Buy Local! Therapeutic Threads will be at Hilltop Holiday Craft Show

For the past month I have been gearing up for the holiday season. Right now that doesn't mean doing Christmas shopping, hitting all the Black Friday-CyberMonday sales, or even thinking about Christmas gifts. Right now that means preparing for my first really big show. I wasn't even sure how to gear up for this show but have questioned friends, read emails, followed blog posts, and thought this out thoroughly and feel pretty prepared for it. You might be wondering how big a show I'm planning toward. Well it is a 4 day event (when I applied I originally thought it was a 3 days event with short days - wrong) with quite long days - 10 AM to 8 PM. Thankfully I won't need to be there every day for the entire time but will be circulating through the event daily. I'm excited. I attended this show last year and found some great gifts for family and myself. I applied early this Fall hoping but not counting on getting in - it is a juried show with tons of applicants from all over the Pacific Northwest area and only 75 spots and I had just begun getting orders with Therapeutic Threads. I was thrilled to be chosen to be a part of the 4 day event but really only had enough product for a 2 day event and also had a Holiday open house show 2 weeks prior to this event. So product making has kept me overwhelmingly busy for the past month. Thankfully my mom has been helping out with sewing the liners for the eye pillows and neck pillows so I can focus on getting the removable covers made and the pillows filled with flax and wheatberries.  Thanks Mom. This week we get to pull all this product out and display it at this great event so if you are in the area be sure to check it out. I will have items from both stores. Therapeutic eye, neck and back pillows from Therapeutic Threads. Tiaras, dresses, aprons, smocks, purses, cup covers and more from Original Cyn Studios. So many items that are perfect for gift giving or stocking stuffers.

Come check it all out at the Hilltop Holiday Craft show - December 2-5 at the Northwest Arts Center in Bellevue. Over 75 different vendors from the Pacific Northwest with a huge variety of products.

Special movie times for special people

Are you aware that many movie theaters offer accomodations for special groups?  There are special times for parents with small children/babies and special showings of specific movies for children with special needs.  AMC theaters offer these special showings in states and cities across this country.  Check into it - I did and found 3 theaters in our local area that offer these special showings.  So take your child to a movie - but don't forget the fidgets. They will make it a lot easier to sit through that movie.

SPD???? What's that?

What is SPD?  What is Sensory Processing Disorder?  Read here

Protecting our kids

There are many ways we as parents and teachers try to protect our kids.  One of the best ways is by being informed and educated.  A new book seems to be the perfect blend for both educating and potentially protecting our kids.  Read here for the press release for the book.   You can get a curriculum guide too from the authors website http://www.marycalhounbrown.com/.  I know I intend to read this as a guide both professionally and as a parent.

The brain is a fascinating thing

Came across this research study  yesterday and found it an interesting read. Brain Activation Differences The brain is amazing.  I'm so glad they continue to research and research and research.  Nothing is definitive but this is definitely an interesting process.

Cool visuals for touch screen

I have been working hard making sure I have products for people with sensory needs in my store - all sensory needs.  I believe I have done a good job at covering the tactile, proprioceptive, and vision (I'm still working on the auditory).  The vision element can be found in my fidget toys as well as the fun fidgets on my lap pets/pads.


A very cool visual effect I found recently can be used on touch screens or with the mouse.  Brings awesome visuals to life in a great cause/effect manner.  Perfect for anyone, especially those with sensory needs.  Check it out.

New start!

My store, Therapeutic Threads has been having some great success lately and I'm feeling great about it. One of the aspects of my store has been meeting some great people and helping their kids or kids they know. That is why I started this store. The purpose of this blog is to feature some great kids, learn their stories, pass along some tips, and provide information or locations for information that could help many more people. Keep watching for more information to come.