I needed a project good for both men and women, so I turned to my old stand by...my origami Christmas stars. But, as you can see, I put a few new spins on them.

I know you have all seen these more than a few times before, but I also know that all of you love to see new ways to use your favorite projects.

The simple stars that started out as holiday ornaments, have now been made into the perfect gift wrap embellishment (seen above) and the sweetest bunting (see below!). Picture that star spangled banner with your child’s name across…too cute!

Find the step-by-step tutorial here!

Enjoy again,

Nikki, In Stitches

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How do I love this necklace? Let me counts the ways…

1. It’s gorgeous…but I know you are already thinking that!

2. It takes less than 5 minutes to make. Yup! There’s a few crafty tricks involved, but it works up super fast!

3. It’s my latest guest post on Cousin Corporation’s blog. Take a peek at my fun little video how-to here.

Enjoy!

Nikki, In Stitches

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I’m back from my trip to New York City, where I met with 80 other amazingly talented Dreamers Into Doers and Martha Stewart’s staff, and as always, it was fantastic. Everything about the event is always picture perfect. And meeting so many other creative women always gets me motivated to jump back into my work full speed ahead.

So, it’s good to be home, and back with my kiddos, but there’s also lots of catching up to do. I thought it would be a good idea in today’s post to talk about the best way to prepare for a networking event like the Dreamers Into Doers conference, or really any blogging conference, artisans gathering, etc., how to maximize the limited networking time you actually have at the event, and also give my tips for what to do afterwards, to make sure you stay connected with all of the people you’ve met, and get the most out of the overload of information you receive. These are just my suggestions. I try to get these accomplished before, during, and after every large event I go to. I’ve road tested them myself, but you may need a little tweaking. Hopefully they will at least help get you started!

1. Join the conversation Yes, your inbox will be on fire in the days leading up to the event with questions about who’s getting there when and does anyone want to share a cab, but there will be important info in the mix that you don’t want to miss. Add yourself to the email group, but create a filter in your email so that all of these messages get set aside. This way your inbox isn’t constantly overflowing, and you can set aside an hour at night to quickly go through all of these messages. Quickly delete the “does anyone want to grab a bite to eat the first night” but respond to the “I’m hoping to meet people that can help me grow my business in the following ways…”
PS…Here’s a great how-to video if you need help setting up labels and filters in gmail!

2. Match names and faces This is the one scenario where cheat sheets are ok! Print out a spreadsheet with the following three things: name, business, picture (of the person or even  just of a logo if that’s all you can find!) You don’t need to memorize it, but get familiar with it. Star people that you know you want to connect with. Look it over on the train on your way into the city, and give it one last glance before you head out of your hotel room to breakfast the first morning. Trust me. You’ll feel so much more comfortable walking into a room of strangers, if you know their names and can introduce yourself. And, if you’ve studied enough, start a conversation about their business!

*Keep Good Notes! Keep this cheat sheet up to date! Make notes next to people you want to talk more to. Jot down notes if you’d like to email them. Did you connect on a personal level? Did you share a joke or a silly story? Write it down! These are all things that will help that person remember you when you reach out to them after the event.

1. Stay Put Remember, you are there to network! Yes, you’re away from your kids, and would love some quiet time, or maybe you’re excited to get out and have some fun in a new city with new friends, but (and trust me, I hate to be a party pooper) that’s not what you’re there for! If there are dinners related to the event scheduled where you can continue conversations with potential partners for projects, and deepen the business relationships you are making, go for it. Make the most of every minute you are there!

2. Keep us up to date Tweet, post, share…do it all. We want to see the connections you are making. Are you enjoying the workshop you’re sitting in? Find the presenter on Twitter, post a quick tweet, and tag them. Nine times out of ten, they will follow you back by the end of the day…and that is a great way to make a connection if you want to contact them to talk further after the conference is over.

*Hashtags exist for a reason! If there already is a hashtag in place for the event you are attending, use it! It’s a great way to connect with people. You can quickly see everyone that has tweeted using the hashtag, get to know what parts of the event they are enjoying (which makes starting a conversation so much easier!), and tweet back to them…furthering the connections you are making. It’s a win/win! And PS…if there’s not a hashtag already in place, make one! I suggested in a forum that we use #DIDinNYC for my Martha trip because a hashtag had not yet been decided upon, and everyone said perfect…it’s that simple!

1. Go through your notes Follow up on all those leads you were writing down on your cheat sheet. Open the doors for working together and collaborating in the future. Include that personal connection so the reader instantly remembers who you are.

*Do you have an avatar? I’m not sure if all/most email accounts come with an avatar, but if yours does, take advantage of it. My little picture goes along with every email I send out, and is the perfect little “Oh! That’s who this is from!” when I’m connecting with people I’ve met at an event.

