Make your own cookie cutter

Carolyn of Juggling Frogs has a very interesting DIY section. One of my favorites is making cookie cutters from clipart and foil pans. She also shares some downloadables.

Burda Fashion News and Trends

Check out the trends page of Burda Fashion. My favorite is the slideshow from the catwalks.

In the creative ideas section there are downloadable patterns for registered (free) users.

How to Properly Close a Jump Ring

It's been awhile since I've had time to post. I'm working on a very large project that I'll be able to talk about after next week. Bear with me, I have lots of goodies and fun coming up.

Christine Cox, owner of Volcano Arts, publishes an e-mail newsletter that's one I always find interesting. This month there is this tutorial regarding jump rings. It's the finishing skill that elevates my jewelry making and is really difficult for me to do well.

Costume silhouettes

Costume Silhouettes by Mary B. Evans, 1890, is a recent addition to the HEARTH ( Home Economics Archive: Research, Tradition and History ) collection, Mann Library at Cornell.

Once you've entered the book (I usually click on the table of contents page) use the dropdown box on the "go to page" to find the illustrations.

Printable Embroidery Patterns

The Victoria & Albert Museum is sharing a collection of embroidery patterns from a book containing South African flower designs by Florence Caulfield that are fresh and bold and could be adapted for stitching today.

Found via In a Minute Ago

Ponoko Made Easy

Congratulations to Dave, Derek, Dan and John, the brilliant team at Ponoko who have developed Photomake! A new way to turn your designs into real life, laser cut objects from photos or scans. I am so excited by this development because no knowledge of design software is necessary. This is a big deal. Personal manufacturing is becoming more available to all by the minute. If you have been wishing for your own designs check it out. They are offering a free test drive of Photomake. Be sure to read the FAQ.

Halloween Fun from Better Homes and Gardens

Someone associated with Better Homes and Gardens magazine noticed the Halloween patent designs recently mentioned here and sent a note telling me about BHG's 100 Days of Holidays – their largest and most exciting holiday program ever.

This year's 100 Days of Holidays program has got more than 400 new slide shows, free recipes, craft projects, and decorating ideas; 100 daily email newsletters; 50 new how to videos; five fun new interactive tools; three online courses; new photo contests; and more partner participation.
Access to the fun requires a free registration.

The Halloween page is here and the Pumpkin Stencil maker is a fun tool. The Halloween Costume Gallery is here.

Antique books

Antique book images hosted by L'Ecole Vétérinaire de Lyon. My favorite is The illustrated book of poultry by Lewis Wright .

Papercraft Templates

Some interesting downloads from UK magazine Crafts Beautiful. A 3D vase pop up card and folded butterfly template look useful. There is lots to explore here and they have a few mini magazines to download. Free registration required for downloading.

Halloween Candy Bag 1953

Candy bag design by John Lavezzorio for Dennison Manufacturing 1953.
The anthropomorphic leaves crack me up.

Halloween Designs

I've had a great time enjoying the sunshine. Lots of hard work and lots of play. I've missed my computer and my friends so let's head back to Google Patents for some Halloween inspiration. The pictures are the links to the designs.
Halloween designs by Clara L. Mead for Dennison Manufacturing 1914.


I am not going to be updating the Frankie Files and will be putting my patent office finds here on meggiecat where they can be categorized. I will be leaving the Frankie Files up as it is now.

Matryoshka Dolls

Mayaluna left a comment and now I've found the time to check out her blog. Wow! She is a lot of fun. I was so taken by her newspaper hats for girls, ice cube necklaces and nature bracelets. She puts an enormous amount of creativity into the joy of everyday life.
Many of you probably are already fans of the maya*made blog but if you haven't gotten to know her, you should.
Her complete tutorial page is here.
Freezer paper stencil tips.

She painted stone dolls.

Even the Bathroom Scale

Now I have seen it all. Not even the plainest objects escape the attention of Junie Moon.
Visit for the tutorial.

June has made the decision to move on to other adventures and this is one of her last posts. She has been a generous and supportive friend to me and left a beautiful legacy in the one year she has shared of her creative living. I wish her all the best and am grateful for her gifts.

Fabric Printing with a Brayer

Article by Lois Ericson and Dawn McIntyre on the Threads magazine website.

Downloadable Math Poster

How long is a span, a hand, or a league? Maddy and Maverick offer a 3 page downloable poster with all the answers.

Found via PaperFriendly