Heart and Hands

Spring Sale!

2012-03-02T19:02:00.000-08:00

We love spring, and all the beautiful things nature brings with it. The daffodils and hyacinths are blooming, birds are singing in abundance, warm breezes are blowing....and crafts.

There is something about springtime that makes me feel really crafty. I feel newly inspired to explore and create. And of course, there's the spring SHOPPING!

At Heart and Hands, we are having a spring sale, and many items will be marked at 50% off! This is a great opportunity for a little spring shopping. This sale will go on for the entire month of March.

We have framed tatting, baby items (doll, bib, blanket sets) , punch needle pictures, Christmas and Fall items, full size mother w/child flag, wallets, jewelry, and lots more!

These photos are just a few of our sale items.

Love this beautiful handbag!

A beautiful punch needle photo.

In this photo you can see some very pretty braided fabric bowls. Great for spring decor!

Some more sale items...

Look at this adorable doll! She's on sale too!

A few more of our sale items...

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We also have new items in from Karen Mullins. She has beautiful pendants featuring her original artwork. Don't you just love the hummingbird one? I love hummingbirds and flowers!

Pretty Up the House With Handmade!

2012-02-22T15:12:00.000-08:00

As usual, Tracy Fowle has stunning framed tatting for decorating your home with. Each tatted piece is always so artfully framed.

I always love taking photos of these!

Lisa Gardiner has these really cute pictures for decorating your children's room! The owl, bird, and rocket, are just a few! There are many more for you to choose from.

I happen to love owls, and I love the color green, so that green owl is soooo cute!

Love this piece of pottery by Bill Heim! Definitely a great addition to your kitchen decor. The leaf design, and handle add such a nice touch.

Indulge yourself with Joy Harris's foot creams and body creams. She has lots of delicious scents to choose from. You will feel so pampered as your skin is hydrated and softened.

Dwight and Vicki Laughlin created these unique pieces. They are both useful and decorative!

This lovely exotic blanket is by Lee Motyko. Look at those green eyes!

The Black and White Table, and Beautiful Handmade Jewelry.

2012-02-16T16:49:00.001-08:00

Black and white is a great color isn't it? It's the color of piano keys, so it MUST be a good color combination!

Some of the items included on our black and white table are:

A pillow by Kathy/Jimmy Ferrell

Tiles by Toni Collier (and repurposed stamped silverware)

Fabric bowl by Carol Bennington

Plant stakes with sayings such as plants names, grow, water me, etc.

Tatting by Tracy Fowle

And more!

Malissa Sergent makes these ever so delicious cookies and cream confections! You can get sample to try before you buy too.

We also have these beautiful necklaces by Sherry Scheitel.

Beautiful green necklace by Judy Glende.

Cute flower necklace by Cindy Lane.

Treats for Valentine's Day

2012-02-08T17:12:00.000-08:00

Chocolate...Roses...Hearts!

Valentine's Day is a time to enjoy, appreciate, and express our affections to those whom we love. We have a wonderful selection of items at Heart and Hands that will help you with that!

These are chapsticks wrapped for Valentine's!

A crocheted rose bookmark is a great Valentine's gift.

We have chocolate bars wrapped just right for Valentine's too! Who doesn't love chocolate?

What a gorgeous necklace! This would be sure to please your sweetheart!

This hand towel is great for the women who appreciates handy home accessories.

Make This Valentine's Day a Handmade One!

2012-02-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Are you looking forward to Valentine's Day?

We have a lovely Valentine's table for you all to check out!

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New!

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We have these lovely new soaps by Rachel Turner. She puts cute music sayings on them. Being a great lover of music myself, I feel especially appreciative of these!

This is a new kitty from Lynn Bird and Mary Masse. Love it!

A bed & Breakfast wreath by Deb Schaefer.

A really pretty lamp by Sue Swanson.

Sarah Head and Sharon Cockrill made this punch needle purse, and the lovely woven shawls. Shawls are such a cozy and stylish accessory!

These bottle lights are made by Lori Wegenka. Very cool!

Country decor and more!

2012-01-25T18:18:00.000-08:00

Sheep on a pillow! These are made by Susi Graves, and we just love them!

These are candles by Joy Harris. So very country! She makes many different scents.

Joy also makes these bath bombs. Just drop them in your bath water and let them dissolve. Heavenly!

Cindy Lane made this beautiful pillow. Loving all the artistic details in this!

Ester Vanderberghe made these! Aren't they lovely? Great for decorating your home all year long!

Meet The Artists..Handmade Pottery and Wreath Making

2012-01-17T14:44:00.000-08:00

We want you to meet the artists behind these beautiful items! Today we are going to feature two lovely people.

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Meet Dwight and Vicki Laughlin, responsible for this fabulous pottery.

Dwight and Vicki came to Tennessee in 1991 from Southern Maine. They both enjoy their new Nashville studio where they create a line of beautiful, functional pottery. they also make a variety of natural clay and sterling silver pendants and jewelry items.

With a dedicated work ethic they create new and interesting works of art every day.

We are proud to have them as artists in our collection!

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Meet Deb Schaefer.

Deb loves to repurpose items in her beautiful wreaths. Her "finds" for her hunting and fishing wreaths sometimes come from her fathers collection and she knows that would have made him proud.

Deb is self taught and originally from Iowa. She creates her wreaths with a theme in mind, she feels it gives her a creative outlet.

She laughingly refers to it as her "therapy".

She hopes you will enjoy her unique creations.

Hats and Other Goodies

2012-01-11T18:41:00.000-08:00

These hats are beautiful! These will be perfect to wear all the way through the spring.

These cards are by Toni Collier. She has lots of different ones for every occasion!

Toni also makes these cute jewelry pouches. These are great for traveling!

Carol Bennington makes these hair ties. A very fashionable way for you to tie back your hair with a touch of handmade cuteness!

This necklace is by Nancy Karol-Boswell. Love that stone!

These necklaces are made by Sue Swanson. She makes them in lots of different colors.

Yummy Stuff and Baskets

2012-01-04T19:13:00.000-08:00

The Toffee Cellar brings us yummy deserts!

We also have these baskets in, which are very handy and creative! This one's a wall basket.

These look pretty handy to me!

Winter Randomness

2011-12-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

It's the day before Christmas Eve, and I'm thinking about creative handmade things, partly random, and partly wintery!

This is a wonderful newborn sweater, all hand knitted fluffy coziness! Perfect for these winter months, it's beautifully stitched.

If you're a lady who cooks, you'll appreciate these bright and cheery potholders. Very wintery colors too!

You've all seen those fabric books for babies haven't you? Well, we have them handmade! Makes for a really great baby shower gift!

Have a wonderful Christmas!

Stocking Stuffers and Ornaments

2011-12-15T08:27:00.000-08:00

(Don't forget our handmade giveaway! We will be drawing a winner as soon as we reach 200 fans, so make sure you share our page with your friends!)

Luggage handle covers by Carol Bennington.

Pens by Lynn Bird and Mary Massee.

Carol Bennington makes cute animals from socks!

Joy Harris makes soy candles.

Cute magnets and notepads by Melinda Meyers.

Kaye Wrather makes these signs.

~Last minute Christmas ideas and ornaments~

The Christmas table.

Painted ornaments by Cindy Moore.

An adorable snowman.

More beautiful ornaments.

Manger scene in a guard.

Guard purse!

More cute ornaments for the tree!

Sandra Thomas made these super cute stockings.

Giveaway! And gift ideas of the week.

2011-12-07T19:07:00.001-08:00

Heart and hands is having a

Giveaway!

We are having a giveaway over on our Facebook page. You could win an animal toddler hat, whichever animal you choose.

And all you have to do is make sure you "like" our page, and you will be entered to win! Go to Heart and Hands on Facebook and like us.

A name will be drawn once we have 200 likes, so be sure you spread this around to your friends and family.

This is a cute dog hat. We also have owls, bears, monkeys, and other animals!

As Christmas approaches, no doubt you are thinking about last minute gifts. We have a few suggestions!

Beth Stevens makes cloths for American girl dolls. I bet your little sweethearts would be thrilled with these beautiful clothes for their dolls.

Toni Collier makes these beautiful spoons. They are stamped with sayings like "parsley", "dill", and "coffee".

