Avoid Business Burn Out

Anyone who is trying to run a business will eventually feel this if you aren't handling daily routines in the proper fashion. The following article will help you to avoid business burn out before it happens. If you're presently experiencing business burn out, then there's no better time than the present to begin avoiding it. It's time to make your business fun again! http://www.patternmart.com/article/How+To+Avoid+Business+Burn+Out

www.PatternMart.com

Valentine's Day Solutions

I think I know what most of you are thinking, but I really don't think it's too early to start thinking about Valentine's Day. It's only 1 1/2 months away! If your mom, daughter, sister, niece, aunt, grandmother, granddaughter, cousin, or best friend has a creative interest or enjoys receiving homemade gifts, let http://www.patternmart.com/ help you give her an unforgettable - and very appreciated - Valentine's gift. Don't forget to treat yourself while you're there!

We offer supplies, patterns, and gift certificates.

Gifts for the Doll Maker

A couple of weeks ago we discussed gifts for the quilter. Below are a few items that make great gifts for the primitive doll maker in your life. You may need to find out a few details before purchasing a few of the items below such as what types of faces your doll making friend creates, which fabric she prefers to use to make her dolls from, favorite staining technique(s) and such.

Various sizes of doll needles
Various sizes of black buttons for eyes
Find out her favorite paint colors if she paints on facial features and purchase some of those colors.
Muslin (bleached, natural or tea dyed) or osnaburg fabric
Ink crystals, coffee, tea for staining
Ground cinnamon & vanilla for grubbying and scenting
Mustard homespun fabric for doll clothes (this is a common request among doll makers as mustard is a difficult color to find or afford)
Black floss for eyelashes and other facial features
Other floss colors for hair
New pattern or gift certificate from her favorite doll designer(s)
5 pound box of fiberfil
Favorite wool/acrylic yarn for hair
Pinking shears
Doll chair(s)
Turning tools for doll limbs
Hemostats for stuffing

www.patternmart.com

Gift Ideas for the Quilter

Below are a few gift ideas for the quilter - whether you’re giving the gift or dropping hints to friends and family for yourself. If shopping for someone else, you will need to find out certain information such as sewing machine brand, sizes and your quilting friend's fabric preference for items such as sewing machine needles, bobbins, cutter blades and fabric wrapping if you intend to make those purchases. You'll find several patterns, kits, fabric, and other quilt gift ideas at www.patternmart.com.

Bookmark with a sewing/quilting theme
Personalized note cards with a quilt theme
Calendar with a quilt theme
Jewelry with a quilt theme
“Made By” labels
Sewing machine needles
Rotary cutter blades
Quilting needles
Quilting push pins
Quilting thread – neutral tones
Bias tape - neutral tones
Pincushion with a quilt pattern theme
Favorite batting
New book or pattern from favorite quilting author/designer
Subscription to favorite quilt magazine
Basting spray
Sewing machine bobbins
Gift certificate to favorite quilt supply store - Pattern Mart designers offer gift certificates! http://www.patternmart.com/gc_purchase_form.php
Wrap with a yard of the quilter’s favorite fabric

Pricing Finished Crafts

Many of us run into a pricing dilemma when it comes to selling our finished crafts. You may find the following article to be very helpful.

http://www.patternmart.com/article/Craft+Business+-+Top+Two+Pricing+Issues

Stay Informed

The best way to stay informed of Pattern Mart updates is to sign up for the weekly newsletter at the following link http://www.patternmart.com/index.php. Included in each issue are exclusive patterns offered at sales prices that you won't find elsewhere. Recently an archived page has been added so that you can get those special offers that you may have already missed.

If you like Pattern Mart, you'll also enjoy Creative Times Magazine. Sign up for that bi-monthly newsletter at http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/ so you'll know when each new issue is released. Each issue is full of craft related articles, patterns to buy, craft sites to shop at and exclusive free patterns.

Pattern Mart's sister sites - Instant Printables and E-Craft Classes - have bi-weekly newsletters to keep you up-to-date on the newest printables and classes and other information related to these sites. Sign up for those newsletters at http://www.instantprintables.com/ and http://www.ecraftclasses.com/.

