The Magic of Television
I just returned from a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, to participate in a taping for the PBS series, Beads, Baubles & Jewels . Each episode features guest artists who share how-to projects, beading techniques and artistic inspiration. I present a three-minute-long Beading Lesson on each episode that focuses on a particular aspect of beading and jewelry making. We tape the show twice a year and it is always a fun, hectic time.

Even though my Beading Lesson segments are brief, I spend a lot of time preparing for them. I research topics, write scripts, and prepare step-by-step instruction to show on camera; and I also make finished samples to help illustrate the topic. Different outfits with matching jewelry (of course!) must be assembled, and I am professionally made-up before sitting in front of the camera. On the set, we laugh about how much work goes into such a "quick" segment. Ah, the magic of television.

In real life, scripts are not written and make-up artists aren't there to disguise any imperfections. How many times have you spent hours perfecting a "quick" little handmade gift? It's those labors of love, those projects that keep us creative types crafting until the wee hours, that end up holding a special place in our hearts. When the project is finally finished and someone says, "Wow! Did you make that yourself?" it's as if all that time disappeared and we just say "yes." Suddenly, we made it look easy, just like on television.

A Star is Born
I used a T-shirt printing kit from Magnetic Poetry to make this onesie for my daughter Lily to commemorate her first trip to the television studio. The kit includes 70 stamps, six colors of fabric paint, two paintbrushes and detailed instructions. It even includes a list of suggestions for T-shirt slogans! I love the stamps because they're really easy to use, and the finished product looks professional. To add a little extra sparkle onto the letters, I used pearl violet Lumiere by Jacquard metallic acrylic paint. T-shirt stamping might be addictive. After making this one for Lily, I also stamped two more onsesies and a baby blanket to use for gifts. It's a fun activity that would be easy to do with kids, too.

Materials White cotton onesie or T-shirt 1"-1 1/2" high lowercase letter stamps Purple & magenta fabric paint Small paintbrush Iron to heat-set paint if recommended by manufacturer Scrap piece of cardboard Instructions Wash and dry the onesie or T-shirt. Place a piece of cardboard inside the onesie or T-shirt so the paint won't bleed through. Lay the letter stamps on the onesie or T-shirt and adjust the spacing. Use a paintbrush to add a layer of paint to the face of one stamp. Press the stamp firmly onto the onesie or T-shirt without moving the other stamps. Repeat Steps 4 and 5 to stamp the entire word. Clean the stamps immediately. Use the end of the paintbrush handle to make evenly spaced dots on the collar. Let the paint dry and then follow manufacturer's instructions to heat-set the paint if necessary. Tips for stamping T-shirts Choose smooth fabric because fabric with a lot of tooth may impact the crispness of the stamped impression. For perfectly aligned letters, line them up along a straight edge. To make a darker impression, add more fabric paint to the stamps. Press gently when stamping so the paint doesn't blob around the edges of the letters. Add extra sparkle to some of the letters with iron-on Swarovski Hotfix crystals. Copyright © 2006 Creativity. All rights reserved. Click here for printer friendly page.

Building a Creative Business
I've received several e-mails from Creativity readers who want to start their own creative businesses. One of the first things to consider is: Which business model would be the best fit? Most people immediately think of the retail options, which include craft shows, in-home parties, Web sites, consignment boutiques and more. However, there are also many other ways to market your talents. Consider teaching classes at a local shop or writing how-to articles for magazines and books. Many successful businesses offer a variety of services, so plan to combine several of these ideas in any creative business venture.

For information that's specifically geared toward creative businesses, visit www.janepollak.com and www.barbarabrabec.com for free articles. I'd also recommend checking out Jane Pollak's book, Soul Proprietor: 101 Lessons from a Lifestyle Entrepreneur, and Lee Silber's book Self-Promotion for the Creative Person. Both are terrific sources of inspiration and practical advice. Also, consider joining a professional organization like The Craft and Hobby Association (CHA). There is a special section that's dedicated to educational and networking opportunities for craft designers.