Soaps make a wonderful gift! Tottys Bend Farm and Dairy makes these soaps and lotions.

Joy Harris also makes colorful soaps!

Aren't these earrings cute? They look so Christmasy!

We have lots of homemade jams, jellies, and butters!

Love this framed tatting by Sandra Thomas!

We have these beautiful photographs all ready for framing. Love this macro shot!

Pasta anyone? These pastas come in lots of shapes, there's something for everyone in there!

Relish is a very useful food item, I love it in potato salad. There's also pickles. Yum!

Here's another piece by Sandra Thomas, a really beautifully decorated pillow.

These towels are so cute!

Tennessee ornaments for your Christmas tree!

Special!

Personalized pet ornaments.

Yep.

These are awesome! Lori Wegenka can paint your very own pet on an ornament. Get in touch with her at Heart and Hands.

Gift Ideas and new items.

2011-12-02T09:41:00.001-08:00

More lovely gift ideas for this year's Christmas presents!

Rolodex by Tony Collier.

Photo Album by Carol Bennington.

Pillows by Susi Graves

Bottle lamp by Lori Wegenka.

These cute signs are by Kaye Wrather.

Bean bag buddies!

Purse by Linda Horchi

Pillow by Sandra Thomas.

Knits for a baby girl.

Fingerless gloves by me.

Tiffany crochets animals.

Pendants by Dwight and Vicki Laughlin.

~New Items~

Erin Dahl photographs letters. You can have these letters framed to form words. Not only are these a new item in the store, but they would be a wonderful gift idea!

Cindy Moore painted this beautiful picture.

Sherri Scheitel makes these earrings. They are torch fired enamel on copper.

Debra Schaefer made this really cute wreath.

Tracy Fowle tats these cute little snowflake ornaments.

Did you know you you can have a rug specially crocheted? We would love to have you stop by and order yours. A great gift idea this Christmas too!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T07:33:00.001-08:00

We at Heart and Hands would like to wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving! Be sure to eat lots of turkey and pumpkin pie! (and don't forget the pecans!)

This weeks Christmas countdown features an assortment of beautiful items from our talented artists. Among our suggested gift ideas, we have a large assortment of handmade jewelry for the beautiful ladies in your life, dolls for your precious little girls, and both men and women would enjoy the pottery.

Every piece is a unique work of art.

Stop by and check it out!

New Items at Heart and Hands

Cindy Cannon has created new designs for her diaper cakes. These little guys are so cute!

Sue Swanson creates these stamped necklaces. Aren't they beautiful?

This is an amazing wreath by Debra Schaefer. It's made from all kinds of western things! This would be an awesome decoration for the country western home this year.

Unique art for Christmas gifts! (and some events!)

2011-11-18T16:09:00.001-08:00

One of the wonderful things about Heart and Hands is that you can find some truly unique gift ideas.

Among these gifts would be these gorgeous horse hair pottery pieces by Anna Whitworth. Anna uses horse hair in her pottery, and the cool thing is that you can have a custom piece made using the hair from your own horse.

What a special gift that would make this Christmas!

Here are a few pictures of her work.

George Murphy is the creator of this gorgeous birdhouse. I think any guy or gal would be happy to have a birdhouse this unique when the birds start building their nests!

Cindy Lane has made this cardinal needlework photograph. Oh yes, I can see this beauty hanging on my wall! Cardinals are one of my favorite birds.

Lisa Gardiner is the creator of this beautiful painting. I love the musical themes she incorporates into her paintings.

Judy Harper creates these beautifully framed collages.

(Don't forget a girl can never have too many shoes!)

~Events to attend~

You might enjoy some of these events that are coming up soon!

These all take place on Main street in Franklin!

Dec. 3 -- Jingle Bell Run on Main Street -- early morning, done by around 10 a.m.

Dec. 3 -- Franklin Christmas Parade comes down Main Street at 2 p.m. Sponsored by Franklin Kiwanis Club.

Dec. 10-11 -- Dickens of a Christmas on Main Street. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Small Business Saturday takes place on the 26th of November, right after Black Friday. This is a nationwide promotion of small businesses, and Downtown Franklin is participating. Don't forget to stop by and do a little Christmas shopping in Franklin. It's going to be a very festive day! For more information, visit http://www.smallbusinesssaturday.org/

The Christmas Countdown begins!

2011-11-08T08:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my sister and her husband's 2nd anniversary! My other sister made this gorgeous cake for them. Aren't they the cutest couple? The G and E on the cake stand for Gabriel and Elise.

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Lovely Gift Number 1

It's time to begin our Christmas Countdown! Each Christmas countdown will have a gift suggestion for you to consider!

For this week's Countdown I chose this beautiful cuff bracelet. Compiled of various copper and leather vintage components, Judy Glende has created this gorgeous piece for $69.

This bracelet is designed to fit the smaller wrist. It's hard to find smaller bracelets, I have a very small wrist and was thrilled that, thanks to Judy, smaller bracelets do, in fact, exist!

The colors are absolutely amazing, and the filigree button has a beautiful sparkle. The picture does not do it justice. You will want to stop by Heart and Hands and look at it in person to see how gorgeous it is. It would make a wonderful Christmas gift to a very lucky lady indeed!

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For other features, have you noticed these amazing pens yet? These are created by a mother daughter team, Lynn Bird, and Mary Massee. You will find a large variety of colors in a jar to choose from.

How about this pillow, perfect for thanksgiving? A very handsome turkey adorns this pillow made by Susi Graves.

Come see us at Heart and Hands!

The Pumpkin Fest. And lets get ready for Thanksgiving!

2011-11-01T09:29:00.000-07:00

Saturday was a great day! The Pumpkin Fest was fun, and there were some very talented crafters present in their booths! There where lots of cute outfits, adorable dogs, and yummy candy too!

We even had one of our own crafters out there! You can find these birdhouses at Heart and Hands.

Best dressed dog!

Stormtroopers!

Even Darth Vadar can't resist the festivities.

~ ~~~Thanksgiving~~~ ~

Don't forget Thanksgiving is right around the corner! It is a wonderful time to give thanks for all the wonderful things we have, and to celebrate with good food and family.

Esther Vandeberghe made this beautiful fall platter. I think it would be a great dish to use at a thanksgiving dinner.

Susi Graves made this adorable turkey. It's made from a guard, and is perfect for your fall and Thanksgiving decorations.

There are these cute little mini turkeys as well!

Happy day Ya'll!

Cuddly Things! (And more events!)

2011-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

So guess what I did...or rather forgot to do...Thursday? I forgot to take my camera with me to Heart and Hands!
Fortunately I can get halfway decent photos with my iPod Touch, and I'm glad, because I saw some very cute things!
Before we do that though, I want to tell about a very cool event coming up. Lisa Gardiner, who does beautiful paintings, is going to demo her paintings and put names on them Saturday Nov. 9th, and Saturday Dec. 3rd. You will definitely enjoy her beautiful work, the guitar is one of her many gorgeous paintings. So make sure you mark those dates off on your calendar!

Now for the cuddles! I'm totally in love with this froggy cuddle blanket! It is so soft it makes me think of clouds. Made by Lee Motyka, these handmade cuddle blankets come in a variety of animals and are perfect for your little infants, and fun for toddlers to carry around for cuddling.

Lee also made this adorable dog. He is just full of boundless energy and mischief and is waiting for the perfect child to love him!

I have two new toddler hat designs, puppies and bears! Here is a photo of the bear.

Ruth Pennington made this bib. A little boy would love this bib with cars. (If I know little boys, cars and tractors are always a big hit!)

Tony Collier made this oh-so-cute little girls apron! Little girls love to help their mothers cook in the kitchen, and this would be a fun apron for them. My mom came with me to visit Heart and Hands this time, and she really loved this apron!

Stop by sometime!

A few of my favorite things!

2011-10-12T19:01:00.000-07:00

I thought I would share with you some of my favorite things.

I love all of these pottery pendants. These are made by Dwight and Vicki.

Spoons? Glorious spoons! How wonderful are these? Made by Toni Collier.

These are wonderful coffee cardigans for your coffee cups! Made by Catherine Koczaja.

