Simple Steps to Beautiful Results from Your Embroidery Machine. Learn to use machine embroidery to enhance your projects. For all sewing machines with embroidery attachments-and every embroidery design. Add special touches to quilts, garments, accessories, home décor, and paper crafts! Patty takes the mystery out of stabilizers, threads, and tools. First-time embroiderer? No problem! Patty includes lots of photographs and detailed instructions with every step. Exercises will help you advance your skills. Experienced embroiderers will be inspired by Patty's ideas for combining embroidery with techniques like appliqué, fabric painting, and embellishment.
The co-founder and longtime president of Pixar updates and expands his 2014 New York Times bestseller on creative leadership, reflecting on the management principles that built Pixar’s singularly successful culture, and on all he learned during the past nine years that allowed Pixar to retain its creative culture while continuing to evolve. “Might be the most thoughtful management book ever.”—Fast Company For nearly thirty years, Pixar has dominated the world of animation, producing such beloved films as the Toy Story trilogy, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and WALL-E, which have gone on to set box-office records and garner eighteen Academy Awards. The joyous storytelling, the inventive plots, the emotional authenticity: In some ways, Pixar movies are an object lesson in what creativity really is. Here, Catmull reveals the ideals and techniques that have made Pixar so widely admired—and so profitable. As a young man, Ed Catmull had a dream: to make the first computer-animated movie. He nurtured that dream as a Ph.D. student, and then forged a partnership with George Lucas that led, indirectly, to his founding Pixar with Steve Jobs and John Lasseter in 1986. Nine years later, Toy Story was released, changing animation forever. The essential ingredient in that movie’s success—and in the twenty-five movies that followed—was the unique environment that Catmull and his colleagues built at Pixar, based on philosophies that protect the creative process and defy convention, such as: • Give a good idea to a mediocre team and they will screw it up. But give a mediocre idea to a great team and they will either fix it or come up with something better. • It’s not the manager’s job to prevent risks. It’s the manager’s job to make it safe for others to take them. • The cost of preventing errors is often far greater than the cost of fixing them. • A company’s communication structure should not mirror its organizational structure. Everybody should be able to talk to anybody. Creativity, Inc. has been significantly expanded to illuminate the continuing development of the unique culture at Pixar. It features a new introduction, two entirely new chapters, four new chapter postscripts, and changes and updates throughout. Pursuing excellence isn’t a one-off assignment but an ongoing, day-in, day-out, full-time job. And Creativity, Inc. explores how it is done.
So, you want to publish books.Drawing on 23 years of experience operating an independent publishing company, Joe Biel has written the most accessible and comprehensive guide to running a successful publishing business. You'll learn all the skills of the trade, including how to:Develop your individual books to connect with readers on a practical and emotional levelChoose between offset printed, digitally printed, and eBook formats and work effectively with printersBuild an authentic niche so you can reach your audience and sell books directlyUnderstand if and when you're ready to work with a distributor or large online retailerCreate a budget and predict the cost and income of each book so your company stays in the blackDecide what work you need to do yourself and what can be done by othersPlan for sustainable growthFeaturing interviews with other upstart independent publishers and funny anecdotes from publishing's long history as well as detailed charts and visuals, this book is intended both beginners looking for a realistic overview of the publishing or self-publishing process and for experienced publishers seeking a deeper understanding of accounting principles, ways to bring their books to new audiences, and how to advance their mission in a changing industry. All readers will come away with the confidence to move forward wisely and a strong sense of why publishing matters today more than ever.
Are you looking for ways to stop being dependent upon only Amazon for your author earnings income? Are you hoping to expand and grow your sales on multiple platforms in global territories? Do you need strategies to help you get started NOW in terms of creating a successful "publish wide" author plan? Would you like to increase and optimize your sales on Apple Books, Kobo, Nook, Google Play and more? Then WIDE FOR THE WIN is the book for you. Based on knowledge derived from decades of working within the publishing and bookselling landscape, author Mark Leslie Lefebvre has compiled those learnings and in depth discussions, interviews, and insights shared from represenatives from the major publishing platforms along with tips, strategies, and pathways to success from hundreds of authors who have already discovered the thrill of forging their own unique pathways to success. If you're looking for a magic bullet, you've come to the wrong place. But if you're looking for ideas, inspiration, and strategies for planning out your own long terms success as an author selling globally on multiple platforms, then you've come to the right place.
