Looking for the best gifts this Holiday season? Check out 4girlsdesigns.etsy.com and the rest of the shops on Etsy!

We all like to receive special, unique gifts that reflect who we are, so why not shop where you can find those kinds of gifts for your friends and family!  When you visit 4girlsdesigns shop at Etsy on Black Friday you will save $$$ by using the discount code: 2011BFTHRUCM

Thank you to all of my clients on Etsy, you are all THE BEST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4girlsdesigns Eco Friendly Felt Christmas Stockings made it to the Front Page of Etsy!!

http://www.etsy.com/treasury/MTUxMzY5Mjh8MTA1NjE2NDk5Mw/an-eco-and-wallet-friendly-christmas
 4girlsdesigns has many items made with both eco friendly felt (made from recycled plastic water bottles) and merino wool felt.  Please check them out, and many other sellers at Etsy.com who are creating eco friendly products!

NEW Sewing Patterns for Knitters, Crochet Artists, Painters, other Crafters

This is a great time to make Project Bags, Needle/Crochet Hook Cases, or a great 40 Pocket Knitting Needle/Crochet Hook Organizer Roll for yourself or your favorite Knitters or Crochet Artists. These projects are also good for Painters to store their paintbrushes, Embroiderers toy store their thread and needles, Portrait Artists to store their colored pencils/markers, lots of other crafters can use these to organizer thier tools. These bags are not just for crafting but are also good as lunch totes, toy bags, cosmetic bags, etc.  Make these for your wedding party to carry their last minute items for the big day!  You will find all kinds of uses for these! (I do have some completed items from these patterns in my shop if you prefer to purchase finished items. I also do custom work to match your number of items to match or color preferences, from my currently available fabrics. Just send me a message on Etsy with your details.)

This 40 Pocket Knitting Needle & Crochet Hook Orgnaizer holds so much! One of the pockets is a zippered pocket to hold all the little items you need to knit/crochet.  The pockets are sized appropriately to hold crochet hooks, dpn's, straight knitting needles, gauge, stitch holders, cable supplies, counters, etc. and are held safely inside the roll with a tidy, easy to use handmade belt.  This is also great for holding pencils/pens/markers/and a large variety of paint brushes. The patterns come with detailed written instructions and many illustrations as well as numerous photos to help you in the step by step method I like to use.  This case is padded through the use of pre-quilted material which is easily found in nationwide fabric stores across the US. 

These would make great holiday gifts for those loved ones who are even now knitting and crocheting away making gifts for others!

Hand Embroidered Pillow from Engagement or Wedding Photo

I have had the pleasure and honor of transforming a treasured photo into a thread picture on 100% Natural Linen pillows. Photos here are of two recently done projects.



I can also create a special hand embroidered photo from any special occasion or a favorite vacation spot. 
You supply the photo(s) and I create the embroidered interpretation of that photo, accenting, adding, or deleting anything per your instructions.  It will take approximately 7 days currently to create the embroidered images. I will then make it into an heirloom quality pillow.   Bride and Groom's name and wedding date may be added to the other side of the pillow.  Pillows are constructed of 100% natural linen and stuffed with new PolyFill.

This is a great way to commemorate any special event and keep a lasting image of it for generations to come.  Please contact me today about your custom embroidered pillow request. Prices start at $125.00 plus shipping and handling costs. 

4girlsdesigns Has Exciting NEW Patterns: Embroidered Felt Bridal Bouquet Tutorial, Tri-Fold Wallet With 15 Pockets, Great New Travel Bag To Wear on Your Hip or Slip Over Your Shoulder--just to name a few!

4girlsdesigns has put together a few NEW and Exciting Patterns!!  Much time and work has gone into creating a do-it-yourself, easy to follow Embroidered Felt Flower Bridal Bouquet Tutorial and we are happy to make that available in the shop TODAY!  Easy enough for a beginner to embroidery and a great stress-reducing craft when juggling wedding details can be a bit overwhelming.  The full-size flower pattern pieces and many pages of detailed instructions/ diagrams/ photographs make this a really fun project.  Carry a beautiful bouquet on your Wedding Day that will last for generations.