Ruth Pennington made these cozy little baby booties!

And this would be beautiful for your home! Made by Kaye Wrather.

All Things Beautiful

2011-10-06T14:19:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to share some lovely items with you today.

Carol Bennington does these beautiful framed punched pictures.

Carol also made this punched basket.

Cindy Lane also enjoys the art of punching and created these pictures.

Fall is here! And a latte recipe!

2011-09-23T16:55:00.000-07:00

Today is officially fall! I am always excited about this time of year. All the vibrant oranges and hot pumpkin spice lattes make the world a good place to live in.

Our crafters are gearing up for fall too, and are making festive creations for our store.

We're ready for the Pumpkin Fest too! It happens on the 29th of October, and is always one of the funnest highlights of my year!
Stop on by our facebook page and let us know if you are going to be attending!

Now let me show you some of the cool things our crafters have been up to!

Now....before you leave, I have a recipe to help get you into the spirit of fall! This is perfect for those of you who may live to far away for a Starbucks!
It's a Pumpkin Spice Latte! Check out the recipe at The Kitchn.com
Personally I am wondering if you can substitute butternut squash for pumpkin...they're almost the same and I have butternut!
Have fun!

New Consignors at Heart and Hands!

2011-09-21T14:07:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce some new consignors to you today!

Cindy Cannon does cute diaper cakes!

Diaper cake ingredients!

Sarah Head and Sharon Cockrill team up to knit and weave these lovely scarves. These will be perfect to stay cozy this winter.

Victoria Manroe does these lovely mini quilts!

Lori Durso does these gorgeous Franklin Prints.

Tiffany crochets the cutest cuddly animals!

Come do some shopping at Heart and Hands!

Interview With Sherry Scheitel, Amazing Handmade Jewelry Artist!

2011-09-09T12:54:00.000-07:00

This week we are interviewing Sherry Scheitel!

Sherry graduated from MTSU with a major in commercial art. With a minor in metal working she had just the edge she needed to dive into "found" jewelry.
Sherry takes everyday items she finds lying around like pieces of old jewelry, game pieces even shell casings and turns them into things of beauty.
If it's not tied down Sherry finds a way to use it, making her pieces one of a kind. Sherry tries to incorporate humor or inspirational messages into her work making it truly unique.

Let's begin the interview.
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1. What is your name?

Sherry McClain Scheitel

2. What do you call your business?
Stillwaters Studio
3. Tell us a bit about yourself and your family. My husband and I are empty nesters at this time. We have two sons who are grown, one is married, one is not. I homeschooled them all of the way through elementary and high school for a total of 15 1/2 years. Now I'm enjoying full time art!I have a BFA from Middle Tennessee State University, with an emphasis on commercial art and minors in metals and photography.

4. What do you create?
Right now, I am mostly making jewelry, but I love to work in many other media. I paint, make mosaics, baskets, lampwork beads, and just about anything else that looks interesting.

5. How did you first get started in your craft?
I've always made things, ever since I was old enough to hold a crayon or some scissors. The jewelry making started when I was in college.

6. When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
One of the owners was a client of my sister-in-law, who is a hairdresser. I had jewelry for sale at the salon and she asked me if I would like to sell my work at Heart and Hands. That was about a year ago. 7. What inspires you to create?
I am constantly browsing the internet, looking at shops, magazines, books and whatever is in front of me to get ideas. The best inspiration is to go to a new place and see new things. I also am inspired when I find some interesting element like beads, stones, ephemera, old jewelry and vintage keys, buttons, etc.

8. Tell us about your creative process.
After I get my husband off to work in the mornings, I go for a nice, brisk prayer walk down our country road. When I get back, I tidy up the house and then head to my studio in the basement. I pick some interesting element and start placing it with other random beads and things and see what goes together. Sometimes a piece just happens and I could not tell you what thought process went into it. I'll look at it and it almost seems as if someone else made it. Those seem to turn out to be the best pieces.

9. What are your goals for your business?
I plan to just go wherever it takes me. Trends change so fast that I just want to keep on learning new techniques and increasing my skills. I never want to "retire."

10. Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
I made this one necklace from an old leather change purse that I got at the flea market. It had an antique jewel tintype of a lady on it and dangling from the bottom were words stamped on copper pieces. The chain was made of random old keys, buttons, and beads. Inside the purse I put vintage things like a WWII ration stamp, a piece of an old postcard, a 1947 penny. I think that one actually sold at Heart and Hands. I still have photos of it.

11. If you could travel to any one place in the world, where would it be?
I would go to Israel. In fact, I am going to Israel in September to participate in an archaeological dig. It is my dream trip. I hope to find some amazing elements for my jewelry while I'm there.

12. Anything else you want us to know?
If you look at my jewelry, or any of the rest of my work, you may think it is done by several different people. I love to try many different styles and not be tied down to one medium or look. How boring would that be?

Thanks Sherry for sharing with us! We look forward to seeing more of your work at Heart and Hands!

Crafty events to look forward to

2011-09-05T09:40:00.000-07:00

Coming soon are two events that you crafty folks might greatly enjoy. On September 12th, the Arts Council will be presenting artist Deborah Gall at the Williamson Public Library. Deborah is a fabulous painter.
More information on their website http://www.artscouncilwc.org/sept-12-deborah-gall

Also there is an event that kids are going to love! On September 13, take your children to the Carnton Plantation to learn how floors were built and decorated in the 19th century. The children will get to do a bit of art themselves.
Find out how to get involved at http://www.artscouncilwc.org/historic_starts_register

What's New At Heart and Hands?

2011-08-30T15:08:00.000-07:00

This cute little boy is modeling one of the little owl hats now available at Heart and Hands! They come in different sizes and colors, and there are even some stretchy newborn hats available now too! These are crocheted by me (Johanna Draper), and are so much fun! ( Adorable little boys make them even funner!)

Can you believe how cute these crocheted animals are? These are made by Tiffany, and would be perfect for your child's room or nursery. In the following photos you can see that she makes many different kinds in different colors. They are so cuddly, any toddler would love to hug on them!

This is a gorgeous hand painted chair by Cindy Moore. This chair is absolutely amazing! Cindy does some of the most amazing work.

Here is a close up of the seat so you can see the detail in the painting.

Although it is barely fall, it's definitely time to start thinking about Christmas. With the way time is flying, it's good to keep some ideas in mind. This is a lovely tote and is also made my Cindy Moore, with hand painted details of snowmen and snowy trees.

Stop by Heart and Hands sometime to say hi and see the new items!

Doll Clothes by Beth Stevens

2011-08-23T09:06:00.000-07:00

If you have a little girl in your life who loves dolls, then you should definitely check out these beautiful doll clothes by Beth Stevens! These clothes are perfect for American Girl Dolls.

Loving this purple jumper. So pretty how it ties at the shoulders.

Here is a model American Girl Doll wearing a cute outfit made by Beth.

I love the colors in this dress. It is so vibrant and festive!

An who doesn't love polka dots? Besides pink and chocolate are one of my favorite color combinations!

Also Beth makes clothes for little girls, not just dolls! Here are some examples of her work.

Beautiful Things...And Cute too!

2011-08-17T19:28:00.000-07:00

This little guy is just so adorable! He's one of the things you might find hopping through your garden or swimming in your creek. He's craftily painted by Marilyn and is available at Heart and Hands.

Esther paints these beautifully delicate porcelain pieces. I find these to be so exquisite!

This is such a gorgeous photograph! The depth of field is amazing and the detail is stunning! Come visit Heart and Hands sometime!

Interview with Lori Wegenka of Creative Originals

2011-08-04T16:59:00.000-07:00

One of the highlights of walking into Heart and Hands is just seeing all the creativity. It's amazing what creative minds come up with, and their creativity allows us to decorate our homes with the most unique kind of art.

This week Lori from Creative Originals allows us to get to know her a bit better. She paints bottles and turns them into lamps, she paints ornaments, such as the ornament depicting the Franklin Theater, and so much more!

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What is your name?
Lori Wegenka

What do you call your business?
Creative Originals

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I have been married for 32 years on Aug 4 to my husband Quin. I have 3 kids, a girl and 2 boys. I have a 7yr old grandson and 18 month old granddaughter. We moved here from Indiana and have lived in TN for 26 1/2 yrs. 7 of those years in Franklin. I have been a professional wallpaper installer for 26yrs.

