Shop Handmade

By now, I think most people have at least heard of Etsy.  The handmade marketplace is certainly growing and it’s amazing to see all the creative talent there is out there.  I read some interesting facts about Etsy and it's growth here on the Flourishing Abode.

Picking out the perfect gift for someone is something I really enjoy and today I wanted to take the time to remind you all to consider buying handmade for all your gift giving this holiday season. It’s almost impossible not to find that perfect gift for someone on Etsy.   
I got to thinking.  Pinterest and Etsy would go great hand-in-hand for holiday shopping.  Just about everyone you know is on Pinterest, right?  Why not ask your friends and family to create a pin board wish list and Etsy is the perfect place to start.  Etsy is full of beautiful photos and if pinned correctly, it’s linked right to the place to buy it and the price is listed right there on the pin.
Are you new to Etsy or are you interested in exploring new shops? Here is a list of some of my favorite shops on Etsy.

The Merriweather Council
I was just introduced to this shop recently through April Starr of Flourishing Abode. How could I have missed such a wonderful place? She has all sorts of brightly colored and fun embroidered necklaces! These aren't your grandmother's embroideries! She makes necklaces, personalized wall art and Christmas ornaments.  I can’t wait to own one for myself!

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Flourish Cafe
April Starr has to be one of my all time top fav people of this decade! She runs a fabulous blog called the Flourishing Abode, she's the owner of this great Etsy store and she contributes her awesome knowledge all over the internet these days. She has a blog definitely worth reading.

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Fabric Paper Glue
Here is another of my fav people, the cutest little pixie fashionista I've ever seen. Mandy of Fabric Paper Glue has such a great signature style that you can find in her shop or on her blog where you are sure to fall in love with her too. Any item in her shop would be a nice gift for the fashion forward gal in your life.

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Clockwork Universe
Follow me on Pinterest and it won’t take long to figure out that I’m so in love right now with vintage clocks. I’ve got a few favorites on my list from this shop, they’re all so handsome.  I don’t think I could ever pick just one.  Most of these are from the Soviet Union period.  I love this little bit from the seller’s profile, “The Clockwork Universe is a theory, established by Isaac Newton, as to the origins of the universe. A "clockwork universe" can be thought of as being a clock wound up by God and ticking along, as a perfect machine, with its gears governed by the laws of physics.”

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Happy Deliveries
Oh how I love Letterpress!  I especially love this shop’s story of it’s name.  These prints make great gifts for the hard to shop for person.  I bought a print from Happy Deliveries a while back for my pastor’s wife when she was pregnant.  It said, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you.”  Beautiful addition to a nursery, the print came quickly and packaged with great care.  I can’t wait to finally have one for myself.

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Bean Forest
Bean Forest has a crazy large selection of fun and quirky pins perfect for stocking stuffers or small gifts.  You may have a lot of fun reading through each of his hilarious pins and find yourself ordering a few for yourself.  I have many of his buttons and I’m always seeing more I want.  If you head over to his shop, reserve about an hour to read through and laugh at some pretty funny stuff.

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Catherine Marissa
What woman doesn’t like jewelry?  I love these dainty pieces in her shop and I would love to add them to my jewelry collection.  The selection in her shop makes it easy to pick out the perfect gift because any of these sweet pieces would work for dressing up or down.  You can’t go wrong in this shop!

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One Garnet Girl
If I ever get married again, I would love to have one of these rings as my engagement ring and wedding band.  After awhile, all engagement rings look the same but you can’t beat a one of a kind handmade wedding set.  How special would that be?  I have my eye on a set in particular and maybe one day I’ll be wearing it.  Bonus: All her items are always shipped to you for free!

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Monster Gallery
Now here’s a little something for the guys.  I’m sure one of these movie posters is your guy’s favorite film.  Mine personally is Pee-Wee, I bought that print for my boys room.  I also love all the Wes Anderson prints.  Definitely a unique addition to the man cave.

