giving cheer & love *etsy shop update*

I am adding a few lovely tags to the shop just in time to adorn festive packages. i designed each tag exclusively for this giving season as i want to also add them to my little packages of handmade love to family & friends.

i even thought of some cute packaging for them :) All tags are packaged inside this pretty little mini envelope with a charming red bow :)



mona came back from her spa trip just in time for this super happy photo shoot of christmas giving love. maybe its the bright colors, too much pumpkin pie? either way, it all cheers me right up :) i'm super happy to share my handmade love with you and i hope you love them too. xo



i love retro flowers xoxo



just had to add some grunge splatter to this design :)



cheer looks cuter with a mini tree *smiles*



i don't think i will ever stop loving ledger paper. i srsly love it in red even more :)



i could hug each little mini christmas tree - cute!



the doily lovin' lives on.



teeny tiny merrily tags really make me squeal with delight. even adding the twine i was going crazy at how cute they feel. love :)



more ledger love. really. forever. and ever. xoxo



my love for banners is still kickin'. JOY indeed :)



a larger version of the merrily tags... i'm srsly going to use all of these tags in my december daily album coming up. I'm pretty happy how they printed out and especially look on gifts. I love the whole start to finish of a concept... then actually seeing it in person. I'm hoping to make a few more for different themes :) brain flurry heaven.

SO what's the deal?
Starting today, these babies ship for free until Monday November 29th (midnight). All orders over $15 get a free set ( one of each tag ) absolutely FREE. i puffy heart free.

I'm adding a few extra goodies to every order and i am starting to wrap all orders in christmas paper :) so exciting. i even think i might be an elf. not sure. i totally am going to watch the ELF movie again, sing all the songs at the top of my lungs and eat more sugar ;P

happy days,
xo
-d

blessings & joy

today i woke up a little earlier than i usually do to make these very tasty treats for mr.handsome & his wonderful work family :) I LOVE his work family. I can't quite call them co-workers anymore... i think as the years pass they really are closer friends & new family to us. I've worked with some pretty awful people in my life and now that i'm lonely and self-employed i've adopted mr.handsome and his work family as my very own too :) i definitely appreciate people who make their job fun, positive and even silly :) And in honor of that i wanted to say thank you by showering them with one thing i absolutely undeniably love... carbs. holy rolly pollie i love carbs :P



so this thanksgiving i'm quite thankful for my new friends. who let me sit in for some really important "meetings" over lunch. Whom appreciate the little details ( like the pretty paper cups + cute decorative cake toppers ). and who take care of my mister handsome as he "works" madly in their corner of the world a few hours a day. or hardly works. whatevs. ;)

i printed out the words "blessings and joy" onto regular paper and then pinked the edges.
next i added a little tape runner glue on the paper then wrapped it around a toothpick.
I glued 2 different leaf paper punches from 2 different coordinating papers.
As a little extra twinkle treat i added a cute mini bling over the leaves.

I loved the smell of pumpkin bread in the morning.
add some creamy white frosting... sprinkle some toasted pecans + sugar beads = some pretty loaded sweet calories. what the heck. i'm not really counting :)



this week I'm working on a few projects for family & friends. I rolled up 3 skeins of yarn into one HUGE fluff of a ball. i guess i better get back to it huh ? tomorrow in between naps, you can bet a slice of pumpkin pie that i'll be crocheting and dragging this ball of fluff around. lunch at my parents. dinner at his :) oh.dear.

also, I have a cute update coming up this friday for the shop. Some new items. A cute little giveaway i designed. and even some free shipping. and you don't even have to stand in a heck of a long line :)

have a sweet & blessed thanksgiving loves,
xo
-d

winner and q&a

i first need to apologize for not coming back monday when i promised. From the bottom of my fuzzy crochet heart i am so sorry. I was feeling a bit under the weather these past few days after i decided to get the flu shot. :( i don't mind needles. i just always seem to get sick after i get the shot. They say it doesn't happen but i got something so here i am today with just a minor throat ache and thankfully mr.handsome took a day off to help me recover :) I should've let him try to answer the following questions for me, that would've been funny lol!

okay... onto some good happy news!
drum roll please....
(insert awesome drum roll...I'm rockin' the drums here for you- hehee)

our lovely doily ring winner is Valerie
congrats Valerie! please e-mail me at belladrummer @gmail.com with your post address so I can send out your ring to you soon!

