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

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.

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.

The Benefits of Buying or Selling Kits & Supplies

Did you know that www.patternmart.com doesn’t just specialize in pattern sales? If you already sell patterns on Pattern Mart, why not sell supplies or kits that coincide with your patterns? So many people don’t have time to run around town looking for all the supplies that patterns call for. This may be a great way for you to earn more money. Individual results will vary and success isn’t guaranteed, however it may be worth trying with a couple of your best-selling patterns. Many people will already have the generic materials such as batting, fiberfil, pins, etc. so there’s no need to include those types of materials in your kit.

It may be a good idea to include the pattern with the kit. It’s ok if your patterns are e-patterns. Email the pattern the day of the sale and put the kit in the mail as quickly as possible so that the customer receives it in a timely manner. Below are a few examples of kits you could offer:

• pre-cut quilt squares
• fabric to make a doll and doll clothes, yarn for hair, buttons for eyes and other doll accessories
• fabric, measured antiquing ingredients, and sticks to make prim flowers

You may want to include separate supply lists – one for the kit supplies and another for the generic supplies. I also advise that you already have the kit supplies ready before adding it to the site so you are sure to have all the materials you promise the customer.

Not all supplies are available in all areas. Many people are attracted to your patterns based on the materials used to create the product, but may not be able to find the same fabric, etc. that was used to create the prototype for the pattern. Why not offer those materials individually? Or simply sell fabric and other unused crafting notions that you no longer need or want.

If you aren’t a Pattern Mart member and would like to sell craft kits and supplies on the site, you can click on the following link to sign up on the waiting list. You will be notified as openings become available. http://www.patternmart.com/signup_form.php

This can be a fun experience for the seller and a time-saving experience for the buyer. Be sure to check out all the Supplies and Kits offered on Pattern Mart.

Doll Hair

There is a large selection of materials to make doll hair from. Yarn is the most common and comes in so many colors and textures. You can buy yarn in wool, cotton, polyester, and other blends. Embroidery floss is popular for use on small dolls and it, too, has a vast array of colors to choose from.


Pulled wool is great to use for Santa beards, sheep, and felted doll hair.

Many doll makers boldly use different colors outside of the normal red & burgundy tones for hair. Orange is fun to use on fall dolls & green for witch dolls. Below is a picture of a Shamrock doll with green floss hair, a Christmas doll with red & white floss hair, a shabby doll with pink floss hair & a granny doll with gray hair.


Doll hair can have any look you wish. If you are looking for different doll hair ideas you can download the following free tutorial. Over 1 MB of pictures and instructions are included in this tutorial. http://www.patternmart.com/pattern/3383/Doll+Hair+Tutorial+PM

Weighted Doll Bottoms

Bottom weight adds stability for a doll to be able to sit by itself. You’ll find a list of common weighting materials after the instructions below.

1. To add bottom weight to a doll, you must first box stitch the corners of the doll’s bottom while the doll is still wrong side out.



2. The stitches should be placed about 1” from the corners. They may need to be placed further than 1” to get better stability depending on the height and width of the doll.

3. After placing the stitches, cut the excess corners off to ¼” seam allowance. Turn the doll body right side out to begin filling with weighting materials.

4. You can spoon in the weighting material or use a funnel.

5. Fill the bottom about an inch or so with weighting material. You will need to set the bottom on a flat surface so you can fill it evenly.

6. When satisfied with the weight, firmly stuff the doll with fiberfill. The doll will need to remain on the flat surface for stuffing so that the weighting material doesn’t shift.

Popular weighting materials are:
White play sand
Kitty litter
Saw dust (especially cedar)
Plastic pellets purchased at hobby stores
Rice and dry beans (placed in sealed plastic baggies to keep bugs away)

Time Savers for Sewing & Stuffing Doll Limbs

1. Trace doll legs and arms onto doubled muslin so that open ends are
butted against each other. This saves valuable time by sewing & cutting
around each set of arms & legs at one time. If you trace your arms on the
other side of the legs, you will also save fabric. Ü I used a blue marker so
that the trace lines would show up for the picture. You, of course, will use
a water soluble marker or a pencil for tracing.


2. The open ends (where you will stuff the limbs) will be at the center
of the pair of arms and legs. The trace lines are the sew lines. Reinforce
the stitches where the butted ends meet with the forward-back-forward
seam lock. Cut out the arms and legs. Be sure to leave about ¼” seam
allowance around the edges.


3. Cut the pair of arms and legs in the center so that the ends
will be open for stuffing.


4. Turn your long doll arms and legs Right Side Out to stuff, leaving
the top of the fabric doubled. This eliminates a lot of travel for the
fiber fill (you’re avoiding half the journey), therefore reducing the
time it takes to stuff each leg & arm.


5. Use needle nose pliers to stuff the limbs. An unsharpened pencil is
a good tool to pack the stuffing.

6. As you stuff the limbs, the fold will gradually move upwards.

7. Once you’ve stuffed to the recommended mark, finish unfolding the
arms and legs and you’re finished.

Tis the Season

As October seeps in , many are gearing up for craft shows, church bazaars and holiday home shows. With that comes the soft hum of sewing machines and the frenzie of creative hands working hard to increase their inventory of handmade goods to fill their booths.

