Meet Kindal! - Learn about where your raffle money will be going!

Kendal , is an 18 year old who loves track, shopping with the girls, laughing with friends, dancing, LaCrae (or any worship band)and is beyond grateful for her family and treasures family time hangin around the dinner table, outside at the pool, or around a bond fire making smores (although don’t expect her to eat one b/c chocolate is not her thing ). She enjoys long walks with her siblings and catching a late night Hallmark movie with her mom. She is dedicated to living every moment as HIS hands and feet to share the good news that is found in Jesus.

Kendal has not always known the security of family and unconditional love. She has not always enjoyed the luxury of knowing the mere comforts of home and safety or relax in knowing where her next meal would come from. There was a time in her life that she felt complete hopelessness and despair wondering if she would ever have the simple pleasure of just being a kid in regular family. A kid with kid-like responsibilities and care-free day-to-day living in a family that simply loved her. Kendal was born on the outskirts of Monrovia, Liberia in West Africa. In the early years of her life she commuted often…from one home of a relative to the next after the death of her father and her mother’s inability to care for her. Far too often at a young age she would not only have the burden of caring for herself, but other young children as well.

Kendal is far too familiar with the effects of war. Liberian Rebel armies were on the prey much of her childhood. She can share stories of hiding in the bush at the first sounds of gun fire. Often times when recalling a memory it can be associated with which war was in process at the time. She knows the despair of hunger, abuse, loneliness and feelings of abandonment. Daily she would be forced to face her plight as a young women struggling to survive in Liberia if life continued in the direction it was heading. But even in the midst of such utter heart ache, Kendal shares there was something deep within her that kept pushing her to fight, look up and hang on. Now years later, she is assured it was her Heavenly Father whispering words of love and encouragement to press on for…”He had a plan an a purpose, a plan to prosper and not harm”…..

Eventually she would be relinquished to a local orphanage. There she would be one of the older children residing in the home and again find herself assisting in the day-to-day care of the younger children. Kendal never minded b/c she has such a heart for children Every day Kendal dealt with disappointment experienced as she watched younger children chosen and leave with their forever families. She wondered if her day would ever come.

Then, one day everything was about to change. Two white men arrived to meet their new sons. While becoming more acquainted with their sons, they also used this time to connect with the other children in the home. Kendal shares it was delightful to watch. At first she kept her distance but something kept pushing her more and more to get to know these men. What she didn’t know is that one man, specifically, would have already been drawn to her because of her sweet, tender spirit and captivating smile.

Dave was there on a mission. To bring our son, Chase home. It was a glorious time. But in the midst of this celebratory time, God was up to something more. On the very first night of arriving at the home Dave would call back to the states and share with his wife…”there’s this one older girl here and there is something about her and I think we need to bring her home.” A few days later as they said their heart-felt goodbyes to all their new little friends at the orphanage, Kendal would make her way to Dave, look into his eyes and ask a question that would change Dave’s life forever…and un-beknowns to Kendal- it was about to change hers. Kendal glanced up and asked “Will you come back for me?” Dave fought the tears as long as he could until the dam burst. He looked Into her eyes and said..”I WILL COME BACK FOR YOU”.

Kendal shines when she shares her reaction of the news when the orphanage director called her in one day to tell her SHE HAD A FOREVER FAMILY. Her adoption was now in process. A smile always forces it’s way through as she describes her misunderstanding of the news. She actually thought her family was coming the next day. So almost every day for 4 months she would keep watch and wait not knowing if THIS would be the day. Kendal knew she had a family, but she did not know WHO. Finally, 4 months later God would make a miraculous way and Dave would return to Liberia. THIS would be the day. Kendal saw Dave walk through the door and she knew—she knew the kind “white man” had kept his promise and now he would be her dad. In that moment, love changed everything. Love broke all barriers of language, culture, past, shame, abandonment and through the matchless Love of the Savior, Kendal was loved, chosen, rescued, redeemed…forever!

Through smiles and tears I type and often retell this story. A proud mama I will always be. A humbled, BLESSED mom who thanks God every day for the wonderful opportunity to have Kendal apart of my life. Years ago we began our first adoption journey. Though I too knew the gift of a forever family and the blessing of adoption, I had no clue how walking through the process on the other side as the parent would transform my life and the life of my family for the better. God has led us through many FAITH journey’s (Fantastic Adventures of Trusting Him) and called us to begin Safe Harbor Orphan Care ministries to speak up, advocate and help walk the journey with other’s. Our moto…”ONE”. Our love can change the life of one child at a time.

