I wanted to make something in honor of the final episode on Sunday of the Mr. Selfridge series airing on Masterpiece Classics. I wanted to create a product Mr. Selfridge would approve to stock in his store.

Rhino fever strikes again! I saw an advert from Sur la Table for this potholder made in India and available for $9.95….

and thought, “I can make this!” Uh huh…

I dashed to Michaels to purchase cotton yarn. No black nor cream colored cotton yarn was available in 4-ply mercerized. What??? Did all the cotton bolls go rotten last year? (When them cotton bolls get rotten, you cain’t pick very much cotton in them Ol’ cotton fields back home. BTW: Where’s all the home grown cotton these days?)

I finally settled on 1.75 oz of light 3. I know you’re thinking, “This is going to be a challenge.”

Using the intarsia method

I worked the pattern for about 25 rows then thought, “this isn’t going to look good”, and un-raveled, re-wound and started over using a straight needle with 45 stitches and also thinking I wouldn’t need to carry the contrasting yarn all the way across the pattern, which was correct, but it was a pattern that left much to be desired.

I took a break to crochet the Eiffel Tower motif pattern to add as a separate piece.

Again, I un-raveled and re-wound the ball of yarn, casted on 90 stitches onto the circular needle, deciding I would mark to separate the front from the back of the potholder, knitting the front and alternating knit-purl the back in the base color.After about 2″ of work I decided this wasn’t going to work either, so back to un-ravel, re-whine.

I let the project rest for a day, then cast 45 stitches onto a straight needle and decided to make this into a washcloth instead of a potholder because I would have to make two squares, add cotton batting then crochet them together to be safe to use with a hot pot.

Two and a half hours later…..

Better frame it than use it! BTW: I did find Joanne’s Fabric and an online source to purchase cotton yarn!

Re-Think!

I crocheted an Eiffel Tower measuring 3″ and added the motif and ‘made with love’ metal charm to a corner washcloth.

I began the edging, but something was nagging at me, so I decided to go to work at the hospital and stop thinking about it!

The next day, after studying the wash cloth, I finally decided I really did want a potholder and began a back piece to measure the 6.5″ square using the garter stitch.

I remembered that I had been holding on to a roll of cotton batting to make a quilt for about 15 years. I dug through the linen cupboard, found the package and deliberated with myself for about a second as to whether I was REALLY going to make a quilt, then grabbed the scissors and cut the cotton batting to size.

Using some black yarn, I tacked the batting down through the middle to secure it to the front and back pieces. I single crocheted the edges of the front and back pieces together then went around again with an edging stitch. I crocheted around and added the metal ring for hanging the pot holder and Viola!

Cost Break Down

So, the yarn cost $4.99 a skein. I outlined with k-p a ‘frame’ for the knitted center of the front piece, and the back is k-p every row. Add about $.25 cents worth of the contrasting color skein; add the ‘made with love’ charm .$05; about .$05 worth of cotton batting and the metal ring for .$05. It took 10 hours to make the final version @ $7.25/hr (minimum wage). The pot holder is valued at $77.59,which is to say, “This is the OOAK Pecuniary Purchase” or a potholder only the wealthy would buy for the resident cook to use!

However, if I really get ambitious, I could consider making 4 more as Christmas Gifts for JC Supper Club members or as a table favor for the next Ladies of the French Laundry Dinner Party scheduled in 2014. The theme is black and pink, but I’ll think about it….later.

Last week, I got a bug. I remembered my mother had taught me a hot pad pattern years ago. So after a couple of fits-n-starts, I finally crocheted a hot pad of which Mr. Selfridge would approve and available only in my Etsy Shoppe!

Yesterday, in honor of Mrs. Selfridge, and because I wanted to see a variation on the theme, I created and included in my shoppe the Rose Selfridge Elegant Hot Pad. 

Prevention Queen

My family would tell you that I am the Prevention Queen. I have a background in preventative dentistry.  I teach injury prevention at a local hospital.

In situations where there was dubious potential for a good outcome, I always told my children, “If I’m wrong about not giving you permission, there’s no potential for a harmful outcome. On the other hand, if you are wrong, there IS potential for a harmful outcome.” They hated me at the time for sticking to that explanation, but what can you expect of a Prevention Queen?

