Hi I'm Mary Ellen. I live in central New York with my husband, a dog or two and a couple of cats. We have three grown sons and plenty of time on our hands. There is a long list of things that I love to create. My first passion is quilting, and there are always hundreds of ideas rattling around in my head that involve colorful fabric.
I took an early retirement from the post office in 2009. I don't really think of this as retirement so much as a change in career paths. I have been quilting for 18 years and knitting and crocheting for closer to 40 years. These are my favorite things and I intend for my next career to include them.
My new workplace is my Starry Home where I create and market my quilts, ornaments, dolls, frames, postcards a whole smorgasbord of handcrafted goodness.
I learned to crochet, knit and embroider at a young age, thanks to my talented creative mother. I still love to do all of those things. I taught myself to quilt in my late twenties and that has become my passion. Hand quilting is a wonderful form of meditation for me. My main inspiration and teacher is Nature. Just like in nature, I like to put all the colors of the rainbow into my quilts. Some of my favorite work has been unique ideas that came from customers.
I love the challenge of taking a theme and creating it in my own way, or using a familiar pattern and making it in a different colorway that I would not normally use.
A piece of advice for the beginning quilter, pay attention to the experts, but don't forget to play around a little, don't be afraid to break a rule now and then. I guess that advice can apply to a beginner at selling online too. There are many wonderful helpful friends to be found on the internet. Take their advice, but add a little of your own creative soul into the endeavor, and remember to have fun while you're at it.
Aren't her creations beautiful! The items that had me saying, "Wow" were her quilted shower curtains! I've never seen anything like them before! Aren't they just beautiful?!
Now that you've had just a little taste of the wonderful creations you can find at Starry Home Crafts, you can browse around her Etsy and Artfire shops for yourself! You can also check out her Facebook, Twitter, and Blog to stay connected on the newest happenings!
Starry Home Crafts has very graciously provided a giveaway for my readers! One of you will receive their own handmade reusable fabric lunch bag! Add an extra fun touch to any sack lunch with this bright, whimsical bag!
The Giveaway: Complete the mandatory entry below and any additional entries you want to, and make sure you include your e-mail address!!
Mandatory Entry:
Visit Starry Home Crafts, browse around, then come back here and tell me your favorite item AND leave me your e-mail address so that I can contact you if you win.Extra Entries (please leave a separate comment for each one and don't forget to leave me your e-mail address!):
*Follow me on Google Friend Connect (1 entry)
*Add Starry Home Crafts to your favorites on Etsy or your market on Artfire (1 entry)
*Blog about this giveaway (2 entries)
*Tweet this giveaway (can be done once a day - 1 entry each)
*Share this giveaway on Facebook (1 entry)
*Share this giveaway with friends through e-mail and let me know you did (1 entry)
*Comment on any non giveaway blog posts and tell me which one (1 entry)
This giveaway is open World Wide. The giveaway will close on August 24th, and the winner will be chosen by random.org and notified by e-mail. The winner has 48 hours to get back to me with their address or a new winner will be chosen.
72 comments:
I love the lunch bag- I just went back to work and will need one! I visited their website and I love red white and blue table runner.
vickie
vmorgan456@yahoo.com
I love her starflower handmade quilt! It is beautiful. I really like the quilted shower curtains as well and much more. Fun stuff!
My e-mail is: abbi@abbisbridal.com
I like the pink and black doll blanket and the lunch bag!
kathrynbaby2004@yahoo.com
I really like the Bright stars quilt table topper wall hanging!
thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com
I added her shop to my favorites on etsy!
katy010305
thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com
Tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/KatyLMA/status/101718513932185600
thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com
I like the bright colored squares patchwork shower curtain!
hun423 at hotmail.com
I follow via gfc
hun423 at hotmail.com
My etsy name is hunfy and I added you to my faves!
hun423 at hotmail.com
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/#!/MamaHunfy/status/101849544052064257
hun423 at hotmail.com
I visited Starry Home Crafts and Vintage 60s 70s Handmade Tooled Leather Boho Hippie Shoulder Purse Bag is my favorite!
Thanks!
Jenn
learnquilling@gmail.com
I Love Making Hair Bows!
I followed Joyful Service via Google Friend Connect!
Thanks!
