Support the Maker's Gift Guide 2019

Every year I see SO MANY wonderful gift idea's for the holiday's while I'm scrolling and browsing online. Knit hats, personalized jewelry, artwork, fun family gifts like ornaments and mugs, and of course awesome ideas for the nerds and bibliophiles! ;)

Maker's work HARD creating products their customer's will love and enjoy for year's to come. As a crafting girl since I was little, and an Etsy maker myself, I know the effort and time and love put into everything we make.

We all know that handmade touch makes for an extra special gift. As the holiday's arrive, not everyone has the time or maybe even the skill to create something handmade to give family and friends. Every year I see hundreds of maker's doing their thing so beautifully I want to share their creations with the world! So why not show them off in a gift guide for the holiday season? Yes, I think I shall...

A lot of these shops are companies I follow year-round, have bought from at times, and believe in. So trust me when I say you're going to love them! :D

• Pixel Berry Pie Designs - Tarissa is an online friend who creates fabulous prints: her best seller's are Monopoly game card prints! Genius and fun for a school room or family room! :D She loves, loves, loves books so there are ton's of bookish prints as well that you must check out. 

• Bella Handmades - Courtney is a dear friend as well, and she makes and sells unique jewelry pieces...including gorgeous wood-burned jewelry and cutting boards! So many fun and beautiful items, you really have to take a peek. 

• The Healthy Farmgirl Organic Products - I've known Melinda for years online and she is very dedicated to creating her products. She sells unique items I've never seen elsewhere!

• Dogwood Finch - Megan is a new maker I "met" this year who sells some of the sweetest, most exceptional artwork I've ever seen! She's a children's book illustrator, and also has her artwork to sell as cards and prints. She has cute animal scenes, and lovely peaceful nature scenes, and I'm in love with her newest terrariums. I love her little fox in the snow card (row 2) it's my absolute favorite!

• Our Nest Decor - I LOVE this shop...she has far too many exquisite home decor pieces, it would be difficult to pick a favorite. However, the Philadelphia Eagles sign has to be the winner for this Delaware gal. 🦅😂

• Tiny Book Town - If you love books, this is your shop! She has so many mini book title necklaces available in many genres. 

• Lila Rose - This isn't a handmade shop, but it's one I adore and has consultants who work individually in their own "shops" (think mary kay) and I have gotten to know these ladies, so I've included it in my list here. I have been using these amazing, unique hair clips for years and years. They hold thick-thin hair and there are always new designs and sales. If you follow one or more of the consultants you can find so many hair styling ideas on social media, too! :D

• Odds n Ends Quilt Shop - Lastly I have myself, of course. I have added some pretty Christmasy items to the shop, and have mug rugs, bookmarks, and table runners ready for gifting. The bookmarks make excellent stocking stuffers!

Christmas Mug Rug & Corner Bookmark Sets - $15 in my shop

I hope you find some lovely homemade gifts for everyone on your list this year! :D
Merry Christmas!
~Rachel~

Thanksgiving Giveaway!

I can hardly believe Thanksgiving is next week! 🦃And Christmas is not far behind (don't think about that right now. Lol). 😄

This year has been such a wonderful one for me, thanks in great part to all of you! It's been a blast creating new designs and items for the shop. Just imaging how much you all will love each new mug rug or corner bookmark makes me smile. I picture how you'll gift a mug rug to your bff, or a set of bookmarks to yourself for your favorite read and it makes me work harder to make it the best it can be! Filling your orders and getting to converse and "meet" with you is the best ever and makes my day every time!

That's why I want to give it forward with a giveaway! One winner will receive a pretty pumpkins galore mug rug AND a set of corner bookmarks in Autumn fabrics. These both have been best seller's this season.

The mug rug is 6 x 6 inches and is perfect for your favorite mug and a little snack on the side. My special washing instructions tag is sewn into the back and features a pretty leaf print (see more pics in my Etsy shop). The bookmarks won't bend your pages! These are 2-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches.

So hurry and head over to my Instagram shop page to enter!

You won't want to miss out.

Giveaway ends Saturday, November 23 at 7pm EST.

All Autumn products are marked down 30% off in the shop into December as well...I have one last pumpkin mug rug, a few corner bookmarks, and a couple table runners left. Don't miss out! 👍😉
And next week, don't miss out on the Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, and Cyber Monday specials and offers for Christmas - be sure you're following me on Facebook and Instagram!

*         *         *         *          *

We are visiting with extended family this weekend; new baby to cuddle, my 97-year-old grandma, and family from out-of-town all together! Then we'll celebrate a nice day just my parents and siblings eating all our favorite foods and watching the Macy's parade and Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. We have a LOT to be grateful for this year and so many blessings I didn't expect. I hope between all the pie baking we can slow down and really appreciate them all and each other. 💕

I hope you all have a safe, wonderful, family-filled, food-stuffed, blessed...

