all things HOMEY

Merry Christmas and Happy NEW Year

2011-12-31T11:47:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas and Happy NEW Year

I have missed connecting with you on Etsy and here as I have been recovering from knee replacement surgery. My daughter, Colette, had updated her blog and posted about some of the Christmas ornaments I made for her. I hope you enjoy her blog and I hope to be back crafting and connecting soon!

Happy New Year!

Sally

http://ewe-scrap.blogspot.com

2011-11-24T08:11:00.001-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to all

and for my loyal followers, I have a special digital download sale at sssstudio.etsy. Buy 2 digital downloads and get 2 FREE, of equal or lesser value.

When you order 2 digital downloads, type in the 2 free downloads, (of equal or lesser value) in the comment section so you will only be charged for two but will receive 4.

Give your Christmas season a jump start by downloading all your tags and gifts.

(This offer ended Monday Noember 28th - please see the FREE Angel Card offer below)

Angel Card Giveaway

2011-11-20T14:40:00.004-05:00

Three holiday cards with handmade angels, paper pieced. Highlighted with squiggles, chalk and a vintage shell button. Use two cards to giveaway and save one for yourself.

The inside is left blank for you to write your own message: Merry Christmas, Thanks, you're an Angel or one of your own choosing.

Each card measure 5" x 6 1/2" and comes with a matching envelope.

Leave a message in the comment section and one winner will be chosen December 7th.

Christmas Angel Pattern

2011-11-19T08:45:00.000-05:00

Angels abound at Christmas time but really are all around us all the time.
This Angel can be made from pattern paper or stabilized cloth. She can be used as an ornament or on a scrapbook page, card or tag.

Click on the pattern and save to your computer. Open from your computer and size however you would like. Print and have fun with the Angel.

Be an Angel and don't sell the printed pattern. (c)Sally Swift 2011

Glad tidings to you all,

Holiday Craft Tutorial

2011-11-08T17:20:00.000-05:00

DIRECTIONS FOR NAPKIN RINGS:
Fold napkin ring paper or card-stock, wrong sides together.
Open folds, using glue stick, glue entire wrong side area.
Fold on fold lines. Press out any air bubbles.
Roll short ends together and glue overlapping ends using tacky glue. Clip, using paper clips or clothes pins, until dry.
Burnish edges with Distress ink.
For extra strength and protection, cover with Mod-Podge.
Add Harvest or Christmas Acorns with hot glue.
Tie ribbon in small bow and hot glue to top of acorns.

DIRECTIONS FOR ACORNS:
A. Cut fabric circles 1 1/2" in diameter. Using double thread and needle, Baste around edge of fabric. Pull thread a little to draw up circle.
Put a fiber fill ball into fabric circle.
B. Pull threads tightly and knot thread, clip thread.
C. Using hot glue gun, glue ball into acorn cap. Add button on top of bow if desired.
Repeat for all Acorns.

If you don't have a supply of acorns in your area, I sell them on my Etsy Shop: Alll Things Homey.
You can send me a message telling me what you need and I will make a custom order just for you.
I also have in my shop other items made from the stuffed acorns that might give you some decorating ideas.

Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving to you and all that you are thankful for.

Sally

GOD'S BOUNTY - in unexpected places...

2011-10-09T04:11:00.000-04:00

Sometimes God's blessings are right in our own backyard, or in my case, in the park across the street. Last fall, with two of my grandchildren's help, we picked loads of acorn caps. I listed them on my Etsy shop, not knowing if anybody would want them, but not only have I sold over 400 acorn caps, they were mailed in my Michael's boxes (see below). How cool is that.
TIP: HOW TO USE ACORN CAPS: Mine have small calico fabric circles, gathered and stuffed with fibre fill, then glued into the caps. Use to decorate. They are adorable just sitting in a glass bowl or basket. Decorate the base of a candle or a small wreath. If you are not a do-it-your-selfer, you can purchase some ready made from All Things Homey.

Most of the mailing I do for my Etsy Shops are small and fit in a mailing envelope but I hoped the day would come when I would need to mail larger items in BOXES. That would add expense for my buyers that I did not want to add.

One day, a few weeks or so ago, I was shopping at Michaels when I spied a buggy full of empty boxes! I had come on a day when they were stocking merchandise. I filled my buggy with their buggy full of small and medium boxes. Yeh, thank you Lord. The timing was perfect because within a week I had orders for my acorn caps and they were mailed in my 'Michael's' boxes. How cool is that.
Thanks for taking a look and Happy Fall to you all, Sally

Free ' To Do List' revised

2011-10-01T12:27:00.014-04:00

The holidays are rapidly approching. It seems like there is so much to do that I can't remember what I was going to work on today.
Oh yes, I was going to post a free To Do List on All Things Homey.

Click on image-save to computer-print
Make a List and check it twice. Be sure you ADD a day to shop at my Etsy shops:
sssStudio
AllThingsHomey
Treasures4Ewe
Happy Listing, Sally

God Bless America

2011-09-10T16:45:00.000-04:00

I was in my car when I first heard the news on the radio. I immediately turned around, went home and turned on the TV in time to watch the second plane hit the second tower. It was SO hard to believe this was actually happening.
The images of 9-11 are burned, forever, in my mind and heart. Shock. Disbelief. Shock again. Praying. Praying. Praying. God help those people. Lord have mercy. Shock after Shock.
Truly 9-11 was another turning point for America. We ALL came together. We turned to God - but didn't stay there. Good Lord, deliver us.

