Contest Clarification

Hey guys! I have had a few questions asked about the Pillowcase Challenge so I will try to answer them here. If you have more questions feel free to post them in the comments section and I will update this post with answers as they come in. And feel free to take a button!

1. Hey girls! How many entries can you submit?
Ang
I say, the more the merrier! If you have more than one great idea and would like to submit more than one entry, that is fine. As a judge I would recommend that the entires be unique from one another (don't submit two of the same type of item).

2. One more question--can you use something in addition to the pillowcase? Like more fabric/notions?
You may use notions (buttons, zippers, embroidery floss, tags, ric rac, ribbon, seambinding...). The challenge here is to make something entirely out of a vintage pillowcase. You do not need to use the whole pillowcase, but your whole item should be made up of the pillowcase.

3. I was also wondering about additional materials. Is it okay to use additional fabric besides the pillowcase?
As long as it came off of your vintage pillowcase, it can be used! Time to stretch your creative muscles here! (psst! I have a few vintage pillowcases that have more than one fabric pattern in them, so those are totally fair game!)

4. I am unclear as to what you mean by "vintage". To me vintage fabrics are 40's and 50's but you might mean 80' and 90's. Or perhaps you just me a thrifted pillow case as opposed to a newer one. Also can you use other materials, such as zippers, rick rack etc, do they have to be thrifted or vintage as well.

I think of things from the 40s-70s - big range, I know! Thrifted is probably more important, since it's hard to tell the dates on vintage fabrics. Any notions you use can be new, but certainly if you have vintage, that is fine, too!


Remember, ask me anything! If you aren't sure about something shoot me an email or ask in the comments section and I will let you know.

Thanks!

Handmade Parade Vintage Pillowcase Challenge!

*It has been brought to my attention that doing a quality tutorial in just a month really isn't enough time. My gut was telling me the same thing, so when Missy mentioned it to me I decided to change it. Just send in pics of your project and a short write up of what it is by February 15th and you'll be good to go!






I am very excited to announce our first ever Handmade Parade Vintage Pillowcase Challenge! Begining January 15th through February 15th we will be accepting submissions for items made with a standard size (not king) vintage pillowcase. The prize for the best entry will be awarded a $50 gift certificate to Sew, Mama, Sew, Reprodepot or Superbuzzy and will be featured on this blog.

Each entry will be judged by a panel of amazingly talented judges (the list of whom will be posted as we get closer to the 15th) who will be looking for the most creative and fabulous entry.

Rules (Blah Blah Blah)

1. Submissions must be received no later than February 15th and no earlier than January 15th.
2. You can only use one standard sized pillowcase (not king) and it should be a vintage piece.
3. Please email your entries to handmade_parade@yahoo.com

Thanks! I hope everyone is really excited about this and I cannot wait to see what everyone makes!

The Ultimate Peanut Butter Cookie

To date, I've carried on a pretty tumultuous relationship with the peanut butter cookie. I've tried, and tried again to love it - putting up with it's dry ways, it's tasteless existence. I finally gave up and decided that we should just part ways. Until now.

This is quite possibly the best peanut butter cookie you'll ever make. And I'm not really sure what to call it. I mean, I hate just saying, "peanut butter cookie." It's so....commoner. No, this one has chocolate chips, peanut butter chips, and if that weren't enough for you...you roll the dang thing in SUGAR. I made these tonight for a cookie exchange and received a positive response. My mom (who is here visiting) nearly peed herself when she tried them. Now that's good.

Sugar-Dipped Chocolate and Peanut Butter Chip Cookie
courtesy of Smitten Kitten
1 1/4 cups flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter at room temp
3/4 cup sugar, leave some aside for dipping
1 large egg, at room temp
1 TB milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup peanut butter chips
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.In a large bowl, beat the butter and the peanut butter (oh. my. god. Does that alone not sound YUM?) and beat until smooth. Add egg and mix well. Add milk and vanilla extract. Add flour mixture and beat thoroughly.

Stir in peanut butter chips and chocolate chips. Place sprinkling sugar on a plate. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls into the sugar, then onto ungreased cookie sheets. Using fork, lightly indent with a crisscross pattern, but don't overly flatten the cookies. Bake for 10-12 minutes.The cookies won't look done, but they are. Let them cool on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.

Now...pat yourself on the back and bask in the glory that is you.

The Round Up!

Thanks so much for participating in the Handmade Parade Holiday Gift Guide! We hope that you found plenty of inspirational recipes, tutorials, and gift ideas for the holiday season. As a little re-cap of the festivities I am putting together a comprehensive list of the ideas we featured and the sites to find them, all in one post. Hope you like it!


