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 first knew that Jill Hamor was a good toy designer when I saw the Lisa and Corduroy set she made on her blog. This doll and bear so perfectly capture the nostalgic sweet look of Don Freeman’s illustration I was really blown away. It’s simply stunning work and I’ve been reading Jill’s blog, bybido,Read More →
Today is National Pickle Day so it seemed only fitting that I give you a free pattern for a Christmas pickle ornament. Why a Christmas pickle? It seems to be based on some sort of German legend that has perhaps been debunked. I don’t really know. But what I do know is Christmas pickles areRead More →
I needed a little respite at the end of last week and was looking for something fun to sew. I decided to make another Tess and Trixie Topsy Turvy Doll. This time I chose yellow and red and I gave Trixie a very stern, downturned mouth and Tess very perky, upturned pigtails. Here are twoRead 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. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular basis if you're looking for more inspiration. There are a few softie makers out there whose workRead More →
When I was a child I had a very special stuffed animal dog named Barnard. He was all brown except for the white lining on his ears and his feet were weighty, like beanbags. I carried Barnard around by one ear while sucking my thumb for…well for more years than I care to admit (Yes,Read More →
Today I spoke with Jonathan Marcus, the founder and CEO of Goodsie. Jonathan got in touch with me after I wrote this post about whether handmade businesses should have their own online storefronts or are better off sticking with Etsy. I’ve had my eye on Goodsie for some time now because it offers an accessibleRead 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. I also pin toys to my Inspiring Softies pinboard on a regular basis if you're looking for more inspiration. I'm a huge fan of self-discipline. I love self-imposed rulesRead More →
I have been playing around with a new-to-me material this week: bamboo fleece. I first heard about bamboo fleece from Gail at BrightLifeToys. Gail is an awesome customer of mine. She makes and sells toys from many of my patterns in her shop and she sews them all from bamboo fleece that she dyes herself.Read More →
Everyone tells you that writing a blog is a good way to promote your handmade business. Write about what you’re making, show your works in progress, tell the story behind the creation of your products and you’ll build an audience. Those readers will develop a relationship with you and will, over time, become your customers.Read More →
Have you ever considered teaching sewing in your community? Teaching is a great way to add a new income stream to your handmade business and it’s fun and interesting, too. No matter where you live there are people who would like to learn to sew on a sewing machine. Because let’s face it, sewing machinesRead More →