One Year on Etsy!
On May 31st, it will be one year since we started our New Leaf Handmade shop on Etsy.  It's been a great opportunity and learning experience for us to be on Etsy -very cool that we've been able to sell stuff in so many places, rather than just close to home.  In celebration, we are having a sweet sale -15% off anything in our shop, using the code ETSYONE during checkout.  In addition, on the actual day, Tuesday, May 31st, you will receive a free gift (a handmade magnet and mini-notebook) along with your purchase.  Thanks for supporting us on Etsy (and everywhere else!)!
*Sale begins Wednesday, May 25th and runs until Tuesday May 31st, 11:59PM CST.

D.I.Y Repurpose Old Baking Tins
I think I've mentioned before that I live on a farm, so we have to get rid of our garbage ourselves, recycling whatever we can and burning the rest.  Some stuff can't be recycled or burnt, so we have a small junk pile on our property where we pile wrecked appliances, old spools of wire and the like.  We don' really like having to add to the pile, since it's pretty unattractive (sometimes I wonder if people would throw away less stuff if everyone had to keep the junk in their own space), and I've been trying to think of how I can repurpose some items that were headed towards our mini-landfill.  I had a few old baking tins, rusty from overuse, no longer suitable for baking with, and decided to repurpose them into handy organizers.  Click HERE on on the photo to see how you can do the same.

Handmade Gardening Ideas
I've collected some ideas from other bloggers to keep you enjoying your garden all summer long while repurposing materials from around the house -enjoy!  Click on each link to see the tutorial.

• Turn an old glass bottle into a pretty hummingbird feeder (by Crafting a Green World)
• Make garden lanterns out of tin cans (fromCraftStylish)
• I've been planning on making a path through my perennial garden this summer. Here are some ideas for inexpensive garden paths (from Re-Nest)
• Create a mixed-media wind chime from scraps around the house (from Diary of a Crafty Chica)

Happy June!  Enjoy this first month of summer, and the longest day of the year!

Maria & Cecelia,
the New Leaf Handmaidens

Hey there,
How is your week going?  I am SO enjoying the warmer weather; finally the grass is starting to turn green and the last traces of snow are quickly melting.  My husband is a farmer, so he is working away fixing machinery, hoping to get seeding as soon as the ground is dry enough.  Seeding time always feels like Picnic Season to me.  Since I get to make my own hours these days (huzzah!), my daughter and I meet Charles out in the fields most days for lunch or supper, or sometimes even both.  I love eating out in the sunshine on a blanket, listening to the birds and smelling the dirt.

I've made a little collection of lovely picnic items from other Etsy shops, which will make you want to get out there and have picnics too.  Also, since Mother's Day is approaching quickly, I wrote a do-it-yourself article on cloth napkins -a pretty and easy gift that also celebrates re-using!  I whipped mine up in under an hour.  

D.I.Y Cloth Napkins
Mother's Day is this weekend already and if you don't have something for your mom yet, this is a quick and lovely idea.  I used a soft green tablecloth I got at a thrift shop and used blue paint for the stamp detail -my mom LOVES these colours together.  Click on the photo, or click HERE to learn how to quickly sew some of these up yourself.

Sugar and Spice Trade Show
If you are in the area, you should come and visit us at our next trade show.  We'll be in Moose Jaw this time -at the Western Development Museum on May 14th from 10am-5pm.  It's called the Sugar and Spice Trade Fair -all businesses run by women!  The trade show is free, but museum access requires an entrance fee.  I used to LOVE going to this museum when I was little -it's full of trains and old-fashioned scenes.   Drop in and check out and visit us at the same time.

Happy May!  Hope yours if filled with spring-like wonder!

Maria & Cecelia,
the New Leaf Handmaidens.

Happy Thursday,
It's almost April and how I wish it was Spring was actually here.  I spent last week on the coast visiting my mom and was spoiled by an early taste of green grass and cherry blossoms, only to have my senses shocked into submission by blizzarding whiteness and a four-foot snowbank in front of our door on our return.  Maybe next week?  
On a happier note (or four), I've got some sweet ideas for Spring wreaths for you, I dropped off some of our products at a shop in Regina last week,  Cecelia made up an awesome tutorial for making a felt cake, and I finally got my sewing machine back from the repair shop.  

My cousin took my machine in for me a couple months ago after it started making loose and crazy stitches and I finally had a chance to get to Regina (why oh why isn't there a sewing machine repair shop in MY city? It's a dying art)  to pick it up last week.  It sews like a dream now -quieter than it's been in a long time (maybe that thumping noise was an indication I should have taken it in sooner...), stitches even and tight.  Pure joy!  I can finally get back to sewing again -hurrah!

D.I.Y: Felt Cake
Cecelia designed this cute chocolate cake to go along with some other felt food she made for her daughter's birthday.  It's a unique and simple gift idea for a kid who likes to have lots of "tea pouties".  Pair it with some nice child-sized wooden dishes and you are set!  Learn how to make it here.

