It sounds better than “freehanding it”.

Basically it’s this: I use 9×12 sheets of felt. I start by dividing them in half, either horizontally or vertically and then start dividing from there. Cut it that way get six 3″ circles (small pincushon tops or bottlecap balls), another and you get two 6″ circles (larger pincusion tops) and more 3″ circles. Fold that half again in half longwise and cut along it and you get two strips, use one for a small pincushion side, or two for a large side (just stitch together) or  you have six 3″ circles for balls.

See what I’m getting at? No? These pics might help explain.

Below are representations of 9×12 sheets of felt.

The thick straight lines is the line is the first cut to cut it in half
My shelves are fronted with these half sheets, since most everything I do is based off these 9×6 sheets I call tem my “working stacks”

The fine straight lines are the second cuts to divide it up into 3″x3″  or 6″x6″squares
I keep these in special boxes organized by color so any sheet I cut ges immediately dispatched into various sizes depending what I need. I never ever have any sheets in my stacks that have chunks cut out, it annoys me.

So here are the three most common ways I cut up my sheets, and if you look at these as two half sheets, you will pretty much see every way I cut them up, click to enlarge!

The little rectangular piece in the lower right (of pic 3) I will usually keep as is, these are perfect for bottle cap sides, bottoms and  to make buttonballs. I cut bottlecap bottoms and sides as I go, some designs use taller sides than others. If in a pinch I use these 3″ squares and rectangles for my punch cut pieces too if I run out of scraps to use.

I also quarter the 3″ squares to make violet and poinsettia leaves as well as flowers – so it all works out on various levels.

Now the last picture (pic 4)-  this is my mega  size. You will see this used on my Americana or Large Cherry blossom  ones. A big 12″ circle. This is the only time I ever usually grab a full sheet.

And yes I free hand cut the rounded corners, it’s easy enough to do and this larger design  doesn’t need exact.

Anyway, i hope these have helped you explain my process, and why I don’t use patterns!

You can go anytime and see amazing photos from every corner of the world. I’ve made it a part of every day. I’ve addicted family members to it. Media and publisher’s go to it to find images. I got a craft book deal thanks to Flickr! You can make friends, find fans, and be discovered. But you also see other people’s stuff and learn  new ways to do things and take pictures.  It’s awesome. It has a totally different vibe than most other social sites.

But remember, Flickr is about people who like to take and share photos – not people who want to get spamed into the netherworld to buy your things. Don’t just join and start seeding your pics everywhere, have something interesting to contribute. This guide I hope will help you learn how to best use it and how to use it and be a good “Flickrite” and not a obnoxious desperate promotion maniac no one want to look at.

I use it for all kinds of things, and it’s a great way to promote your store and art.

There are also site rules and “site culture” to be aware of, and I’ll try to get to all of it in this article as much as I can, flickr is very powerful and multifaceted I’ll try to hit as much of it as I can, but fair warning. It’s also addictive.

I have broken this up into separate pages to make it easier to digest. Use the Page menu below to continue…

or skip ahead to each section:

1. Introduction
2. Setting up your account
3. Uploading your pics
4. Adding to a Group
5. Free vs Pro Accounts
6. Getting Seen
7. Terms to Know
8. DO’s & DON’Ts
9. Organizing, editing, fun stuff
10. Licensing and Creative Commons
11. Conclusion

Soon though it really took hold with me, and with the new job making me too busy to blog all the time I haven’t really had time to blog, but I do have time to twitter. Twitter has almost killed my personal blog, one that I’ve until recently posted to sometimes more than 3 times a week since 2001.

I’ll explain really quickly in case you live in a cave: Twitter has been called a Microblog. I like to think of it more as public short attention span text message everyone in the world can see. You can only use 140 characters as  the limit on text messages for phone is roughly 160. This allows you some space for a username and since many people twitter from phones etc thus the whole character limit thing. It’s meant for short messages. “I’m at The bank, and this teller is taking foever. Bury me at Wounded knee” or to ask for tips or link to find things etc. It’s actually quite addictive.

