By Hand Boutique: November 2012

Friday, November 16, 2012

Meet Virginia of Blackflipflops Designs

Virginia has been a vendor at By Hand Boutique for several years! Read a little more about her and take a sneak peek at her work:

I've loved playing with paper and glue for nearly as long as I can remember. I especially love scrapbooking and all the different ways that has evolved into art journaling, mixed media art, and other paper crafting.

Every year I have a hard time narrowing down what I want to show at By Hand Boutique, and this year is no different! Here are a few peeks at some items I will have, but I am sure I will get a last minute burst of inspiration and bring a few more things as well!

Tiny mixed media canvas ornaments for the Christmas tree....

Decorative frames & artwork....

Note card sets (great for Secret Pals!)...

Chicken wire memory frames...

I can't wait to see you all on Saturday! Make sure to swing by my blog and say hello... http://blackflipflops.blogspot.com/

Featuring For the Love of a Daughter (and For the Love of a Sister)

Laura Morgan is currently living in Ireland, and these precious journals have been handmade by her and sent all the way overseas to sell at By Hand Boutique.

Crafting materials are harder to come by in Ireland, so Laura was really resourceful in upcycling for these journals.

She even stitched the inside pages into the book!

Make sure to check out her daughter's handiwork as well- potholders made For the Love of a Sister.

Limited Quantities of both are available!

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Featuring Paige Mitchell's Artwork!

This is Paige's first year with her beautiful painted pieces... aren't they super cute! We are so excited to see the rest of her work on Saturday!

Look at these CUTE Baby Doll Carriers from Michelle Davis

Michelle Davis is the mama to two little girls and knows a bit about what little girls like!

She's handmade these lovely baby doll carriers to sell this weekend. I can speak from experience that they are durable and well made- and perfect for small people!

My two girls were very willing to help model these out for you all, so you can get an idea of how cute they are.

They can be worn front-ways....

Or backways!

They have a perfect little pocket for tucking in your baby's paci.

The straps are adjustable and padded.

Even tough girls with black eyes enjoy them! ;)

There are limited quantities available, so grab yours quickly! (If I don't get them first!)

Take a sneak peek at Bagala Beads

Jeannie Lacy sells Bagala Beads which are beads made by women in Africa. They make these to support their families. My husband and I sell these to be able to give to various ministries we believe to be the hands and feet of Christ. We are selling them now to help our oldest daughter and her husband adopt a child from Africa.

Make sure to come support this beautiful ministry! If you are interested in seeing more about Bagala Beads, click here: http://bagalabeads.com/

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Come see Karen Wood's Creations!

This is Karen's first year at By Hand Boutique, and we are so excited to have her beautiful items available. She and her daughter have had a lot of fun working on them together and it's clear they make a great team!

Here's just a small selection of the great items they will have available on Saturday!

Meet Melissa!

I have been creating art as long as I can remember. Whenever I would be at my Mawmaw's for a visit we were always making something. I have dabbled in sewing, painting, cross stitch, pottery, and recently crocheting. It has become a passion of mine!!

Unfortunatly I won't have anything crocheted at By Hand Boutique. I love all colors and enjoy trying different colors schemes that are out of the norm. I find inspiration everywhere. I get ideas from other artists, sometimes just by walking by something, and most things because I can't ever find what I need or want in a store so I get frustrated and just decide I'll make it myself. That is how I came up with my over the shoulder purses. I couldn't find what I was looking for so I made one.

I am always looking for new ideas and new things to make. I get excited when I get to make trips to the craft stores and thrift stores. I can spend hours in either. This will be the first time I have ever featured my work other than featuring them as gifts.

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Check out Lou's Handiwork!

Sweet Lindsey will be back again at By Hand Boutique and we're so glad! Check out her wonderful work below.

As a little girl my dad's mom, Rose, taught my sister and I to knit. My mom's mom, Darlene, was an avid crocheter. She never used a pattern! About 6 years ago I settled down in a hotel room to learn crochet while on a business trip with my husband. I wish I could have shared this passion with Grandma Darlene, but I am thankful that both she and Grandma Rose inspired me to craft.

This year I will have a good bit of jewelry for sale. The red earrings were sold, but I will have a few pieces similar to them. The other items pictured will be there.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Take a Peek at Sarah Clayton's Handiwork!

Sarah has grown up in a sewing household, and definitely has a gift of her own with fabrics!

We're so excited to see her handiwork back at By Hand Boutique this year. Take a small peek at some of the items she's created to sell this year!

Sarah created bean bags for Community Presbyterian's Mother's Day Out program, and we can give a testimony to how sturdy these are. We use them every week- they get chewed on, stomped on, and tossed about and they have stood up to those rigorous tests! Make sure to snag a package of these great kids' play item this year.

Saturday, November 10, 2012

Get to know... Judy Hardwick

This is Judy's first year to sell at By Hand Boutique! Make sure to read a little more about her and check out her gorgeous artwork!

I don’t set out to produce projects that will all be the same, but if my art has a mission, it is this: to allow God to use my talents to touch the soul. I use a compilation of recycled items, paper, paint, ‘found objects’, and glue to create each piece that is inspired by praise songs, scriptures, inspirational quotes, or favorite hymns. I am based in North Alabama and have been exploring the paper arts for most of my life. And while I have begun sharing my art with others in recent years, I am still embracing the thought that I am an artist.

I know I love to create; and it’s when I’m creating that I have some of my best times communing with my Lord. I’ve found that when I’m painting and creating, I’m talking with God throughout the entire process – not about where to put what on the canvas, but instead about needs in my friends’ lives, and, -- in my own. About desires I have for Him to continue to lead my family, even as our boys are establishing their lives as independent adults. About the guidance that I continually need from Him as I go through life’s journey… and, about His goodness.

And somehow, in my art, He’s speaking to me. Or, perhaps more accurately, I’m slowing down enough to hear His voice… As I put layer upon layer on, He’s helping me remove the layers that the world throws at me and focus solely on His goodness. I pray that the Lord can use my work to touch someone’s heart – their soul – just when they need it most. And I’ve seen it happen… Don’t you just love how our God works? That’s the kind of thing I want to be a part of – so I put my trust in Him – that He will use my little efforts at creativity to His Glory. And whatever my creative efforts might be – mixed media, painting, knitting, papercrafts, gardening, photography, etc. – I use it as an opportunity to slow down and be still [Psalm 46:10] and [truly] know The Creator of all creation.

Friday, November 9, 2012

Featuring- Emily Rose Jennings!

We welcome Emily Rose Jennings to By Hand Boutique! We are looking forward to having her work available for purchase. They look like they would be great gift items!