project. I mentioned to Simon this week that I was making a plush snail…
Trixie and Tess: A Topsy Turvy Doll
Aren't Topsy Turvy dolls cool? Sort of creepy, but also sort of amazing! Once I started making reversible toys, I felt like I had to make this classic children's toy. I named her Trixie and Tess. Trixie is a rather stern girl, dressed in deep purple with a severe hairstyle. She is not in a…
Softies For Sale Series: Selling on Consignment
It is many crafters dream to get their handmade goods in boutique stores. The thrill of seeing your wares on the shelves of a beautiful boutique, of knowing that the buyer or owner of the store thinks that what you make is worthy of being in their store, and that all kinds of shoppers will…
A Collaboration
Grey whales by Kristy of Fog and Swell. To me, one way to continue to push your creative boundaries is to reach out to other artists and collaborate. For a long time I have admired Kristy's work on her beautiful blog, Fog and Swell. Kristy interprets her seaside surroundings by creating softies that are beautifully…