Jenn
learnquilling@gmail.com
I Love Making Hair Bows!
there was so many items I loved the quilts,dolls,christmas items. My favorite I guess I can say is the Ellen a fancy rag doll with hand knit sweater and purse
trustjesus7771 at yahoo dot com
Daily tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MamaHunfy/status/102233717308792832
hun423 at hotmail.com
Daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/MamaHunfy/status/102507098012786688
hun423 at hotmail.com
daily tweet
https://twitter.com/#!/MamaHunfy/status/102864957263200256
hun423 at hotmail.com
I love this: Flower of the month April fabric postcard
GFC follower: majoy
tweeted the giveaway: http://twitter.com/#!/memyselfandi_mj/status/103263165126676480
and will tweet everyday :)
sent email to my friends :)
email: majoyskie_21(at)yahoo(dot)com
"A cats landscape fabric art wall hanging" is so adorable!!!! my daughter loves cats and i showed it to her and she thought it was the cutest thing she has ever seen!
marayjdp@yahoo.com
i tweeted about this giveaway!
marayjdp@yahoo.com
i also blogged about htis giveaway!
marayjdp@yahoo.com
I shared this giveaway through email!
marayjdp@yahoo.com
I like the Bright color squares patchwork shower curtain.
sandyra27@gmail.com
daily tweet!
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/103585009260179457
marayjdp@yahoo.com
i blogged about this giveaway again!
marayjdp@yahoo.com
i added you on etsy! i am "maytheoddsbeeverinyr"
marayjdp@yahoo.com
i commented on your hummingbird post
http://whatsoeveryedo.blogspot.com/2011/08/hummingbirds.html
marayjdp@yahoo.com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/103963779968151552
marayjdp@yahoo.com
I love the log cabin shower curtain!
smithjo58@yahoo.com
I'm following Joyful Service through google friends connect.
Kathy, smithjo58@yahoo.com
I like the Starflower Quilt.
Thanks!
Laura
Laurasu82 at yahoo.com
Daily Tweet! http://twitter.com/#!/KatyLMA/status/104249647756886019
thecountryblossom at hotmail dot com
daily tweet!
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/104375284949712896
marayjdp@yahoo.com
I like the watermelon drink coasters
dani_megan@hotmail.com
shared on fb
dani_megan@hotmail.com
My favorite item is the Summer watermelon drink coasters and wall hanging.
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOT)com
I am following as Renee G on GFC
rsgrandinetti@yahoo(dot)com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/104527775586721792
marayjdp@yahoo.com
daily tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/105272272889196544
marayjdp@yahoo.com
A Cat's Landscape is a beautiful piece for a cat lover like me! And I do love this bag you are generously giving away.
Jhbalvin at gmail dot com
daily tweet!
http://twitter.com/#!/emilydpiff/status/105826311066492928
marayjdp@yahoo.com
Fav Item : Spring cottage fabric house shaped box with lid
(littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com)
I heart the shop on Etsy.
(SweetPeaAngel
littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com)
Shared on facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/michelle.s.dippel/posts/239563726079945
michelle.s.dippel
littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com
TWEETED: http://twitter.com/#!/DippelMichelle/status/106043358841028608
(littleangel_mw at yahoo dot com)
i love the shower curtain! and watermelon drink coasters!
star4ever16*at*gmail*dot*com
Love the Starflower handmade quilt
laurie1993@verizon.net
added your etsy show to my favs
laurie1993@verizon.net
tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/FrugalWahms/status/106141080889729024
laurie1993@verizon.net
Love their Recycled denim purse with hand crocheted trims
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
Following on Google Friend Connect
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
Added Starry Home Crafts to my favorites on Etsy
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
shared on fb
http://www.facebook.com/brenda.witherspoonbedard/posts/278630352151630
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
Tweeted this giveaway
brendawitherspoon at hotmail dot com
I love the casserole carrier/ potholder set with flowers and stripes.
brensweepstakes at aol dot com
I like their Patchwork Squares Shower Curtain for $100.
Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com
Love the Chocolate Shop quilted wall hanging. So cute.
lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
Added them to my faves on Etsy.
lewalk
lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
Tweeted.
http://twitter.com/#!/lewalk76/status/106436319697317888
lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
And shared on FB.
https://www.facebook.com/lewalk76/posts/277211872294116
lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com
So fun! I also like the bright colored squares patchwork shower curtain.
hickenfam at hotmail dot com
I follow on gfc (psychdog).
hickenfam at hotmail dot com
I added her to my favorites on etsy. (hifam)
hickenfam at hotmail dot com
love this quilt
http://www.etsy.com/listing/17349351/custom-art-quilt
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/robinlscott/status/106516623409680385
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com
fb post
https://www.facebook.com/robinscott4#!/robinscott4/posts/250063981694659
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com
Robin Scott
i like the large knit christmas stocking
rondasieg at yahoo.com
added to my etsy favorites
rondasieg at yahoo dot com
shared on fb via ronda siegler
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/ThriftyNiftyMommy/posts/209124749141360
rondaseig at yahoo dot com
shared with a friend on email
rondasieg at yahoo com
following on gfc via rondasieg
rondasieg at yahoo dot com
I am a big time cat lover......I absolutely adore the 'A cats landscape fabric art wall hanging'
cleaningrhouse at yahoo dot com
tweet
http://twitter.com/#!/robinlscott/status/106604988196855808
robinlscott4 at hotmail dot com
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