another giveaway, I mean, it's pretty much all I do now :)

Hedgehog giveaway! I do love me some giveaways :)

Nest

My little piece of "home." 

I've recently set up this space in my little corner of the room I share with my family, next to my side of the air mattress.  My wool felt rug and my small crate book shelf.  One day I will have my own nest, unit then, my corner makes me smile.

I tip my hat to the colorful arrangement GIVEAWAY!

Happy February friends!  We celebrate so many things in this wonderful wintertime month: Ground Hog Day, Valentine’s Day, Presidents Day, Mardi Gras & Ash Wednesday, Black History, and this year… Leap Day!  I wanted to express something that is heavy on my heart and, after much tinkering, has become the focus of my little shop.  I believe deep in my soul that the toys children play with and even the ones that they only see around them have a big impact on their development.  I have a three-year-old (girl) and a one-year-old (boy), and I can see in my daughter the impact that marketing is having on her.  The presentation of toys and fads, the bombardment of STUFF!  I am constantly trying to pare down the volume of toys present in our house and increase their quality (in the way they are manufactured and in the educational/developmental aspects).

made to look like her

I believe it is incredibly important to allow children to use their imagination by giving them simple, few, and quality toys.  I also believe, and have seen in my daughter, that dolls specifically are very important to developing social skills and using imagination.  Also, as she is becoming more self-aware she is recognizing what dolls look like her and enjoys those even more.  I don’t know about all the psychology that goes into that, but you just KNOW that it is important.  You can just tell that it is important for every child to see themselves reflected back at them, to have solidarity that helps produce a healthy identity. 

I want the truth about the world we live in to be present in my miniature version, in my shop.  It is obvious by our loving Father’s creation that he adores diversity.  He made all people beautifully and perfectly and I rejoice that we are able to see his creativity in the different colors of our skin. 

So, not only do I believe that all children should be able to own a doll that looks like they themselves look, but also I believe it is important for children to see dolls of different colors lined up next to each other in brotherhood.

The conclusion and purpose of my semi-rant and expression of my purpose in my shop is to announce three special offers only for the month of February that has been set aside in our country to celebrate the history of African Americans,

   1)   giveaway of one custom Classic doll: choose any of my 5 skin tones, numerous hair colors and innumerable hues and blends for eye color. 

   2)   30% off custom and in-stock dollies and play sets that possess skin tones in lovely latte, caramel, or chocolate.  These skin tones are perfect for many different ethnic backgrounds including people (like me) who have a Heinz 57 mix going on.

   3)   1:1... buy one, give one.  I am VERY excited about this part that was placed on my heart by our loving Creator!  For every doll (custom and in-stock both, even with the % discount) I will create and donate a classic doll in chocolate skin-tone to a wonderful organization based in the Democratic Republic of the Congo called Mwangaza International.  Check out the link for specific information including unbelievable stores and testimonies, but here is a basic run-down:   

    Their primary goal is to establish healing centers to minister to those effected by the wars in Congo. These centers are properties where women and children are taken in and put into families - not into a system. Those still young enough attend school and funds are established to make post-secondary studies   available. Adults are encouraged to learn a trade that they can use to reestablish

 themselves in the society  All who take part in the healing centers are given physical and psychological treatment through clinics and spiritual counseling.  The value of this holistic approach for Congo will be seen when it no longer has millions displaced and struggling to stay alive but instead has lost generations working together to rebuild the society.

Even before that, though, the value of the healing centers will be seen when one orphan hears the word “love” where he once heard “kill.” It will be seen when one abandoned woman receives a new family that will never abandon her.

SO, help me to give!  This is going to be an incredible undertaking and I want to make it as successful as possible.  Spread the word, spread the cuddles, spread the love of Christ to every child.  Get a better toy for your child and give the same gift to a precious child of God in the Congo.

Revelation 7: 9,10 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, and palm branches were in their hands; and they cry out with a loud voice, saying, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”

                                            HALLELUJAH & MARANATHA!

