Monday, May 12, 2014

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Tea Time

May flowers are blooming and that means time for tea in the garden! Whether you are planning a party for 20 or tea for one, these Etsy up-cyclers offer up inspiration.

Raise a pinky with vintage tea cups! Delicate patterns and spring colors liven up any social setting. Start your shopping with these lovelies from Retroburgh and browse around this shop for the perfect pop of kitschy color.

Fill those cups with herbal teas from KyraBotanica. Flowers and herbs crafted in to fine teas, body sprays, and all natural salves. Mother Nature smiles on those who up-cycle her creations and KyraBotanica has the perfect gift for every summer birthday girl.

Tea towels become conversation starters when they're hand-crafted by JensNextChance. Vibrant embroidered remnants combine to form stunning new cloths as bright as a May garden bouquet. Visit this Etsy shop for the next wave of cottage chic!

No tea party is complete without that flirty dress. Custom tailor a perfect fit with vintage patterns from AdeleBeeAnnPatterns. With a wide style selection dating as far back as the 1920's, this shop has couture covered.

For more fabulous tea party finds search upcycled tea on Etsy.

LOVE & UP-CYCLE NATION!!

Jacquie Wheeler

Hand of Bela Peck

http://www.etsy.com/shop/Handofbelapeck?ref=si_shop
https://www.etsy.com/shop/BelaPeckHome

http://handofbelapeck1759.blogspot.com/

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hand-of-Bela-Peck/294397987277061?ref=hl

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Blog Party Sunday - Show Us What You're Making

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you are making.

You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops or your blog.

The rules are simple:
1. Follow our blog
2. Handmade items only.
3. You may list up to 3 items each week.
4. Family friendly items only.

The success of this link party depends on the participants so spread the word to your friends, visit the shops, post about it on your blog, in a forum or on your favorite social networking site, grab the button and put it on your blog or website.
Just click on the Add Your Link button below and add your items.
And if you would like to add a link to the party you can grab this button below.

<a href="http://www.byyourhands.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy110/ByYourHands/blogparty.jpg">, </a>

An InLinkz Link-up

Friday, May 9, 2014

Today's Featured Shop - Just The Cute Stuff

May is National Scrapbooking Month and to celebrate I'll be sharing some great paper crafting shops all month long. Today's featured shop is JustTheCuteStuff.

If you are looking for the perfect party favors, matching cupcake toppers or bottlecap items Just The Cute Stuff is the place to be!

Here are a few featured items...

Soccer Candy Stix Tubes

Owl Cupcake Toppers

Personalized Cupcake Bottlecap Necklace

Bookmark Kindergarten Graduation

Thanks for joining us today and be sure to stop by and visit JustTheCuteStuff.

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Witches stitches - Stacking Red, White and Blue Stars

At the end of May I put out my red, white, and blue decorations. I do it a few days before Memorial Day. I do it because I have respect for Memorial day an because it denotes the beginning of Summer. I always have the American flag out year round, but at the end of May I will add some RW&B birdhouses, bunting and things around out home inside. I made a stack of RW&B fabric stars and I just love them. They are so easy and requires very little sewing know how.

Step 1 – Find a template for your stars. You can find all sizes of stars on-line, just do a Google search for “star outlines”.

Step 2 – Cut out your chosen stars from freezer paper. Iron them onto a double layer of cotton muslin shinny side down. Make sure to leave enough space between them to sew and cut out.

Step 3 - Sew around the stars. Do not leave an opening. After you have sewn all the way around the star, remove the freezer paper.

Step 4 – Clip all our corners and then make small slit in the center of the star with just one layer of fabric. Turn our star to the right side, stuff and stitch shut. Ou will not see the opening when you stack the stars.

Step 5 - Tea dye your stars and hang them out to dry. After they are dry paint one red, one white and one blue. When they are dry sand them with a fine grit sandpaper to give them a tie worn look.

Step 6 – When you are happy with the look of our stars, stack the together. Make sure you place the sewn opening up on the bottom heat and down on the top two hearts. This way you have 3 perfect hearts. After you stack them one on top of the other wrap them a few times with a fine strand of jute string. You can add a paper tag also.

This looks great on a table or in a cupboard. If you have any questions just give me a shout. Thanks for reading

Faith