The Benefits of Crafting

One of the most significant advantages and joys of crafting is the reduction of stress and anxiety. Engaging in a craft activity allows you to focus your mind on creating something, which can help to alleviate feelings of worry and tension.

Furthermore, crafting can also improve your cognitive abilities. Creating something with your hands requires using various parts of the brain, such as memory, attention, and problem-solving skills. Engaging in a craft activity regularly can help to keep your mind sharp and improve your overall cognitive function. It may take some trial and error, but I’m confident that you can find a craft that fits your needs whether it is one to showcase your creativity or just to find a relaxing hobby.

Building Connections Through Crafting

From my upbringing in the Appalachian Mountains, I’ve always had an affinity for crafting. It’s something that continues to bring me immense satisfaction. Creating things with your own hands is a truly fulfilling experience that boosts self-esteem and provides a sense of accomplishment. In addition, another joy of crafting is the social benefits that it offers. It can serve as an excellent bonding activity for families, friends, and children’s friend groups. What could be more rewarding than to gather before the holidays to make homemade crafts or ornaments? Crafting is an excellent way to connect with others and build a sense of community. Whether you join a crafting group or take a class, you’ll have the opportunity to meet new people and share your passion for creating with others.

Hint: Crafting at the holidays is a family tradition that I wanted to pass on to my children. Have each parent bring a simple snack. You can bring board games, sing carols, or have the kids watch a Christmas movie with popcorn (not for small children as it is a choking hazard) and hot cocoa. It is a great way to make the holiday season magical without expensive gifts.

Frugal but Perfect Gifts and Decor

Another benefit is that it can be a cost-effective approach to gift-giving, and making event decorations for parties, showers, or weddings. Several others and I made the flower arrangements and decorations for our daughter’s wedding. A dear family friend made a personalized quilt for the couple that was used as the backdrop for their wedding cake. Each person involved had different skills, but together we worked to make their day special.

Besides creating decor for an event, crafting can also help you create personalized and affordable decor for your home. I have made paintings, wall hangings, curtains, and flower setter pieces, among other items, for our home. Creating your decor not only gives you the chance to make treasures that suit your unique style, but it also gives you such a sense of accomplishment when they are admired by visitors. For those new to crafting, it can seem like a daunting hobby to take up. However, the rewards of the process can be worth the invested time and effort.

How to Find the Craft for You

Finding the perfect starter craft can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be. To begin, I suggest starting with a project that aligns with your interests and passions. Take a look around your home and notice any recurring themes in your decor. Perhaps you have a love for all things vintage or a fascination with nature. Whatever it may be, find a simple project that speaks to your unique style and personality.

Remember, crafting is all about expressing your creativity and individuality. Don’t be afraid to break away from the latest trends and create something truly one-of-a-kind. Incorporate little treasures from nature walks, or sentimental items that hold special meaning to you. The possibilities are endless!

1. Don’t be afraid to experiment and try new techniques. Mistakes are part of the learning process!
2. Remember, crafting isn’t just about the result. It’s about the journey and the sense of accomplishment you feel. So, take your time, enjoy the process, and let your creativity shine!
3. Check with your local library to see if they offer craft or painting classes.
4. Painting parties can be a good way to try out painting without investing in supplies.
5. Look for online DIY videos and step-by-step tutorials. Many are free to view, especially those found on YouTube. Other sites, like Craftsy, offer memberships that allow you to view classes and tutorials.
6. Pinterest is another good place to look for inspiration, tutorials, and even craft sites.
7. Blogs can be another resource for craft ideas, patterns, and DIY tutorials.

Finding Craft Supplies

Once you have decided on the craft that you would like to try the next step is to gather needed supplies. Craft and hobby stores will carry the supplies, but not every store will offer the same sort of inventory. A search online should allow you to find the most convenient store to meet your needs. If you are like me, Walmart may be the only store in your area that offers crafting resources. In a case such as mine, shopping online may be your best option. Other options may be looking around thrift shops and yard sales for items you can incorporate into your craft.

The Dollar General Store, and The Dollar Tree both carry some affordable craft supplies. Home centers and indoor flea markets are often the best resources for resourcing wood. Amazon is a resource for a variety of craft supplies and hobbies, and I often use it as a price comparison while I am shopping in person whether it is in a craft shop or at a yard sale, it pays to be informed.

Tips to Remember:

1. Don’t over-buy. For your first crafting venture, stick to basic supplies.
2. Remember that when working with children make sure the craft and supplies that will be used are age-appropriate.
3. I’d suggest that you start with a small project. As you build up skills and confidence, you will be less likely to abandon a larger project.

Ready, Set, Craft

Are you ready to unlock your creativity and experience the joy of crafting? I firmly believe that crafting is a wonderful hobby that can benefit your life in numerous ways. From reducing stress and anxiety to improving cognitive function and building a sense of community, there are countless reasons to start crafting today. With this in mind, why not give it a try and see how it can benefit you?

Links and Resources

I am sharing a few of my favorite instructional sites and craft blogs to help you get started on the crafting journey.

Craftsy offers classes and tutorials for various crafts: https://www.craftsy.com/

Craft Blog: https://www.marthastewart.com/1502461/diy-projects-crafts

Links to Several of My DIY Craft Posts

That You May Enjoy

• Up-cycled paper craft (beginner): Paper Bag Crafts (Angel and Ornaments): https://beeveecreativecrafts.com/homemade-appalachain-christmas-crafts/
• Mix Media Crafting (intermediate): https://beeveecreativecrafts.com/diy-dryer-vent-hose-pumpkin-crafts/
• Painting (beginner): https://beeveecreativecrafts.com/how-to-paint-a-pumpkin-fall-decor/
• Burp Cloth (Beginner/Sewing ): https://beeveecreativecrafts.com/burp-cloth-pattern-for-beginners/

I hope that you will embrace your creative side and discover the joy of crafting. I’d love to hear from you. I’d love to see your creations.

