This week’s Freebie Friday is designer approved. Bob Richter, whose New York kitchen was featured as part of our Weekly Tours series, tipped us off to one of his favorite frame makers, Chris LeBeau. Chris’s frames are constructed of 100% recyclable materials and an organic non-chemical solution is used in the aging process.
We’re giving away two of Chris’s beautiful copper frames. For a chance to win one, answer this week’s question before 12/11c, Monday, July 19.
This week’s question: What’s the best handmade item you’ve purchased?
Besides art work from personal friends I would have to say this purse and matching wristlet that I bought off of Etsy. I am greeted by so my compliments everytime I use it. It is the perfect summer bag made of vintage 70's upholstry. Fun bag made for fun times.
A wooden Star and Moon shelves, it was broken so my Daddy fixed it, painted it, and added chain for the railing…I change the display for the season….Right now the star is holding the word "smile" and the moon is holding a cut glass candle holder, a fireman, a newsboy figures, with three military dog tags hanging from it of my Daddy (who is decease – Air Force) mine from the Navy and my son who is currently in the Army…..
Oh wow, that's tough because I love all the handmade items I have. My favorite is piece of stained glass my husbands uncle made us. We have a few of his pieces throughout our house and they are just so beautiful!
The best handmade item I ever purchased was in Nicaragua. We had to drive 32 miles off the main road on the most raggedy, rocky soil you've ever seen. When we got there we were greeted by nothing more than a small village (we had heard that the best soapstone carver in America lived there). So we went door to door of the people's houses until someone finally escorted us to his backyard where he literally had about 10 pieces of soapstone. So excited to find him I bought them all and ended up with the biggest carry on ever. My favorite is a set of horse book ends that kind of look like zebras or donkeys. I love them and every time I look at them I think of that bouncy car ride on the way into the unknown.
Mine was actually a gift to my dad for Father's Day 1974. I made him a small copper tile with a handdrawn relief pattern in a grid motif. I was 13 years old and he kept it on his dresser until the day he died (1997). My mom then gave it to me and I now keep it on my dresser.
Sun/Moon stained glass window. I do glass and mosaic work myself and I just marvel at the ability it took to make it…WAY beyond my capabilities! But something to aspire to
The best handmade item that i bought was a art deco hand crafted table. We get compliments on it all the time and its the perfect size for our entry.
It would have to be the hand crafted leather bound photo albums I got at the art & craft fair in Anchorage Alaska….It was such a great time. They have the state of Alaska design on them with the major sights highlighted. Very beautiful work!!
Scarves loomed in Kenya by Miriam: http://www.africanwoodsmoke.com/products/scarves-…
I have 5, gave away 2. Will be getting 20 more in August. Fantastic to touch, cool in summer, warm in fall, beautiful all year. I just can't love them enough.
When I was a kid, I purchased a handmade decorative piece at a craft-fair. The person who made it had used an empty cat food tin and had sewn a small fabric cat to place inside the tin, so that the cat was looking out.
One of my favorite handmade purchases is my Christmas tree topper Angel. Her dress is made from an antique quilt, and she evokes memories of Christmas's long ago. At the same time she has become a part of the memories we are making in my own home and family, continuing the quilts history, just in a slightly different form.
The best handmade item I was prepared to purchase from an Art Show ended up being given to me as a gift. My Mother had made a 3 1/2 foot ceramic vase. She had been to our house when my boys 3 and 5 at the time had returned from their first fishing trip. She cast their catches of the day in plaster. She then attached them to the large vase as handles. It was featured in an Art show/sale at her college. It has been a major feature now in 6 of our homes across the country. We always place it on the high value list for moving as irreplaceable.
Best handmade purchase: a wooden frame, I love to cover with fabrics of my choice. Great way to change up a room to re-decorate as my taste changes.