But Twitter is being abused by crafters who are filling it full of spam who don’t understand what it is and what is frowned upon. In the past on the talk on Twitter has been about how Etsy sellers are the new spam villain there because of the (etsy staff suggested) spamming twitter with all their listings, relistings and bullcrap.

This all came after a day in early 2009 that Etsy supported called “Etsy day”. It mostly consisted of thousands of  members tweeting about them, and made #etsyday go to #1 in twitter trends (that means hottest topics), while I’m sure many learned about Etsy that day it annoyed people about 1000% more people.

The thing is Etsy had been telling it’s sellers for months before this to join Twitter as it’s a “great way to promote your items!”. It’s sellers are mostly middleaged aged females, many of whom still find the whole social media thing largely a mystery – but they want to sell, so they do what the 20-somthing Etsy staff says without regard to what is appropriate or frowned on. They don’t learn the customs or culture of Twitter. They constantly relist items and dutifully tweet every last one of them like instructed. Their feeds are filled with nothing more than “check out my crap!” and links to their shops  – stuff no one wants to see – and just fill Twitter with spam. If the would learn more about Twitter, and how to be a better Twitterati, some of this blatant link whoring spam would slow down.

So as a avid Tweeter, one that now “gets it” let me pass on what I know to folks out there:

• If you don’t understand Twitter, stay off it. Seriously.
  Really I mean it. It’s not a hard thing to get. If you really want to ‘get it” follow some people and learn about it before you start posting. Learn what the protocols are, how things are done. Observe then try later.
  
  
• Don’t follow everyone who follows you. This isn’t kindergarten. Do you bookmark every site you go to? You should only follow people who you enjoy reading. If someone replies to you and you like their tweets, sure go  for it. Maybe it’s a start of a beautiful friendship! But if you follow 1000 people you won’t know or be able to read any of them.
• Don’t get into how many followers you have. It’s no an indication as your worth as a person. Just means you have that many people who think you suck less than other people. Don’t go trolling for followers. The ones that will follow you blindly aren’t reading you anyway, they want you to follow them, so THEY can spam YOU. It’s better to have 200 followers who like what you say rather than 2000 who don’t see a word.
• No one gives a crap what you sell. Really. I mean it. NO ONE. I am not saying you can’t promote your things but don’t flood the twittersphere with them. Keep them to a few a week, tops. Show more what you are proud of than what you have and  have more to  offer than what you sell.
• Not everyone uses twitter as you do. That means Twitter wasn’t made for you to spam, It was made to connect people not hawk products to them.
• It’s a conversation, with or without people. I said it in a tweet once to someone about all the celebrities that are on Twitter now: “They don’t get that it’s SOCIAL media, not LOOK AT ME-dia”. Most don’t reply to anyone, ever, but just blather about their day as if it’s the word of god from on high. Most ordinary twitter people don’t get that either. Many sellers think it was invented to be text advertising, and it wasn’t.If you talk to people more than you talk at them and you’ll likely be a halfway decent Twitterati.
• People who are funny are better tweeters. If you are missing the humor gene, STFU. Really. There are enough crotchety killjoys out there already.
• Don’t tweet everything you do, less is more. And by extension: Random is more fun that minutia. I’ve been known to just tweet that “I Like Fruit Punch!” or “I just ate ham with my fingers because I’m a fancy lady!” the like and I’ll get people replying how they do too! It’s weird but funny in it’s own way.
• Find those who do what you do. I like to tweet during TV shows I’ve found some great other fans that way! (Run a search for your say a TV name while it is showing or a band, or your crafty art, and you’ll find some new people who enjoy it too. It really is a great way to find people.)
• Ask the twittersphere. It’s a great place to ask for advice, tips, links… give the same to others too. Find a funny link? I wanna see!
• More than your “followers” see your posts. Many people use various apps for Twitter and many like to view (at least sometimes) tweets by everyone along side the ones they are following. So if you send out those tweets on your items for sale you ARE spamming everyone indiscriminately without meaning to.

