LouLouBell Handmade

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-14T19:06:00.001-08:00

Ah, Christmas cards, carols and a nice glass of red wine........and a sleeping baby!

I couldn't resist posting this pic of our little Taylor. After standing in a line with tons of super excited and screaming kids for half an hour, Taylor finally got to meet Santa! So now we've made the introductions and Santa will know where to find him on Christmas eve : ) I'm pretty sure I cried and cried and did not want to sit on Santa's lap when I was a little girl, but Taylor loved him and smiled for the first picture!

Merry Christmas friends!

Halifax Crafter's Winter Market

2009-11-18T06:47:00.003-08:00

Hi folks, I am so excited to be included as an exhibitor at this year's Halifax Crafter's Winter Market! Please come out to see the 90 crafters and artisans with their work on display for viewing and purchasing - countdown to Christmas: 36 sleeps! Buying Handmade is buying One-of-a-kind! Come out and support your local artists Halifax and get some holiday shopping off your checklist!

Christmas Craft Village at Exhibition Park

2009-11-11T15:32:00.000-08:00

Photo courtesy of Mr. Hubley (digitalbuild.ca)

I think we're either ambitious or crazy! Maybe a little of both! At the last minute I found out there was a booth available for this weekend's Christmas Craft Village at Exhibition Park, and since I have about half of the stock I've been working on for the last 6 weeks, and we're still packed up, it might be a good opportunity to see what it's about. So if you missed me at the Forum and are looking for some one of a kind handcrafted Christmas gifts - it's another of the largest markets with tons of different vendors........ November 13-15, Exhibition Park on Prospect Road. I've been told I am between The Pampered Damsel Soap and Ki Ko Dog Treats, both out of New Brunswick - I can't wait to see all the stuff and maybe get some of my own Christmas shopping done!

Well.......we did it!

2009-11-09T18:05:00.000-08:00

We loaded everything into the Jeep........

............well, almost everything - the shelf got tied on top.

And we packed all my little pouches into the Forum to setup for the weekend.

Thanks to all our friends and family for helping out, setting up, covering off shifts (Meg I love you), babysitting, and bringing us hot coffee : ) And thanks to Dare for doing the heavy lifting and helping me in countless ways!

Of course, also a huge thanks to my customers for all your support, it is greatly appreciated!

Fa la la la la......Christmas at the Forum

2009-10-29T09:28:00.000-07:00

Photo courtesy of Mr. Hubley (digitalbuild.ca)

Wow, I've been quite neglectful my bloggy friends. Please forgive me, I've been so busy spending every spare minute I can find to lock myself away in my sewing room!

Every year I go to the annual 'Christmas at the Forum', a really large crafters and artisan market here in Halifax. It's a perfect way to start getting in the festive mood. When you walk through the door you can hear familiar Christmas Carols playing and the smell of delicious food hits your nose! So not only am I excited to be attending this year, but it's my first time as a vendor there! So this is why I've been so busy, sewing away!

If you're local, please come visit at the Halifax Forum, November 6, 7 and 8th!

Get to Know + Giveaway: Maramiki

2009-10-13T16:11:00.000-07:00

Meet my latest fabric crush, Maramiki!

Maramiki is the creation of designer and textile artist, Mara Snipes. I am so thrilled to be hosting this AWESOME giveaway - I'm holding a stack of her remnant fabrics and it is simply gorgeous - super soft and would make some really sweet creations. One of you lucky readers is going to win this beautiful little stack to add to your sewing stash!

I came across Maramiki on etsy, and was very excited when Mara agreed to give us a little insight into her creative life. Have a read, be inspired, and don't forget to leave us a comment - say hello and let us know your favorite item from her shop......

Where are you from, in which city do you currently live?

I was raised in Chicago, and am back in Chicago again by way of a glorious nine-year stint in San Francisco.

How did you become interested in your craft?

I've been drawing since I can remember, little pictures with lots of detail, which is how I see things... up close, with attention to line. I had wanted to start a creative business for years, but couldn't quite narrow down what I wanted to do. So I decided to find something to start with, and then go from there. That was such a liberating moment, to just dive in and see what unfolds. I also wanted to find a way to make my drawings 'functional'... to have them inhabit everyday, useful objects. I love fabric and texture, so I took a textile screenprinting class last year, and then it clicked. So I guess I consider myself first a draftsperson, who found a medium in screenprinting and textiles.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?