Coping

If you are a regular follower of this blog then you know that my best coping skill is cleaning toilets. Announcement: My second best coping skill is taking preventative action! Therefore, I believe you will not be surprised when I tell you I took preventative action yesterday upon seeing the Costco version of the Unbreakable toilet!

Upon the discovery, I excitedly sent off a text to the handyman to give him the specs and ask when he could install it. He texted back the height had to at least be 16″ because my husband is tall, and the handyman is aware of my husband’s fainting episodes. I texted the height was 17″. He texted he could be at the house at 9:00 am the next day and I bought the toilet. BTW: I have begun referring to the water closet in our bedroom as ‘MarZ’.

Facelift for Paris from MarZ

At my house we ‘tuck into Paris’ before heading out the door. My granddaughters and I are enchanted by this idea. I just think it sounds so much more elegant than saying, “I’ve got to use the toilet first.” 

It has been five years since creating ‘Paris’, therefore she is in need of a wee facelift. What a perfect ‘love note’ for Moi! Since the handyman was going to be installing an Unbreakable toilet in ‘MarZ’, and as the toilet in ‘MarZ’ has a brand new tank on it’s back (you know this because I have written about it in Hey! It Beats Hanging the Cat! )

I decided the prudent-the fiscally responsible-the cleverest use of the ‘MarZ’ toilet was to have it relocated to ‘Paris’.

However, trying to explain the clever plan to the handyman proved somewhat trying! Each time I said I wanted him to “relocate the toilet in MarZ in Paris” he gave me the most peculiar look. 

Finally, I realised to clarify the locations I needed to say, “The toilet in the bedroom water closet needs to be relocated into the powder room” instead of ‘MarZ’ and ‘Paris’. Otherwise, apparently he didn’t know how to get to MarZ and additionally thought I wanted him to take a toilet to Paris, France!

Execution is Key

The key to prevention is execution, and none too soon it turns out. During the relocating installation the handyman discovered a faulty valve leaking in ‘Paris’. OMGosh! Viola! I’m feeling much more clever than ever about the decision to relocate the toilet from ‘MarZ’ to ‘Paris’ and consider it to be brilliant Starshine for my part!

I am delighted to report the Unbreakable toilet is providing a sense of comfort to me as I do not need to be ready to flash into action upon hearing the gushing of water should my husband collapse again….

And, ‘Paris’…. I love ‘Paris’ every moment, every moment of the year!

‘I RED in BLACK and WHITE that EXTRAVAGANT NECESSITIES is back ‘ by YESTERDAYONCEAGAIN

Happy Mother’s Day. May your day be as wonderful as you are. Extravagantly yours,Donna and Sonja

Love me tonight VickiDianeDesi… $22	Fur stole in Rex chinch… belladornosf $1995	Shoulder Epaulettes, Ne… HopscotchCoutu… $297
Couture Derby Hat, Lams… ArturoRios $225	You Choose Mistress – C… MaskedEnchantm… $69	Pair of Padded Hangers … tokyoblues $19.95
Wedding Guest Book Pen … YesMoreFunk $15	Incredible art to wear … Jevda $7400	Red Velvet Bow Sparkly … sofisticata $41.5
BROOCH Multi Shades o… Cleoras $50	Gothic Wig White Black … CrudeThings $295	Roses are Red and Viole… HideaHeart $21.95
Latex fascinator OohLaLatex $49	Vintage inspired Lace a… cosmiksouls $190	Custom Size Red Ivory a… Glamtastik $275
Runway Statement Cuff glitzyandchic $75

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

____________________

‘may inspired’ by NadinGlassico

Shabby Chic Sugar Cream… slatternhouse5 $32	Wedding Double Flower C… PrettyNatali $43	Roses are Red and Viole… HideaHeart $21.95
Love me tonight VickiDianeDesi… $22	Polymer clay earrings, … UnrealColours $14	Crochet bag with two ha… TaniaSh $68
Green Stone Pendant- Gr… mehru $62	Aqua necklace/ necklace… BestMaria $14	Romantic LoVE Heart Nec… 4TasteofShabby… $42
Jewelry Earrings Diamon… wulfgirl $54	Exploding Planet Pendan… PendantLab $14.95	Vintage Floral Metal Ti… millyscollecti… $21.5
iznik handmade tiles di… Bluees $38	Handmade Ceramic Heart … CreationsbyBY $28	Clear quartz crystal ne… NatureLook $66
Wooden Bracelet, Woode… MagicJewelrySt… $15.9

Treasury tool supported by the dog house

Thank you!

