Encouraging Ladies of All Ages In Femininity And Biblical Womanhood

First, I would like to announce the winners of the Featured Home Business Giveaway … Samantha L won the Teddy Toes blanket from Happy Heels by Hannah and Hannah M. won the tea package from Day by Day Creations. Congratulations y’all :) :)

Thank you all for participating! There will be a book review and giveaway beginning on January 8th and another FHB review and giveaway on February 8th.

Volume5 Number1 is coming together nicely – I still have some more layout/design work to do and a little more space to fill … there are a couple of things I am looking for :)  I decided to add a few regular columns – at least, that is the plan for now. We’ll see how it works out! The columns consist of:

• A Peek Into My Hope Chest
• Being Beautifiers
• Heroines In History
• Out Of The Mouth Of Babes
• Recommended Reading
• Serving Our Families

I have also thought about adding one that focuses on nutrition and healthy living. Any thoughts? At this point, I do not have entries for Being Beautifiers, Out Of The Mouths Of Babes and Serving Our Families.

Being Beautifiers ought to contain topics like “What are some ways that you make your home a pleasant and welcoming haven?” and “How do you combine modesty and femininity to present a beautiful outward appearance?”

Out Of The Mouths Of Babes will contain short stories about young children – these can be thought-provoking, inspirational and humorous.

Serving Our Families will contain ideas on practical ways that you serve and bless your family.

If any of you have anything to share that could fit into one of these columns, please let me know as soon as possible! We do not have the cover photos picked out yet, so there is still time to submit photos if you have some that you would like to share.

Thank you all so much for making this possible. This is not my magazine … Shining Stars provides a way for each of you to encourage many others with the insights and thoughts that the Father has given you. I am honored to be a part of this and join with all of you in blessing your sisters in Messiah!

Amidst all the hustle and bustle of our family’s preparations to join a conference that our fellowship is hosting this weekend, I have not yet been able to complete the FHB giveaway! I’m sorry for the delay and I will do my best to announce the winners on Monday, the 26th!

Featured Home Business is a fairly new project on the SSM website. In an effort to support various entrepreneurial endeavors, we will be featuring home businesses every other month. This includes hosting a giveaway of one or more items, sharing information about the business and products as well as contact info for those who would like to purchase items, and a listing on our Featured Home Business page (which is coming soon). If you have a home (family-run) business and would like to have it featured on this website, please contact me for details at shiningstarsmagazine[at]gmail[dot]com.

Welcome back for another home business review and giveaway! Like last time, we will be featuring two cottage industries today. Let me introduce you to Melody, owner of Day by Day Creations.

Greetings! My name is Melody Grubb and I’m 21. I live with six of my seven siblings and our dear parents on some land in north Texas, where we have some hogs, chickens, a couple of guard dogs, rabbits that I raise, two ducks and many cats. Our family forms a bluegrass-gospel band (www.thefullquiver.com) and we play at churches, nursing homes, festivals and other events locally and in the surrounding states; it is something that we do to the glory of God and pray He uses it for His purposes. When we are not playing somewhere, I enjoy working on various business ventures, caring for the animals, reading history and true stories, being a nanny three days a week, posting on my blog once in a while (www.melodygrubb.com) and teaching piano lessons. I pray that God is glorified through my life!

A few years ago I started purchasing loose tea from the Bulk Herb Store. I loved their all-natural, heavenly-tasting Jasmine Green, Pomegranate Green and flavored black teas so much that I wanted to share them with others and also make an income on the side. So a few months ago I bought some of their empty tea bags and two different flavors of their tea and, using a clothing iron, filled and pressed the bags. I am still perfecting the process, but am learning how to quickly (but efficiently) produce tea bags for those who enjoy a fresh cup of tea. Many times the bags are made when ordered so that they are even fresher.

I love the smell of Jasmine green tea! The Pomegranate-flavored green tea also has a strikingly-sweet scent which permeates the room as I fill the bags. That is my favorite part in making the tea bags —  enjoying that sweet smell and knowing it’s an all-natural smell!

