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Winter Gifts and Decor

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We all know teenagers are so hard to make gifts for, here is what I am doing for them

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I started my sewing business with new mom and baby gifts. They are still some of my favorite things to make. I think the departure satchel would be a great diaper bag. I have been using mine as a gym bag. It's roomy and has a lot of pockets.
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If someone is getting a Kindle Fire or Nexus or iPad, make them a great case to go with it.

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My next pattern out is the new size zip around wallet made for bigger phones and checkbooks. It will include a clutch version too for the iPad mini, and an eyeglasses case that slips into the front pocket of the clutch. Back to it. Trying to get that out this week!

Gift giving and making

I know a lot of you are like me and love to make handmade gifts whenever possible. I have broken my patterns down into categories here so you can find just the right gift to make for your loved ones. Sometimes what I have on hand dictates if I am on a budget or making something for a gift exchange. These are my go-to patterns for that. Visit StudioCherie's Craftsy Pattern Store »

When it is someone special who likes to travel, these are my most appreciated gifts. Visit StudioCherie's Craftsy Pattern Store »

For hostess Gifts, I have these- you will be taking orders at the party too Visit StudioCherie's Craftsy Pattern Store »

I will do another post with more categories. I have to run to yoga right now. I hope this helps. I thought you might see something here you have never noticed before.

Craft Fairs 2013

My own experience with craft fairs is limited, but I do talk to all of my friends who do them. My best advice this year is less is more. If you only sell one thing, then it is okay to have 50 choices, but if you have a variety, just show a few of each to make it easier for people to decide. The most successful booths I see allow the shopper to focus and choose quickly. Over the last 3 years, I have seen the average price of sold items at shows go down. To come up with something of an impulse buy at shows, find what you can make quickly with materials you already have. For me, that means these fabric coasters. I am using up my scraps and making sets to sell at the one show I will be doing. My pattern  ($2 on Craftsy) comes with the template for the packaging that you can customize and print on your printer. I think branded packaging makes your booth look more professional and gives your products a higher perceived value.  What do you make that seems to work as an impulse buy at shows? 

My cat animated

New Projects

I often interrupt myself. I think that should be my tag line. The photo shows a preview of my next Simplicity pattern - four out of the 7 projects that will be in the pattern. I am finalizing patterns and fabrics before I send them off to New York. It is in my plan to sell these specific slip covers, but I am trying to come up with a way to make the prices reasonable too. It is possible that this will also become a slip covering book. I have been working with a publisher for about a year now on that. And I do plan to put the patterns in PDF format as well. My intern is gone : ( I need a new one!

In case you were wondering, I am still planning on more sizes for the zip around wallet. It is a little more complicated than you would think to re size beyond a certain point, but that is on the table for the next month. My acupuncturist wants one big enough for her Galaxy Note phone. That is pretty big. So when I get that made, I will also put out the pattern.

I made a cover for the iPad, but since I do not have one, I have not tested it! When I get around to it, I will test it and if it is all good, I will get that one out for you too. I can imagine those would be great to be able to give for gifts, so I will get right on it. That will be the last of the tablet covers though. There are so many now and always changing - did you see the new Kindle Fires? It would be a full time job just keeping up with those. I can't devote the time to just one niche item.

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Cloud 9 Organics Geocentric

SewMamaSew offered me the chance to try out a new fabric line, and this is what I did. I turned 3 half yard cuts of this glorious new organic canvas into one of my newest bags, the departure satchel. The fabric soon available here at Hawthorne Threads, is wonderful to work with. Softer than the duck canvas I am used to working with. I think it would be fabulous for Summer table linens (and into Fall too with the green, blue and grey fabrics also in the line.) The colors are so cheerful together. I love how the different fabrics really show off my pockets too. I think a lot of new moms look for organic, so I think this fabric will do really well in diaper bags and for sophisticated baby décor. If you are looking for the sewing pattern, you can find it on Craftsy and in my Etsy shop, whichever you prefer.

Etsy Favorites Get a Pinterest Makeover

 

 
We can organize our favorites on Etsy into lists, making them look a little bit like Pinterest boards. I realized this is a great opportunity for me to promote those of you who make items for sale from my patterns. I have created a list called Made from a StudioCherie Pattern. If you would like your items included in this list, please send me an email or an Etsy convo. There are times when I get a custom request that I cannot fill, so I would love to be able to refer buyers to this list to shop with you!