Pinterest SALE!!

So, apparently I've been blowing up on the ol' Pinterest!? Well in honor of the over 400 hits my etsy site has received today alone from Pinterest..I'm having a 20% off sale! Use the code PINTEREST and get yo' self 20% off! 

If you are wondering its the cute dog bed pic that is being massively repinned! Want a tutorial on how to make one? Yes, you do! 

Design*Sponge, Country Living Fair, and a shop update!

Well, I have been a blogging bum. Sorry I haven't posted in so long. So, let's catch up! First bit o' exciting news is that my wreaths have been featured in the new Design*Sponge at Home book! Page   to be exact. It all started when I saw on twitter that Grace Bonney was accepting ideas, so I got bold and emailed her. Thankfully she remembered me from winning the DIY contest back in 2008, I think that helped a lot. She loved my photo, which was a total "happy accident," as I barely know how to use the SLR camera. My husband sets the settings and tells me how to change a couple things and that's all I know. It was so hard to keep the book "quiet" for 2 years! I mean...I told a few people but I couldn't broadcast it until it was in print. So, here is my page!

Last weekend I joined my friend Kelly McCants, of Sewing With Oilcloth fame, at the Country Living Fair in Atlanta. I cut oilcloth and laminated cotton yardage for her for 2 days it was SO fun. I loved meeting all the customers and making new friends like Suzanne and Tiffan. I also met another girl who made it into the Design*Sponge book...she's super talented. I also had someone purchase a pincushion with the intent of using it in the Willow Tree catalog to display jewelry. I don't know when it will come out...so if anyone sees it...let me know!

some of Cindy Jaegar's cute stuff from The Cupcakery!

my daughter, Miriam, with her favorite Modern June Kitchen Chicken

I did a big shop update yesterday and there are lots of new things! Headbands, wreaths, and some cute little hand sewn animals. I hope you enjoy!

And check out a pic of one of my wreaths in a customer's home! So gorgeous! Casey used this 14 inch wreath in her sweet new baby girl's room. 

BIG ol' shop update!

Hey everyone! I just added 12 new items to the shop! Enjoy!

Also, huge humble thanks goes out to yet another sweet mention on The Nester..

And the winner is....

The random number generator has spoken and the winner of the wreath give-away IS Alexis Reddock!!

She was the 6th comment out of 35! Alexis, now you get to pick your wreath!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

Wreath Give-away!

I think it would be super fun to give away a nice big 16 inch wreath to a lucky person! So, here's what you have to do...

1. Tell me in the comment section ON THE BLOG if you like traditional color wreaths (red, green, white, etc.) or if you like bold and funky colors and would you put a wreath on your front door, over your fireplace, over your headboard, or somewhere else fun in your house!
2. Go "like" the hersheyismybaby facebook page! its that easy! (if you leave a comment there it will not be included in the contest)

The winner will be announced on May 13th!


Comments on the facebook page are greatly appreciated but will not be included in the contest, this will help me know what # wins.

(The winner will be chosen by the random number generator and will receive one 16 inch wreath of their choice from my on-hand stock)

20% off SALE!!

***Sorry! sale is over***

Hear ye! Hear ye! The shop is having a 20% off sale in honor of Valentines Day! Use the code HEART to get your 20% off groove on!

Whimsy

Are you ready for the most quirky, the most whimsical, and the most cute thing I think I've ever made? I know you are! So, here's a little background...I bought this "thing" for lack of a better word, cause it was crazy ugly, at Goodwill. Take a gander at its "before" look....

It had really bad "silk" flowers, lots of plastic, a REAL DEAD butterfly, and some foam inside that glass. I knew it rotated and played music box style music. That was its redeeming quality. I was also keen on the glass dome and the pedestal. I instantly saw through the ugly and saw the cuteness potential going on. I wasn't quite sure what in the world I would do with it though. But, I knew something must be done!