This is a scrapbook page I did for my daughter who lived in Texas on 9-11. Her boys, then 3 and 5 held up the days newspaper...which I still have along with Magazines and 1st anniversary publications.

Share your 9/11 rememberances in the 'comments'.

FREE Candy Corn Paper Piecing Pattern

2011-09-03T17:48:00.001-04:00

Candy Corn speaks of Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving. I have designed a paper pieced Candy Corn for you to use on your Scrapbook pages, Cards or Tags.
The top piece (white) slightly overlaps the middle piece (yellow). The bottom piece (orange) slightly overlaps the middle piece.
The center oval can be cut out of the middle piece or you can use it as a pattern to cut out your photo, then glue to the middle secion.
I have brushed the edges of each piece with Distress Ink but it could be highlighted with chalk.
I used the smaller Candy Corn for the Card and the Tag.

Right Click on Pattern and save to your computer. Open and print.
This post was featured on www.thestuffofsuccess.com

Please check out my new Etsy Shop for additional Fall, Halloween, and Thanksgiving designs.
'Follow' this blog for creative, inspiring and fun ideas.

ENJOY,
Sally Swift

Free Set of 6 School Tags OFFER EXPIRED

2011-08-18T19:07:00.001-04:00

Set of 6 custom designed Back to School Tags for all your school scrapbook pages, greeting cards or gift tags. (Offer Expired)

Each tag is 2 1/2" x 3 3/4". The sample on the left is to show the black
board background on the tags.

These images are the copyright property of Sally Swift. They may not be reproduced for resale, file sharing or adding to another collection for resale. Printed sheets may not be sold.

Check out my other Custom Designed Digital Download Tags at www.sssstudio.etsy.com.

1929 Paper Doll Dressed Up in 3-D

2011-08-02T11:31:00.000-04:00

Vintage Image Craft hosted a Paper Doll Party Creative Challenge in July.
They posted several vintage paper dolls on their Facebook page that could be downloaded and used in their contest. I choose Dolly Dingle from the June 27th posting.

Techniques: I printed three images of the paper doll and cut them so I would have a finished 3-D doll. Her legs are cut apart and layered. The left side of her hair is also layered and her arm is layered.

I used one of the arms as a second arm holding a bouquet of roses. I cut a pink cardstock skirt and layered it with wired sheer ribbon. The bodice is vintage lace, gathered. The belt is crushed vintage velvet ribbon. The bouquet is a gathered piece of vintage lace as the background, then gluing tiny ribbon flowers. A ribbon flower is on her hair. A pink ribbon hangs from her dress and from the bouquet.

TIP:If using wired ribbon for the skirt, make small pleats in the ribbon instead of gathering it and it will lay flatter. I used Tacky glue to glue the pleats down as I folded them.

The completed doll is then adhered to the frame background with pop dots. I painted the 3-D picture frame white. The doll is 7 inches tall and is in a frame 8x10.

My entry won 2nd prize which is a E Book: Ten Vintage Christmas Greetings to Make.

There are many sites that offer free downloadable paper dolls. Just enter Paper Dolls into Google search.

I have loved and collected paper dolls since childhood. The oldest paper doll is from 1944 and is from the funny papers. I have over 200 saved from the funny papers. I also have over 50 regular paper dolls from the 1940s, including a child Margaret Obrien and Rita Hayworth. (Anybody remember those?) I cut out all of these paper dolls and have saved them through these 60+ years. Still fun to get out and look at.

Happy Independence Day

2011-07-04T08:53:00.000-04:00

God Bless America

Aussie Magazine Features my Button Cards

2011-07-01T17:38:00.012-04:00

A few weeks ago I received an email from Tamar Bostock who is a writer for a new craft magazine being published in Australia to debut July 1st.
She asked if she could used my Digital Vintage Button Cards from my Etsy shop in an article she was writing about buttons. Of course she had permission!

Today I received the inagural issue of etzceteramagazine which can be read via the internet. It is a beautifully done magazine and full of crafty ideas and articles. I read the 40 page magazine cover to cover.

She gave me full credit for the cards along with the web address of my Etsy shop where they could go to and buy some. http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com/
I don't have a clue how she found my button cards out of the millions of items listed on Etsy but I thank God that she did and has given my shop this exposure.

Please give yourself a treat and take a look at this magazine.

DO WHAT YOU LOVE....

2011-06-24T11:24:00.000-04:00

They say...Do what you love...(whoever 'they' is)
And that is what I have been doing for the past week or so. I don't know why I love making tags, but it's just plain fun. Can't wait to make the next set.

Each tag in the photo is only one of a set of at least 4 and the vintage Santa set has 12 different Santas. They were my first set and that got my juices flowing.
I want to thank www.alteredartfun.blogspot.com for the circus images. Her blog has hundreds of vintage images which she so generously shares.
When I get a bit tired of making these tags, I will post them in my shop:
www.sssstudio.etsy.com. I will be offering them as finished tags as well as digital downloads.
...back to the drawing board...

A beautifull BIG mushroom

2011-06-18T09:43:00.001-04:00

This beautiful BIG mushroom was found growing behind my shrubs against my garage. It was 7 inches across the top.
It took some doing but my 10 yr old grandson, Emmett, laid down on the ground and snapped this photo, which I have not cropped or retouched in anyway. It is such a beautiful picture that I am reminded of all the Photography Prints that are sold on Etsy. None are more beautiful than this.

