The Ruffled Scarf

Right before Christmas I was getting my hair cut and noticed some really awesome scarves for sale in the salon.  When I saw them I could not imagine myself ever being able to make them.  They looked very complicated.  I commented about the scarves to my hairdresser and she told me they were knitted and that another customer had told her the pattern is only 6 stitches across and that it was made with a special lacy kind of yarn.  I was instantly intrigued.  I went home and did a good ol' Google search to figure out the type of yarn needed.  Then I watched a YouTube video about how to knit with this lacy yarn. 

For Christmas I got a gift card to Hobby Lobby (LOVE!) and used it to purchase some special yarn.  I watched the video again and within a few hours (spread out over 2 days) I had a beautiful lacy scarf.  I would be very happy to make a scarf like this for anyone who'd like to order.  I would also be happy to teach you how to make your own or refer you to the video I used.  Here are a few photos of my scarf.  Not the best photos........I snapped them quickly at night.  It gives you an idea of how pretty and ruffly the scarf is though.  It is super-light and would be great to wear even in warmer weather.

Here's a little peek.........

.......at what I've been crafting!  I am making a goal to write more blog posts here in 2013.  It will be my way of sharing what I'm up to as well as a way to showcase items that I'm planning to make for sale this year.

As I sit here writing this post, here is my view.  (See photo below.)

You can see my awesome new cozy socks, a Christmas gift from my oldest son.  I LOVE COZY SOCKS!!!  My little sweetheart, Lucky, is always close by when I'm crafting.  In the distance you can see my TV where I'm watching a cheesy movie on Lifetime.  You can see athletic shoes on the treadmill because one day, very soon, I'll put them on and walk on said treadmill.  Really!  I'm not kidding!  There are a few crafty creations in this photo that I'll post about over the next few days.  See if you can spot them!!

When I'm finished typing this post and publishing it, I'm going to finish the dishcloth I started knitting last night to use up some Christmas yarn I hadn't done anything wish.  These knit up super fast, are super easy, and make great gifts.  I use this pattern which is often called "Grandma's Favorite Dishcloth."

Thanksgiving Pillow: BLESSED

Just listed this pillow in my Etsy shop.  It would be a great hostess gift for Thanksgiving or a wonderful keepsake to pull out in November each year, reminding you to count your blessings.  CLICK HERE to purchase.   I will have 2 similar pillows at the Holiday Boutique on November 15th and can make more to order, but ORDER SOON!!

"merry" pillow

Here's a cute little pillow that would make a great gift or home decor item for Christmas.

New blog for doll lovers

Hello, everyone!  Just wanted to let you know that I've launched a new blog just for doll lovers.   If you loved dolls as a child, love dolls as an adult, collect dolls and/or create things for dolls, this blog is right up your alley.  I'll feature interviews with doll lovers young and old.  YOU could be featured on the blog!!  If you have a great childhood memory about dolls, let me know.  I'd love to have you participate.  The more the merrier.  The new blog is called "Never Too Old For Dolls" and can be found HERE.  Go check it out!!

Gearing up for a Handmade Christmas!!

Hi, everyone!  It's been a while since I've posted on here.  I've had a busy summer and fall.  I hosted several camps this summer at my home which were a great success.  So successful, in fact, that I decided to offer two monthly clubs for kids this fall: one for art and one for sewing.  They both filled quickly and are keeping me busy.  It's been so fun and rewarding to share my love of crafting and creating with others.  With all that going on, I haven't done much with Walnut Hill Handmade for a while.  I'm hoping that will change soon as I start to get orders for Christmas gifts.  Offerings from Walnut Hill Handmade for Christmas will include:  custom cloth dolls, custom name and word pillows, handcrafted dollhouses for little dolls such as Mini Lalaloopsy, Littlest Pet Shop, etc., felt cookie baking sets, and hand-knitted fingerless mittens.  I've included a few photos of a recent order I've done via Walnut Hill Handmade on Etsy.  For more samples of orders I've done, please visit the gallery page.  Please order early to give me plenty of time to make your one-of-a-kind creation.