Valerie said...
I would love to learn how to crochet :) How did you learn? Is there a book that you can recommend?
All of your crochet creations are so lovely! I love your little ring :)

At first I started off paying for classes at my local community center. I was kind of learning at the same pace as a 4th grader and although they are smart little kids I was kind of wanting a little more from the class and ended up learning at my own pace by going on YouTube and searching for crochet how-to video's. Every week i'd show up to class with more advanced stitches etc and blew through the kiddie corner in no time :) It was then I took it upon myself after the class ended and never signed up for another one since. I just like to crochet. And the internet has a whole lot of good & free resources for that. I love free :) And honestly YouTube video's helped so much since I'm a visual learner anyway ( that's also how I learned to rock the drums) and the rewind feature on the videos is pretty awesome. I always felt like i annoyed my teacher at the community center asking her to repeat stitches for me again and again. I have no shame ;P And as for books Mr.handsome bought me my first book: beyond the square crochet motifs, i had seen several crafty blogs mention this wonderful book and I LOVE it. I think I will try to make a few each week and share them here in 2011 :)

and a couple more Q&A's from lovelies:

Knoopjes said...
Oh yes, sewing, I have a machine, but I really need to learn some basic skills on it.
And I need to learn to finish something before starting something new... *sigh* ;)

Great ring, if I don't win I hope you will post a pattern!
Happy weekend!

sure indeed :) I found this Ring Around The Rosy crochet pattern on Crochet Today! but to tell you the truth the actual ring I made is from a motif from a vintage table runner I simply took apart. So the intricate doily was already done and I only added the ring part for the finishing touch :) But hopefully i too can try to make one from scratch and I will let you know how that goes :)

Vanessa said...
there is so much I want to learn in 2011! First thing is learning how to read crochet and knitting patterns better. They are really intimidating to me, I can make things if someone teaches me, but I would like to be able to read and translate myself.

I do have a question, doesn't thrifted yarn creep you out? Do you wash it? I have found tons of yarn at thrift stores but I have never bought any cos I am afraid it will be gross or smell.

HAHAAAHAA! ahhhh... yes, thrifted yarn. I mean WHAT is that smell right?! holy moly i have met some that have stains on them it's just disgusting. but there are a few i have found at a local church thrift shop that look loved. Those are the ones i really only buy. They have to still have the label on them, no stains no icky anything on them and they also have to be a pretty awesome color. As most are. I love the mustard yellows and mossy greens. Honestly sometimes you can't find that kind of color anywhere so I go for it. Once i take the yarn home i air it out, undo the entire roll, then create a ball of it. it seems to do the trick. And a heck of a lot of febreeze. I wont wash it until i've added it to a project and after the first washing there is never a problem :)

Serena said...
I want to learn not to get discouraged and sad about the trials and stresses of our current situation of where we live - the heat, the flies, the isolation, the lack of regular fresh fruit and vegies as well as all the other things I am used to having on a regular basis. To be positive around my kids about this experience and opportunity, and of course to try and be a better mum, wife etc - we will have 3 kids by early January so trying to juggle them and count my blessings.


i love this. yes indeed. happy blessings to you and your sweet family *xoxo*

cindy said...
I want to learn to crochet granny squares. ALso I want to start an art journal. Fingers crossed that both of these come to be in 2011!

you know that once you start one granny square you will never stop. you will memorize the pattern without even thinking about it and it's just SO addicting :) good times ** on a side note, i have another class in the works and it has more of an art journal flare to it. I want to teach it mid january and am hoping it really starts off 2011 on a high note :) I will share more info about that later * smiles*

update on life around here:
so mona is away having an awesome spa treatment( full body camera cleaning, poor thing, she's been with me for over 4 years now and has never been cleaned) until next week. when she comes back i want to get her new glasses too ( hunting for a new lens :) just to surprise her... so pictures are going to be from my iphone in the mean time. oh joy. i was kind of hoping to put it off until next year but now i get to start the year with a clean happy mona. and that is priceless.