I sell on Etsy, but also sell to a few local stores in Chicago. My website launched last year, which has been a great marketing tool and I've gotten a lot of custom work from it. After taking a few months off to have a baby recently, it hit home that I get back what I put into it, so it's an ongoing commitment to keep looking, drawing, designing, and pushing the envelope creatively. When I get frustrated or stuck, I remind myself that I chose this: I left the corporate world to slow down my lifestyle and do something more personally fulfilling. It comes with its own challenges but it was the best decision for me.

Where do you get your inspiration?

I think everything influences me to some extent, but nature is my biggest inspiration - getting outside and really paying attention to what's there. I keep a sketchbook with me all the time, and try to get ideas down as they come to me. I also draw a lot with my daughters (ages three and four and a half), and the things they come up with blow me away! It's so easy for children - there's no judgment, which lets things flow much more easily. I don't try too hard to identify where designs or ideas come from, but I stay open to being moved or affected by things in my daily life: the light, air, weather, color. That feeling of openness is in itself very inspiring.

Where do you do your crafty work?

I have a studio in my home, with lots of floorspace, good light, and storage for all of my drawings, samples, fabric, crazy projects, and on and on. It's pretty organized at the moment but it makes me happy to have the floor covered with scraps and trimmings - it means I've been working.

Thanks to Mara for sharing with us!

And don't forget to leave us a comment to enter!

A winner will be chosen at random on October 23rd - Extra entries will be given for blogger followers and tweeters!

**THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED - Congratulations to our winner Shellie of This Little Family!

Halifax Crafters Market

2009-09-30T17:49:00.000-07:00

I found out a few days ago that I was accepted to the Halifax Crafters Christmas Market!

I had a chance to stop over to their Autumn Harvest show at the North Street Church. It's such a nice venue, lots of character! But I guess that they are outgrowing the space and there's been enough interest that this years Christmas show will be at the Olympic Community Centre, with more room and more vendors (at the corner of Hunter and Cunard) for all you locals..... it's December 5th and 6th, just in time to get shopping for handmade gifts! I got the cutest little squeaker turtle from Susan of The Silver Hook for Taylor, he loves it!

If you're not in Halifax, I encourage you to find your own local Christmas craft market and support your local artists this holiday season! You'll feel good about supporting local small business owners and giving a one of a kind gift!

LouLouBell Review at Little Pink Book

2009-09-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

I stumbled upon a really great blog a couple months back, Little Pink Book PR. The author, Sasha, generously agreed to do a review of my handmade bags & it was posted today! So if you've ever wanted to know just how much will fit in a little LouLouBell pouch, here's an idea! Thank you Sasha for your nice words!

Garden Salad Servers Giveaway!

2009-09-21T07:06:00.000-07:00

My lovely lady Kristi is hosting a great giveaway to help you get started with checking gifts off your Christmas shopping list! Have a visit to her awesome blog, Visible Voice and leave a comment for a chance to win these super cute salad servers!

iPhone Cases and New Fabrics!

2009-09-16T18:48:00.000-07:00

Hi friends, I've got some new and really fun fabrics in the shop, I'm so loving the black Nosegay with the lace! And I recently started listing the perfect fit iPhone case, it's just the right size to fit your iPhone so you're not just tossing it in your purse...and I'm hoping you'll agree much prettier than the ones found at the phone dealers

: )

Bridesmaid Giveaway.....

2009-09-16T07:54:00.000-07:00

For any of you brides-to-be out there, the ladies over at Junebug Weddings (a beautiful, inspirational wedding blog) are hosting a giveaway of 3 of my LouLouBell pouches as bridesmaids gifts..... Fill them with accessories, beauty products, candies and other fun things - as a thank you gift, or a grab-n-go for all the essentials on the big day!

PS: If you have an upcoming wedding, and LouLouBell is going to be a little part of your big day, I would love for you to share pics! Keep in touch : )

5 years ago today....

2009-09-10T19:10:00.000-07:00

Today is the 5 year anniversary when my husband and I became 'exclusive' (he asked me to be his girlfriend while we were walking through Shoppers Drug Mart - so romantic i know : )

Happy Anniversary love xoxo

Project: Studio Recovery

2009-09-10T07:23:00.000-07:00

I am the proud owner of this darling little girl, shop owner Tessa from HowToUseArt was so nice and is even going to custom silkscreen the color for me. I've asked to have her printed in chocolate brown, and I'm picking up a nice white frame and she will be keeping me company in my sewing room. I love the little heart on the sewing machine... visit Tessa's shop for other happy artwork and some cool clothing prints too!

