Today I want to tell you about two girls that have started their own Etsy shops and who do high quality work.

First is my daughter, Serenity! She has had an Etsy shop for a few years now, called Roadrunner Stop! She sells pillowcases and children’s aprons. She also has done custom orders in which she’s been asked to make toddler pillowcases, zippered pillowcases and envelope pillowcases. Her quality of work is very professional and I know you would be quite pleased with the product you receive. Custom orders and requests for different fabrics than what is offered on her site are options as well.

You can find her shop, Roadrunner Stop! here.

She has always been very perfectionistic when it comes to her sewing projects. Back in 2012, when she was only 14, she was raising a lamb for her 4-H project. A month before the lamb was to be sold – it died. It started acting strangely and within 3 days it was gone. So since she couldn’t sell a lamb, the club leaders gave her an exception and suggested she make something that could be auctioned off.  So she made 2 aprons and 2 potholders. One for a man and one for a lady.

Everyone was pretty amazed at the quality of work she had produced.

Her aprons and potholders sold for $300.

Now she is 18 and continues to pay attention to detail and quality workmanship.

The second girl I want to tell you about is Allison. Allison is the one I mentioned recently who did some amazing hand lettering at a mutual friend’s wedding. She has just opened up an Etsy shop called Allisons Lettering & Design.

I ordered some mothers day cards from her and I am so pleased with them.

Everything is hand done by her.

The flowers were made using watercolors but the letters I’m not sure of.

So two young ladies who both do quality work. Check out their shops and consider supporting these girls who are have learned skills and are trying their hand at being entrepreneurs.

At our last Castle Keepers meeting, we made personalized journal covers.

Since we have a few long distance members that are a part of Castle Keepers we thought we would make this video for them, plus it’s a great way for us to not forget what we learned!

If you should decide to make one, you will need the following supplies.

• Journal (hard cover preferable)

• Gesso Primer

• Spray Adhesive

• Polycrylic Spray

• Foam Chisel Brush

• Small Paint Brush

• Hair Dryer

• 3 Complementary Colors of Acrylic Paint

Here are two journals Serenity has completed so far.

Have you ever made a personalized journal before?

We had our first class on apron making.  The kids had a lot of fun but we mothers are having a great time as well.  One of the mom’s suggested that each of the girls make a 2nd apron just to cement the skills they had learned in the apron class. It was an idea that everybody embraced and the sewing machines have been humming.

I even got in on the action and made my first one. We learned how to make these using an apron that was already sewn as our pattern. It took me 4 1/2 hours to make. Another girl in the club who has made a few only took about 2 hours from start to finish, so as you get comfortable with the whole process, I’m sure it gets quicker.

Some things I thought was kind of fun about my apron.
1. The black and white check was fabric that belonged to a friend of mine.
2. The lining was an old sheet of my mom’s.
3. The white lace on the pocket is off of a skirt both Serenity and Audrey wore when they were little.
4. And the cherry print, right above the lace is a piece left over from a quilt I made for Audrey when she was a baby.

Total cost of apron $2.50 (for hot pink material)

Serenity has her second one made and it turned out lovely.

Serenity and I both used the same white lace on our aprons.  Here she only has a small bit of it showing whereas I showed off quite a bit more.

Each month we are also posting a monthly challenge (we have a Google+ community where we share pictures and communicate about anything dealing with Castle Keepers) and this months challenge was to make a salsa they had never made before and post about it on Google+ along with the recipe.  Then at our next meeting they are to bring enough for us all to sample.

Audrey made a delicious salsa that you would typically have in a Mexican restaurant.  Everything was done in the blender.

Here she is sporting her ladybug apron that she made!

Serenity made a unique salsa – Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips. The cinnamon chips alone were really good.  They reminded me of churros.

So it’s been an exciting month for Castle Keepers. What a treat for us all to gather and focus on things that will be of importance to our girls when they are running their own households.

Our purpose is to teach our daughters skills for their future homes and to encourage giving of themselves in service to others.

Yesterday was our first meeting and the girls all made aprons.

Audrey was so excited.

She picked out the fabric herself – little red ladybugs.   I can honestly say she did at least 90% of the work on the apron.

The girls were at all different levels of sewing ability and it took all day but everyone was able to finish their apron (except for some small things).

Hannah, whose mom hosted and taught the first meeting, made little favor bags for all the girls.  She sewed the bags and then filled them with dried apples that the family had picked.

She also made a little bookmark for the girls. So sweet of her. I love how she used scraps of fabric for the tie.

A delightful luncheon in the pines.

Busy girls

And all 9 girls modeling their beautiful aprons.

(Serenity wants me to be sure that everyone knows she is still working on hers. She’s going to be shortening the strap around the neck.

We’re looking forward to next months meeting where we are going to learn how to make tamales!

Most of us remember a time when we wanted to be making something with our hands. – Mrs. Steinthall, “The Value of Art Training and Manual Work” (Condensed Report.) 1897

Charlotte Mason felt strongly about children learning useful handicrafts.

The points to be borne in mind in children’s handicrafts are:

(a) that they should not be employed in making futilities such as pea and stick work, paper mats, and the like;

(b) that they should be taught slowly and carefully what they are to do;

(c) that slipshod work should not be allowed;

(d) and that, therefore, the children’s work should be kept well within their compass. -Charlotte Mason vol 1 pg 316

Thinking of handicrafts that will be useful, easy and fun is a quest of mine right now. Currently I’ve started two boards on Pinterest.

This one is for girls and boys (there is more girl ideas than boys). http://pinterest.com/timbuck2mom/handicrafts-for-kids/

And this one is for boys around age 10 and up. http://pinterest.com/timbuck2mom/skills-handicrafts-for-boys/

Recently, Audrey took a vinegar jar I had saved and wrapped it with hemp twine during our handicraft time. It’s actually something I’ve wanted to make myself but never got to it.

Suggestion:  If you decide to use this idea with your own child, I would recommend using a bottle that has straight sides and not so rounded. It just makes it more difficult to keep the jute from sliding around.  I also helped with the hot glue.

Justus, on the other hand, worked on a life skill. Under my husband’s instruction, he took apart the vacuum and helped replace the belt.

I am seriously looking for ideas for boys and girls. I’d love to hear any suggestions you might have.