Stitchn Be Artisan Boutique
I met the owner of Stitchn Be last year at a conference -she recently opened this shop in Regina in the Market Mall near Northgate Shopping Mall.  She sells tons of colourful fabrics and sewing supplies along with handmade items by local artists include baby booties, silk and wool scarves, and some fine goods from yours truly, New Leaf Handmade!  If you are in the city, be sure to check it out!  Here is the website: http://stitchnbe.com/

Spring Wreaths
Though the snow suggests otherwise, Spring is surely to arrive soon, and to encourage it's arrival, I made this wreath for my doorway (photo to the left).  It was easy and looks quite pretty -I just stuck some fake flowers into a grapevine wreath frame I found at the Salvation Army thrift shop.  



Here are some links to more Spring wreath projects:

Click on a photo to be directed to the how-to tutorial.   From left to right -Design*Sponge, Craft Gossip, Pretty Handy Girl.

Have a wonderful April!  

Maria & Cecelia
New Leaf Handmaidens

Hello lovely reader and happy day to you,
It's been frighteningly cold the last few days, but I don't mind so much as I've been inside most of the time working on notebooks, and more notebooks.   I also figured out how to make my own envelopes that actually seal!  And I've also been thinking about our upcoming birthday....

Happy Birthday to Us!
On March 16th of 2010, New Leaf Handmade Goods became a real and true business!  Hard to imagine a whole year has flown by -we've sure grown and developed and loved every minute (except maybe the tax return work...) of becoming New Leaf.  Besides getting to make stuff each day, the best part for me has been getting to know our customers and hearing feedback from you.  There is no way we would be still working away, living our dream-job, if it wasn't for your interest and support!  So thanks so very much for that!  

To celebrate our first business birthday, during the week of March 14th -19th, we are offering 20% your entire purchase (excluding shipping), and you receive a free gift with your purchase as well!  

D.I.Y: Handmade Envelopes
A while ago I spent a few evenings making a stack of handmade cards to have on hand (buying cards is a bit of an addiction for me, and it gets expensive!).  Sad thing was, I didn't have the right size of envelopes for most of these cards.  I thought about making my own, but it wasn't until a couple days ago that I found a recipe for the sticky part that closes the flap!  I'm pretty excited about the lovely envelopes I've created and look forward to raiding the thrift shops for beat-up kids' books for more designs...  
Make your own here...

Notebooks Aplenty 
I just finished a huge stack (56 notebooks, to be precise!) after a couple weeks of solid work and have been slowly listing them all on Etsy (a loooong process with so many).  I'm so pleased with my new designs and excited to continue making more as well as trying out some NEW ideas...  Here's a peek at some of my new creations (feel free to browse them in our Etsy shop too!):

Happy February, 
The past month has been a snowy one around here; while it's been accumulating, Cecelia and I have been planning all sorts of great things for New Leaf and making lots of new notebooks and pillow covers that we haven't had a chance to list yet.

We've also made a few other changes.  You may have noticed that we've purchased our own domain now: www.newleafhandmade.com -I'm pretty excited about it.  Our newsletters are taking a new turn as well.  Instead of being exclusively available by email, our monthly updates are now for all to share here on our own website.  

This month Cecelia did up a tutorial for a soothing eye mask, and we have a great new promotion on now for House Parties (sort of like tupperware, but with our handmade delights instead!).  Read on below to learn how you can get a free gift!  We've also compiled a gallery of love-inspired goodies available in our shop!  

DIY: Eye Masks
Cecelia made me one of these eye masks for Christmas to match a pair of really cute pajama shorts (also made by her).  I was a little leery about having my eyes constricted, but the smooth fabric and the inner beads are actually really soothing.  The other night my husband borrowed it to block out the light of my lamp while I read in bed and found it to be quite comfortable as well, though after he took it off he told me, "I think my eyes stink."  So it's up to you, you don't need to put lavender scent in, but it is supposedly conducive to sleep.  Click  here or on the photo to learn how to build your own mask. 

House Parties: Earn a free gift!
What I really like about attending trade shows is that I get to meet the people who buy our stuff -I like talking about what we do and why and making connections.  Since there aren't a whole ton of trade shows to go to around here, Cecelia and I decided we'd like to start doing house parties.  If you are from the Swift Current area and know some people who would be interested in eco-friendly and handmade notebooks, home decor, necklaces, clothing, art, etc., we would love to give you a free gift in exchange for throwing us a party.  All you have to do is invite some people over -we'll bring a treat bag (coupons, felt flower magnets, mini notebooks, etc) for everyone who arrives, and the host will get a special gift just for her/him.  Interested?  Send us a note at newleaf@newleafhandmade.com for details.