Maybe you would like to make our new Hip or Slip Bag that is worn on your hip, or slip it over one shoulder, or across your body.  It's the perfect bag for the active girl or guy.  The bag will hold all your necessary take along items, and keeps your hands free to do other things. I used mine at the airport, at the theme park, and when I ride my bicycle, or to carry an ereader...there are more uses for this handy travel bag than I can list.  And it is really easy to make! You can make a whole slew of them for your freinds, or even to sell in your own shop.

Would you like a classy wallet that also has 15 pockets?  Our Carry All Tri Fold Wallet PDF Pattern  is just right for you crafty people!  This is another tutorial that arrives in your "in" box via email.  It contains several pages with step by step directions, photos, and diagrams to help you put this baby together. These would be great gifts for Graduation parties! You could get started now on that Christmas gift list.  It is so much fun to make these, and it doesn't use a great amount of material so they are economical to make too.   Why not use that piece of material you were saving for something special to make yourself a special wallet.

4girlsdesigns Wool Felt Gadget Case is Featured in Team CAC Treasury!

FEATURED!

We have been featured in a special Treasury sponsored by Team Christian Artists and Crafters on Etsy! Please take a look at this beautiful Treasury! Spring Springs
Congratulations to all the TeamCAC members who created Treasuries and are featured in them as well. This is such a loving and supportive Team to be a part of, THANK YOU!!

Please take a moment and vote for your favorite Treasury on the Team CAC blog here:
 Blessings!

Wool Felt - It has been around for a long time, but I just fell in love with it!

HOT NEW CRAFT:  Embroidering felt!

I was so inspired by some of the felt creations I have seen lately that I had to try embroidery on felt. Here are some of the eco-felt pocket tissue cases I have made. I am very happy with the way they turned out.

Eco-Felt is produced from recycled plastic bottles.  I love that it recycles trash into a material that is soft, beautiful, colorful, inexpensive and readily available. I noticed that the felt you buy by the yard is a thicker product than the craft pre-cut pieces you can find most anywhere. 

I  began with eco-fi brand felt because it was easily available to me.  This was still limited in the colors I could get and I figured if I was going to spend all that time embroidering a piece of felt, it may as well be one that will last a very long time.  I recently purchased a good quantity of 100% wool felt from a wonderful seller on Etsy: feltonthefly

When I opened the package I was thrilled with the colors I had chosen.  When I began to cut out pieces I was amazed at the quality of the wool.  It just has an amazing feel and durability to it that the other felts did not have.  I just completed my first project, an  iPod case.  I LOVE THIS STUFF!!  Yes, I had heard that if you try wool felt you would never go back.  I appreciate the color, the feel, the durability of wool felt. I also appreciate the eco felt that is made from recycled plastic bottles.  If only the manufacturers would process the plastic bottles to produce a material as thick, soft, and durable as wool felt...

I have found embroidering on felt to be a wonderful, stress-reducing therapy.  I have had a great deal of stress lately and having a craft I can pick up and do anywhere is helpful to my sanity.  I encourage you to try it! I will be incorporating more felt items in my Etsy shop.

 My oldest is getting married this year, so I had to try my hand at making the new felt fower bridal bouquets.  And, being me, I had to find a good way to personalize it, so I added names of two friends getting married along with their wedding date.  I also, being me, developed a Felt Flower Bridal Bouquet Kit  that comes with the felt flowers, in colors of your choice, button assortment for the flowers, wire, embroidery patterns for each flower (each one is different), and everything else you need to make your own Felt Flower Bridal Bouquet.  If you would like to purchase just the Pattern for Felt Flower Bridal Bouquet it is going to be available as a PDF.  I think it would be a great craft for the Bride, Mom, or a member of the Bridal Party to make for the wedding.  Patterns for Bouttoniers are also available.  I have included suggestions for the number of flowers to have in each bridal party bouquet.  sCheck this out in my Etsy shop!

Are you looking for a way to personalize your Easter baskets?  I have some Easter Egg Name Mini Bunting available.  Just let me know the colors, name, and ribbon color you would like and I will make your personalized Easter egg-shaped bunting for you! Available in my Etsy shop now! Please order these early.