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Free Forged
A couple years ago, I bought the little black coal earrings pictured above and they quickly became my favorite pair.  They went with everything, but one day I lost one.  I emailed the seller to tell her how heartbroken I was to lose it and if she would considered making me another.  She was more than happy to and even offered to give it to me for free with the purchase of another item in her shop.  Now that is excellent customer service!  I still wear these earrings quite often.  They are so beautiful!

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I hope you’ve found a new favorite shop or two and maybe I was able to give you some ideas for gifts, too.  Who are some of your favorite shops?  Found anything interesting on Etsy lately?  Or perhaps you’ve got your own Etsy shop you’d like to share?
Feel free to share the Shop Handmade graphic on your site or blog and pin away!  Please remember to credit me for the work. ;)
 

I’ve been missing you!

 

Oh my gosh! You have no idea how much I miss you guys!  I just started a new job and as much as I love it, it is sucking all of my crafting and blogging time away!  All week long I’ve been thinking of how I could sneak in a bit of creativeness and do a little post for you all but between work, school and four kids, I’ve not been able. 

I knew this was coming but I didn’t want to jump the gun and tell you that I wouldn’t be here if there was any possibility that I would still be able to swing it.  But after a week of no posts, no tutorials, not even one picture of something handmade or DIY, I couldn’t just leave you guys hanging. 

But! There is a glimmer of hope, still!  I have photos upon photos and folders after folders of tutorials and projects that I do for my blog.  In some of those folders are pictures of projects that I never posted for one reason or another.  So I may be able to post a couple tutorials or project ideas that are just sitting in those folders waiting to inspire.  And once I get acclimated to working full time and figure out how to balance my life, I hope to be back with you again.

 

So what have you been doing this week?  I haven’t really even been able to be inspired.  I haven’t been on Craftgawker or Pinterest much except for the occasional peek on my phone during break at work and I haven’t been able to read my favorite bloggers either.  Have you come across anything of interest or projects that you really want to try? 

During this lull, I am inviting and encouraging you to post any crafts or tutorials you’d like from your blog.  Go ahead!  Link away!  I’d love to see what everyone has been up to.  And please, keep me in your readers and subscriptions and keep loving this blog because I promise, this is not “good-bye”, I will be back.

Monday Morning

Welp, my coffee maker died this morning.

Yes, so sad.  I have one of those coffee makers that doesn’t have a carafe but instead has a reservoir built in.  You put your cup up to the lever and like magic, coffee comes out.  This morning, like devil’s magic, it continued to pour out and leaked all over the counter onto the floor.  My brain did not know how to compute the fact that I may not be having my morning cup of joe.  I never start a day without my beloved dark brew.  But I must say, that coffee maker has put in many years of reliable, delicious coffee so I can’t be mad.  On the bright side, I found my french press that I bought like 10 years ago.  Hot water + coffee grinds = happy me!   Problem solved.

This morning at 8 a.m. was my first on-campus class of the semester.  Exercise and Weight Control.  Hey, it was a 1 credit hour class that I needed and who doesn’t like a P.E. class?  So it was time to pull out the old sneakers.  Yes, I know, I don’t wear socks.  Gross.  And yes, my feet do stink.  Don’t judge me, I hate socks.  Nothing a little baking soda won’t fix.  So it turns out this class might actually be what I need.  I’ve wanted to start working out but I find crafting to be more therapeutic but now I have the chance in this class.  Our instructor (a handsome bald black man who coaches the basketball team) said that he would help us to lose, gain or maintain our weight.  In my case it’s maintain.  I would however, like to tone down these man arms I’ve got.  I’ve never had feminine arms at any point in my life.