Thanks for stopping by, visit again soon,

Vikki

The post The Joy of Crafting: A Guide for Beginners appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.

Starting a New Chapter

Up until this year I had only done one or two craft shows a year. I have dreamed of building my hobby into a business for a long time. I knew that in order to do that I had to start branching out to where I did year-round shows. The problem was, this was totally out of my comfort zone. I knew what the market was for fall and winter crafts. I had a base of inventory that I build on from year to year for the year-end shows. But I had absolutely no idea what inventory to make for spring and summer shows. I couldn’t wait to see what would be popular in department stores, because I had to start on inventory right after Christmas. All that I could do was wing it based on what research I could find on Google and Pinterest.

Jumping in Headfirst

I created a board on Pinterest and labeled it “Spring and Summer Crafts”. I wanted examples of things that were popular in the last year or so. Over time a pattern emerged. The most prevalent decor trends seemed to revolve around Bees, Lemons, Garden Gnomes, Water Melons, and Florals. I don’t like making replicas of other people’s creations, I want my decor to be unique. I had my subject matter planned, now it was time to start getting creative.

Spring & Summer Crafts on Pinterest

Buying Supplies

When it came to crafting supplies for spring and summer crafts, I had very little in storage that I could use. I was starting from scratch. I was able to buy small wooden hangers from Dollar Tree to use as a base for many of my projects. But I bought a lot of my supplies from both Joann’s and Hobby Lobby as well. Stocking up on the new supplies proved very expensive.

Mistakes That I Made

I will be frank here, I overspent! I was so nervous about not producing enough inventory that kept buying supplies for new projects (many of which I never even started work on). Finally, my daughter stepped in and told me that she thought I was overthinking it, and overproducing what would actually fit inside my 10 x 10-foot craft booth. She advised me to do a mock set-up of my booth in the garage before I made anything else. She was absolutely correct! I had let my nerves get the best of me.

Advice to Self

In order to keep from repeating the mistakes that I made this year and again next season, I am making “notes to self”. I thought that I would share my list here with you all as well.

• Don’t create expensive items for the booth. Limit the top price to $40.00.
• Create large items that look high-end, but that I can afford to sell under that $40.00 maximum. Examples: burlap hangers, Large wooden-shaped hangers, etc.
• Create lots of “littles” that range from $1.00- $10.00
• Pack a toolbox into the vehicle before anything else (I walked off and left my toolbox at home for the first time ever!).
• Use supplies that I have on hand before buying new supplies. I spent a fortune on supplies that were totally unnecessary for this show.
• Try and visit the show if possible, or at least google it and look for photos of booths set up there in recent years. If I had done this, it would have saved me a lot of unnecessary spending. I should have paid more attention to what I was spending. Have a budget for supplies and stick to it.
• Stick to local shows that do not require an overnight stay!!

The Show

It stopped raining at about 11:00 in the morning. By the time it stopped, the showgrounds were a muddy mess. I was amazed that people started showing up. I didn’t leave the show with the profits that I had hoped for, but at least I broke even. Sadly many others didn’t far that well.

What Worked, and What Didn’t

Was it Worth It?

To be honest, when I left the show, I decided that I wouldn’t do a Spring show that far away from home again. I was out the cost of the booth space, gas, and hotel fee. When you do outside shows, you are at the mercy of the weather. It’s a gamble at best as to whether it will be a good show or not. The rain hurt the turnout. I was lucky that I broke even. Many did not.

After talking to my daughter she made me see things in a more positive light. It could have been worse. I at least broke even. It was also my first spring show, and I was unsure of what to take in the way of inventory. Yes, some of my inventory seemed to go unnoticed, but much of it sold and got attention. I made mistakes that I shouldn’t have. It’s not like I am new to being a vendor. But, I intend to learn from those mistakes moving forward. Although, I am still undecided about whether I will invest in the Glendale Spring Show again. Maybe next year I will go enjoy the show as a customer and leave the booth space open for those more adapted to the frivolous nature of spring weather in Kentucky than I am.

Looking Forward

Being a vendor is always a risk. You never know what will be your “big seller” and what inventory will be ignored. You are at the mercy of the weather, whether it is an inside or outdoor show. It’s tiring work. You are never going to get rich being a vendor. So why do I keep doing it? I love it! I love interacting with people coming and going from my booth. People return year after year to buy my artwork. I love talking with young kids that are already artists. I love seeing them examine my work, and talking with them about ways that they can have a career as an artist that does pay. For me, it is a hobby. So as long as I break even, I will likely be at craft shows.

Craft Show Vendor: to be or not to be, that is the question that I am currently asking myself! It is always a risk when starting a new venture. And even though I have done shows for years, trying to expand is almost like starting over. The only thing I can say is this: if you love interacting with people and making beautiful things craft shows may be the perfect fit for you. I hope that this article has been a bit of a help to those considering becoming a vendor. Remember research is your friend. Keep your budget firmly in place when buying supplies and displays. And most of all, enjoy the adventure.

Thanks for stopping by. Drop in again real soon.

Vikki

The post Updating a Booth Display appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.

Goals

My goals:

My goals seemed simple enough. Work at the store two to three days a week. Work on craft inventory daily. Write one blog article a week. Clean the house each day before, or after, work. Seems simple enough, right? I thought so too. Until I realized that I don’t have a set work schedule at the store. Also, on some days I come home so exhausted that creating art is out of the question.