This is a must for the serious Photoshop user! Power, Speed & Automation explores how to customize and automate Photoshop to increase your speed and productivity. With numerous step-by-step instructions, the authors-two of Adobe's own software developers!- walk you through the steps to best tailor Photoshop's interface to your personal workflow; write and apply Actions; and use batching and scripts to process large numbers of images quickly and automatically. You will learn how to build your own dialogs and panels to improve your production workflows in Photoshop, the secrets of changing keyboard shortcuts and menus, and ways to tune your system for optimal performance. Writing new processes using JavaScript is also covered, as well as leveraging Variables with data sets. Learn how to get more work done? more easily and quickly? with this essential guide! *This book can be used with any version of Photoshop through CS6!*
Laura Lee Fritz is back with another collection of brand new continuous-line quilting designs that are sure to please! A variety of design motifs can be grouped to tell a story, which will give you plenty of ideas for adding special meaning to every quilt you make.
"Creativity on Demand: Think out of the Box, Generate Ideas on Demand, Overcome Creativity Blocks & Build a Culture of Innovation" by Purnima Banerjee is a crash course on creativity, an essential guide for anyone looking to unlock their creative potential and enhance their problem-solving skills. This comprehensive book covers every aspect of the creative process, from understanding the science behind creativity to implementing and testing innovative ideas. With practical exercises, real-world examples, and proven techniques, readers will find themselves equipped with the tools necessary to navigate and thrive in a world that demands continuous innovation. Do you often wonder if you think creatively or feel overwhelmed by creativity blocks? Persistent creativity blocks can lead to stagnation, reduced problem-solving abilities, and missed opportunities for innovation. Understanding and overcoming these blocks is crucial for personal and professional growth. In the first chapter, "Creativity on Demand" readers will explore the foundational principles of creativity. They will understand why creative thinking is critical for problem-solving and how it can be applied in various contexts. This chapter lays the groundwork for developing a creative mindset, offering insights into the science behind creativity and examples of creative thinking in action. The subsequent chapters explore practical strategies for generating innovative ideas and creating an inspiring environment for innovation. Readers will discover effective brainstorming methods, structured approaches to creativity, and how to leverage technology and data for idea generation. Additionally, the book provides guidance on designing a creative workspace, building a supportive network, and stimulating creativity through new experiences. These chapters are designed to help readers cultivate an environment that nurtures and enhances their creative capabilities. "Overcoming Creativity Blocks" is a crucial chapter that addresses the common challenges individuals face when trying to be creative. Author Purnima Banerjee identifies various types of creative blocks, their psychological and environmental causes, and personal block patterns. Readers will learn strategies for breaking through these blocks, including mindfulness practices, stress reduction techniques, and shifting perspectives. This chapter empowers readers to transform obstacles into opportunities for creative growth. The book also emphasizes the importance of connecting diverse ideas and perspectives. By exploring cross-disciplinary thinking and utilizing analogies and metaphors, readers will enhance their ability to synthesize information and develop innovative solutions. The chapters on implementing and testing ideas provide a step-by-step guide for turning creative concepts into actionable plans. Readers will gain insights into setting clear goals, creating prototypes, and refining their ideas through feedback and iteration. "Embracing Continuous Innovation and Future Trends" prepares readers for long-term success in innovation. The author discusses the importance of lifelong learning, staying updated with emerging trends, and developing resilience and flexibility. Readers will learn how to anticipate future challenges and opportunities, adapt to changes, and position themselves for sustained success. This book is not just a guide but a companion for anyone looking to harness the power of creativity and make a significant impact in their personal and professional lives.
The Travels of Sir John Mandeville is the chronicle of the alleged Sir John Mandeville, an explorer. His travels were first published in the late 14th century, and influenced many subsequent explorers such as Christopher Columbus.
Tear down the obstacles to creative innovation in your organization Unlocking Creativity is an exploration of the creative process and how organizations can clear the way for innovation. In many organizations, creative individuals face stubborn resistance to new ideas. Managers and executives oftentimes reject innovation and unconventional approaches due to misplaced allegiance to the status quo. Questioning established practices or challenging prevailing sentiments is frequently met with stiff resistance. In this climate of stifled creativity and inflexible adherence to conventional wisdom, potentially game-changing ideas are dismissed outright. Senior leaders claim to value creativity, yet often lack the knowledge to provide a creative framework. Unlocking Creativity offers effective methods and real-world examples of how the most successful organizations create cultures of innovation and experimentation. Best-selling author and scholar Michael Roberto presents a thorough investigation of organizational obstacles to creative thought. Highly relevant to the growth crises many enterprises face in today’s economic landscape, this book examines how to break barriers to spark creativity and foster new ideas. This insightful and informative work allows business executives, senior managers, and organization leaders to: Recognize the six organizational mindsets that impede creativity and innovation Learn how to tear down the barriers that obstruct the creative process Create an environment that allows talented people to thrive Encourage creative collaboration in teams throughout an organization Leaders do not have to conceive innovative ideas, but rather open the path for curious and creative employees within their organization. Unlocking Creativity: How to Solve Any Problem and Make the Best Decisions aids organizations in removing obstacles to the creative process and helps to form an atmosphere of imagination and innovation.