All of your information is kept confidential. And you can unsubscribe at any time.

http://www.patternmart.com/

Fall Decorating

The first signs of fall are beginning to appear in nature. There was a red leaf in the driveway the other day, the crickets are chirping, the sun is setting earlier and the shadows are getting longer. The sounds are even different.

With this, fall decorating comes to mind. You don't have to get extravagant to decorate for fall. As a matter of fact the most subtle and inexpensive changes can be very effective. And most will work through the entire fall season.

1. Add a few candles around the home using fall colors and fall scents. The same idea will work for tarts (using a fall themed tart warmer would also add a nice touch to your decorating).
2. Change the welcome mats to fall themes.
3. Add small apple, pumpkin, candy corn, witch, bat, turkey, leaf, or other small fall wax bowl fillers to your potpourri baskets.
4. Better yet, many people like to add the small Christmas lights to their potpourri baskets as the warmth stimulates the aroma. Why not add a small strand of lights with fall colors. Never leave plugged-in lights unattended!
5. While we're discussing lighting, you can add a few fall colored lights to the green garland you normally use at Christmas. Hang around the windows or doors, over the mantle or on stair rails.
6. Add basket garland to a basket using fall themed buttons on wire or jute, or candle collars to a candle using fall colored beads on a wire. You will find a nice article about how to make basket garland and candle collars in the upcoming issue of Creative Times that will be released for download on September 1, 2008.
7. Glue pin backs to fall themed buttons or purchase low cost fall themed pins to attach to pillows.
8. Purchase pillow covers with fall themes that will fit over your existing throw pillows.
9. Use fall themed potholders in the kitchen.
10. For the dining area, buy inexpensive placemats with fall colors or themes. Make it interesting....mix and match 2 or 3 patterns that will work nicely together.

For those who would like to attempt making some of the above-mentioned decorations or other fall items yourself, visit www.patternmart.com. You'll find several patterns for your fall decorating needs. We also have supplies that may work with your fall decorating ideas.

Selecting the Right Needle for your Craft Project

Needless to say, there are a variety of needles to select from when it comes to crafting - by hand or by machine. Selecting the right needle for your sewing project isn’t always as easy as it may seem. I will touch briefly on the sewing needles most commonly used with Pattern Mart patterns.

Hand Sewing Needles
For general sewing purposes, a sharp needle will do the trick every time. As depicted by its name, a sharp needle has a sharp point, as well as, a round eye and is of medium length.

Embroidery, or crewel, needles are identical to sharps but have a longer eye to enable easier threading of multiple embroidery threads and thicker yarns. I personally like to use these for my general sewing because of their ease to thread. Ü

Betweens, or quilting, needles are shorter with a small rounded eye. These are usually used for making fine stitches on heavy fabrics such as in tailoring, quilt making and other detailed handwork.

Beading needles are very fine with a narrow eye so as to more easily fit through the center of beads and sequins. They are usually long so that a number of beads can be threaded at a time.

Doll needles are long and thin and are used for soft sculpturing on dolls, particularly facial details. Size normally ranges between 2.5"-7" long.

Sewing Machine Needles
Below are some general rules when selecting a sewing machine needle, however it’s always a good idea to check your sewing machine manual for proper needle selection.

All sewing machine needles are numbered. The smaller the number, the smaller the needle. Therefore it’s a good idea to use the smaller numbers (11 – 14) for light to medium weight fabrics, such as sheers and cottons. Use the higher numbered needles (16 -18) for thicker fabric such as denim. If you’re unsure of the size you should use, purchase a package of assorted needles and practice on scrap pieces of your actual project. You’ll be looking for the needle to penetrate the fabric without breaking due to being to thin or leaving huge holes due to being too large and there should be no loops or puckers in the stitches. Sometimes a simple tension adjustment will fix puckers (loosen the tension) or loops (tighten the tension).

Happy sewing!

Stumped for Creation?

Crafter’s block is much like writer’s block. What causes this loss of creative stimulation? Perhaps you have something else on your mind – like housework, yard work or shopping. Sometimes relieving the stress of these duties by either completing the tasks or hiring out the tasks can free your mind of the clutter and get those creative thoughts flowing again. Many people get crafty ideas while cleaning the house or shopping.

