Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts
Showing posts with label handmade. Show all posts

February 6, 2008

Happy Houses Everywhere Despite Cabin Fever, When Children Find Pleasure and Contentment in Creative Play

Fashion is big business and it’s trendy. Now your daughter can dress like her doll and be a designer by sewing her own hair clips for herself and her doll, opening up a wonderful creative world of make believe and role modeling. Children need stimulation to play, otherwise boredom sets in, misbehavior ensues and a sedentary lifestyle with video games and television shows become the way of life. New doll clothes and Craft Kits encourage your child to play with good old fashion toys by way of making it trendy.

Loudon, New Hampshire (FPRC) February 5, 2008 -- The revival of the handmade movement and the internet forges friendships and business connections to benefit children. Young children’s fragile sense of self and self esteem is just beginning to grow and strengthen. MaPetiteChou and Happy House Quilts are 2 home based businesses that are embracing the concept of active play and forging bonds between children and families. These 2 stay at home moms are making a difference from one corner of the country to the other.

MaPetiteChou means: my baby cabbage, my little cabbage, my little darling, and Denise who is the designer behind the boutique has chosen to stay at home and sew after the passing of her husband. Stay at home moms making a difference in the lives of children is what this partnership with Happy House Quilts is all about. Mapetitechou is an online boutique that has designed outfits that are inspired by local retail stores. Now the little girl can have a doll that looks like them and dresses like them too in a cool and trendy way.

Jodi Doody, of Happy House Quilts, is a master’s level Art Therapist and creates items to inspire children to also create. She not only makes hair accessories but also kits for children to make with parents, friends or with grandparents. The little girl can not only make a hair accessory for herself or a friend, but also be a designer for her “baby”. The concept of activity to bring families together is not new, but in this fast paced world of internet, cell phones, i-pods and video games our society has lost track of game nights or hobbies. MaPetiteChou and Happy House Quilts are 2 moms that are trying to bring that old fashion concept of play and sewing back into the forefront of childhood.

For a child, the years between 5-12 have been called the age of industry vs. inferiority according to Eric Ericson. Having a toy that looks like them and dresses like them can strengthen their sense of control over their environment and allow them a powerful way to master many situations that occur throughout the day. Having a kit to teach them new skills or bring generations together for teaching time can build powerful bonds that will last a lifetime.

Jodi Doody from Happy House Quilts has accepted the invitation to become a guest designer at MaPetiteChou and design matching hair accessories and craft kits for both child and doll that also match the outfits. Jodi often says, “The Threadibilities Craft Kits™ encourage success, because many things are possible with thread!” These inspiring ensembles are all handmade in the USA by moms. The workmanship is inspiring and the outfits themselves allow for a pivot point for the imagination of a young girl to take off.

As parents we want our children to grow and develop a positive sense of self and be able to initiate activities without the need for batteries or electricity. Encouraging imaginative play and developing a hobby like sewing are two old fashion ways to support childhood and brain development that a parent can be proud of. To find out more about these two crafty moms check out their websites at www.MaPetiteChou.com and www.HappyHouseQuilts.com.

January 2, 2008

The holidays are over...

"Is the coast clear?"
Items given as holiday gifts this Christmas
Waldorf Doll from GreenBeanBoutique
and felted basket from FairyFelts

December 19, 2007

Handmade Holidays at Happy House Quilts


Perfect for a Princess!
These are going to the little one I babysit for...oh, I hope she likes them...a tutu for a too too cutie pie and a perfect size pillow for a big girl's bed.

December 17, 2007

NY Times and Etsy!

The New York Times published an article yesterday about the handmade pledge and a bit about Etsy.

Find the article here.

Most interesting is this snippet

"On July 29, Etsy registered its one-millionth sale and is expecting to hit two million items sold by mid-December. Shoppers spent $4.3 million buying 300,000 items from the site’s sellers in November alone — a 43 percent increase over the previous month. Thus far in December, the site has had record-breaking sales every day."

Very cool!

November 4, 2007

Baby K in a Happy House Quilt's Hair Quilt™

Awww! She is only 5 weeks old and already feeling at home in this Happy House Quilt's Hair Quilt™!

Find Hair Quilts at etsy while supplies last. Shop will be closing down for November 17 and December 1 for Craft fairs. If you love it...Grab it NOW!!!

