Trash To Treasure - Recycled Paper

I'm amazed at some of the things one can make by recycling paper.

This first one is a place mat made from recycled paper grocery bags. The folks at www.favcrafts.com show us (step by step) how to make them.

This next idea is really clever and cute. It's from www.countryliving.com and they have made paper flowers out of sewing patterns. What a neat idea!

At www.alteredobsession.wordpress.com they show us how to make beads out of paper. I remember making these in 6th grade art class. We used comic strips.

Need a basket? How about making one from old magazine pages? The artful crafter shows us how. www.theartfulcrafter.com

Maybe these ideas will make us think before we take out the trash next time.

Have a great day!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.blogspot.com

If you have any trash to treasure projects and would like it featured on our blog, please send us an email at byyourhandsblog@gmail.com or use our CONTACT FORM. We'd love to see what you have and if we use it, we'll give you a FREE link to your website or blog.

Today's Featured Artist - Homespun From The Heart

Today's featured artist is Cindy Marcovcy of Homespun From The Heart.

Tell us a little about you?

I am married to my best friend and a stay at home mom to 2 babies. I have been at home working on my first baby, Homespun from the Heart, for a couple years and then my daughter came along.

How long have you been in business?
 
 Homespun from the Heart opened more than 6 years ago online, but I have been sewing and selling my creations for years before that. I just opened another business, www.SaveOurHooters.com in partnership with a friend, focusing on breast cancer awareness items; we were just featured in Create and Decorate’s “Finds” column for the October issue, very exciting!

 How did you get started?
 
     I started sewing for my girl scouts sewing badge, many years ago; in college, I was visiting my dad and stepmom for Thanksgiving and my stepmom was making a quilt. I started asking her questions about sewing and the next thing I know I got my first sewing machine for Christmas. I taught myself how to do various craft things, like Christmas tree skirts, table runners, sewing hems for curtains, etc. And shortly after I was married 8 years ago, I discovered the world of primitives and just fell in love! This year, my stepmom and I will be doing our first craft show together in upstate NY – we still talk ‘crafts’ and primitives/sewing every time we are together.

What is involved in making your craft?

   When I am designing a new doll/pattern, a lot of time goes into the process. I create templates first, those are later the pattern pieces used to make the pattern, but there’s usually a couple of rounds of changing things with the head shape, etc. Then, I am always tea staining something it feels like! And the time to create each face and hair style is just part of the process; sometimes I can get to the very end – say a hair style – and not like the doll then start over! I also take my time writing instructions; after the pattern is finished then I spend quite a bit of time marketing it.
    When I am creating dolls to build inventory, it’s a similar process with less pressure – sometimes I can finish up to 20 dolls in a week.

What is your favorite thing to make?

Definitely dolls! I have been refining my style of dolls for the last few years; I feel they are more unique to me – I tend to use funky colors for hair and noses; I also go with different types of fabrics not just primitive. Someone called my style “shabby prim” once and I thought that fit - lighter colors but still tea stained. My line of Cupcake Dolls, with really funky hair colors/styles, cupcakes, and scents - have been really well received. If the customers like it, then I am happy since I like it too.

Do you have set hours to work?

I have to set hours to work since I am also at home with my 2 year old. I usually am up by 5:30 and work until she wakes up at 8am; then I go back to work during naptime and again after she goes to bed. When I am in ‘crunch time’ like leading up to my big craft show in Lititz, PA I will often sew while she plays, taking lots of breaks to have tea or hold her dolly, etc. I try to keep us involved in activities offline, like our local Mom’s club and the YMCA. I really want to enjoy these years with her as they are already flying by!

What are your future plans for your business?

I was published in Create and Decorate a couple of times; I loved seeing my work in print and would like to do more of that. After my daughter starts school, I will return to doing more shows and also open up a wholesale section for my finished dolls online. I have been limited in time right now.

What does handcrafting mean to you?

It means taking my time with every single doll I create – 1 or 20 in a week; some weeks I have a groove and can do 20 each one having her own style and personality. Some weeks I can only finish one; and that’s OK with me. Being creative doesn’t have a set schedule, even though I have to work a set schedule. I try to go with my energy level and when I am in a slump I will try something new or do something a little more mundane like tea staining some fabric, or cleaning my sewing room. The main thing is that every customer who buys from me (online or at a show) knows that I hand-stitched the face, I created this doll from a piece of fabric and she has her own personality now.

Where do you sell your crafts at?

Online, my main website is where I sell my finished work and patterns, kits, and doll hair www.homespunfromtheheart.com.   Right now I don’t have much finished work listed as I am getting ready to go to Lititz; I will be listing a LOT of new Halloween and fall items after August 18th.