Gifts:
Cup cake Cookie Jar and Owl Vase- fruitfly pie
Hedgehog toy- Quiet Hour Toys
Sara Bangles- Salt and Paper
Felted Headbands - Raimbow Designs
Custom Accessories - kiku-co
Key chains and cell phone charms - Nicole Lee
Handbags, belts, accessories - Queen Puff Puff
Funky Jewelry- Lucky 11
Hair Ties- riyze designz
Sweater Pins- tanis alexis
Slouchy Shoulder Bag- Sweet Sugar Cane
Pilot Piggy- Susa
Mechanical Man Paper Toy/Print - Custom Paper toys
Button Earrings - Peptogirl
Cheeky Tees - Miss Wit
Cute Hair Clips - My Zoe Bug
Stud Muffin Tee- Fort Cloudy
Home Sweet Home Magnets - Block Party Press
Super Bot Stuffie - Bam Pop!
Vinyl Totes and Messengers - Flamestitch
Hand painted Brazilian Toys and Ornaments - Maderacolores
Gocco Print - 3P3
Smarty Pegs and Farty Lights - Dippylulu
Screenprinted Ties - re:made
Hand Bound Notebooks - The Kate Black
Crafty/Nerdy Buttons - Button Empire
Coasters - Magic Jelly
Wallet - Sewlutions by AMO
Compass Cuff Links - LuxeDeluxe
Greeting Cards and Art Prints - Carambatack
Memory Board - Katie Jean
Layette Set - Doodle Sprouts
Sock Walrus - Knit Owl
Art Smock - Buttons Magee
Appliquéd Tees - kirsten Can
Custom Valise - Little Pink Studio
Yo-Yo Necklace - CooKoorikoo
Mittens - See Also
Orange Dotty Bunny - Speckled Nest
Blythe Dresses - Laura Eve Leigh
More Blythe Dresses - Academy Bedlam
Necklace Trio - Marsh Toh
Bear - Mumka
Potholders - Mukkibubb
Zippered Pouch - Nest Decorating
Cupcake tea Cozy - Pink Petal Designs
Clutch - Flyball Bags
Business Card File - Ugly Kitty
Vase - Clay Dame
Little Poppy Pendants - Salt and Paper
Tweed Purses - Abi Bansal Designs




Holiday Decor:
Betsy Ornaments - Sadie Lou Who
Felt Fish Ornaments - Lil Fish Studios
Reusable Wrapping cloth - Rickrack
Cupcake Ornaments - Cutie Goodie
Holiday Noms- Little Deer
Paper Mittens Kit - Little Pink Studio
Elephant Ornaments - pangodin
Jingle Mousekins - Maggierama
Daisy Ribbon Ball - Mizusigi Creations
Yetis - Little Black Forest
Holiday Tins - A bel Emporium
Tote bag - Nancy Gamon
Nesting Necklace - Skipping Stones Jewelry
Snowflake - Collage Art Studio



Tutorials:
Chocolate Bar Cozies
Clothespin Dolls
Free Embroidery Patterns
Silhouette Tutorial
Shrinky Dink Keychains
Garland Tutorial
Christmas Tree Ornament
Jingle Jolly Runner
Gift Card Holders
Pixie Blossom Pin Cushion
Cashmere Headband
Snowpoms


Recipes:
Jam Thumbprints
Farfalle with Creamy Mushroom Sauce
Sweet Potato Souffle
Holiday Turkey
Pumpkin Pie Cocktail
Cookies in a Jar
Big Fat Chocolate Chip Cookies

Stationary Round Up

Allright, I think I got it all down in one post! Thanks so much to all my lovely contributers and designers. I could never have done it without them, they made this all as great as it was. Thanks again!!

Please check back after the holidays because I am going to have some super great Handmade Parade fun for you!

Now I need to take a nap after typing all that!

Clothespin dolls

Clothespin dolls are fun to make, fun to give and would make great ornaments. Here's a little tutorial to get you started.

Sew, Mama, Sew!

We're approaching the middle of December, but there's still time before Christmas to whip up some fabulous handmade gifts! The gals over at the Sew, Mama, Sew blog have put together an amazing list of tutorials for you - so get over there, and get to sewin'!

They're Pinkalicious!

I'm gearing up for my annual cookie bake-a-thon, where I usually make hundreds and hundred of cookies , in about 8 varieties. I will wrap these up in some of that new Martha Stewart cookie packaging from Michael's to give as little gifties to friends and neighbors. My favorite?

This recipe was slightly adapted from Ina Garten's Jam Thumbprint Cookies, from her book Barefoot Contessa Family Style. Last year, Olivia and I decided to make them pink. And their new name? Pinkalicious Thumbprints - because they're pink and delicious!

xoxo

Fruit Fly Pie

I really hope Santa brings me some Fruit Fly Pie for Christmas this year!

I MUST have this cookie jar:

I'm still deciding which of the owls I want, but I think it's this one:

Please, oh please??!

Happy hedgehog in orange and turquoise

Happy hedgehog in orange and turquoise, originally uploaded by apple & eve.

A sweet little hedgehog like this one from Quiet Hours Toys would make any child (or adult) tickled pink on Christmas Day!

sara bangles

sara bangles, originally uploaded by saltandpaper.

Check out these awesome bangles from Salt and Paper!! I will definitely be putties these pretties om my holiday list!