Sewing Stars

I call it, Sewing Stars 2.0

Long time no real post, eh? Well, if you hadn't noticed, the webshop is currently down. I am working on a new site design and have plans on going live with it in April. Wanna sneak peek? I know you do!

I have decided after long thought that I am going to make the instructional part of the failed book into some thing free for anyone to access under the 'how to' tab. I will include: a stitch guide, guide to different types of fabrics, some of my sewing techniques, and a new free pattern (in addition to the mouse one). 

The cart system will go the way of the dodo, and I will finally join up with the rest of the masses by using Etsy. I am actually very much looking forward to the change, since that means that I will have less confusing issues with my ordering system. With the old cart, I had to check 3 different locations to verify orders, and sometimes emails weren't reaching me. So I am quite happy to shift shopping over to Etsy.

I also have a page on Facebook for Sewing Stars, so please come & become a fan! And I also have a Twitter account where I discuss both crafty and nerdy type things. 

So come April join in the celebration of Sewing Stars 2.0! Goodies will be included in all orders for that month!

let's sew!!

Calling all New Englanders! Guess what? I will be making up super awesome kits, and carting my massive fabric stash down to Craftland February 10th to teach how to make lovable little plushes! Won't you come? Pleeeease?

Sign up here: Craftland class

And for anyone in attendance, I will be giving away loads of fabric to take home as well as the kit, so you'll get tons of bang for your buck, that I promise!

Updated Webshop!

Well I've done it! The webshop is updated. The shop will be open for about 2 weeks. There are limited items available, and I don't have time to fullfil requests this year. So get what you can while you can! Also, the popular Snowman Kits are back in stock too!

Update Tomorrow!

Well, I have been really struggling to balance sewing with my creative job, and in truth it been really hard! But I have sewn up a few items that I will post to my website tomorrow, and I will also post a couple things to etsy as well. For my website, I will be posting a few samples that I had been saving, so they will be one of a kind, and never seen again. This will be the only chance to nab what I do post up...

The store will then be open for 2 weeks... so get it while you can!

reporting back...

Crafty Bastards remains one of the very best craft shows ever! It's always super fun, the weather was perfect, and the crowds huge. Working full time and prepping for this show meant lots of not sleeping, but i managed to have enough to fill the table. By the time it was over, the table was practically empty! So a huge thank you to everyone who came out and bought from me!

here is the table just before it started with my awesome helper, Nicole!

I am already cutting out more battys for anyone who couldn't make it to the show that would like to nab one from the webshop. Which means, yes, my webshop will be re-opening very soon! And for anyone in passing through Providence, I have a few items available at Craftland. Stop in and check it out!

taking a trip to DC

Wow, in two weeks i will be in Washington DC for Crafty Bastards! Can you believe it? I am in a new location this time, down in the tennis courts, so be sure to come visit me there if you plan on coming.

The battys shown will be part of the pile of fun stuff I will have there.

More sneak peeks as the show draws closer!

plush you!!

These are what i am submitting to Plush You, although these pics don't show them finished... you get the idea. it's been a weird and much longer road to crafty recovery than i would have liked.

October 3rd I will be in Washington DC for Crafty Bastards. It should be a lot of fun, and now that I am feeling more like myself again, I hope to have loads of items to share with you all there!

Slowly but surely I seem to be making my way out of this slump. I don't know if I will be going full force for the holidays, but I have a big (secret) plan in the works, and will be reopening the webshop for the holidays. So there are things to look forward to! Thanks again for all the encouraging comments, they mean the world to me! You don't even know... ♥ ♥ ♥

craftland application push!

It's already that time of year again! Please consider applying!

* August 1 - August 14: Early bird application fee only $10.
* August 15 - August 31: Standard application fee $15.
* September 15: All Craftland 2009 applicants notified.
* Craftland Show will take place December 4th - 31st this year!

Now entering its 8th year, Craftland is an annual holiday sale in downtown Providence, RI each December that celebrates all kinds of sparkly handmade objects and the people who make them. Hosted in a unique retail boutique format, Craftland Show features the work of over 150 artists during this month-long show. You don't even have to be here to sell your work here! Crazy!
www.CraftlandShow.com

And each year, Craftland donates 5% of proceeds from the Show to a local non-profit. This year’s Craftland 2009 beneficiary is Girls Rock! Rhode Island.

Apply now!
www.CraftlandShow.com/application09

revised

i changed the way i made the eyes, i think these are cuter.making 20 was quite a challenge. thanks for the opportunity kristen! to learn how to get your own exclusive, never to be made again sewing stars cuttlefish check over at Schmancy's website later this week!

Also, thank you everyone for your imput & kind words... it means the world to me that you all took the time to encourage me. I need some time & space from my manuscript, but I do hope to do something with it at somepoint, whether that be make my own booklet or try to shop it to an alternative publisher. I am leaning towards a new booklet to release in the fall, so I'll see where the summer takes me...

still here...

wow, long time no post, huh?? well this is a good news/ bad news post... let's do the bad first.

remember a while back, like a little over a year ago when i mentioned how i have signed a contract to write a book on how to make plushies? well, i wrote the book, turned it in and then heard nothing... for about 3 months actually. i was in the middle of the holiday season, and didn't have time to follow up. come january i got an email letting me know my book had been moved from the initial publisher to a subsidiary. the editor i was passed to i don't think understood Sewing Stars, nor cared to. after a painful two and half months of phone calls, emails, etc. i was told my book simply wasn't viable in the marketplace anymore. with that, my book was cancelled.

needless to say it stung deeply, and between that and my new full time job i pretty much lost my will to sew anything for this business i worked so hard to create. if you read my geek journal at all you would know i have been able to sew in the last month and a half, but its for non-sewing stars purposes.

on my road to gaining back my sewing mojo kristen rask of schmancy in seattle contacted me asking me to take part in her special exclusive project. which leads me to the good news. i agreed to take part, and although it still deeply stings, and my feelings regarding my craft are still up in the air i have been working hard making these:

they are based on cuttlefish, and i made them all sorts of crazy colors as you can see. they are actually the first thing i have sewn since the lemons that was for Sewing Stars. i am not sure how much longer the healing of my sewing soul will take. in the meantime i am trying to concentrate on what doesn't break my heart, which has been my amazing new job at the American Mathematical Society, and even more amazing friends and family.

so! if you are in seattle, check out schmancy! this really did turn into an exclusive, more so than kristen probably even realizes. but its time i faced what happened, and let anyone who wondered where i disappeared to.