3rd Helping of Handmade Goodness

I have fallen in love with all things handmade.

I mean I've always adored the handmade stuff me and the girls have made through the years,

but a lot of that stuff can be noticeably.. ahem..  "handmade".

But now with the help of the Internet and blogs and Pinterest at our fingertips, there are instructions on how to make just about anything and make it look GOOD! 

 I love it!

So with no further adu....Here is the third scoop of handmade goodness I promised you.

This time with sprinkles AND a cherry on top!  :)

Here are the posts of the  first scoop and second scoop just in case you missed them.

1. Something I made:

This year for Christmas, Elizabeth requested  instead of buying the girls a bunch of toys, that I would make them an "Art Box".  Well...I was all over that like gravy on rice....art supplies is right up my alley.  I had a ball collecting stuff for their box.  I knew immediately I wanted "old school" supplies...The stuff that my maw maw kept in the blue dresser in the "kitty" room that was completely decorated from floor to ceiling  in red, white and blue for the bicentennial year of 1976 that she loved so much she never redecorated....you know...stuff like:

• pipe cleaners
• goggly eyes
•  construction paper
• GLITTER
• pom pom balls
• feathers
• sequins
• buttons
• colored tongue depressors
• wooden beads
• finger paint
• felt
• bling bling jewels

You know.... all the FUN stuff that beckons your imagination to ignite!!

So armed with my Joannes coupons, I had a ball filling up my buggy with crafty goodness.

Of course...I had to make them an apron to wear while they create....I mean, imagination stretching  and being artsy fartsy can get messy you know... :)

At Christmas when she was about to open the box...I love the look of anticipation.

One of the very first creations from the box...

I think it's a masterpiece!

2. Something that was made for me:

This is super special on so many levels.  

• First, It's a birds nest and I've always called my girls my chicks.  They are all beginning to leave my nest so now anything "birds and nesty" can cause me to conjure up a tear pretty quickly these days. 
• Secondly, my son-n-law and daughter made this for me themselves!  It has three eggs to represent my  3 daughters.
• And last...it's gor-geous!!  This is one of those handmade gifts that doesn't' look handmade.  I've been eyeballing these babies on Etsty shops all over and to get one lovingly made by my own kids...well, I'm one happy momma!

3. Something Handmade that I bought for others.
One of my favorite discoveries for me of 2011 was Etsy shopping.  I LOVE supporting other ladies who are gifted creatively knowing its helping them support their families! And not just Etsy...there are many other online sites that have gorgeous goodies that I have shopped from and I loved!

Today though, I want to share with y'all one of my friends and hi-light her amazing seamstress skills. She started out as my "pen friend" through one of {Hannah's great ideas} of connecting ladies together to write actual letters and stuff to each other.   Well Hannah  hooked me up with Marie.  And I couldn't be happier.  I love how she describes herself on her Etsy shop info page....

I am Marie Williams and I love to create. I sew, design, crochet, decorate, paint, draw, embroider, and just about anything else I fancy. Jack of all trades, master of none. I believe that people are creative because we were made in the image of God, who is the ultimate creator. We love to make because He loves to make. We love beauty because He does. We love because He first loved us.

I have the most wonderful husband of more than 10 years (who is extremely talented in his own right), and three beautiful children. I am blessed everyday to be home with my small children, and in between diaper changes, homeschooling and little league, I create! My family is my passion and my first priority.

I try to buy all items made in the USA. When there is an option, I buy handmade. I am very earth friendly; from recycling to cloth diapering, I try to live a life that speaks louder than words. 

She has two Etsy shops.. One is Found by Marie

In this shop you will find gorgeous hand sewn items such as clutches, wallets and totes.  She takes custom orders for bridesmaids gifts and such too.

I love the fabric and the big wooden button on this one!!

Her other Etsy Shop is called  found fabrics

....and I'm like a kid in a candy store when I look at all the beautifulness that she has in this shop.

This was my latest indulgence.

I can't wait to create with this stuff!

The picture does not do it justice....the feel of this fabric is wonderful! 

Sh has such a great eye for finding beautiful fabric to offer to us, but what sold me on shopping and supporting Marie is her story on how the business came about...It's a God thing and I love supporting God things.  You can read about that {here}.

Here is just a sampling of the good stuff you can find...

  

And here are the "Grow With Me Dresses" that she designed for my granddaughters.

I gave her total creative control...colors and everything and I love what she came up with!!

I love the design..

It starts off a dress.

Then eventually as a shirt to wear with jeans.

The girls wanted to get in the pic too:)

I can't wait to see them wearing them!

Well there you have it!  

Another addition of Handmade Goodness.

I hope you liked them...

I have so much more where this came from ;)

Stephanie :)