I also sell online at www.saveourhooteres.com and I have an Etsy shop http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupcakeDolls.

Offline, I just started selling in both retail and wholesale at In Grandma’s Attic, in Kinzer’s PA. The wholesale shop is for made in the U.S.A. only crafters.

I also do a few craft shows every year, the main one is Sat. August 14th in Lititz, PA http://www.lititzrotary.com/craft.htm   I have a new location this year, near Wilbur’s Chocolates – so if anyone happens to come, make sure you stop by to say Hi! I am really looking forward to the show!

Handmade Spotlight - Craft Supplies

Do you need crafting supplies? ArtFire.com has them in every color of the rainbow.

Take a minute to check out this collection of supplies I made on ArtFire.com, this morning.

Need Supplies?

  Curated By: ewenmeprintab...

ArtFire.com

Enjoy!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.com

Rag Quilting Tutorial --- Part Two

Welcome to part two of my rag quilting tutorial.    If you are following along with me you should have all the pieces for your first block cut out and the individual blocks pinned together.

This week I will show you how to machine quilt the blocks.    This is done to hold all your block layers together.     If you can sew a straight line,  you can do this.
     First we will sew all the squares.    You will be sewing an X on the block by sewing from corner to corner.
It is not necessary to backstitch these seams as you will be sewing over them when the blocks are sewn together. 
The blue lines on the block indicate the sewing lines.   Sew all five of your blocks like this.

Next are the triangles.     First you will sew a line from the middle of the long side of the triangle to the point.
Then sew across the triangle as shown in the picture.    Repeat for all the triangles.

Now we need to sew the triangles together.     You should have four of each value,  dark fabric and medium fabric.   
You will be sewing a dark and medium together.

   All seam widths from now on will be 3/4 of an inch wide.  The seams will be sewn on the right side of the blocks and will be clipped into fringe.

Pin the triangles together.  The blue line indicates the stitching line.   Sew across the triangles 3/4 inch in from the edge of the fabric.   These seams I do backstitch at the beginning and end of the seam.

I always clip my seams as I sew the blocks.   Some sewers do all their clipping after the quilt is completely sewn but I feel this is the best way to do it because your seams are easier to see and your hands will thank you for breaking this very tiring job up.  
And before,  we clip the seam I want to show you the scissors I use for rag quilting.   They are special made for this purpose and they are really easy to use and easy on your hands.    I have tried other rag quilting scissors and these are my favorites.    For a part time rag quilter,  regular scissors will work just fine.    These are for someone who does a lot of rag quilting as they are pricey but worth it to save the wear and tear on your hands if you do it alot.    Joann's Fabric runs them on sale every so often for half price and that is when I bought mine.  

Okay,  now we are going to work on the triangle seam.    The first thing I do when I clip the seams is to cut a piece away from the corners.  Doing this will eliminate a lot of bulk and make it easier to sew through many layers.  Measure in 3/4 of an inch from the side.    Staying at least 1/16 inch away from your seam line,  you are going to cut that corner away.

 Repeat for the other side.

Now we will clip the seam for fringe.    You will be making approx. 1/4 inch cuts into the seam.   Make sure you stay at least 1/16 inch away from your seam line.  

Here is what your finished block will look like.

Sew the rest of the triangles together in the same way.   You will end up with four of these blocks.
Next week we will sew all the blocks together to make the first large block of our quilt.

Thanks for visiting today.   See you next week with part three.
Bette

Do you have a special skill you would like to share?    If you  would like to do a tutorial for By Your Hands,  please email us at byyourhandsblog@gmail.com or use our contact form at the top of the blog.     Alll tutorial contributors will have their logo permanently placed on our Crafty Guests page.

Ideas for Organizing Your Desk

Can you ever have enough storage space? I can't. Especially when we're talking about desk space. Today I'd like to share some ideas with you that I found for organizing the office and desk areas.

First, I found this idea from, www.styleathome.com This desktop catchall is made from fabric and foam core board. The instructions are there so you can make your own with fabrics to match your decor.

How about this...  A velvet desktop organizer made from an antique photo album and an expansion file. You can find instructions for it at, www.countryliving.com. (photo by WENDELL T. WEBBER)

And last I found instructions on how to make a magazine file from recycled cereal boxes. The instructions can be found at www.utahshoppingsecrets.com I love it when we can recycle and make something out of "nothing". These are great!

If you have any organizing tips or ideas and would like them featured on our blog, please send us an email at byyourhandsblog @ gmail [dot] com or use our CONTACT FORM. We'd love to see what you have and if we use it, we'll give you a FREE link to your website or blog.

Thanks for joining us again!
Deena Davis
www.byyourhands.blogspot.com