So are you wondering why I’m rambling on about my morning instead of sharing with you how to execute a fabulous craft?  Yeah, me too.  Sadly, I don’t have a craft for you today but I didn’t want to leave you hanging.  I have a lot of ideas in my head but no finished products.  This weekend was spent doing school work and creating more inventory for my Etsy shop.  I hope you can forgive me and still continue to come back.  I promise I will bring you more funsies and less of my ramblings.  I’ll leave you will this bit of inspiration, though.  I got an email from one of my readers, Charlie.  She made one of her own steering wheel covers using my instructions and even made a felt bead necklace to hang from the mirror like mine!  She sent me a picture and it has just made my day!

Have a great Monday you guys!

A Saturday for the birds

Today is the first day of school for me, so the better portion of my morning has been spent doing coursework.  I get really excited to start the beginning of every semester, mostly because I’m a nerd and I love the challenge of keeping my GPA up over a 3.5 and I really like to learn.

After I got a good amount of school work out of the way, I started on some really fun stuff.  I’m going to be running an ad on A Beautiful Feather so I’m trying to stock up my Etsy store.  You should go check out that blog if you haven’t already.  In the meantime, I’m going to be crafting more “handmade love” in Abernathy Studios.  This is one of my new birdhouse designs.  I’ve got some other ideas floating around in my head but I’ve got to work out some kinks.  What do you think about the modern design of the new birdhouse?

I'm so excited (and I just can't hide it!)

Looks like the hours I spend on my blog just might be paying off!  I never intended or planned for this to be a full time job or to make money from it or anything.  I just really enjoy crafting, sharing, inspiring and writing.  And I really like learning about computer design, html and css.  As my blog has grown, I’ve been driven to continue to make it better and I can't tell you how tickled I get to see new comments, increased traffic and my crafts pinned by you guys.  Looks like you all really like Abernathy Crafts and that is why I blog.  Anyhow, I've recently been contacted by Zina from Let’s Lasso the Moon and she’s invited me to contribute to her Pinterest board for crafts and asked me to be a guest poster on her blog!  How fun!  I’ve never been a guest blogger, though I’ve collaborated with a friend who runs Popsicles and Pearls.  I’ve accepted her offer and I’m waiting to hear about the details.  So, stick around to see how that pans out.

Also, Jen from I Heart Organizing is looking for contributors for her blog for the summer.  It was an “open audition”, so to speak, and today is supposed to be the day she announces the chosen bloggers.  If you haven’t been to her blog before, you’re really missing out!  She is absolutely amazing and has quite a following.  Being a contributor to her blog would be the greatest honor for a somewhat new blogger like me.  So, could you be so sweet to cross your fingers for me?  Pleeease?  I’m on pins and needles waiting to hear the outcome.  In the meantime, check out both Let’s Lasso the Moon and I Heart Organizing and tell me what you think!

And thank you all for reading and pinning, commenting and sharing.  I'm so grateful that you enjoy what I do!

Guess who's on Etsy?

It’s me!  It’s me!  I started up my Etsy shop and for all my Facebook fans, I’m offering FREE SHIPPING!  So go “Like” me on Facebook and find the promo code to take advantage.  This offer will only be good until the end of June.

Lavender Festival recap

Saturday at the Lavender Festival was a success!  More pictures and details after the jump.

COME SEE ME AT ETSY!

Abernathy Studios will soon be up and running on Etsy again!  I have some items left over from the festival so I will be listing them soon.  If you are interested, just keep checking back and when you see the Etsy button on my side bar, you’ll know I’m in business!

GETTING READY FOR THE LAVENDER FESTIVAL

Lavender Festival is this weekend and I’ve been pumping out the crafts like nobody’s business.  My dining room table looks a-fright and I think I’m about ready to wrap all this chaos up.  Honestly I don’t know how I’ve managed to get anything done with all four of the kiddos home for this summer.  Yesterday, when I put my two youngest down for a nap, I was hoping to be able to get a good chunk of sewing done.  Not so.  My 10 year old had me making origami ninja stars and 6-sided cubes for him while my 7 year old was getting frustrated trying to make origami dragons meant for ancient chinese paper folding experts when she’s only a beginner.  By the time I finished helping them with their craft projects and performing surgery on an amputated frog leg, I had successfully finished 15 minutes of work in 2 hours time.  Poo.  Good thing I loaded up on coffee.  I had a long day of sewing ahead of me. 