2. Share pictures Organize or contribute to a photo sharing account. Sure, you’ll get access to more pictures to include in your blog posts and recaps, but it’s another way to stay connected. If you see someone has great pictures, tell them! Ask what kind of camera they have. Have they taken photography classes? Just because the event is over does not mean your relationship with all of the talented people you have met has to be, too.
PS…I’ve used PhotoBucket and Shutterfly in the past. Create a separate account from your personal one. Share the login info with anyone that wants to contribute. Be clear with where these pictures can be used, and if you’d like photo credit to be given in publication.

PS…A few notes on the pictures included above. The first picture was taken outside of the Martha television studio, while waiting to go in for a taping of her show. The notebook shown in the “Before you go!” picture is part of her new line of office supplies available at Staples. That is Terri Shapiro of Deluxe Corporation speaking to us about PR and marketing in the “While you’re there!” picture. And the last picture is the beautiful centerpieces at the event…you know Martha thinks of every last detail!

PPS…On a very personal note, thank you to all of you that have reached out to me, checked in on me, and sent me sweet words of encouragement regarding the passing of my grandmother. Many of you met my Annie, here, years ago…long before I knew Nikki, In Stitches would grow to be the successful business that it has. All of your support has meant the world to me, and I am so very, very grateful.

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These cuties have already made their way to New York City, where they will be given out to all of the other amazingly talented women attending Martha Stewart’s Dreamers Into Doers event.

And I will get started on my way there tomorrow afternoon!

If you’d like to follow along with the fun, be sure to follow me on Twitter. That’s usually the quickest and easiest way for me to share all of the fabulousness that is Martha Stewart. And, if you’d like to follow everyone attending the event, keep your eyes on the hashtag #DIDinNYC

I’ll be back next week with a recap post!

Nikki, In Stitches

PS…I absolutely fell in love with those 100 hair clips as I was making them! If you love them as much as I do, you can grab a set of 3 for yourself in my Etsy shop!

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Do all of you have one of these?

No, not the gorgeous quilt up there…a crafty wish list?

I do.

I have my crafty wish list of things I’d love to make or have, if money and time (which sometimes seems just as hard to find as cash) weren’t a factor.

Here are my top three!

1. The McKenna Ryan quilt pictured above: Faith Hope Love. Actually, I should rephrase that. I would just like the quilt pattern. (And if this were a pipe dream list, I’d ask for all of the fabric, too!) I want to actually make this quilt, not just have it. All of you know I am head over heels in love with applique, and I think this quilt is just stunning.

2. An embroidery machine. Plain and simple: an embroidery machine. I dream about the goodies I could make if I had one…I probably would also never leave my craft room!

3. A Silhouette Cameo. Not only does it cut, but it can also cut out what you have just printed! Hello! That’s amazing! Yeah…I need one of these, too!

4. (Yes, I know I said top 3, but this one’s important!) A glue gun that doesn’t leak molten hot lava all over me and my work! I truly don’t think such a thing exists!

So what’s on your crafty wish list? Leave your top 3 in the comments below!

Nikki, In Stitches

PS…The photo up top is courtesy of PineNeedles.com, where you can find all of McKenna Ryan’s amazing quilt patterns!

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I don’t know how to really come out with this, and I’m so excited about it that I’m finding it hard to type, so I’m going to cut to the chase.

I’ve got another secret that I can finally reveal!

Two Nikki, In Stitches headbands will soon be on their way to Suri Cruise!

(I’ve typed that sentence twice now and I still can’t believe it!)

This is such a huge opportunity for my little headbands, and it is all made possible by The Artisan Group. Thank you so very, very much to them for opening these doors for those of us that take pride in our handmade pieces.

And now for the hard part…

Which do I send??

The two headbands shown above are hot off the presses (I literally just finished them last night and they aren’t even yet listed in the shop) and are my personal faves, but I’d love to hear what all of you think. Do you have a favorite piece that you think I should include?

Also, I get to include a note to the Cruise family, and I have no clue what to write.

So far I have “Dear Tom Cruise,”…yeah, it definitely needs work! If you’ve got some suggestions for how to sum up Nikki, In Stitches in just a few sentences, I’m all ears!

OK…Off to skip around my house a few more times!

XOXO,

Nikki, In Stitches

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Things are crazy here, behind the scenes of Nikki, In Stitches. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait a bit longer for all of the details, but I can give you a little info about one exciting project I’ve been working on.

It’s been so very, very hard for me to not scream it from the rooftops, but I needed all the details to be worked out before I said….

One of my pieces will be featured in Better Homes and Gardens’ Tricks and Treats Magazine this fall!

I can’t tell you what it is, but it’s something you’ve never seen before, but one of my favorite things to make. That’s all I can say…you’ll have to use your imagination until the magazine hits the newsstands in a few months!

(And I just want to give the girls at Anders Ruff a huge thank you. Without them, I wouldn’t be in the magazine! If you haven’t done it yet, stop by their site and take a peek…you’ll be in love with their work within seconds!)

