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…
Archives for June 2013
Organizing Blog Archives for Increased Usability
One of the very best things about a blog is that it’s alive. Unlike a static website, a blog is always fresh. It’s current. Blogs allow readers to see what the writer is working on, or thinking about, right now. But because a blog is an ever-growing body of work it can become unwieldy…
Stuffed Animals Goes to Press Again
I just wanted to pop in briefly today to share some good news. My editor at Lark, Thom O'Hearn, emailed me this morning to tell me that my newest book, Stuffed Animals, is going to press for a second printing! I don't know all that much about how these things work, but according to Thom…
How To Make a Tiny Felt Bunting
When you make tiny things, you need tiny props for your photo shoots. A colorful bunting adds a cheerful party-like feeling to a photo and it’s an easy prop to make yourself. You’ll need: All-purpose thread Felt scraps in five bright colors (I buy wool-blend felt here) Freezer paper and a pencil OR cardboard 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…
How to Shop for Sewing Supplies at Thrift Stores and Rummage Sales
I’ve stocked much of my sewing studio from local thrift stores and rummage sales. Reusing materials you find secondhand is eco-friendly and usually much cheaper than buying new. Here are my best tips for a successful shopping trip to the resale shop: 1. Don’t buy thread. Thread becomes brittle over time. Old thread will fray…
Pattern Updates
I'm working my way through my older patterns to bring them up to my current style. This means I'm sewing new samples, taking some new photos, adding additional links to helpful blog posts, and generally polishing each one until it's shiny and new. Darcy the Dachshund PDF Sewing Pattern I worked on sewing all new…
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…
I Have an Internet Nemesis. Now What?
Make anything and put it out for public display and you’ll attract criticism. You’ll attract praise as well, of course, but no matter what you do there will be people who don’t like what you’re doing. Some will keep it to themselves, and some will tell you what they think. Of those that tell you,…
Selecting Fabrics for Sewing Softies
I love sewing softies. I love that softies are quick to make and are a great first sewing project if you’re just getting comfortable with a sewing machine. Ducky Rattle made from my Animal Rattles pattern I love that at the end of each project I have a little creature on my desk looking up…