friday

There's an apple pie fresh out of the oven, I can smell it. It's a good night already. My idea of a perfect Friday is just this, a quiet night, dessert and a glass of red wine. I've been stuck for these past two days updating my shop and working on new listings, I feel like I'm developing couch sores from all this sitting around, staring at my computer screen. But, it had to be done and now I can enjoy my weekend and come Monday I'll have a clean slate to start on some new items, and then the cycle continues. I feel like I'm finally getting better at running my shop so hopefully my positive attitude towards business will reflect in my work. I basically just started around January of last year so I'm now starting on my second year. I learned so much in one year, now it's time to take everything I know and put twice as much effort into making my dreams come true. I know I have the talent, all I need now is my own studio so I can continue to spend my days filling orders and making products that people love. <3 Is that selfish or is it possible for life to be so great?

Now that the holidays are over it's time to get back to business. (Until New Years at least.) I had a wonderful Christmas and I enjoyed making gifts for my loved ones, and my customers. With happy thoughts in my mind I can get working on all my plans for the new year, which are extensive. I'm going all or nothing so it's business first for 2013. And it's 2:00 in the morning so it seems like I'm getting good head start on that... I'm going to have to seriously reevaluate my sleep schedule if I want to catch any of these short winter days. Or I'll learn to be a night owl, either way I'm doin' work, son!

Sometimes I wonder if I should even keep this blog, I don't update it quite as often as I intended to. It's more of a place for me to ramble I guess, but I put a lot of work into it so I'll keep it around. Most of my shop updates nowadays are posted to my shop instagram: @noelebelle and my facebook page.

Sorry I haven't posted much recently, and anything that I have uploaded is shop related for the most part. This holiday season has been keeping me busy, and I haven't had much time for some of my hobbies. I hope to put more time into this come next year. AND! Since the world is now over,

^^^ everything in my shop is 20% off until 2013. ^^^

I wish you all a happy holidays and a cozy winter, happy solstice <3

my shop | scarves |  facebook

handmade holidays - tree trimming

My first post for this year in Handmade Holidays! I may have started my holiday gift-making a little late, but it's not over yet! I want to show you guys all of the crafty, christmas-y things that I'm able to come with. I'll be expanding my inventory with 'ready to ship' items for quick, holiday delivery and I'll also be sharing the gifts that I put together for my loved ones.

I'm not cheap and I love to spend my money on stuff for my friends and family but this year I'm trying to put a little more meaning behind my gifts while supporting small businesses and the art of crafts. Sorry Wal-Mart, but mom doesn't need a cheap pair of pj's this year. And I'm not saying that store bought gifts mean nothing, it's all about finding that special something for those special someones whether it's cheap, expensive, handmade or edible.

I simply intend to spark some creativity and spread some holiday cheer. Handmade Holidays is for those of you who love to craft and may be in need of some last minute gift ideas, and for those of you who are supporting us independent artisans this season by buying handmade gifts. So, for starters, I have some brand new Christmas tree ornaments up on Etsy:

Set of Five Bow Ornaments

Made with a wool / mohair blend

Pre-made and Ready to Ship!

simple additions

For as long as I've known how to crochet cute little bows, I never bothered to put any in my shop. But finally, I perfected the design, securing the bow and making sure that it fits snugly. I love making these so I hope to sell lots of them this winter. I also put a couple other things in my shop including a unisex infinity scarf and a pair of lovely moon earrings. 

Big Bow

Infinity Scarf

Moon Earrings

now that the rain has dried

Diaries of an amateur shop owner.. All I seem to know how to make now is scarves. Not to say that that's a bad thing necessarily, at least I'll have a good variety. However, I feel like making the same thing over and over is limiting my creativity though each one is made differently. After I make it through this holiday season I'll be able to come back next year with some new, creative holiday and winter ideas for my shop. As for this season, I feel like I started my preparations a little late to successfully promote myself as a "one stop holiday shop." Christmas is right around the corner and I still have so many presents to make on top of coming up with new winter listings, but I'm more excited than worried.

I think today I'll paint for a while. Get my hands dirty and test out my abilities.