Get a log and a dremel.

A quick update:
I tried the dremel last night and I loved it! My son tried it first and he carved his name and the date on the side of a log - it was so cool! I suggest that if you want something fun to do, get a log and a dremel and start carving. :)

The Sewing Machine and The Dremel

I recently acquired a sewing machine and a dremel. Did I mention I have never used either? But, I am so excited to learn how to use both of these, I can't wait to get started.

My plan for the dremel is to engrave the logs, coasters, toothbrush holders and/or anything else I can think of. This came about as I was asked to make a log toothbrush holder and could I engrave the side of it as if someone had written on the trunk of a tree. Oooh, I don't know how to do this, but you can bet I am going to home tonight and teaching myself how. I love the idea and can't wait! So many ideas floating around in my head that I can't wait to make them concrete.

As to the sewing machine, it is something I have always wanted to learn, but never got around to it. I now have a sewing machine and am going to take a class to explain it to me. I realized when I was calling the thread "string" and had no idea what a bobbin is or is used for, that I need a class. I want to make decorative pillow covers, ring bearer pillows, ipad covers and/or anything else I feel like making.

I truly love making new items and being creative, it is so much fun. I can't wait to learn these two new skills and see what I am come up with. :)

Take care,
Cindy Breninger
www.etsy.com/shop/DeerwoodCreekGifts
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Hot off the presses. :)

Hi all! Here are some things we just finished making. :) 

We have a vase/pen holder,

a toothbrush holder,

a sliced log collage,

a three-piece mini log tealight candle set,

and a log tealight candle holder/ring bearer box or jewelry box. :) 

And this is me working away. :)

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It's Log! Everyone Wants a Log. Sing-along at the end.

My son and I went to the "log" store where we get our wood for making our items.  As we were loading up our logs into the back of the car, we spotted this big, lovely, beautiful piece of wood that we both had to have. This thing is a monster. It must weigh about 20+ pounds.

We took it home and my son sanded it. It is so smooth, it feels soft. I have no idea what we are going to make out of it or use it for, but we ended up bringing it in the house and used it as a footrest. It is so smooth, it feels really good on the feet. It is still natural without stain or topcoat, but I am thinking it might not need any, did I mention how smooth it is? 

Well, as of right now, I am keeping it as a foot rest unless we can think of a better idea. If you have any, I would love to hear them! :) 

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As the song goes, (Please feel free to sing along):

What rolls down stairs alone or in pairs,

Rolls over your neighbor's dog?

What's great for a snack and fits on your back?

It's Log, Log, Log!

It's Log, Log, it's big, it's heavy, it's wood.

It's Log, Log, it's better than bad, it's good!

Everyone wants a log! You're gonna love it, Log!

Come on and get your log! Everyone needs a Log!

Craft fair update.

Hi all,  I thought I would give a quick update to our first craft fair.  We spent almost an entire month making new items. I would come home after work and we would go right to the garage, sometimes making new things for hours. I spent many nights worrying that I wouldn't have enough items to sell. I had put everything from hiking to skiing to horseback riding on hold to make new items. Fast forward to the craft fair and let's just say that we had way more than enough. I think there must have been 50 people all day, about 1000 less than what was expected.    

But, it wasn't a total loss as I met some great people and maybe some new potential buyers, so that was nice. It also showed me that I can make a lot of things in a short amount of time.

I have since learned to find out the type of crowds who will be attending the craft fair and what types of items they will buy.

Last night the kids and I realized that this was the first night in a long time that we didn't have to make anything and didn't have any worries about our business so we fired up the BBQ and relaxed........aaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!  and I loved every minute of it!

As for doing another craft fair, I would love to.  I learned a lot and next time  I will be much more prepared. Oh, another positive is that now I have plenty of items in stock and will be ready when the next order comes in, so that is good.

So, here's to craft fairs and let's hope the next one is more successful. :) 

P.S. My daughter made these glow in the dark smiley rocks and shells the night before. The crowd was so small, we didn't even get a chance to give them away. Next time. :) 

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Handmade :)

A few days ago I wrote about the trouble brewing over at Etsy, the website that hosts my online shop. Apparently one of the shops they featured claimed to be run by a lady who handmade all her items by herself, but after some looking into, turns out she did not make her items and they were not handmade, at least not by her. 

Anyhooooo, another lady on Etsy thought it would be a good idea for those of us who do make our items HANDMADE, to change our shop avatar's showing our own hands. She then took those avatars and put them in a collective photo.

I wanted to share the photo as it is pretty cool. Mine is the third row up, third from the right. I am holding a green drill. :)

Here is the link to the actual photo, you can see it better.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/41698614@N04/6985408074/in/photostream

www.etsy.com/shop/DeerwoodCreekGifts

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