Tuesday Tips

During the wee morning hours, I seize the quiet time and read articles, always wanting to learn new techniques. I found some amazing tips today and had to share. Feel free to pin this article so you can find them easily whenever needed! (If you need an invite to Pinterest, leave your email address in the comments below, or send it to me privately, and I’ll send out the invite.)

I’ve not yet tried making my own bias tape because I didn’t feel I had the correct “tools” necessary. At The Scientific Seamstress Blog site, Carla created and shared a template for us to print out. It looks like it will work perfectly! Will do this soon!  

“The (EPIC) scallop” tutorial takes a bit of time to load up, but well worth the wait. I’m such a visual learner and appreciate the detailed photos of each step Hetterson provides!

Someday I will embellish something – an apron, a sweet doll dress, an e-Reader cover, or something – using the silk ribbon embroidery technique. Carla at The Scientific Seamstress Blog again offers visual and written instructions for simple little romantic roses and leaves.

Well, “the sun’s spit morning” (one of my favorite movie quotes from The Owl and the Pussycat, 1970 – and yes, that shows my age!) and I need to get busy sewing! A new product line is coming soon at Lanetta’s Creations!

Happy Sewing!

Tuesday Tips - The Minute Details

The most daunting task of writing a novel is keeping up with the minute details. A reader will catch the slightest contradiction in a heartbeat! Besides pleasing your reader, keeping the minute details straight ~ and easy to find ~ is also a way not to waste precious time going back and searching for something!

After trying a variety of methods, I thought, why not try Microsoft Excel?! It has an unlimited number (I think it’s unlimited) sheets available and I could do one for each character, situation, place – whatever I need! Yes!

Using MS Excel as a way of keeping up with the minute details has been a lifesaver for me, especially because I have several works-in-progress and it keeps me straight! When the characters aren't sharing, I can stop writing on one and pick up where I left off on another. I know I have all the pertinent details needed within a couple of clicks with my mouse.

Example of sheets for WIP = Ella

When I begin a story, I gather images (usually of actors) of folks who my characters will look like and save the picture to MS Excel. Glancing quickly at a picture keeps me from having to "read" the details.



Example of Character for WIP = Ella

Because it's so obvious "Bo" (from Days of Our Lifes) has dark hair and eyes, I didn't waste time making a note. Dates and ages are the important details for his "profile". But when it's not clear, or I want to make a change from the actor for some personal reason, I make a note - like I did for "Patrick Jane, The Mentalist". I also add more details when needed.

Example of Character for WIP = The Next Time Around

 

Example for WIP = The Next Time Around



Then I find pictures on the Internet of their homes (outside and inside) and maybe an office space, if needed. Their animals are also important!

  

Example for WIP = The Next Time Around



The possibilities of what to store on the different sheets are ENDLESS! It's whatever you need!

I hope this helps with your tracking of the minute details!

How-To Videos for Sewist

I love sharing whenever I stumble across something amazing! Today’s Tuesday Tips are for the Sewist out there! Don’t know about you, but I’m a visual learner and totally appreciate folks who create how-to videos. In fact, I lose track of time watching ~ savoring ~ because I cannot watch just one. It’s like eating a potato chip, one leads to another, then another! Who knows what I’m talking about!?!

This morning, it all started when I discovered the Threads Magazine website. Their videos range from beginner level to experienced wanting/needing a simple refresher or ways to do something differently. Oh my goodness.

Check out the clever technique presented here for creating Two Custom Trims for Your Garments or Home! I’ve seen pricy trims like this, never realizing how simple it would be to create at home! Possibilities are endless using this method to make “loopy seam-tape fringe” and “wild yarn trim” for doll clothes, aprons, and so much more!!! What would you use this on? Pillows?

Another fabulous video from Threads Magazine shares Sally Silvers’ two methods how to create All-in-One Piping and Facing! This was certainly a wow moment whenever two missions can be accomplished once!

Many more how-to videos are available at their site, along with places like YouTube and Google Videos! Try them out! Grab a bag of chips and search “sewing” or “ruffles” or “binding” or whatever you need… you’ll have oodles to watch while you munch!

What's the link to your favorite how-to sewing video?

Living List of Adjectives

Tuesday Tips – 

A living list! Yes! One that will grow over time with new adjectives added as I think of them, stumble across or others add within the comments. I don’t know about you, but my mind goes absolutely blank while writing product descriptions at Lanetta's Creations! Found in one place, I’ve started a comprehensive list of perfect positive adjectives to use when the ole mind stops.

How adjectives ~ product descriptions ~ effect Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a completely different topic I’ll discuss another day!

I’ve wanted/needed a list like this for ages. Feel free to copy/paste for your quick reference, too.

Okay, here goes.

Adorable

Amazing

Appealing

Attractive

Awesome

Beautiful

Bold

Breathtaking

Bright

Charming

Cheerful

Chic

Classic

Clever

Colorful

Comfortable

Comfy

Curve-hugging

Dashing

Dazzling

Delightful

Detailed

Dynamic

Earthy

Efficacious

Efficient

Elegant

Elevated

Enchanting

Endearing

Energetic

Excellent

Exuberant

Fabulous

Fancy

Fantastic

Fashionable

Feminine

Festive

Flirty

Fun

Functional

Glamorous

Gorgeous

Graceful

Great

Gum-snapping

Handsome

Liberated

Lush

Luxuriant

Luxurious

Magical

Magnificent

Majestic

Multicolored

Nice

Nifty

No-nonsense

Nostalgic

One-of-a-kind (OOAK)

Perfect

Playful

Pleasant

Precious

Pretty

Quaint

Radiant

Reminiscent

Ritzy

Romantic

Royal

Rustic

Sassy

Sparkling

Spectacular

Spicy

Spiffy

Splendid

Striking

Stunning

Stylish

Swanky

Tasteful

Tranquil

Ultra

Upbeat

Versatile

Vintage

Whimsical

Wistful

Wonderful

Youthful

Zippy

Please, if I've left one out, share adjectives you use to describe your product!!!