 

 

 

 

I tried to enlist the help of my boyfriend’s 14 year old daughter with things like braiding yarn for the dolls.  And while she did a good job with the braids, I think she was more interested in texting.  Teenagers.  She looks real excited doesn’t she?  You can see her phone in front of her there in the photo.  It is never more than a foot away from her at all times.  Luckily the buzz of my machine was enough to drown out the buzz of her phone.  It was like buzz wars.  Anyhow, she did do quite a bit for me and helped entertain my kids too, so for that I am thankful. 

 

 

 

So, to date, I think we have used twenty packages of floral wire, ten rolls of floral tape and five bottles of Tacky glue.  That’s just for all the fabric flowers I made with my mom.  I’ve also been pumping out the bows for hair clips and bowties as well as cut out seven dolls.  The dolls are the most time consuming.  I hand sew the eyelashes, mouth and freckles then I attach the safety eyes and sew on my label.  I braid yarn for the hair and add fabric to the head for hair as well.  The dolls are pinned together and sewn in concentric curves as well as clipped, turned and stuffed.  That takes me a long time.  I have so many other ideas I would love to do for our booth in the festival but as you can imagine, I just don’t have the time.  In the meantime, I’m just going to dream about all the other craft projects I want to start.  Maybe I’ll make thousands of dollars at the festival and I can buy up all the fun supplies at Hobby Lobby!! Yeah!

MY MATRYOSHKA DOLLS

My boyfriends mother got these for me on her recent trip to Russia.  I was so excited to receive these!  I love Russian nesting dolls. 

They are so sweet!

Now I have to protect them from the grubby little hands of Jude.  I bought him Robot nesting dolls and he loved them so much he carried them around with him everywhere he went.  Now we are missing the bottoms to two of them plus the baby. 

Hands off Jude!

 

MEMORIAL DAY

Happy Memorial Day everyone!  Instead of crafting some cutesy flag cake toppers or sharing a favorite cookout recipe, I want to remind everyone why we celebrate today.  My boyfriend, Josh, volunteered to be a guest writer today and I proudly invite you to read on.  Take a moment in remembrance, reflect on our fellow brothers and sisters who gave their lives for our country.  This is for all the mothers, brothers, fathers, sisters, husbands, wives and friends who honorably died in the name of America.

A great way to start the day

This isn’t craft related but certainly a great way to start your day!

Hope you have a craftastic day!!

Ideas should be shared

Therapy

Look who likes the new bookshelf area

Miss Kitty found a new bed!

Riddles riddles

 My ex-husband was helping out at a house renovation when they were tearing out some walls.  This book was found inside one of the walls!  It's a Dr. Suess beginner book called Bennett Cerf's Book of Riddles with drawings by Roy McKie.  The copyright date is 1960.  A very charming book just perfect for my oldest son, Jacob, who is learning to tell jokes.  He is really bad at it but fortunately he's getting better.  This is full of simple question and answer riddles that he's sure to be able to memorize and share with his friends.

 

 I really like the riddle below.  The previous owner wrote a name next to the illustration.  Perhaps Mary is her sister?

What should I do with these?

 I've had these little guys for a while now, don't really remember where I got them but I love em and have no idea what to do with them.  The new design of the girls room doesn't include any shelves as of yet that are gonna be on the wall.  I don't want them down low because they are a choking hazard.  I want to display them somehow but just not sure yet where.

 The blonde in the front seems like her name should be Ruthie and the boy with red shirt is named Buster.

And remember these guys from when we were younger?  I played for hours with little people as a child at my babysitter's.  Man, how they've evolved since then, huh?