Giveaway Reminder

In case you missed it,  you have until September 27, 2013 to sign up for a chance to win this wonderful Market Tote that will also make a great travel holder your Kindle,  Nook or Mini Ipad  from Bette at http://www.handmadebybette.com

Go here,  http://byyourhands.blogspot.com/2013/09/its-time-for-another-giveaway.html,   to leave a comment for a chance to win this great bag.

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

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

Today's Featured Shop -- Homemade Scents

Today's featured shop is Homemade Scents.    Michelle has a nice selection of candles and bakery tarts  in her shop to scent your home or for gifts.

PUMPKIN VANILLA CREAM Scented Primitive Halloween Witch Canning Jar Candle

BUTTERY GINGERBREAD Primitive Grubby Holiday Cupcake Scented Wax Tarts Melts- Bowl Fillers

3 Highly Scented - Happy Halloween Witch Votive Decor Candles - Candy Corn, Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin & Apple Maple Bourbon

Primitive Iced CINNAMON BUN Roll Candle, Pan & Rose Hips YUMMY

Be sure and visit Michelle's shop to see all she has to offer.   https://www.etsy.com/shop/HomemadeScents

Witches Stitches – Sheep with Pictures

Last week I posted an idea for making antique looking sheep. I had requests for pictures so I am reposting with pictures.  I am not the best when it comes to photography, but I tried my best.  I am also going to try to insert them where they belong, but if I don’t get them in the right sot, sorry ahead of time. I am sure my 5 year old grandson is more tech savvy than I am.

The holidays are right around the corner and one of the things I enjoy decorating with is anything that looks antique.  I like the prints that are out there that are from the late 1800’s. I especially like sheep.  You can use any animal or item you like, I just like using an image of sheep. I have several small bottle brush trees that I like to put in a display and I like having a few sheep with them. The ones I made are very easy and look like they are 100 years old. Of course I only have one to show you. The others I made in the past are at my daughter’s home.  Before you print your sheep, you can dye some fabric with walnut ink crystals, this will give your fabric an older look. After you dye it make sure you iron it well so it will go through the printer, you can buy the walnut ink crystals on etsy or ebay.

All you have to do is print an image of a sheep onto cotton fabric. The process is very easy. Cut a piece of fabric and a piece of freezer paper the same size as a standard piece of printer paper. Then iron the freezer paper onto the fabric. Now you can feed this through the printer and print whatever you choose onto your fabric. I choose an antique image of a sheep and the word sheep to cover the back slit. .  After I have done this I peel the freezer paper off the back of my sheep image.

 

 

I then sew around the image with a backing piece of the same fabric. I cut around the image. Then cut a slit in the back. This you will cover with your word “sheep” after you are done stuffing it. Make a box pleat in the bottom of the sheep.

 

 

. I can now stuff the piece with sawdust.  After I do this I sew the slit closed and stitch the word over it.  Now sew your box pleat down flat. I now have a fabric sheep that looks great with my antique holiday display. You can make these sheep any size up to 8” x 11”. Make 3, making one larger than the rest. This then looks like a sheep and 2 lambs.  The more you make and sit together the better it looks. I show one in the picture but 3or more always look good.

 

These look very good at the base of an old feather tree. You can add a hanging string loop to the top and use them as an ornament. Add a ribbon to the neck and a tiny bell, the ideas are endless. As I said you can use any image you want. By stuffing it with sawdust, gives it an antique feel and makes it weighted enough to stand on its own.  If you are going to hang them you can just stuff your sheep with fiberfill.

As always if you have any questions please give me a shout. Have a great day.

Faith

 

 

Handmade Spotlight - Fall Frolic Celebration

It's time to celebrate fall!

The OFG etsy team is having their Fall Frolic Celebration now thru Sept. 28, 2013.
 Many team members have created all new handmade items for fall.  To view all the items click on the Fall Frolic graphic below or visit etsy.com and search for FFCOFG.

NEEDLES-N-PINS STITCHERIES: INCORPORATE NATURE’S BEAUTY INSIDE AND OUT

Fall is my favorite time of year. I just love all the colors of fall and the beautiful leaves. Although our fall up here in the north country isn't very long and I do not have a lot of the items that are available for decorating, I still love decorating for it and watching all the colors come out. So for all of you who decorate for fall here are a few ideas for you.
 

Fall is the perfect time of year to use nature’s bounty in decorating. Mother Nature can provide some of the best in fall decorating. Pumpkins, gourds, mums, corn stalks and straw bales will create rustic, simple displays for your country/primitive home.

Adorn your fireplace mantel, cabinets or windows with a garland made out of dried fruits, colorful leaves and walnuts.

 

When setting your table create different displays. Group squash of different colors and put them down the center of your table. Fill wooden trenchers with colorful fruit. Use a fall candle mat to show off a pumpkins spiced candle.

 

Simple displays for outside your home can be accomplished also. Focus on your porch or entryway  to create eye-catching displays. Group pumpkins and gourds along with bales of straw and corn stalks and place on your porch.  Have an old wheelbarrow? Fill it with pumpkins, gourds and Indian corn. Wrap your porch or fence posts with corn stalks and fall themed ribbon. Finally fill bushel baskets or crocks with colorful mums in bright yellow and orange. Place on your porch, or next to your front door.

 

Mother Nature has the most beautiful colors to decorate during the fall season! Hope this gives you a few extra ideas for decorating.

Have fun decorating!!

 

 

Colleen :)

 

 

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

 

 

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog