make something days seventy-five&seventy-six

Crochet for days.

make something day forty

Today my mom and I helped make valentines for the "glide foundation" which provides food and shelter to the homeless and hungry. I didn't pick the quotes, we just printed their cards, cut them out and decorated the hearts. I sewed the little heart outlines into a few of them with some of my extra yarn, it was pretty easy to do and ended up looking nice.

"I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains."

-Anne Frank

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.

november

I'm just now getting a chance to say, happy November! This is going to be a busy month for me as I'm sure it will for all of you with the holidays so close by. I've slowly been receiving all of the goodies that I ordered for my shop including this giant box of yarn! My intentions for it was to make a whole bunch of different types of scarves, but just yesterday I came up with a very chirstmas-y idea while playing around with some red wool. I looked through tons of Santa hats on Etsy and wanted to make something just a little bit different. So I came up with a pattern and worked with it until it matched my vision and looked just right. It's not in my shop yet but I should have it up tomorrow. I'm pretty happy with my design so, steal my idea and I will hunt you down! >:]

Every day may seem like just another struggle, but I know now that life is what you make it.  I realize now that I can find the solutions to my struggles instead of letting them carry me down further. I've always been a human of impulse, relying on habitual behavior I would have rather chosen to give in to my addictions than to wait out a feeling of uneasiness. 

I know now that positive actions will lead to a more positive life but if you had told me that a year ago I would not have cared either way. I can look back on my personal problems and see growth and improvement instead of filling myself with regret. I no longer let my choices today affect my well being tomorrow. I no longer let a temporary downfall bring me down into a deeper depression. 

This is only the beginning but I feel like this time I am truly free from the chains I've kept myself locked in. Once the scars have faded it will be like nothing ever happened. We take each day one step at a time and even then it still feels like we're moving way too fast. Sometimes I just have to slow it down and put everything into perspective. Sometimes I just need a minute to think before acting to realize that I can come out stronger as long as I stay strong through the battle.

I've found my solace through keeping myself busy. Learning and finding new interests, keeping my brain and hands occupied, setting goals for myself and starting new projects. Breaking addictions and creating healthy habits. I'm moving further away from the things that keep me unhappy and I find myself moving closer to a peace of mind every day. Moving further away from the complications of society I find the natural simplicity of the Earth will guide me through. I question and I find the answers. I keep moving forward until I find my way to enlightenment.

two months<3
xo neena noel

unfinished scarves

crochet troubles: feeling the need to make every combination of scarves possible

and every version of every scarf in every color that you have.

the hardest button to button

I could sit in the garden for hours and watch the leaves change colors as the sun moves down the sky. Life has a meaning and it's purpose is to grow and blossom, to withstand and to give life to that which gives you life. Nature is so complex and beautiful and seems to give off an overall feeling of calmness and happiness. I think the further we part from nature, the easier it is to forget ourselves; who we are and our purpose for living. The more we disconnect with nature, the easier it is to get lost in a world of comfort and false priorities. 

a little update on my life as of Friday, November 2 at 1:06 AM,

I am once again phoneless. Yes, I dropped my phone in the toilet AGAIN after dropping it in a different toilet only one month ago. Got it replaced and then there goes replacement phone #1, plop, right into the shitter. At this point I don't even know if I want to bother replacing it yet again, but hopefully this was just a fluke and the end of my bad luck streak.

On a brighter note, I just ordered about eight pounds worth of yarn that will soon be going to good use, as well as some other necessary shipping supplies and such. I am ready for the holiday season and ready to make some sales. So, no more stress about not having enough materials or supplies to run a steady business.

I've been doing a lot of research on various subjects and how-tos. I've been finding more and more natural, homemade dyes for yarn and clothing and also some recipes for making my own lotions and instructions on hand-rolling incense. I'm filling up my notebook so hopefully it can pay off with some new, fun projects.

Right now nothing makes sense to me other than yarn, crocheting, food, sleep and zombies. Watching the Walking Dead inside and out and crocheting my fingers off is all I want to do apparently. I've somewhat put my life on hold to improve my shop all around which will hopefully get me back on track and help me achieve a higher status. 

I am contently confused about my life as a whole.

scarf lovin

Put up some new items in my shop, mostly scarves. I can't stop making cowls and infinity scarves so hopefully others love them as much as I do. I plan to make autumn and winter cozy and warm with soft wools and comfy hats. In the next few weeks I will be expanding my inventory, bettering my shipping methods and seeking good, quality materials. I have some yarns on my list to buy but I always have trouble finding trustworthy suppliers with good prices and good yarn so if any of you crafters have some suggestions please let me know. :) I'd be happy to share my knowledge of yarns, shipping supplies and Etsy shops with you too, my mailbox is always open. neenanoelart@gmail.com

ten days later

There are only actions and reactions.

