Country Friends

I will try to post any EXTRA tips and advise on this page for you. There are many of you out there that are already "expert crafters" that don't need any extra help from me, but for those of you just starting out, I will try to give as much help as I can. I know there are alot of you out there that are just starting out, opening up your own websites, selling at craft shows and online, and just need a few tips!!!

The "Vintage" look is definately in!!! Just by adding a little vintage tag to an item may just be what sells it. So, my advice, if you don't have a color printer then try to purchase one. You can print as many tags from the PDF file as you want! To prim up the tags a bit you can spray them with Glossy Wood Tone (757) spray stain by Master Design and sand the edges a bit with fine sandpaper!

dividerbtn

warmandnaturaldrying3

I take advantage of any sunny days, especially in the Winter!!!! I will usually dye about 15 yards at a time. You can go to Jaimes website at www.country-whims.comto purchase the dye and instructions on how we dye this much Warm & Natural at a time.

dividerbtn

witchhats

You can usually see something outside on the line drying......You certainly would not want to use the same line to dry your clothes because of all the cinnamon, paint, and fabric stiffener that tends to get on the line. Here I have some Witch Hat's drying in the sun. They dry so fast outside this way. You should see what my backyard looks like with 50 snowmen hat's laying out to dry. I'll take a pic of that the next time I do them!!

snowman3

Try changing up some of my designs. Here is #680 Frosty Friends. I picked up some paper mache stars long time ago somewhere and have him holding that and stuffed some chestnut color excelsior into his arms. Tucked in some greenery and rose hip sprigs...........use your imaginations!!!

dividerbtn

snowman4

Here I took pattern #442 Chilly Willie and made his coat out of Tea Dyed Warm and Natural. Added one of the Medium size Vintage Snowman Tags and a rusty shovel. I added some German Glass Glitter to his hat and shoulders. (Find the rusty shovel and German Glass Glitter at www.country-whims.com). And find the Medium Vintage Snowman tags on my Vintage Images page.

dividerbtn

snowman5

Here I took #800 Make A Wish pattern and have him holding a 3-D rusty barn star (approx. 3-3/4"), some greenery, and rosehip sprigs. This sold VERY well at last years shows. The Barn Star has come to mean an outward sign of good luck and good fortune! The tradition of the Barn Star in America can be traced back to the 1700's, and to at least the 1870's in Pennsylvania. Barn Stars were most popular after the Civil War.

Jaime at Country Whims (www.country-whims.com) has a 3-1/2" barn star that would look great for this snowman and other 3-D stars that would look great too. I also used the little resin carrot noses she has. It just made this guy very fast to put together. You can wrap some 22 gauge rusty wire around the bundle to keep the star in place.

dividerbtn

snowman6

Here I just stuffed some spanish moss into glass mason jars. Added some Sweet Annie and rusty star sprigs. Wrap some coffee stained cheesecloth around the top and added medium size vintage tags. I make these when I don't feel like sewing!! Just put a few things together and your done!! The snowball stick is something I purchased somewhere along my travels but you can probably make something similiar by using a styrofoam ball and wrapping it with rigid wrap, or by coating it with paper mache.......use your imaginations!!

dividerbtn

sampletag

Use the images from pattern #795 (Tea Light Hat) and print them on plain white paper. Grungy up a 4-3/4" x 2-3/8" tag and Mod Podge the image on it. Add a bit more glue around the tag and sprinkle on some German Glass Glitter. Here I used a fine Silver glitter. Jaime at www.country-whims.comhas many colors to choose from. You can grungy up your tag before you glue on the image by soaking in a strong coffee solution and lay flat to dry. You may have to press the tags between 2 books to keep the edges from curling after it is dry. Add a homespun tie and your done!

Here I used Pattern #777 Snowman Make Do. I used the Santa Hat pattern piece for the smaller Make Do and made it a bit bigger. I used a quilt to make the hat and did not sew in the trim like in the directions because it was VERY thick. I just tacked the hat to the head and then just wrapped some coffee stained cheesecloth around. I coated the cheesecloth with Mod Podge and sprinkled on some Old Fashioned Mica Flakes. I twisted some Balsam Pine greenery and pip berries around the base.

Here is just the snowman from my NEW pattern #825. I have him holding some greenery sprigs, some red pip berry sprigs, and a 3-D rusty star pick. (Jaime at Country Whims will be selling these on her site soon).

This is from my new pattern #822. You can just make the Santa Hat and tuck in the mouse with his "Twas the night before Christmas" book, and the Vintage Card.

My new Vintage Angel Topper. Here I grunged up a 7" Candle Lamp with a nice base. The Candle Lamps you get at the craft stores have ugly silver or gold bases that you just have to cover up with the cheesecloth! You can also use smaller sized Candle Lamps. Find them at www.country-whims.com . You can also tie a homespun bow around the candle and you can even leave the sleeve as is and not grunge it at all. The cord his hidden behind the candle and goes under her sleeve to the back. I found in previous years that any "Tree Toppers" were the first to sell at my craft shows. Not too many people offer them and it's rare to find, so heads up....make enough for your shows!

Here is a closeup of the little mouse from my new pattern #826 Witchy Tea Party. He is sitting in front of a cauldron (clay pot painted) with an electric tea light. The photo on the book is of some women living in a nursing home in Norfolk England, circa 1929. They dressed specially for tea! You can see how the orange and black German Glass Glitter add that special touch around the picture. You don't need much! (Find German Glass Glitter at www.country-whims.com).

A great idea is to put my Tea Light Hat (Pattern #795) in a Poly Bag, so when people at the craft shows pick them up and turn them upside down, the lights don't fall out!!! I used 8" x 4" x 18" bags. You can find this size at www.country-whims.com (The topper image I used on the bag you can purchase as a PDF file on my Vintage Images Page).

The #780 Pattern Christmas Ornies AND the #785 Wine Bottle toppers were also a great seller. I put them in these 5.25" x 3" x 13" bags and people would pick up a few at a time to purchase. You can purchase the topper image used on the bag on my Vintage Images page. Jaime at Country Whims is selling this size bag on her site (www.country-whims.com) in quantities of 25.

You can use a smaller size bag (4.5" x 2.75" x 10.75") for my other "#715 Clothespin Ornies" because they don't have the arms sticking out to each side.