Thank you for letting me share about my little business. I hope the winner will enjoy their gift of tea bags and that others will purchase some for themselves — I know you will enjoy drinking tea that is healthy and pure!

Melody will be giving away ten tea bags to one winner!

These tea bags are handmade, using all natural tea and tea bags. Each bag contains approximately 1.5 teaspoons of fresh loose tea. The winner will receive their choice of the available flavors.

*************************************

The second cottage industry that we are featuring today is Happy Heels by Hannah. Some of you may be familiar with this small home business … for those of you who have seen the Teddy Toes blankets and wanted to try one out – here is your chance!

We are five sisters – Hannah (21), Ruthie (17), Sarah (14), Abigail (12) and Lydia (8). We live with our parents and two brothers in rural Tennessee. We enjoy singing and playing music together, cooking, sewing projects, games, talking(!), visiting with friends, helping mothers with young children … and cleaning the bedroom that we share :)

Hannah started Happy Heels by Hannah a couple years ago. We had seen the pattern for Teddy Toes – a blanket specially designed to be used with a car seat … and we decided to start making and selling them. These blankets are made of 100% polyester fleece and come in a variety of colors. They are sized for babies 0-6 months. Ruthie has recently started offering drawstring baby gowns for sale too.

Our favorite part in making these products is … Hannah: “Thinking of cozy warm babies!” … Ruthie: “Cutting the thread on the final snap!” … Sarah: “Knowing that the blankets are being made with lots of love and care!” … Abigail: “Looking over the finished product!” … Lydia: “I haven’t made any blankets yet but I hope to start cutting them out soon!”

While this home business was started with selling baby blankets, we hope to expand in the future – offering other home-sewn items, jewelry and anything else that we start creating!

Happy Heels by Hannah will be giving away one Teddy Toes blanket!

While the Teddy Toes is designed for use with a car seat, it also makes a wonderful blanket to swaddle your baby at any time! Click here for pictorial directions on how to use the Teddy Toes.

*************************************

So do you want a chance to win one of these products?!

Giveaway Rules:

You must be a Shining Stars Magazine subscriber to enter this giveaway. If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to be, please leave a comment on this post to join the giveaway and include your mailing address. I will then add you to the subscription list and remove your address before I publish the comment.

All Shining Stars subscribers are allowed one entry, in which you must tell me which item you would prefer to win!

For an additional entry (leave one comment for each additional entry):

• Visit Day by Day Creations and tell me which tea flavor you would like best.

• Visit Happy Heels by Hannah and tell me which color blanket is your favorite.

• Follow Shining Stars through Google Connect (on the sidebar).

• Add the Shining Stars link to your website or blogroll.

• Post about this giveaway on your own blog. (Make sure to leave the link to the post).

This giveaway ends on December 22nd.

Featured Home Business is a fairly new project on the SSM website. In an effort to support various entrepreneurial endeavors, we will be featuring home businesses every other month. This includes hosting a giveaway of one or more items, sharing information about the business and products as well as contact info for those who would like to purchase items, and a listing on our Featured Home Business page (which is coming soon). If you have a home (family-run) business and would like to have it featured on this website, please contact me for details at shiningstarsmagazine[at]gmail[dot]com.

Today I want to share about two home businesses that are run by two young ladies and we will be giving away two lovely items! First, let me tell you a little about the owner  of Rosie’s Red Roses etsy shop.

Hello! My name is Rosi and I am a 17 year old daughter to two wonderful parents and I have two great sisters. I live in the hot state of AZ where we go from summer to winter and back to summer with a very short spring and autumn. Nevertheless, I love spending time outside photographing, taking walks and gardening, but I also enjoy sewing, reading, baking and crocheting.

The first business I started was Honor Your Head (a shop in which I sell headcoverings, bible covers and other handmade goodies) in about December 2010. I then decided to make another shop called Rosie’s Red Roses, where I sell totes, zippered pouches, wristlets, headbands and other cute things.

I really enjoy the picking of the fabrics, going to the store and seeing which fabrics would be perfect for the season we are in. Also, I enjoy photographing the products!