...Happy Thanksgiving!
~Rachel~

Halloween Sale Week!

Fall is sadly, but surely, moving on very soon. Only one month left to go to enjoy the pumpkin spice, the changing leaves, and that bright orange. Thanksgiving and then Christmas will soon be here before we know it!

Etsy is having a "store-wide" sale this week for Halloween and I'm joining in with 30% off all my fall items in the shop! This is a great time to take advantage and grab up your favorite corner bookmarks or a new mug rug or table runner for the season before they are snatched up. AND they make fabulous gifts!

I have a few pumpkin mug rugs left and those fun football mug rugs for the guys (great Christmas gift!), and a few corner bookmarks in the shop. There are some beautiful and one-of-a-kind table runners as well (pictured is my Cascading Triangles runner).

I am slowly, but surely, adding Christmas to the shop. I have some pretty, sparkling corner bookmarks already listed! And the mug rugs and table runners are on the way! Keep an eye out and follow me on Instagram and my shop to get updates when they are available.

Gingerbread Man Corner Bookmarks Set

Happy Autumn!
~Rachel~

BOGO Table Runner Sale

It's time for a Buy One, Get One sale!

All the table runners in the shop are BOGO for June!

Purchase 1 table runner and choose 1 more for 40% off! No codes needed, as your discount will be applied when you checkout.

Go Shopping!

Many styles, colors, and sizes available in the shop so you're sure to find something you'll love and suits your decor style.

Offer ends June 30th, so hurry and take advantage of this great deal!

~Rachel~

New Corner Bookmarks in the Shop!

I have a fun new item to share from the shop - Corner Bookmarks! 

These darling bookmarks are the perfect companion for your favorite book. I've been using them this week to mark my spot in a few stories I'm reading right now and I love how handy and easy to use these are. Plus they are so cute and pretty! :D

Country Hearts

Each corner bookmark is made from 2-3 fabric selections, with a piece of stabilizing interfacing between for stiffening to help it hold it's shape and stay in your book nicely, and then stitched around the edges. The bookmarks are 2-1/2 inches, with a sweet little triangle corner that fits neatly on the edge of your favorite book. 

Daffodils Bookmark

Aqua Dots

I've tested these out in both paperback and hardback books and they work really well for both! I was a bit worried about the corner pages of a book possibly getting bent, but I have had no trouble and I like these even better than a regular bookmark! :D

Coffee Bookmarks

Bookmarks come in a set of two for $3.50 with free shipping!

I have lot's of colorways available in the shop for different tastes and people. 

There are bookmarks for both men and women, and even kid-friendly bookmarks, as well.

These are going to make fabulous gifts for birthday's and party favors, teachers and librarians and of course your favorite reader's! :D Once you try them, you'll want to collect them all and give them out for every occasion to friends and family. (I've already made and given quite a few myself!)

Bookworm Corner Bookmarks

Set of 3 - $4.50

Free Shipping

Each set includes 1 large (3 inches) & 2 small (2 inches)

two sets available

 

The sizing of these is 1 large and 2 mini.

Each is a little bigger and smaller than my regular 2-1/2 inch sizes in the shop. 

These are great for children's books or the kid at heart! ;)

The mini size you can easily fit in a backback or purse "in case of emergencies". 

You never know when you'll need a bookmark! ;D

Head over to my Odds n Ends Quilt Shop to purchase new corner bookmarks and more!

These corner bookmarks are so much fun to use, I hope you all enjoy them! :D 

 ~Rachel~

Time to Organize

More and more my little shop is turning into a "real business". This week I ordered and set up a new storage system for my fabrics. I've had my storage all over the house, at one point or another, over the years, and since starting my business I've kept three of those cardboard packing boxes stacked in my workspace beside the kitchen table. This has been my setup for over a year now, but every time I need fabric I had to go digging through the boxes and lifting them off from one another to find anything. When lazy or busy during the holidays, I tended to even pile the most-used fabrics on top of the boxes and skip cleanup all together. :( I was always worried the whole pile would fall over and get dirty!

Needless to say I grew tired of this method AND my boxes were beginning to fall apart (i.e. the piles of fabric weighed down the fragile cardboard lids to the point of ruination). Plus this storage was VERY unsightly, right in our kitchen area! So, I invested in this new storage unit. It's shorter than I expected, but it's a bit deeper and wider than my previous storage so I can actually hold a bit MORE fabric! Yippee!

It took me a full afternoon to reorganize my sewing corner. Partly this was due to a thorough cleanup and sorting through of all the fabric. I am sending off an entire garbage bag full of older fabric I never used in over a year's time to the thrift store. I only want the best for my customer's and if it's not inspiring me then it needs to go to a new home.