I soon learned that trying to create art when I am tired just leads to frustration. Also, working on art in the living room makes it hard to keep the house clean. More frustration. It was like trying to balance bricks and feathers. Impossible.

Where There’s a Will There’s a Way

There had to be a way to accomplish all the goals that I have thrown into my “basket”. The thing is, I haven’t found the exact formula for success yet. I tried using goal planning sheets. That helped for a while but trying to balance everything became overwhelming. I have room for improvement in achieving the desired peaceful balance.

In fact, I had all but abandoned this blog. I would think of blog topics, but getting them created and published just wasn’t happening. By the time I got home from work, or finished with my list of daily chores, I just didn’t have the mental energy needed to write. life has been getting in the way of me staying the course toward making dreams a reality! Something had to give in order for me to get back on track.

Here is what I have found to help so far. First, I can’t have one set day that the blog post goes out. I am going to have to be flexible on both when I create content and when it is posted. Second, I am going to have to limit painting and crafting to my days off. And last, the household chores have to be divided into manageable daily chores.

Is it Working?

You may be asking at this point if my new system is working. It is, though there is still room for improvement. There are times when I get things organized and neat. I even promise myself that I am not going to make a mess again. It lasts until I start to work on projects again. Thank goodness my husband is patient with me. He helps out with the cooking on the nights that I work. He even puts up with my creative mess.

Short Cuts to the Same Path

I am picky about what I put in my booth for sale. If it doesn’t look high-end and professionally crafted, it doesn’t make the cut. In the past, everything was free hand-drawn, and then painted. I have started using stencils for some of my wordage. It cuts down on mistakes and work time. Once the background is in place, I then can go on to create original works of art. It may sound a bit like cheating, but I have found a way to save time without sacrificing the quality of the finished piece.

Home Studio=Messy House

As for the house, I am going, to be honest here, it’s still a mess. I have started getting better at cleaning the living room at the end of each day of crafting or painting a canvas. I have also found that keeping a pump bottle of cheap dish soap by the bathtub allows me to clean the tube each time it is used. Alexa is very useful for setting reminders for chores such as cleaning the cat box, removing the trash, etc.

Show Time

Now the big question is, “Will I be ready for the show in May”? The answer: I think so! I have been able to create three to four pieces of art per week. I just have to keep reminding myself of the big picture. Then I have to keep working towards that goal. And that means to stop and breathe instead of panicking about not having enough made for the booth. In fact, I did a trial set-up of the booth and was amazed at how full it looked. But that’s okay because I have found another show in July.

First Things First

I will be set up at the Spring Craft show at Glendale Kentucky on May 20th. If it goes well, then I will try to add a second spring show next year and build from there. No that’s not growing as fast as I wanted, but it is moving in the right direction. I overspent, and will not even break even on this show. That my friends will be a topic for another day, I promise we will get back to that one.

If you get a chance, drop by and visit during the show. You can find directions to Glendale online. I will be set up near Greetop Antiques.

Is it All Worth the Trouble?

It’s not easy. Especially considering that soon it will be time to plant the garden, travel to Texas, and start adding DIY posts on here. But I am determined to get this blog back into motion. I am determined to build my craft hobby into a business. And I am determined to do a better job of keeping this house neater.

Goals, Dreams, and Reality, Oh MY!

Finding a balance among all my goals has proved to be a challenge. So what can you take away from my failures, mistakes, and challenges? First, we are all human. We all make mistakes. We all get a bit overwhelmed and lost at times. And, that is okay so long as we remind ourselves that we can achieve. We all just have to find the right balance within ourselves.

Hopefully, my friends you have a dream! Set goals, and work toward them. You can do this, and so can I! We just have to stay in motion. Stop back by soon.

Hope to see you all at Glendale.

Vikki

The post Finding Balance in Life appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.

Growing Up Poor

Neither of my parents had been able to attend high school. Dad was a disabled coal miner. My mom often worked as a maid for the wealthier folks in our county. We raised most of our food on the homestead at Lick Branch Hollow ( of Hurts Creek Road), and at the farm at Flacky Creek.

The farm at Flacky was very isolated. You literally had to drive in and out of the creek bed to get to the farm. That meant that you needed either a four-wheel drive vehicle, a tractor pulling a wagon, or you walked. The footpath was not a piece of cake either. To avoid wading the creek meant that you had to walk on a narrow trail that led along the mountainside. In areas, the side of the trail dropped shapely from over a cliff and into the rocky creek bank below.

Our time at Flacky was filled with hard work. We didn’t have the wonderful machines that the farmers have here in Central Kentucky. We had a tractor, and a wooden wagon built on a truck frame. The boys and dad used a horse to plow on some fields, others we were able to plow using the tractor. We holed the weeds from the fields by hand. I still bare calluses on my hands from those days spent in the fields.

Raising Cane & “Beeing” Myself

We had bee yards at both farms, but we only grew sugar cane at Flaky. Selling honey and Molasses was a big part of the income that we had to survive on as a family. It was also something that we produced that we could be proud of. Dad always said we were partners with the bees. We took care of the bees, in exchange for the honey we took from them. Beekeeping is year-round work. It taught me that you have to look out for the future, you can’t wait “until the bees are swarming around your head to build a hive to put them in”. My early experience the beekeeping helped shape my love of nature. You may have noticed that even the name of my blog carries the banner for my love of honey bees.