How does your branding go? Do you put a business card into every package of product you ship? Do you add a brand to your handmade crafts? Just when I think I have got this micro-business finely tuned, I discover something that once realised, I think, “Now, I should have already known that!”

Research

I’ve been thinking about this ‘branding’ idea quite a lot lately. So one day I decided to take action and spend some time perusing the web looking for a site that makes fabric labels to add to the handmade Latte Cozy Sleeves I am knitting.

I thought it a stroke of luck that I came across this terrific post titled HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN FABRIC LABELS! I considered it my little ‘love note’ from the web.

I dashed to my favorite craft shop to grab the needed supplies-No Sew Hemming Tape and the Photo Fabric, then enthusiastically set out to design my label.

Decisions-Decisions-Decisions!

First order of business was to decide what to put on the label. Using a word document, I had to figure out the best size, most readable font choice and spacing of whatever I decided to create. Should the label read ‘MCatherine Made’ along with www.hideaheart.etsy.com?  Should  ’Handmade in USA’ in what city and state be included? I had a few ‘false starts’.

Should the label go on the inside of the sleeve or would there be more ‘bang for the buck’ if it was visible on the exterior of the sleeve?

Ultimately I concluded the obvious decision was to use the Hide A Heart logo with website address, affixed to the exterior of the sleeve!

All Packaged Up

Think again!

Now you would think having figured out all of these details, I would carry the learning through to other handmade creations. Nope, but that’s the beauty of customers like Angelina who teach you something important by simply making a purchase!

After putting together an order for 8 Edwardian Era Downton Abbey Inspired Sachets, also suitable for Tea Party or wedding favors, I realised a thing or two!

Then There’s Value Added

….and let me take this just a step further. Remember the value added post I recently published about Turning Bits-N-2-Better as a package perk for my customers? Well, why not take full advantage of this ‘branding’ concept and add a label to the freebies too!

Therefore, if one is going to ‘brand’……

Then one is GOING to Brand….

Henceforth, one should make much ado about a lot!

If you happen to be looking for a great tutorial for making your own labels, I suggest you visit the Sew Delicious blog.

It’s official! In March the Julia Child Supper Club (JCSC) is branching out. The hostess doesn’t know, but I decided to add a little homemade ‘love note’ flair to the table settings semi-ala The French Laundry!

As mentioned in the November 2012 post on What’s Cookin’ at Hide A Heart Central page of this blog, we members of the JCSC are completely enthralled by the idea of preparing recipes from The French Laundry Cookbook.

Much anticipated by all the cooks, we received the menu a week before the dinner date along with a link to the blog French Laundry at Home where we would find additional tips for each course. I encourage you to check out Carol’s blog. It is absolutely beautiful!

Dressing for Dinner

We are a diverse group, but on one thing we can agree; the importance of dressing for dinner

Sur la Table

Everyone dressed in black and white, and our hostess carried the theme through with her beautiful table place settings. Paying attention to the smallest details, she alternated Black Truffle Salt with Fleur de Sel in individual salt cellars.

Salt Cellars

If you decide to give a French Laundry Dinner Party, you will want to have salt cellars on your table. Should you want a set yourself, click the photos to see listings on Etsy.

The Cellars above have sold

Amuse Bouche

Upon arrival, each guest was met with a glass of champagne and cornet.

Cornets filed with Salmon Tartare with Sweet Red Onion Creme Fraiche

After which everyone pronounced the Cornets as divine, delicious and delightful!

Appetizer

Parmigiano-Reggiano Crisps with Goat Cheese Mousse

Plate of filled crisps placed upon a white napkin held with a hand calligraphed French Laundry clothes pen, the guests were seated

Fish Course

True Cod with Sweet Parsnips, Spinach and Saffron-Vanilla Sauce

Because I am unable to eat fish having bones, my hostess was kind enough to serve this course to me topped with a lovely scallop

Intermezzo

Lemon Sorbet

A meal worth savoring is worth Intermezzo!

