How to Add [and sell!] a Pattern on Craftsy

How to Add & Sell a Pattern on Craftsy
(This post contains affiliate links which means I will be compensated if you purchase after clicking these links.)

In addition to tons of online courses and craft supplies, Craftsy also has an independent online pattern store that lets anyone upload and sell downloadable e-patterns with no fee!

Adding a pattern to Craftsy and starting your pattern store is easy! The pattern store can be found from the Craftsy main page just by clicking the "Patterns" tab after you logged in.

1. Make sure you have a Paypal account. All pattern transactions happen through Paypal, and Craftsy requires that you have a Student, Premier, or Business account in order to sell patterns. Your PayPal will charge a small transaction fee, but that's typical with all PayPal transactions.
2. Put your pattern in .pdf format. You can’t upload any patterns to the online pattern store unless they’re a .pdf file format, so if they’re currently saved as a Word doc, .jpg, or other file format, you must convert it to a .pdf before you upload it to Craftsy. To do this, most programs have a Save As option. There are also many online converters that can be use free of charge.
3. Include a photo. All patterns must have at least one photo to accompany them, but you can add up to five photos. Colorful, interesting photos tend to work the best for catching peoples' eyes!
4. Fill out the pattern description. They will ask you some basic questions about your pattern,  making it easier for Craftsy folk to find your pattern and know what your pattern is for. Make sure you have info about your pattern handy for this step.

For more information on how to sell a pattern through Craftsy, or to get started, visit Craftsy today!

Kids & Birthday Questions

So, recently we celebrated the third birthday of my daughter and Nick's 25th. My four year old son however, has been anxiously waiting for his 5th birthday. He knows it's a big birthday and he knows he's excited. This quite possibly will be the first birthday party he will actually remember. So I definitely understand the excitement behind their behavior.

However, I'm also greatly annoyed by it. Every day, the kids come home from day care talking about whose birthday it was that day, what that kid got for their birthday, and how long it is until their birthday. I don't have to worry much about Scarlet, she just had her birthday and she knows it's not going to happen again for a very long time. But Abel, man, he knows his is going to be coming soon and he will not stop talking about it.

"How long until my birthday?"
"What are we doing on my birthday?"
"I want a spider-man for my birthday."
"Hey mom, I'm going to be five right? On my birthday."

It has come to a point now that I have implemented a rule that we won't discuss his birthday unless I bring it up or I tell him his birthday is close enough to discuss. I wonder if that was a bit strict but it has worked to avoid the daily questions and keep some mystery in his birthday. How do other parents handle the constant questions about upcoming birthdays?

(Linked on #SITSSharefest)

Big News! We're Moving!

We're moving! No, not the blog - I'm content right here. But this family is about to move our physical location! About 2 months ago (yes, I'm a bit late on the new news part, but there were other factors) Nick was offered a job by a really awesome company and he accepted. He starts May 26th, after he finishes grad school here in Iowa. The caveat, which we expected when he was applying to jobs, is that we're moving to HOUSTON, TEXAS! I'm pretty excited about this, considering that although I've lived in the North Midwest my entire life, I've never once really liked it. The one time I moved out of this area was to Mississippi for two months during Spring of 2010 and I can tell you I've missed it ever since.


This move includes tons of new changes for our life. We're moving into a bigger house, because four people in two tiny bedrooms of a duplex unit is miserable. Everyone who does it, I feel ya. We're going to have a fenced in backyard and a garage, so I'm seriously looking forward to building a few things. We're also hoping to adopt a dog at some point, something we haven't done due to lack of space or leasing allowances over the last 2 years. And the kids? Well they're ecstatic. They're really looking forward to having extra space, their own rooms, going to school, and more.

Now, I would've shared all this news way sooner, but I had to wait until we had dates and places all figured out so that I could give resignation at work. I realize 6 weeks notice might sound like a lot, but because I'll have to train one or two new hires, my boss really needed it. Now that my resignation is in, I can share this awesome news with the world. I'm really excited to share more along our journey as well as having more time to write.

Book Review: I Am Not Myself These Days: A Memoir

Today I'm reviewing a book I read last summer, I also wrote part of the review last summer but couldn't bring myself to posting it because it just didn't seem done. I am not myself these days was written by Josh Kilmer-Purcell as a memoir, meaning although possibly exaggerated, it's all true.