When I first moved into my house we took a vacation to the mountains in NC. The little village was called Blowing Rock and they had the most interesting set of windchimes. They are made of old glass and recycled items such as driftwood, keys, and other pieces of scrap copper etc. It is still hanging in my living room (too nice to have out in the elements:) to this day!
A gorgeous blown glass jellyfish — lavender with crystals and beads. Hangs about 2 feet. Bought in Morro Bay, CA at the July 4 "Art in the Park" event a few years ago.
This is a hard one. I have a beautifully handcrafted stained glass lamp and some awesome pottery pieces. I would say that I love my Windsong Pottery pieces the best from Denton, NC. Beautiful!!
I love the idea of recycling so I purchased a wipe case that was covered with padding, gorgeous fabric and trim – it sits in my brand new bathroom!
I love handmade items and purchase them all the time: bowls, carvings, jewelry, etc. But the best handmade item I ever bought was an apron in the small country of Nevis. The artist is a lovely lady and she put so much compassion, as well as quality, into this apron. I adore this piece.
My favorite handmade item is a replica of my husband and I on our wedding day. We were married in Hawaii with few family members able to come, we purchased a 'cake topper' that was made to look like us on that day. We were able to have it for our 'at home' reception the next month. It was a total hit that day, and now a keepsake for us.
The Chattanooga Market hosts local artists every week. There was a family of artists that the father brought the most amazing wooden boxes, bowls, kitchen tools, etc. made from these beautiful woods and shaped in elegant designs. My daughter and I collected his work for several years and they are the kind of treasures that are not just utilitarian but are an heirloom to pass down.
I have a really nice handmade leather photo album I purchased from a lady down in Austin. If you remove the purchased part, it would be a cherry three legged table my father made sitting next to my sofa. I wish I had half his talent.
We bought an adorable crochet blanket and bib set for our baby boy in an elephant pattern and the trunk on the bib is a pacifier holder.
The best hand-made item I purchased was an Opal Necklace. It's called a triplet. It has a layer of black onyx, then a layer of opal and then a layer of chrystal on top. It is set in a simple setting. It looks like a antique but it's only about 10yrs old. I love it!
A beautiful Picture Jasper stone on a sterling silver collar that my husband bought me back in the 70's and I still wear and treasure it.
I laughed when I saw this question! I was at a garage sale years ago when I ran across a painting of a teddy bear. I bought it. I asked the lady why she was selling it. She said she really loved it, but they were moving and her daughter was growing, so it didn't go with the new decor. I thanked her, then told her it was my painting! I sold it to her at a craft show a few years before! So…… I got the best handmade craft item yet…. I bought back my own painting!
We have a mirror that the frame is handmade and decorated to our specifications. It's a fave and always gets compliments.
My favorite handmade item currently is hand silkscreened wallpaper by Cavern Home.
the best tihng i purchased is my kitchen table and chairs. they are made from 50 year old wood and are solid as a rock!!
My favorite handmade item is a hammock we bought on our honeymoon!
Ceramic pot it holds all my pens on my desk. Every day I look at it makes me happy to know someone crafted it by hand!
Best handmade item i have is the simple porcelain mug i received as a gift in high school. The guy threw it in ceramics class and gave it to me nearly 30 years ago. I married him 3 years later, and I love it (and him!) even more every day that goes by!
Loved your answer Laura. You are so lucky!
Several years ago I bought a hand carved wooden happy Buddha from the antique store I worked at. My husband has since then dropped it when moving furniture and his little feet broke off. = ( I still have it though! I love the little guy!
Best item hands down is a beautiful and super warm afghan knitted by my God mother as a house warming gift, it's everyone's favorite on winter nights in the family room.
I love copper! Thanks for offering. The best hand made item I ever bought was a green necklace with beads made entirely from paper! It was made by women in Africa who make these out of scrap paper, dye them, and sell them to support their families. I wish I could post a picture because you would never believe that something this beautiful was made almost entirely from paper!
