For the Patio

Contributor post by Mairi from mairidesign

As the summer continues and we get to sit on the patio enjoying our free time, we look to decorate these welcoming spaces with pretty handmade ornaments like a hand-painted portrait of your pet, maybe hang a sign for your visitors to read, or perhaps add to the serenity with a lantern or some candles.

The Christmas in July team have selected some items to make your patio the envy of the neighbours.

zizzybob from zizzybob says

Do you have candles on your patio? Then you’ll need a mat underneath it. I have several to choose from in a variety of colors and seasonal themes.
Do you want a specific color? Just ask, I can make one in any color to match your mood or decor.

Coiled Fabric Candle Mat

Judy Merashoff from JAMsCraftCloset says

These vintage brass hurricane lanterns would be the perfect lighting for the outdoor patio. They would make a soft romantic glow on the patio for that special dinner with the love of your life. Sit them on a table or hang them from the ceiling or tree. No matter how you use them, they will provide an awesome atmosphere for whatever is happening on the patio.

Vintage Brass Lantern

Przemila K from CanisArtStudio says

A colorful ornament hand-painted on a wooden board, secured with clear varnish, is perfect for decorating your patio. The picture is made on an oval board and it is very decorative. This one painting depicts a portrait of a little Westie dog, but you can also order a similar one with your favorite pet: dog, cat, horse, etc. If you would like to decorate the wall of your patio, you can choose a larger size.

Westie Welcome Sign

Lisa VH from PricklyPawWood says

If it is customary to take off shoes before entering your home, this “Remove Your Shoes” sign is perfect for the patio to encourage others to do the same. The sign is primed and painted for outdoor use and then additionally painted by hand and tied with a silky cord.

Please Remove Your Shoes Sign

 

Favorite Holiday Item In Your Shop – #CIJParty 2018

Contributor post by Alicia from AliciasFindings  and Mairi from mairidesign

We all have a favorite item that we have in our shop. It could be our favorite because of the process it took to make it, its color or any other reason.

Here, the team share their favorite Holiday item from their shop and tell us why they like it so much.

michael tarter from BurntEarthHorseHair says

One of my favorite Xmas items is my Luminaria Bags. They are ceramic clay and have holes in them to let the candle light shine through. I crave out different designs on the bags. One of my favorite designs is the Corrales Old Church. I have several sizes available and over 20 different designs.

Luminaria Bags

Dianna from HoneyMyrtleStudio says

One of my favourite items is my blue hand dyed cushion cover. It was one of the first items I made using hand dyed fabric that I had done myself.

Blue Throw Pillow

Roses Workshop from RosesWorkshop says

I love my Harris tweed baubles. They bring the beauty of hand-woven fabric to something purely decorative. Lovely enough to be kept as heirloom pieces.

Harris tweed Christmas tree decoration

Arlene from ThisandThatCrafter says

Hands down this is my favorite item… This ornament has such a sweet story behind how it came to be… I have lived in my home since I was born and one of my neighbors that had been in her home since before I was born asked me to come down to her home to look at some things 3 years ago in the summer of 2015. She then gave me a piece of a sweater that she said was one of her favorites. It was her sweater many years ago when she was much younger. She said she had reused most of it but had this one side left and she wanted to give it to me as she knew I sewed and asked me to make something so that her favorite sweater could live on. The color reminded me of dirty snow. So I made the dirty snowman out of what was left of her special sweater… I gave one to her to put on her tree. I kept one and gave my daughter one and the rest are for sale… so far a total of 6 are living on in Christmas celebrations. I have one more made and enough to make 2 more beyond that. Then all the sweater will be gone. Sad to say that she passed away in 2016 and her granddaughters came to get me and told me I could have what ever I wanted out of her sewing room… one of the things I got was many buttons that were cut off of garments once the garment was done being used. I now am adding 2 of those buttons to each of the remaining snowmen.

My Dirty Snowman

Patricia from TheOldBarnDoor says

My favorite item is this Christmas card featuring Miss Abbie one of our collies on an early morning walk here on the farm just after a fresh snow fall. I was never certain what captured her interest in the trees but I like the feeling and colours of this card.

Entitled Happy Collie Days this one always makes me smile. This image has been featured by The Collie Rescue Network in their calendars and on a note card they use to raise funds.

Happy COLLIE Days Christmas Card

spoiledfelines1 from SpoiledFelinesArt says

 

This “I love cats” handcrafted wooden plaque is my favorite shop item because it declares my love of cats … I consider it to be a customer favorite as well since I have sold several of them to other cat lovers!

I think it’s a great gift idea for the cat lover on a gift list because it’s cute and inexpensive!

