Welcome Wednesday with Handmade by Cheryl and a GIVEAWAY

Please welcome Cheryl and her Etsy shop Handmade by Cheryl

Upcycling and repurposing with her original artwork to bring you home decor with an old fashioned flair.

Cheryl has offered a great giveaway...please see the details after the interview.

Now let's learn about Cheryl's story

What is your first creative memory?

When I was just a young kid of maybe 9 or 10, I remember having an obsession of drawing horses. I guess it came about when my dad purchased to mares for my mother and he to ride. The creative desire then continued when I joined 4-H. I learned to sew there and also from my mother who could sew or make anything almost without a pattern. I guess I got some of her good creative genes and some from my dad.. MyHe was a farmer and was able to weld anything to create something he needed or to fix machinery. On a farm, you learn to be resourceful.

What or whom started your creative journey on Etsy?

Several years ago, I just stumbled onto Etsy. I had been selling my crafts for at least 25 years and thought Etsy was are pretty neat way to get your stuff out there for a lot more people to see without a high cost. I had just begun to make my canvas candle mats which I began because I had leftover canvas from my floorcloths I was making for my home. The candle mats seemed to be a good way to make some money out of the leftovers. I was raised to waste not- want not.The mats were easy to ship, and lo and behold they sold pretty easily when listed in the shop. I got several special orders and several repeat customers. It was about that time that we decided to start a home show here in addition to our other shows. I didn't list for quite some time since I really needed a lot of inventory to do a home show. ( I have to mention that I had two children and a full time teaching job for 33 years so I had many irons in the fire,)

How did you come up with your shop name?

My Etsy shop from the beginning was just called Cherylweaver. I wasn't too creative with that. I never really thought about having a name till a few years ago. I had always sold only handpainted items, but recently, with the help of a good friend, I began making some prints of my work. Now, since I wasn't painting everything, I began calling myself Handmade by Cheryl. I had a website for awhile by that name, but I had little traffic, and finally gave it up. When I started up my Etsy again, I added Handmade by Cheryl to the original Cheryl Weaver.

Describe what creations you have in your shop

My shop includes mostly handpainted canvas candle mats which are made in the same way as the old time floorcloths. I also have other handpainted items which vary with the season. There are laser prints of my work and a few other popular sayings are laser prints. These can be framed or decoupaged.

What inspires you?

My inspiration comes from what I see as popular at the time. For a long time I used other people's patterns. It was when I saw others painting some of the same designs that I had chosen that I decided that I would start drawing and creating my own designs. That is when I began to see my style developing. When others started to tell me how much they loved my style, I finally realized that I had one. LOL! I keep an eye on what the current trends are and what seems to be sellling well for me, and since I repurpose a lot of things, they speak to me as to what they need to come back to life.

What do you watch or listen to while you are creating?

While I am working, I usually have noise in the background. It could be the TV or a cd. I enjoy movies and don't mind watching them more than once which is good because sometimes I become so engrossed in what I am doing that I don't pay attention to the movie. I have two dogs who love going out to play ball so I get a lot of breaks during good weather.

Please share a favorite recipe

As for favorite recipes, one of my favorite is my altered version of The Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook's Applesauce Cake. It is a little healthier than the original one.

Apple Cake
1/2 cup light olive oil
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup white flour
1 and 1/2 tsps. of baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 and 1/ 2 tsp of cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
14 tsp ground allspice
2 cups of finely chopped apples with the peeling
1//2 cup raisins
1 cup chopped walnuts

Mix the olive oil, brown sugar, and eggs well, then add the chopped apples, raisins, and nuts, mixing well after each is added.
Mix the dry ingredients and add that next to the wet mixture. Stir till all dry ingredients are mixed thoroughly.

Spoon the mixture into a 9 by 13 pan that has been oiled.

Bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees or till a toothpick comes out dry.

I sometimes add a drizzle of white icing made with powdered sugar if I am having company. This cake is better the second day.

Where else can we find you?

Facebook

NOW WHAT YOU COULD WIN!!!

*****Handmade by Cheryl will be giving one lucky winner their choice of one of her prints priced EITHER $6 or $8. SEE ALL OF YOUR OPTIONS HERE IN HER SHOP...but please remember. ONLY the ones priced at $6 or $8.

****SHIPPING WILL BE INCLUDED FOR ALL ENTRANTS

****Your print will not have the watermark "handmade by Cheryl" on it

Here are just a few...

REMEMBER...these are only a few. Please see all of your options here in her shop.

NOW TO ENTER:

You do not have to do all of the entries, but the more you do the more chances you have at winning!

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