What do you create?
I make over 45 different original designed hand painted wine bottle lights. Christmas ornaments: Franklin sq, Main St, Nashville skyline, ect. And my newest idea is Dogs.

How did you first get started in your craft?
I have always liked to craft and create things. As far as the bottles my sister-in-law was selling bottle lights with the labels still on and adding grapes and items on the outside and I started to take the labels off and paint on them.

When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
We were selling at Blacklion in Opry Mills and the lease ran out on Fri before the floods of last year and we took our items out just in time. And I just happened to be shopping downtown Franklin and came into the store. Found out it was consignment shop and brought my items in a few weeks later.

What inspires you to create?
Fun and enjoyment.

Tell us about your creative process.
I paint at night while watching tv. I have to be in the mood to paint but when I get there I will paint until 2-3am and not even know it is that late.

What are your goals for your business?
I don't have any huge expectations for my business. As long as it is fun I will keep doing it but when it becomes a chore to craft then I will take a break from it.

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
The Dog Ornaments from the clients own photos of their dogs.

If you could travel to any one place in the world, where would it be?
Egypt, I would love to see the pyramids!

Anything else you want us to know?
I have enjoyed meeting some of the ladies at Heart and Hands and chatting with them when I come in.

Beautiful Crafts!

2011-07-30T14:28:00.000-07:00

Did you go to the Bluegrass Festival last weekend? There was lots of great music! I took a few pictures while I was there.

And of course I have some beautiful crafts to show you! This little frame by Kim Deaderick is so adorable!

This beautiful tatted picture is on of my personal favorites. It is made by Tracy Fowle, who does many wonderful tatted designs.

Jane Hughes does amazing machine embroidery! I love this pillow. What a great way to add a handmade touch to your home decor.

Does your coffee cup need a cardigan? This little coffee cozy will slide right onto your coffee cup and keep your hands from being burned by hot coffee. They come in lots of different colors. These are made by Catherine Koezaja.

A lovely birdhouse skillfully made by George Murphy wraps up this collection of handmade art. He makes so many different designs it's hard to choose a favorite! Stop on by the shop sometime and look around!

Interview with Kim Deaderick, Wonderful painted pots

2011-07-21T15:32:00.000-07:00

Kim sells her lovely painted pots at Heart and Hands. She has some very wonderful designs, and an eye for nature. Her pots would be very useful in your home!

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What is your name?
Kim Deaderick

What do you call your business?
Kim Deaderick Designs

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I am married to Billy. We have a Mini Schnauzer named Schatzi. We love to travel across the country on our Goldwing motorcycle. We also enjoy collecting Volkswagens.

What do you create?
I like to paint on wood and clay pots. I like to turn the clay pots into Candle holders or other things. I also love making the wood signs with names or Welcome to the Porch or Deck. I also like painting Glass Blocks and making night lights out of them.

How did you first get started in your craft?
My grandmothers, aunts and my Mom are all very creative and I have been doing this all my life it seems. I went to art school for graphic arts and learned a lot of my painting there, but most of it is self taught.

When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
I had been in the store before, but I met Carol at the Williamson County Craft fair before Christmas a few years ago and she suggested I put some things in the store.

What inspires you to create?
Anything, I find it very relaxing and can paint for a few minutes, but it is really a few hours.

Tell us about your creative process.
I work a full time job so my crafting doesn’t happen until I get home from work. That doesn’t mean that the creative process doesn’t start until then it is always there.

What are your goals for your business?
I'd like it to be fun so I don’t put much effort into to making it a huge business......but who knows maybe someday.

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
My Santa Pots, they are really fun to paint and they showed me that I could paint and sell my things at craft fairs and in stores.

If you could travel to any one place in the world, where would it be?
Anywhere out West. Colorado, Montana, Wyoming and Idaho are beautiful and I would like to see more of them.

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Thank you Kim for sharing about yourself with us!

Interview With Tracy - Wonderful Handmade Tatted Creations!

2011-07-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Today we are going to do an interview with Tracy Fowle. Tracy makes beautiful tatted creations that are lovely for decorating your home. Imagine one of her tatted pictures sitting on your shelf, adding a soft romantic feel to the room.

Let's get to know Tracy a bit more!
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What is your name?
Tracy Fowle.

What do you call your business?
A Little This, A Little Tat.

Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
I have been married for 31 years to a wonderful man who plays a mean guitar! We have two sons, ages 20 and 23. Both are attending MTSU and both are computer and gadget guys -- just like their dad! We've been here in Franklin for 14 years and absolutely love it here!

What do you create?
I tat, which is a for of lacemaking.

How did you first get started in your craft?
My mom taught me.

When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
A few years ago when I was shopping on Main Street, I stopped in. I noticed the tatting on the angels that Sandra makes and that started our conversation.

What inspires you to create?
All kinds of things on God's earth, but I especially love antiques, shabby chic decor, vintage things. I love to go garage sale-ing!

Tell us about your creative process.
My craft is very portable, and I can carry it in a baggie so that whenever I have waiting time when I'm out and about (at the doctor's office, for instance), I can pull it out and work on it. When I am fortunate to have a day off from my other three (!) jobs, it is heaven just to be able to sit at home and have a few hours to tat.

What are your goals for your business?
Global!

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
Usually by the time I finish a piece that is my favorite!

If you could travel to any one place in the world, where would it be?
I cannot limit it to just one place because there is so much of the world I want to see and experience!

Anything else you want us to know?
I'd like to thank the girls at H&H for the opportunity to "peddle my wares" because I love to tat and its just so much fun to make a little money at it! I'd also like them to know that I try to remember to pray for them, their families, the shop and the rest of the crafters every day. Its always nice to know that someone is praying for you!

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Thank you Tracy! Your creations are wonderful. I look forwarding to seeing more of your work!

Interview with Judy Glende of Judith B. Designs, beautiful handmade jewelry

2011-07-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

Today Heart and Hands is interviewing Judy Glende of Judith B. Designs. We are very happy to have her work at our store. Please enjoy getting to know Judy better!

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Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
My husband, son and I relocated to Tennessee 5 years ago from Massachusetts. We live a small rural town north of Nashville. It was a big adjustment but we really enjoy living here.

What do you create?
One of a kind pieces of Jewelry. My jewelry designs range from working with mixed metals, precious stones, beads and vintage treasures, a wonderful blend of antique, classic, and a touch of whimsy.” I am self-taught and I am always trying out new techniques to feed my creativity and grow as a designer.

How did you first get started in your craft?
It is hard to say because I have always been making things...my concentration in jewelry began about 4 years ago.

When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
Visiting the shop shortly after moving to Tennessee.

What inspires you to create?
Interesting things...especially old relics and found objects.

Tell us about your creative process.
My day starts with checking my emails and my online shops. Packing orders and then getting right into my studio to create. I then usually photograph any new items and list them in on my websites or put aside for shows or for Heart and Hand. Some days it is all about the hunt...scouring Antique Malls for old vintage and Victorian pieces of jewelry to use in my creations.

What are your goals for your business?
I would love to have my line picked up by a high end store where I could create for them. In the meantime I love doing shows where I get to meet my customers and enjoy their reactions to my pieces.

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
I have many! I especially love the new typewriter key fringe necklaces I have created.

Anything else you want us to know?
I have been published in many bead and jewelry magazines. Most recently June 2011 issue of Bead Trends where I am the designer highlight for the month. This was a huge honor to be asked. You can find my work in upcoming issues of Bead Trends, Step-By-Step Wire and Stringing Magazines.

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Thank you Judy! We look forward to seeing more of your work in the future.

Interview with Red Oak Pottery

2011-06-30T07:41:00.000-07:00

Meet the owners of Red Oak Pottery, Bill and Judy Heim. I had the pleasure of interviewing these lovely and talented people this week.

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Tell us a bit about yourself and your family.
We live on a farm in rural Wilson County where we enjoy the peace and beauty of our beautiful Tennessee hills. Bill is an avid bicyclist who thinks nothing of a 50-70 mile ride. Judy is in the process of getting her young Quarter Horse ready to show.

