Link Party Sunday ---- Halloween Crafting

Today's link party is for showing off your Halloween handmades.     Yes,   I know it is only August but in the crafting world it is time to start making fall items to sell.

So let's all show off our fall/Halloween handmades.   You are allowed to add 3 links to your shops and you don't have to be a selling crafter to show off your art.    Even if you only craft for your own pleasure we want to see it,  so don't hesitate to join in.

The rules are simple:

1. Follow our blog

2. Handmade items only.

3. You may list up to 3 items.

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>

Handmade Sampler Giveaway - $20 Gift Certificate---DONE

Welcome to another Handmade Sampler Giveaway.    Today's giveaway is sponsored by Deena Davis of Ewe-N-Me Printables. Deena is offering a $20 GIFT CERTIFICATE to her website, www.ewenmeprintables.com

Deena creates a lot of different printables in primitive, whimsical and vintage styles. All of Deena's printables are high quality 300 dpi and are sold as PDF files.

Below are some of the items Deena offers on her website, however the gift certificate can be used on any of the items she offers.

  

  

You can earn up to three entries by doing the following...

1. Visit www.ewenmeprintables.com and come back here and post a comment with your favorite item on the website. Be sure and leave your email address so we can contact you if you win.

2. Earn one extra entry by becoming a follower of this blog. Already a follower? Just let us know so we can give you credit.

3. Earn an extra entry by posting this giveaway on your blog along with a link to this blog. Be sure and let us know you have done this.

(USA  entries only, please)

The giveaway will start today, Saturday, August 7, and the winner will be announced on Friday, August 20 EXTENDED UNTIL AUG. 27. We will announce it here and contact you by the email address you have left. Final day to enter is Thursday, August 26, 2010.

Have fun and good luck!

Would you like to sponsor a giveaway?  Are you interested in promoting your store or blog at a very reasonable cost?   If so, just email us. 

We would be happy to send you the details. byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

We Have a Winner for the Abby Doll

Congratulations to Teresa from Kentucky on winning the Abby Doll giveaway from our sponsor Prim Country Creations.      http://www.primcountrycreations.etsy.com

 Meet Teresa on her blog,   http://mammystreasures.blogspot.com/

The winner was picked using the true generator on Random.org. We want to thank all of you who took the time to enter and for all the wonderful comments.

Be sure and come back again tomorrow as we will have a new giveaway starting that you won't want to miss.


Would you like to be a sponsor for one of the giveaways on our blog?   It is a great way to get your craft business noticed.    For information email us at byyourhandsblog@gmail.com

Handmade Spotlight - Gourd Art

Today, our featured spotlight items are made from something you can grow in your garden... GOURDS!

I'm amazed at all these "gord-jus" things made from gourds. - Simply beautiful - aren't they?

If you'd like to have a closer look, CLICK HERE to visit the treasury I made on etsy featuring all these talented artisans. If you're an etsy member, please sign in and leave a comment and click on the items you see.

See ya next time!

Deena Davis

www.byyourhands.com

Rag Quilting Tutorial ---Part One

This week we are going to start cutting out our pieces for the first block of our quilt.

You will need a backing fabric, cotton batting and dark, medium and light value fabrics.

First you will need to download the two pattern pieces for the quilt, a square and a triangle. The pattern pieces include a 3/4 inch seam allowance.

The pdfs for the pattern pieces can be downloaded here.   Pattern One.   and    Pattern Two.

Print them out twice.
Take one set and mark a 1/2 inch all around the edges of the pattern pieces. Then trim this 1/2 inch off the patterns. These will be used to cut only the batting out.

You will need to cut out 8 batting triangles and 5 batting squares.

With the other set of  pattern pieces you will cut out 1 dark square, 4 light squares, 4 dark triangles and 4 medium value triangles.

Then you will need to cut out 5 squares and 8 triangles from the backing fabric.

Now that our pieces for the quilt square are cut out,  I will walk you through putting together your quilt sandwich or block.  Rag quilting blocks are composed of a backing, batting and fabric piece that is sewn together and then the blocks are sewn together.

   Take 1 backing square and lay it down with the wrong side of the fabric facing up.  Then center one of the batting squares on top of this.

Now lay the fabric square on top with the right side of the fabric facing up.   Pin all three layers together.  Repeat for all 5 squares.

Now take a triangle backing fabric,  lay it down with the wrong side of the fabric facing up.   Place a batting triangle on top.

Now place a fabric triangle on top with right side of fabric facing up.  Pin all three layers  together.   Repeat for all 8 of the triangles.

You should have all the blocks for the quilt square ready to sew now.

Next week we will begin sewing our blocks.  Before I go  I want to recommend a tool that I use when I sew rag quilts together.    It is called a walking foot and what it does is feed your fabric evenly so that your block stays together as you sew.   They are pricey but worth it if you make a lot of rag quilted items.   

Some sewing machines have a feed attachment built in like Pfaff and some other newer machines.

See you next week with part two.
Bette