Star Spangled Handmade!

Fourth of July is upon us! With it comes barbecues, family time, a long weekend, deals on groceries, and (most importantly) a time dedicated to appreciating the freedoms we have in America. Much of what comes with all this is sporting the red, white and blue.

If you want to support American handmade and have your patriotic items easy to locate, this is the post for you!

Weil'd Hair and Accessories uses bubblegum beads to create many beautiful necklaces. For Fourth of July, you can customize your own red, white and blue necklace! The photo above is an example of a beauty that was already snagged up. Don't procrastinate!

As per usual, Shabby Chic Soap Company has adorably perfect soaps for the occasion! This red, white and blue fireworks popsickle soap is patriotic and will help you feel refreshed after a busy long weekend.

From Down with Plumes, I have this cute elastic headband. The crochet flower is courtesey of BeeBee and Jack, and the blue ostrich feather adds extra texture!

Ky*Elle Kreations makes amazing wreaths (as we have discussed), and this one is perfectly partriotic! The burlap is durable and holds up well in the sun.

Can't forget the pups! From Lucky Dog Access, this flower is easily attachable to (and removable from) most dog collars. Dogs like freedom, too!

For the little men, Sweet Pea Designs by Dee makes sure they're stylish and in season. This adorable bow tie and suspenders set will fit sizes 2-7, making it great for years to come!

To complete mama's outfit, we have this amazingly stunning tassle necklace from Pelhauz! It's so simple, but will totally make your red and white outfit!

Whatever you're doing with this holiday, I hope you enjoy and reflect on the wonderful things about America. Happy Fourth, folks!

Eating Cheap- Crock Pot Chile Verde

Given, this is a little off topic. It’s a bit different from our normal crafty stuff, but it’s worth it.

I want to preface this recipe (quickly) by saying that I despise cooking. I hate it. There are few necessary things in life that I loathe more than dealing with preheating a stove or thawing hamburger. I. Hate. Cooking.

With that said, I love my Crock Pot. If you don’t have one, you should get one, because you can make everything from breakfast to dessert with them. I love to throw my ingredients in before I go to bed at night and turn it off in the morning. Instant dinner. Is there a better way to wake up than to dinner already done for that night? No. No there is not.

So this Chile Verde. It’s pretty yummy. Like, really yummy. And crazy easy, which is even better. I’ll sacrifice taste for simplicity most days of the week, but with this dish, there is no trade off.

Here are your ingredients:

1 lb. Chile Verde Pork (or a small pork roast. Whatevs.)

1 Jar Chile Verde Sauce

2-4 Limes (depending on your personal tastes)

¼-½ Mango (also, depending on your tastes)

If you want to, you can totally exclude the last two ingredients and just roll with a jar of sauce and a slab of pork. I won’t judge. I’ve been there.

Put the pork in the bottom of the crock pot. Pour the entire jar of sauce on top.

Cut your limes into ¼’s and your mangoes into small chunks, leaving the rind/skin intact.

Lay the fruits on top of the pork and sauce, rind/skin side up.

Let it cook (covered) for 8 hours on low (6 hours on high), then take the lid off and let it sit.

We’re simple around here. We like to put the pork in a tortilla with cheese, beans, sour cream, onions, and cilantro (provided we have some). It’s delicious, simple, and likely a change from your daily menu!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

In the handmade world, men tend to be overlooked. Sorry, guys. We really don't mean to. It's not like we have a secret club of crafty women, sitting around, cackling, and planning how to exclude the menfolk. We don't have the time to collectively plot against you. It's just that there's not that much stuff to hand-make for guys, especially grown men. Extra especially- manly men.

So, you throw us a challenge. Generally, you don't even shop that much. My husband would be happy to never have to shop for anything again. He recently learned our Safeway delivers groceries. I didn't tell him for a reason. I'm never going to get to go anywhere again. C'est la vie, folks.

However, even in the face of adversity, you can always find someone, somewhere, who will prevail. I have located some of these people, and I have also rounded up some great ideas for Father's Day gifts (free and/or handmade ideas).

Let's start with handmade items.

Our first item is a super funky and fun picture frame from Handmade Moms LLC! It is creatively adorned with computer keys, perfect for the tech fan!

Adore by Nat brings us this amazing Father's Day/ Dad's Birthday card! It's perfect for the handyman dad that can fix anything in his domain! The amount of texture is really unique and gives a personal feel.