Pretty Notions: Travel Sewing Kit

2009-09-08T08:02:00.000-07:00

This precious little sewing tin was found over at DribsNDrabs. I love that it's an altered Altoid tin and the embroidery is all done by hand, very pretty. It's teeny tiny at 3.5 x 2.25" so you can take it along with you anywhere in your purse, or keep it in your desk at the office, and it comes with everything you need for any stitching emergencies....even scissors and nine different colors of thread! What a cute little gift this would make or stuck in someone's Christmas stocking.... Yes, there's only 15 shopping weeks left until Christmas!

A little bit about LouLouBell (+ Free Stuff!)

2009-09-07T07:19:00.000-07:00

The very sweet Lory from The Sunshine Studio has posted a very nice interview featuring yours truly! And of course there's a little giveaway love in store for you there! Hop on over to her blog, I'm a loyal follower, I'm sure you'll love it too!

The beautiful rose ring above is one of Lory's creations, I've got my eye on a few of her pretty pieces!

Project: Studio Recovery

2009-09-04T09:34:00.000-07:00

So I'm still working away on my studio, I feel like it's getting cozier by the day, I've tackled reorganizing my closet, going through my fabric, covering some old pillows - I even found an $8 shelf unit at the local thrift store and with a little spray paint, it looks brand spanking new! (I will get to posting pics soon I promise!) However, I still haven't decided what to do with my walls. I have a few ideas I'm storing away, but right now they're bare. In my search for some studio art, I came across this print from farouche on etsy. I like it. Simple, clean and pretty. Check out their shop for more fun and inspiring design work....

Get to Know + Giveaway: LeiLiLaLoo

2009-09-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

From the sounds of it, Dana over at LeiLiLaLoo is a very busy lady, but manages to spin out such beautiful designs. I've been an admirer of her Etsy shop for quite a long time, so it was so nice to get to know a little about this artist and her crafty life. Pour a cup of tea and have a read, and at the end, don't miss details to add some of Dana's crafty work to your supply stash!

Where are you from, in which city do you currently live?

I am from the Netherlands and I live in Amsterdam for over 10 years now.

How did you become interested in your craft?

When it happened I don’t know there were always Picasso and Chagall books lying around at home, so I got interested in arts & crafting when I was very young. I must have been 5 or 6 years old when I painted my first oil painting on canvas. It was a still life with a nude , which was inspired by Picasso. So there is no exact how or when…it was always there.

Where did your shop name come from?

My son came up with that when he was 1,5 years old. He could not pronounce his own name for a long time, so he said his name like ‘Leililaloo’. I chose it as my brand name because I very much like the sound of it & the fact my son came up with it.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?

I am sad that I don’t sell at Etsy full time YET, although it does fill up my time full time when I am at home. I still have to work part-time (as a nurse), I do that 20 hours per week, the other 60 I work on Etsy :)

Where do you get your inspiration?

Besides my greatest source of inspiration, my two children, the internet is a great place to be when you need a fill of inspiration. On the net I feel I can find incredible amounts of inspiration from fellow crafters and artists.

Where do you do your crafty work?

I work from our living room. It’s looks more like a studio then a living room. But we have no other space where I can do my thing. We are a family of 4 and live in a one bedroom apartment on the 6th floor. Although we would love to move to a bigger place I found out one can get used to situations that are not perfect. The children are used to my materials being around everywhere, and I am used to having to clean up my workstation all the time from leftover crackers and puzzle pieces. On top of that my husband also has an Etsy shop, so he uses the whole living space we have as his wood workshop as well. And he works with piles of wood and two big sawing machines, so just imagine the way our apartment looks most of the time!

I just love her story of how her shop came to be named, super cute! Dana has very generously offered 3 meters of her beautiful hand printed ribbon to one lucky winner! So, have a look at her very lovely shop here, and come back and let us know your favorite piece, or what you would use her ribbons for? A winner will be chosen at random on Thursday, Sept 10. Extra entries will be given for blogger followers and tweeters!

**This giveaway is now closed. Congratulations to our winner, Nancy McKay, and thanks to all who participated!

Pretty Tools of the Trade: Sewing Bird

2009-08-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

Chirp, Chirp...wouldn't this lovely lady do a fine job of holding your straight pins?

Handcrafted by Marmee Craft, she is screen printed in black ink onto cotton muslin. What a darling! Everything in this shop is lovely.... have a visit! Her illustrations are GORGEOUS!