Giveaway rules and conditions:

To enter (complete both):

 o   “like” my Facebook page

 o   visit my Etsy shop and on the Facebook giveaway post (dated February 1) tell me which product from my shop is your favorite and why (this will be where I choose a winner from)

For 1 additional entry each, you should probably go ahead and do all of them to spread the word sufficiently (leave one Facebook comment per entry completed please so I can be sure they all count, make sure you also make note of those you had previously completed)

o   “share” the Facebook giveaway post on your own page

o   “follow” me on Twitter

     o    Tweet the following: RT @beMarybyHand is hosting a custom Classic Doll giveaway!          Visit for a chance to win http://bemarybyhand.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-tip-my-hat-to-colorful-arrangement.html

     o   “follow” my blog http://bemarybyhand.blogspot.com/

     o   blog about my giveaway and post the url in your comment

     o   subscribe to my newsletter

Shipping is included in the giveaway for the contiguous United States.  Those outside of this area still may enter and I will send you an invoice for shipping costs.  Thank you for helping me spread the word!

Winter Tip

I have seriously dry legs, especially in winter.  The only thing that really truly helps is to slather them up with coconut oil before I shower and then apply lotion afterwards.  Lotion by itself is never enough for me.  You can really use any oil, but I like coconut oil because it solidifies below 76*.  Or you could use an oil sprayer for liquid oil, too!  AND it's all natural, only one ingredient!

The Little Fox giveaway

one of my favorite artists is having a giveaway for this fabulous tote.  all of her stuff is fantastic. check it out and keep your fingers crossed that I win!

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=284245751632063&set=a.173433962713243.44425.157562094300430&type=1&theater

Tutorial: 2 mens' shirts become a tote!

This tutorial is perfect for another way to keep and show off a sentimental shirt, an unusable-as-a-shirt shirt, or a random fantastic thrift store find... plus they generally already have pockets!

I have a drawerfull of mens' shirts that my mother-in-law gave me, probably almost a year ago, to make into several tote bags for her.  The shirts belonged to three very important men: her deceased husband (Kyle) , her deceased father (George), and her deceased father-in-law (Dick).  Wow, these shirts are heavy.  I kept pushing them off and pushing them off and then I actually got REALLY busy.  The other day she reminded Jace to ask me about them because she really had intended to give one of them to her husband's mother (Mary Ellen) using 1 shirt that had belonged to Dick (her husband) and 1 that belonged to Kyle (her son).  I didn't know that part of the story... so I got to work.  

Material:

• two medium/large/xl mens' (or women's, if they're big enough) shirts.  Woven is best, I suppose knit is possible but the bag would not be as structured and it might lose its shape.
• iron/ironing board
• cutting mat (as large as possible), rotary cutter 
• OR just use:
• scissors
• straight edge ruler (preferably see-through)
• fabric marker or chalk
• coordinating thread
• Optional: interfacing    ***(I didn't use any)***

Step 1    

Iron! - which coincidentally is something my mother-in-law absolutely adores.  

I am not a perfect homemaker.  I don't know if I've ever actually ironed any of Jace's shirts.  Just do your best.  Try to make it lie flat, including if there are any pleats on the front or back.  Pleats can be tricky.

Step 2

Cutting

Cut along one side of the seam and continue going in a straight line through the sleeve.  Cut an inch or two up from the shoulder seam and around behind the collar.

Step 3

Sew up the front piece

About 1/8" away from the edge of the shirt front that has the button holes, or you can follow the original topstitching.   It is also helpful to use a zipper foot (not pictured) on this part to ease around the buttons.  I like to use a longer stitch here to emulate the topstitch effect that is already present.

Step 4

Measure and cut some more

 I had originally planned to make my bag 14.5" across and 14.5" tall (I actually had to make it wider to accommodate the pocket because I wanted to make sure I got all of the original pocket onto the bag, so it became about 15.5"W).  Plot out the size you want.  Use your straightedge and fabric marker to draw a straight line across where you'd like the top of the bag (I didn't do this, though I should've... I went ahead and cut it, but it caused me problems later) .  You can even include a bit of the lapels if you want to get creative/challenging.  Mark down the desired length from the straight line at several intervals, then connect your dots using your straightedge to create the bottom line and then connect the top and bottom lines at the edges to make the sides.  Make sure that the center of the bag is where you want it.  I marked my center at 7.25 since I had intended to make the bag 14.5" across.  Also, make sure that you don't cut too close to the buttons, as it makes it difficult to sew around.

Then cut!  If you're using scissors, just cut along the lines you've drawn.  Or use your straightedge with your rotary cutter.

Step 5

The back side

You could repeat step 4 and measure out, but I find it simpler to use the piece cut from step 4 as a template to cut the rest of the pieces (as long as you are careful).  The back of the shirt can be tricky if it has pleats.  Make sure it's ironed well, you may even want to pin them down if they are large enough.  Do not pull the pleats, lay the template down- checking to make sure the placement is correct, place the straightedge on top of both and carefully cut along the edges.  Or once you've laid the template down you can trace it with the marker and cut with scissors.

