Holiday Open House 2015

We had a great time at this year's annual open house, Dec 4-5!  It was our biggest turnout yet!

If you'd like to be added to next year's mailing list and receive an invite for 2016's open house, the sign-up is over at the top in the left hand column.

Here are some photos from the weekend:

We empty my main level of furniture and set up our displays!  Luckily, we don't have to move our piano because it makes an awesome way to display little things!

ornaments

Christmas trees and more ornaments

New this year: our wishing tree!
As customers left, they took a wish with them.  Each one had a different secret message - our wish for them for the new year!

a funny photo from when we were setting up.  Mabel and Mama Winger with their noses peeking out!

gifts for teachers, family and love

giveaway sign up

These Christmas card displayers were a hit!

Treats! yum.

Big thanks to all who came out!  A good time was had by all! 

Giveaway #2 Revealed!

Here is another cute little giveaway for our Open House coming up this Friday evening and Saturday! It's a cute little house constructed of antique children's blocks, made by Mama Winger! Didn't you love to stack blocks as a kid? I did and I guess I still do! So the message LOVE is displayed to remind us to love stacking blocks, love one another, love cute little houses.....did I mention it's cute and little? It is! 

Come to our open house, sign up for a chance to win this and other prizes and bring your friends. Tell everyone you know that we've got cute little things and lots of wonderful bigger things never seen before! Plus treats and hot apple cider.  It's going to be fu-unn!

If you'd like an email invite, look over to the left in the sidebar.  "Subscribe" by adding your email address to our list and you'll be sent invitations to our next shows, including the Holiday Open House this weekend!  

If you live faraway, we're thinking about you too!  Next week, Monday or Tuesday, we'll be having a Facebook sale - just in time for gift-giving!

More giveaway reveals to come later on this week!   

First Open House Giveaway Revealed!

All this week we're revealing the prizes that will be at our Holiday Open House - this weekend!

We'll be drawing names for several original pieces after the weekend is over. So when you come, be sure to put your name in the "hat!" First up is this cute 8x10 Things With Wings' canvas made by Jill.

If you'd like the details to our Iowa City Open House, look over to the left side bar and sign up to get an invite sent directly to your email. 

Feel free to spread the Christmas Cheer and invite (share this post with) your friends!

ARTapalooza 2014!

The 9th annual ARTapalooza in Cedar Falls, Iowa.

When: Saturday, September 6, 2014 from 9-4 (TOMORROW!)

Where: Main street and sidewalks of downtown Cedar Falls, Iowa. Our booth is #211 - in the 200 block of Main Street.

Held annually, this juried show brings many talented artists from throughout the region. In addition, there is something for very one to enjoy as downtown is filled with a fine selection of art, artist demonstrations, entertainment and children activities.  

All of the pieces we will have for sale at this show are brand new designs and each is a hand-made, unique original!

It promises to be a beautiful, fall-like weekend!  Please join us!

Iowa Arts Fest 2014

Here are some photos from the Iowa Arts Fest, which was in downtown Iowa City, June 6-8.

We had a great turnout, a great time, and only one afternoon of rain!

(We have pretty much come to expect weird weather this weekend - and at least one day of rain!)

But despite that, things are always looking sunny in our booth!

Lots of people (ahem....men) had, let's just say, "interesting" ideas about where to hang our "The Fun Starts Here" sign.

In fact, Laura got tagged in this photo from friends who purchased one:

How funny is that?!

Here are some more booth shots:

the tall flower is a growth chart!

skinny abc's

box of arrows

mobiles (sold)

baskets of things

crosses

Our Youngest Winger Emily sent us some of her Little Birdy jewelry 

little statues

little signs

If you see something here that you're interested in or have questions about, email us at paperprayers@hotmail.com and we'll let you know if it's still available or if we can make you a new one!

Christmas Card Displayers

For our open house earlier this month, we used my piano as a place to display!  It worked really well because of the different levels.

And even though these sold, I still wanted y'all to see the Christmas card displayers I made because they turned out so darn cute!

A friend gave me these old shutters which I then painted - one in shades of green, the other in khaki, cream and red.  Added some stars to the top and the words "Merry Mail" to the bottom of each.  Decoupaged coordinating papers onto clothes pins.  -Sent each customer home with 2 of our DaySpring Christmas cards to go with it!

They turned out pretty cute, don't you think?!

VIRTUAL Holiday Open House is LIVE!!!

Thank you, Thank YOU, THANK YOU to all those who came to our Holiday Open House over the weekend!  We had a blast and hope you did too!

As we posted photos over the weekend of all the jolliness unfolding, we had so many lovely comments from those who live far away who wished they could come.

So we decided to have a VIRTUAL Holiday Open House just for you!!!

The sale is going on right now - TODAY! - on our Facebook page.  We created a fb album with photos, dimensions and prices of everything we're offering, titled "Virtual Holiday Open House."  Head over to our fb page now (click on any of the links in this post) in order to get the best selection!  Once evening comes and kids are tucked in bed, they will go fast!  The album description has all of the info you'll need on how to claim the pieces you want!