I Am Not Myself These Days:
A Memoir

First of all, a memoir about a drag queen couldn't possibly have been any better. As Josh recounts his tales as his female alter-ego "Aqua" in this comedic tale of partying, performances, and his relationship with a boyfriend that gets paid to play a dominant for kinky parties aka. "male escort." Through love and various other drugs, vodka, and hookers they wade through a long term relationship that provides each of them the security they crave in life but doesn't seem to be very healthy for either of them. It also chronicles some of the really high points in Aqua's career including round-the-world gigs for the goldfish bowl laden lady as well as some incredibly low points in Josh's life.

The book itself is so real and raw and his way with words provides excellent imagery for the reader. I'm instantly in love (in a friend way) with Josh because he just makes you feel like his pal. I bought the book because I knew I'd get a good laugh from it, I love going to drag shows and memoirs are one of my favorite genres. I got so much more though, it was incredibly touching and emotional and I loved every minute.

For all these reasons, I'm giving this one a 5/5. I definitely recommend it. Below are links to the book, in several versions.

I am not myself these days. on Goodreads.com
I am not myself these days. on Amazon [Paperback] [Kindle]

(Linked on #SITSSharefest)

Superbowl 48 = Super Bowling

Last year we had a REALLY memorable Super Bowl Sunday. There was tons of chaos, blood, grocery store trips, etc. This year was far less traumatizing, but far more fun to make up for it. I'm not going to list anything this time because there's only one thing!

Around lunch time we went BOWLING with the kids. Because what better way to celebrate the Super Bowl!? They had a blast and because Nicko and I suck at bowling so much, the kids only barely lost. It was awesome to go bowling, since the last time I've been was when Nick took me on our second date for bowling and karaoke.

The scoreboard shows our scores in this order - Nickooooo, Abaleth, Scarsational, and Shelbybooboo. Yes, Nick gets creative when filling out the scorekeeper.







We had a lovely afternoon, and quite possibly have just founded a family tradition for our Super Bowl celebrations. And I can hardly wait until the next bowling trip!

Why I Don't Hate My Body

This post has been moved to... http://everythingisntnormal.com/why-i-dont-hate-my-body

So a few weeks ago I posted about my fitness goals. While I'm not asking anyone to disregard that post, I really feel like it's important I make it clear how I feel about my body. I never, in the post, said anything about desired weight loss, inches to lose, etc. And the reason is, I don't really care about losing weight. Let me give you a whole bunch of perspective. This picture is me, right now. My belly isn't flat, I have a muffin top, stretch marks, a slight double chin and a round bottom. I've looked pretty much just like this for two years. I've never really attempted to change any of it and I don't really care to. I love my body, I accept it and I don't hide it except when I'm practicing daily modesty, such as wearing clothes to work.

Over the last two years I've dated a few men who have seen this in person. Not one of them has been turned off, disgusted, revolted or unwilling to touch me. I've never been denied a hug or kiss due to my body's appearance. I look slimmer in my clothes that out of my clothes. Not once has anyone complained that I was hiding my "true" body or that I had tricked them about me. And without actually asking any of them, I know that they didn't dislike my chubby tummy, my muffin top, my butt, or my stretch marks. And today, my boyfriend loves me and has never once asked me to change my appearance. In fact, I'm pretty sure he actually LOVES the way I look.

But let's set aside the "men's point of view" for a minute. Why should it be about what they like any way? This is about me, and how I see myself. My physical appearance is natural and it's rare that make up ever touches my face. Not even a foundation or concealer. The chin shows up when I look down like a dork or make a silly face. It's not even important. My tummy. It's sooo unflat. It's fairly round. If I hold my breath and puff a little, I could pass myself as a roughly 4 months pregnant woman. But my pants fit and I don't bother buying pants if they don't. My blouses and t-shirts are rarely too tight and if they are, I just wear something else. And I do wear a bikini at the pool, because guess what, nobody sees my belly. Because they just don't care.

Nothing in the world is more attractive to anyone, including my own self, than the confidence I can exude. I'm sexy, beautiful, attractive, whatever you want to call me and my body is PERFECT because I'm CONFIDENT about it. If you ever hear me say "I'm sort of fat." It's because I'm stating a small fact that has nothing to do with who I am, how I live, how I succeed or fail, what kind of parent I am, etc.

I want to promote healthy body image views for everyone. I have a young daughter and it's come to light that every woman in her life can influence the way she feels about herself and I need to make sure she's confident with her body and her mind.

I'll love some twitter response to this! Post your picture of your body that YOU love and tag with #lovemybodychallenge and I may feature one or two during the next blog post about body image and talking to kids about it!