Next up, we have Shabby Chic Soap Company and her collage of awesomeness for dad. She has so many great gifts for men! From Dr. Who soap to The Death Star, from "tumble in the mud" to "beer connoisseur", she's got you covered.

Lisie's Pieces has this super unique and manly shell casing tie clips! They're great for the dad who loves to hunt or shoot in his free time, but has to look professional at work.

Nerdtastic is always there to help out the nerdy men! This time, she suggests her new pewter tag necklaces! Her hubby rocks them all the time, so the nerdy dad in your life should, too!

Last, but certainly not least, on our handmade items, we have KyElle Kreations with two manly wreaths! One is hunting inspired and the other fishing, so for dads who like to do it all, order both!

Now for our (mostly) free DIY section!

All this idea takes is a sheet of cardstock/scrapbook paper- DAD glasses

I printed these out for my favorite dad for his birthday last year. He thought they were hilarious and wore them around most of the night. Print here!

This next one goes fantastically along side Shabby Chic's muddy soap! Dad's who love four wheeling and riding in the mud will appreciate this card for sure! Get the printable here!

Also matchy-matchy with Shabby Chic, these bottle labels are fun and add a very visible theme to the day! Printable found here.

This is another I did for hubbs on his birthday from Little Odin, and he loved it! They come out so super cute and can be painted with Mod Podge (or a sealant) to make them keep forever!

Happy Father's Day, dads!!

Securely Attach Hair Things to Clips

You Super easy, super quick tutorial. There are lots of ways of doing this, but I have found this to be the most reliable way. 

You will need-

-adhesive (hot glue or E-6000)

-hair clip/comb/pin/headband

-hair thing

-felt circle/square/rectangle (base this off the shape and size of the piece you're using). 

This is seriously so easy. Ready? Let's do it.

First, take your hair thing (whatever you're using as the pretty part of your clip) and put the bottom face up.

Now, put your felt piece in between the two sides of your clip, like so.

Next, put glue on it. Not enough that it'll seep everywhere, but enough to seal well. Make sure you are applying glue so the clip will still be able to open.

Stick down your hair thing and hold in place. If you're using hot glue, you should be safe by the time you're done reading this sentence. If you're using E-6000, please continue to hold in place.

Make sure your edges are all glued down and give your hair thing a wiggle to make sure it's secure. I have been using this method to make my hair pieces for three years and have no trouble with it. The felt helps the clip stay in place, too! It's not as smooth as the metal clip, so it doesn't slide as easily.

E-6000 users, you can probably let go now ;)

Sweet Pea Designs by Dee- Behind the Scenes

We're experimenting today with a whole new set of questions for the Featured Crafter! I'm calling this one "Behind the Scenes" because this post will provide insight on what Denise of Sweet Pea Designs by Dee finds to be most popular and what it's like for her to run her shop.

Before we get into all that, I'd like to introduce you to Denise! She is the owner and designer of Sweet Pea Designs by Dee, where she makes children's clothing and accessories, including aprons, dresses, bow ties, suspenders, and much more!! In her shop, you'll find many items to make your little girl or boy the cutest they can be!

When Denise was young, she won awards with her art, and has always been an avid crafter. She always thought she would be an artist, but after getting married and having two wonderful children, she stuck a pin in that dream. In 2013, Denise retired and needed something to occupy her time, so she returned to her longtime friend, crafting.

Today, Denise provides adorable items with amazing quality and years of experience to back them. She carefully selects fabrics and designs to bring the best to her shop! Let's hear what she has to say about it all :)

 Do you find your customers to be more inclined towards classic colors and styles?

-My customers seem to like bright colors. My best selling style is the peasant dress.

I can see why this is a best seller. It's adorable.

 Do your most popular colors change with styles, seasons, or otherwise? Or do you find them to stay consistent throughout the year?

-Both. I try to change with the seasons, three quarter length, or long sleeves for Fall and Winter. But I keep sleeveless dresses in my shop as well for those warm weather states.

 When customers return feedback to you, what is the most common compliment you receive?

-I seem to get a lot of compliments on my choice of fabrics and colors.

Aren't these beautiful together!

 As someone who makes and sells childrens' clothing- if you could tell all of your customers one thing about your life or your shop that they might not know, what would it be?

