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.
Sometimes success is all about having the right tool for the job. A ball point awl is one of my favorite softie-making tools. Here's how I use it: To free fur from seams. When you sew with faux fur, bits of the fur pile will get caught in the seams. Freeing the fur from theRead More →
I’m not one to wait to be chosen. I’ve told you about how I asked my husband out on our first date. If you wait to be plucked from the crowd very few interesting things are likely to happen to you. Be an active player in your own success. This means dreaming up ideas andRead More →
You spend countless hours developing a unique product, refining it, tweaking the pattern, sourcing the perfect materials, taking beautiful product shots, writing winning marketing copy for the listings, and cultivating a community around your work. And then, one afternoon you’re sifting through Pinterest and there’s your image of your beautiful handmade product, the basis ofRead 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. AreRead More →
Today is the Jewish holiday of Purim. We spent the morning making these: hamentaschen. Hamentaschen are the traditional cookie of Purim because they are shaped with three-corners to represent the three-cornered hat worn by Haman, the villain of the Purim story. Filled with something sweet and sticky, such as poppyseed, prune, apricot or raspberry jam,Read More →
Should you go to Quilt Market? If you have a creative sewing business my bet is this is one of your burning questions. Quilt Market is the most prominent trade show for fabric-based businesses. The show takes place twice a year, once in Houston and once in another city in the United States. It's openRead More →
Your blog is like a hungry puppy waiting to be fed. It’s tummy is rumbling and you want to feed it regularly, but there are times when it can seem like there is nothing worth writing about. Let’s say it’s craft show season and you’ve spent the last two weeks making a dozen of theRead More →
Some craft supplies are, well, kinda sexy. A pack of vibrant Aurifil thread, an Amy Butler jelly roll, or a display of Martha Stewart irridescent glitter: these are the eye candy of crafters. Poly-Fil? Not so much. It's white and fluffy and comes in a big plastic bag. It may not be the most excitingRead More →
Classic children's stories are a wonderful source of inspiration for stuffed animal and doll makers. Many of the classic tales are now in the public domain which means that they either have expired copyrights or are ineligible for copyright protection. No permission is needed to use works that are in the public domain and that'sRead More →
Valentine’s Day is almost here. This year, instead of buying flowers for your sweetheart (or for yourself!), whip up a bouquet of felt flowers. They’re quick and easy to make and they’ll last all year. Get my free felt flower tutorials right here: tulips and daffodils.