Heartfelt Homemade

I love things that are handmade.  In a world where so much of what surrounds us can be made with a machine, handmade items scream "special" to me.  Someone's very hands took the time to create something unique.  Individual.  One-of-a-kind.  These are the things that are "future family heirlooms."  It would be so easy to get something mass-produced, perfect, whipped up in minutes.  But then it loses it's heirloom quality.  Handmade items ooze with history, thought, care...and love.  And just the same way I aim to pass down the family heirloom of faith in Christ to my children, I want to pass down handmade items that will prompt memories of our faith, our life, and our home.

While it always seems as though I have more ideas than time or energy (as any mom to little loves understands), I do love to exercise my creativity when I can.  It's an outlet for me and brings so much fulfillment.  As a child, I watched my mom craft things with her hands, my grandmother was constantly crocheting, and there was never a shortage of craft supplies in our house.  In college, I minored in art for my own personal enjoyment.  And now, being a stay-at-home mom, my creativity needs to pack up easily, away from curious fingers (and because I simply can't stand to have a mess out for long).  But I've always desired to utilize my God-given talents...and I want to honor Him through them.

So I'm opening a little Etsy shop.  A little shop with a big heart.  It is {appropriately} named The Big Red Heart...inspired by my very own {biggest} little love.  It all began with a project for her bedroom that I worked on this summer...but what I love is that I automatically have the flexibility to create...to create whatever flows through my veins.

My first real embroidery project for my sweet pea's bedroom!

And it will provide the chance for me to help fill in any "gaps" in the family budget, to pay off debt, and essentially, to be able to bless others beyond what we are able to do now.

And Thursday is the day.  As in...tomorrow.  And if you're reading this before 10pm CST, you still have the chance to enter a giveaway on Instagram for some lovely handmade items, including a hoop art by "yours truly" and a gorgeous pillow cover by my talented, dear friend, and "fellow etsy shop owner" of Paisley Sprouts!  So hop on over to TheBigRedHeart on Instagram to enter!  

And happy handmade shopping!