Blog Party Sunday, Christmas in July Sales

Welcome to another Blog Party Sunday. There are a lot of Christmas in July sales going on right now.
What do you have on your website or in your Etsy or Artfire shop that is on sale?

I'm having a Christmas In July Sale at www.ewenmeprintables.etsy.com - You can buy any 5 items for $7 (excluding printable feedsack logos).

So now it is your turn.   What do you have in your shop or on your website that is on sale?


Our guidelines:

1. Just click on the Add Your Link button below, and add your Etsy, Artfire, Blog, or website url  for the link.


2. Add a picture of your item.


3. If you are a blogger, please add our button to your blog and invite your readers back to join the party.


4. Family friendly items only, please.

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

Trash to Treasure --- Door and Door Knobs

I would like to share some ideas for using old door and door knobs with you this week.    I love this idea.   The door is sideways and a shelf has been added.   The door knob is still attached and can be used to hang things on.

Here is a smaller door made into a blackboard shopping list.   Really cute!

Here is a combination of a small door with a door knob in the middle.    There is a glass piece behind the door knob.   You might find this as part of an old lamp as it needs to have a hole in the middle.   Hooks were added to the bottom of the door so you can hang keys,  etc.

I really love how they used the glass doorknob as a tie back here.   Beautiful!

I had never seen these before.   They are using old doorknobs to make bottle stoppers.

And finally,   this is one of my favorite uses for old doorknobs.  

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette Shaw
www.byyourhands.com

Today's Featured Artist - Folkart From The Heart

Today's featured artist is Kim Owens from Folkart From The Heart.

  

 Hi,  I’m Kim Owens.  I reside in sunny California where my very supportive husband has allowed me to create a home studio where I sculpt all of my Folk Art creations.

  

  I got started in my home based business about twenty years ago when I met a gal at church who shared my passion for art. 

  My friend and I took a tole painting class together and from there started our own business of doing home parties.  From there, we branched out to craft fairs.  Once the World Wide Web was born, and became an affordable option, it quickly became my venue of choice.  Of course there is still no substitute for holding a piece of art in your hands, so I do plan to get back into Art Fairs. 

  I started out painting on wood.  I would cut out my own patterns using a scroll saw and then paint each piece with acrylic paint. Soon after I discovered garden art.  So I would sculpt a piece out of clay, create a reusable mold and then cast the piece in concrete.  I still have the original pieces; they still make me smile when I look at them.  From there I discovered Polymer Clay, which I still love to use.  The colors and textures that can be created are endless.  Today however, I am working with my own handmade paper clay. It’s much lighter and more durable than Polymer Clay, and it allows me to be more artistic with my paints and chalks.  I still use Polymer Clay in conjunction with the Paper Clay, but Paper Clay is my medium of choice.

  I will always love making snowmen and Santas, they will always be near and dear to my heart.  But my creative juices are always flowing and new ideas pop into my head faster than I can create them, so the snowmen and Santas have to vie for attention.

  

  Now that my children are grown and starting families of their own, I get to work any time I want to.  I do make sure my house is clean and always ready for company and that I have at least a plan for dinner when my husband comes home, other than that, I’m free to create anytime my muse inspires me.   

  

I would love to someday own my own commercial art studio where my customers can come directly to me, anytime they want to and hold my art in their hands.  I love people and I love to share my art with those that love unique, quality, handcrafted sculptures.

  When I pick up a piece of art, and I see a unique design that is one of a kind created with care, time, love and quality  and I know that I am the only person on the planet that will own that piece of art, then I know it’s handcrafted.  That’s how I want my customers to feel when they hold a piece of my art in their hands.

http://www.folkartfromtheheart.com 

http://www.folkartfromtheheart.etsy.com

http://www.pfattmarketplace.com/folkartfromtheheart.html

Handmade Spotlight - Pot Holders

Yesterday I made pizza, when I pulled it out of the oven... OUCH! I found out that my pot holders were not working like they should. I browsed thru etsy.com tonite and look what I found...

With all these options (and more) how can a girl choose?

The items you see here were made into a Treasury on etsy.com. A treasury is Etsy's ever-changing, member-curated shopping gallery. You can find the items shown above by CLICKING HERE. 

Thanks again for joining us.

Deena Davis

www.byyourhands.com

Tuesday Tutorial - Cupcake Wrist Pincushion

I have been wanting to make a wrist pincushion for some time now and yesterday was finally the day. I am sharing it here with you today.   Hope you enjoy making it as much as I did.    Bette

Supplies Needed:

Jar Lid
Two Colors of Wool Felt
Matching Embroidery Thread
Lace
Ribbon Rose
Polyfil Stuffing
Velcro

I used the lid off a jar of peanuts as it was the perfect size, 2 1/2 inches in diameter, so that I wouldn't be missing the pincushion and poking my arm with pins.

Lay the jar lid on top of your felt and draw around the circle. Cut on the outside of your pencil line.

Measure around the side of your lid. Cut a piece of felt this measurement plus 1/16 of an inch extra for a slight overlap. The width of this piece will be 1 1/4 inches.
Wrap this side piece around the lid and starting at the top edge whip stitch the sides together.

Add the circle for the bottom, and whip stitch the circle to the side.

Cut a 5 1/2 inch circle from your other piece of felt.     Gather all the way around.    Stuff with a large handful of polyfil stuffing and pull the gathers up,  leaving a quarter size opening.

The lid goes inside the bottom of the pincushion.   Add some stuffing to the lid.
Push the top of the pincushion into the bottom and whip stitch the top and bottom together.

I handstitched a piece of lace around the cupcake where the two colors meet.   Then I sewed a ribbon rose to the top.

Now cut a piece of your main color felt 2 1/2 inches wide by the measurement of your wrist plus 2 inches for overlapping.   Fold the sides in and overlap slightly.   Stitch down the seam.

Then cut a 1 3/4 inch piece of velcro.    Stitch one half of the velcro on one end of the wristband and then turn it over and stitch the other half of the velcro to the other end .

Now,  center the strap in the middle of the bottom of the cupcake and whip stitch it to the bottom on both sides of the band. 

And that's it,  you are all done.    Enjoy!

Thanks for visiting today.
Bette Shaw
www. byyourhands.com