Sewing, blogging, and creative business.
I’m very excited to have finished this patchwork Progress Pride Flag quilt. The pattern is by Bobbie Gentili from Geeky Bobbin. All of the fabrics are scraps from my stash.
This was a fun project and the finished quilt is really bright and colorful. As part of this process, I also enjoyed learning more about how the design of the Progress Pride flag came to be.
Before we jump into today's post I want to invite you to something new. I've recently created a private Facebook group for people who design sewing patterns for toys and dolls. It's called the Softie Designers Forum and it's already amazing. This is a place to ask all those detailed questions about pattern templates andRead More →
I have a pattern in issue 29 of Mollie Makes. It’s a punk and pretty topsy turvy doll (I call them Roxy and Rachel). The idea for this doll came from the magazine’s editor and it was fun to have an assignment. I spent some hours studying British punk girls and the fabrics they wear,Read More →
This is the second in a series I’m writing about Contagious: Why Things Catch On, by Jonah Berger. This book is truly excellent, steeped in research and yet easy to understand. I recommend getting a copy. In these posts I’m working to apply the theories in Contagious to creative businesses. You can read the firstRead More →
Every boy doll needs a dapper bow tie. In just a few minutes you can turn a few leftover scraps of fleece into an awesome softie accessory (or hairclip…or brooch). Ready? Let’s go! Gather some supplies: all-purpose thread a few pins a pinback or hairclip (if you’re so inclined) one piece of fleece that’s aRead More →
Two weeks ago I wrote a post asking why there isn't a site like Ravelry for sewing. The post provoked quite a bit of interest in the broader online sewing community and the response was pretty tremendous. There was a lively discussion in the comments and I received quite a few emails from people whoRead More →
It’s gotten really crowded in here. Lots of people are talking about the same thing and they’re talking all at once. How can we possibly sift through the noise and find the best stuff when this sea of craft content is constantly rushing past? If you run an online business, like I do, this isRead More →
My older daughters play school together. Actually, they play special needs school. Every doll and stuffed animal in their school has some kind of disability. Some of their special school supplies. We have a furry pig with severe food allergies, a brown bear with leg braces made from pencils strapped to him with masking tape,Read More →
Do you have a book in you? If you think you might like to write a craft book, all sorts of questions begin to pop up in your mind. What’s the first step? How do you write a proposal? What kinds of ideas are appealing to publishers? Will you need an agent? I knowRead More →
“That’s so clever!” If you hear this remark when you show someone what you’ve made you know you’ve done it right. We are drawn to things that are designed with an element of surprise. Think about some of the evergreen toy designs, like the jack-in-the-box. No matter how old you are, you’re going to smileRead More →
How do you generate excitement about a new product or pattern? What can you do to build buzz in advance of a product launch so that the day your product goes live customers are clamoring to your shop to get what you've got to offer? A lot goes in to orchestrating a successful product launchRead More →