A few weeks ago I got a call from Elizabeth Caven, the founder of UpCraft Club. She told me that the following Sunday she was heading off for an incredible adventure. She’d be spending four months living in San Fransisco to be part of a startup accelerator program called 500 Startups. Elizabeth lives in Iowa….
Archives for January 2016
New Pattern: Asleep Awake Doll
I’m super excited to share my newest pattern with you. As a mom of three daughters I’ve watched kids play for many, many hours. When my kids were toddlers they all loved playing “night night,” tucking their dolls under the covers and then waking them up again. I designed this doll just for that age…
Art and Craft and a Handmade Spoon
Roxanne made me a spoon. In sixth grade here in Wellesley you take Industrial Technology (don’t call it “wood shop” or you’ll be sternly corrected, trust me). The culmination of the class is carving a spoon from a block of wood. I put the spoon to use immediately. The day it came home I stirred…
Update on VAT
If you sell digital products like sewing patterns or ebooks online then Christmas 2014 you were likely stressed out about the EU’s changes to the Value Added Tax (VAT) law. Beginning January 1, 2015 all sellers of digital products have to collect VAT from their EU customers. There’s no exemption and no threshold so even…
Podcast Episode #65: Phoebe Wahl
On today’s episode of the While She Naps podcast we’re talking about illustration in various forms with my guest, Phoebe Wahl. Phoebe Wahl is an illustrator whose vibrant work focuses on themes of comfort, nostalgia and connection to nature and one another. A kindergarten drop-out, Phoebe complained that there “wasn’t enough time to draw” in…
How to Reactivate Inactive Newsletter Subscribers in Mailchimp
No matter how amazing your email newsletter may be, a certain percentage of people you send it to won’t open it. Maybe they’re too busy that day and their inbox is overflowing. Maybe they forgot that they signed up and don’t recognize your email address. Or maybe they no longer use that email address at…
In My Studio
When Josephine was a toddler she used to put her dolls to bed in such a funny way. She’d pull the covers up all the way over their faces! I’d gently pull the covers down a little so that the doll could “breathe,” but she’d insist that the face be entirely covered up. Her love…
Profile of an Email Newsletter: The Wonky Press
I recently subscribed to a new email newsletter that I love: The Wonky Press. It’s written by quilter and blogger Jessica Skultety and she just started writing it a few months ago. Already Jessica is seeing results from communicating with her most loyal fans via email and I thought it would be neat to talk…
Sewing Industry Reflections and Predictions
I’m over at Sew Mama Sew today sharing my reflections on the home sewing (and craft) industry in 2015 and looking into the crystal ball to predict what might happen in 2016. Lots of interesting things happened this year. The indie pattern scene continued to expand causing us to seek ways to sift through and…
Podcast Episode #64: Ali DeJohn, founder of the Makerie
On today’s episode of the While She Naps podcast we’re talking about creative retreats and event planning with my guest, Ali DeJohn, founder of the Makerie. The Makerie is a creative retreat for everyone. Sometimes described as summer camp for adults, Makerie events are nurturing and creative with the goal of helping participants to connect,…