Handmade Sampler Giveaway from Ewe-N-Me Printables DONE

Welcome to  another Handmade Sampler giveaway. These items will help get you ready for the summer holidays.


This time around we have items made with some of the printables Deena has on www.EweNmePrintables.com


First we have a patriotic feedsack pillow. This was made by Bette of www.HandmadeByBette.etsy.com using printables from www.EweNmePrintables.com

Also we have a set of 5 Americana bottle cap magnets and a set of 4 patriotic hang tags, These were made by Deena of www.EweNmePrintables.com

You can earn up to four 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. & 4. Earn TWO extra entries 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, May 8, and the winner will be announced on Friday, May 21. We will announce it here and contact you by the email address you have left. Final day to enter is Thursday, May 20, 2010.


Have fun and good luck!

We Have a Winner for the Clothespin Dress

Congratulations Cheri  (Country Cottage)  from Ohio on winning the clothespin dress giveaway.

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.   

Today's Featured Artist - Motherload Toad Factory

Today's featured artist is Robyn Martin of Motherload Toad Factory

How long have you been in business?

Most of my life, which has been long and full. I have three grown children and eight beautiful grandchildren. Next year, I will have been married (YES! To the same patient man!) 50 Years!! I come from a long line of very eccentric, creative women, who are born blessed with the ability to create almost anything. Having no formal training I am not restricted to as to how to make things I just follow my own "inner-artist."


I have owned two Gift Stores, taught an children's extended learning class "Letting your Inner-Artist Out," and professionally painted several murals.


This is part of a 25'X8' wall:



This is me working on a mural in a local Country Club Restaurant, and faux painting their walls. I rarely paint murals now...ladders and I do not get along!

I have been known to paint on almost anything.......Yes, it's a potty!

How did you get started?

I really got inspired in first grade when my teacher entered a finger painting of mine in the County Fair and it not only won first prize but was sold.

What is involved in making your craft?

 Not much thought just a "glimmer" of an idea. Generally, I have several things in the process of being created. Because most of my creations require extensive drying time...I just move on to the next item...Unfortunately, I sometimes forget to get back to some of these things and they have to wait a while for completion. I draft the pattern, sew, sculpt and paint my soft-sculpture items. Some have an inner armature to allow them to stand.  I now am fascinated with soft sculpture mainly crows and other birds, who knows what next week will bring? Several dolls have been waiting to get completed. 

This is the latest: Malachite and Magenta Magpie

AND the Crow Family Pineapple Luau

What is your favorite thing to make?

My real love is paper mache. I have always loved this medium. I make my own paper mach pulp from scratch using my "secret formula." The largest project was a float for a local parade. I paper mached my husbands entire pick-up truck into a blue-eyed, giant green  dinosaur...and then rode on top holding reins made of ribbon. The next year the truck became a covered wagon pulled by a giant Monarch Butterfly...the following year my husband sold his truck!! Now, I mainly create smaller, decorative items like pumpkins and pineapples but I am tempted whenever I see a pick-up truck!

Do you have set hours to work?

No! I am inclined to be a night-owl.....I do work? (what's that?) in my studio several hours every day.

What are your future plans for your business?

I rarely plan anything....wonderful things just happen!

What does handcrafting mean to you?

I am an Artist, always have been and always will be---handcrafting IS me!

Where do you sell your crafts at?

www.motherlodetoad.etsy.com
www.toadsonghollow.etsy.com
www.patternmart.com
And also a boutique I help organize and run every year locally.
The Gold Dust Boutique at the Mace Meadow Golf and Country Club in Pioneer,CA-- Nov. 5th-6th


Some of Robyn's adorable animal patterns.

Handmade Spotlight

Each Wednesday, we'll be spotlighting some items that are made"by your hands".

Today, we're featuring Handmade Candles. I wish I could take a sniff from every one of these.

www.1871candleco.com	www.candlesbyvictoria.com
www.etsy.com/shop/crowsnestprimitive	www.etsy.com/shop/Darlenedecorates
www.mamawscreations.com	www.pebblecreekcandles.com
www.etsy.com/shop/redneckcandles	www.etsy.com/shop/simonesctrycandles
www.jazzygirl.biz	www.seaglasscandles.com

Let's Make a T-Shirt Pillow!

A few days ago, I spent the afternoon making a t-shirt pillow with my 4 year old son. He was actually quite impressed with the outcome and since I don't sew as much as I used to, he had lots of questions about the sewing machine and what pins were used for. LOL

These pillows can be made from any size t-shirt that's in good condition. We made two of these gems, and both were made from "too small" t-shirts that my boys loved. (What boy doesn't like camo?)

Here's how it's done...

Examine the shirt and make sure it is free of holes and/or stains.

Turn the shirt inside out and smooth out all wrinkles on a flat surface. Be sure to remove any tags that might get in the way.

Line up the sleeves and bottom hem and pin. You will be sewing these openings closed.

Sew across both sleeve openings and across the bottom. I used the stretch-stitch setting on my sewing machine since the fabric has some stretch to it.

Now that the sleeves and bottom are sewn, we need to make a "box seam". Take hold of one corner at the bottom. Line up the bottom seam you just made with the side seam. You will be forming a triangle with the fabric.

To make sure the seams are lined up, I always stick a pin thru the middle of each seam.

Smooth out the corner, remove the pin that you just put in the middle of the seams, pin and sew across the corner about an inch and a half away from the end point.

Trim off the excess leaving a 3/8 inch seam... or something close. Just don't trim it too close.

Do this on both sides of the bottom seam.

Now, turn the shirt right side out through the neck opening, making sure to push all the corners of the sleeves and bottom out.

Stuff the shirt with your favorite stuffing. I used polyester fiber stuffing. Be sure to fill it full to make a nice even pillow.

Now we'll pin the neck opening closed. This can be a little tricky if it's stuffed really full, but it's not hard to do. Take your time.

After pinning, I  sewed the opening closed by hand with a blind hem stitch, but you could also whip stitch it closed.

The outcome should look something like this...

These pillows are fun to make from all sorts of t-shirts and they're really comfy too. You could use school themed t-shirts, shirts from a vacation, or perhaps something your children have outgrown.

Have fun with it!
Deena Davis
www.ByYourHands.com