-Mandy

Not You Mama's Craft Market is above and beyond thrilled to have Safe Harbor Orphan Care ministries as the recipients of our Spring Shows raffle earnings! As well as to have the amazing and inspiring Miss Kendal as our craft market intern again this spring! A remarkably beautiful girl inside and out with a love that shines from her! If you see her running around at the show please tell her hi and let her know how grateful you are to have heard her very personal story!

Learn more about this amazing family and ministry at their blog:http://safeharbororphancare.org/

Cupcake Studio

I have good, old-fashioned memories of making pie pigtails in Grandma’s kitchen, milking cows with Grandpa and spending summers at the sewing machine with my 4-H projects. County fairs, farm fields, church suppers and good people … I am beyond blessed to live with my happy little family in the same county that I was born & raised in. Cupcake Studio began several years ago as a place to create from the heart. Handmade items are created by me, Tami B., in my farmhouse studio (a.k.a. kitchen table.) I especially enjoy making handmade greeting cards, felted flower pins, vintage cupcake stands, collage jewelry and anything that strikes my fancy…all with love and a vintage spin. I collect old buttons & books, lipstick, magazines and photos of my kid, so I guess my interests are pretty varied…but, give me a nice, Spring day and a good country barn sale and I’m in Heaven! I’m so tickled to be a part of the Not Your Mama’s Craft event. Can’t wait to see you there!

Women of the Wildwood

We are 'just three sisters sharing the good stuff'. Women of the Wildwood is committed to growing a company that provides truly natural bodycare products using pure ingredients, processed to preserve their quality, free from unnecessary chemicals; and providing a true customer-company relationship by selling, buying and growing local. We began our journey in the kitchen making goat's milk soap and have added many new products since. At the present time, our Beeswax Lip Balms are a favorite. Not only is it far superior to anything you'll find in the grocery checkout line, but we also donate $1 of every purchase to Wags for Warriors. It is a local charity that trains shelter dogs to assist wounded Ohio Verterans when they return home, at no cost to them. We have only been selling to the public for approximately 6 months but have been creating products for our family for years. We get our passion and inspiration from our own daily needs. We started out as unhappy consumers, battling our own dry/oily/sensitive skin, our children's eczema, our mechanic brothers' burns and blisters, and our garden ravaged hands. We each have our strengths and weaknesses, but together we shine, and the time spent with family learning and sharing is priceless. Between Ashley's artistic soul, Amber's love of all of nature's gifts, and Rachael's thirst for knowledge we really created something great that we feel obligated to share We started our business to fill a void. Its impossible to be an expert on every product, we are obligated to trust the companies that make the products we use,especially on our skin! Everyones skin is different and that journey down the skin care aisle is a long one. We have put in the time and the research and we'd like the opportunity to be your guide. We are right next door and our ingredients come from down the road, we are your neighbors, and a family, sharing the good stuff.

Kim's Krafts

So this post is for a promo for Not Your Mama's Craft Market which is coming up May 4, 2013 in Marysville, Ohio at the Houston House. I will have a table and a tent outside where I will be selling my wares which will include some quilts, small zippered bags, as well as an opportunity to custom order something for yourself or a loved one! Be sure to look for my table! It will look a little something like this....

and I will be the one wearing this name tag...

I have been meaning to sit down sometime to tell everyone about myself, so I figure this is the motivation I need to do it. 

My humble beginnings began in the small town of Marysville, Ohio. Both my parents worked full-time and I have fond memories of playing in my Grandma's basement where she always had a quilt frame set up with a quilt in it that her and her sisters, as well as some friends, were working on. We used to lay under it and push it up with our feet as well as loosen and tighten the grips on it. There may have even been a stitch or two secretly sewn......but no one could ever prove that! My Aunt also watched us and she tried to get me going on embroidery at an early age. To this day, I just don't have the patience to sit down and do that! 

I was always a crafty person and mainly focused on scrapbooking throughout high school and college. I went to a small private college where I got my teaching degree. I then worked in the food industry while my husband finished up school. I had our son, he graduated a couple weeks later and 6 months later we moved to Nevada! 

Most people say, "Ohhhhh Nevada!!!!" I say "Ewwwww Nevada!!!" While I met many wonderful people there, the only season is brown and we forgot what rain was. The only good things was being able to look out our back window and see snow on the mountain tops almost all year round. While there I became a Stampin' Up consultant. 

About 2 years later we got out of the desert and headed to TX. Once here, I decided to get back into to teaching side of things and started the long and expensive process of becoming a certified teacher in TX. While doing this, I got out the sewing machine that had been sitting in my closet for years and had my mom show me how to use it. The first bag we made together was pretty sad looking. From there I started making table clothes and aprons. I made quite a few aprons! I even made some skirts for myself!