What do you create?
We make wheel thrown pottery that has a oak leaf or horse motif. Vessels may be functional like a mug or bowl, or decorative like a candle holder or vase.

How did you first get started in your craft?
Judy was an art minor in college while Bill didn’t start playing in clay until he was an adult looking for another hobby. About 15 years ago they started getting more serious about pottery and developed the business as it is today.

When did you first hear of Heart and Hands?
About 2 years ago the shop was looking for more pottery. We were interested in being represented there, and applied. We are pleased to be a part of a Made In Tennessee organization.

What inspires you to create?
The colors in nature. The rolling hills, quiet streams, and hidden pathways. The beauty all around us here in this lovely part of the country. To be able to reflect this beauty back through the medium of clay is a delight.

Tell us about your creative process.
There are so many pieces to the process of selling pottery that most days contain something. Several days a week are spent “throwing” or forming the shapes. While those pots are drying others need to be trimmed or decorated. When enough are dry to “fire” or bake in the kiln, that is loaded and fired. After about four kiln loads are finished the pieces are glazed with colors and fired again. People often ask, “How long does it take you to make a ____.” (fill in the blank). That cannot be answered because there are so many things going on at one time. It is about 6-8 weeks from the time there is nothing until there is enough to cover 15 tables with pots. Oh yes, there are business records to keep also.

What are your goals for your business?
We are there. As busy as we want to be.

Do you have a favorite piece you have created?
Judy would say one of her big bowls that are carved with leaves. Bill would say one of his tiny tea pots.

If you could travel to any one place in the world, where would it be?
To poke around in the ancient ruins of Greece.

Anything else you want us to know?
We are so blessed and happy to be where we are doing what we do every day.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you Bill and Judy! It was a pleasure to hear more about you and your life. Your work is amazing!

Handmade Giveaway! Win a Credit Card Wallet

2011-06-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is now over. Thank you to everyone for participating!
We are having another giveaway! This time it's a credit card wallet, great for your credit cards, business cards, and other small cards. You can fold up some bills into there too if you want.
This wallet is made by Carrol.
Here are some pictures.

There are several ways to enter, all of them involve leaving a comment on this post.
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Here's how you can win.

Leave a comment letting us know why you want this! Make sure you leave a way for us to contact you in your comment. A good way to do that would be to put your email address at the end of the comment like this: youremail (at) gmail.com.

For additional entries:
(No cheating! Only ONE comment per entry.) Leave an additional comment for each entry.

Follow this blog, and leave a comment stating so. Counts as one entry.

"Like" our facebook Page, and leave a comment letting us know you did so. Counts as one entry.

Follow us on Twitter, and leave a comment letting us know. Counts as one Entry.

Tweet this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link to your tweet. Counts as one entry.
Subscribe to this blog via email by clicking here. Leave a comment stating so. Counts as 1 entry.
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This giveaway is open to US residents only. A winner will be chosen Friday, July 8th, via random.org
The winner will be contacted for shipping info, and the prize will be shipped out, and the winner announcement will go up on the blog.

Thanks everyone for participating! Looking forward to hearing from everyone!

Winners, New Babies, and Other New Things!

2011-06-08T07:21:00.000-07:00

First I want to announce that last months giveaway went to Julie! She contacted me and let me know she has already received it and is eager to use it.

Next I wanted to announce the birth of my sister's first baby, William Garret. We are going to call him Garret. He is one adorable little fella! I am going to make him a hat, I decided to wait until he grows just a bit before I make it. So I'm trying to decide which one! A monkey, or an owl? Hmmmmm. And I'll have to make his daddy a matching one too!

Did you know you can buy my toddler and baby character hats at Heart and Hands? These are my nephew and niece modeling for me. You can get owls, frogs, monkeys, pumpkins, and more.

Made by Nancy are these fun earrings and necklace. They are bright and bold.

Carol makes these cute purses. Wouldn't you love a handmade purse to throw over your shoulder while you shop?

Be sure to stop by Heart and Hands and check out all the new crafts!

Take A Tour Of Heart And Hands Online

2011-05-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

Did you know you can now take a tour of Heart and Hands online? This video allows you to view the entire store in a panoramic style, with beautiful graphics. Head on over and take the tour now!

Also, check out this gorgeous table by Sue Swanson. Sue is a stained glass expert, and also creates jewelry. Using her stained glass skills, she incorporates antique china pieces into jewelry. Sue also makes dichroic glass pendants. Each one is cut by hand, involving multiple layers of glass, then fused together in a kiln at temperatures 1200 to 1800 degrees F.

Here is one of her necklaces made from a broken plate.

Here are some other examples of her beautiful handmade jewelry!

Stop by Heart and Hands sometime to see more of Sues Handmade jewelry designs.

Crafty Items To Check Out

2011-05-18T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here are some beautiful handmade crafts that are available at our shop. We are proud to have such talented artists. Hope you enjoy!

A beautifully embroidered pillow by Jane Hughes.

A very neat pottery horse bowl made by Bill Helm.

A beautiful picture featuring music by Judy Harper.

Delicious salsa and sorghum by Tennessee Harvest.

Very charming necklaces made by Cindy Lane.

A gorgeous birdhouse created by George Murphy.

Main Street in Franklin is painted onto this charming little decoration.

Handmade Giveaway! Cute Good-To-Go Sewn Pouch

2011-05-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

This giveaway is now over! Thanks to everyone who participated!
Heart and Hands is having a handmade giveaway! We are giving away one of Carols "Good-To-Go" pouches.
This pouch is such a handy little thing. Put your credit cards, drivers license, and cash in it, and attach it to your keys, and you'll have everything you need with you everywhere you go.It's made in such beautiful spring colors too!
You could win this Good-To-Go pouch! Just scroll down past the pictures to find out how to win.

There are ways to enter, all of them involve leaving a comment on this post.

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Here's how you can win.

Leave a comment letting us know why you want this! Make sure you leave a way for us to contact you in your comment. A good way to do that would be to put your email address at the end of the comment like this: youremail (at) gmail.com.

For additional entries:

(No cheating! Only ONE comment per entry.)

Follow this blog, and leave a comment stating so. Counts as one entry.

"Like" our facebook Page, and leave a comment letting us know you did so. Counts as one entry.

Tweet this giveaway, and leave a comment with the link to your tweet. Counts as one entry.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This giveaway is open to US residents only. A winner will be chosen Tuesday, May 31rst, via random.org

The winner will be contacted for shipping info, and the prize will be shipped out, and the winner announcement will go up on the blog.

Thanks everyone for participating! Looking forward to hearing from everyone!

New Handmade Crafts at Heart and Hands

2011-05-09T12:01:00.000-07:00

I took some pictures of some adorable new handmade crafts at Heart and Hands!

I love these little painted rocks! Made by Marilyn, they are so cute, and would go fabulously with your decor.

These are lovely lacy crocheted fingerless gloves. They are fun to wear with a formal gown, or on a date with the love of your life, or to just spice up your every day outfits. These are made by myself (Johanna Draper).

These handmade soaps smell as good as they look! The one shown is lemongrass soap. Your skin will love this treat!

Made by Beth, these are cute outfits for little girls. There are many colors and styles for you to choose from. Beautiful fabrics are used, and are often decorated with various flowers and such. These would be wonderful gifts to someone who has a little girl!

Wonderful Time at the Franklin Festival!

2011-05-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Saturday I did crochet demonstrations at Heart and Hands on Main Street, and got to snap a few pictures of the festival while I was there.

Lisa Gardiner had her booth set up right in front of Heart and Hands. Her work is absolutely lovely! Here she is at her booth painting. She also sells her artwork at Heart and Hands.

There where lots of people there to visit the crafters. It was a lot of fun to visit the artists and see all the amazing work they do. There was music, dancing, crafts, and lots of food!

Here are some fellows who could sing and play music! I stopped for a bit to listen to them.

Thank you to everyone who participated. If you stopped by Heart and Hands, you probably saw me crocheting! Thank you!

~Johanna

Great Events at the Festival In Downtown Franklin Tennessee

2011-04-28T09:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend is going to be an exiting one! Join me for the festival in Downtown Franklin for music, crafts, carnivals, and much more! There will be over 200 booths.