There are a few other exciting things happening here, but those are still top secret!

But, as my way of saying thank you to all of you, because you have all played such a huge role in helping Nikki, In Stitches grow as quickly as it has, I’m having a flash sale in my Etsy shop!

Since it’s Valentine’s Day, everything in the shop is 14% off with coupon code FLASH14…but just for today...so hurry over and buy yourself, or someone you love, a little something special, and thanks again for being the best fans I could ever ask for!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

PS…If you’re a night owl, you’re in luck! I activated the coupon code just now because I am off to bed! You can get first dibs at all the goodies! Happy shopping!

Here’s the link and the coupon code one more time!

Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/NikkiInStitches

Coupon Code: FLASH14

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Does anyone use a phone book anymore? I can’t remember the last time I thought to flip through these pages before I googled. Somehow these keep magically appearing at my doorstep, and for some reason, I can’t just toss them in the trash. (Maybe because I want to save one so that I can one day explain to my children what a phone book is/was?) Regardless, here’s a simple and crafty use for these artifacts.

I keep mine within reach whenever I’m doing a small scale stamping, painting, glueing, glittering project. (Scrapbookers? Where are you?) I simply flip to a page, place my papers on a page, and get started. If some paint finds its way off my brush and on the yellow pages, that’s ok! If my stamp is too big for my paper and extends onto the ads below, that’s ok, too! And if my adhesive runner leaves a trail of stick behind, it’s not a problem. When I can’t find clean space on my page, I just flip to the next and start all over again!

So simple, right? And a lot better than tossing this tome into the trash!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

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This Valentine’s Day wreath couldn’t be sweeter…or easier to make!

See what I mean about the grosgrain curlicues? Too cute, right?

Before you can get started on your wreath, you need to “bake” your ribbon to curl it. You can get the full how-to here. After you’ve baked a few batches, you’ll be ready to follow the super simple how-to below for making the wreath…one that I know you’re going to want to leave up all year long!

Enjoy,

Nikki, In Stitches

Materials:

• Foam wreath form
• 1/3 of a yard of coordinating fabric for wrapping your wreath form (I found mine in my stash!)
• Scissors
• Straight pins
• 6 spools of 3/8″ ribbon, each containing 10 yards (I used 4 red with white polka dots, and 2 solid white.)

Directions:

1. Cut strips of fabric about 2″ wide, and use them to cover your entire foam wreath. Use straight pins to hold each strip in place. (Just use two at the start to anchor your strip of fabric down, wrap, and then put two more at the end. Repeat with each strip until the entire form is covered.)
2. Gather your curlicues that you’ve already baked and cut into about 4″ lengths.
3. Pin the first one to the foam wreath by placing pin right in the center of the curlicue.
4. Pin the next one in place in the same manner, placing it close enough to the first so that they start to force each other to fold in half.
5. Repeat.
6. Repeat A LOT of times!
7. Repeat until your entire wreath form is covered!
   

Pssst! Ready for another cutie patootie project? Like I said, in my last post, we’re going old school with this curly ribbon…check out my “too stinkin’ cute” curlicue ponytail holders on All Things For Mom here!

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This very basic trick of “baking” grosgrain ribbon to curl it has been around forever, and I just love it! I love how simple it is, how fun it is, and how adorably cute it is! Below you’ll find my recipe for “baking” your ribbon. In my next post, you’ll find two great projects that use it!

Stay tuned!

Nikki, In Stitches

“Baking” Your Ribbon

Ingredients:

• Wooden dowels (These can be found at your local craft store, but they are 1 yard long. Cut them in half so they easily fit in your oven! You can use whatever is in stock…from 1/4″ up to 1/2″.)
• Bowl of water
• Ribbon
• Scissors
• Clothes pins
• Spray starch
• Aluminum foil
• Cookie sheet (Use an old one…you’re probably not going to want to eat off of it after this!)

Recipe:

1. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
2. Soak ribbon and clothes pins in a bowl of water until they are completely saturated. (I leave the ribbon uncut. Just unravel the whole spool and toss it in the bowl!)
3. Use a clothes pin to attach your ribbon to one end of a wooden dowel. Wrap ribbon around the dowel like a spiral from one end all the way to the other. Cut ribbon with scissors and secure the end in place, again using a clothes pin.
4. Give your dowel a really good spray of starch.
5. Cover cookie sheet with aluminum foil. Place dowels on sheet and bake for 20 minutes. (I bake a “batch” of dowels at a time…usually 10 dowels on a cookie sheet!)
6. Let dowels cool and with a simple twist, remove ribbon from them. (You’ll be left with one very long curlicue!)
7. Cut long curlicue into short ones, each measuring about 4″.

Don’t forget to check back soon to see what I’m going to make with these adorable curlicues!

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