Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Purrrfect Cashmere Cats

 My studio machines are humming away making sweet toys for island visitors at Hendley Market in Galveston, Texas. One popular item is the "Purrrfect Pet", aka- cats. This sweet up-cycling project is easy, affordable, and something the kiddos can help in creating.

Supplies: old wool or cashmere sweater (Get crazy beyond solid colors- go for stripes and bold patterns!), fiber stuffing,  tracing paper, scissors, beads, thread and embroidery floss.

Fold the tracing paper in half.  On the fold sketch out half a fat cat form.  Cut along outline.  Unfold cat form to have a full cat pattern. 

 

Cut two of the cat forms from the desired section of sweater. Sleeves can be used having only to cut out the ears at the top.

  
Machine stitch right sides together.  Leave the bottom open.

 Turn the cat right side out and stuff.  Using a gather stitch, pull the bottom closed and tuck the rough edges inside.  Stitch a decorative circle to the base if preferred.

Personalize each cat with an embroidered face.  Get creative by using beads for eyes, stitch a heart to the body, or add a bow for whimsy

Don't have any sweaters you want to chop?  Check out your local thrift store.  Not only do you get a great project for pennies but you also help a charity in the process. 

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/

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Sunday Blog Party - Christmas in July!

Welcome to our Sunday Blog Party. We would love to have you show us your handmade items for Christmas in July.

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

Handmade Spotlight - Anything Goes

The OFG Etsy Team is having another celebration. The theme is Anything Goes. Below is a sneak preview of what's being offered. To see everything simply type in ATG2OFG in the etsy search bar, or you can click here.

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries: Celebrating The 4th of July

The Fourth of July is sneaking up on us. It is this Friday! I thought you might like to see some great 4th of July items from Etsy that you can use to decorate your house and get some ideas for next years decorating Americana and patriotic. To all our "international" followers even though you do not celebrate the 4th of July you can still use the red, white and blues to decorate your homes too. :)

So here are a few Etsy shops that are celebrating Independance Day........


Marilee at SimplyMarilee has this great Stars and Strips burlap pillow. I have the perfect chair that this could sit on.

I love the colors in this tablerunner from MerryfieldArts. I can see this sitting on your table with an antique crock full of little flags sitting on top of it. :)

Next we need to fix up those kitchen windows in our patriotic decorating. How about using these curtains on that kitchen window. They are from BJSCountryCharm. 

Earlier I showed you a shop with the tablerunner. Now if you don't want to put a crock on the tablerunner how about a nice wooden bowl with these bowl fillers from SideLineQuilts. They would look real nice on that tablerunner. 

Now if you really want to put some color on your wall with a beautiful Americana quilt this vintage schoolhouse quilt from FondRecollections should work good for you. 

So if you want to really be patriotic and decorate to the top with all Americana or just add a little red, white and blue the shops on Etsy have everything to fit the bill for your decorating ideas. 

Have a great 4th of July!!

Colleen :)

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries

Needles-n-Pins Stitcheries Blog

Jacquie's Up-Cycle Nation: Primitive Summer

Artists working in the primitive tradition are natural up-cyclers.  Inspired by Early American needlework,  primitive designs employ naturally dyed threads, cast off notions and fabric often cut from old garments.

These Etsy primitive shops are fully stocked with summer-perfect projects and finished pieces.

Inspired by life on the farm, Not Forgotten Farm offers a variety of folk art needlework projects, fabrics, and wooden notions perfect for use and decoration.

Delight in magical dolls and scrap-tastic creations with a nod to natural themes at Baggaraggs.  With item descriptions that read like bedtime stories, shopping here is a treat for the imagination.

Welcome to the world where every day critters become big time personalities! The Goode Wife offers easy to follow patterns that perfectly blend primitive and whimsical! 

 

Travel through time with Vermont Harvest. Beautiful punch needle designs, nostalgic ornaments, and dreamy prim doll patterns reside here! Treat yourself to a complete kit and skip that trip to the craft store.

Don't forget the pin keep!  Penny wool takes on a summer vibe at Ragged Revival.   Check out this artist's store for penny wool jewelry, table runners and so much more!

 

For more whimsical prims search primitive 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