Thoughts of Love
Valentine's Gift Ideas 
Looking for something sweet for someone special?  Check out some of our love-inspired products

Have a lovely month -happy Valentine's day!
Sincerely,
Maria & Cecelia,
the New Leaf Handmaidens

Dear Readers,
Christmas is over and, it's almost a new year, and life continues to be very busy!  This month's newsletter is a bit shorter than usual since we've been spending a lot of time visiting friends and family and trying our best to stay away from the computer.  So, sorry, no D.I.Y article this month, but you can look forward to Cecelia's next tutorial in the February edition!

Though I haven't been spending as much time as usual on making and designing, my brains have been awhirl with new product ideas, which I am looking forward to working on once the holidays season is over and things calm down a bit around here.  Read on below to hear some of my brainwaves...

We are also having a wee bit of a boxing week promotion for our New Leaf Wear shop; you'll find a coupon code below. 

Works in Progress
 Plans for a New Year
Inspired by a table runner I saw in another Etsy shop, I made a LOT of table runners for Christmas gifts this year.  After a few traditional long rectangle ones with a birch tree design, I started creating some round table runner/hot pads, with layers of cotton batting for heat protection.  Since my mom has a round table, I thought it would be nice to have a centerpiece which could double as a place to rest hot dishes.  The photo on the right shows one I made for an aunt and uncle.  Soon I'll make some more and add them to our site.

I also recently figured out how to use the laminator I inherited last year, which feels like the beginning of all sorts of opportunities including new notebook cover designs, bookmarks...Why do I find the aspect of coating things in plastic so exciting? 

I really love coming up with new ideas to explore, now if only it was that easy to follow through with these plans!  

Boxing Week: Save 25%

It's Boxing Week in Canada and we're offering 25% off our entire inventory in our New Leaf Wear Etsy shop.  Just enter the code BOXING25 in the Message to Seller during checkout and the 25% will be discounted automatically!

Check out our necklaces and upcycled clothing in our New Leaf Wear shop now.

We've enjoyed this first year in business so much, especially connecting with our customers.  Happy New Year all, hope it's bright and beautiful all the way through.

Sincerely,
Maria & Cecelia
New Leaf Handmade Goods

Hard to believe that this is the last newsletter of 2010!  Next time you find us in your inbox, it will be the first 2011 edition. 

This month's giveaway will be the last of our monthly giveaways.  In celebration of our first year in business, we had a monthly giveaway, featuring a variety of our products.  December's giveaway is a set of Let It Snow pillow covers.  Since you are reading this newsletter you are already entered in the draw, and you can find the details on our blog, as usual.

Both Cecelia and I are doing our best to have a handmade Christmas, trying to make all the gifts we are giving, or purchasing handmade gifts from other Etsy sellers.  It is more of a commitment than you might expect, taking up a lot of time, but it's fun too.  And with each gift we give, there will be a lot of time and thought and love invested!  Below I've shared a few of my favourite Etsy shops that have some original and fun gift ideas.  When ordering your Christmas gifts, make sure you leave time for shipping -I typed up a guide for shipping times on our blog.

D.I.Y: How to make a cozy neck warmer
I love making stuff and am constantly thinking up new ideas and trying out different ideas.  As a result, there are a lot of things that I try that fail miserably.   I now know from experience that my daughter's dolls will not be sporting one-of-a-kind clothes made by yours truly. Nope, my doll-clothes-making skills have not improved since my childhood attempts.

So of course it thrills me when my schemes and designs actually turn out like they do in my head.  All autumn, I was thinking of some sort of neck warmer for my daughter to wear -one that would fit snugly around her neck, but also cover a bit of her face and down the back of her jacket.  Thetutorial on our site shows what I came up with after a couple tries...

Facebook Shopping Sale
Between November 15th and December 15th, we are treating our awesome Facebook fans to a 20% discount when shopping at any of our three Etsy shops.  Take a peek at our Facebook page for details on how to get that discount.

NewLeafHandmade:  Home decor and Notebooks from Post-Consumer Materials
NewLeafWear: Necklaces and Upcycled Clothing for Women and Children
NewLeafOpus: Photography Prints, Cards, and Original Artwork

Original Handmade Gifts
Spreading the Etsy love... Here are some shops I've been enjoying lately:
PoppyChicDesigns -handmade retro accessories
PortugeseVintage -an awesome collection of vintage bottle openers, among other things...
SwanMountainSoaps -yummy smelling and natural soaps, perfume oils, body butters and lip balms
TaraDuff -beard hats...need I say more?
ElementalShop -earth friendly, original, and organic screen-printed shirts

Don't get me started...I could spend DAYS on Etsy, browsing all the amazing shops and goodies...

Wishing you a wonderful Thanksgiving (for our American friends), and a holiday season filled with wonder, peace, and happiness.


Sincerely,
Maria & Cecelia
New Leaf Handmade Goods

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