Making molasses is another labor-intensive endeavor. We holed the cane by hand to keep the weeds at bay. Then after the sugarcane was mature, we would strip the fodder from the stalks, cut the cane, then load the stalks onto the wagon and take them to the cane mill. The cane was crushed by the mill in order to extract the juice from the plants. Next, the juice was boiled down into syrup, or molasses. Producing molasses was hard work. Raising sugarcane not only gave us the means to earn money, but it also taught us to work together towards a goal. My best childhood memories center around making and selling those products.

Kentucky Honey & Roadside Stands

Selling honey and molasses larger shaped who I am today. Some of my earliest memories are of us as a family selling farm products. We would set up at flea markets, festivals, and at roadside stands. Dad expected us to be able to talk to customers about the importance of the honeybee, their life, and the products we sold. We had to know which trees and flowers the bees frequented to produce the dark-colored, wild mountain honey, that we sold. To be a good salesperson, you had to be a people person.

Setting up and tearing down the booth at flea markets and festivals was easy compared to the arts & crafts shows that I do now. The boxes that held the jars were all the same size and stacked neatly for transport. Still, I never set up at a show without going back to those days of old and the excitement of selling our honey and molasses.

Lessons Learned

Even though I no longer sell products from the farm. A lot of my creations involve nature in some way. From my paintings of animals to those of bees, almost everything is nature inspired. I also love gardening and hiking. Even my soap is botanically based and makes use of wild herbs that are naturally sourced.

Growing up having to make what we needed or go without may have been a hard lesson, but it was one that I have never forgotten. My siblings and I have passed stories about the life we led have been told to our children and can even be seen as an influence in their lives.

What about you? When you look back at your life, what shaped you into who you are today? I hope that you let your creativity shine. Maybe it is not through art or crafts. Maybe your light shines through music or gardening. Share it with the children in your life. You never know what will inspire a child to greatness.

If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe and share a link to my blog. Thank you for stopping by.

Have a wonderful, creative day!

Come back to visit soon.

Vikki

Other posts that you may enjoy:

5 Ways to Attract Pollinators: Protecting Honeybees and Other Pollinators to Protect the Future

Springtime Found Us Busy As Bees

Books about Leslie County that you may enjoy:

Mary On Horseback: Three Mountain Stories.

Note: I really like this book overall. But, the closest train to Hyden was found in Perry County.

All of my siblings were delivered at home by the members of the Frontier Nursing Service.

Down Cut Shin Creek: The Pack Horse Librarians of Kentucky.

Note: Cutshin Creek ran along one boundary of the farm at Flacky Creek.

The post The Hills that Shaped Me appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.

Be a “People Person”

I love interacting with my customers. From the second they walk into the booth, I want them to feel comfortable and welcome. That means that I give 100% of my attention to the booth and my visitors. This doesn’t mean that I follow them, or try to push them into buying. Instead, I try to make them feel welcome. I do not like feeling pressured when I am the customer, so I extend the same courtesy to my customers. And last but not least, always be honest about your product. It will help you build a client base when people learn that they can trust you.

How to Make Your Booth Approachable

If you don’t like talking to people, then being a vendor in a market or craft show may not be the best outlet for you. I say this because to make sales, you need to make connections. They want to see that you care about the products you are selling. What I mean is that your work will “touch” people, and most often they want to engage with you as the creator. Even if they don’t strike up a conversation, they need to feel important. If you seem cold or disinterested, they will turn around and leave. Your visitors should be welcomed as soon as they enter.

Creating a Craft Workspace on a Budget

If you are thinking of becoming a vendor, you will need both a workspace and space for storage. Recently, a friend of mine was fortunate enough to obtain a “craft cabin” as their workspace. I have always wanted a designated workspace, but unfortunately, it’s not feasible at the moment. However, I have been working to create a workspace in my basement. Until it’s ready, I find myself working at my kitchen table.

So, what’s been holding me back? I’ll be honest: I have way too much stuff! Managing my supply inventory has been a real challenge. My advice to you is to avoid buying more than you need. It’s easy to become obsessed with buying art and craft supplies. In fact, I have enough supplies to open a craft store! To control my spending, I’ve started setting a budget and creating a list of items I’ll need for next year’s inventory. Hopefully, this will prevent me from getting carried away and buying more than I need.

Things to consider before starting to create your inventory for craft shows:

Creating a Welcoming Shopping Experience: Why Organization is Key

Have you ever walked into a store where the merchandise was disorganized, the space was overcrowded, or the prices were not visible? It doesn’t make for a pleasant shopping experience. You might have left without making a purchase. This is probably the most important tip from the “5 things to consider before deciding to sell at craft shows” because an orderly and neat space draws customers in and shows pride in your merchandise. To avoid this, make sure your booth is tidy and well-organized. A cluttered booth space is uninviting to customers.

Additionally, consider how setting up your booth is like moving to a new house. Finding space for everything can be frustrating. Each show presents a new opportunity to create a unique space, but it will also bring new challenges.

Thinking Ahead to Avoid Set-up Day Stress

Here are a couple of printouts for worksheets that I use to prepare for my events. Feel free to download them to use for your personal use only. They may not be sold, or used on another site, without permission.

Know When to Walk Away

No matter how nice try to be, or how good your products are, you will encounter rude customers or other vendors. Being able to remain calm and collected is a must. Conflict is never good for business.

For example, I had a “neighbor” at a show that always wanted to push her items into my space. At first, I tried too not engage at all. But the problem was ongoing. I tactfully tried to explain that my inventory was being damaged because of crowding. She either didn’t understand me or ignored my concerns. At this point instead of trying to address the issue myself, I waited to speak to the show organizer. It avoided conflict and kept me in the good graces of the organizer.