Just wanted to share this with you...Have a Blessed day.

Two wasn't enough - I now have 3 Etsy Shops

2011-06-13T12:15:00.000-04:00

I have recently resurrected my handmade calligraphy designs. It didn't seem appropriate to list them on my other two Etsy shops (allthingshhomey and treasures4ewe) so what else to do but open a third shop.

ANNOUNCING;

I learned to do calligraphy over 40 years ago and I have loved it ever since. I have even taught calligraphy classes but doing so was a bit frustrating because most of the students came expecting to be able to address wedding invitations after a two hour class.
In all the classes I have taught, I have noted that my best 'natural' calligraphers were male. In fact most of the best instructors are men.
Still, I love doing it and sharing an art that seems to be dying out.
Below are some samples of what you will find on http://www.sssstudio.etsy.com

The calligraphy is a print of my original. In the Serenity Prayer, I hand illuminated the print with watercolor. In the two smaller prints, I have added hearts cut from an antique quilt and hand sewn the edges. I encourage special orders: Quotes, colors, mat colors, etc.

Take a look, and as always, comment deeply appreciated. http://www.sssstudio.etsy.com

Button, Button; Who has the Button?

2011-06-06T13:23:00.000-04:00

A hundred years ago, my mother played this button game, with her 5 sisters, as a small child.
I think I must have loved buttons ever since my mother taught me this game.
I love going to estate saless, yard sales and thrift stores where I have found and added many buttons to my collection.

I keep a lot of my buttons in jars, seperated by color. Of course the white Mother-of-Pearl buttons go in al old milk bottle.

Buttons are so versitle and can be used in all kinds of crafts as well as handy to have when your favorite blouse loses a button.

At my grandaughter's ninth birthday, the girls made button rings, (from my stash of buttons of course.)

I have many buttons on their original cards...too cute to remove the buttons. I keep some of those in a big jar also. I do have buttons, carded buttons, and crafts with buttons in my etsy shop: http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com

AND THE WINNER IS....

2011-06-03T07:12:00.001-04:00

And the winner of the Handmade Zipper Flower is RHONDA KOEBEL

As you can see by the photo above of my grandaughter Elise, the drawing was completely random! Rhonda if you will email (ssswift@juno.com) me your snail mail address, I will put the Zipper Flower in the mail straight away.

NOTE: My sister Etsy shop is currently having a summer sale of 20% OFF. Check it out at: http://www,treasures4ewe.etsy.com

2011-05-27T11:21:00.000-04:00

Daughter Emily has a friend who has a friend that lives in Gainesville, FL. This friend of a friend told her friend about a large commercial Blueberry field that opens to public pickin' after the migrant farmers leave for South Carolina.
Last Monday, Emily, Elise (6) and Emmett (10) amd I drove 2 hours to 'glean' blueberries and peaches. We spent a little over two hours pickin' before heading our two hours back home. What fun we had...and what a haul we made.
The field of blueberries was 1/4 mile wide by 1/2 mile long and the bushes had loads of berries waiting to be picked.

The peach trees were at the west end of the field. There were only about 12 trees and they were loaded with fruit...yellow peaches as well as white peaches. They were small, about the size of an apricot but so juicy and sweet, especially the white peaches.

Once home - what to do with ALL this fruit. I filled 5 quart containers with blueberries to give away and still had as many berries left. I also gave away a large bag of peaches. The next project was to make some peach perserves. The peaches were so juicy that the preserves have a bit more syrup than intended but don't they look yummy? This morning I needed sryup for the grandchildren's eggos, so I whipped up a small batch of blueberry syrup. Um-m, so delicious.

Lord, bless the owners of this field for allowing 'gleaners' to come in. Amen

1940s Dress Patterns

2011-05-17T13:58:00.001-04:00

Sixteen years ago, While living in Indiana, I went to a small town yard sale. It was about 20 miles out in the country but I think almost every home in that small town was having a yard sale. What fun I had. The only thing I remember buying is a bag of about a dozen 1940s dress patterns. I love the 1940s style even though I was only a child then. In the intervening years and moving a couple of times, I lost track of where I had put these vintage patterns.
A few weeks ago, while cleaning up in the garage and going through storage boxes, I found that bag of patterns.
Wow, they are cuter than ever. In preparing these patterns to list on Etsy, I found out that the pattern pieces were machine cut without any markings. Complete, illustrated instructions were given so you would know what to do with the pattern pieces. I'm glad they don't do that anymore. A pattern size 18 had a 36" bust which today's patterns would be a size 12.
In researching 1940s dress patterns, I learned that one of my favorite patterns was actually a rare pattern and worth almost $40.00. It is the Betty Grable Hollywood dress pattern. It is now listed on my etsy shop.
http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com

Zipped up Flowers

2011-05-13T16:25:00.001-04:00

Why would anyone have a gallon jar full of old zippers, you might say?
Over twenty years ago one of my mine and my mother's favorite Bargain stores was going out of business.
One of the many items for sale were zippers. (They weren't old then). And they were 5 cents a piece.
Well, I am my mother's daughter and I can't resist a bargain. My mind starts calculating - 5 cents a piece - 20 zippers for $1.00. Now that's a bargain I can't refuse.
For over 20 years I have enjoyed my gallon jar with it's colorful zippers waiting patiently for a project.
THEN, I saw a zipper flower somewhere on the internet and HAD to make one. I typed in Zipper Flower Tutorial, on Utube and learned how to do just that.
The photo with the small coin purse has a detachable zipper flower that can be worn as a pin, and is for sale on my other Etsy shop: http://www.treasures4ewe.etsy.com

Would you like to win a zipper flower made just for you? Click on my 'FOLLOW' button before the end of May and I will select, randomly, a winner to be announced by June 4th.