Time to order for Easter!!

Don't wait until the last minute (like I usually do!) to plan a special, one-of-a-kind Easter gift for your loved one!  Walnut Hill Handmade is here to help!  I would love to make a custom-order name pillow or doll for you to give as a gift.  It's the gift you won't find anywhere else, handmade with love, just for you!!  Here's a few photos of some orders I've done recently.  Remember, dolls and pillow can be completely customized to your preferences.  Dolls are $35 and pillows are $10 plus $5 per letter.  Leave me a comment if you are interested in ordering.  If you are out of town (not in SW Iowa), I'll set up a custom Etsy listing for your order.  You can then purchase via Etsy which makes it much easier for both of us!!

Back of Belen's pillow with a custom heart applique.

Me + You = US

I love how these little pillows turned out.  It's great when an idea that's born in your own head can be made into reality.  It took a bit of tweaking, and sewing into the wee hours of the morning, but I'm happy with the results.  This pillow set would make a great gift for a wedding, bridal shower, or anniversary.  I made the one pictured using some charm squares I had on hand.  They happen to coordinate perfectly with the quilt on my own bed.  However, I've listed this set in my Etsy shop.  I can customize this pillow set for any color combination.  So sweet!  I love how the pillows make the word "US" when you flip them over.  I have plans for a His/Hers pillow combo too.  Hopefully that will be coming within the next week or so.

Bunny Doll

Just in time for Easter, this little bunny doll would be SO cute in your little one's Easter basket.  She comes with a removable skirt with attached apron.  She is listed in the Etsy shop for $35.  This doll is also available as a custom order item and can be dressed in any color scheme.

LUCKY pillow

Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, I've whipped up a LUCKY pillow.  This pillow is perfect for all your St. Patrick's Day decorating needs.  It is listed in the Etsy shop for $25.  Right now there's only one available, but with proper notice I could make more.  Fabrics may vary from the one pictured depending upon availability.

Customized Options

Here are several photos of items I've made recently as custom orders.  Name pillows make great gifts for your child and can be customized to their favorite sports team, color combination or room decor.  I can pretty much find a fabric with any motif on it.  Pillows start at $10 plus $5 per letter.  This price may go up a bit if I have to special order the fabric.

For a little guy who loves Batman............I made this pillow.  I can do striping on the back as shown in the second photo.

The pillow below was made for a "tween" who loves neon colors.  

And for a Husker fan............

Felt Cookie Playset

I am so happy about the new felt playsets I've just made.  I had fun stitching up the cookies as well as making the cute storage container.  This set sells for $20 and includes a decorated storage box, felt "dough", wooden rolling pin, heart cookie cutter, 6 hand-stitched heart cookies, and 6 felt "frostings" (3 red and 3 pink).  Let me know if you are interested.  If you are not local (SW Iowa), you can purchase one through my Etsy shop.

Personalized Name Pillows

I just finished my first custom order for a personalized name pillow.  The pattern I use is from Kimberbell Kids and turns out SO cute.  It can be customized a jillion ways for both boys and girls.  I also made this little gal a "love pocket" pillow with a heart pocket on the front and her initial on the back.  Colors were chosen to match her bedroom decor.  So cute!!  Let me know if you are interested in a custom pillow for someone special.  The cost is $10 plus $5 per letter unless I have to special order the fabric in which case the cost increases a bit. So, a 6 letter name or word would be $40.

New item and Custom Orders!

Boy dolls are now available for custom order!!!  These guys are so cute with their little "cowlicks" sticking up!  The two pictured above are a custom order and are headed to Virginia tomorrow!  However, they are representative of what your custom ordered boy doll would look like.  He comes with a little shirt (part of his body) and coordinating removable shorts.  Boy dolls are $35 each.  I will make an additional coordinating pair of shorts for your doll for $5 extra.  Skin color, eye color and hair color can be customized as well as clothing color and design.