Lisa Gardiner will have a booth, and I will be demonstrating my crochet work at Heart And Hands as well! You can stop by over here to get the details on our Facebook Page. I would love to know if you are attending!

The festival will be on Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with the Fourth Avenue Street Dance continuing until 10 p.m, and Sunday from noon to 6:00 PM.

Handmade painting by Lisa Gardiner

2011-04-27T13:35:00.000-07:00

Check out this amazing painting by Lisa Gardiner! You can purchase this at Heart and Hands on Main Street in Franklin.

A little about Lisa Gardiner.

Lisa first began painting as a way to decorate her own home. She had 3 young children and wanted colorful artwork to decorate with.

Unable to find what she wanted, she decided to start creating it herself!

She has paintings of whimsical princesses, pirates, fairies, and more that young boys and girls will love. She has bible quotations and musical instruments. Each piece of work is tastefully done and there is always something creative for everyone.

I love the guitar painting, it's very modern and colorful. Come by Heart and Hands and check it out!

~Admin Johanna

Aka Joyous Treasures

Mother Daughter Crafting Team at Heart and Hands

2011-04-18T06:15:00.000-07:00

Lynn Bird and Mary Massee are a mother daughter team that create beautiful crafts together. Their animals are very beautiful. Her stuffed moose is very popular. It's created with fuzzy felt and stuffed. Each one is adorned in it's own special clothes, giving each one it's own unique personality.

Her cats are stuffed and have posed tails and legs that are painted.

Lynn learned how to sew from her grandmother and then taught her daughter Mary. Both ladies enjoy baking in their spare time.

Mary also enjoys working with polymer clay. She makes little pins that are very beautiful!

These ladies also like to create in paper-mache. They first form the shape, let it dry, and then paint it.

By spending time with each other and creating together, Lynn and Mary and grown close to each other.

Here are some pictures of their wonderful stuffed animals. You can find these at Heart and Hands, so be sure to stop and take a look sometime!

Introducing Myself As A New Contributor For This Blog!

2011-04-13T09:31:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! My name is Johanna, and I am going to be the new contributor to this blog! I have been with Heart and Hands for several months now, you can find my handmade thread crochet items there, including the floral crochet bookmarks and fingerless gloves.

I have been crocheting for over 9 years, and have been selling my work online and on consignment for quite some time. I am really thrilled to be a part of Heart and Hands, they are a fun place for shopping handmade in Franklin...and who doesn't love handmade and Franklin?!

My studio is in my bedroom, where I have turned a gorgeous old sewing machine cabinet into a desk for my computer, with little balls of crochet thread scattered around!

I live with my parents and I have 7 brothers and sisters, there are 4 girls and 4 boys. We live on a farm with large gardens and animals where I can get a lot of inspiration.

I am happy to be contributing to this blog, we have a lot of plans! I will be posting every week with new features and some surprises are coming up too!

Thank you for allowing me to introduce myself, I am looking forward to a lot of fun things in the very near future.

2011-03-29T09:02:00.000-07:00

New Items at Heart and Hands 342 Main Street Franklin, TN as of March 2011

Come in and see it in person

Clothes pole by Kaye also avaliable as a cute monkey

Dolls by Lee and outfits too

Photo cards (she took) by Catharine maybe some of Franklin to come!

Avaliable in sets or seperatly

Bowl of used horse rope very unique

Sneek peek at our Easter table,...One of the many birdhouses ready for our feathered

friends it has a 1 1/2" hole is cleanable and it's roof is historic tin from local roofs.

The cute little guys are filled with jelly beans.

Having trouble finding something for boys... check out this appliqued shorts set .

2011-03-25T09:36:00.000-07:00

don't forget our MARCH SPRING SALE is almost over

This is the last weekend and we still have lots to choose from!

2011-03-02T06:24:00.000-08:00

Melinda Meyers
Melinda was born in Kansas, raised in California and we are glad she settled in Tennessee. Armed with the love of her chosen medium: paper and stamps, Melinda creates the cutest cards and coasters. Her embellishments make each of her creations unique. With the use of email just think how a recipient of a hand made card will cherish the thought put into it. When Melinda is not creating you can find her camping, gardening or working with the ministry at her church.

Think Spring - Melinda Meyers will start you out with some cute cards!

2011-03-01T15:58:00.000-08:00

See what Toni just created!

She made plant markers , good for your herb garden or your favorite plant. She re purposed silver spoons, flattened them and stamped cute sayings like "I love my garden","grow darn it", "Thyme" and other many other herbs.

Don't forget our

MARCH SPRING CLEANING SALE

bargains all month

Pasta , Pasta and more Pasta

2011-02-14T10:22:00.000-08:00

Did You know we had themed pasta?

Something for every occasion even sports teams!

Come pick out your favorite!

Dog, Cat & Horse Lovers

ABC, Dance & Music City (Tennessee)

Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, Michigan

NEW Vanderbilt, Auburn

NEW SEASONAL Bicycle, Baseball

2011-02-14T09:59:00.000-08:00

Lisa Gardiner
Lisa started painting as a way to decorate her new home. As a mother of three young children she wanted cheerful and colorful art around her home. Disappointed in not finding what she was looking for, she decided to create it herself! Little boys and girls will fall in love with her whimsical princesses, pirates, fairy*s and airplanes. Big boys and girls will find her bible quotations and musical instruments so tastefully done. Lisa creates something creative and artistic for every room. Lisa uses a lot of bible verses in her pieces. If you don't see your favorite verse she will create one for you and customize the colors!

Meet Lisa she will be demonstrating the 1st Saturday in March 11-3.

2011-02-14T09:12:00.000-08:00

Susi Graves
When Susi is not chasing the goats around that she is raising, she can be found painting. Susi paints on many surfaces; wood signs, furniture and even gourds. Some of the gourds she paints on are home grown, but now she paints more than she can grow! Her most popular gourds are birdhouses and ornaments. The cute faces on her cats, dogs, birds even bears smile back at you. Susi even painted a Santa, penguin and snowman on small gourds as ornaments just the right size to hang on your tree. Born in Germany, Susi moved to Nashville as a toddler.

2011-02-02T11:34:00.000-08:00

This is just a sample of the beautiful jewelry Sherry Scheitel does. Go to our Facebook page to see more and learn about Sherry.

Cindy Moore

2011-01-20T06:27:00.000-08:00

Brenda Morgan is also new at Heart and Hands and also paints but only on glassware. The last pictures I sent were of Cindy Moore she finds all sorts of surfaces to paint on that make a thing of beauty out of ordinary objects. Look at this stool she did just in time for Valentines day.

2011-01-19T13:13:00.000-08:00

New : Re purposed books by Amy Dunn

Brenda Morgan

2011-01-19T12:59:00.000-08:00

Brenda Morgan is relatively new to Heart and Hands. You can see by these pictures she is very skilled and paints on many surfaces, wood, boxes, books. She even turned a CD into a clock! When Brenda isn't painting you can find her canning vegetables from her garden. She has even created an special cake on occasion. Painting must be a relaxing release for Brenda.

2011-01-11T10:53:00.001-08:00

It has become cold and snowy here in Tennessee. Isn't it a good thing we have a talented artist like Johanna Draper to make us some warm and cuddly items to keep us cozy and in style!

2011-01-11T09:59:00.000-08:00

Look at the cute purses and hat Kathy Ferrell Felted

Dont forget to check us out on FACEBOOK

Featured Artists....Bill and Judy Heim of Red Oak Pottery

2010-11-12T13:34:00.000-08:00

Extraordinary artists Bill and Judy Heim of Red Oak Pottery provide Heart and Hands with elegant wheel-thrown and hand trimmed contemporary pottery. Their inspiration comes from the Heim's scenic Tennessee farm and this influence is reflected in their functional and decorative pottery. Many of the pieces display a leaf or horse motif but there is also a variety of other styles available year round at the shop here on Main Street in Historic Downtown Franklin.

No lead is ever used in the Red Oak Pottery glazes and the pieces are not only beautiful, but funtional. Each piece is fired at a very high temperature making the pottery durable, dishwasher and microwave safe. Visit us soon for our holiday selection of this artistic pottery.