All Nature Praises The LORD

2011-04-18T16:50:00.001-04:00

For over 10 years I have looked forward to the coming of Easter when I find evidence of nature praising God. The new growth of a particular pine tree, in Florida, shows it's praise in the form of crosses at the tips of each branch. It makes my heart want to join them in Praising the God who made all.
I have never been able to get close enough to take a picture. These are tall pine trees. This year I found some, not too tall, and I borrowed my daughter's camera and her son and we went picture taking. John-Thomas did an awesome job taking the picture in the above page. Then he selected the background paper and I did the rest of the page.
One of my favorite pages because it has been simmering in my heart for over 10 years. I hope you enjoy it.
Easter is all about new life. The new life that Jesus gives us through His blood shed on the cross and through our acceptence of his sacrifice to cover our sins.
New Life comes through the crosses on pine trees and also comes from chicks pecking out of eggs. I have been decorating eggs at Easter for over 50 years. Two of the quail eggs on my tree are 50 years old. Some are over 40 years old and some are just days old.
Happy Resurrection Day to all.

Time to Decorate The Tree...

2011-04-07T14:04:00.000-04:00

Time to decorate the tree? It's not December!

Decorating the Eeaster Tree is a tradition in my family for almost 50 years. In 1973, we were living in Chattanooga and I was selling my Mini Easter Trees at a local art and craft shop. From their connection, I was featured in a full page story in the local Chattanooga Free Press newspaper.

This year, my granddaughter Elise helped me decorate the tree, something she has been waiting to do for almost three weeks.

A couple of the eggs on the tree are 50 years old. Most of the ones from the 1973 tree have broken through several moves. Even though I cherish the old ones, I always enjoy making new ones each year.
This year I have 6 real quail eggs that I have glittered and decorated. They are listed in my etsy Shop: http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com

Spring is in the air

2011-03-14T09:45:00.000-04:00

What comes to mind when you think of Spring? I think...flowers!
Flowers bursting forth from bare tree branches.
Flowers springing forth from the warming earth.
God's rhythm of nature coming alive again. The rebirth of nature after a season of winter.
Like the plants, sometimes we feel a bit dormant after a long, harsh winter. Does not your soul feel like it's renewed when you hear the birds chirping and see the trees and bushes budding forth in color.
To celebrate Spring, I have made little bursts of color in the yoyo flowers centered with vintage buttons and 'planted' in a vintage wooden spool. These may be purchased from my Etsy shop: http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com.
Or if you would like to make your own Spring bouquet, I have made kits that contain all you need to make your own. These may also be purchased from my Etsy shop.

Thanks for stopping by please leave comments,
Sally S Swift
http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com
http://www.threasures4ewe.etsy.com

Mini Tussie Mussie Tutorial

2011-02-09T08:15:00.019-05:00

Historically a tussie-mussie was a small Victorian bridal bouquet. In the decades that followed, this term also became synonymous with a small cone-shaped vessel to hold a single flower or some other type of treat. Tussie Mussies were popular during May Day celebrations.
Last month I gave instructions on how to make a paper ruffle for a Tussie Mussie I was making. This month I am giving instructions on how to make the Tussie Mussie.

The four Tussie Mussies above are 5" high not including ruffle and the ribbon for hanging.

The following instructions are for this size.

1. Use a 10" diameter plate to draw a circle a 12" x 12" piece of paper or cardstock.

2. Find the center point of your circle and divide into 4 equal parts. Cut apart.

3. Fold 1/4" on one long side, cutting off the bottom corner.

4. Decorate

5. Glue long edges

To Decorate:

Tip: always decorate before joining the sides into a cone shape.

Decorations could include:
Lace ruffle, ric rac, gold trim, metallic pipe cleaners, ribbon. Wired ribbon is great because you just pull the wire and it gathers the ribbon.

Embellishments can be glued to the center front. I've used vintage lace, printed Victorian images, glitter shamrock, flowers, vintage buttons, ribbon, rhinestone, gold trim and ribbon flowers. The hanging ribbon can be glued on the cone before or after gluing on the ruffle. If attached to the outside of the cone, cover the ends with a little ribbon bow or button. I have used both tacky white glue and glue gun.

To glue the cone, use tacky white glue along the folded edge. Roll the cone so the two long edges glue, one edge on top of the glued edge. This can be tricky and frustrating but hold in place until dry.

Ideas on how to use your Tussie Mussies:
Give as a hostess gift, give as favors at a birthday party, to welcome a new neighbor, to welcome a baby, holds an invitation to a party or use as a container for a present.

Visit: http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com for other Tussie Mussies and more handmade,original items!
Visit my blog http://www.allthingshomey.blogspot.com

Thanks for stopping by - comments are welcome!

