Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Tuesday Treasury

Wishing you a blessed Christmas morn!

Friday, December 21, 2012

Feature Friday - The Handmaden


Set of 3 - 33x34inch playsilks



                                                               Set of 3 playsilks

Hand printed handmade messenger bag



                                               Hand printed and sewn messenger bag


Hand embroidered house on a hill brooch

                                      Hand embroidered "House on a Hill" brooch


Fabric buttons hand printed linen blue

                                                    Hand printed linen buttons





Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Monday, December 3, 2012

Interview With Leah Grace Helmrich


Tell us a little about yourself.


I am 19 years old and have been creating things with my hands for as long as I can remember! I love to create anything and have dabbled in numerous mediums and techniques, including watercolors, acrylics, clay, metal casting, silversmithing, knit and chrochet, needle felting, chainmaille, wire wrapping, sewing, lampwork and glass blowing, dichroic glass, candle and soap making, wood carving, origami, and collage.


 
 How did you begin working in your craft and how did that craft developed into a business?
 
 My family has been traveling in an RV for 8 years. I was 12 when I met a 16 year old girl whose family also traveled expensively.  She made and sold all sorts of handmade beaded pieces; cool beads on headpins with a little wire wrapping here and there. I instantly fell in love and begged her to show me how to make earrings and bracelets that she made.  Mom and Dad saw a great teaching opportunity and taught me about loans and profit margins as I bought beads, made earrings, and then sold them to my friends and acquaintances that I met on the road.  
Was Home Education an easy choice for you? How did you get started in that endeavor?
 
There was never a choice, it was easy to start, there was a great support group in the area where we lived and my grandmothers were encouraging to my parents. My brother and I have always homeschooled and we wouldn’t want it any other way.

Copper Textured Earrings


 
What advice would you give to other families who are also trying to juggle home education and a home business?
 
Balance is very important, and in schooling and business that balance can be tricky to find. I have found that hard work and passion in your craft are essential.

Where do you find inspiration for your pieces?
 
 I find inspiration all around me and I am always on the lookout for new ideas and techniques. Often we will be watching TV and I will yell “Pause it! I want to see what she is wearing!”  I also love to brainstorm with my friends and family, they always have some good ideas!

3 Mum Charms

 
What is your favorite item in your shop right now?

I have fallen in love with niobium and adore all of the colors that can be created. That is why these rainbow hoops are my fav right now


 
Can you tell us one of your favorite homeschooling moments?
 
Ohh…there are so many! One that stands out was the day I was hanging out with a few public schooled friends and one of them started complaining about the assigned reading she had to do. I just couldn’t grasp the concept that A. reading wouldn’t be fun and B. they were only allowed to read a few chapters at a time!
 
Do you have specific goals for your business or for homeschooling? Would you share some of those with us?
 
We want to keep the business small enough that we are able to continue to manage everything ourselves. We love what we do!

Parallel Chain or Helm Weave Chainmaille Bracelet Kit

 
Please, share a photo (or up to 4) of yourself, you working at your business, your family, a field trip or your homeschool day.
 
We don’t really have any current photos of the family or me working. I am including a photo of me dancing, if you would like to use it.


Find Leah At These Online Locations




Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Tuesday, November 6, 2012