Life goes on, the Earth continues to spin.

I finally got a replacement computer charger. I have power! Re-taught myself how to knit a few days ago. I love yarn, I love wool, I want to just curl up with a basket of yarn and ease all of my stress. Opening my shop back up tonight or tomorrow.

It will work out, everything will fall into place.

look who's back

and comin' back

with a vengeance.. >.<

First of all, here's a little update on my shop: Motavations is currently on vay-cay until I can fill her up with a bunch of new goodies. I'll be throwing product previews at you like this extra-long, chunky, winter hat that I designed almost a year ago.
I'm currently in a state of confusion, trying to decide whether to make lots of custom order pieces or more one of a kind, ready to ship items. I'm sure custom orders will sell better, but I think there's something really special about making one unique item with no duplicates so people have an opportunity to own something that's truly one of a kind. I hope to get some feedback on my previews to help me decide whether to sell singles or customs of items.

Now most importantly! My bff, Charisma, is probably coming to room with me soon and she just so happens to be a very talented, crafty girl. I already have some dream catcher earrings of hers in my room which I'll be putting up in my shop when I open it back up. She will be the first new member of my shop, so coming soon is the new and improved Motavations! I have lots of talented friends and lots of collab ideas in mind so hopefully we can work together on some projects without goofing off too much, haha. Here's to more good times.!

I came back from a trip to Long Beach to the chilly autumn weather that I've been waiting for. I hope it stays this way so I can keep my sweater on and crank out some scarves.

In other news: 

New blog favorites: sennaloves.blogspot, I love your blog and your knits are great. And thanks to her I also found woolandthegang.tumblr which is also full of yarn lover inspiration. 

I'm going to go do a rain dance right now and try to re-teach myself to knit today.

Last winter I took some pictures of the snow:

with love, neena noel

new url

Heey there! So, I had to make a new blog with a new url because my old one was broken and wouldn't allow followers. However, I imported all the blog posts from my old blog so it's like nothing ever changed! I am now www.noelebelle.blogspot.com and I can now have followers, so follow me!

As far as the business goes, it's pretty slow since summer's ending and I mostly only have bikini tops, but I recently did a giveaway through A Little Etsy Love, which is always featuring giveaways and the best stuff on Etsy! Now that that's all done I'll get to work on some new stuff for fall and winter to put up in my shop and get back on the market.

with love,

neena noel

summer colors

A much needed post - We all like to wear our favorite colors and the colors that compliment ourselves. Customers are always asking me for a list of colors that I have available to make my products in. My color supply is constantly changing, but my suppliers generally always have the same colors. I've photographed some of my favorite colors for the season from browns to blues. I currently have all of the choices photographed in stock as well as some others, and most of my colors are available for me to get quickly and make into a finished product. My choices are definitely not limited to the colors that I have posted! I can make made to order tops in almost any shade, however, some colors may have to be ordered online which can add a few extra days onto the creation of my finished products. If you'd like to request a specific color or a color that you don't see in my shop, please contact me first considering I may have to special order my supplies online.

From top to bottom - Pale Turquoise, Taupe, Coral

Naturals - Brown and Taupe

Front - Sonoma Print, Back - Tea Rose

Top - Pale Turquoise, Bottom Left - Light Blue, Bottom Right - Bright Blue

Sunshine colors from left to right - Deep Red, Coral, Pale Yellow

with love,

neena noel

wednesdays in L.A.

So, my mother and I planned a trip to downtown LA's fashion district in search of some wholesale yarn stores, or any yarn store. What did we find? A crap-load of fabric, shop after shop full of all types of fabric, but no yarn. I'm still trying to find a good place to purchase bulk quantities of yarn, but as of now I'll continue to buy from my current supplier, (though they refuse to return my calls and e-mails when I have a problem with my orders from them). As for today, we decided to go out for lunch in LA and then head over to Santa Monica for some shopping and a walk on the pier.

Veggie Pesto Panini at the LA Cafe - it was delicious 

Bought a few balls of yarn in Santa Monica - Coral is one of my favorite colors!

Throwback - Taken at Santa Monica Pier in May 2010

with love,

neena noel

behind the scenes

All (well, most of) the elements that go into the products I create. My room is my studio for now, but I hope to someday have my own personal studio for all of my supplies. (I'm running out of space in my room!) One of my favorite things to do is organize and beautify my supplies and my workspace, and I cannot wait to have a studio to organize. Here is a little peek at my current crafters sanctuary, and though it may be a little cluttered at times, it's my clutter and I love it.

with love,

neena noel