Okay, that’s the basics I think. Just some tips to keep in mind, but again – if you don’t get it, you don’t have to. Many of us do. Shrug it off as a mystery of life and move on.

Here’s the ones I took, click the pic to see the whole set!

I know, someone will say “oh but they use less plastic! Less in a landfill! Less oil used!”

I can’t use them! They have slightly rounded sides, they are about half as high and don’t do what I need (hold the balls in).

Luckily I still have many of the good ones for sale in my shop!

Grr!

Dear Kunin Customer,
Kunin a division of Foss Manufacturing Company, LLC would like to address recent concerns regarding the latest set of CPSIA laws that have affected many of our customers. Attached you will find a letter from our President Michael DeGrace stating that our products meet the recent requirements as stated by the CPSIA. We are not required to certify our product as it meets the standards set forth by the CPSIA.

Our products are produced in Hampton NH and we have checked and verified that all of our raw materials meet the current requirements and that they are safe. We would like to reassure our customers that we are providing products that are of high quality and meet all safety regulations in accordance with the law.

If you should have questions regarding the laws and our textile products I have attached for your convienence the document called “Guidance on the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) for Small Businesses, Resellers, Crafters and Charities” this should answer most of your questions. You may also visit the following link for more information regarding the requirements. www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/cpsia.HTML

If you still have further questions feel free to contact me so I can further assist you.
Best Regards,
George Stellmach
National Sales & Marketing Manager

Kunin Group / A Division of Foss Manufacturing Company, LLC
direct line: 603-929-6118 cell: 603-661-6040″

Maybe not the whole selection but they are $1 to $2 each direct from the manufacturer, Sizzix in thier Outlet store on ebay. That’s a bargain considering what I bought some for a couple years ago, and for something that is discontinued! (and believe me no one is mourning that fact more than me!)

That’s also cheaper than you will find from other sellers on ebay or Etsy sellers.

And before I get anymore notes, *I* AM NOT SELLING ANY. You will have to use the links above.

They are so essential to my work I bought $40 worth a few times or several shapes I use all the time just to have duplicates of duplicates for the future when they are no longer available. I have so many now I have to stop looking at the site due to the urge to buy more – just in case! I think I have more than I will ever ever need.

So load up, while you can! I did god knows!

Here is a list of shapes as I know them, in no particular order:

1. BALLOON
2. STAR
3. STAR #2
4. PARTY HAT
5. POSEY
6. TEDDY BEAR
7. HAND
8. HEART #1
9. HEART #2
10. TROPICAL FISH
11. SUN
12. FOOT
13. MOON
14. TREE, PALM
15. STAR, PRIMITIVE #1
16. STAR, PRIMITIVE #2
17. HEART, PRIMITIVE #2
18. HEART, PRIMITIVE #1
19. Diamond
20. Oval
21. Water Splat
22. Buckle Maker
23. Button Hole #1
24. Button Hole #2
25. Circle #1 (3/4”)
26. Circle #2 (1/4”)
27. Circle #3 (1/2”)
28. Dragonfly
29. Leaf
30. Holly Leaf
31. Oak Leaf
32. Square #1
33. Square #2
34. Square #3
35. Rectangle
36. Funky Square
37. Wavy Square
38. Triangle
39. Two buttonholes
40. Four buttonholes
41. Boy paper doll
42. Girl paper doll
43. Dog
44. Cat
45. Swirl
46. Butterfly
47. Bat
48. Bookplate
49. PUMPKIN
50. BOW
51. Ice Cream Cone
52. Duck
53. Ghost
54. Frog
55. CAR
56. MUSIC NOTE
57. Postage Stamp
58. snowflake
59. snowman
60. Christmas tree

Anyway – After teaching a class at a local quilting club, I was talking to some friends who own a sewing supply company that does mail order about how they carried some of the Kunin Rainbow felt line of cut 9×12 squares, but it was they didn’t have them all. I said that only one place i could find carried all the colors and they only sold 24 packs and charged a ton for shipping.

