Inspirational Patterns

I hope you'll enjoy the inspirational pattern selection below. Visit www.patternmart.com for a large selection of patterns and supplies.



Ark Pattern - Noah and his Animal Friends c 1995
Price: US$11.00






Camels & Christmas Star Folk Art Pattern
Price: US$8.00






Mary Angel had a little Lamb
Price: US$7.99

Free - January/February Issue of Creative Times Magazine

It's time for more creative reading. What better way to get inspired than grabbing your free copy of the newest Creative Times Magazine issue. The January/February issue is one I think you'll really enjoy. So grab your copy, sit back and let the creative juices start to flow.

http://www.creativetimesmagazine.com/

Fresh NEW Issue of Creative Times Magazine

Our partner site, Creative Times Magazine has a fresh new issue out today. We would love to hear your feedback on this issue. It's been redesigned by a very talented designer and the co-publisher, Kim of http://www.craftisangraphics.com/

www.CreativeTimesMagazine.com

So go grab your copy, read it cover to cover (: Download the free craft patterns, buy some featured patterns (Just kidding, unless you want to. No purchase is necessary) but do feel free to visit our advertisers! Then come back and give us your feedback! We'd love to hear what you think of the new issue.

Crafters are "Collectors" too!

It seems that many of us with a passion for crafting also have a passion for collecting. For those that sew collecting could mean continually adding to our fabric stash. We come across a certain fabric and the drooling begins. Before we can stop ourselves our hands automatically gravitate to the wonderful fabric, we quickly whip out our wallets and before we know it we are on our way home with several piles of yardage. I suppose there are worse compulsions (:



I wonder about other things that crafters may collect. Do you have a collection? I'd love to hear about them if so. Just leave your comments below and tell me what you collect. For me, when I'm not crafting or designing patterns I love to browse antique malls. Granted my browsing tends to turn into buying. But a piece really has to catch my eye. Of course the price is a factor too and just how badly I want it.



I find that I am quickly falling into the "packrat" catagory. My goodness, what in the world am I going to do with all this "stuff"? Could I give up my collections and live a very meager lifestyle? Of course! I truly believe I could. But for now, I just enjoy the nastalgia of these vintage and antique pieces. Perhaps looking at them as a investment might be easier than admitting I'm a packrat.



I look around my house and think to myself, oh my! Imagine if we moved one day and just how long it would take me to pack everything. I think I'd quickly go into the "meager lifestyle" mode and have a huge yard sale. Anyway, here are some things I enjoy collecting. Mainly my collections are vintage or antique items and the catagories are usually:

~ Vintage books
~ Vintage baby & womens clothing (slips, petticoats, highbutton shoes)
~ Old oil cans and funnels (what the appeal is I'm not sure, just like the way they look)
~ Vintage kitchen items
~ Small vintage dolls
~ Old advertising and paper goods
~ Outdoor & Garden items (Tools, chicken feeders, Old birdhouses)



I think a fondness for collecting and crafting really go hand in hand. Folks that are creative tend to want to surround themselves with unique and inspiring things. I know for me the vintage and antique items I collect most certainly inspire me!

Not Feeling Creative?

So I'm the first to admit that not every day do I feel like I can be creative.Sometimes I'm feeling a bit under the weather. Sometimes its the weather itself that has my "spark" feeling a bit damp. We all have days and moments like that. The thing to remember during such times..... we have to keep moving forward. This mood will pass!!!!

Some of the things I like to do to recharge my creative side:

~ Listen to my fave songs on my MP3 player.
~Light some of my fave candles in my room and fill it with a wonderful aroma.
~Go for a walk outside. The leaves are changing and the wind is brick.
~Bring out my sketchbook and pencils....flip thru the pages and see what I had drawn before. What can I switch around and revamp right now into something?
~Bring some old magazines out and spread them on my bed and flip thru the pages.
~I like to toss my fabric onto the bed..... start mixing and matching different textures and colors.

The uncreative mood doesn't last long. Next thing you know I have cinnamon bun tarts burning; Nickelback crunching loud from the speakers and papers covered with new ideas waiting to spring forth from the fabric to life!!

How do you break free from a block????

Cedara of http://www.thrutheatticdoor.com