Yummy Tools of the Trade: Cupcake Pincushions

2009-08-24T15:19:00.000-07:00

Seriously, do these not look yummy enough to eat? These delightful little treasures are baked up by Liz, shop owner at madeinlowell. They come in every flavor, err color, imaginable too. They are made entirely from wool and the lanolin oils in wool are supposed to be great for keeping pins and needles from rusting. So they keep your pins and look pretty! I'm off to do some baking, my tummy is grumblin'!

Crafty Notecards

2009-08-22T17:46:00.000-07:00

In my efforts to straighten out my studio, I decided to take a glimpse into my very scary, packed from ceiling to floor closet. I came across an old shoebox I totally forgot about that was filled with stationary sets I've collected over the years. I'm sort of a paper addict.... And I always seem to pick up pretty little cards that I think other people would like getting, but being a crafter, I am adoring these little crafty cards from letterpress. They're more like artwork really, I love the texture of this and think one of these would look great in a white frame with some matting, hung on my studio wall. I just need to choose a color, they come in a blue and red one too! Or a set of these would make a nice gift for the crafter in your life....

Operation Studio Recovery

2009-08-19T17:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, this is it. It's time that I reclaim my workspace! I've been poking around at pictures of other sewing rooms, and there's so much fantastic inspiration out there that I've decided it's time to clean up my act! The hard thing about this is that every time I begin to try and straighten up my studio space, before I know it, I've come across a piece of fabric that's calling to me to be sewn into something and I get sidetracked! The room remains a disaster area. I think if I can get sorted out and organized once and for all, implement some organizational measures, then perhaps I will be inspired to keep it in a calm and workable state! This great original artwork above is by the talented MicheleMaule - I love the colors, this would work in my new studio! Somebody please buy this! It totally needs a home in your sewing room! I'm going to get around to posting some of my finds and makeovers along the way and some before/after shots. It may take some time, but I'm determined to give my studio an overhaul! Until then, below are some of the tips I've put together to help remind myself that it will be for a greater good, a happier place to work - maybe you'll find some inspiration here too!

Tips for organizing + loving your sewing room:

Label storage boxes on shelves so you know the contents without having to pull each box down one by one until you get it!
Organize buttons/zippers by color in clear jars.
Keep small swatches of fabric in a binder or notebook with a glue dot and write the designer and line name for future reference. (something I don’t always do, but wish I did!)
A fishing tack box or small toolbox works well for sewing tools and small notions – lots of little compartments...
Make oversized cardboard folders for larger pattern pieces you don’t want to fold, then hang then, open side up from skirt/pant hangers in the closet (the kind with the clips on them).
Keep a separate bin for small fabric scraps so you can chuck little pieces in when you’re finished cutting. Every once in a while I visit mine to see what little creations I can come up with from the scraps.
Store folded fabric, organized by color in a glass door cupboard to keep it dust free, but easily seen! This also looks really great!
A large table provides hidden storage underneath; you can tack a pretty fabric around the perimeter to hide storage bins.
Use magnet boards or pretty cork boards to pin up inspiration pieces and other beautiful treasures! I think I will start a collection of prints from our talented neighborhood artists at etsy…
Do you have any bare wall space? Invest in wall shelves to get small boxes and baskets up off the floor.
Keep fresh flowers at your desk - they look great and are a good reason to visit your local Saturday Farmers Market (get out and support other local artists!)
If you can position yourself in front of a window, the natural light is awesome. I am lucky to have two large windows in my studio, the light, plus the great breeze I get when I open both is great. The fresh air really does work wonders!
Keep a thread rack to organize all your spools of thread. It looks tidy, plus you can easily see which colors you have. Or you can make your own, any nice piece of wood will do, drill some holes and stick in some dowels.
Yard sales and flea markets are a great place to find old cabinets and desks for good prices. You can give old, dingy pieces new life with a fresh coat of spray paint. An armoir retrofitted with shelves or a small table fitted with a pretty skirt to hide bins!
Surround yourself with the things you love. This makes your room your haven, someplace you look forward to being...
Try to clean up at the end of your session so your space is neat and fresh the next time you go in. It’s easier to be inspired and motivated when you have a clean, tidy space to work in! (I only wish I had the energy to do this after sewing for so many hours my eyes are crossed! But if you can, it’s totally worth it for next time! I need to start taking some of my own advice!)

