Photo by Lisa Neighbors
I’m Abby Glassenberg, the author of While She Naps. This is a blog about the home sewing industry and creative entrepreneurship with a focus on craft publishing, fabric manufacturing, feminism, and social justice. I’m a sewing pattern designer, craft book author, writer, and teacher.
Need to get in touch? Email me: abbyglassenberg@comcast dot net
In 2005 I started While She Naps to record my work in the studio making dolls and toys. As my designs became more professional and grew in popularity, I turned my passion for designing and sewing stuffed animals into a thriving business. Today, I write craft books, license my designs to national companies, sell my sewing patterns and ebooks, and teach sewing.
Photo by Lisa Neighbors
My Background
I grew up in Potomac, Maryland and went to Johns Hopkins University undergrad where I got a degree in History. Then I joined Teach For America and taught middle school in the Mississippi Delta for two years.
I have a master’s degree in education from Harvard and taught middle school social studies in Newton, Massachusetts before becoming a textile artist and the mother of three girls.
My Books
My first book, The Artful Bird: Feathered Friends To Make and Sew was an ALA Booklist top ten craft book of 2011. My second book, Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction, is about soft toy design. It was published by Lark Crafts in May of 2013 and named a Best Book of 2013 by Amazon. My third book, Sew & Play Puzzle Ball Animals, came out in 2015.
I’m the editor of Crafter’s Market: The DIY Resource for Creating a Successful and Profitable Craft Business. I regularly contribute projects to craft magazines and books and I license my toy designs to Simplicity. My kit, Felt Menagerie: Create Off-the-Wall Animal Art, was published by Quarto in 2017.
I’m also the co-founder of Craft Industry Alliance, a community for craft business owners. We are the news outlet for the crafts industry publishing original reporting on stories that impact craft-based businesses every day. We also provide education through webinars and online courses, and networking opportunities to build collaboration and connections among business owners.
Would you like to get in touch with me? Email me at: abbyglassenberg at comcast dot net
Please note that I don’t do sponsored posts on my blog. This means that I can’t accept free products in exchange for a blog post, including free books to review. If you see a product reviewed on While She Naps I’ve purchased it myself. Thank you for your understanding.