This has been a wonderfully busy year and I'd like to say thank you for all of you support. You guys are the best. As the holidays fast approach, I hope you'll sew something special for a child. Please use the coupon code below for 15% off your entire order of sewing patterns, books, and…
Archives for November 2013
Gift Guide: Craft Books 2013
I love books, and I especially love a good craft book. This year I've reviewed a number of new releases and any one of them would make a terrific holiday gift for a creative person in your life (or for yourself!). Here's my 2013 craft book holiday gift guide! I Just Like to Make Things,…
Gift Guide: Free Softie Tutorials
The holidays are just around the corner. I like to try to make things for at least some of the people on my list. It always feels so good to give handmade. Making things really can help you save money on your holiday shopping, especially if you use a free tutorial and fabrics from your…
New Pattern: Baby Perry
Liam and Emma are very excited today. Why? Because there's a new baby in the family! I'd like you to meet Baby Perry, a super sweet and easy-to-sew newborn baby doll. Perry is very snuggly, tucked under a little blankie. My three-year-old is in love! And, even more exciting, I've created an ebook that brings…
Free Pattern: Bird Ornaments for the Holidays
I’m sewing these patchwork bird ornaments as holiday presents for the members of my artist group here in town. These are so sweet and easy to make I thought I’d show you how with this free pattern. Pull together some of your favorite fabric scraps and let’s get started! You’ll need: 4″ embroidery hoop scraps…
Capital Investments that Help Your Business Grow: Custom Dies with Phil Barbato
Should you buy that serger you’ve been coveting? It’s expensive. But if you had it, could you grow your business in ways you can’t right now? Or maybe it’s a kiln you need? Or a Wacom tablet? Or a shipping label printer? Sometimes it makes sense to make a capital investment in your business, even…
Too Close
In October I was hired by a UK-based company to design a Christmas moose. I was given particular dimensions and a description for the moose. They wanted long legs that bent in the middle and they wanted him to be sorta goofy and hapless. Here are some early prototypes (from my Instagram feed): This…
Book Review: Creature Camp by Wendi Gratz
Designer and sewing teacher Wendi Gratz has a new book out with Stash Books called Creature Camp: 18 Softies to Draw, Sew & Stuff. Wendi is known for her clear easy-to-follow sewing instruction. She creates videos and tutorials demonstrating sewing techniques especially designed for beginners. Wendi has also taught hundreds of kids to sew during…
Playing With Gathered Circles
Most design work begins with basic shapes: a line, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, and a circle. We layer and combine them, stretch and condense them, cut them up and piece then back together again, but really it all begins here with the shapes we learn to draw and identify as toddlers. Today I…
5 Tips for Writing an Ebook That Sells
When you write an ebook you have the opportunity to really explore a topic in depth, much more so than in a blog post or tutorial. It’s a satisfyingly fast way to get your ideas out into the world, and you retain complete control over every aspect of the content. Writing an ebook is a…