My friends called me back today, they decided to carry them all 45 shades, the ENTIRE line, and even reduced shipping for felt orders since they don’t weigh anything! SO if you were holding of ordering online because all there was was massive quantities, now you can go nuts!

They sell two dozen colors in 24 sheet (min) packs, but have the ENTIRE line, all 45 Kunin brand colors in 12 sheet (min) half-packs, including the new 2008 colors. The minimum on the entire line is 12 sheets per color, so you can load up but not get to much in all those colors you can’t get! And shipping is $6!

They are great people and are taking a chance on this, since they heard my mention of people looking for it.

They are called SANE, and tell them I sent you! (I do not get a thing from it, other than not looking like a idiot for talking them into ordering a bunch of felt. They’d just like to know who told who.)

Here is the jump straight to the felt section: http://tinyurl.com/feltsquares

Several years ago I was sewing at the machine and got up to try on a piece in progress and in my way back to sit down my garment caught a pin in the magnetic cushion and CRASH!

Pins all over the carpet. Under the table too. So I bent over and picked up a section then got on my knees and started scooping them off the carpet and under the table.

When it looked all clear I pivoted on my knees to get a good handhold to get up and OW!

Something stuck me in the top of the foot. I had a tiny red dot on the skin, and I found a pin nearby so I figured I’d just been stuck.

The next day, my foot was a little tender on top, but nothing out of the ordinary I thought since it was punctured by a pin where it was. While at work I was increasingly in more and more pain as the day went on. My foot was swelling up inside my shoe to the point it was incredibly painful. I started the tough 1.5 hour drive home. I called for a friend a neighbor to come drive me over to the hospital and we promptly arrived at the ER with me crying from pain (I’m not a cryer). We managed to get my shoe off, and the pain was a tiny bit better, but my foot looked awful. Like a bloated sausage.

They xrayed it. You could clearly see the shape of HALF a straight pin lodged horizontally in the flesh of the top of my foot on the films. It had broken off inside. Great.

They set my up in a corner of the triage and after a half hour in comes this giant machine. It had a Horsehoe type section, and what it seemed to be was a live xray imager with a computer screen. The “viewing” part was a horseshoe shaped attachment about 3 foot wide. They sat my foot in the center of the thing and gave me a couple numbing shots. (And took some pictures with the machine for me, which I would include but I can’t find them at this time)

It was like a video game version of the old board game Operation. They could see the pin live inside my foot, but they didn’t have a good angle on it, just one side. They were poking tools into my foot blind basically. The pin was hidden deep in flesh of my foot. Little by little they had to increase the incision to try to get at it. Occasionally they’d bump it and I’d wince or moan as it hurt! You could see the pliers coming close to it and when it was close you would see the pin move. The problem was all they could get at was the snapped off end, a virtual dot in a small opening of blood and fatty tissue. It was small and slippery, so the pliers kept loosing it.

Finally, two hours of poking and missing and a two sided incision later they finally managed to get a pair of pliers on it and gave a stiff tug. It came free. It had stuck into one of the metatarsal bones in my foot, which is why it was so hard to remove, and probably why it snapped off.

Most of my pain lessened immediately. I actually walked into the car which was something not easily done on arrival. Took three days for the swelling to go down, but they have poked and prodded in there so much I have a small bulge of scar tissue there now and a V shaped scar 10 years later.

This is why I stuff my pincushions so firmly that they actually sound as if they crunch when you poke a pin in them. I stuff in so much polyfil that I almost can’t put in even a little more… I want to make sure that if you drop it, the pins stay in! Because I know what can happen if they don’t.

I don’t use magnetics anymore either. Not only do I not miss it, I don’t stick my fingers trying to get a pin like I used to.

Sometimes the old way is the best way.

—

I’m often asked questions regarding what I use to make my pincushions with, particularly how I cut such fine shapes. So I thought I’d do a post on my short list of tools and materials I use.

