My friend Valerie makes these beautiful mittens! She starts with well-loved sweaters that are, in her words, “looking for a second chance.”

Valerie washes, fluffs, and grooms them (“like a rescue pet”) and then sets about cutting them for the least amount of waste, and fitting them with a cozy new fleece lining. When all the pieces are together, she says, “we look at each other, and, also like a pet, they tell me what their names and stories should be.” Using great care and new fleece, she designs, cuts, and sews each mitten’s appliques. And what stories they are! One of her favorites is October Bear, inspired by the very real bear who spent that month wandering into her yard, taking down the hummingbird feeder, and drinking its nectar before wandering off again.

Valerie has given us 2 pairs of her gorgeous, and one of a kind, handcrafted mittens for you to have the opportunity to win! To enter, it’ll take just 2 simple steps. Look for my Warm Woolen Mittens Giveaway post on Facebook, Nora Murphy Country House, and please leave a comment. Then go to DeForest Lake Designs Facebook page and LIKE! That’s it!

The contest ends at Midnight EST on January 31st, 2017. Two winners will be chosen at random. Winners will be notified on February 1st, 2017, via @mention in the comments of my Facebook post. Promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

You can also meet Valerie and see her beautiful Adirondack inspired home in our Winter 2017 issue of Nora Murphy Country House. For more on her unique handcrafted mittens, visit her online store, deforestlakedesigns.com.

Good luck!

Love, Nora

51 Comments

  1. Danielle Barba on January 24, 2017 at 8:59 am

    I LOVE these mittens!!! <3

  2. Jane wasniewski on January 24, 2017 at 9:18 am

    I love these beautiful and amazing mittens. I’d love a pair, especially dog walking in upstate ny winters, of course I walk my pug so you know I don’t go far, lol.

  3. Joanne Vest on January 24, 2017 at 9:31 am

    OMG! These are so adorable! Would so love to have a pair of these!

  4. Libby on January 24, 2017 at 9:35 am

    I ❤️ Your Mittens ?

  5. Reneé Harris on January 24, 2017 at 10:02 am

    Love the sheep mittens!

  6. MARY WILEY on January 24, 2017 at 11:04 am

    Love your page. Always beautiful. The mittens are so cute. They would be a hit in Dallas!

  7. Marilyn the nurse on January 24, 2017 at 11:40 am

    What beautiful mittens. I would love a pair of them, the designs are great!!!!

    • Nora on January 24, 2017 at 11:42 am

      Hi Marilyn!
      Please be sure to go onto my facebook page, Nora Murphy Country House to leave a comment to enter! Love, Nora

  8. Pat Shuhart on January 24, 2017 at 12:08 pm

    The mittens are absolutely amazing. Love them all.

  9. Anne Rowe on January 24, 2017 at 12:14 pm

    These are very creative and well done. Would love to own a pair!

  10. barbara maloney on January 24, 2017 at 12:18 pm

    I just love the mittens!

  11. Tina Keller on January 24, 2017 at 12:29 pm

    Love the mittens!! So creative. I love the ones with the sheep ? on them!

  12. Karen Bennett on January 24, 2017 at 12:31 pm

    Lovely mittens that would be perfect through our Maine winters!

  13. Tim Beeble on January 24, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    I love the scrolling slide show of mittens above. It’s a snowy and cold day here in Connecticut. It’s time for mittens!

  14. Gretchie Vieira on January 24, 2017 at 12:38 pm

    These are truly the most beautiful mittens I have ever seen! Something I am sure that I could never afford as I am waiting for social security disability. 2 years and still waiting! But you are truly a wonderful artist as I have never seen anything like these!

  15. Paula Davis on January 24, 2017 at 1:26 pm

    These are so cute! What a lot of talent.

  16. Barbara on January 24, 2017 at 2:18 pm

    Love them. Would love to watch her prepare the yarn!

  17. Carol Hutchinson on January 24, 2017 at 2:27 pm

    Do so love your mittens. Warm, cozy, one of a kind, made with love, fun, and a great conversation piece. Out of someone’s throw away comes inspiration made into a thing of
    beauty!

  18. Julie Atwell on January 24, 2017 at 2:28 pm

    Love all of these and more importantly the idea that we are reusing something!

  19. Kathleen Benedict on January 24, 2017 at 3:07 pm

    Love these! They are really beautiful, and I’d love to own a pair.

  20. Denise M. Breau on January 24, 2017 at 3:59 pm

    I love these mittens! 🙂

  21. Larissa ~ Prodigal Pieces on January 24, 2017 at 4:12 pm

    Those are beautiful. I do the same with my sweaters and makes all the difference that they’re made with love as these are. ♡

  22. June Fisher on January 24, 2017 at 5:25 pm

    Anyone would love these mittens!! I also have the sheep sweater from 32 years go, still love it.