-I love my customers! I so enjoy making clothes for all those little Sweet Peas out there and I love seeing pictures. I put my heart and soul into every item I make.

 How to you choose fabrics for your non-custom dresses? Do some colors and patterns speak to you more than others?

-The fabric definitely speaks to me! Some fabric just seem to jump out at me and I know exactly what to coordinate with it. Sometimes though I hold fabrics for weeks before I find just the perfect fabric to coordinate with it.

And now you know!! Next time you're ordering a custom dress from Denise, you'll have a bit better knowledge of her and how much love she puts into every item she makes.

Happy Shopping!

Mother's Day Goodness

I don't mean to start this with the most obvious statement in the history of humanity, but- moms are awesome. 

Bringing another life into this world offers the opportunity to go from "good human" to "great human." Not all are up to the challenge, but those that are change our world every single day. I know this is, like, a list of stuff, but I'm going to tell you a little about the moms in my life first. 

So, I grew up mostly with my dad. Not by my mother's choice, but that's a long story for a different day. Growing up with a dad (or just a dad) has it's benefits, it's fun moments, and it's own outcome, but moms are different. Until I was 16, I only had strong mother figures in my life every other weekend, on holidays, and during summer vacations. But, when I moved to my mom's house, it all changed, and I got a crash course in what it's like to be mothered. 

All of a sudden, I had my mom, Gramma, and my aunt, all within a mile of my house. The change wasn't as radical as you might assume, but it was quite different. It gave me an opportunity I'll never regret having- I got to see what moms were like around their kids (by "kids", I mean extended children as well). I got to see what the women with my blood line were doing, what worked, and what didn't (I've always been one to watch and build mental patterns, so I pick up on stuff like this unwillingly). 

It gave me a chance to see that my Gramma was just as tough as she was kind. That my aunt is just as patient as she is strict. That my mom could suck up her losses, work her ass off, and do for her kids. I got to see them work together to pull off some of the most fabulous Christmas Days and birthday cakes that anyone has ever experienced. 

Here's the thing about all this, though... If I asked any of them today about the moments I remember that make a difference in my life, they likely wouldn't remember them. Do you know why that is? I don't, but I have a guess. It's because, in those moments, they were just being moms. They were doing what they did day in, and day out. They don't see the amazing acts in each day, because that's just what they do. They didn't realize the impact an intricate celestial cake or a simple day out would have, because they were just doing what made them happy- being a rockin' mom.

So, to summarize, moms are awesome, and they generally don't realize how awesome (that's why those Dove campaigns work). Don't let this Mother's Day go unnoticed because the mothers you love so completely never let you go unnoticed. 

Okay, I'm to the point now, I swear.

As you've seen time and again, I have this little group of super duper talented women, and we make stuff with our hands (like the gangstressi gangstresses gangstresseese we are (still no clear pluralization for that)). So we have some fantastic ideas for you on how to show the moms in your life how much you care :) Here we go:

Merchant3114 brings us something practical. Gifted with bright, beautiful flowers, matching towels and kitchen curtains- this is a great gift for the mom who spends lots of time in the kitchen! Washing dishes is legit a drag, but it is way more tolerable with hot pink wash cloths! You could also make a gift basket filled with lovely bath and spa items, including these cloths for the bathroom!

For the mom who loves wrist candy, Crafting Memories presents this adorable "Mom" bracelet! It's simple and pretty, and fits most wrist sizes! This is a great way for mom to remember every day of the year how fantastic you made Mother's Day 2015.

In case you weren't aware, KyElle Kreations makes absolutely stunning wreaths. She has tons available in her shop, many with customization, that would give your mother something lovely to hang in her home or on her front door. There are tons of colors available, but I chose this one because it's bright, spring-esque, and totally fun!

As a mom, I'm bringing you some real talk right now- Shabby Chic Soap Co.'s soaps are seriously luscious. My son and I both use them regularly, and her shop has soooooooo many options, you can literally find a gift for any type of mom. For this list, though, we're focusing on these absolutely mesmerizing personalized photo soaps. Don't ask me how she does this, because I seriously have no clue, but they are the most personalized

soaps around!

For moms who are coffee lovers (and let's be honest, that's the heart and soul of the coffee-buying market), The Purple Monkey has these cute coffee cozies! They're great for winter, but as I've discovered, they're fantastic with iced coffee too! They help keep the cup from sweating all over the place AND help keep the drink cooler. Win-win!