October 27, 2007

September 23, 2007

Featured Artist - Knitsteel


Who are you?
I’m an Artist specializing in Custom Bronze and Ironwork. I make nature themed jewelry, home décor, artwork and sculpture.

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link?
http://knitsteel.etsy.com

What tag categories do you specialize in?
Art, Jewelry, Handmade Supplies, and Housewares (home décor)

Do you create for children or adults, women or men?
I create for adult men and women, but my work often appeals to teens and young adults.

What do you like about Etsy?
The opportunity to list whatever I want, when I want. I can list something whether I’ve got 1 or 10 available, whether it’s $10 or $100. It’s also wonderful to be selling directly to the customer and to develop personal relationships with buyers and other Etsy members.

What do you like about creating?
I get to use the talents God has given me and to work toward the visions that fill my mind. It’s also very rewarding when someone writes and lets me know how my work has enriched their life.

What do you love about your business?
1.Making money with my talent.
2. Getting to meet and work with all sorts of highly skilled and creative people.

What is your favorite product right now?
It’s hard to pick just one. I always love the single leaf wallpieces.

What makes you unique at Etsy?
I’m a highly skilled and experienced metalsmith. I work on large scale commissions outside of Etsy. I exhibit work in art shows. I specialize in the techniques of Chasing & Repoussé and teach workshops regularly. I make and sell my own chasing tools.

What makes you unique as a woman?
I’m a blacksmith.

What do you love about Kids?
My kids have been the greatest joy and the greatest responsibility of my life. They’ve helped to focus all of my energy, in my art and in every day life. They teach me new things all the time.

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
My blog is probably the most informative http://knitsteel.blogspot.com
For more information on blacksmithing, start with http://www.abana.org . Then visit their affiliates page to find a group near you. In Minnesota start with http://www.metalsmith.org . In Wisconsin go to http://www.umbaonline.org

Featured Artist is a post I do on Sundays. Find more featured sellers posted at the HHQ blog from past weeks here.

September 18, 2007

Take off your shoes...What's that? Happy House Quilts will be a guest designer!

Happy House Quilts
will be a guest designer at
Take off your shoes
Check it out starting Sept 21, sneak peek!
Items available on Sept 26, 2007 and will be available for 2 weeks only!


September 12, 2007

Crafting again at Happy House Quilts

I am a total addict! I now have to make spiders...it's in my head....made these prototypes --------------->

but will get rickrack and try again...

Also am loving this idea of a greeting card with a gift attached...it's a pin/brooch for your purse, jacket, jeans or shirt. It would look sooooooo cute on a backpack or story hour/library book bag too! So many crafts, so little time...back to my Happy House of Quilt inspired goodies!

I am going to attempt to make these into Threadibilities Craft Kits as well... If you like these ideas please let me know...they may not be listed at Etsy as I am preparing for 2 upcoming craft fairs and need to produce much inventory. Blessings, Jodi


September 9, 2007

Featured Artist - TP Design

Who are you?
I am Tamara aka tink*. Owner/designer of TP Design

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link?
http://tpdesign.etsy.com

What tag categories do you specialize in?
Home Decor, paintings, photography, greeting cards, floral arrangements

Do you create for children or adults, women or men?
Mostly adults, but working on a line for children that should be ready by Christmas

What do you like about Etsy?
I love the connections that I have made, and the originality of the artists!

What do you like about creating?
I love making something my own. Plus when someone asks what I do for a living what better answer is there then artist - I get paid to make things pretty!

What do you love about your business?
I love that there are no set hours and it's all mine. I love making people happy too and I hope I am able to do that with my art.

What is your favorite product right now?
I would have to say the "Faith, Hope and Love Mirrors" I love creating simple elegance that makes a statement.

What makes you unique at Etsy?
My style and my originality. Also the fact that I don't keep to one type of product. I am all over the place!

What makes you unique as a woman?
While I was interning at Disney World I learned that it was ok to be youself and to respect others for the same. Sometimes I think people find it easier to hate then to understand the differences that make someone unique. I try to find the similarities that will make us friends.

What do you love about Kids?
I love the fact that even though my son doesn't talk yet he can still tell me he loves me!

What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
http://tpdesign01.blogspot.com
http://www.cafemom.com/home/tinkpeterson
http://www.indiepublic.com/profile/tpdesign


Featured Artist is a post I do on Sundays. Find more featured sellers posted at the HHQ blog from past weeks here.

September 4, 2007

Look what a 5 year old did with a Happy House Quilts Threadibilities Ornament Kit!