Meat Course

Roasted Rib Steak with Mushrooms, Pommes Anna and Bordelaise Sauce

Pommes Anna served as the bed for the steak

Dessert

Cream of Walnut Soup

Served in her grandmother’s Demitasse cups, Hallie made this exquisite soup–any calls for second servings? To be sure!!

It was a fabulous evening spent in the company of wonderful friends over delicious cuisine! Therefore, you should consider investing in The French Laundry Cookbook and hosting your own French Laundry Dinner.

What we all came to realise was that the recipes in The French Laundry Cookbook are quite complicated and time-consuming to prepare, thus we all now understand WHY dining at The French Laundry will cost you your first-born child + about $1,000 per person!

Additionally, we all agree this was the most elegant meal we have ever prepared and eaten. Therefore, The French Laundry Dinner is now slated to be an annual event.

Bon Appetit!

Have you noticed an opportunity can arrive in a most mysterious way? Opportunity arrived for Hide A Heart two weeks ago as the 1800th Hide A Heart Fan Page Follower. 

Several months ago I decided to recognize the 1800th fan with a Hide A Heart of choice. So when Nicoletta (Nic) of Fanchimp pushed the ‘like’ button I sent a message with a link to the Hide A Heart Etsy Shop and the offer to make a selection from among the listings. Sweetly, Nic replied that while she appreciated my offer, she thought perhaps I might not want to send her choice all the way to Italy. I assured her I would be happy to send her prize to Italy! She chose this Pink Bling Latte Sleeve.

Google +

I am not yet convinced Google + is the Online Nirvana Google may think it is, but I have begun to use it with some regularity thanks to the encouragement of my Networking Together Group.

Claudio & Nicoletta

I connected with Claudio and Nic via Google + where I found posted an announcement about the soon-to-be-launched Etsy Blogs United project with an invitation to submit one’s blog for consideration of inclusion.

Today Nic and Claudio, launched Etsy Blogs United as a one-stop aggregator where one can visit to see the newest blog posts of participating blogs! Click to submit your blog for consideration!

Drum Roll

I received a note from Nic telling me she visited Hide A Heart’s blog and believes it will fit nicely into his project! I ❤ the mystery of opportunity! 

Hide A Heart is honored to be selected as one of the Lake Oswego Award Program recipients. Thank you!

Hide A Heart Receives 2012 Best of Lake Oswego Award

Press Release

Lake Oswego Award Program Honors the Achievement

LAKE OSWEGO December 4, 2012 — Hide A Heart has been selected for the 2012 Best of Lake Oswego Award in the Cards & Stationery Printing Services category by the Lake Oswego Award Program.

Each year, the Lake Oswego Award Program identifies companies that we believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the Lake Oswego area a great place to live, work and play.

Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2012 Lake Oswego Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the Lake Oswego Award Program and data provided by third parties.

About Lake Oswego Award Program

The Lake Oswego Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the Lake Oswego area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value.

The Lake Oswego Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. Our organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Our mission is to recognize the small business community’s contributions to the U.S. economy.

SOURCE: Lake Oswego Award Program

CONTACT:
Lake Oswego Award Program
Email: PublicRelations@awardprogram.org

One must send money to actually receive the beautiful trophy.

Since I do not have a storefront in which to display the trophy, I might consider the wall plaque if there was money in the budget for purchasing. Do you think printing it on 8×10 photo paper and then framing it myself will suffice?

I sincerely want to say, “Thank You Lake Oswego Award Program for recognizing Hide A Heart” where we make writing love notes easy.

Heads up!

If you, as I, have been organizing the blogs you read through Google Reader, then you got the notice in Gmail that as of July 1st, Google Reader will no longer be available. Well, March-July…I guess one could consider that a pretty good lead time.

It’s what to do about it that sends me to Mars! I’m beginning to realise Mars is the Permanent Residence for Those who Use Technology.

R.I.P. Google Reader

Lots of people are talking about it. Check out The Island Guy’s post as an example. His slant points out the outrageous way Google Gives, Then Takes Away.

