Trio of Blue and White Snowflakes

Trio of Blue and White Snowflakes
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This trio of blue snowflakes are some of the more recent Christmas tree ornaments I've made. The idea was from a tutorial I saw on another blog (wish I could remember which one it was so I could provide the link).

Basically there are 2 layers of felt cut into circles. In my case, I used blue and white (to represent water and ice). On the white felt, I drew a snowflake pattern.

Then I sewed along the snowflake pattern on a sewing machine. I had the white felt facing up (to see the pattern). White thread was in the bobbin and blue thread was on the top (so there would be a contrast on each side).

After I was done, I took a scissor and cut the hanging threads. Then I trimmed close to the sewn lines to reveal the snowflake pattern.

They were fun to make. I'm going to make more snowflakes in a variety of sizes so the patterns could be a bit more elaborate...and that there's some variation in size.

My goal this year for Christmas is to have it be more of a homemade one...one filled with special memories that will sustain my daughters not only this year, but for many years to come.

Giveaway - 50 Custom Thank You Cards

Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is giving one lucky reader a pack of 50 custom thank you cards with envelopes, all for free!

UPrinting cards are made from high-quality paper and cardstock and will surely bring holiday cheer to your friends and family. You can upload your own digital picture or use one of their images to create your own cards.

For hosting the giveaway, I receive 50 thank you cards from UPrinting.com; and am so excited to be able to have cards printed with one of my favorite pictures.

If you enter below, you have a chance to choose one of your pictures to have made into thank you cards as well. You could use these for your own use, to give someone as a gift this holiday season, or perhaps you want to create thank you cards for your business.

The specifics:

Prize: 50 7"x5" (folded to 3.5"x5") custom thank you cards with plain envelopes

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you may want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Two Lilies

Two Lilies
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Sometimes it's just the little things that can make one's day. After the girls and I went to the Minnesota Orchestra, I took them to the Como Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota.

The lilies were at the Como Conservatory in the sunken garden display. The whole room smelled beautiful, and was such a mood lifter.

The girls literally would stop and smell the flowers. "This one smells pretty, Mom!"

Taking some time to smell the flowers...to relax...to enjoy the moment. These are all things I need to do - especially as a parent and caregiver.

The visit to the Como Conservatory was a good reminder of that.

Giveaway - 16" x 20" Rolled Canvas Print

Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is rolling out a giveaway – 16x20 rolled canvas. Rolled canvas prints are perfect for home decor, photo prints, and signage. One lucky reader is eligible to win a free 16 x 20 custom rolled canvas.

The specifics:

Giveaway Prize: (1) 16x20 Rolled Canvas http://www.uprinting.com/Artist-Canvas.html for One Lucky Winner

Size: 16x20 rolled canvas

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Handmade Envelopes with a Twist

Handmade Envelopes with a Twist
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This was for a swap on Swap-Bot. The goal was to create a series of 5 or more handmade envelopes of descending size. Each envelope contained a slightly smaller envelope.

The smallest envelope contained a small gift. In this case, I enclosed a foreign coin and stamp - for the recipient's son who collects foreign coins.

Five of the evelopes were made from wallpaper that was in a wallpaper sample book. The other two envelopes were made from scrapbooking paper.

This Christmas things are going to be a bit tight. So, I've been thinking about different ways to creatively package smaller gifts.

My daughters saw me making these envelopes and both thought it was "really cool!" Good...because at least one of the gifts that each of them receives this year will be packaged this way.

Giveaway - 18" x 24" Poster Print

Harvest Moon by Hand’s sponsor, UPrinting.com, is giving one lucky reader an 18"x24" poster print.

I also receive one poster from UPrinting.com for hosting the giveaway; and am so excited to be able to choose one of my digital pictures and have UPrinting.com enlarge it to poster size.

If you enter below, you have a chance to choose one of your pictures to have enlarged as well. With the holidays just around the corner, this would make a great gift for someone.

The specifics:

Giveaway prize: (1) 18x24 poster print for One Lucky Winner

Size: 18" x 24" Poster

Paper: High Gloss; Semi Gloss

Shipping: FREE UPS Ground Shipping in the U.S.

Eligibility: Limited to U.S. residents due to shipping costs. UPrinting.com is hoping to negotiate better shipping rates soon.

Register to Win By: November 14th. A winner will be chosen by Harvest Moon by Hand using random.com on November 15th and will be emailed that day.

To enter Harvest Moon by Hand’s giveaway sponsored by UPrinting.com, please leave a comment below. Make sure you include your name and email so there’s a way to contact you if you win.