Thanksgiving Decor at Heart and Hands

2010-11-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

I have always been amazed at the level of talent shown in the collection of artists at Heart and Hands! This year we have a beautiful collection of Thanksgiving decorations available for your home and holiday. Take a look and come in to see us soon!!

Utterly Inspired by Entirely Apropos.....

2010-10-15T12:02:00.000-07:00

I had a tiny moment this morning so I stopped by the lovely Shelander ladies' Entirely Apropos vintage booth in the Harpeth Antique Mall on Murfreesboro Rd. in Franklin, TN.

What an inspiration! Keep up the good work ladies! These pictures will show that these ladies are headed in the right direction with there new endeavor. For more pics visit my Facebook album here!

And, of course I had to grab a treasure.....you will find these making special appearances on my creations!

We are All About Fall......

2010-10-13T16:17:00.000-07:00

The leaves are turning, the mums are blooming and pumpkins are everywhere.....including inside the doors of Heart and Hands! Our creative crafters have supplied us with a precious patch of pumpkins this year. They are painted, sewn, stuffed, dried, embellished and so cute!!

But, pumpkins are not all we have for fall. Just take a look at these pictures of some of the great fall items we have to offer!!

Also, Pumpkinfest is just around the corner. Check out the details right here!

Flood Sale,well not really......

2010-10-05T17:05:00.000-07:00

Lisa Gardiner, our clever and creative artist who provides us with a delightful array of paintings was affected by the May floods, but none of her painting were! She is simply using the opportunity to hold an "out with her older designs and in with the new" sale. All of Lisa's artwork, including her originals and her prints, will be 20% off the entire month of October. While the sale will last all month you will want to hurry in or give us a call as the selection will dwindle on Lisa's popular paintings!

New Artist will Demo on Saturday, Oct. 2

2010-09-30T19:13:00.000-07:00

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new artist Johanna Draper. Johanna crochets delicate creations for Heart and Hands and she will be in the shop on October 2nd offering demonstrations of her artistic abilities. She makes delightful pincushions, bookmarks and wearable art by crocheting delicate flowers and chains with her yarn selections and crochet hook. Come in on Saturday to meet Johanna and watch her perform magic as she creates her one-of a kind pieces. Heart and Hands will be open from 10 am to 5 pm.

This Week's Featured Artist....Ruth Pennington!

2010-09-28T07:03:00.000-07:00

Heart and Hands is delighted that Ruth Pennington retired and moved to Brentwood to be close to her family. When she retired from teaching, Ruth was able to spend more time on her self taught skills in crochet and quilting. She provides us with a delightful selection of baby items including blankets, bibs, sweaters, booties and more. Come in and see her work here at Heart and Hands, 342 Main Street in Historic Downtown Franklin, Tennessee!

New product at Heart and Hands...Bodacious Birdhouses!

2010-09-16T13:21:00.000-07:00

These birdhouses have to be seen! Otherwise, you just won't believe them! Covered with amazing antique pieces in clever themes, the birdhouses created by Jimmy Ferrell are the penthouse of bird abodes! Stop by Heart and Hands to see them or visit our Facebook page for even more pictures!

This Week's Featured Artist....Jane Hughes!

2010-09-13T10:08:00.000-07:00

Jane Hughes is a native of West Tennessee but we she know resides in Franklin, TN and we are fortunate to have her art work here in Heart and Hands!

Jane was taught to sew by her mother when she was only eight years old. Her Grandmother also spent time sewing with her and taught her to make patterns and sew aprons. We are so glad she did and you will be also when you see her great work suitable for gift giving and decorating your own home!

Jane has made sewing a hobby and she makes clothes, does alterations and creates home decor items for her friends and family. After she retired she purchased an embroidery machine and built her library of monograms and designs. Jane combines her designs in artful ways to provide Heart and Hands with unique, one-of-a-kind embroidered items. Thank you Jane!

This week's featured artist....Nancy Karol-Boswell

2010-09-03T11:34:00.000-07:00

After many years of teaching, Nancy relocated from Philadelphia, PA to Franklin, TN. It was time for the teacher to learn something new so she attented some classes at a local bead shop and she was hooked! She met various visiting artists, fixed a favorite earring, and her new life took off! Nancy needed a way to market her new found artistic abilities and she joined Heart and Hands in 2003. She enjoys selecting her semi-precious stones, pearls and sterling silver elements that make up each of her unique pieces. Nancy continues to learn and stay ahead of the trends in fine and fashion jewelry. You can see more of her work by visiting our Facebook page or come in and see us here at Heart and Hands, 342 Main Street, in Historic Downtown Franklin Tennessee!

This week's featured artist....Tim Weberding!

2010-08-25T07:38:00.001-07:00

Tim was originally from Indiana, but now resides in East Tennessee. We are honored to have his unique layered wood art in Heart and Hands.

Tim combined his family tradition of quality wood working with his interest in new technology. He uses Computer-Aided Design and Laser Technology to create his multi-layered wood magnets and ornaments representing the state of Tennessee and Heart and Hands. We carry his state flower, the Iris, as well the our adorable state insect, the ladybug. In addition, Tim designed a wonderful ornament for Heart and Hands (pictured above). A perfect reminder of your visit to Heart and Hands and Historic Downtown Franklin, TN!

Come visit us and see Tim's work along with our many talented artists!

This Weeks Featured Artist....Cindy Lees!

2010-08-17T15:10:00.000-07:00

Cindy Lees is originally from Rochester, NY, but we are very lucky to have her right here in Franklin, TN as one of our talented artists!

When she is not canoeing, kayaking or long distance cycling she is at home creating Huck Towels for Heart and Hands. Cindy creates these beautiful linens using the technique best known as Huck Embroidery or Swedish Weaving. The name Huck Embroidery comes from the specialty fabric, huck, on which it is stitched. Ethnic Fiber Arts, a researcher of ethnic needle arts, says this technique has been found on linens dating back to the 1600s. Swedish Weaving was at it's height of popularity in the US during the 1930s and 1940s. It may have declined in popularity due to the advent of the dishwasher.

Cindy is doing her part to keep this old art alive and you can find a nice assortment of her linens in a variety of patterns and colors at Heart and Hands on Main Street in Historic Downtown Franklin.

Today's Featured Artist....

2010-08-06T07:04:00.000-07:00

Today we are featuring our energetic tatting artist, Tracy Fowle. Tracy was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio where she learned the art of Tatting from her mother.

Tracy has been tatting since she was a young mother herself and it is her passion!

Tatting is a series of knots and loops created on a shuttle using varying thicknesses of thread. The result is a durable and beautiful lace product. Available historical pieces of tatting indicate that the first pieces were produced in the early 1800's.

You will find a wonderful variety of tatted creations made by Tracy in Heart and Hands and who knows....if you come by on a Saturday she may be there tatting and chatting!

Today's Featured Artist

2010-06-27T05:27:00.000-07:00

Oh my! I am sorry it has been so long since we have posted. June really got away from me. As the author of this blog for all of the wonderful Heart and Hands artists.....I have personally been up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan spending time with my parents. This is a nice feature of being an artist and crafter....it allows for family time as you are able to set your own schedule!

Today's featured artist is Sandra Thomas. She is the third in our series of artist's biographies and the last of our introductions to the three owners of Heart and Hands.

Sandra and her husband Glen moved to Hendersonville, Tennessee from northwest Tennessee in 1998. This move brought them closer to their sons Scott and Greg, and their grandchildren. She was taught to sew by her mother, Rubye, but she had an obvious talent for her craft from the beginning. Sandra enjoys her sewing, as well as her crochet and embroidery. She combines these craft with old quilts and linens to create her angels, cats, pillow and other clever creations.

Come see Sandra's creations at our store in Historic Downtown Franklin, TN where the food is fantastic, the shops are charming and the air conditioning is always free!

AND THE WINNER IS......

2010-06-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

(drumroll please)....the winner of the first amazing Heart and Hands Blog Giveaway is....

Amanda Coleman - Little B Bunny

Amanda please contact us with your shipping information. We really appreciate everyone playing and we hope you found our communications helpful to find out what is going on in our shop and Historic Downtown Franklin, TN. Stay tuned for lots more artist biographies and ways to win more great art work and creations from our wonderful collection of Tennessee Artists!