Below are several examples of the various felt colors I can use for hair color.  The middle one looks gray, but is actually tan/taupe.  The second from the top is pumpkin-colored and would be perfect for a little red-head!  Top color is a VERY dark brown.  I could also do black.

 And don't forget that you can order a customized girl doll as well for $35.  She comes with a removable skirt and can be customized just like the boy.  $5 extra for an extra skirt.  Both dolls are made using a Bit of Whimsy Dolls pattern.

Also available is a cozy flannel cowl.  I haven't been able to enlist the help of a professional photographer yet, so I wish the photo were better.  But...........this is a circle of flannel sewed into a ring.......nearly 60 inches in diameter and about 11 inches wide.  You loop it twice around your neck for a VERY stylish, cozy, and functional accessory.  The cowl is $20.  I only have this one available right now, but if there's interest, I will make more in different color palettes.  There will definitely be a selection of softer, lighter infinity scarves in the shop for spring.

Don't forget about the little "love pocket" pillows!  They are only $10 each.  They can be customized with your child's initial on the back.  The one shown below is a custom order for a little girl whose name begins with "C".  It was made to match her room decor.

And finally..........Valentine's Day is just around the corner!  Would you like some unique, one-of-a-kind home decor to brighten your surroundings?  Think about ordering a custom pillow like the one shown below.  Pillow are $5 per letter.  They can also be customized with your child's name or a meaningful phrase.  All fabric colors can be customized as well.  These would make GREAT gifts for a new baby!  

Remember, if you are not in Southwest Iowa, you can still order a custom creation to be shipped right to your home.  Simply order through my Etsy shop.  Link is on the right sidebar.  Hope to hear from you soon!

Etsy shop

After getting a few orders from folks who need to have items shipped, I decided the best way to handle this in terms of shipping and payment would be to set up an Etsy shop.  I've had the name "Walnut Hill Handmade" saved over at Etsy since November 2010.  Today I finally took the plunge and got it up and running.  CLICK HERE to check it out.  I have sold pretty much all of the items I've made so far and have taken orders for custom items.  Once I get those finished, I'm hoping to have some new things in the shop.  There is also a link to the shop on the sidebar of the blog.  If you are a local customer (SW Iowa), just email me about what you want instead of going through Etsy.  That way you won't be charged shipping.  THANKS for all the love so far!  It's so encouraging.

Valentine's Day Offerings

I have two little Love-A-Sauruses all ready to find a home.  These little guys were made using a Bit of Whimsy pattern.  They are safe for children of all ages, even little ones, since their eyes are made of felt.  These cuties are $10 each.  I am also willing to do custom orders in this pattern using non-Valentine fabrics.

The "SMITTEN" pillow makes a great decoration to keep out during the month of February.  This particular pillow is a custom-order only item.  I've used a pillow pattern from Kimberbell Kids and can customize this pillow to your choosing.  These pillow are priced at $5 per letter.  So, SMITTEN would be $35.  If you'd like a smaller (and less expensive!) pillow for V-Day, LOVE would be only $20.  These pillows would also make great gifts for children when personalized with their names and favorite colors.  These pillows will ALWAYS be available as custom orders.  They would be a hit as a birthday gift too!!

Ruby Mae is an adorable little friend looking for her forever home.  She is safe for children of all ages.  She comes with a removable Valentine's skirt as well as another skirt for "everyday" wear.  Ruby Mae is $30, and she was made with a pattern from Bit of Whimsy.  Ruby Mae is the only gal up for adoption right now, but her friends are available as custom-order items.  These dolls are $25 each ($5 extra for an additional skirt).

Love Notes pillows are a wonderful way to show your child (or spouse, or friend) how much you care about them.  Each pillow is crafted with a little heart-shaped pocket into which you can slip "love notes" during the month of February (or anytime!).  I made these for my boys two years ago and they LOVED checking their pillows each night and reading my little notes of love.  These pillows are $10 each.  In addition to the ready-made ones, I will make these as custom-order items.