For Bonus Entries:

Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry.

1. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand's blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting Harvest Moon by Hand know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow Harvest Moon by Hand on Twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

5. Post this giveaway on your Facebook page (put "Facebook" in your post below).

6. Become a Harvest Moon by Hand Facebook fan. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

Good luck!

Miniature Art Kits in Altered Matchboxes

Altered Matchboxes
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

These are six of the most recent altered matchboxes that I made. They are each hand-painted and decorated; and then filled with 20+ items.

They are small (the 32 count matchboxes), but it's surprising how much actually fits in them.

My daughters love when I make one for them. They are like little art kits full of possibilities. They can make collages, artist trading cards, embellish notecards, or make pictures with the contents.

These miniature art kits/busy boxes are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.

Thanksgiving Stars...and Being Thankful

4 Thanksgiving Stars
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

These are the newest window stars I made for Thanksgiving and autumn. I made them for a monthly challenge on HandmadeMN (the theme is "Thankful for...).

Here's the link to vote (it's free and takes only a few seconds):
http://etsymn.blogspot.com/2009/11/november-challenge-thankful-for.html

The window stars are made from a translucent paper that is cut into small pieces, folded multiple times per point, and then glued together to create the star.

The stars are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand, at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com.
Something to think about today:

What is one thing that you are thankful for?

Olivia in Headdress

Olivia in Headdress
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

This is the headdress that she wore for Halloween. It's from the carnival museum in Mobile, Alabama.

Now that Halloween is over, the girls can use the headdress and mask for play. They enjoy dressing up, pretending, and creating their own stories/plays. Am interested in seeing how they use the headdress in play.

They could spend hours each day playing - creating stories with rather involved plots and characters. Having a variety of costumes, fabric, and miscellaneous items (open-ended toys, essentially) gives them a wider range in their play. They are not limited by what the costume or item dictates.

I continue to be fascinated with how they transform everyday items into their stories and play.

Lit Pumpkins for Halloween

4 Lit Pumpkins
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

The girls and I drew and carved the pumpkins one afternoon. We had lots of fun.

This was the first year that Sophia was able to carve her own pumpkins. At 8 1/2 years old, this is an important milestone. Now, not only can she draw what she wants her pumpkin to look like, but she can carve it as well.

Made roasted pumpkin seeds later. They were very good!

More pictures from the pumpkin carving afternoon are at my Flickr site.

Handmade Books

3 Handmade Books
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Made this trio of books for a challenge on Etsykids. The challenge was to create an object(s) that focused on birds and/or owls.

These books are handmade using cardboard from food boxes (e.g., cereal boxes, pasta boxes), decorative paper, ribbon, postage stamps, yarn, and stickers.

My daughters love little books that I make for them (they are only 3 1/2" x 5" with about 8-10 pages in each book. They can fill them with short stories, pictures they draw or cut out from magazines, and things they collect outside (e.g., leaves, feathers that have fallen on the ground).

They are available in my shop. Please see my Flickr profile for the link to my shop.
They are available in my shop, Harvest Moon by Hand.

Girls at the Minnesota Orchestra

Girls at the Minnesota Orchestra
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Saw the "Percussion Spectacular" at the Minnesota Orchestra. This was the first visit for the girls to the Minnesota Orchestra, and they really enjoyed it.

It was such an engaging performance that the girls and I will remember for a long time!

Etsy Promo Packs

Etsy Promo Packs
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

I create promo packs each month with a variety of business cards and samples from Etsy shops.

Shops send me their cards and samples, I put them into packets and then send them out to customers.

It's a great way to let potential customers know about your business.

I assemble promo packs around the middle of each month. Contact me if you're interested in including business cards and/or samples for your Etsy business.

Sophia with the Pumpkin She Grew

Sophia with Pumpkin
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Each year, one of Sophia's projects is to grow pumpkins. This year, she was very happy with the harvest. There are lots of pumpkins - not huge ones, but lots of them.

This is one pumpkin that she liked and brought up to the house to decorate for autumn.

Fabric Stuffed Pumpkins

Fabric Stuffed Pumpkins with Hand Embroidered Felt Stems
Originally uploaded by Pictures by Ann

Made these two pumpkins for a swap on Swap-Bot. They are made with six pieces of cotton fabric that are machine-sewn together.

They are stuffed with wool from sheep I raised. The stem is felt that is hand-embroidered together and stuffed with wool.

I have other fall and winter items for the home in my shop (Harvest Moon by Hand). Please visit the shop at http://www.harvestmoonbyhand.etsy.com/.