cherishables: November 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Ho Ho Honeycomb

Tomorrow we start the Christmas Countdown where I post a link to a crochet ornament or Christmas doodad each day for 12 days.

To get us in to the spirit, I thought I would post a link to a wonderful non-crochet tutorial. I've been spending the last couple of days making these little beauties

Isn't that the sweetest thing? The tutorial is posted on V and Co. The original is made with fabric. Mine is a no-sew version made with felt. If you have felt, scissors, something round to trace with and a hot glue gun, you can make these!

Follow the instruction on the tutorial above and you can't go wrong. I will, one day, make these from fabric. Until then, I'm loving the felt version.

Remember to stop back, beginning tomorrow, for fun FREE crochet patterns I found all over the interwebs. Until then...

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Christmas Countdown

Looking for some fun Christmas crochet projects? I've done the work for you. Beginning this Saturday, December 1st, I will post a link a day to a fabulous FREE crochet pattern. Each will be a quick, Christmas themed, item you can whip up in no time.

12 posts in all. Check in every day for a new project. You'll have your holiday gifts done in no time!

Hope you'll join me and....

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Monday, November 26, 2012

Cyber Monday Sale

It's Cyber Monday and Cherishables is ready! I have deeply discounted my remaining felted purses such as:

This Rainbow Purse was $50 and is now $35!

This pink & orange purse was $60 and is now $35!

and many more.

Beaded bracelets have been reduced from $6 to $3 each.

And all Infinity Scarves are on sale.

I hope you'll pop by my Etsy shop to take a look.

Also new are Ruffled & Ribbon Scarves.

Ruffle Scarf

Ribbon Scarf

Happy Cyber Monday!!

Cherish

Monday, November 19, 2012

Sneak Peek - 3 New Purses

Yesterday I spent the day yelling at the TV (the life of an Eagles fan <sigh>) and making purse linings. Three purse linings to be exact. Last night I sewed them into the purses and now I have 3 new felted purses for Fall. These might be the last felted purses for 2012.

From left to right we have: Autumn Striped Purse -- this one starts with a gray base and then has bands of tan, brown, oatmeal, and one band of off-white & green. It has a braided brown handle and the most wonderful fabric button.

Love that button!

Next there is a purple ombre purse. Ombre is so in right now and I love it in this shade. You may recall I debuted a gray ombre purse before the St. Greg's craft fair. It's sold, so this is the last ombre purse of the season. The bands change from deep "Blackberry" to a medium "Columbine" ending in a light purple called "Seraphim." I added black straps and used an organic cotton lining. If you like purple/berry, you'll love this purse!

The fun purple button is just for show. The strap closes with a magnetic snap

Lastly, I have a Santa Purse.

Ho! Ho! Ho!

I tried something a bit different this year in my attempt to make a larger bag. While it is bigger, the shape is so very different. I like it, though, and hope someone else will too. It reminds me of Santa's sack. Next year, however, I'm going back to the original, smaller, purse in the more traditional shape. Btw, this Santa purse is traditional red. I also have one in burgundy. I'll try to finish that one soon.

This purses will be making their debut this weekend, but not at the Rancocas Woods Craft Show. Instead, they will be making their debut in a shop. Yup, Cherishables will be in a holiday shop this year. (I can't believe I just typed that! I need a pinch!)

Two enterprising ladies in Bordentown, NJ are opening a pop-up shop on Farnsworth Ave just for the holidays. It's called ShowCase! and will be filled with crafty-goodness. I'm one of the crafters. (Pinch, pinch)

If you haven't been to Bordentown lately, you will be amazed. The downtown area is quite trendy with shops and restaurants. Perfect for a holiday stroll. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by and take a look. This is a great way to support local businesses and crafts people. Let's Shop Small!

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Hurricane Sandy Relief

Another $17 was raised this week for Hurricane Sandy relief. Thanks to all who came out to the Far Hill Senior Center Craft Show! We had a wonderful time, sold some stuff and, most importantly, raised a bit of money to help those in need.

Thank you!!!

Friday, November 16, 2012

Shop Small

I'm sure you've heard about the Shop Small movement and Small Business Saturday, which is on Nov. 24th.

I definitely support this movement -- both as a (very) small business owner and as a consumer. As for myself, what I don't make for Christmas I will buy from the little shops in my area.

If you don't have any small businesses in your town, try shopping on Etsy. That way you're supporting both small businesses and craftsmen. A truly winning combination!