So, I got home and got to work (as soon as my little girls were napping of course). First, glass removal. That did not go as planned. That glass was in there GOOD. It broke, and I nearly cried. So, off it came in a thousand pieces. It was glued in there so good I had to use pliers and a chisel to get all the glass out! This is when I discovered that the butterfly was REAL and I'm gonna be honest it creeped me out. Dead insects, not cute. This is also when I discovered that....get ready....IT LIGHTS UP! Yup, it has 2 "Christmas" style lights going on in there. So, it rotates, plays music, and lights up! I realized this has too much kitch to end up classy, whimsy is the new way to got...I mean lights...are you kidding me!? Oh, and they blink. You wanna see the end result?!! Do ya?! Well here you go...in video form of course (how else can you revel in the glory of its rotating musical light show?)

Nice...right?

Do you love it so much you want it to come play its musical and rotating light show at your house? It can be purchased right here!

Here are some pictures...

Lots of Fun New Things!

My little 1 year old baby is walking, I'm coordinating the children's department at my new church, and I'm crafting like crazy. I'm a bit busy, but amazingly not overwhelmed. I'm taking it day by day and if I can win "Battle Nap" with my 3 year old I think everything will be OK.

I have also been having lots of fun thrifting with my friend Cindy and seeing what interesting stuff I can make out of all the odd little things I collect. First, I made a sweet little bird to live in this white birdcage I found for pennies.

Then, my sweet friend Tonya found this duck decoy that needed serious love. I hope the love has helped him, he was a very sad duck.

I also found a fiberglass/resin topiary wall plaque and dressed it up with a little felt.

A little paper mache wreath wrapped with some fabulous chunky harvest gold yarn...

(don't tell my mom, but I think harvest gold is on the way back)

I also feel the need to "rescue" old silver and pewter cups/goblets. So many possibilities! Who really drinks out of these things anyways?

Jewelry boxes, oh jewelry boxes! How I do love you! Maybe, it was the little jewelry box I had when I was a little girl that has inspired my new obsession with "prettying" them up. Dark wood and red velvet wasn't that pretty to begin with.

And lots more wreaths!! Of course, you can't forget the wool felt wreaths!

I hope you enjoy all my new little treasure! There are more to come...

Ducks

So, I am not a big fan of the "hunting" look. I don't gravitate towards hunter green, burgandy, brown, etc. It's just not my style. So, I also happen to think that duck decoys as decoration are hideous. I would much rather look at a real duck thank you very much. But, I do love ducks so I decided to "cute-ify" some duck decoys. (you like that word? I made it up) Remember awhile back I made this sweet duck...

Well, I found some more decoys!!
Before...



After!....



Much better!

This is a test!

So, I'm blogging from my iPhone! This should be interesting. I hope it works...

What I'd like to show you is a jewelry box I re-made.

I am getting excited about giving old beat up jewelry boxes a new life. This is my first wooden one. I did this one a couple months ago


But, silver ones are hard to find!!
I painted the outside, relined the inside and made a big dahlia on the top and I seriously want to keep it!






The jewelry box will be available at the "Saturday stroll" here in Richmond this Saturday, come on down and visit!


And happy FIRST birthday to my baby girl!

I need Pattern Testers!

Necktie Dachshund

Fabric Dachshund

I need 4 pattern testers! 2 for a necktie dachshund and 2 for a fabric dachshund. I have the necktie dachshund pattern finished so that is ready to go, but the fabric dachshund might be ready by this weekend. So the first 2 people to say they want the necktie version and the first two to say they want the fabric version to comment wins!

A bit of info to help you make your decision. The necktie dachshund uses an entire silk necktie, its a bit more challenging to make because its silk and you need some fusible webbing. The fabric dachshund uses about half a fat quarter's worth, no fusible webbing.

If you want to test the pattern but have questions please ask!

Thanks everyone!!