Creatively yours,

Sally S. Swift

Paper Ruffle Directions

2011-01-22T16:20:00.000-05:00

When I stopped quilting, I became creative with scrapbooks and collecting paper. To me, paper was just a different texture of fabric. Tussie Mussies are fun to make and great to give as gifts. When making Tussie Mussies I wanted a ruffle across the top and I wanted it to look similar to what Mary Englebreit would make. My solution was to pleat some paper and make my own paper ruffle.

Directions to make a paper ruffle are as follows: For an 8" long ruffle, start with a 1 1/2" wide strip of paper 22" long. (I joined two 12" strips, overlapping where a fold would appear.
If you want a decorative edge on your ruffle, it should be cut before you fold your strip. Your fold marks will go on the back side of the strip, along the bottom, straight edge. Mark your strip at 7/8" - 3'8" - 7/8 - 3/8" (etc) intervals.
FOLD 1: Fold up and over so the front edge lays even with the top edge on the back side.
FOLD 2: Fold to the left so the front lays even with the top edge.
FOLD 3: Fold top back on line 3 so that only the back is showing.
FOLD 4: Fold so that the front sides are facing each other and the back side shows outside.

Continue folding your strip. After you do steps 1-4 a couple of times, it will get into a rhythm and be easier. Always keep the front and back top edges aligned as you fold. Then pinch your folds tightly and hand stitch or machine stitch along the long bottom edge. The top can then be fanned out but still stay together. The stitched edge will be hidden when you glue it to your craft or it can be topped by ric rac, trim or another strip of coordinated paper.

Soon, I will post instructions on how to make Tussie Mussies. All my handmade items are 'one of a kind' and I post freshly made new items several times a week at my shop: www.allthingshomey.etsy.com/ - Take a look and I would appreciate your comments

ETSY -First Time to be Featured

2011-01-19T09:10:00.000-05:00

Etsy and crafts....This week I have really been trying to learn how to market my Etsy shop. I joined a new Team: Homemadeology.etsy.com. Wow! A ton of information. Not just information to fill pages, but GOOD information, easily read and understood. I have been trying to learn about SEO (search engine optimization). You know, I really don't want to learn all this stuff but I have found out that I don't want to have a shop loaded with really nice items- but I don't have many visitors- so learn I must.
My reward for preserving was opening my email this morning to find that I have an item featured on an Etsy Treasury...Please check out my item and the treasury at:
http://www.etsy.com/treasury/4d3607b19ddd8eefe605e72c/it-is-all-about-love-from-the?index=0
-article continues below-

This gets me excited and I want to reciprocate and do a Treasury featuring something from www.emakaye.etsy.com
Thanks Emakaye

'CRAFTY' TIP

Creating valentines can be fun! Creating the featured collage, I used pretty pink, wired ribbon that was rescued from a Christmas present package. I cut off the sparkly edge to edge the valentine image. Then I gathered the remaining edge of the cut ribbon to edge the top and bottom of the valentine image.

While shopping at Michaels after Christmas, I found this wonderful 2 1/2" wide PINK ribbon on sale, 70% off. The roll has 10 yards which I bought for $3. Wahoo!!
TIP...When checking sales, always look at the items with an 'out of the box' attitude. You'll be amazed at what you will find. Who would have thought to look for pink, polka-dot, sheer, sparkly, wired ribbon at Christmas?

Please let me know what crafts and tips you would like to read about on future blogs! And please check out my www.allthingshomey.etsy.com e-shop for more one of a kind Vintage Valentines and unique creations. Thanks for reading and have a blessed day!

Sally S Swift

Ornaments - Past and Present!

2010-11-30T07:23:00.000-05:00

"I started making Christmas tree ornaments when my first child was 10 months old. I made ornaments that I could hang on the lower branches that she could touch without their breaking. I have given her some of these ornaments for her tree but a few of the 46 year old ornaments I have left are shown in the picture. One of my favorite ornaments that I have made through the years is a 'sheep' ornament. Picture 2. I have made a FREE PATTERN for you to copy and paste to your computer. Instructions follow.

The sheep should be about 2 1/2" wide so print your pattern accordingly. Cut out the pattern from cardstock (I use a file folder) to use as a pattern. Trace around pattern onto cardstock/file folder. Cut sheep. Ink in the head and feet with a black marker, on both sides.You will need between 5 and 6 feet of white, fuzzy yarn. Begin wrapping around the center body, then go to the head and wrap as shown in picture 1. Then wrap the legs about 3 times, picture 2.

Wrap yarn between the legs and over the sheep back, picture 3. Wrap diagonally over front and back of sheep, picture 4. Continue to wrap to plump up your sheep. Tuck the end beneath one of the yarn strands. Thread a needle with gold thread and sew through the center, top of the sheep for your hanger. Make lots of these. They are so cute and fun to give away.` Please leave me a comment if you like the ornament and want to see more FREE downloads! And please check out my allthingshomey.etsy.com e-shop for more one of a kind Christmas ornaments.

If this is work - why am I having so much fun?

2010-11-26T16:39:00.000-05:00

These are just a few of my buttons but enough to get me started 'working' at making button magnets for the refrigerator. I couldn't stop. I have made about 40 magnets which took over 120 buttons and I still have some I want to make. Problem is, what am I to do with all these button magnets? Hopefully, of course, is to sell them in my Etsy shop. That's the plan anyway.

Sewing 'Paper?'