In another instance I had a customer vocalizing loudly just outside my booth that my prices were outrageous. Everything in me wanted to be rude in return, instead, I just smiled and told her that I would love to learn her secrets if she were willing to share. Being nice when someone is rude usually stops their assault. You do not want to make yourself look bad to other customers.

Have a Helper

Canopies are a must for doing outside shows. But I will be honest, they are a pain in the right ear to deal with! I have a dear friend who goes with me to the outdoor show that I attend. It requires a canopy. The canopy requires two people to set it up! So if you are reading this Teresa, thank you from the bottom of my heart for putting up with me!

Setting up and tearing down a booth takes a lot of work. It usually takes me thirty minutes to unload the SUV and to get the inventory inside. Then, it can take anywhere from two to four hours to set the booth up. The more inventory you take requires more display areas. It is exhausting work. Having a helper that you can trust allows you to set up and tear down a booth. It also allows you to take meal and bathroom breaks.

Still Thinking

If you’ve taken the time to consider the five factors that come into play before you decide to become a vendor at craft shows, and you’re still interested in pursuing it, then you may have what it takes to be successful.

Doing Your Research About Both Your Target Show and Customer Base is Highly Recommended

We all make mistakes when we start a new adventure. Mistakes are simply opportunities to improve. Though I am by no means saying that these tips will guarantee success, I hope that sharing the lessons that I have learned makes the road a bit smoother for you. On that note, here are links to other posts that may be helpful.

Related Blog Post: My Hobby is Growing Up: Building a Growth Plan

Are you planning a new adventure? Let me know how it goes. I would love to hear from you. Good luck on your crafting journey.

You all stop back by soon,

Vikki

The post 5 Things to Consider Before Deciding to Sell at Craft Shows appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.

A Gift that Serves

The unit that we received is the Alexa Echo Show 8 from Amazon. I wasn’t sure how much we would actually use it. But for us, it has been so handy. I tested positive for Covid the day after Christmas (The nightmare after Christmas!). I went home with several medications and a new inhaler. This Covid bug is a nasty little piece of work. It left my brain a bit foggy and my body so tired that I found it hard to stay awake.

That’s where the Echo came in. I was able to set reminders for each medication, and when they were due Alexa would announce a reminder. Alexa has become my personal assistant during this illness. She is also good company when you find yourself quarantined in a room alone. I am still learning what Alexa can do, and I am excited to learn. So this country bumpkin has found a tech gadget that I like and would actually recommend.

What She Can Do

I was instantly amazed at its ability to play songs on demand. She can also play live local newscasts, and Youtube videos, watch movies, find recipes for you, act as a photo display for your digital photos, answer questions, and give news updates and weather forecasts. She can log into podcasts, play white noise to help you sleep, recommend books, keep track of a personal calendar, and make lists, among other things. I am still learning all that the Alexa Echo is capable of doing but what has been most useful is her ability to set reminders. Oh, you can even change the name of your device to one of several supplied names. There is even the option to have it use different accents and voices.

What I Wish She Could Do…

As amazing as this little device is, there are a few things that I wish she could do. It would be amazing if I could print the lists that I have created or recipes that I have found using its search engine. You can set one contact as an emergency contact call, but you can’t use Alexa to call 911. It will not take place of an emergency call device.

Is it worth the investment?

These little units are not very expensive ( thus the frugal living part). You can pick one up for under a hundred dollars. The stand had to be bought separately. For the Echo to work, you do need an Amazon Prime Account. You also need the Internet, unlimited is probably best. Luckily we had both of those already. The Echo can link to some android phones and to iPhones. The Echo can be linked to accessories such as smart plugs used to turn outlets and devices off and on at will. It can be linked to both indoor and outdoor video cameras that work as security monitors when you are away from home, giving peace of mind that doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. In our case, I figure the accessories will make their way to us as gifts over the next few years. I wouldn’t mind a security camera aimed at my garden. Maybe I can use it to keep a few critters away, says she jokingly!

On a more serious note, I have Meniere’s Disease. The Echo will allow me to set my daughter as my one emergency call contact. I know it will be as assuring to her (to know that if I get sick and her dad is not here, I can easily contact her) as it will be for me. This feature alone makes the Echo worth the investment.

This is the unit that we have: Alexa Echo Show 8. We received a stand with ours for Christmas, and there are several other accessories that you can get to use with your Echo. I see a new video doorbell in the near future, and maybe a few other upgrades as well. But I can say that this is one of the best Christmas gifts we could have received.

I Love Our Echo Show 8

The past year brought many changes. Some good, and some heartbreaking. I learned that I can run a cash register at a new job! We became grandparents. We lost loved ones, and the state faced several natural disasters. I started the blog. We grew a backyard garden. And now, we have a “sorta-smart” home!

If this didn’t seem like an article on “country” or “frugal” living when you started reading, well I hope you have changed your mind. I found the Alexa Echo 8 to be a frugal option for those who want to add a bit of security to their home, simply love listening to music through an amazing speaker system, or need a hand with organization. As for the country part, well I plan to use her calendar feature to record when I should plant different crops, and use her reminder feature to remind me to water the plants. Whether your New Year starts by buying an Echo or making plans to move you forward in a whole new direction, I hope that it will be an amazing year for you all.

You all stop back by soon,

Vikki

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Ingredients & Prep

You will need:

• parchment paper
• cookie pan
• ingredients
• pastry knife
• grater
• oven
• knife
• baking spray/ oil
• One medium-sized sweet potato; washed and baked. Let cool before mashing to make your sweet potato puree.

Dry ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 1/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 3/4 teaspoon ginger
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon cloves

Nuts:

• 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Oils:

1 stick of butter ( or stick of vegetable butter) grated, then chilled in the freezer for about ten minutes. If your butter ain’t really cold, your scones will not turn out right. Shortening doesn’t work well in this recipe.