Pretty Notions: Handmade Bias Tape

2009-08-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

This dandy bias tape is hand cut by Molly of ShastaCreations. Some of the striped ones remind me of the carpet that was in my room when I was a little girl, or of those cinnamon candy sticks - you know the ones! Her fabrics are so nice and for being handmade, are comparably priced to that which you would find at your local fabric shop - she has a good variety too. I love the idea of being able to use someone else's handmade products in my own projects too!

Pretty Packages

2009-08-18T09:04:00.000-07:00

There's nothing I love more than receiving packages in the mail (which makes my online shopping addiction super dangerous!). Even when it's something I ordered, but it comes from someone who you can automatically tell has put love and care into wrapping it up all neat and sweet! I ordered these vintage doilies from sweetvintage78 on etsy, who took them from a vintage table cloth, hand cut them out and dyed them in the gorgeous colors! Her package was tied up with string when it arrived to me, with a darling little flower button and a little thank you tucked inside, I just loved it! And then I had a lot of fun sewing up this tiny coin purse and I secured one of the doilies to the front. Isn't it pretty? Thanks sweetvintage78 for a great sewing product, I highly recommend you visit her shop and get your own cute package in the post!

Get to Know + Giveaway: Designer Lana Kole

2009-08-17T10:49:00.000-07:00

I came across Lana Kole's beautiful textiles in my never-ending search for fabulous fabric. Lana designs the textiles you can find in her shop at lanakole.etsy.com.

I was interested to know where she gets her inspiration and how she decided to put her designs on fabric. So here's a little preview into her creative life. Read on to the end to see how you can enter our first giveaway on LouLouBell! Lana has generously offered two fat quarters of her gorgeous new summer line!

Where are you from, in which city do you currently live?

My name is Lana Kole. “Lana” means a beautiful place and “Kole” means a victorious people. I am building my business on the conept that people can be inspired to dream, create, love and laugh through the beauty of their surroundings. I was born in a small city called Washington, D.C. You may have heard of it. I currently reside in Baltimore, Maryland, which is a fabulous little city just north of Washington, DC.

How did you become interested in your craft?

As a girl, I loved making any and everything. I loved painting with water colors, making handmade cards, yarn and paper jewelry and jewelry boxes. I loved drawing and creating things from odds and ends I found around my house. I also loved doing science projects. Not so much because science was fun, but because it was an opportunity for me to make a really spectacular display board! To this day I consider myself to be a “serial crafter”. I still love making and learning to make all sorts of things. My Dad is a painter and printer, who fostered a healthy sense of entrepreneurship in me. He would say, “Be an entrepreneur, not horse manure!” It sounds really funny, but it did the trick! My decision to specialize in surface and textile design derives from a healthy addiction to color, texture, beautiful patterns, and making people smile.

Where do you get your inspiration?

My design aesthetic derives from a love of nature and modern art. I am inspired by color combinations and different sites that I capture with my camera in my spare time.

Do you sell on Etsy full time or do you have a day job?

Yes, I do sell on Etsy full-time in addition to selling here locally at craft shows. I am also a wife and mother of a 1 year old boy and a 2 year old girl… which you can imagine are 3 full-time jobs (smile).

In addition to being a textile designer, you can also find the cutest and inspiring wall decals and graphics in her etsy shop. And bonus, you can use her fabric in your own projects for sale, just be sure to give a little credit to the designer!

So, if you LOVE Lana's designs as much as I do, here's your chance to get your hands on some free fat quarters from Lana's collection! Leave us a comment after visiting Lana's site, let us know what your favorite fabric or surface graphic is, or just say hello! Extra entries will be given for followers of my blog or Lana's, or fellow tweeters!

Winner will be announced on Tuesday, August 25!

Lana can also be found in these places:

web: lanakole.com
blog: lanakole.com/nterior
twitter: twitter.com/lanakole
facebook: facebook.com/lanakole

**This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to our winner Alice, and thanks again to the very talented Lana Kole for sponsoring!

Get Organized: Vintage Sewing Baskets

2009-08-17T08:00:00.000-07:00

It's a good feeling to be organized and there are so many lovely sewing boxes and tool boxes on the market today to help you out, but I really love the idea of finding a sweet, vintage sewing box, one that was loved in another time, to put it to use again - Clockwise from top:

Wicker with Yellow Floral Interior from Rulala

Petite Pink, White & Gold from SuzisCornerBoutique

Vintage Wood Mini Sew Box from DimeStoreVintage

Woven Round Pink Wicker from mysweetiepiepie