2010-11-23T16:14:00.000-05:00

I have always loved fabric, especially when I made quilts. I stopped making quilts when I stopped having grandchildren and started making scrapbooks. Then I became a lover of paper which, to me, was just a different texture of fabric. But I have never pleated and sewn paper. That is until this week. Using wonderful paper from my large stash, I was making Tussie Mussies and needed a ruffle across
the top and I wanted it to look like what Mary Englebreit would make. The only answer was to pleat the paper. Then to make the bottom edge lay flat against the Tussie Mussie, I had to sew the ruffle. I know there is 'nothing new under the sun' but this was a first for me.
All my handmade items are 'one of a kind' and I post freshly made new items several times a week at my shope: www.allthingshomey.etsy.com/ - Take a look and I would appreciate your comments.

It's November. Not December!!

2010-11-07T18:05:00.000-05:00

I am in the throes of making Christmas items for Etsy and it's not even Thanksgiving yet. I guess that means when Christmas finally gets here I will be making Valentine's Day goodies.
After not doing much in the creative venue for the past 7 or 8 years, I am SO glad to have it back. I wonder, now, what I ever did to keep busy before I started my business with Etsy.
At my age, this has been a real challenge for me, computer wise. But as someone once told me, 'If you can learn new tricks, you're not a old dog'. This 75 year old finds comfort in that. Who knows, maybe this time next year I will be featured on Etsy as the oldest success story!! With God, all things are possible.

All about me and Etsy!

2010-11-01T10:41:00.003-04:00

Hello! I have two shops on Etsy now
Allthingshomey.etsy.com and Treasures4ewe. My daughter is helping me create and add things to our vintage site at Treasures4ewe. We are finding wonderful treasures to list and treasures I can upcycle. I am also on a Team CAC (Christian Artists and Craftpersons) is a part of ETSY.com where I have my All Things Homey shop. Before I could become a member I had to fill out their questionaire which is below. There are almost 400 members of CAC so I am looking forward to making a lot of new friends.

Say Hi to Sally!
1. Shop Name(s)
allthingshomey

2. First Name
Sally

3. How long have you been a member of the Etsy Community?
I listed my first item on October 6th, 2010

4. Married/Single? Spouse's name
Single

5. Birthday Month/Day... we don't need the year.
October 31

6. What state/country do you live in?
Florida, USA

7. Do you have any children? Will you tell us their lst name and age?
Yes, I have three daughters and 12 grandchildren. Do you really want all their names?

8. How long have you been crafting what you sell on Etsy?
I started cutting paper dolls when I was 7 and have done crafts every since. I still have over 200 of those paper dolls, but I don't play with them anymore.

9. When you have free time, what do you like to do?
Look at other etsy shops, of course!

10. Are you on a ministry team at your church or do you have your own ministry?Yes
What type is it?
I am part of our Prayer Ministry Team. I, and another lady, have a ministry to Juvenile inmates in jail being tried as adults. It is called 'Arts Inside'.

11. How long have you been a Christian?
I was a Christian for 16 years before I became Born Again at age 36. Hm-m, that's about 29 years ago.

12. What is your favorite item in your shop right now?
Isn't it always the last item posted. It is a Thanksgiving Hanger I created out of the tons of Vintage stuff I have.

13. What would you like to do that you have not done yet?
Paint a beautiful landscape with lavender growing in the foreground.

14. If we were having a team party, what would you be bringing?
Buttermilk Fudge

15. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
Sweet

16. What type of pets do you have, if any?
I have a cat that adopted me. My grandson named him Woody because his fur looks like wood grain.

17. Which of these three would you prefer to do? Hang glide, bungee jump, or sit by the pool and be waited on hand and foot?
Gotta be, sit by the pool and be waited on hand and foot...for at least 15 minutes, then I would be bored.

18. If you were on a rocket to the moon, what is one thing you would want to have?
A bathroom!

19. Does your vehicle have a name, if so, what is it?
Poor thing doesn't have a name.

20. Is there anything other type of items that you would like to add to your current shop?
Oh my, yes. IF I had time!

Celebrate? well.....

2010-10-23T08:16:00.000-04:00

My last post I said I would celebrate when I had my first sale. I did have that sale this week and even though it was only for 6.00, I felt like celebrating. My celebrating came in the form of listing more items.
Then a Blessed friend of old gave me a big box of buttons...lots of butons. There was a grocery receipt in the bag with a date of 1996 but I believe the buttons are older than that. They are all on cards and must have been bought when a store was closing. Many of the buttons would make great earrings so I will probably post them as supplies for jewelery making. My granddaughter Elise (6) and I had so much fun going through them, combining matches and bagging them according to style or color.
While I love 'all things homey', my house looks like a hurricane struck it. All kinds of stuff sitting around waiting to be photographed and listed.

My shop at ETSY

2010-10-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

With the economy going in the direction of -down- and my Social Security check getting smaller each year I wanted to find a source to make some extra income. After a bit of research, I decided to open a shop on Etsy.com. It is a site where you sell Vintage, Handmade or supplies...and I hsve a ton of Vintage - and supplies.
My first attempt to list something on my shop page, allthingshomey@etsy.com was discouraging and frustrating. I am not a techi and I don't want to be but I have learned a few things with PSE7. I was frustrated because I couldn't get the photos to come out without being blurry. I searched and researched Etsy to find some help but found only a little. Daughter, Colette and her husband to the rescue. Warren gave me a different pixel to use than one I was using and I found the 'sharpen image' on my PSE7 so that took care of the photo problem.
After I had downloaded a couple of items for sale, I realized that I needed to find a way to market my store. The only thing I hate worse than Techi stuff is Marketing!
Colette to the rescue again. She offered to do it for me, so now she is my Marketing Chief Executive.
I had prayed and prayed through my frustration and Sunday, I felt God was giving me a Word. 'Take heart - it will come to pass.'
Yesterday, after church, I shot a whole bunch of photos and this morning I posted 7 items on Etsy.
Thank you all who have looked and commented. I am really going to celebrate when I have my first sale.