I've got another shop update coming up and without pictures i'm kind of clueless... but we will make it work!

i made a crochet garland over the weekend i'm dying to show you. i think it's pretty fun and quirky looking. i made it using the left overs from the extraordinary dottie angel blanket and it's just so pretty to look at. hopefully it will fit in with the holiday decor around here and my studio corner for the rest of the year. i love stuff you can keep around forever :)

i picked up some vintage ornaments while thrifting and i'm super excited to share our december edition of our R wall.
- new paint color for the wall( had to pinky promise mr.handsome i would not change the color ever again. good grief why did i do that for?! pressure. big time)
- new frames from ikea
- red + glitter = joy all around

so much to do... so little time :)

hope you are having a sweet week so far.
happy hugs to you,
xo
-d

all dolled up

Happy friday everyone!

Today i want to share my love for doilies with you. This little ring makes my little heart melt. xoxo
And as i'm sure i'm not the only doily lover out there *wink*wink* so I thought this would be a great gift to giveaway to one of my blog friends :)



I made this mini vintage crochet motif into a ring by simply slip stitching the edges together. I have a whole drawer full of these little motifs and I think I've found an equally lovely way to repurpose them :) So if you win this little cutie pie, you will be all dolled up and looking fabulous my dear xoxo



I love it so much I'm going to wear mine out today :)



i quickly wanted to share a few answers to a couple of questions many of you had, mostly about the yarn that i use... for the extraordinary blanket i used the above yarn ( from left to right )

purple: vintage thrift find
mustard yellow: vintage thrift find
pollen yellow: red heart yarn
salmon: vintage thrift find
olive green: vintage thrift find
aqua blue: red heart yarn

(in the middle, from left to right)
pink: vanna's choice
aran cream: red heart yarn
yellow: vanna's choice
red: red heart yarn

As for the hooks, I'm not sure which hooks are permitted to carryon during flights but I was able to carryon an ergonomic hook that looks like this. I would just make sure to ask at the check-in area before you try carrying anything through. Ps: I LOVE those hooks they really really do save you time and pain :)

Also, many of you lovelies expressed interest in purchasing a handmade crochet item from this weeks sharing. I would love to make you a little something something so please if you have any more questions or interest in an item email me or leave a comment - thank you all so much for sharing some crochet love with me! xoxo

okay, now for the giveaway!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

For your chance to win International entries are always welcome. :) please tell me:

What is something you'd like to learn for 2011?

For me, it's a tie between learning to knit and sew. I feel like i can learn anything but when it comes to learning these 2 things i seriously just hit a road block. So for 2011 I am making it my goal to not only attempt learning but to actually work through it and complete a project. I have an entire year so I think that should be enough time to figure it out :)

I will pick a winner Monday morning!

good luck everyone :)

so here's to more handmade love all the way around
cheers!
xo
-d

all cabled up

in my new mitts that is.

*smiles*

So earlier this week i headed out to buy more yarn and came across a magazine on the floor of the store aisle. The magazine was rather beaten and looked so sad... I picked it up to put it back and looky there... a crochet today magazine! ( i'm always putting stuff away at stores i often get asked if i work there... lol)



I randomly flipped through and immediately loved the pattern for the cabled mitts. totally something I would buy at forever 21. :) AND I'm always reaching for mr.handsome's hand to keep my hands warm. I found a way to keep them warm and toasty even when he isn't around :) jk mr.handsome! you are my favorite warmer upper. * wink*wink*

I kept reading through the pattern and it seemed easy enough. I put the mag away and went along with my day. I didn't really want to buy a magazine that was all stepped on and icky. SO after a long story :) ... i found it again at my local borders... all shiny and new. I worked up the pattern just yesterday evening and finished the last mitt early today. I would say it took me less than 2 hours collectively. And with one ball of yarn for the pair I totally am digging these cute mitts :)



I used Vanna's choice purple yarn ( worsted weight 4 ). I love that the yarn was also on sale at michaels this week! yay! i came home fluffier than i left but in a good way hahaa!