Does this sound like you? For many the routine of show preparation starts early in the season, even in the summer months. But for others, October marks the time to get the creative juices turning. With each craft show season, crafters want to offer customers a new and unique product that is sure to be a "best seller" at their next show.

Some crafters opt to create small, inexpensive items such as ornaments, bowl fillers and other small handmade trinkets. While others relish in offering highly detailed wood creations, dolls, paintings and other extrordinary goods for the descriminating tastes of their clientale. No matter what type of items you prefer to offer, a good source for finding that perfect pattern to make your creations is http://www.patternmart.com/ . With almost 3,000 patterns at your fingertips, it's highly likely that you'll find just what you are looking for.

Patterns are a great investment for your crafting business. The creative designs of others affords you the ease of detailed instructions on how to make those "best sellers". Not only will it save you time, but buying a pattern also affords the elimination of having to think up a design concept yourself. Many people find this a great way to go and a time saver.

Pattern Mart Facts:

* The largest instant download craft pattern website with almost 3,000 craft patterns.
* Gift Certificates Available (upper right of main page).
* Free Pattern for signing up to the newsletter.
* Abundance of Craft and Craft Business articles.
* Advertising options for website owners.
* Main sponsor of Creative Times Magazine, Instant Printables & ECraft Classes.
* We also offer craft supplies.
* Sponsor of the Giving Project which gives back to the community.

Looking for Craft Articles to add to your site, blog or newsletter?

I just added some new articles to the article directory on Pattern Mart. If your looking for content for your website, blog or newsletter, articles are great for this purpose!

The two newest articles are titled:

Creating Your Own Crafting Space - Covers some unique ideas for those interested in having their own space to do their crafts.

How to Avoid Business Burn Out - If burn out is lurking, you'll want to read this one.

You can check out all the articles here: http://www.patternmart.com/articles.php

Any of the articles you may publish on your website, blog or newsletter. Just remember to include the authors byline with their info and links.

If you write articles you can submit your own for inclusion in the directory as well and who knows, someone may use your article and in turn give your business more exposure.

Silk Tie Dyed Easter Eggs

I thought this was a very creative spin on dying Easter Eggs, so my daughter and I gave it a try. You can read the directions and watch the video on Martha Stewards website here.

We stopped at Goodwill and picked up some silk ties. Be sure they are 100% silk, anything else won't work. The process is very easy and the results are truly unique and stunning!

My daughter's eyes just lit up every time we unwrapped one of the eggs. It is amazing how the design on the tie will imprint itself onto the egg.

Designing Minute

I made it back into my studio over the last couple days. It's amazing just how much I missed designing. I was itching to sew and work on a new doll.

I usually start out with a idea in my head and then opt to sketch it. It's just a quick 1-2 minute sketch to just get the idea on paper. Usually the finished doll doesn't look exactly like the sketch and that's ok. The purpose of the sketch is to give yourself a outline of sorts.



This doll is not quite finished yet and I'll work on her a bit more later. I have her sitting next to my desk and throughout the day I glance at her as if I'm waiting for her to tell me what else she needs and what creation I should make for her hold.

Try sketching your ideas. Even if drawing isn't your most natural talent and your sketch isn't quite as good as your 4 year olds, that's ok! It's meant to simply get the ideas on paper and give you a foundation to build upon.

Simple Tip #2

Always Sign your Creations

Even if you are just starting out making things.....a great tip is to start getting in the habit of signing your work. It is simple enough to do and justs adds a more polished and professional look to your creations. Some folks use a rubber stamp. Some folks stitch their info onto the creation.

I like to take a Sharpie marker (I have a variety of wonderful colors to suit my moods!) and sign on either the belly or back on my dolls. Usually it will say "Cedara 2006 Thru the Attic Door". I think that I will also now add what number doll this would be.

Do you sign your dolls and creations? How do you do it?

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door

Mother Natures Magic

Oh how I love this time of year! The air is still cool but the sun is out STRONG! This is when I like to take my fabric pieces that I have stained with my coffee/vanilla mixture and hang them outside to dry. I find the dryer leaves everything all even and I miss the odd splotch of stain on my creations.

We have a fence in our yard that I drape everything onto and let Mother Nature do her magic. Each piece as it dries creates splotches and streaks that are unique. I love the effect the sun drying gives my fabric.

Give it a try with a few of your pieces and see what Mother Nature creates for you!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door

Simple Tip #1

This is going to seem simple enough that you would think most folks already do this. Many don't and I think everyone should be reminded to do so.

ALWAYS HAVE 2 SETS OF SCISSORS!

Yup! You should have one set that you only cut paper products with. The other set is only allowed to touch fabric. Its so simple! You really will be amazed at the difference if you've been cutting your fabric with the same pair of scissors you cut your tags with.

Red ribbon on mine means its for fabric........ blue ribbon means paper!

Tracy(Cedara)Dunn of Thru The Attic Door