Cat Wall Hanging

Mairi from mairidesign says

These Christmas bauble shaped tree decorations are my favourites because of the gorgeous iridescent glass I used and, also, that others also seem to really like them. I made some for my students and one of them ordered several for her colleagues. Then, my sister and my cousin ordered several each to hang as garlands in their windows. Then, more orders came. It was great! The little beads swing and tinkle in the breeze and add a chic touch to a festive display.

Christmas Tree Decorations

Joanna from Aromatika Sapounia from JoannasScentedSoaps says

I love this elegant set with 3 luxury glycerin soaps and a charm for good luck!

Trendy Soaps Christmas Gift

Judy from PiecesOfMePaperCraft says

My favorite is this new card I created last week. I like the simple design and message. It’s warm and inviting and speaks of home.

Happy Holidays card

Peggy Huff from christmaskeepsakes says

I love owls and these whimsical owls on a Christmas stocking are one of my favorites.

Felt Owl Christmas Stocking

Bobbie Ann Pimm from PimmCreations says

I loved making these waterless snow globes.

Christmas Snow globes

Lois from FeltWithAHeart says

This was hard! I love Christmas and keep several Christmas items in my shop year ’round, because I think holiday lovers shop whenever the mood hits them. Right now it was between my red-nosed reindeer (I’m also an avid animal lover) and this guy. I guess he won out because he’s a new addition, so I wanted to welcome him.

Felted Santa Claus

friedasophie from friedasophie says

This is my favorite piece for Christmas because it reminds me of ice crystals!

Herkimer Diamond GF Ring

Rebecca Turkovics from OrnamentsByRebeccaT says

This ornament is one of my favs. It reminds me so much of growing up in Iowa and going sledding on my grandparents farm with all my cousins.

Christmas Quilted Ornament

Cristal Hughes from DesignsbyCristal says

I have so many favorite Christmas items in my shop but this one stands out to me especially since I choose to use the ribbon on a dog collar. We all have that pet who is both naughty and nice which makes this Christmas dog collar even more cute, funny and true to their personality.

Naughty or Nice Christmas Dog Collar

Gail from QuiltSewPieceful says

Wow, hard to choose just one. Don’t you find that when you make something new, it is almost always the favorite – until the next one! Anyway, here is my favorite. I love winter animal pictures, and my DH love penguins. When I saw these delightful guys, I just had to buy them, and I bought lots! Just couldn’t resist. I knew right away that some would be made into pillows. The rest are waiting for inspiration, and time.

Quilted Pillow Covers

 

 

Back In Time

Contributor Post by Mary from StockLaneStudio

The Etsy CIJ team is full of vintage and retro treasures.  From Art Deco mirrors and vintage recipe boxes to finely preserved antique music programs. Adorn bright retro dresses with brooches and pendants that brings us back to the ‘good ol’ days’ or evoke cherished memories.

Mairi from mairidesign says

Pop ‘back in time’ each day as you put your make-up on in this Art Deco style mirror. A century ago this style captured the hearts of our grandparents and, with bold geometric patterns, it continues to add a touch of decadence in today’s modern homes.

Art Deco Decorative Wall Mirror

Cindy Humphrey from Cynhumphrey says

Those reminiscing about the “good old days” can’t help but remember how popular this pin up girl was back in her day! This adorable scarf pendant slide is the perfect gift for a gal who knows how to have fun. It adds a touch of whimsical class to any accessory collection!

Retro Female Cartoon Scarf Pendant

Bevan Blackshaw from TimberDimensions says

Brooches were once popular items of jewellery to enhance an outfit. As with all things they seem to be making a resurgence, My timber brooches are made from offcuts of rare and beautiful timbers. These will last for eons. The finding is screwed, not glued to the timber and I use findings of the highest quality that I can find. Truely a beautiful thing that takes you back to a time gone by.

Tasmanian Blackwood Brooch

Judy Merashoff from JAMsCraftCloset says

I found this lovely and unique recipe basket at an estate sale. Inside were some blank recipe cards, but no old recipes. To find some old recipes would have been the icing on the cake…but this cake would have to go without icing for now…Do people still use recipe boxes or do they just save recipes on their social media or their computers, iPads, or Smart Phones? The recipe box may be a thing of the past.

Vintage Wicker Recipe Box with Pink Accents

Patricia from TheOldBarnDoor says

From a time when travelling by ship was the only way to get to where you wanted to be. From the Cunard Steamship Gallia. this 1883 this shipboard concert program speaks to the entertainment of the day and the fund raising efforts of the time. That it has been preserved and survived all these years fascinates me.

Original Antique 1883 Cunard Steamship GALLIA Concert Program

Susan Fowler from SSFDesigns says

I love fashion ! But fashions from the past has such a wonderful story to be told. Although this dress is not vintage it is inspired from the times of the past 1950 I call it my “I Love Lucy” dress. I remember watching that show with my family and laughing so much!