And for those of you locals who were busy with the Nutcracker,  or had other plans, or forgot, or went to the wrong house (hopefully you didn't do that!) or were out of town this past weekend and couldn't make it…... Or even if you DID make it, but woke up in the middle of the night last night wishing there was just one. more. piece. you had purchased…..  Well, you're all in luck too!  Just note you're local and we will skip the shipping charges and arrange a pick up!

Happy Shopping and Merry Christmas!

Later this week we'll share some photos from our open house!  - the real live one!

Open House Giveaway #4 Announced!

This giveaway is from me, Jill!  It's a 12x12 canvas with a happy message!

You can enter this giveaway by coming to our holiday open house tomorrow, 4-7 or Saturday 10-3 and putting your name in the drawing!

Have you had a chance to see the other giveaways that we've announced?  Scroll back through the last 3 blog posts to find out about the generous giveaways from Rita, Brynn and Shadley!

Holiday Open House Giveaway #3 Announced!

Today we're announcing giveaway #3 for our Holiday Open House this weekend!

New this year to our open house is Rita and her business, Back Door Cat.  

Rita has been working in multi media arts since she was a little girl - being taught the various arts by her Grandmother & Great Aunts.  Her scarves, hats, & fingerless mitts are crocheted with no particular pattern - she just sits down & starts creating.  While working on any project, Rita prays for the person who will become the owner/wearer of the item.  This black & gold hat & scarf are 70% wool & perfect for a Hawkeye fan!  She is giving away this set at our open house!

You can enter this giveaway by attending our open house this weekend in Iowa City and putting your name in the drawing!  Did you see the first two giveaways? Scroll back through the last 2 blog posts. 

If you'd like an invitation for this weekend, email us at paperprayers@hotmail.com and we'll email you the postcard with the address!

Stay tuned - another giveaway will be added tomorrow!

Open House Giveaway #2 Announced!

We sure hope you're making plans to attend our holiday open house this coming weekend!

 It's guaranteed to be a good time and you'll be able to find a variety of unique, handmade items perfect for gift giving!

New to our open house this year is Brynn - who will have some small furniture and home decor items for sale.  And guess what - she and Shadley are SISTERS!   They have 3 sisters in their family, just like us, and when we get together it basically feels like one big crazy, silly family!  ….Maybe we were separated at birth.  So we are looking forward to lots of laughter and fun this weekend!

Here's what Brynn has to say about her work and the wreath that she is giving away:

"This little wreath shows my love of patterns!  I create pieces that make you wonder if it's old or new. I refab (restore to make fabulous!) any and everything that catches my eye."

We can't wait to see what else she's going to have for sale!

Brynn's Giveaway

To enter this and all of the other giveaways that we'll be showing you this week, come visit our open house this weekend and be sure to put your name in the drawing!

It's not too late to get an invite!  Email us at paperprayers@hotmail.com and we'll hook ya up!

Be sure to check out yesterday's post to see Shadley's giveaway!
Tomorrow we'll show you a new one!#@

First Open House Giveaway Announced!

All this week we'll be introducing you to the artists who will be at our Holiday Open House and announcing their giveaways!

It's hard to believe that NEXT WEEKEND is the open house!!!
Did you get an invite?
It's not too late and everyone is welcome - we'll email it to you!

First up is Shadley! Here's what she has to say:

"My giveaway is an 8x10 acrylic painting on canvas and is just a taste of my work.  My larger body of work includes abstract acrylic paintings on upcycled windows.  My love of color shows in my work and people have fun trying to figure out what they mean, if anything!  If you're a fan of more representational work, I also have paintings depicting fun flowers and other things.  These windows add a pop of color and give the illusion of light and space in your home.  Please stop by and say hi!"

Shadley's Giveaway

You can enter the drawing for Shadley's piece (and much more!) by attending our open house this coming weekend in Iowa City and putting your name in the jar!

This is a great opportunity to buy unique, handmade gifts for the people on your Christmas list!  Plus we'll have yummy treats waiting for you!

 If you need an invite, email us at paperprayers@hotmail.com
Feel free to bring a friend!!!

Stay tuned - every day this week we'll let you in on another giveaway that will be up for grabs next weekend!

Beaverdale Holiday Boutique

Here are a few photos of our display at last weekend's Beaverdale Holiday Boutique in Des Moines.  We had a great time as always!  Everyone is so nice and welcoming.  

We've been doing this show long enough now that we began before our start with DEMDACO.  Many families who we see from year to year have watched us grow and are so excited for us and "This Thing Called Family."  They tell us where they've seen ttcf and we know they are extra happy to have an original…or two…..or three!  :-)

One woman in particular mentioned that she'd been praying for us that our business would expand beyond the local area because these were messages that needed to get heard.  I think God was listening!  :-)