Wet Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup sweet potato puree
• 1 tablespoon molasses
• 3 tablespoons heavy whipping cream- chilled
• 1 large egg- beaten
• 2 teaspoons real vanilla extract

Directions

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees
• prepare a sheet of parchment paper that is at least a foot long (for patting out scone dough)
• Sift together dry ingredients; Using a pastry knife, cut in the chilled butter until the mixture resembles a course meal.

• Gently stir in the nuts (if using).
• Combine all wet ingredients in a separate bowl.
• Make a “well” in the center of the dry ingredients.

• Slowly incorporate the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients. Stirring after each addition. Do not over-process the dough. Only mix it enough to combine the wet and dry ingredients. The dough should look like crumbly cookie dough.

• Turn the dough out onto parchment paper that has been lightly sprinkled with flour.
• Pat out the dough into a large rectangle shape. Cut in the center to create two squares. From there cut into small triangular pieces.

• Carefully move the scones to a lightly oiled cookie sheet.
• Bake at 375 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes (depending on elevation). I usually remove them at the 10-minute mark.
• Cool on a wire rack. Top with glaze when just warm.

Glaze Recipe

• 1 cup sifted-powered sugar
• pinch of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon each: cinnamon & ginger
• 1/8 teaspoon each: nutmeg, & cloves
• 1 tablespoon heavy whipping cream
• 1 tablespoon butter

Mix together dry ingredients. Stir in butter until mixed. Add cream, and blend well. Can add a bit more cream if needed, but take care to not add too much as the glaze will be easily thinned.

A Note About Pastry Knives

If you are new to using a pastry knife, you can buy them at Walmart and other department stores. Here is a link to a stainless steel pastry knife similar to the one I use. Any of them will work.

Happy Thanksgiving Y’all

Thanksgiving to me is not about having a fancy meal. It is about getting together with family and friends. Growing up, we didn’t have fancy place settings, but our mom sure could make you feel special and loved. Those are the most precious memories for me of when all of my siblings came together. I miss those sweet days and cherish the memories. Remember, you don’t have to have a perfect house to have a happy home. Enjoy the little things, like sweet potato scones and a cup of coffee to start your Thanksgiving morning.

I want to wish you and your family a safe and happy Thanksgiving. If you enjoyed this post, please pop over and check out my recipes for Appalachian Apple Stack Cake. It is another holiday favorite back home in the hills.

You all come back by real soon,

Vikki

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The Most Amazing Gift Ever

Before the pandemic hit, I had made a bucket list of things that I had wanted to do but had not gotten around to doing. As the list took shape, I noticed a pattern emerge. I missed my childhood connection to the outdoors and foraging for wild foods and herbs (though I still do this in a limited fashion). I longed to once again grow organic foods for our home. My list evolved into ideas for possible blog posts. The problem was that I was not an experienced blogger or writer. I had no idea how to start. I just assumed that my dream of blogging would stay just that, a dream.

My husband decided to give me a gentle push. Without telling me what he was up to, he started building a blog site for me on Word Press. When he presented me with the site, it was still in a rough-draft stage. But the bones were there, ready for me to give it life. His confidence in me pushed me past my fears and into an exciting adventure.

Forward from a List

The blog took on a life of its own. I started pulling items from my “possible blog-post list” and went to work. My first posts were about making grapevine wreaths and other things I had learned as a child in Appalachia. I knew that I wanted to write about my experiences growing up in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. And based on those experiences, I started blogging about frugal living, crafting, gardening, and nature. All of these topics were basic to life in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky.

The research and preparations that it took to write each post were very time-consuming. Then there was the planning for future articles. After writing those early posts, I started planning a small backyard garden.

I couldn’t wait for it to get warm enough to start working in the yard. My big project for the summer was going to involve garden-scaping and then recording my success or failure along the way.

How Does Your Garden Grow

With no-tiller, I had one choice and that was to do the work by hand. I pulled out a shovel, an ax, and a rake and went to work. We removed a dead tree from the yard the year before, so there were still roots embedded all over the yard. Using a shovel alone wasn’t going to cut it (pun intended!). Charles wasn’t too happy with my chopping the roots in the ground with his ax, there was just no other way to clear out the roots.

It took me several weeks to get the veggie plots dug, de-rooted, and raked smooth. The ground was hard and very compacted from foot traffic and roots. The texture of the soil was also very clay-heavy, it needed the soil loosened to aid aeration. I bought organic compost to turn into the plots as I turned the soil. Eventually, I was ready to plant. I visited a local Amish Greenhouse to buy the seedlings and got them into the ground.

Harvest

The growing season turned out to be very dry and I ended up watering the veggies nearly on a daily basis. I worried that I was wasting my time. But I refused to give up. My mother had often made use of a mixture of 1 teaspoon Epson Salt, 1 teaspoon baking soda, 1/4 sugar, and 1 gallon of water. Putting her old plant food recipe to use, I would use about 2 cups of the mixture around the base of the plants and then water the plants well. The garden took off.

Before long I had cucumbers, zucchini, and tomatoes coming in. I was able to can green tomato salsa, pasta sauce, zucchini bread-and-butter pickles, dill pickles, and garlic dill pickles. On top of this, we had fresh organic veggies to add to meals and salads. There was even an abundance of tomatoes for sharing with friends and neighbors. My experiment with growing popcorn was not as profitable. I ended up with a pint of popcorn (some little critters really enjoyed the young corn plants). The herb garden provided fresh herbs and tea. My pollinator garden was a joy to watch as little visitors buzzed about the blooms.