I’m blessed in my location I have four Hobby Lobbies, a plethora of Joann’s (including a Joann Superstore) and a myriad of Micheals, as well as a few other chains, and count them TWO needlework stores within 40 miles of my house. A simple 15 minutes in any direction will have me in a craft store, sometimes more than two. I know not everyone is so lucky, but online stores are your friend for most of this. I buy my stuff in a combination of in stores and online. With gas prices anymore, it’s cheaper to pay for shipping versus driving for it.

As far as cutting shapes: I cheat.

I use a discontinued scrapbooking product by Sizzix called a Paddle Punch. You can really on find them on ebay anymore as well as craiglist. And if you can get them for $2 or less a piece before shipping, that’s a deal considering they sold for $6 each in stores.

Find them on ebay with this link – some weeks have more than others. I have a search set up there to mail me when new ones are listed.

One of the best stores to get them at on ebay is the Sizzix Outlet, they sell a great number of paddle punches, including the cutting mats. Paddles are available for $1 and they also have bulk lots as well. BEST DEAL ON EBAY.

There are over 50 patterns that were made, but all are small, most under 1.5 inches. There are a few kinds of leaves, with Holy and Oak being the two hardest to find, as well a couple kinds of flowers, and lots of geometrics. Also some specialty shapes that I’ll never likely use but I bought them in case I ever needed them. I recommend getting any you might want remotely want in duplicate, as in time these won’t be available anymore. I have some of my most used ones in triplicate. And if the handle breaks off one, I don’t throw it away, it goes into my “last resort” box.

There is a “paddle punch hammer” but truth is since I am using them for felt, I by pas it for a “lady hammer” or a picture hammer, with a bottlecap taped over the head to not mar the punch. I also use a 16 oz rubber mallet from a hardware store. Both can be under $4 each. Which one you use depends on the shape, I find some work better with one or the other, so I have both.

To use them I stack 4 to 5 layers of felt, on top of two sheets of paper (good use for junk mail, old magazines, or even scrap printer paper) on top of the Sizzix punch matt. It Is a extremely heavy matt and I do recommend them, they do hold up more than normal cutting mats I used before hand. Basically just try the hammers out till you find the ones that works best, some will need several hits around the edges, others can do just one swift solid thud to the center. You’ll just have to figure out what each ones needs. You’ll learn soon enough.

Other tools I use:

• Variety of scissors: Shears for cutting & and sharp tipped ones for fine details and embroidery
• Thread snippers – very useful for more than thread. I use them to also trim small corners and cut circles into “flowers” and take out stitches.
• Doll needles are essential to put in the buttons on thick pincushions. I have quite a collection. some from as long as some super heavy 8 inches long all the way down to 4″. When I found the 8″ ones it was the fleamarket and I squealed in joy, they are really hard to find. Dritz makes a nice thinner 5″ model available most everywhere, it has the bonus that it will also go through most buttonholes. Unlike my thick 8 inchers that can also kill a man.

My Materials:

• 100% post consumer recycled synthetic felt from Kunin. Joann’s carries this brand, but most stores have a very limited selection, you need to go to Createorless.com (search for “kunin felt”), they have the entire line – but you can only get 24 sheets of a color minimum. So use it for the colors you need a lot of or what you can’t ind locally, or sell the rest!
• I use Pearl/Perle cotton size 5 for the embroidery and construction. I also use Craft Thread, which is a cheaper version, but comes in bulk pack, and its nice for starting off with and then widening out to Pearl #5. I don’t like using Embroidery Floss, it’s not strong enough and the skeins while cheap are not very long. There are 27 yards in a skein of Pearl cotton. I have a DMC thread guide (thank you Micheals 50% off coupon) and I order any colors I can’t get at craft stores from Herrschers or at a local needlepoint store.
• Just ordinary polyfil for the inside.
• I get my fabric sticky labels that I “sign” my work with from Camillesquilts on etsy. Take a look! They stick FABULOUS on felt!

Hope this was useful for you, let me know if you have any further questions!