NC Country Christmas Updated Classics

This is an ode to Christmas past. Historically awesome gifts with new twists and applications.

BDS Authentic North Carolina Red Dirt Shirts. From the mountains to the coast you can enjoy playing in the dirt!  David and Cindy Bennett create this wonderful line of shirts. I have bought three myself. You can find more information and order from them at their website. 

These are baskets made by Jane Murray Robertson of Raleigh, NC.  She decorates baskets -and who doesn't love baskets? with decoupaged designs with festive flair for decorating.









You can find out where Jane will be next or order from her via email.

Crafts by mama and me confirms that most mothers and daughters bond but some are crazy glued. A great mother daughter team with a wonder selection of baby clothing and accessories, and crochet accessories.

You can visit them on Etsy for quick online shopping, or if you want to know where they will be next I'm sure you'll find an answer contacting them through their shop.

NC Artists of Precision and Detail

I'd like for you to meet some artisans and crafters I met at NC Farmer's Market Fall Craft Fair. It was so fun to meet new friends and visit with old ones and share in the joy of what we recent made. Seeing what others do inspires me to do the same. All this week I've been having new ideas run through my mind.  Here is a small selection of who I met.

This little boy's portrait was watercolor painted by Andrea Wilson in Holly Springs, NC. She has also recreated it in pencil.

In addition Andrea is a fabulous acrylic painter. When my daughter saw I bought a small one of a flounder, she immediately took ownership. We are currently in negotiations. Andrea also makes polymer clay jewelry in wonderfully fun shapes and colors.

For more information on custom portraits or where you find her next, you can find Andrea Wilson by email.

Richard Coates of Holly Ridge Woodcrafting combines photography with woodworking and his end results are stunning in detail. This year he introduced revolving pen containers. So cool! Holly Ridge Woodcrafting is located in Rougemont, NC.  For more information about where to find Richard next or to place an order, you can email him.

 Pens and Banks is a family affair with Frank and Clint Johnson of Raleigh and Clayton, NC. I love the antique feel of the coin banks made with vintage post office box doors that Frank makes.

Clint lathes beautiful pens from exotic woods and other materials like corian and deer antlers. He says his wife insists the manufacture of the antler pens to be done far from the house. I can understand why. The end result from all of his hard work is a great gift for your father, boss or mentor.

You can find more information by emailing them.

I Feel Pretty from NC Crafters

Gorgeously girlie bows of all styles and color. Great stocking stuffers and an easy way to get little girls to dress up for the holidays.

Victoria Jones' business, Bethie Bows specialized in hair bows in Disney Princess designs as well as flowers and butterflies. There are some seriously sweet creations in her line of grosgrain ribbon hair barrettes.

Email Bethie Bows for information on her next craft show or to order from her.

Bella Grace Bows is run by Cheryl Davis. She has a wide variety of classic ribbon bows, hair bands and other hair accessories. She also has fabric handbags for little girls. She can custom make your order and ship it to your door.

Find Bella Grace on her website or you can reach her by email or on Facebook.

Christy Kenyon of the Bow-Tique and Gift Shop has children hair accessories and other unique items. She has a permanent location at the Raleigh Flea Market.  Her bows include feathers and over-sized flower hair pins.

In addition to hair bows, Christy works with glass. She has some elegant, hang-able, upcycled glass trays perfect for cheese and appetizers and modern glass votive candle holders in gorgeous color combinations.

You can find more information on Bow-Tique and Gift Shop on their Facebook page or by email.

NC Farmers Market Fall Craft Fair 2011

The NC Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is holding a three day fall craft fair on November 11, 12 and 13, 2011.  It's a great time to get your apples, sweet potatoes and Christmas gifts.

Usually the Farmers Market is the best place in the state to get fresh fruit and vegetables. An excerpt from their website explains:

 Farmers Building
30,000 square feet for North Carolina farmers to sell fresh produce, plants, and other specialty items produced on local farms.  Plants are available starting in March and local fruits and vegetables are sold throughout the growing season.  This is where you can find the freshest and widest variety of produce and plants in the area.
Market Shoppes
There is plenty of room to shop in this 15,600 square foot enclosed climate controlled building.  You can expect to find fresh produce from around the country here as well as meats, cheeses, crafts, bakery items, custom picture framing, a market grill, and N.C. wines.  There is a wide variety of specialty shops with old-fashioned candies, N.C. gifts, soaps, and lotions.

This weekend, the extra space in the Farmers Building will be filled with all kinds of handcrafted goodies. They will range from jewelry and accessories to home decor and goods. The show is so large that it overflows throughout the whole parking lot between the two buildings.

 And as usual, a plug for myself:  I'll be there and I can't wait to see you! It's something you should check out this weekend.

Felted Wool Purses for Winter 2011

I've started felting. It was dubious. I wasn't sure in the beginning but it was actually easy to pick up. I've got a few done now and they are in my Etsy shop.  I started with crochet since I that's where my skill lies.  After a couple, I decided to try knitting. The knitting was a disaster.

I practiced for a few days before I started my project. Since I don't know any fancy knit stitches, I kept to the simple knit and purl stitches.  I kept in mind what a knitter had recently told me about knitting a  swath and sewing it into a finished product.

I knitted for three days.  Then I felted in the washing machine three times. This is what I ended up with.
Oh, boy, what can I do with this?  You can't really tell in the picture but it's rhombus shaped.  The opposing sides are parallel to each other; just not in a rectangle shape.  I also have reservations about the color choices the manufacturer of the wool yarn used.  What is up with the single stripe of dark red being mixed in with purple and turquoise? In the end, I think I'll cut this into flower brooches -or a really expensive business card holder.

I think I'll stick with crochet.  I can create a complete purse and felt it in two days opposed to the 4 day project the knitted piece has already accrued.   So, here are some of my finished crochet felted purses.