I would like to say that if you are a young lady who enjoys a craft or hobby and would like to make some money, definitely open a shop, you can learn many things including patience in YHWH’s timing! Go for it, you can do it with His help.

Rosi has kindly offered to give away a beautiful zipped pouch – just look at these pictures!

This is a lovely blue zippered pouch with white dots in a swirly pattern and a matching white zipper. The inside lining is grey making it hard to spot light stains. This pouch is perfect for all your necessities and perfect for organizing a larger bag or for grabbing it on the go if you do not want to carry a larger bag! Measures 7 1/2 x 4 1/2 so it is not overly large but will fit all your things!

*************************************

The second home business that we are featuring this month, is Happy Hill Cards – a small entrepreneurial endeavor that was started by a young lady who I happen to know very well! Let me introduce her to you …

Hello! My name is Sarah Marianna Washburn, and I am 14 years old. I live in the beautiful country of middle Tennessee with my two parents and six siblings. My father and mothers names are Tom and Annie and my siblings are, Hannah (20), Tommy (19) Ruthie (17), Me (14), Abigail (12), Samuel (10), and Lydia (7). We live on a small farm where we raise dogs and have two goats, a lamb, chickens, and cats. My interests include, my Father in Heaven and His Son, my family, playing guitar and piano, dancing, playing soccer, working on the computer, taking care of children, school, writing my pen-pals, talking with friends, going to meetings, taking care of puppies, working on the cards, riding bikes and taking walks and playing with the best dog in the world … my baby Charlie :)

At Happy Hill Cards, I mainly sell handmade and handcrafted greeting cards, but I am planning on posting some handmade stationary on the blog too. The cards are all 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ unless specifically described differently. The cards are all made out of card stock, so they are nice and firm. They all come with envelopes. I have made these cards for a year now, but I have just recently posted them on the blog to sell.

I am not really sure what my favorite part about making the cards is. I like to decorate the blank card and turn it in to something pretty. I hope that the winner enjoys my cards. Thank you for holding this giveaway for me.

Sarah is giving away a set of five beautiful handmade cards!

Each of the cards is 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″ and is made of quality card stock. Sarah does all of the artwork with a variety of pens, markers and colored pencils. This set comes with five envelopes as well.

So … do you want a chance to win one of these lovely gifts?!

Giveaway Rules:

You must be a Shining Stars Magazine subscriber to enter this giveaway. If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to be, please leave a comment on this post to join the giveaway and include your mailing address. I will then add you to the subscription list and remove your address before I publish the comment.

All Shining Stars subscribers are allowed one entry, in which you must tell me which item you would prefer to win!

For an additional entry (leave one comment for each additional entry):

• Visit Rosie’s Red Roses and tell me which item is your favorite.

• Visit Happy Hill Cards and tell me which item is your favorite.

• Follow Shining Stars through Google Connect (on the sidebar).

• Add the Shining Stars link to your website or blogroll.

• Post about this giveaway on your own blog. (Make sure to leave the link to the post).

This giveaway ends on October 22nd.

(Note: Rosi does close her shop for the sabbath. If you visit it and do not see any items, just check back in a day or two!)

Featured Home Business is a fairly new project on the SSM website. In an effort to support various entrepreneurial endeavors, we will be featuring home businesses every other month. This includes hosting a giveaway of one or more items, sharing information about the business and products as well as contact info for those who would like to purchase items, and a listing on our Featured Home Business page (which is coming soon). If you have a home (family-run) business and would like to have it featured on this website, please contact me for details at shiningstarsmagazine[at]gmail[dot]com.

I am excited to be hosting a giveaway from Sarah’s Knitted Items! The idea for FHB came to me when Sarah offered to bless one of the SSM subscribers with a shawl. I thought it was a great idea, and was happy when she offered to give away a purse as well! Sarah sent both of these items to me to photograph for the giveaway, since she does not have the ability to put pictures online.

Before I show you the pictures and tell you about the items that two people will be winning, let me share a little bit about Sarah!

