Wednesday, November 30, 2011
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November Craft a Long Challenge!
Hi all! This month's theme, was, of course, "Be Thankful"! Our artisans came together with a few items, and we'd love you to vote for the item you feel best fits the theme and you like best!! You may vote for more than one item!
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Breast Cancer Folder Fridge Magnet from Brenda at CuteLookNFood2Boot
"Thankful that my sister, friends and other family members have survived breast cancer. And looking forward to the day we are thankful there is a cure!"
Hand Painted Glasses from Morgan
who is thankful for all educators!!
Hand picked and Canned yummies from Emily of GreenBoot
who's thankful for a friend who shares their bounty!
Hand Dyed Scarf from Wendy of SplendiferousFiber
Thankful for trees and nature, her artistic inspiration..
Gratitude Journal from Kathy of Kathy Maximo Designs
Photography from Amy of Mama's Little Monkeys/BadgeReels/MicroMops
"I am thankful for Crafts, Supplies, and Black and Gold!"
******************
Breast Cancer Folder Fridge Magnet from Brenda at CuteLookNFood2Boot
"Thankful that my sister, friends and other family members have survived breast cancer. And looking forward to the day we are thankful there is a cure!"
Hand Painted Glasses from Morgan
who is thankful for all educators!!
Hand picked and Canned yummies from Emily of GreenBoot
who's thankful for a friend who shares their bounty!
Hand Dyed Scarf from Wendy of SplendiferousFiber
Thankful for trees and nature, her artistic inspiration..
Gratitude Journal from Kathy of Kathy Maximo Designs
Photography from Amy of Mama's Little Monkeys/BadgeReels/MicroMops
"I am thankful for Crafts, Supplies, and Black and Gold!"
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Artist of the Month for October
Congratulations to Sheila of Magnolia's Boutique as this month's featured artist! Read below for the interview to learn more about this very talented artist!
Introduction- Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Sheila. I'm the Mississippi half of a Mississippi/Louisiana marriage. I've lived just about 80 miles north of the Mississippi/Louisiana state line all my life. After meeting my husband in 2004 I started spending a good bit of time in Louisiana and fell in love with the area. I have 2 daughters age 28 and 30. We currently live in Hattiesburg.
How did you get started making handmade items?
I've been sewing off and on most of my life. Some of my best memories are sewing on my grandmother's old treadle machine. I sewed most of the dresses my children wore when they were little. A few years ago I had to leave my nursing career due to health issues. I picked up sewing again as a hobby to fill the empy hours. Since I enjoyed making the dresses for my daughters that was what I started sewing. I had been collecting vintage chenille spreads for years. I decided to combine the vintage chenille and the sewing and came up with some really cute items. It was not long after that I ventured into cotton fabrics and Etsy.
What does a typical day look like for you?
Since I'm retired and my children are grown I live a more relaxed lifestyle. The sewing is more of a hobby for me than a job. Most days you will find me out every morning on the front porch with a cup of coffee and in my rocking chair. I read how young moms balance jobs, children, marriage, and their crafting and I'm amazed that they have the energy to keep up. I raise my cup of coffee to you and say........enjoy it! Those days will be over in a blink of the eye. First thing you know you will be looking back and wondering where all the days went. I help care for my 96 year old grandmother. She is the inspiration for the name of my clothing line, Zella P. Due to her poor health and advanced age she spends all of her time now confined to bed. Her mind takes her back in time to people and places of long ago. She still imagines herself sewing.
If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
Louisiana is like a little country within a country. It's entirely different than anywhere else I've been. The people are over the top friendly. The food is amazing. If you're from outside Louisiana forget the stuff you've heard about boudin. It's delicious!
What is your favorite item to make?
My favorite items to make are little girls dresses. It's easy to let your creativity run wild with them. I'm often asked about making little boys clothing. Sorry, it's just not as much fun as sewing dresses. I enjoy crafting with vintage chenille. Most people see the chenille and it's like an instant flashback to childhood. I often hear people say my mom or grandmother had one of these when I was a child.
What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
That's easy.....fried shrimp, fried shrimp, and more fried shrimp.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Artist of the Month- September!
Congratulations to My Green Boot as this week's featured artist! Read below for the interview to learn more about this one-of-a-kind artist.
Introduction- Tell us a bit about yourself.
I grew up in Central Louisiana. My father is a hardworking man from Avoyelles Parish, who loves the outdoors and instilled in me a love for fishing and camping. My mother is the sweetest woman you will ever
meet. She grew up in the New Orleans area and is a very talented seamstress. We all (including my brother) live in Cajun country now. So, I'm a mix of redneck, Cajun and NOLA!
How did you get started making handmade items?
My grandmother and my mother taught me to sew, embroider and crochet. I've always loved playing around with markers, paint, pencils, clay, etc. But, I never tried selling anything until I learned how to make
jelly. One day, my mom showed me how to make pepper jelly and wine jelly - and I was hooked! They became inexpensive and unique gifts for me to give. I finally started selling a few years ago - on etsy and to
friends and family. I look at perfectly good food and alcohol and think to myself...could I can that? It's become a slight obsession. I tell everyone that jars are gold to me. So is fresh produce. (Luckily, my
jar collection hasn't taken over the house yet thanks to orders!)