My husband and I went to an antique estate/garage sale and the folks having it were a wonderful family who had their sweet 95 year old mother living with them. The mother made the most beautiful hand-made greeting cards from dried and pressed wild flowers that she collected whenever they traveled. She arranged them into tiny bouquets and printed the latin and common name of each flower on the cards and pressed them to the card with a sticky wax paper covering. I bought 6 packages of 10 cards from her (all she had) and gave them as gifts for friends, and kept 2 boxes for myself. We heard shortly after that she had passed away, and I can't bring myself to use my 2nd box because they're so beautiful and I think of that sweet 95 year old lady every time I see them .
I really enjoy having specialized cards like these for special occasions. To me there is no other way to personalize a card than to have something homemade. And to think that a woman had taken the time to lovingly pick special flowers and to dry them and then to iron them on the cards is just fantastic. I do not blame you for not using them, but remember that others who would receive them with a special message from you will also receive a special moment from you and the card that you sent.
My best home made item is a very pretty re cycled spiritual necklace made by a young art school graduate from North Dakota..her jewelry is wonderful!
I came across a hand-made tapestry done by a Monk in Peru. It is just stunning. He included all kinds of hand stitching, beaded embellishments and even a ball-chain light pull. I found it at a yard sale and have owned it for about 25 years. Wish I could post a photo….
Oh, what a find! That tapestry (which the younger generation feel is too old fashioned) is priceless. One of a kind. Good for you that you have kept it. I hope you can find someone to keep it when it is time to give it away.
Many years ago I was at an art fair in Madison, IN. There was an artist there that did woodburnings. I sent her photos of my parents home and she did a beautiful woodburning on oak planks. I gave it to them for Christmas…it hung in their kitchen. They are both gone now and we sold their home a few years ago. I now have the picture hung in my home.
My favorite handmade item is my wooden coffee table with a glass top that my husband built. It's simple but beautiful and I like it a lot more than most tables I see in furniture stores! And of course extra special knowing he took the time to make it with his own two hands.
The best handmade item I ever bought was a crocheted kitchen dish washcloth at a quilt show, a benefit for senior citizens. This washcloth is so strong and durable! Both my sister and I h got a couple of them and I absolutely LOVE it!! If you know someone who makes them…I want more!!
I bought a beautiful handmade sweater for my first daughter right before she was born. Eight years later, her two sisters have worn it as well, and it is still lovely.
a green wooden dragon in bali!
A small, delicately designed handmade basket at a local county fair. I love it every time I look at it!
Patty Peterson
The best hand made item I purchased is an old shelf that was made from old barn wood. It was painted green, I sanded it, painted it white, and distressed it more… NOW! It's perfect!!!
The best purchase was a handmade wooden sailboat. My daughter had been saving change for a sailboat. I thought it was the cutest thing. So I ordered one from this little etsy shop, courtesy of Santa. Cutest thing ever, simple, no bells and whistles, the way toys should be in my opinion.
Some years back, when I was in South India, I bought a hand-woven sari from a shop the size of a phone booth. It's beautiful! The shopkeeper was delighted when I bought it for the equivalent of $10.
Our home is filled with hand made items….from furniture to textiles and all are favorites. The most fun items we purchased are the children's toys. We think a loving father (or grandfather) fashioned a beautiful wooden child size bi-plane into a swing….and another loving parent (or grandparents) created (with a large spring) a wooden bouncy horse (not a rocking horse). Both have vivid hand painted color and are fun for our grandchildren to play with. Yes…our treasures are enjoyed. If we don't buy them to enjoy them….who would?
The best handmade item I purchased was a piece of outdoor art made from recycled metal parts. I had an interesting look, was almost all made from recycled material and just the right amount of patina.
The best handmade item I ever purchased was a handmade bracelet from a celebral palsy patient. Not because I ever wore it but because it made her smile!
Best handmade purchase is definitely a dinosaur onesie for my nephew!