If you want the best chance of bringing a tear to mom's eye this Mother's Day, this is my vote- Lisie's Pieces makes the most stunning family tree art pieces. They're personalized with the family name in the roots of the tree, which is a beautiful and thoughtful idea. You can add little birdies and have your leaves in spring or autumn tones!

From my shop, I'm showing you this stunning ribbon and pearl bead necklace. It comes in other colors as well, but the teal against the white on this one makes me happy. It's easy to wear, super light, and brings a pop of color to any outfit! 

BeeBee and Jack, one of my favorite shops out there, makes the most amazing dragon scale cowls. I have one (of course) and woah. Your mom needs one too. Unless she lives close to the equator and it's never cold there. 

She has them ready-to-ship in two colors, and I was so torn on choosing what color to show you that I gave up and am showing you both. 

Weil'd Hair and Accessories, my most favorite chunky necklace shop, makes the cutest "Mommy & Me" sets! This one is just an example of what's available, but if the mom in your life loves to twin with her baby girl, these are for you! She can customize any colors and styles you'd like, so check her out!

Last, but most certainly not least, we have Handmade Moms LLC's adorable button picture frame! Filled with photos of people your mom loves, this gift is personal, functional and creative! Extra points on this one if your mom is crafty, gold stars all around if she sews ;)

Well, ladies and gents, I think you have a good idea of what's out there for Mother's Day. Don't wait, because it's right around the corner!!

Arbor Day Gorgeousness

Arbor Daaaayyyyy!!! I live in an area with lots and lots and lots of trees. I chose this place mainly because of that fact. I have a tree tattooed on my arm. It's safe to say I love trees, so it's also safe to say I love Arbor Day. 

I'm going to bring you into my brain with me, and then we'll start this list. First, the obvious- trees are awesome because they keep us alive. They provide shade, fruit, and turn gorgeous colors in the fall. These are all things that are wonderful, but become mundane in our day to day lives. 

Less obviously, they're awesome because they're symbols of resilience, strength, age, and beauty. The oldest organisms in our world today are trees. They've been alive longer than anything else existing. They were undoubtedly paramount in the beginning of life. They sway through storms that rip apart houses and knock down power lines. They find sustenance in areas where few other life forms can. Trees are just awesome, you guys. For realsies.  

So, we pulled together some items that represent our mutual appreciation for trees. Ready? Cause I am. 

This is our "Hands on Favorite" topiary tree centerpiece. This one is $49.95, but price is negotiable pending on style and quantity ordered (bulk discounts available) 

Our centerpieces are perfect for any party or as a wedding centerpiece. We can make them in any shape, style or color to match your event. If you are using it for a business event you can attach your business cards (or we can leave that feature off totally). Think direct sales parties...like Mark Kay or large business company events. We make wedding centerpieces too as we love custom orders!!!

This item is Handmade with a 14.5 inch in height artificial boxwood tree in a 4 inch clay pot, pink, white, and black paper flowers, a black and white polka dot bow, and an optional business card holder pick.

Adore by Nat offers many paper crafts that represent the beauty of our tall, leafy friends! You can find them at the following links: 

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/adorebynat/6468636

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/adorebynat/4693655

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/adorebynat/4695757

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/adorebynat/3099404

http://www.artfire.com/ext/shop/product_view/adorebynat/7792311

Camille's Charms offers amazing jewelry in many different colors and styles. Today, she's showing off her breathtaking leaf earrings!

Groot Inspired soap bar. A soap Groot has been "aged" with Activated Charcoal and is resting on a sparkling galaxy of soap, more charcoal and cosmetic glitter. This soap is LIMITED EDITION and only a few more will be created so order yours before they are all gone!

Ent-Draught Lip Balm (Vanilla Coffee) inspired by the noble race of tree-folk from Lord of the Rings.

I don't know about you, but I love everything about autumn, especially the colors! This tiny top hat from Down with Plumes is a beautiful gold and red fabric with matching ribbons, fall colored leaves, a brass toned tree and a tiny brass toned fairy.

Please indicate at checkout if you would like hair pins (my first recommendation), elastic headband, plastic headband, hair comb or ribbon.

Get these items to celebrate your Arbor Day!!