What does a typical day look like for you?
I wish I could say I wake up and start working in the kitchen, but I don't (YET!). I work for a commercial real estate agent (seriously one of the smartest men I know) full-time, so my crafting is done at home,
after work and on weekends. One day, I'd love to be able to create full-time, but in the meantime, I'm learning as much as I can in the real estate industry. (Commercial real estate requires some very
creative thinking sometimes!)
If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
It would take me forever! I absolutely LOVE Louisiana. We've got such a mix of cultures here. Redneck, Cajun, New Orleans, Lake Charles has Texas influences and WAY down South you've got the THICK Cajun accents and lifestyle (al a Swamp People). We'll find any reason to party (down South, anyway!). We are a true Sportmans Paradise, with all of the hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing opportunities a true outdoorsman could want. Even some of our "big" cities have a small town feel to them. There is a festival almost every weekend. We've got some super talented musicians and artists. And the food!!! (Did you know, Lafayette was named Best For Food in Rand McNally's Best Of The Road Competition 2011??) There are so many other things to mention, but likeI said, it would take me forever.
What is your favorite item to make?
I'd have to say the wine jellies. I make everything with the intention of it tasting good (of course!), but there is just something that makes me smile when I hold a jar of wine jelly to the sun and see how it captures the beauty of the wine's color.
However, my favorite item to make AND consume is my pickled okra. I can't keep enough of it in my stash because my co-workers are literally buying it before I can it. Yes. I'm bragging. My pickled okra is
awesome!!
What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
Two words: boiled crawfish.
Any other information you'd like us to know?
It's so hard to explain everything that I like to make in my etsy shop or on facebook. I LOVE being given a challenge or being given free rein to be creative and make something I've never made before to fit a
customer's needs.
I'm also very proud of the fact that I am the only person who sells honey bourbon jelly. (Google it!) And right now, I'm the only one selling crawfish jelly on etsy.
SHOP!
I grew up in Central Louisiana. My father is a hardworking man from Avoyelles Parish, who loves the outdoors and instilled in me a love for fishing and camping. My mother is the sweetest woman you will ever
meet. She grew up in the New Orleans area and is a very talented seamstress. We all (including my brother) live in Cajun country now. So, I'm a mix of redneck, Cajun and NOLA!
How did you get started making handmade items?
My grandmother and my mother taught me to sew, embroider and crochet. I've always loved playing around with markers, paint, pencils, clay, etc. But, I never tried selling anything until I learned how to make
jelly. One day, my mom showed me how to make pepper jelly and wine jelly - and I was hooked! They became inexpensive and unique gifts for me to give. I finally started selling a few years ago - on etsy and to
friends and family. I look at perfectly good food and alcohol and think to myself...could I can that? It's become a slight obsession. I tell everyone that jars are gold to me. So is fresh produce. (Luckily, my
jar collection hasn't taken over the house yet thanks to orders!)
What does a typical day look like for you?
I wish I could say I wake up and start working in the kitchen, but I don't (YET!). I work for a commercial real estate agent (seriously one of the smartest men I know) full-time, so my crafting is done at home,
after work and on weekends. One day, I'd love to be able to create full-time, but in the meantime, I'm learning as much as I can in the real estate industry. (Commercial real estate requires some very
creative thinking sometimes!)
If you could tell someone anything about Louisiana, what would you tell them?
It would take me forever! I absolutely LOVE Louisiana. We've got such a mix of cultures here. Redneck, Cajun, New Orleans, Lake Charles has Texas influences and WAY down South you've got the THICK Cajun accents and lifestyle (al a Swamp People). We'll find any reason to party (down South, anyway!). We are a true Sportmans Paradise, with all of the hunting, freshwater fishing and saltwater fishing opportunities a true outdoorsman could want. Even some of our "big" cities have a small town feel to them. There is a festival almost every weekend. We've got some super talented musicians and artists. And the food!!! (Did you know, Lafayette was named Best For Food in Rand McNally's Best Of The Road Competition 2011??) There are so many other things to mention, but likeI said, it would take me forever.
What is your favorite item to make?
I'd have to say the wine jellies. I make everything with the intention of it tasting good (of course!), but there is just something that makes me smile when I hold a jar of wine jelly to the sun and see how it captures the beauty of the wine's color.
However, my favorite item to make AND consume is my pickled okra. I can't keep enough of it in my stash because my co-workers are literally buying it before I can it. Yes. I'm bragging. My pickled okra is
awesome!!
What is your favorite food from Louisiana?
Two words: boiled crawfish.
Any other information you'd like us to know?
It's so hard to explain everything that I like to make in my etsy shop or on facebook. I LOVE being given a challenge or being given free rein to be creative and make something I've never made before to fit a
customer's needs.
I'm also very proud of the fact that I am the only person who sells honey bourbon jelly. (Google it!) And right now, I'm the only one selling crawfish jelly on etsy.
SHOP!
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