Was It Worth It?

I will admit that I made mistakes in my choice of how many seedlings to plant, and where I planted them. Meaning: I hated to throw away any seedings and tried to find space for them all which caused overcrowding of my plants. Even with the mistakes, the garden was well worth the work.

Investment vs. Payout

It is now the first week of November, and the time to pick veggies from the garden has passed. I have no idea exactly how much we saved by growing squash, cucumbers, and tomatoes this year. Looking at the prices of produce now, I know that we more than recouped the $65 that I invested in seedings and organic compost. That is not even taking into account all of the sauce, salsa, and pickles that we have on hand for use this winter.

Now as the days grow shorter, and the nights grow increasingly colder I am starting to plan for next year’s garden adventure. I dream of outings to the nursery with my dear friend Glenda, and days of planting seedings in the warm spring soil. I look forward to expanding my herb garden to include my favorites to make into tea blends, and for adding to my homemade soap. Did I make mistakes this year? Oh yes. Will I do things differently? Absolutely. Our mistakes push us to learn new skills and methods.

Harvest time is a time for reflection, a time to regroup and to plan, and for the soil and gardener to rest for a bit. The yard seems asleep now. The last of the flowers are nodding off for a long winter’s sleep. Halloween has passed, and the Holidays are approaching. The foods that I canned from my backyard garden harvest will not just give us quality organic foods during the winter, but they are going to provide unique gift-giving opportunities as well.

Planning your own adventure in backyard gardening? You can find heirloom seeds for starting your own seedlings at Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds. Now is a great time to plan for next year’s harvest.

If you have enjoyed this post, you may want to want to read about the beginning of my adventure in garden scaping.

Thank you for visiting my site.

Come again soon, happy fall y’all.

Vikki

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When our children were little my husband and I read to them daily. Each night we would read a few chapters from a book before bedtime. Of course, I read the favorites from my childhood such as “The Boxcar Children”, “The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe”, and The Lord of the Rings series. Being dyslexic, I wanted to give our kids a love of reading to help them overcome any possible struggles they may have inherited from me. Luckily neither of the two is dyslexic, but the family reading time instilled a love of reading. I would have never dreamed of how this love of reading would spill over into other areas of their adult lives. With my daughter, her love of fantasy comes to life in her art.

First Project

Jessi is a mixed media artist with an emphasis on digital art. She sells her art at shows and conventions and is featured on merchandise that is available for purpose online. She also does art commissions. When she found out that she was expecting she decided to do a fan art version of the Misty Mountain from The Hobbit mural on a wall in the nursery and asked for my assistance in executing her design. One of her favorite books that we read during story time was The Hobbit, and this is the theme that she and her husband chose for the baby’s room. The theme was her way of passing on a family tradition that incorporated her and her husband’s love of Dungeons and Dragons.

Concept Art Brought to Life

Jessi had the concept art completed months ago. She had sent me a digital copy of the work, so I knew what the design would be. She chose clean, crisp lines to give the mural the look of a page from a children’s book. The design was simple, and free-handing it onto the wall seemed easy enough. She ended up having to draw it to scale because our art styles differ. Yes, I could have drawn it on the wall but I wanted it to be exactly the way she had imagined it.

Preparations

• Decide on a design
• Choose paint colors & buy paint (Jessi bought quart cans of paint)
• Draw an outline of the mural on the wall (we used a charcoal pencil)
• Cover the floor with a protective barrier
• Tape around the border of the wall & ceiling
• Gather brushes, cloth for cleaning up mistakes, paint can opener, paint pans or bowls with lids for paint, paper towels, gloves, and any other tools needed.

Painting the Mural

When you are painting a landscape always start on the area that will serve as your background first. Think of it as “stacking or layering” the different parts of the mural from what appears farthest away to what appears closest to the viewer. For this mural, the background (first layer) was the sky. It is behind both the mountain and the clouds.

Once the first layer was completed, we continued painting in the layers. The dragon was the last thing to be added to the mural. And since Jessi could not quickly draw in the outline, we decided that the best way to go about it was to make a template on paper. After she had drawn out the dragon and cut out the shape, I simply added painter’s tape to the back to hold it in place as I stenciled it onto the wall. From there I carefully painted Smaug flying toward the Misty Mountain. It took us three days total to complete this mural. We took our time with it and enjoyed the time spent together. It turned out amazing.

Ready to Create Your Own Mural?

The possibilities for adding art to your home with a mural are endless. You can make your mural as simple or detailed as your heart desires. If you are worried about your artistic ability, using stencils is an option instead of free-handing outlines. Also, practicing on a small canvas can help you decide on color choices, and how detailed you want your mural to be. Jessi used digital concept art for this purpose. But remember, art does not have to be perfect.

I truly believe that anyone can create art, it just takes a bit of patience, practice, and self-confidence. If you decide to create your very own mural masterpiece, please drop a line and share it with us. There is nothing that I love better than seeing the art of others.

Please subscribe to my blog and share it with friends. Stop back by often for a look into my newest adventure.

You’ll take care now,

Vikki

Links That May Interest You

Want more projects to help prepare for baby? Then check out this sweet burp cloth DIY.

Links to Jessi’s art:

ArtsyRobotz Ko-fi Shop

ArtsyRobotz Redbubble Shop

Artsyrobotz: This link will take you to a list of sites where you can view Jessi’s art.

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I saw this amazing craft cabinet online. It was every crafter’s dream. It had a fold-out work table, storage compartments, and doors that closed to hide it all away. I looked at the price, and my dream was shattered. It was well beyond what I could afford to spend on storage. That left me pondering how I could create storage for craft supplies, create a workspace, and manage to do it for under $150. The answer was shopping for thrift store furniture and upcycling it into a crafting oasis.

