The new look for our shop

Well, I've just spent several days updated and "tidying up" our shop on HandmadeArtists.  Due to Etsy allowing re-sellers and wholesalers now, and moving away from handmade items, we have decided to let our shop there slowly fade away, and have increased our presence on the Handmade Artists site.  It's a great up-and-coming site, full of ONLY handmade items, and with amazing customer support.  The forums are fun, and the shop site is improving and expanding daily.  I personally love the fact that Andrew and Kimberly have a set goal...20,000 sellers, then they will close off open registration.  They want to be the "Tiffany of Handmade" and I want to be a part of that future.  So, if you want to be a part of a great handmade venue, hurry on over today.  Now see what I did with our store...first I revamped our sections, improved some pictures (or tried to), and checked the shipping costs to get you the best prices available.  So let's browse by section.

 Our first section is our jewelry.  Here you will find our unique designs in mostly beaded jewelry.  I have a different approach to designing my pieces.  I find a focal point, then just sit at my table and look at my beads.  They are in drawers, hanging on walls, in my carry tote.  I grab some complimentary colors and shapes, then just start laying them out and stringing them together.  The beads pretty much make themselves into jewelry.  Like this pearl seed bead memory wire bracelet.  I just reached into my bead pile without planing the color pattern, and I love how it turned out.  In this section you'll find necklaces, bracelets, earrings, and crochet cuffs.


Let's visit our next section...

fashion.  Here you'll find our scarves, cowls, belts, hats, and handbags.  I first started crocheting way back when I was only 10, and have been "hooking" ever since, lol.  I love yarn like I love beads...soft and bright.  For most of her childhood I have tried to teach Amanda to crochet, without much luck.  Until a few years ago.  It finally kicked in, and she's become an accomplished "hooker" herself.  She created this long and skinny purple scarf, it's her own design.  I also knit, but being left handed, it is one skill I cannot learn from someone else.  I had to struggle and figure it out for myself, and yes, I hold my needles funny and knit backwards, but the outcome is still the same.  Speaking of backwards, I recently taught my youngest daughter to crochet, and it's hard to describe her technique.  It's sideways.  She had to just watch me, then went off by herself to figure it out.

The last section I want to share with you today is our  section for quilts, blankets, and pillows.  Right now there are only 2 blankets listed, but I am in the middle of one more crochet in an southwestern pattern, and 2 soft applique blankets, and several pillows.  Yes, I suffer from artists ADD...when I get up each morning, I never know what medium will catch my fancy....knitting, quilting, crochet, beads, painting, sketching, paper crafts...it's a wonder I get anything finished.  I completed this blue chevron stripe woven blanket not too long ago.  I really enjoyed working on this blanket.  Since it's weaving, I didn't need to count my stitches and I could watch television while creating.


Next week, I'll show you around some of our other sections.  And some new items I am listing this week.  So bookmark the page, and come visit me soon.
Be blessed,
Debbi

a blanket for all reasons

I always appreciate people who work to support themselves, especially in the handmade world.  And that's who I want you to meet today.  Tara.  Tara makes blankets.  Tara makes great blankets.  Look.



Tara sells her handmade blankets thru her business facebook page,

Tuck Me In Blankets.

She makes blankets for all age groups, and in all different sizes.  She does it this way because customer satisfaction is so important to her.  Just let her know what you need, and she will do her best to provide.

She makes blankets for babies, teens, sports addicts, and even pets.

This beautiful girl is Morgan.  She belongs to Tara.  She was recently voted Washington D.C.'s best dog in a radio contest.  And she is such a wonderfully gentle girl.  No, she does not come with the blanket, and no, you can not have her blanket.  Tara will make one special for your favorite pet.

And this final blanket I want to share is one she drew free hand, so while it may look like a My Little Pony, it's not.  Tara also created a blanket using her sorority symbol, and she can make one for you too.  So go check out all the photos on her facebook page, Tuck Me In Blankets,  then contact her at Tarascrafts@AOL.com.

Oh, and before I go, here is a picture of Tara.  And that handsome man with her just happens to be my son Josh.  Yep, Tara's his girl, and that makes me glad.

Be blessed.

Debbi