Just goes to show you that Creativity can start young with a needle and thread. As long as you are close by to assist with threading the needle and help pull the
thread up tight, from time to time when a loose loop occurs. Success and pride in one's accomplishment can be found!

Children of all ages can accomplish sewing projects, and what fun it will be to make one each year as a family tradition! Purchasing the kit ahead of time with all the shapes precut really helps this project move right along. This particular ornament was completed in one session! Once she got going she couldn't put it down, and how many 5 year olds can sit for more than an hour??? The process of sequential steps kept her attention and motivation in high gear.


Oh the smell (Balsam) of this Threadibilities Ornament Kit by Happy House Quilts fills your senses!

Balsam stands for warm friendship in the language of herbs. This finished project will make a wonderful Holiday decoration, ornament for a tree, air freshener for your car, closet or dresser drawer or when set in a windowsill, will exude their suble smell
throughout the space.

Cedar is also available!!!



September 2, 2007

Featured Artist - Irismishly

Who are you?
My name is Iris Mishly, and i am a polymer clay artist from Israel, I live in a small moshav in the mid-north of Israel, (near Cesarea) and lot's of green and farm animals surrounds my home.

What is your Etsy Shop Name/link?

What tag categories do you specialize in?
i do mostly on polymer clay art, but creativity was always my strong point, I studies fashion design, professional artistic makeup, and today I work both as a web-Designer and as a polymer clay artist at home.
Do you create for children or adults, women or men?
My creations are suited for children and women.

What do you like about Etsy?
Etsy is a great platform for sales in general and for my handmade products especially, it's easy, friendly, clean designed - i love it. although i am a computerized person, what isn't too complex - works great for me.
What do you like about creating?
Creating is therapy for me, it makes me feel good, clean the mind from the day to day life, makes me challenge myself and choose the right design/color and enjoy my time.

What do you love about your business?
I love the challenges, the inventions, thinking about new things, new techniques, every thing the stimulating my mind. i love working with color and color matching. i love teaching other people about polymer clay and i enjoy the joy of creating along with children in my artistic birthday parties.

What is your favorite product right now?
My favorite products are my angel-like key chain (http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6679752 ), they are so addictive :)
I also love making the shoe embellishments (for crocs or any other holey products) out of polymer clay. Their uniqueness are important to me and i am sure that no one else is wearing the same embellishments because they are one of a kind.
What makes you unique at Etsy?
There are great polymer clay artists on Etsy, i guess my speciality is the color matching, and some of my stuff are unique.
What makes you unique as a woman?
I feel embarrassed when i have to flatter myself and naming my unique qualities, but if i must say i would say i am creative in my art, loyal, devoted to my family and friends, hard-worker and a very organized person :)
What do you love about Kids?
Kids are so innocent, they are like a fresh flower, needing to be fed and drank, need love and caring, when i look at my children i wish them all the best in the world and hope they have great life.
What are some other sites to find out more about you and what you love to create?
You can find more about my work and myself at my homepage @
on my flickr gallery
and at my Polymeri Online blog where i introduce new techniques, new artists, an interesting piece of art or plain inspiration with hundreds of links. You are more then welcome to take a look and enjoy the wonder of polymer clay.

September 1, 2007

Look what I found at Irismishly @ etsy.com

So I forget what first brought me to her shop...maybe a treasury...maybe seeing her beautiful French clips made with polymer clay. I am partial to art Hair Clips! But then browsing I discovered a handmade tool that she was selling to jewlry artists for making holes in clay to turn it into a bead. Well my wheels started turning and I immediately thought this would make a fabulous stilletto for sewing. So after a convoe and sharing ideas and thoughts she has now added the tag to the listing. Well I also adore tools and we exchanged items from our shops and I just received this in the mail!!!

But not only did I receive the stilletto but also this beautiful handcrafted pendant and fish magnet! Beautiful work and I love how she incorporates her logo and name into each piece! Very smart cookie Iris is!!! So what are you waiting for? Do you sew? Do you love notions?? Do you love a pretty handmade item??? The stiletto is a notion that has historical longevity. Needlecrafters have been using them for centuries!

Amazon lists one at over $15 dollars!!! It's not even as pretty as Iris's!

