Featuring: Handmade Gifts by Misty

This is Misty's second year of attending By Hand Boutique! Make sure to stop by her booth to check out her adorable gift items! 

How long have you been creating your art? I have done various crafts as long as I can remember. I started with rag quilts as Christmas gifts about 5 years ago. Then 2 years ago began making the paci clips, some hair bows, etc. Things have progressed over time as I have added more products to my work. 

What are you favorite colors to work with? I enjoy earth tones a lot. Though since a lot of my stuff is girly I tend to use a lot of pinks, purples, etc.

How do you find inspiration? Most of my ideas to start making a product have been either an idea for a gift for a child in my life OR something that would be nice to have for my own children.

What time of day do your creative juices get going? I typically work whenever i can squeeze time in around raising 3 children. For this reason much of my work is doing fairly late at night.

Do you listen to anything why you create, or do you prefer peace and quiet? I typically watch a movie/show with my husband while working, unless it's a rare opportunity to work while they are awake then I listen to the sounds of little ones playing. :)

Is there a special meaning behind your work? Just to be fun and/or useful for little ones and their moms. Some of my items I feel I have been able to keep more affordable than similar ones out there so I like the idea of being able to offer fun items to those who couldn't get them at higher prices.

Has your work been featured anywhere? Just my facebook page, Handmade Gifts by Misty. 

Do you create with an end product in mind, or do you just see where creativity leads? Usually have an end in mind, on occasion though I will actually meet an end that looks a little different than I thought.

Featuring: Michelle Quinn

Michelle Quinn has been a vendor at By Hand Boutique for 4 years- we are so blessed to have her return every year with her wonderful mixed media art. 

We asked Michelle a few questions and here are her answers! 

 1. Each morning as soon as you wake up the first thing you should do is be grateful for the day. 

2. While creating your masterpieces, you should listen to the sound of rain if possible (create a playlist for back up). 

3. To get your creative juices flowing try lighting some candles and writing in your journal. 

4. Make sure you take regular breaks to make some hot tea. 

5. You will know you have succeeded when your creation invokes a sense of satisfaction. 

Featuring: Lou's Handiwork

This will be Lindsey of Lou's Handiwork's second year of participating in By Hand Boutique! Read below more about her artwork. All items featured will be available for purchase this weekend! 

(bath sets: washcloth, face scrubbie, soap saver - will also have dishcloths & hotpads)

How long have you been creating your art? I learned how to knit when I was little from my Grandma Rose, but I was very impatient and always had lots of holes! About 5 years ago on a business trip with Jonathan to Tennessee for a week (which meant a lot of time in a hotel room!), I decided to pick up a crochet book and materials. It didn't click immediately. A friend, Kim Moore, showed me where to put the hook to get started and everything made sense after that!

(fingerless gloves)

(hats)

Is there a special meaning behind your work? My other grandmother, Darlene, was an amazing crocheter. She made snowflakes, wonderful dolls and stuffed animals, and lace angels. She didn't read patterns, but she would see something and figure out how to make it. She passed away before I began crocheting.  I would love to share the craft together with her.

(Lindsey of Lou's Handiwork)

(scarves)

Do you listen to anything why you create, or do you prefer peace and quiet? It's never quiet in this house with a 3 1/2 year old, a 2 year old, and a 4 month old! Crochet is portable and easy to set down. I crochet anywhere with all the noise!

McClain of Hodge Podge

McClain will be participating this year in our Junior Market. Please make sure to come by and check out these fresh young artists! She'll be sharing a booth with her sisters... we'll be featuring them later this week! 

How long have you been creating your art?   I feel like I've been creating art all my life.  I love learning new crafts!

What are you favorite colors to work with?  Pastels   

How do you find inspiration?   I find a lot of inspiration from my Mom and Grandma.  They always teach me new crafts.  I also surf the internet and get ideas from other creative people.  

What time of day do your creative juices get going?  It's random times that I get creative.  When I'm bored I usually find a craft to do to avoid my mom finding me something to do (like cleaning).

Do you listen to anything why you create, or do you prefer peace and quiet?   I like to listen to music and sing while I'm crafting.

Is there a special meaning behind your work? No, not really.  I just create thing because I want to.

Do you create with an end product in mind, or do you just see where creativity leads? I just go with the flow.

Has your work been featured anywhere?  Just in my mom's room.

Featuring: Margarita & Lucy Lunsford

The Lunsfords have participated in By Hand Boutique for several years; 

we're so glad to have them back!  Please read a little more about their creative process 

and their products. 

For our doll clothes we find inspiration by looking through our scrap pieces of fabric 

and the outfit just unfolds from there.

For our pressed flower pictures, it is much the same. We press tons of flowers (especially in the spring and summer) and then keep them in files for whenever we're ready to make something with them. Very seldom do we make the flower pictures with the end product in mind, or if we do it never ends up being what we intended, because the flowers have a way of leading you. Especially the flower fairies, I really truly think they have minds of their own.

     

     As for inspiration, I think the flowers themselves are inspiration. In our pressed flower arrangements we are using God's art (flowers, leaves, insect's wings, etc..) to make art. It's kind of like recycling! Almost everything we make is a form of recycling. With our doll clothes we use the scrap fabric from things we've made for ourselves to make the outfits. In our paper artwork we use leftover pieces of scrapbook paper, and in our newest craft, we've started using candy wrappers to make bracelets!

     So stop by our booth and buy some hand-made, recycled, eco-friendy gifts for Christmas (or for yourself)!

Featuring: Holidays By Design, Camille's Colorful Bracelets, Lily's Joyful Scents

How long have you been creating your art? Four months

What are your favorite colors to work with? Green and red! I love love love Christmas!!!

How do you find inspiration? In everything that is around me at stores and in nature. 

What time of day do your creative juices get going? The evening after five but I work before then. :-)

Do you listen to anything when you create, or do you prefer peace and quiet? Actually sometimes I like peace and quiet when I am trying to brainstorm but when I am working I usually have the music on. 

Is there a special meaning behind your work? I do everything that I do for the glory of God. 

Do you create with an end product in mind, or do you just see where creativity leads? I usually have an end product in mind. I don't always create the same things. All of my creations have their own special touches. 

Has your work been featured anywhere? No, not yet. 

 

 

Camille's Colorful Bracelets- bracelets that are never the same with vibrant colors that usually have a special holiday, scheme, or sports team in mind.

Email: camille_stanek2008@hotmail.com

Camille will not be there in person, I will be representing her and her wonderful products.

 

Lily's Joyful Scents- soaps, bath salts, etc. that tame the soul and bring out your inner peace.

Motto: The smell of Christmas brings the joy of Christmas.

(Lily of Lily's Joyful Scents and Ashley of Holidays By Design)

Featuring: Top Cat Jewelry Designs

This week we'll be featuring our lovely vendors on our blog and facebook page. This is just a peek at what you'll find this weekend at By Hand Boutique! Make sure to join us Friday night at Community Presbyterian Church from 7pm-9pm and Saturday, 9am-4pm. 

 

How long have you been creating your art? I have been designing jewelry for about three years.

 

What are you favorite colors to work with? I don’t have a favorite color.  I particularly love to work with gemstones of all colors and shapes.

 

Do you create with an end product in mind, or do you just see where creativity leads?  

I usually just take a bunch of beads and start moving them around my design board.  After a while, a design style comes to me.

You can keep up with her work at Top Cat Jewelry Designs.