Eventually I started substitute teaching and the bag that I had been using to carry stuff in broke and I was trying to find a new when someone suggested that I make one. Well, I had never thought about this so I started researching and came across the blog of Sara Lawson. Let me tell you, this girl is awesome. In the 2 years that have been talking she has become a great friend and inspiration. She now has a wonderful store where she sells her custom made patterns. The bag of hers I made was The Naughty Secretary Bag. It was big enough to hold all my stuff and looked awesome. From this point on, I was hooked on bags and couldn't make enough. My husband once said that he didn't care how many bags I had as long as I made them myself....boy has he come to regret that!!!

Towards the end of our stay in TX I got into some paper piecing work as well as making quilt blocks and other random things. Then we move to Indiana. (Our final move!) Here I met some great quilting folks and visited some super cute shops. Sara needed me to throw together a quick quilt together for her for a sew a long she was hosting so I jumped right in and this quilt would be my first professionally long-armed quilt and I showed it at a local quilt show!! Definitely something I am proud of and it is displayed in my living room!

I love the blue background. This fabric is Amy Butler and the pattern is by Tula Pink who rocks my world with all she does and creates. 

So that's my story. Along the way I have become friends with some big names in the market and even done some work that will be featured in some books that are coming out in the near future!! (How stinking cool is that!!)

People always ask me what my "style" is. I find that it is hard to fit into the boundaries of a particular style. Someone once told me that they had figured out my style and that I didn't have one. At first I took this as an insult, but since that time I have learned to embrace "my" style and I think that my work shows it. I am not afraid to use bold colors or mix different prints and patterns. I do what I love and if you don't like it, that's fine, just respect the fact that a lot of love goes into each piece and that I enjoy what I am doing.

I have been asked a lot if I design my own work. I have done some and would love to do more. A major goal I have right now is to save up for some awesome quilting software that will help me create more and come up with some spectacular designs. 

Since we moved here I have been working at a little quilt shop and have begun substitute teaching again.....while trying to become certified here...don't get me started on the topic of Nation-wide teacher certification...
Part of me wants to teach while the other part of me wants to stay home and sew all day...which I do when I am not working. Someday I will decide....maybe....

Here is a sneak peek of some quilts that are going to be for sale at the Market....just a couple though!!

and I might have a few zippered bags adorning my table also!!

Well I hope you weren't too bored learning about me and what I do! Please be sure to check out the other great vendors that will be joining me at the show. Just check out the blog. And in case you forgot....

~Kim

Kiwi Fruit Designs

My name is Jen Walkington, I'm a thirty-something craft-a-holic living in Hilliard with my husband of 16 years and two boys, Jackson and Avery. My two passions are art and teaching, and I'm excited to be teaching arts and crafts to kids/teens at the Hilliard Rec Dept., the Artmobile, and Dick Blick. My shop, kiwifruitdesigns.etsy.com, is my culmination of quirky, fun items for kiddos and adults alike, as well as my unnatural attachment to 80's movies. I like to make items that will make people smile, and I'm consistently on the look out for inspiration, wherever it may strike!

Jesi Rodgers

Tell us about you, where you’re from and what you do. Hi, hello! My name is Jesi. I grew up in south Louisiana (real bayou country - in a town you've probably never heard of) and have only been in Ohio for about two years. My typical work day means hours of painting, watching netflix, and drinking and massive amount of caffeine. When I'm not working, I like to photograph old abandoned buildings. I'm a dweeb. What got you started in your business? I have been drawing, painting, and crafting my whole life. It's always been my passion but it was difficult for me to find the confidence to pursuit it on a business level. I would paint things that would all end up either on my walls or in my closet. A few years ago someone saw my art from random Facebook posts and asked me to be a part of an art show. I sold almost everything I had. Since then, I have been extremely lucky to build my business into a full-time venture. What is your creative process? I am kind of all over the place. I draw inspiration from everything from tattoo art to vintage valentine cards. I take things that I like and paint it in my own style. I am currently obsessed with painting objects with puns and having happy / love themes. What can we expect to see from you? A lot of bright colors and hopefully art that will make you smile. I hand paint wall art, brooches, rings, necklaces, and more. Why do you want to be here? When I found out about the show, I saw how adorable everything was at the previous show and I wanted to be a part of it! I am super excited to be a part of such a talented group. I am new to the craft show scene, so I can't wait to meet new people and have fun sharing my art.

Eat Your Veggies (Free to Print)

A nice subtle reminder, to eat your veggies:) A little treat just for you! Print away and don't forget to check us out live and in person on May 4th! Follow us on Facebook and Pinterest to stay connected and inspired!

In Mind 4 U.