So Be It

I cannot improve on the short and sweet explanation my friend Jennifer  wrote about the demise of Google Reader on her blog  Eightymillion. I encourage you to make good use of Jennifer’s research.

I wasn’t quite sure what remedy to seek, until I read a Facebook request post by Laura of Petscribbles, which then led me to make some changes.

Bloglovin

I chose ‘Bloglovin’. They offer a lot of Follow buttons, and it was easy to migrate all the blogs I now follow and was in risk of losing due to the demise of Google Reader. Go ahead, scroll down the left side of this blog and click it or click Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Whatever you decide to do, do it sooner rather than later. Those who wait will be left in Googledust!

You can make this Welcome Door Decor that simply oozes Spring. It’s easy and takes about 10 minutes to assemble. 

Parts Needed

Nail, door knocker or other attachment be fixed to the door

Wall Pocket with chain for hanging

1 gallon Ziplock baggie and a name badge snap clip 

A bunch of Tulips or flower of choice

1 packet of flower fresh food

1. Tuck the baggie into the wall pocket and fill it with water
2. Add Nutriflor or any other brand of fresh flower food
3. Arrange flowers to suit your taste
4. Hang the chain from the nail or door knocker or other fixed attachment
5. Secure wall pocket with the badge clip fixed to the back of the wall pocket for additional security
6. Viola!
7. Enjoy

Happy Spring!

Follow Up Photos

Day 2

Day 4

Day 5

Day 6Day 8

Eight days for a fresh floral arrangement hanging on one’s door is definitely love note level R.O.I. 

Reblogged from Belle Grove Plantation Bed and Breakfast:

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Since we started the blog and Facebook Fan page and started linking with others, we have had some really great people come to us with some really great ideas. We have also received samples of items to offer to our guest. It is a great way for us to see the items and to help us decide whether to offer them or not.

Read more… 931 more words

Surprises are a good thing!

When I sent Michelle the sample, I didn't realise she would take the time to write a blog post about her Hide A Heart experience.

I invite you to visit her wonderful post on the fabulous blog at www.virginiaplantation.wordpress.com and leave a comment. I happen to know she would LOVE to hear from you too.

Here's what Michele said:

So we decided to give it a try.

"Brett and I have been married for 26 years. At the beginning of our marriage, Brett was still in the Navy. So there were days, weeks and months that I would go without seeing him. It would be letters in the mail that would surprise me and make me smile. After so many years of marriage, we are still very close and consider each other our best friend. We say “I love you” every day and several times a day. So I wasn’t sure if this would make that much of a difference to us. But I am always willing to try. So I hid it first in his clothing drawer. As I was brushing my teeth a few minutes later, I looked up in the mirror to see Brett standing by his drawer with a big smile on his face and his hands on his hips. Through the toothpaste dripping down my face, I tried to smile back. And so it began. Over the next week, we have taken turns hiding it. After Brett found it in his drawer, I found it under a second pillow on my bed as I was going to lie down for the night. I then hid it in his car for the next morning. I would find it the next day in the dish I place my car keys in as I was going to work. I then hid it beside his jar of honey he has each morning in the cabinet. Brett then hid it in my car flip tray where I keep the garage door opener for the next morning. Then I hid it in the refrigerator for him to find the next morning. We even carried it with us on our wonderful weekend in Orange and Montpelier. Brett would find it in the suitcase in a small pocket where I knew he would go. As we were about to leave, Brett even turned to me and asked if I remembered to pick up our heart. The heart would also travel with us to Belle Grove for our last public hearing. On Tuesday morning, Brett would pull on his jacket to find it in his pocket. But you know it wasn’t just the game of hiding and seeking this heart. It was the message that it gave us. The message that for just one moment, we stopped and realized that the other really loved us. That heart would put a smile on our faces for the day as well. It was just a wonderful warm feeling to pick it up and think about each other. So I want to thank our friends at Hide A Heart! You have shown us that even those of us who say “I Love You” every day still can find other non-verbal ways of showing how much we really care about each other. We will be carrying this wonderful product at Belle Grove and will be having it available for those special couples who will start their wonderful lives together at Belle Grove.

Please visit Hide A Heart

To get more information on how to order your heart or how to carry this wonderful product"

www.hideaheart.com

Thank you Michelle and Brett!