My second book, Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction, was released four months ago. Today I have a little recap of some of the activity that has surrounded the book since it's release. This is the two-minute trailer video. I hope you enjoy it! We also shot four 30-second vignettes featuring some of my favorite…
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…
Stuffed Animals Giveaway Winners
Wow! We had a lot of entries in the Stuffed Animals giveaway. Thank you all so much! It was great fun to hear what kinds of softies you're interested in designing. We had 159 entries and random number generator chose: #3, Alicia, who said: "so excited about your book coming out — congrats! I'm dreaming…
Write Your Own Craft Book: An Event at Brookline Booksmith
Have you ever considered writing a craft book? Wondered about the ins and outs of getting a book deal? Been curious about the process of producing the manuscript and working with an editor? On Monday, May 20, I'll be part of a panel discussion with several other craft book authors, and an editor at a…
The Official Stuffed Animals Release Date Giveaway!
Today is May 7, 2013, the official release date of my new book, Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction! I have been waiting for this day for a very long time. Way back in the spring of 2009 I began dreaming of writing a book that would be a comprehensive guide to designing and sewing…
See What People are Saying about Stuffed Animals
My New Book – Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction
I don't like the big reveal. I like to share my ideas and my projects with you as I work them through and to give you a sense of the creative struggles and triumphs of my day to day work. From time to time I work on a project that I need to keep pretty…
Upcoming Workshop: Design Your Own Stuffed Animal
I am teaching a new workshop at Gather Here in May called, "Design Your Own Stuffed Animals." In the class we will start by sketching and then work to transform our drawings into sewing patterns for stuffed animals. You'll learn how and where to add gussets and darts to make your design truly three-dimensional. Don't let…
the light at the end of the tunnel
The book is almost done. It really is. I’m writing the 16th pattern now, editing the manuscript, taking the photos for the front section, and tying up loose ends. But I can see the light and the light looks amazing! Writing a craft book while maintaining a craft blog is challenging because everything has to…
Elements of Soft Toy Design will become a book!
Editor's Note: This series of posts became a book! Stuffed Animals: From Concept to Construction was published by Lark Crafts in 2013. +++++ Two and a half years ago I was at Barnes and Noble with Charlie looking in the craft book aisle. I was looking for a book on soft toy design. I looked…