Simon is getting ready to start middle school in the fall. They say that the days are long and the years are short when you’re raising children and I find that to be very true. (Here’s my post announcing I was pregnant with Simon in the fall of 2005.) I told my kids that when…
Teacher Pay Rate at International Quilt Festival Badly In Need of an Update
I want to draw your attention to an article I published today in the Craft Industry Alliance Journal. One of the three articles in each issue is available to the general public and in this issue it’s one I wrote. A few weeks ago a veteran teacher at International Quilt Festival emailed me. She’s not…
The Pattern That Changed My Life: Rachel Pinheiro
Each week throughout the summer we’ll hear from a designer about a pattern or book that caused them to head in a new direction and helped form their career. It’s the pattern that changed their life. Rachel Pinheiro is a Brazilian sewist who now lives in the U.K. She began sewing in late 2009, first…
How to Attach Softie Parts By Machine
It’s best to attach parts like ears or a tail to your softies by machine, versus by hand, especially if you’ll be giving the toy to a young child. Machine sewn seams are strong which means that the parts are less likely to come loose over time or after several washings. And they’re perfectly even,…
While She Naps the Blog: A Year in Review
While She Naps marks its 9.5 year anniversary this month. This blog has endured all these years, through all my life changes and business changes, because at its heart it is a space where I’m free to explore whatever interests me most. It’s become integral to my creative life. It’s changed as I’ve changed, but…
Reflections on a Year of Podcasting
I started a podcast by accident. In February of 2012 I was finishing up the manuscript for Stuffed Animals and knew that I didn’t want to immediately write another book. I decided to explore how other people had created businesses doing what I loved: designing sewing patterns for stuffed animals. I figured if I talked…
Podcast Episode #39: Melanie Falick
When I started my podcast a year ago I made a wish list of ideal guests. Over the course of the year I’ve had the pleasure of talking with so many of them: Ann Wood, Jess Brown, Lilla Rogers, Kristin Link, Kari Chapin, among many others. I’m so pleased to be closing 2014 with someone…
A Plush Lover’s Gift Guide: Soft Toys to Make and Buy for Kids Big and Small
I love stuffed animals. And I especially love handmade stuffed animals. As we head into the holiday shopping season, I’m excited for an excuse to buy some special plush for friends and family. Here’s my hand-picked selection of softies that would make amazing gifts for kids and adults alike. Owl Pillow by my mimi, Big…
Topsy Turvy Doll Pattern Revamp
I’ve been working on a total overhaul of one of my earliest and best-selling patterns: the topsy turvy doll. I first published this pattern in the summer of 2012. I love topsy turvy dolls and my kids do, too. The wonderful surprise when you flip her over and pull down her skirt… …and there’s someone…
4 Doll Makers You Should Know About
Making a three-dimensional creature from fabric is a creative challenge, but creating a person from fabric is perhaps even harder. We’re quick to judge the beauty of a doll. You have to get the proportions and the features just right to make an appealing fabric human, don’t you think? When I come across an artist…
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