I personally love to use it to poke a hole into felt or leather. I also love to use it to hold the layers of fabric together while they travel under the foot of the sewing machine. Here is a definition from Jan P. Krentz (Quilt Teacher and designer). I am often distracted while sewing and well...accidents happen so quickly. This wonderful tool will protect my tender fingers from a sharp, fast needle! Have I convinced you yet?


Best of all she is an EtsyMom too!

August 26, 2007

Beni's Bunk- Featured Artist

Featured artist is a weekly feature I do on Sundays, please take a moment to read more about a mom that I met at Cafemom.com that also sells her work at etsy.

Who are you?
My name is Crissy Gottberg. I’m a mom of three, a wife of 13 years, and an artist and writer.

What do you craft?
I’m a very eclectic crafter. Everything from cards, and hand bound journals, to mini figurines. I’ve done hand bags, and some art work. I am working on a whole line of fantasy coloring books for dragons, mermaids and fairies filled with original drawings.

Why do you do this?
I love to create. I’ve always loved to draw, write and sew… My cupboards are filled with items I’ve created, therefore it just seemed like a great idea to sell them on Etsy. It frees up room for more crafting, and gives someone a wonderful item that they will love. Plus, the little extra money I make goes toward buying new craft supplies, and cups of coffee at Starbucks.

What do you love about your craft?
Well, each of my crafts are fun, the take up time that would otherwise be spent staring at a TV, which I hate doing.

What is your favorite items to make? Why?

Coloring books… I think it’s their versitility. I can draw just about anything and set them up as emailed sets of drawings to be printed, or print them myself and staple them together. Plus, I just love to draw.

What makes you stand out from everyone else?
I’d like to say my ability to do almost anything. I may not be the best at any one thing, but I’m pretty good at a lot of things. But then I know I’m not the only eclectic soul on Etsy…

Tell me something interesting about yourself...
I published several articles about writing and some poems with a magazine out of Australia, and I won a “Best SF Writers in Australia” award even though I don’t live in Australia.

Where can I find you? (myspace, blogs, etc)

My homepage has links to everything I have online, including a deviant gallery for my artwork, I’ve writen articles for a couple magazines, and Associate content.

I have a couple blogs, including Live Journal, Yahoo! 360, and a blogger, and several other things. I am only on Etsy and Deviant art constantly.

Whats your etsy link?

August 24, 2007

Mama's Magic: Friday Feature -- Wrapsberry


Mama's Magic: Friday Feature -- Wrapsberry
I just had to link to this post at BFBeads cuz I just bought 2 children's eye pillows for my kids as Christmas presents...both shops are fabulous!!! Thanks Jen for the feature!

August 11, 2007

Featured Artist Brian from BrileyKnits

Who Are You?
My name is Brian. I am 33 years old, and single. I recently relocated to NH from Boston in order to return to school, and change careers.

Where can I find you?

My Blog: http://360.yahoo.com/bmcgaunn

My free knitting patterns: http://brileyknits.blogspot.com/

My Needle case shop: http://brileyknitsmarket.blogspot.com/

What do you craft?

I've always done some sort of art/craft work, and it has varied and evolved over the years. In the last couple years I have been mainly a knitter and crocheter. When the demands of my professional life caused me to have less time for my creative life I wanted to find something with less set up/clean up. Not only did the needle arts provide this, but they are portable. My needle cases and organizers developed from there. I made the first one for me, the next one as a gift, before I knew people were constantly asking me to sell them one.

What do you love about your craft?

Wow, how do I narrow it down? I love the way I can be so enrapt in a project it's like nothing else exists. I love than when I am done with a project, not only do you get that special sense of satisfaction, but you have a great gift, or fun and practical item for yourself. I also love the way knitting works the same way my mind works- to the point that sometimes I find myself designing, or reconstructing a pattern in my dreams!

What makes you unique?

I think most men in our culture are afraid to cross the imaginary line into a craft commonly considered to be a feminine one. A male perspective on these arts in modern times is still fairly unique.

What do you love about your business?

I love providing a quality, useful product at prices lower than you can find at a retail store (even for the mass produced items) and that I am able to customize them for the taste and needs of the individual.

What kids items do you specialize in?

My new line of bath puppets (found on my free patterns page) are great kids items, and what parent doesn't love making bath time less of a chore? The selection is fairly small, right now, but I will be designing more in the fall.

Comments from HHQ: I can honestly say that Brian's talent is amazing, I have seen his creations and they are wonderful and his attention to detail is superb! So nice to have another crafter of his caliber live locally!