You can get an early start by coming out to the Fairless Hills Holiday Craft Fair, this Saturday from 9-2:30pm. Cherishables will be there at table #25.

What are your plans for holiday shopping? Do you support Small Business Saturday and Shop Small?

Monday, November 12, 2012

UPDATE - Hurricane Sandy Relief

Thank you to everyone who came out for the shows this weekend! We raised another $17 for Hurricane Sandy relief.

Remember, 10% of all sales through December will be donated to the relief effort. Check back for update!

THANK YOU!!

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Friday, November 9, 2012

Gray Ombre Purse Debut

If you follow me on Facebook, you saw a sneak peek last night. That peek was for this

Three bands of gray with a flap closure and black handles. The black button is for looks, as it closes with a magnetic snap.

I absolutely love the lining.

I've been saving this fabric for a long time and just knew it would be perfect for this purse.

There are divided pockets on both walls of the purse and both the lining and pockets are reinforced with interfacing, making a durable lining that should hold up well to everyday use.

The lining was hand sewn in using an invisible stitch and melts right into the purse.

I just love this purse & hope you do too! If you're interested in owning the purse, it's priced at $40 and it will be at the St. Greg's craft show this Saturday. Remember 10% of all sales goes to NJ Hurricane Sandy Relief, so $4 goes right into the donation bin.

If you're in the area, don't forget Cherishables will be in Hamilton & Ewing this weekend. Hope you'll come out & say hi.

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Weekend Craft Shows & Sneak Peek

It's a busy weekend!

Saturday, November 10th:
St. Gregory the Great Fall Craft Show in Hamilton, NJ 9-3
Ewing American Legion Ladies Auxiliary Craft Show in Ewing, NJ 8-4

Sunday, November 11th:
Steinert HS Fall Craft Fair in Hamilton, NJ 9-3

The Steinert show is rescheduled from Sat. 11/3. Let everyone know that pretty much all the crafters will be there & we're expecting a terrific craft fair. Hope you'll stop by!

How can I be at 2 places at once on Saturday? My doppelganger, also known as my sister Nadine, will be at the Ewing show in my place. If you're in the area, I hope you'll stop by and say hello.

Don't forget, 10% of all proceeds from all the shows go to Hurricane Sandy Relief in NJ.

Let's make this a little interesting. My sister's name is Nadine but my brother & I call her "D" (as in the letter) for short. If you come up to the Cherishables table at the Ewing American Legion and say "Hi, D!" I'll donate an extra dollar to the relief fund. It's got to be "Hi, D" and not "Hi Nadine" she'll know....lol Check back later on this weekend to see how much money was raised.

I also promised a sneak peek.

Do you know what this is?

It's a whole bunch of ruffled scarves made from ribbon yarn. Most are varigated yarns and there are two solid color ones: aran white and light gray. There's also a new ombre tote bag making its debut at the St. Greg's craft fair. I'll post pics of it on Friday.

If you're in the area this weekend, I hope you'll stop by.

Happy Crafting!
Cherish

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Hurricane Sandy Relief

If you know me, or if you've read my little bio, you know I'm from NJ. Born & raised. As you also know, the northeast was dealt a terrible blow this week when Hurricane Sandy ripped through NJ, NY and Delaware. My family & I were very lucky. We lost power for a few days and had some tree limbs down, but we've got power back and had no serious damage.

Like most New Jersians I spent my summers at Jersey Shore or as we say here "down the shore." Day trips to the beach, vacations in Wildwood -- when I was a little kid, I lost a front tooth eating corn-on-the-cob on the Seaside boardwalk...which probably doesn't exist any more. In my teens & twenties I spent entire summers in Sea Isle City -- living, working, and doing what kids do best -- hanging out with my friends. My first vacation with my husband was in Sea Isle.

Now my shore is changed. Different. Gone. Utter devastation. I feel I need to do something to help rebuild the shore I've always loved.

I am very proud to announce that 10% of all proceeds of Cherishables sales in the months of November & December will be donated to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This includes all online (Etsy, Goodsmiths, ArtFire) sales as well as local craft fair and in-person sales for both ready-to-ship and custom orders.

I hope you'll stop by either online, or at one of my craft shows, and do a little holiday shopping for your friends and family, for teachers, stocking stuffers -- for yourself!

I've already raised $10, so please check back often, as I will update the total weekly -- after each craft fair.

Together we can make a difference!

Happy Crafting!
Cherish