'I will restore what the locust has eaten'

2009-01-30T07:50:00.000-05:00

I have a dear frend of almost 30 years. She writes The Loving Gathering blog.
She now lives in Georgia but distance and time doesn't dappen our friendship. Her testimony makes me ashamed for ever complaining about anything. She has had many tough mountains to climb with her children. Her youngest child, Michael, loves the Lord and is the process of starting his own Blog. Below is the design I did for him...for Him!

2009-01-27T15:44:00.000-05:00

It always amazes me when people can take 'words' and turn them into songs, stories or poems. My almost 11 year old (Feb 2) grandson, Luke, has amazed me with his poem and inspired me to make the following page for him. Way to go Luke!

Where Have I Been?

2008-08-05T08:05:00.000-04:00

Goodness, it's been a long time since I've written. It's funny how busy I can be without doing much!! I can now relate to my Mother when asked at age 80, "What did you do today?" "Nothing much but I was busy all day."
Mother did read a lot, starting with the morning paper. She read it ALL, including every word of the Editorial page. I'm too cynical to read the 'letters to the editor' on the editorial page but I have been reading a whole lot more books than ever before in my life. The latest book I've read is called The Shack.

It's been a long time since, when reading a book, I have wanted to underline some profound truth that I want to remember. My copy of The Shack has several pages with bright yellow highlight. One that really hit me hard in the stomach is on page 142 and 'God' is speaking, "do you realize that your imagination of the future, which is almost always dictated by fear of some kind, rarely ever, pictures Me there with you."
The first four chapters are really hard but thankfully I stuck with it and I'm so glad I did. In another place in the book, it is said, "God is not in a box...and He's not in a book either." Meaning we confine God to what the bible says about Him. And He is SO much more and wants to BE so much more to me and to you.
I heartily reccomend this book. I got mine at Cosco for $9 in paperback.

The Wee Folk move in...

2008-06-21T13:22:00.000-04:00

The four story doll house was made when my girls were little. The boys are good at moving the furniture around but they leave all the cute little extras in the box.John-Thomas and Emmett 'creating their own Wee Folk. They did all the work themselves including the wrapping, cutting, sewing and face painting. Stewart made his last week. Having had only daughters, my grandsons continue to amaze and delight me.
Did you notice the 'swords' in their wee little hands They were robbed from my pin cushion. Home Sweet Home

Scanning Fabric

2008-06-20T09:57:00.001-04:00

I had some fabric left from making matching dresses and purses for cousins,
Anna-Kate and Elise. I scanned the fabric into my computer and my Photoshop elements. I cropped out each flower and removed the background. Some of the flowers I changed the hue and brightness to give them a different color. I isolated one of the heart petals, added a bow and some shadow. For the flowers across the bottom, I 'drew' the green stems on my background paper, then added the flowers I had made. All in all, pretty cute even if it did take most of the day.
Thanks for taking a look,
Sally Swift
Visit my Etsy shops for more great ideas:
http://www.sssstudio.etsy.com
http://www.allthingshomey.etsy.com
http://www.treasures4ewe.etsy.com

Can be addictive!

2008-06-10T08:57:00.001-04:00

Emily told me about a booklet, 'Wee Felt Folk' by Salley Mavor, she saw at Michaels. We looked it up on the internet Library and found it at the library next to her church. So off we went.Found it there and we both checked out a copy. Just looking at the booklet is a feast for the creative eye.
I started scavenging my saved goodies and had everything I needed to make my first Wee Folk except paint for the wee faces. Mine was dried out. I'm sure an organized person would cringe at all the 'stuff' I save, but they are priceless to me. I even had olde cotton pipe cleaners. Must have had them for 20 years!! It was much more fun to make these Wee Folk with my olde cotton pipe cleaners than new acrylic ones would have been.
If I get a twinge of conscience and throw some old thing away...never fails...within a few weeks that item is just what I need for something I was making. SO, now I don't throw anything away.
Back to my Wee Folk. They were easier to make that I thought they would be and a lot of fun too. When I was quite a bit younger, I loved making small things. The smaller the better. But now, my aged eyes and hands have caught up with me and it's now, the bigger the better. I am going to make my next Wee Folk not so wee and see how that goes.
The question now is, what am I going to do with these Wee Folk. Woody, my cat, has already tried to pull out the hair.

And the winner is...

2008-06-09T11:00:00.001-04:00

Got-a-minute is a favorite family word game with the Swift/Gideon families. Stewart is good with words and tries so hard to win. When he comes to Grama's house he wants to play scrabble and was determined to win one day. That day came, and the day after. He beat me twice! He was so proud and rightly so. He doesn't just put down a good word but is very good at placing his letters to get the maximun points. I am so proud of you Stewart, Way to go!

And it only took four hours...