My Goals

The first thing I did was sit down and list all the things I needed my craft center to hold, which was a lot. Short of buying a shed for the yard, I was going to have to work some upcycling magic. I needed storage for my machines. I have a sewing machine, a Cricut, a heat press, and a sublimation printer. Each of those would need a home that I could access easily. Sliding shelves that allowed easy use of the machines would be ideal.

I would also need storage for vinyl, ribbon, paint brushes, paint, stencils, material, and basic supplies such as glue guns. In short, I was going to need storage that provided both deep drawers and shelving. I also wanted a flat surface to work on. The problem was that we do not have a truck. Anything that we bought had to fit inside my small SUV.

Obstacles & Blessings

The Obstacles

Once I had pinned down what I needed in terms of space and size, I started visiting local thrift stores and online markets. I found several possible cabinet units that would work. Several of those were either out of town or out of our price range. One set that I simply fell in love with sold before I could contact a friend to get help with transporting them. I wasn’t in a rush; I knew that eventually what I needed would come along.

After several visits to my favorite shop, the Hosparus Thrift Store, I found the perfect pieces. Luck was on my side because I found a huge dresser that has 9 drawers of differing sizes. It has a matching armoire that also has two large drawers and shelving at the top for a TV and video player. And, I thought they would fit easily inside my SUV. Notice I said “I thought” because the armoire ended up being too large (by about half an inch).

The Blessing

The day that I bought the furniture and we returned to load it and bring it home, there just happened to be a kind-hearted gentleman there that helped my husband load the armoire. When he saw that it was too big to fit inside the SUV, he offered to bring it home for us. We were so blessed to meet Marc and Regina that day. I truly believe God put us on the same path. Regina and I are both avid crafters. It was a true blessing meeting people willing to help strangers, and it was an even greater blessing that I met a kindred spirit and made a new friend!

Giving the Furniture a Makeover

Starting to work on the furniture was a bit intimidating. I had never refinished pieces that large. I started by cleaning the dresser with a mixture of vinegar and water. After that, I rinsed it well with a lint-free cloth dampened with water.

The dresser has a decorative edge which meant that I had to sand those areas by hand. I used a rotary sander on the smooth surfaces of the drawers and sides of the unit. I worked on sanding it for over two days when I had the time. For instructions on scuff sanding visit How to Scuff Sand.

The dresser is one of two pieces that I am upcycling to use as a craft center.

After sanding, I carefully cleaned the surface again to remove any dust. Using a sprayer, I painted the dresser with washable latex paint. I applied a total of 4 layers of paint, letting it dry between layers. This video by Ray of Sunlight is a good tutorial on using a sprayer. You can find others on YouTube as well.

The paint was thinned slightly with water before use.

Finished Crafting Oasis: Part 1

Because of the high heat index and lack of air conditioning in the garage, I worked on sanding the dresser over a two-day period, about four hours total. Then I needed a third day to paint it. I am pleased with the way it turned out, but not thrilled. The electric sander left marks in places. I know that it is from me trying to get deep scratches out of the dresser top. Next time: better lighting and less sanding! If you are not an experienced sander, I’d subject that you practice on something you don’t care about before tackling your actual project.

Next Up Part 2: Painting the Armoire

Now that the dresser is in place in one corner of the basement, I am ready to begin work on the matching armoire. I intend to use a product on the armoire that is supposed to eliminate the need for sanding. Hopefully, this experiment works because I am running out of time to get this project completed (I am about to become a grandma and will be spending time will my daughter’s family in Texas).

Total Cost of Project to Date

I ordered apothecary-style drawer pulls from Amazon: The price is $15 for 16 drawer pulls. The pulls are very sturdy and are a great product for the price.

I used paint from Lowes ($25 for one gallon of paint). It was marked down for clearance due to being mistinted. Finding the paint on sale kept me under budget for this project.

Furniture: Luck was again on my side. I found a matching dresser and armoire at a local Hospuras Thrift Store for $75 for both pieces.

Sandpaper: I spent $6 on sandpaper at Harbor Freight.

I had an electronic sander and paint sprayer. The sander cost under $50 at Lowes and the paint sprayer ran us about $180. If you don’t have these gadgets, you can sand and paint the old-fashioned way. This was the first item that I refinished using power tools. It does go faster, but I think that the end result of sanding by hand is much better. The paint sprayer on the other hand is amazing!!

Total cost: $121! Not bad for storage for a craft area. I will post photos after I refinish the armoire, and when I finally get the craft area all set up and camera worthy. Depending on when my grandson decides to arrive, it may be a while before this adventure is complete.

Are you Dreaming of Creating Your Own DIY Craft Cabinets?

It takes a creative mind to be a crafter or artist. The problem is that our brains see potential in every item we encounter. My friend likes to say ” A creative mind makes for a messy house”. Needing to organize my mess was the inspiration for this project.

What are your needs as an artist or crafter? Do you have a dream storage unit in mind? Is budget a top consideration? Then maybe putting that creative mind to use and starting a DIY craft cabinet upcycling project is the answer for you as well. Dream big, create bigger!

If you are interested in thrift stores and frugal living, you may want to check out my post Living Big on A Small Income: Thrifty Shopping Tips.

Thanks for stopping in for a visit. If you enjoyed this post, please subscribe and share. Stop back soon, and let me know about your great upcycling projects.

Until then, be blessed!

Vikki

The post DIY Craft Cabinets on a Budget: Upcycling Thrift Store Furniture appeared first on BeeVee Arts and Crafts.