Beads for Life Creations by Cindy Lane

2010-06-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

Cindy has begun creating a new line of her wonderful jewelry using a nonprofit bead company. Beads For Life provides impoverished Ugandan women a chance to bring their families out of poverty by making beads from recycled paper.

Around the world the beads are bought and sold from the Beads for Life nonprofit organization, meanwhile educating others on ways to end extreme poverty.

Visit http://www.beadforlife.org/ where you can buy beads, host a Bead Party and read stories on the lifes of these beaders. Your support by purchasing Cindy's jewelry will enrich the lives of the Ugandan women and will bring them closer to your home and your heart!

Blog Giveaway announced today!!

2010-06-01T06:06:00.000-07:00

Today is the day! We will announce the blog giveaway winner today. We wanted to give everyone until midnight last night so it will take us a little while to pull all of the entries together from here, facebook and twitter so check back often and as soon as we can determine a winner it will be posted right here!! Have a great day and keep your fingers crossed!! Good Luck to all!

Featured Artist - Carol Bennington

2010-05-26T15:38:00.000-07:00

Today's featured artist is Carol Bennington. Carol is one of Heart and Hands three owners and a long time crafter. She began sewing as a young girl with her mother and from there she experimented with different crafting techniques. Crafting became a way of life for her and Carol used this talent to enable her to stay home with her children. With support of her husband Dan, her artistic career took shape and grew.

She enjoys sewing dolls, personal accessories, children's, and baby items. In addition, she supplies the store with punch needle, an old Russian art similar to rug hooking. Carol has demonstrated her art forms, taught classes and even hosted a television craft show. She also enjoys directing children's theater and spending time with her two young grandchildren.

You can see more pictures of Carols beautiful, high quality products on our facebook page!

Hand Formed Pottery Sale!

2010-05-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

Our artist, Carla Eakins-Kouri, has created some very beautiful hand formed pottery pieces for Heart and Hands. Hand formed pottery is not done on a wheel but is formed free hand creating unique and abstract pieces of decorative and functional pottery. Her pottery is delicate, feminine, and so "shabby chic"!

Carla has decided to reduce her pottery by 25% until her inventory is gone. This provides all of our customers an opportunity to purchases these pieces at great prices! We have pictured several here and we do ship! So if you cannot come in to visit us and can't pass up one of these beautiful pottery pieces just give us a call at (615)794-2537.

Hurry to enter....details on what is included!

2010-05-24T05:56:00.000-07:00

There is only one week left to enter our great blog giveaway! It is so easy and we won't contact you, store your information or share it! We just want you to get to know us on the internet!

The giveaway includes a wonderful collection of lovely items detailed below....

Antique Linen Angel by Sandra

Stenciled Linen Dish Towel by Cindy

Hand Knitted Cotton Dish Cloth by Linda

Jewelry Travel Bag by Toni

Framed Tatting by Tracy

Matching Kleenex and Credit Card Holder by Carol

Glass Bead Earrings by Nancy

Tennessee's Best Peach Salsa

Tennessee's Best Peaches and Brandy Jam

You can enter by commenting on our blog, following this blog, commenting or friending us on Facebook or following us on Twitter @handmadeintn - we are looking forward to seeing you on our sites!

Incredible Blog Giveaway!

2010-05-10T11:38:00.000-07:00

No...we are not giving away our blog, BUT we are giving away a FANTASTIC prize bundle (pictured above). The prize consists of a collection of artfully handcrafted items all created by our own artists here at Heart and Hands. All of our artists are located here in Tennessee and all of these items are available here in our store.

How to enter:

Your can find Heart and Hands here at our blog, on Twitter @handmadeintn and on Facebook. In order to enter our contest you can....

1. Start following our blog and/or leave us a comment...

2. start following us on Twitter...

3. become a fan on Facebook...

4. share this giveaway with your friends and tell us that you did by leaving a comment right here on our blog or on Facebook. We will enter you again as a thank you for passing us on!

You will be entered one time for each of the above so get busy and get to know us!

On June 1st we will announce the winner right here on the blog so mark your calendar. You won't want to miss it in case you are the lucky winner of the beautiful collection of treasures! Enter often and don't forget to share this on your Facebook, Twitter and your own blog! Good Luck!

Flooding in Franklin BUT Main Street has been spared!

2010-05-03T18:38:00.000-07:00

The good news is that Heart and Hands and the two block West Main Street retail area are high and dry! The bad news is that we are surrounded by horrible flooding involving loss of homes and businesses. It is such a sad situation BUT the people of Middle Tennessee have pulled together with their normal bravery, determination and compassion. The smaller tributaries are receding but the Harpeth is still way above flood level.

Again, the good news is that you can get to the downtown area easily by using Highway 96 or 31 and the businesses are open! We are looking forward to seeing you soon. Come and show your support for this great little town!!

Heart and Hands featured Artist

2010-04-23T06:45:00.000-07:00

Our first artist biography is one of our owners, Cindy Lane. Cindy has been with Heart and Hands for many years, but humbly started her crafting by making dolls and floral arrangements for her family, friends, and her own use. Her family then encouraged her to begin selling at local art shows.

Cindy is inspired daily by memories of her Grandfather's oil paintings, her mother's sewing and her favorite Aunt who worked with clay. She is also inspired by her lovely gardens and woodland setting of her Leiper's Fork home. These gardens supply her with florals for her elegant flower arrangements.

In addition, Cindy hand stitches dolls and decorative pillows. She also does punch needle work and loves to make handmade cards and work with clay. Her latest passion is jewelry, where she can combine her many talents and unleash her intensive creativity.

Cindy shares her Leiper's Fork home with her husband, Dave, her Yorkie Franklin, two horses and two cats.

Spring has Sprung at Heart and Hands!

2010-04-12T07:14:00.000-07:00

It is a lovely day in Downtown Frankin, Tennessee and there is not a better way to celebrate than lunch at one of our many wonderful restaurants then a visit to Heart and Hands. We have all of the gifts you will need for your spring events! If you are thinking baby showers, wedding showers and gifts, teacher appreciation, birthdays or just a simple thank you, we have the gift for you! Come see all of our handmade items that will make your gift giving even more special. Our artists have used lovely spring colors that you will enjoy and don't forget a hand crafted card to complete your gift!

Have a beautiful and inspired spring day!

Only 6 days remaining in the Annual Spring Sale....

2010-03-25T14:27:00.000-07:00

There are only 6 days left in the Annual Spring sale and what a great time to visit Historic Downtown Franklin, TN. You just don't want to miss our sale and with only 6 days remaining this is a great weekend to visit downtown Franklin. The daffodils are in full bloom, the spring blooming trees are starting to show off and we are having some nice warm days....with our super sale, great shopping and fantastic restaurants you cannot choose a better time to come and visit!

Beautiful Baby Items in Spring Sale!

2010-03-15T06:42:00.000-07:00

Our Baby Items are so beautiful and because they are created by hand they become keepsakes! Our artists have included many of these items in the spring sale including bibs, quilts, afghans, bonnets, booties, and nursery decor items. If you are in need of a special gift for baby you don't want to miss this opportunity! Remember the sale only runs through the end of March and then you will have to wait until next year to purchase our products at sale prices!

Brewfest Success!

2010-03-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

Brewfest was great last night! The event was sold out and Main Street was packed! The distributor did not recieve the pilsner so they poured the Left Hand Milk Stout. It was Great! We were out of beer by 8:30 as it was very popular! Brewfest people are a lot of fun. They are friendly and have a good time. Thanks to all who attended and don't forget to check our link to Main Street on the left for the next Historic Downtown Franklin events!

Franklin Brewfest Saturday Night - Come see us!!

2010-03-12T07:28:00.000-08:00

Brewfest is this Saturday, March 13! We will be hosting the Left Hand Brewery from Longmont, Colorado and they will be pouring their Milk Stout and Polestar Pilsner. Yum! Don't miss this event and if you read about it on the blog be sure to stop by and say hi to Toni - she will be working and will be ready to help you with shopping if you see something you just have to take home!! Here is the link with info about the Brewfest....see you there! http://www.historicfranklin.com/events/feile-franklin