Step 6

Sew the front & back together (note: if you are going to attach interfacing, right before this is the step in which you would)

Pin the front & back pieces "right sides" together and sew, leaving the top open.  I use about 3/8" seam allowance.  You can use any measurement you want, as long as you do the same throughout.  I included this picture to show that on the red shirt, I had to pin down the pleat on the back because it was particularly large and the fold ran the entire length.  (Important:  On one of the bag bodies (on mine I chose the red), leave about 5" unsewn on one of the sides - away from the corners - to turn it right side out at the end)

Step 7  (Note: this step is optional. it creates a type of flat bottom effect.  You can eliminate it if you'd rather the bag be simpler and have squared off corners.  See second to last photo in this step for a better idea of what I'm talking about)

Flat bottomed corners

Measure a two inch square on all four corners (two on front & two on back) of the bag body that you just sewed together.  Mark it with fabric marker.  The fabric marker didn't show up well on the red fabric for me, so I ended up marking it with small straight pins.

Pinch the corner of the bag body so that what was the top corners in the squares you drew line up.  Pin & sew along that line.

Cut about 3/8" from the sewing line.

When you flip it right-side out, it should look like this.  If you haven't already, complete steps 1-7 in your other shirt.

The two bag body pieces before assembly

Step 8

Cut straps

I had enough fabric left in my shirts to use them to cut my straps.  I chose them to be 2.5" x 17.5" - cut two in each color (or four total if you're only using one color)

 Step 9

Sew straps

Pin one of each right sides facing and sew along both long sides and one short side.

 Flip inside out.  I had to use a knitting needle to push it all the way through and push the points into nice corners.

Iron the straps and topstitch 1/8" from edge.

 On mine I used differing threads on the top and in the bobbin so that they coordinate with their respective fabrics.

Step 10

Putting it all together!

Place one of the bag bodies inside the other, making sure that the right sides are touching each other.  Place the straps in-between the two pieces.  Measure out the middle of the bag and then out one or two inches on each side to place the straps.  Make sure that both sides of the bag have even placement of the straps.  You will not see the straps as you are sewing because they are sandwiched inside the bag bodies.

Sew all the way around the top of the bag, again 3/8" or 1/2" from the raw edge.  You may want to stitch several times over where the straps are.   Turn the bag right-side out through the hole that you left open.

You may or may not need to iron around the edge.  Then TOPSTITCH! almost done........

Step 11

Ladder stitch the hole that was left open by hand.  

Make sure to knot it well on both ends, use coordinating thread.

You're done!  Tote your tote, show off your sentimentality and/or eco-consciousness and fantastic skills!

For what reason could I possibly cry hysterically in the church gym in front of everybody?

They gave away my couch.

I know it's not really a big deal, and I believe on some level that I overreacted.  I love my couch, we have been through a TON together (kinda like me and my car.... if I were going to be attached to things, why couldn't they be pocket sized?).  When I was going through a really trying time in high school I could not sleep on my bed.  I am not sure why.  Sometimes I slept downstairs on the family couch, but mostly I slept on my ugly dated blue couch.  I had had it since my childhood. I have pictures of me and my great-grandma Hazel on that couch when I was around 4 or 5.  It was amazingly comfortable, physically and emotionally.

More than a year ago we sold 95% of our worldly goods in a garage sale held at our church.  I put a high price on my couch, people scoffed.  So, when it didn't sell... I didn't really mind.  But, what would I do with it?  We came up with a perfect solution: give it to the church.  The youth specifically.  They had a ton of couches in a circle in the youth room, but they could always use more.  So I was able to visit my couch.  Usually it was already full of people by the time I got down to the room, so I actually don't think I ever got to sit on it while it lived down there.

Tonight it was missing.  I asked the youth minister where it was.  They gave it away.

It went to a family in need, who had been living in their car and finally got an apartment.

I don't know if we specifically asked that they keep it so that we could eventually have it back or said anything about it being special at all.  I don't blame them, it was an extraordinary cause, I am glad it has a new home.

But...... it was a connection - to my childhood, to the home I once had with my family.  Some sort of anchor to my past and future.

You may think I overreacted, some of the people in the gym probably think that I am crazy or that someone died.  I can't even really express how I feel - this is a small portion.  Thanks for listening.