Today's Featured Shop -- The Robin and The Sparrow

Today's featured shop is The Robin and The Sparrow.   You will find some lovely, handmade items embellished with vintage materials here.


Shabby Chic Vintage Lace and Linen Pillow

Shabby Chic Burlap Porch Pillow

Linen Button Pillow

Burlap Wreath

Be sure and pay this shop a visit.    http://www.etsy.com/shop/Therobinandsparrow

Thursday Giveaway Link Party --- Add Your Giveaway

Our weekly giveaway link opportunity is a way for you to share your giveaways with our readers.

This is a continuing link party and giveaways are removed as they end.   Please don't forget to add the end date of your giveaway to the name of your giveaway.

The rules are easy:

You must be a follower of our blog.

Add our logo to your blog sidebar.  This is very easy to do.   Save our logo below to your computer,  select add gadget in your blog settings,  choose add picture and select our logo from  your computer and then link it to http://www.byyourhands.com



When you enter the title of your giveaway, please add the end date of your giveaway. 

Be sure the url is the direct link to your giveaway blog post. Make sure you are linking directly to your giveaway.

Family friendly giveaways only.

Tuesday Tutorial - How to Make an Envelope Pillow Cover

Today I'm sharing a video tutorial on how to make an envelope style pillow cover. I've tried to do these in the past (without instructions) and failed miserably. This tutorial explains it very well.

Thanks for dropping by!

Deena Davis

www.byyourhands.blogspot.com

Organizing ----- Storage Solution for Small Closets

Today we have a guest poster,   Lisa,  who writes on the subjects of home improvement and urban living.

Storage Solutions for Small Closets

There’s a reason so many new homes are built with large, walk-in closets. Small closets simply aren’t desirable or practical. If you live in an older home, apartment, or loft, however, you may have to deal with trying to store all of your clothes and related items in small closets. Luckily, there are ways to increase the amount of usable space in your closet and avoid closet clutter and overcrowding. Here are some things you should consider doing to make the most of your tiny closets:

Trim the Fat

Every six months or so, take everything out of your closets and make two piles: one pile of things you’re going to keep and one pile of things you’re going to give away. It’s a fact of life that you won’t be able to hold on to every single thing you ever purchase. So, get used to getting rid of what you don’t need regularly, and you’ll always avoid clutter in your closets and home, no matter how much space you have.

Reach for the Sky

There are usually a few extra feet of wall space at the top of every closet. Consider adding some shelves, hooks, or pegs up there to increase the amount of usable space you have in your closets. Likewise, you might want to add a few extra shelves near the bottom of your closet walls. Shelves may look a little awkward there, but they’ll be very useful. Plus, it’s not like you’re going to have to enter your closet in a beauty contest or anything.

Get Some Space Bags

There’s no need to hang up out of season clothes in your closet. Get some Space Bags or similar bags to store clothes, blankets, and other cloth items when you aren’t using them. This can save you a whole lot of space in your closets. Plus, you can even store Space Bags under your bed, which frees up even more space in your closets. 

If worse comes to worst, you may have to resort to storing some of your excess belongings in your garage or basement. If you do decide to store things in these areas of your home, make sure you keep everything organized, and always try to regularly assess what you want to keep and what you can let go.

Author’s Bio: Lisa is a guest blogger on the subjects of home improvement, urban living, and the proper use of storage units, particularly storage units in Colorado Springs and storage units in McAllen.

Blog Party Sunday ---- Show Off Your Handmades

Welcome to our Blog Party Sunday. We would love to have you show us what you  have for sale for the coming months or how about something you made for a loved  one.


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.
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">