I'm even more excited about how tidy everything is in my corner, now, than I thought I'd be! :D And it is SO nice to simply open a drawer without moving heavy boxes around. ;) *happy sigh*

Investing in my little business is important to me because it means I will put in 100% into my work. Having a convenient, and practical storage means I spend less time digging for fabric and more time quilting pretty things for all of you! :D

Do you have a favorite storage method for your creative projects? I'd love to hear about them! :D

Thanks for stopping by today!
~Rachel~

Where My Story Began

Over on my Instagram account I am joining the March Meet the Maker challenge hosted by Joanne Hawker, and I'm already feeling inspired on day #2! :D

Today's prompt is How you started...and I thought I'd share a broader history of that here on my blog where I can share more pictures! Besides, it's good to have that some where my readers can come back to if they'd like, and somewhere I can refer to if needed. Ready to take a trip down memory lane with me? :D

Me and Nan making applesauce! :D How about those bangs?! Lol!

To REALLY start at the beginning, my grandmother and mother were the ones challenging me to sew all my life. My grandmother made beautiful dresses for my sister and I growing up, we even have some video that I cherish of her working on new spring dresses for us (and making another mistake on the pesky sleeves)! Lol! "It's WRONG! Again!" :D Truer words, Nan...

At about age 10, a homeschool friend of my mom's wanted to teach her only son to sew and wanted him to have a friend to kind of encourage him on, so she offered to teach me as well. Even at age ten I was super excited to sew! We lived in a small trailer, and my mom never sewed as her machine was packed away. So this was my first experience sewing for myself...at least that I remember. My friend soon grew tired and frustrated with his sewing, but I finished my first project (a little drawstring bag - woohoo!) and moved on to my next project - a beautiful floral vest with tiny tulips all over it, and lined in a sky blue. *bliss* I cannot tell you how much I hated that vest by the time I finished! LOL!!! ;) Wow, that was a hard first time project, but I learned all about curved seams and right sides together, pattern placement, and became best friends with the seam ripper (we're still good friends, btw). I eventually finished the vest and it was marvelous and I'm still proud of it. :D

My sister Jessica and I in our patriotic skirts Memorial Day 2010

Fast forward years later and I'd sewn more projects on my own, including Civil War costumes (with the very much needed help of my skilled grandma!). I began to sew quite a lot of skirts for myself and my mother and sister in my 20's. The more I sewed the more I had leftover fabric pile up after a project was finished. I never knew what to do with it, so it sadly sat unused. One day around 2010 or so, and probably inspired by Pinterest, I decided quilting was my next new thing to become skilled at. I'm into most crafts...sewing, cake decorating, cross stitch, knitting and crocheting, and even scrapbooking! Living within an hour of Lancaster county, PA with the Amish and their quilting history has always inspired me, and having piles of scraps of fabric lying around from projects...it all just easily fit together (like a quilt! haha).




My first quilting project was a star block...oh how I love my star blocks! :D They are pretty much a signature design of my Odds n Ends shop. ;){my star mug rugs here} I picked out my favorite sunflowers and turned 3 mastered blocks into a table runner. I even HAND QUILTED the binding as instructed (I've never done that again). Ha.










My second quilting project was my first quilt. We had some friends in Texas, at the time, and my sister and I had some wonderful trips down there with them. Since I was interested in quilting, even then, we all stopped in their favorite local quilt shop and as soon as I saw the texas state panels I knew I wanted to turn it into a keepsake quilt of all the memories of our trips. This was my first pattern design I created on my own! :D After this quilt I was hooked and I've been addicted to quilting ever since.

Prairie-Style Texas Quilt and pillow

A girl can only create so many designs and projects before the house is over-run with quilting, so I dove head first into starting my own quilt shop in 2016 and officially opened in 2017 so I could share the love. I named it Odds n Ends for the scrappy bits and pieces that inspired me to quilt. I started my own space on SquaredUp.com instead of Etsy, at first, to save money and give me a start to see if I could do this business-girl-boss thing. It has been super slow going every step of the way, with more roadblocks, tears, and struggles (personal and business-related) over the last 2 years but I can honestly say it's been worth it. And I am so glad I jumped in and dared to be brave!

Scrap Bag Table Runner available here

My little quilt shop offers me a place to create with color and pattern, to have self-expression without breaking my piggy bank, and to share that joy with my customers. I believe every home ought to have a little piece of homemade quilting in it. It's a pleasure to quilt lovely handmade decor pieces I know will be enjoyed in the varying seasons and through the years.

Recently, I've been able to get a sense of community with other crafters and seller's that I'm newly joining into. I have also opened up an Etsy shop  in the last few weeks and joined that community as well. I'm excited to see where else God and my little shop take me this year and the years ahead! :D Someday I hope to have a booth at my first craft fair!

* * *

If you are a maker and want to join in the challenge too, 

here is the link to Joanne's instagram page and her website!

Have a blessed day!
~Rachel~