Felty Food

I was inspired by this WhipUp end of year Felty project roundup. I decided to make a sandwich! A sandwich for Miriam of course. Then I got bit by the felt food bug!

I made a few extra sandwich pieces to add a little "dagwood-ness." I made some bacon, onions, a few pickles, and a smear of mustard (that's the yellow blob on the far left). And no, I did not use fancy/pricey wool felt. (oh, how I adore that wool felt though) I used the craft store stuff. And I didn't use a pattern, you don't need one I promise! Just wing it! You can cut out green circles and call them pickles, white rings and call them onions! My daughter totally knew what they were. If it makes you feel better draw on the felt with a pencil or make a paper pattern. But, hey its just felt food...its not rocket science. You can do it! Oh, and I just used a simple whip stitch with boring old white thread.

Now, on to the PIZZA! Super simple. A beige circle, a red wavy red circle, some pink circle pepperoni, a few black O looking olives, U shaped green peppers, some grey mushrooms, and of course a bunch of simple strips of white cheese.

Then I went and made a felt landscape! Once again...just winging it! I glued a few bits like the center of some flowers and the beak on the bird. Oh, and I used one of those large stiff white pieces of felt as the background. It needs some people too.

Next I want to make little "sets" of stuff to play with on the felt board. For example I want to make a dress-up doll with shoes, clothes, hair, hats, etc. I'm also thinking about making "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." Miriam has memorized the whole book and she would love to tell the story with felt pieces. But, I want to make that set really nice and take my time. Hope you enjoy the fruits of my felt bug bite!

Closing up shop!

I am closing up the shop for the month of January, but get ready for kinds of new goodies starting in February. I have big plans for this year!! I'll write more about my plans in the coming days...get ready!! Fun stuff to come!

Baby Weight

Yes, I know this is a craft blog but I need to make this public. I am tired of this baby weight!!!! Baby #2 weight is not coming off like baby #1 did, at all. Baby #2 is 9 months and its time to kick myself in gear! I saw pictures of myself from this Christmas and I wanted to cry. So, if you have an iphone and you want to join me in my weight loss goals, check out the "loseit" app (its free!) and create a loseit.com account and find me under friends at kirstendschueler (at) gmail (dot) com. Seriously, I need the motivation! I am training for a 10K, which I did 2 years ago. I started from scratch and had never run in my life, ever. I had a great motivator, Rachel Pustilnik, she owns Stroller Strides Richmond and she just plain rocks. She even sacrificed her time for the race to run with me! I ran horribly slow but I actually ran the whole race without stopping...in the rain! So, I know I can do it again. I just have to start over. I also started watching my calories. The LoseIt app really helps me. Check it out! So, there you go, I have got to lose this baby gut. Join me!

Sweaters, Flowers, and a Duck

First I want to show off Sarah's fabric flowers that she made using my tutorial! Aren't they gorgeous! You should go check out her blog and see more pictures of them (and her adorable baby!)

Next, on the subject of wool sweaters...wow, did I find an awesome resource for you!! Go, check out Kris' site, she has a blog where she features great recycled wool projects AND she sells wool sweaters at her shop! Too cool.

And now for the duck. I have had this unfinished wooden duck decoy sitting around my house for a long time. I just could never figure out what do with her, I wanted what ever I did to be special and different. Well, my current obsession with recycling wool sweaters sparked my creativity and I created this sweet little lady. She will be on sale at the Handmade Holiday Show here in Richmond an if no one snaps her up then she's on to the Rock and Shop Market in Raleigh, NC and if no one gets her there...then you all can have a shot at her (sorry that was a bad pun!)

(Can you believe this pic was taken with my iphone! Not bad, eh?!)

So, remember last year?...

Last year I was lucky enough to win Design Sponge's DIY contest with my Suitcase Pet Bed design. I just listed two new beds on the etsy site! Hershey and Nixon wouldn't stay out of them as you can see! And as always you can find instructions to make your own bed here.