If mind clutter isn’t the problem, then maybe you just need to get out of the house for a bit. Take a walk or a scenic drive to stimulate your senses. What do you smell? Do you smell freshly cut grass, fast food, neighbors grilling, or roses? What do you see? Do you see clouds, a field of multi-colored flowers, old covered bridges, red barns, spotted cows, tall grass blowing in a field, kittens playing? What do you imagine used to be sold in that old corner store now overgrown with English ivy and faded from years of sun, snow, and wind? This is a bitter-sweet image – the days of the tin sign hanging over the door (now rusted from weather) and the old soft drink deep fridge with the bottle opener on the front (now a home for spiders) reminding us of simpler days before the world was so rush-rush.





Now, what do you hear? Ducks quacking, a babbling brook, birds chirping, dogs barking or bees buzzing? What do you imagine the animals are saying? Where will that brook flow to? By the time you return home, not only did you get a well deserved break, but your mind will be so full of ideas that you can only hope to get them all written on paper before you forget them. Good luck!


Honey Bee in Bush

Beading

Beading can be a fun and enjoyable hobby if you know where to shop for beads, have the appropriate workspace, and know which projects are easier to begin with. Below is the link to a wonderful article that will help you if you’re interested in fun beaded jewelry projects. The author offers very helpful advice. Enjoy!

http://www.patternmart.com/article/Beading+-+a+Wonderful+Hobby%21

Tell Others What You Know

When you write articles about what you know about crafting, you are not only helping out fellow crafters, but you're also building a customer base. So many people appreciate your willingness to share that they will visit your website. Click on the link below to read the very informative article that you'll find there about this subject.

http://www.patternmart.com/article/Quick+Article+Ideas+for+Promoting+Your+Crafts

Searching for Craft Projects?

Sometimes our creative juices need a jump start. If you’re experiencing this creative dilemma, why not head over to the Creative Times Magazine archives. http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/archive.php

Take advantage of the many free patterns and fun creative ideas that each issue has to offer. Whether you’re in the mood to create Americana items for the upcoming holidays such as 4th of July and Labor Day, fall and winter items for the fall craft shows, or spring patterns for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day and Easter, you’ll find something to give you the creative boost you’re looking for.

The new issue of Creative Times Magazine will be ready for you download on July 1st! Visit www.patternmart.com for more fun patterns.

Fun With the Kids

If your kids aren't out of school yet, they soon will be. Shortly thereafter, you'll hear the ever-s0-familiar chime of "Mom, I'm bored!" Well, below is a link to a great tutorial to make no-bake clay with them. Adult supervision is required as the use of a stovetop is involved. Enjoy and have a fun summer!

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/tutorial/No+Bake+Clay+Recipe

The kids might even enjoy a few patterns from www.patternmart.com.

Bath Salts

Today we are going to discuss how to make professional bath salts. The article below is meant to be used to spice up an existing bath salt recipe that you are already using or that you may want to try. Whether you want them for yourself, to give as gifts or sell them, you’ll find the following article very helpful. Beginning with the perfect ingredient and ending with the perfect bath temperature, you’ll find out how to get the most from your homemade bath salts. Enjoy!

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/Make+Bath+Salts%3A+5+Techniques+For+A+More+Professional+Bath+Salt+Recipe


Visit www.patternmart.com.

Ways to Advertise Your Website

If you’re looking for inexpensive ways to advertise your online business, you’ll find several ways below. Reach thousands of potential customers by advertising in Creative Times Magazine. Click on the following link to see all of the available advertising options.
http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/advertising.php

Read the following article to find out how to reach thousands more potential customers in your local community.
http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/10+Ways+To+Advertise+Your+Craft+Business+Locally

Fall Craft Shows

Fall craft shows are beginning to enter everyone’s mind now. Whether you’re thinking about trying your luck at one, how to attract customers, or how to improve your sales this year, you’ll find some helpful ideas in the articles below. The articles provide helpful tips - from making your booth look professional, to selling slow stock, to keeping in touch with your customers well after the show is over. Enjoy and good luck!

