You spend countless hours developing a unique product, refining it, tweaking the pattern, sourcing the perfect materials, taking beautiful product shots, writing winning marketing copy for the listings, and cultivating a community around your work. And then, one afternoon you’re sifting through Pinterest and there’s your image of your beautiful handmade product, the basis of…
Archives for February 2013
Awesome Handmade Toys: The Felt Mistress
The post is part of an occasional series called "Awesome Handmade Toys." These posts feature toy makers whose work I think is particularly fresh and inventive. You can see previous posts in the series here. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular basis if you're looking for more inspiration. Are…
Easy Purim Craft: No-Sew Felt Hamentaschen
Today is the Jewish holiday of Purim. We spent the morning making these: hamentaschen. Hamentaschen are the traditional cookie of Purim because they are shaped with three-corners to represent the three-cornered hat worn by Haman, the villain of the Purim story. Filled with something sweet and sticky, such as poppyseed, prune, apricot or raspberry jam,…
Softies at Quilt Market: An Interview with Ellen Lumpkin Brown of The Doll Loft
Should you go to Quilt Market? If you have a creative sewing business my bet is this is one of your burning questions. Quilt Market is the most prominent trade show for fabric-based businesses. The show takes place twice a year, once in Houston and once in another city in the United States. It's open…
7 Valuable Post Topics for Your Craft Blog
Your blog is like a hungry puppy waiting to be fed. It’s tummy is rumbling and you want to feed it regularly, but there are times when it can seem like there is nothing worth writing about. Let’s say it’s craft show season and you’ve spent the last two weeks making a dozen of the…
All About Polyfil: An Interview with Judy Novella of Fairfield Processing
Some craft supplies are, well, kinda sexy. A pack of vibrant Aurifil thread, an Amy Butler jelly roll, or a display of Martha Stewart irridescent glitter: these are the eye candy of crafters. Poly-Fil? Not so much. It's white and fluffy and comes in a big plastic bag. It may not be the most exciting…
Generating Design Ideas From Stories in the Public Domain
Classic children's stories are a wonderful source of inspiration for stuffed animal and doll makers. Many of the classic tales are now in the public domain which means that they either have expired copyrights or are ineligible for copyright protection. No permission is needed to use works that are in the public domain and that's…
Make a Bouquet of Felt Flowers for Your Valentine!
Valentine’s Day is almost here. This year, instead of buying flowers for your sweetheart (or for yourself!), whip up a bouquet of felt flowers. They’re quick and easy to make and they’ll last all year. Get my free felt flower tutorials right here: tulips and daffodils.
News and Updates from Abby Glassenberg Design
In the past few weeks I've had a few exciting Abby Glassenberg Design press pieces and projects completed and I want to share them with you. My first Simplicity pattern is out and in stores nationwide. I designed these! Simplicity 1681 This set includes two of my original Lovey Dovies (the bear and the bunny),…
Book Review: I Just Like To Make Things by Lilla Rogers
Two weeks ago I was at a coffee shop with my two younger daughters. I glanced at my Twitter stream and saw that Lilla Rogers has a book out. Lilla Rogers. Photo by Sharon Jacobs. I knew about Lilla Rogers because she’s the illustration agent for two long-time bloggers whose careers I’ve followed from way…