Now i don't subscribe to any magazines anymore and I hardly ever buy one for anything but i am actually hoping to score a subscription once mr.handsome reads this and gets the "subliminal" message that this would be a wonderful addition to my arsenal of literature :) The mag costs $6.99 on the newsstands and I only purchased it because i loved a few other projects also featured in the magazine. I promised myself to also finish those projects soon in order to make it worth the cost. And honestly I LOVE these cute mitts more than yesterday so I am so very glad that I did buy the pattern for them. I really think it was worth it :)

i think i will make a pair in every color ( i noticed some yarn with silver and gold threaded through it i about lost it ! gorgeous) ... because i do believe in accessorizing and feeling cute & toasty.

awesomeness.

complete and utter love

xoxo
-d

ps: I have a fun crochet giveaway tomorrow :)

staying warm and hip to the groove

if you know one thing about me it's that i really like being warm. i cannot stand being cold. i don't like freezing my heebie geebies off : )

enter hip to the groove solution: Cardiff Cowl (Pattern #: 90268AD)

A sweet friend of mine recently came over for crochet time and I had printed off a few projects (scarfs mostly) and I came across this pretty cowl that made me really warm and fuzzy just thinking about it. And when i get all warm and fuzzy about something, i go with it. :)

I already had a ball of grey yarn ( Vanna's choice worsted weight 4 yarn) on hand and luckily it really only needed one skein. Even better i say :) I totally get all bummed when i am working along a project and i run out of yarn. tis not cool.



ahh.. nothing like a photo shoot first thing in the morning :) i totally brushed my teeth and everything..special* lol

i have spotted these cowl's pretty much everywhere ( they look pretty cool yes?) and thankfully, when you make something yourself and save a few bucks it's the best feeling! i can see a few of these making there way into some gifts this year for pretty friends :)

i'm off to help my sister and her class of first graders...oh joy. hahaa!

Thanks for sharing in some crochet love with me
xo

happy wednesday lovelies!
-d

baby steps

i'm building up a little nest of things for the future :)

call me crazy but earlier this year i had the sudden urge to start making things for a little one. not for right now, maybe in the future :) it's always good to be prepared i guess. I've had quite a few conversations with crafty mama's and all pretty much said the same thing. during there pregnancy they had not one ounce of energy to create. so for that reason, and just because they are just SO adorable i started making these little shoes.

baby steps if you will.

sigh,

:)

don't look too close as one shoe is remarkably bigger than the other hahaa!

it's just the nature of learning. now a random joke between mr.handsome and myself. we laugh it off :)

and then i made these. my second attempt and still the same thing.. one little shoe... one bigger shoe. ahh... well, i think it might be a hint or something but i guess everything has its quirks. i kept it just the same. i joke that i will just velcro the larger shoe to the baby's foot :) hahaa!

the little buttons were a thrift find for only a quarter. The little straps actually unbutton it's just the cutest thing! i couldn't stop buttoning and unbuttoning them i was very surprised as it was my first attempt ever to create a loop for a button. success!

i also couldn't help myself from playing with them. i sometimes think they are too small but they are supposed to fit newborns so i guess this is a reasonable size. if not, it will fit barbie...hehee.

the nest of things is growing with all things soft and cuddly, i'm patting myself on the back for at least finishing these quirky shoes. :) all patterns were purchased from etsy seller hollanddesigns.

now if only kids never grew up with bigger feet right?

so here they are..a starting point for my little nest.

if you have been wanting to learn to crochet i have to tell you something.

YOU CAN DO IT!!!

- youtube crochet for video tutorials ( i am a visual learner so this rewind capability is amazing.

- find hooks at your local thrift store for super cheap. You can even find inexpensive yarn there. It doesn't have to cost much at all.