Everyone has a favorite quote...why not display it? I love to paint...actually, I love anything that allows my creative side to shine through. However, my passion to paint is what led me to creating my vintage inspired hand painted signs. It allows me to express creativity and the opportunity to share with others what I love to do. What also inspired me is my love for quotes. All of us can relate to one quote or another and so many of them have important meanings to all of us....so painting quotes onto wood signs became my "thing". Many of my signs contain quotes that I feel drawn to. Especially the "So, there's this boy...". I am the mother to an amazing son that captures my heart every single day. This sign became a huge favorite amongst my customers. Another quote sign that I truly love is the "Life's Better In Flip Flops". If I could live in flip flops all year round in Ohio I most certainly would! This sign is currently my most popular. I enjoy every bit of time and effort I put into making my signs. I love doing it so much that every day when I wake up it's the first thing I get started on...unless of course I have to go to work. But no sooner do I walk in the door do I get started again. The support and encouragement to continue doing what I do has always been given to my by my husband and my son. Their support is my driving force behind In Mind 4 U.

Kim's Krafts Tutorial

Last year while living in TX and working at Western Hills Elementary school, one of my dear friends was diagnosed with Stage 3 Ovarian Cancer. I knew that she would be doing a lot of going back and forth to the hospital, I knew that she would need a bag to carry everything in. I scouted around online and found some pretty teal ribbon fabric along with some pretty sparkly butterfly fabric from the same line. I made her this bag.

The handle was long to swing around and there was a pocket on the inside. Another friend of hers (who I had never met) made her a blanket from the same exact fabric!

Not too long ago I heard the news that after a non-cancer related surgery it was found that the cancer was back and had spread. This was very heartbreaking for all of us but I know that if anyone can fight it off a second time it would be her!! 

I knew that I had to make her something else so I racked my brain and talked to her wonderful British husband and he suggested a pillow. Of Course!! I also knew that she liked British shows like me and I just happened to have a Tardis pattern that I had been dying to try. The Tardis is the space ship from Dr.Who which is one of the best shows ever!!

At the same time, I also needed to write a tutorial for the upcoming Craft Market that I am in....

be sure to mark your calendars for this!!

So my tutorial will be for adding a zipper to a pillow cover. I know that a lot of people are afraid of zippers and prefer to do an envelope type cover but I like the zipper....little boys are tempted to stick their hands and stuff in the envelope pillows! 

The first thing you need to do is finish the front and back of the pillow. Size is totally up to you and what you are making. Mine are a finished size of 18 in by 24 in. I accidently got a 24 in zipper instead of a 18 in one but longer is always better than shorter. 

 The next thing you are going to do is line up the bottom edges of the front and back covers, right sides together. 

The draw a line 1/2 in in from the edge across the whole length of the bottom edge.

Then draw a line one inch in from each side.

 Now you will sew along the line you made 1/2 in. in from the bottom. You will sew the first inch with a regular stitch, making sure to back-stitch at the beginning and end of the one inch. When you get past the one inch mark, increase your stitch length to as high as it will go to make a basting stitch.

It should look something like this. I am using a more contrasting thread but you can also use something that blends in. No one will see this part of it anyways.

Now you are going to iron the seam open. See how it sticks up? (Please excuse messy desk in the background!)

Press open the seam so that both sides lay flat and open. 

Now you are going to lay your zipper face down along the crease where the 2 pieces connect.

I like to open the zipper a little so that I know it is inside the area it needs to be. This also helps you to be able to sew the ends down well. 

Then pin the zipper down along the length of it so it doesn't move. You may also mark a 1/2 inch in from the edges on the zipper so that you know where you started basting. 

Then it is time to put your zipper foot on your machine and start sewing around the zipper. I like to do extra back stitching at the ends to make it more sturdy. 

Once I get down to the opposite end as the zipper, I like to  flip it over and clip the threads right on top of the zipper so that I can move the zipper further down and out of the way when I get to the area that I started. 

Here is what is should look like on the front after you have sewn around the zipper! Now remember how I clipped the threads over the zipper pull? Now is the time to clip the rest of the basting stitches and pull the little threads out! (I really hate this part)

This is also the time to cut any over hang you have on your zipper ends.

 Before sewing your pillow closed on the other 3 edges, be sure to open the zipper at least half way!!!! This is very important. It is quite a pain to not open the zipper.....trust me, I have been there!

Sew them together, turn inside out, and stuff with whatever you desire!!!
Doesn't this look nice?!!

As I mentioned, I made this pillow as a comfy pillow. Instead of using a pillow-form, I made my own pillow for the inside. I got some Micro Beads to give it some weight and them I stuffed the rest with Pellon Perfect Loft to give it some comfiness!

Lesli received the pillow and loved it! I hope to be able to add picture of her and the pillow soon!

You can read more about her and her amazing journey here. 

Let me know if you try out my pillow zipper and if you have any questions!!

~Kim