  23. Karen B. on January 24, 2017 at 6:16 pm

    Heart and hand warming mittens…what could be better.
    xo,
    Karen

  24. Linda on January 24, 2017 at 6:36 pm

    Love the stag design!

    • Nora on January 24, 2017 at 7:44 pm

      Hi Linda! Be sure to leave a comment on my Facebook page, Nora Murphy Country House to enter! Look for the Warm Wooly Mittens Giveaway post! Love, Nora

  25. Ellen Strong on January 24, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    Mittens are so adorable!!!! Would love a pair for this O H I O weather. Thanks.

  26. Ellen Strong on January 24, 2017 at 7:13 pm

    Leaping stag is just fine tks.

    • Nora on January 24, 2017 at 7:43 pm

      Hi Ellen! Be sure to go to my Facebook page – Nora Murphy Country House, and look for the Warm Wooly Mittens Giveaway post….please leave a comment there to enter. Thanks! Love, Nora

  27. Sue on January 25, 2017 at 7:18 am

    I would like to win some mittens. Love the dog and lamb!

  28. Noreen zurek on January 25, 2017 at 8:44 am

    I would love to win these adorable mittens

  29. ELAINE SCHMIDT on January 25, 2017 at 8:46 am

    LOVE LOVE LOVE

  30. Patricians pannell on January 25, 2017 at 9:42 am

    These are so beautiful…… Love seeing such quality work.

  31. Christine on January 25, 2017 at 9:42 am

    Absolutely beautiful! The bear is like the one who visited our bird feeders!

  32. Valerie on January 25, 2017 at 9:55 am

    Just *adorable* ~ very creative! 🙂

  33. Wendy Krug on January 25, 2017 at 12:17 pm

    Delightful site!

  34. Mag patch on January 25, 2017 at 1:54 pm

    Need a pair. Love them.

  35. Mary Hawkins on January 25, 2017 at 4:57 pm

    Beautiful mittens

  36. Diane RUEBEL on January 25, 2017 at 7:09 pm

    Love the up cycling piece of these creative mittens. Diney on Camano Island

  37. Debra on January 25, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    As I have gotten older my blood has thinned and my fingers stay so very cold if only I could find an purchase a pair of these lovely mittens I would be so warm and Thankful❤❤❤

    • Valerie Beeble on January 26, 2017 at 7:23 pm

      Thank you. Yes, the mittens are for sale online via http://www.DeforestLakeDesigns.com You can browse the available inventory of mittens by clicking on “Shop!” in the banner, or if you are shopping by smart phone, you may need to click on “Menu” first. Let me know if you have any questions. Enjoy. Valerie 203-241-1658

  38. Helen Kerns on January 26, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    I need …I to get so cold and must get out in the cold, my hands are never warm. I love handmade

  39. Helen grandstaff on January 26, 2017 at 11:05 pm

    Hi I love there are beautiful I had brain surgery 2012 and my hands are always cold

  40. Robyn Goldy on January 28, 2017 at 1:58 pm

    Wow ! I’m in love with these beautiful mittens.

  41. Ann smith on January 28, 2017 at 11:30 pm

    Love them!!

  42. Tiffany on January 29, 2017 at 1:33 pm

    So cute!!! Love these!

  43. Lori wilson on January 30, 2017 at 12:56 am

    Beautiful mittens! Love!!!

  44. Eleanore on January 30, 2017 at 9:03 am

    All I wear is mittens and these are conversation pieces! Just Beautiful and inviting ?

    • Nora on January 30, 2017 at 11:28 am

      Please be sure to enter to win a pair of Valewrie’s mittens by going onto my Nora Murphy Country House Facebook page and commenting on the Warm Wooly Mittens Giveaway post! And then go to DeForest Lake Designs Facebook page and LIKE!

      Thanks and good luck! Love, Nora

  45. Lorraine Beattie on January 31, 2017 at 4:07 pm

    Hello from Canada where the real snow is falling !!! Right now I have about 3 ft. of snow in my back yard. When I walk to work each morning the snow banks are so high you can hear the cars/ trucks go by but can’t see them. And for cold it is so cold our dog really won’t go out unless she has her coat on. So… I would just love a pair of those warm looking mittens that look just like the ones my late mother would have made when we where kids. Thank You Valerie for making them with love.

  46. Tequita Williamson on January 24, 2021 at 11:41 am

    These mittens are so pretty! SO cozy! And so much fun! <3

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