Women’s 1950’s vintage style red dress

Marjorie Scenna from mscenna says

I love all things vintage and each of my creations starts with a vintage piece or two. This repurposed picture frame has fun retro style and features a collection of vintage buttons and jewelry parts. It’s the perfect way to display a photo or keepsake with special memories!

Repurposed Picture Frame

Rita Szöllősi from RitzySelection says

It happened 40 years ago. My parents went to my brother in Switzerland at Christmas. I was left alone on a holy night. When they came home with a nice woolen bed blanket as a gift.This cushion is made of this bed cover. It is a retro style.

Victorian Gifts

Contributor post by Mairi of mairidesign

The Victorian era was a time of hard work and building for the future but, also, a time of opulence and heightened interest in the arts. Refined sensibilities, romanticism and mysticism influenced our fashions and home decorations to create an expression of the time. With this inspiration, our team have gathered their Victorian style items to celebrate such an innovative period of our history.

Judy Merashoff from JAMsCraftCloset says:

When I think of Victorian, I think of doves, hearts (love), soft colors, intricate patterns, has a romantic feel, and is classy. This heart wreath was made and painted by me forty plus years ago from a kit. I’m not sure how ‘classy’ it is, but it does bring out the feeling of love and romance. It would be beautiful on a door or wall.

Wreath Wall or Door Vintage

Natalia from KMalinkaVintage says:

I love this Victorian cameo ring with Marcasite sparkle accents very unusual composition mother of pearl Abalone iridescence within a decorative 14k gold twisted rope edge.

Victorian Cameo Ring

YOKO from yokojewelry says: 

Antique Victorian taste earrings with lapis lazuli. Beautiful lapis lazuli stones are set like a picture on a gold picture frame.

Lapis lazuli cabochon earrings

Elisabeth Perez from LizPOriginals says: 

I love keys and I think this key fan pull could fit this era. Boudoir comes to mind and hot summer days in English posts in India.

Ceiling Fan pull

willowvalleyvintage from WillowValleyVintage says:

I was drawn to the triangular stones on this beautiful Victorian brooch. Another Shop owner, who specializes in jewelry, shared her knowledge and proof read my description. She told me it is Czech Glass and was able to determine the age of the piece by the style of the clasp.

The Lily of Valley Tea Cup and Saucer belonged to my husband’s grandmother. The colors of the set complimented the brooch.

Victorian Czech Brooch

Rita Szöllősi from RitzySelection says:

In 1846 John Livesey made a curtain machine based on Heathcoat. The XIX. In the second half of the century, Victorian UK products are highly popular. The bobinet curtain is an upgraded version of lace upholstery that provides a more diverse base structure and greater patterning options. My lace cushion is made with this technique!

Victorian Lace Pillow

#CIJRoadTrip – Bosnia And Herzegovina: Banja Luka

Contributor post by Michelle of EviesToolEmporium

Let’s travel to Bosnia and Herzegovina – Banja Luka with Sonja from DeepSilence

1. What city do you live in? What makes it special?

I live in the town of Banja Luka, which has a lot of trees. The city is full of greenery and there is one river named Vrbas. Behind the river is an old castle from the Roman period.

Banja Luka – Bosnia And Herzegovina

2. What are several places everyone visiting your country should see?

Near my town is Andric city. This is very young city. Behind old city Visegrad is the birth place of our Nobel writer Ivo Andric. His novel describes the period from the Turkish empire in our country. Andric city is well known because of the very famous film director Emir Kusturica. His idea is to show many cultural period of our country in one place.

Andric City – Bosnia And Herzegovina

While in my country you should also see the old city Barscarsija in Sarajevo and old bridge in Mostar.

Barscarsija In Sarajevo

Old Bridge In Mostar

3.  How have the customs, traditions, geography, nature etc. inspired the items you create?

I have a lot of works inspired by our traditions. Some of them are in in the UNESCO book – Traditional Arts And Crafts In BiH.

Traditional Arts And Crafts In Bosnia And Herzegovina

Photographs By Norbert Heyll

Swinging Vases

Plesacice

4. What are you doing this fall to drive your business in your community? Are you doing a festival or show? How do you reach out to your community?

I have my own place in the spreading center where my work has a permanent exhibition and sale gallery. Here are some pictures.

Permanent Exhibition And Sale Gallery

Permanent Exhibition And Sale Gallery

Circle Of Love And Life Wreath From DeepSilence

Dove – Bird Of Peace – Wall Sculpture From DeepSilence

Pink Lotus Flower – Ceramic Candle Holder From DeepSilence

5. What are your social media sites?

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lijepabanjaluka?ref=hl
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Galerija-Sonja-Bikic/309422182538930?ref=hl
Twitter: twitter.com/SonjaBikic