- Then sign up for free at Ravelry or the big yarn name brands like Lion Brand or Red Heart and search through hundreds of free & easy patterns for projects.

i'm on my second year of learning and still taking baby steps into creating more complicated projects but you can never finish something you don't even start. :)

xoxo

happy hook & yarn love sweets,

-d

extraordinary love

there is so much love in this blanket. I cannot tell you just how happy it makes me every time i snuggle up with it. I quickly remember the traveling... from huge balls of yarn to a huge blanket over the span of our trip up to seattle & canada.

i was determined to finish it and i did. :) ( you can make one too! just follow tif's easy peasy how to tutorial here ) it started with one row on the day before i made my way up to the dottie angel workshop in seattle. ( the only thing i changed was my starting chain was only 25, i wanted more squares and added 6 squares tall instead of 5 and 5 squares wide instead of 4. ) it continued during my stay at the mansion quickly beavering away at the only thing i really felt confident in doing.

here we are beavering away and looking lovely as dottie dearies :)

photo credit: the amazing and lovely maggie

and even more beavering.

i think i look a bit rabid ;P

photo credit: the amazing and lovely maggie

but indeed i was only concentrating. :)

lost in my thoughts. hmm.. no. not really. actually i think i was

counting chains. i always lose count and it is so dang frustrating. but here it just looks like i was in my own little world...deep deep in thought. hahaa! i kid. i get this way whenever i am thinking too hard.

I was obsessed.

:)

my goal was to come back home with a finished project. and dangit. i was gonna make it happen!

the blanket continued to grow as we drove through seattle up to canada... singing songs to mr.handsome ( he was so happy lol :) then back down through seattle and on our flight home.

I got home and added the finishing touch by adding the border. and it was done. i blocked it. then sewed the doilies (5 total) and really loved loved loved it. you know that moment after you first wash your blanket and it comes tumbling out of the dryer with all the softener smell and you wrap the lush soft warm huggy blanket around you?

good.ness. i LOVE. that.

those are the memories that tickle me.

the world is a better place

crochet + afghans = xoxo

and that's just what this corner of the world needed :)

thank you kindly for letting me share,

happy monday love xo

-d

happy birthday mister

today my favoritist person in the WHOLE wide universe (aka: mr.handsome :) turns 100. ha! just kidding. every birthday i always try to add a couple of extra years to mister handsome's age just because he is slightly younger than me :) i don't mind it. really. i just don't want to look older than him. but that's another story... today we celebrate the handsome man with a national day off. Oh didn't you hear? you don't have to go to work today ;P

today we ditch a little work for some fancy lunch date.the batting cages.pizza.a yummy cake & ice cream.family & friends and lots of happy memories.

today it seems like it will be another hot one. holy crazy rolli polli! it's been hoooooooOt like slurpee weather hot. 100 degrees hot mama hot. But i'd rather this than gloom. i really love the sun :)

and speaking of hot... i almost forgot to share this layout/sketch i made for cocoa daisy: XO memories. Mostly about our recent trip last month up to Seattle and Canada. Very fun memories. definitely a huge creative boost :) Journaling is pretty random but so is my brain. gotta stay true to that *wink*wink*

journaling reads:

pretty excited about learning

new things

lovely new friends

beautiful surroundings

*hello*seattle*

hello mr.handsome

*hello*canada*

happy anniversary my love

sunshine filled memories

fluttering around my mind

xoxo never let this moment

xoxoGOXOXO

so sunshine cake and good times.

i'm so excited! happy friday! I wish you a very warm hug and cold starbucks frap :P

next week, i have a little crochet goodness to share with you. Despite the heat I've been crocheting my little heart out and have some cute finished projects to share :) One for each day starting Monday. woot woot!

have a beautiful day sweets,

-d

yay a winner!

lucky number 13 is the winner ! :

happy secret santa lovely geralyn! Please e-mail me (belladrummer@gmail.com) Geralyn with your post address and i will mail you your lovely calendar xoxo

I really enjoyed all your heartfelt stories :) I'm going to leave a little thank you note to each of you whom left a comment via your blogs or e-mail. I'm so happy that each story reminded me to be true and generous always. Such a good thing to remember :)

sending love to you on this pretty day,

xoxo

-d