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.
I made this bear today and I thought you might like to make him, too. Meet Pete the Bear! He’s my favorite kind of softie to make: easy and quick to sew and you can make him from scrap materials. Ready to get started? Get the free pattern download! Here’s the Pete the Bear Pattern.Read More →
Softies are fun no matter what, but they are even more fun when they’re interactive. Yesterday I sewed one of my Squeaky Snakes from super-soft minky with a bright pink felt tongue. I love the coiled shape, but the pattern actually includes three snake shapes: a basic straight snake a curvy snake and this coiledRead More →
When you negotiate a book deal part of the conversation revolves around what images will be in the book, how many there will be, and, perhaps most importantly, who will create the images. There are a lot of different approaches to consider. Some craft books are text-heavy with just a few step-by-step images within theRead More →
I realize that designing and sewing a stuffed animal may be a new sort of project for many people. If you sew at all you probably already have much of what you'll need to get started and, as I point out in the trailer, you can make beautiful softies from humble materials. But there areRead More →
The post is part of an occasional series called “Awesome Handmade Toys.” These posts feature toy makers whose work I think is particularly fresh and inventive. You can see previous posts in the series here. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular basis if you’re looking for more inspiration. +++++Read More →
Charlie and I began dating in the summer of 2000. A few months into our relationship we went to an art show, the annual School of the Museum of Fine Arts student and faculty sale, and bought a piece of art together. It was $300 and we split the cost. We’d fallen in loveRead More →
I don’t own a graphics program, not even Photoshop, and investing in one isn’t in the budget this year. Instead I’m really enjoying learning to use free online programs to their utmost. PicMonkey is one of my very favorites. You may know of PicMonkey as a photo editing program, which it is, but it’s alsoRead More →
As copies of my book are beginning to make their way out into the world I'm going to periodically share some of my favorite sources for the fabrics and supplies you might want to play with while working your way through the projects. First up, a material I used every single day: wool felt. IRead More →
What should you do when you’re presented with an opportunity to pursue a project that’s not perfectly aligned with the mission of your business? Most business advice would tell you to say no. Turn it down. Don’t stray. Your time is your most valuable commodity, so don’t go spending it on things that aren’t missionRead More →