2008-05-02T12:06:00.000-04:00

Finally, after a year or more of saving tons of digital scrapbook freebies, and viewing a youtube tutorial, I would not let myself stop until I had completed ONE page. Well, I did learn alot and I have much more to learn...another day.
And it didn't cost anything in supplies. Just a stiff neck!

FELIX...that's the cat's name.

2008-04-29T14:44:00.001-04:00

...what was his name...

2008-04-25T08:12:00.000-04:00

Notice the 'black cat' clock newly added on the right.
I saw it on another blog and it brought back swift memories.
I remember my aunt Mae had one in her kitchen back in the 50's.
The cat was a part of a newspaper cartoon and had a name but alas, I can't remember his name. I think it was from the Katznjammer Kids strip. Sounds good anyway.

HOME

2008-04-10T16:36:00.000-04:00

Thank God for dirty dishes; they have a tale to tell.
While other folks go hungry, we're eating pretty well.
With HOME and health and happiness, we shouldn't want to fuss;
For by this stack of evidence, God's very good to us.
Annon.

6x9 Surprise Envelope Swap

2008-04-10T16:19:00.000-04:00

So far, I have been able to get all the above in the 6x9 envelope. I may be able to scrunch in a few more items if I run across some cuties.
This has been fun just to find so many different things to put in. So far I have 60 items and some contain more than one piece.

A Busy Week

2008-04-09T19:42:00.000-04:00

A week ago today I found out that my daughter and family were coming for a visit from Atlanta. We were going to celebrate her daughter, Anna-Kate's 6th birthday. She was hoping I would make matching dresses for Anna-Kate and Elise. So off I went to JoAnn Fabrics to find some material. It had been a long time since I had been to JoAnns and I sure wasted a lot of time there before I found just what I was looking for. Fortunately I already had the pattern and it was for sizes 4, 6 and 8. I used the size 6 for Elise and the size 8 for Anna-Kate. I also made matching purses for each. I hadn't sewn for many years and I actually enjoyed it however I would have appreciated a little more time.
The party was a big hit and the girls loved having matching dresses.

Today, Elise, Anna-Kate, her mom, my sister Diana, neice Sally and I went out to lunch together to The Back Porch Cafe.
When my girls were growing up, they benefited from hand-me-downs from their cousins. Now Elise is benefitting from hand-me-downs from her cousin Anna-Kate.

No matter how much things change...they stay the same!

Just us girls...

2008-03-24T11:30:00.000-04:00

Emily asked if Elise could spend the night with me Easter Eve and go to church with me Easter Sunday. It didn't even take a millisecond to say yes.
We had a nice girly time that evening with Elise having a nice bath with soap shaped like rose buds and some bubbles. Then of course make-up time with fingernail polish and a little face cream.
Sunday morning started off with a early start so by 9 o'clock she had had breakfast, blew bubbles, painted, watched a video, washed dishes, and made two strawberry pies. Elise mashed strawberries, poured in the sugar and corn startch and stirred it all. She also arranged the whole berries in the bottom of one of the pie crusts. She did it like she knew just what she was doing, which of course she did. She definately has a I CAN DO attitude about everything whether it is smashing berries or racing in a sack race against seven older boys.
Elise kept asking me when is Easter going to be here? On the way home from church she asked, "When are we going to have Easter?"
Speaking of church, Right after we arrived back at Elise's home, her mom, Emily, hesitantly asked, "How was she in church?"
She was just perfect. She almost ran up to the front when time came for the children to come to the front of the sanctuary to gather for Children's church. She spoke right up when asked what was in your Easter basket. Her answer, "Chocolate and money." (they were in her basket from the previous' day egg hunt.) She danced to the music and captivated all who were seated around us. (proud grama)

MATCH-less

2008-03-18T15:16:00.000-04:00

My first swap is 'Just The Box Please'. I am to decorate a tiny matchbox anyway that I feel inspired.
The box is only 1 1/2" x 2" x 5/8".

The cameo in the center was a treasure find at the Humane Society Thrift shop just two weeks ago. It is edged with tiny pearls and then some vintage gold braid. The tatting around the outer edge is very old and may have been made by my then husband's grandmother. The rest of the box is covered in blue check. The drawer pull is a vintage glass button in shape of a crown. I wish I were better with my picture taking but hopefully that will evolve.

I had no idea how I was going to decorate the second box until I found the picture of the ladies head in an old Mary Englebreit calendar. I covered the box in deep purple velvet. The top is edged with two vintage gold trims. I put a garland of leaves and glass beads on the head and draped a pearl necklace around her neck. The drawer pull is a vintage glass button.
I had alot of fun making these boxes and hope the receivers will treasure their little treasure boxes.

EASY is relative

2008-03-18T15:07:00.000-04:00

"You ought to set one up. It's easy."

That's what Emily told me after she whizzed through setting up her blog,
As the saying goes...EASY for you to say!
I have been working on this for three weeks. Just today, it has taken me 6 hours just to figure how to get my masthead on the computer and over to the blog. Now that I have figured it out, could I do it again? I doubt it!! Well, maybe I could do it in four hours...if I did it tomorrow!
All of this because I found a blog and signed up for three swaps. It's easier for your swap partner to know about their partner if she has a blog.
Just in time, I am to mail off my first swap tomorrow.

soon...very soon

2008-03-12T20:01:00.000-04:00

soon...very soon...I will finish my header and actually start my blog.
Just remember, Patience is a virtue.