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/Craft+Fairs%2C+Bazaars+__and__+Flea+Markets%85Oh%2C+My%21

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/Craft+Show+Display+Ideas

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/The+Craft+Show+Secret+that+Defies+Logic

Helpful Scrapbooking Tips

Terry Fitzroy discusses ways to Spice up Your Memories with Scrapbooking Paper in the following article: http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/article/Spice+up+Your+Memories+With+Scrapbooking+Paper

Whether you’re just now catching the scrapbooking fever, have been thinking about beginning a scrapbook or have a scrapbook for EVERY occasion imaginable, you will enjoy this article about the selections of fun materials that are available for you.

Needlpoint Techniques

Carolyn McNeil enlightens us with the differences between needlepoint creations in the following article: “What is Needlepoint?” http://www.patternmart.com/article/What+Is+Needlepoint__q__. In the article, Carolyn discusses tapestry and different embroidery terms that you may find helpful.

Carolyn also explains the five basic needlepoint stitches in the following article: http://www.patternmart.com/article/The+Five+Basic+Types+of+Needlepoint+Stitches
Combining these stitches on canvas can make a very attractive finished piece.

Many people enjoy needlepoint as it can be done almost anywhere and any time. Most stitches are easily learned and the work piece itself can be easily toted to the doctor’s office, on the plane, in front of the TV and many more places.

Sewing Helpers

While looking through some sewing catalogs, I noticed a couple of handy quilting helpers that I want to share with you. I hope you’ll find this information helpful.

To hold quilt layers together (appliqués, blocks or full quilts), use basting spray from the sewing section of your local hobby and craft store. This is an easy way to temporarily hold layers in place until you can sew them without the use of all those annoying – and painful – pins or the hours you could spend basting with a thread and needle. This also makes it easy to rearrange anything that hasn’t been sewn yet. After you’re finished sewing, throw the item into the wash and the basting spray is washed away.

A chalk pounce is much quicker to mark your quilts for quilting rather than spending all that time stenciling the pattern on with a marker. Simply rub the pounce across the stencil and it marks your fabric for quilting. Much of the chalk is removed by steam ironing the quilt when you’re finished quilting. However, check the product label as there are different removal methods.

The following is simply a quick way to remove those threads from ripped seams that anyone who sews can use. After ripping out seams, you can easily and quickly get rid of the excessive mess by pressing a piece of tape over the length of the ripped threads and when you pull up the tape, those messy threads come up with it.

Head over to www.patternmart.com to find your next project pattern.

How to Keep Your Customers Returning for More

Once you start selling your items online, you need a way to keep your customers returning to buy more. Below are a few helpful guidelines that may help you. These are free to low-cost advertising methods that are very effective when performed regularly.

1. Add new items on a regular basis – at least once a week.

2. Always be courteous to your customers and thank them for their purchases.

3. Join forums that have something in common with items that you sell. This is a great way to spread the word about your new business, learn things that you may not know about running an online business, and get support from others.

4. Keep a list of your customers and their email addresses in case you need to send out an occasional brief email with business updates (i.e. if you’re moving from Ebay to your own website or to mention new types of items you are offering). When you send your thank you email to them, inform them that you will send updates via email from time to time.

5. A business newsletter is a wonderful way to keep your customers – or potential customers - informed of more frequent business updates. Offer an easy way for people to sign up for the newsletter. It can be as simple as asking them to email you with their personal information.

6. Assure your subscribers that their information will be kept confidential and give them a way to opt out. Replying to the newsletter with “unsubscribe” in the subject line is the most common opt-out option.

7. Give your newsletter subscribers exclusive offers such as percentages off for a time period, buy one - get one deals, or offer prize give-aways (if eligible in your state) to those who make purchases. The ideas here are endless and your customers will not want to unsubscribe if they are getting exclusive deals.

8. Start a blog. This is a great way to keep your customers updated and another way for new customers to find you. It doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. Add a couple of short posts each week. Along with your business updates, offer the readers something that will keep them returning such as inspirational stories, craft tips, house cleaning tips, recipes, or a good old-fashioned laugh.

Once you do all of this, your best source of advertising will fall into place – word of mouth. Your customers will tell their friends and they will tell their friends, etc. Others will begin to blog about you, your site(s) and the items you sell. I hope you have found this information helpful. Good luck!

www.patternmart.com