“My name is Sarah Hemann, I’m over 21. I live in Phoenix, Arizona, where its currently, daily 108 degrees. Phoenix is in the Sonora desert. I live alone. My sister lives next door. We share her cat. Interests are: reading scriptures, emailing my friends, knitting, designing knitting ideas in my head, writing fiction, writing letters to pen pals.

I call my home business Sarah’s Knitted Items. In 2007, I joined the International Tote Exchange. We each had a partner that we were to knit a purse for. I had no idea how to do it. I just started knitting and I think Yahweh guided my hands to knit the purse in a circular pattern. I’ve been knitting most of the purses with this pattern since then. I had a client in 2008, who wanted a purse in a certain way. She had drawn a picture of what she wanted, but she had no idea how to knit it in that way. She even wanted certain colors to be in the purse. She went to Joann’s to get the yarn for me, but couldn’t find any that she wanted. Again, Yahweh guided my hands and brain, and I had the colors she wanted on hand. Amazing. He guided my hands and brain to come up with just the purse she wanted. I now use that pattern for some of the purses that I knit. All my purses have a flap on them and most have an inside pocket.  I knit coasters, Feather ‘n Fan pattern dishcloths, winter caps, shawls, shoulder strap purses, and a backpack purse.  Also, water bottle covers.

My favorite part in making these products, is hearing the person who received the product saying thank you, to me. I enjoy a happy client, with one of my knitted products. I’ve never heard anyone say that they didn’t like my knitted product.

All my knitted products are made with only 100% cotton yarn. All the purses have double strand yarn used in them, to help them be more sturdy.”

Sarah sent me a list of the products that she knits as well as the prices if any of you are interested in purchasing them. They are priced as follows:

Shawl –  $25.00

9″ wide by 7″ tall Shoulder Strap Purse –  $25.00

Feather ‘n Fan Dishcloth (2) –  $5.00

Water Bottle Cover –  $10.00

Eye Glasses case –  $5.00

Winter Cap –  $10.00

Coaster (2) –  $5.00

12 inch by 12 inch Backpack Purse –  $35.00

If you would like to order any of these items, you can email Sarah at: sarahloves2knit2@yahoo.com, and let her know what color(s) you are interested in.

Now, for the products that Sarah is giving away … here are pictures of the purse …

This purse is made with 100% cotton yarn, and the colors present a wintery appearance! The purse is held shut with two stands of yarn and a button. It does not have pockets, but there is a flap inside that can be used to separate the purse into two sections. If you do not win this item, you can purchase it from Sarah for $25, and you can also order it in a different color.

The other item is a pure white shawl …

This shawl is made with 100% cotton yarn. One of the things I like about it, is that the shawl stays on and your hands are free. I also like the elegant look that it has :)  If you do not win this item, you can order it from Sarah for $25.00, and you can choose your color.

Sarah offered to share the pattern for this shawl, in case any of you would like to make it yourself.

“Materials Needed: #10 knitting needles, crochet hook size G, 8 ounces of cotton yarn, row counter.

Cast on 30 stitches. Knit 2, yarn over, knit to the end. Repeat for a total of 90 rows. Bind off. Weave in loose ends. Tie. Use the crochet hook and chain 36 stitches.

Put on shawl. Use the tie in front to hold the two sides together. This keeps the shawl on and your hands are free.”

For any questions about this pattern, or ordering any items, please email Sarah (sarahloves2knit2@yahoo.com).

Now with all of that being said … let’s get on to the giveaway!

Giveaway Rules:

You must be a Shining Stars Magazine subscriber to enter this giveaway. If you are not currently a subscriber and would like to be, please leave a comment on this post to join the giveaway and include your mailing address. I will then add you to the subscription list, and remove your address before I publish the comment.

All Shining Stars subscribers are allowed one entry, in which you must tell me which item you would prefer to win!

For an additional entry (leave one comment for each additional entry):

• Follow Shining Stars through Google Connect (on the sidebar).

• Add the Shining Stars link to your website or blogroll.

• Post about this giveaway on your own blog. (Make sure to leave the link to the post).

This giveaway ends on August 22nd.