Wordless Wednesday

The quarrels with digital cameras! Now Lilly wants to see her picture on the camera screen before I even took the pictures. So I get LOT's of close-ups from her! I still like this one because it really shows her blue eyes and she looks so sweet in it. And I just have to gloat and tell you all the wonderful things Lilly can do! Because with only 10 days short of 17 months, she is singing Jingle Bells, Happy Holidays, and Oh Tannebaum (the original version of Oh Christmas tree). And those are just her Christmas song favorites! The other day she sang the Alphabet song from start to finish without missing a letter! I could not believe it! Needless to say that she can say almost any word and does like to repeat all the biggy words we say. Not just in English, also German. It is just so exciting to see a child grow!

Thanksgiving Sale Palooza!

We are getting ready for Thanksgiving with all the pies (that's my favorite part!), stuffing, cranberry sauce, and of course - the turkey! It will be marvelous. And to make it even better we just decided to do a big sale in all of our shops! This will be the first time ever for us having a real sale and I'm actually excited!
So come to any of our shops between Wednesday 26th and Tuesday 2nd and receive 20% of your entire purchase AND free shipping! How about that.
www.KaleidoscopeStyle.etsy.com
www.KatrinLermanJewely.etsy.com
www.KumiTwist.etsy.com
www.Beadedesigns.etsy.com

Fresh Friday Finds

This was the fastest week ever and I only got a little Etsy shop snooping done! So here are the highlights.


First off, some very dainty and oh so warm looking Knitted Handwarmers. I'm still deciding on a pair of my own. Now I actually got some yarn and a friend of mine is crocheting a pair for me! I can't wait to see how they might come out. Sure was fun talking about the style, size, and length, but I wish I would have seen these here before hand.


Then I saw this cute little Elephant Cup. I am just imagining Lilly seeing it and how she would react. She loves elephants and this one is just so different. Most definitely a conversation piece and so much fun!


And finally, some funky little Fringe Earrings!
I think that this is such a great idea. Never seen it before and can only imaging how great they would dangle and feel. Ahh, so many earrings, so little time!

Wordless Wednesday

Lilly just discovered drawing and does it everywhere! She loves the chalk and draws all over our driveway. She even decorates all of the little stones she can find along the path walk! I think we have an artist at hand ;)

Newest Jewelry pieces in Kumi Twist Etsy Shop

We are finally getting in high gear and filling all of our shops! I am most excited about all the great pieces in our Kumi Twist Shop. I just love all the different moods and styles that can be great with the Kumihimo braids. For example, the black and white necklace is very sophisticated, while the earrings are rainbow funky. It is so much fun to match your jewelry to your current mood and schedule. I mean, I have to go to client meetings all look all fancy, but I also go to the playground with Lilly and want to have some fun.
Since we are filling this shop right now, we also want to give a little help to everyone who is interested in these pieces by offering a 20% discount on the first 5 orders before Nov. 30th! Just use CODE: BLOG in the message to seller. Happy Twist!

Fresh Friday Finds

This is the cutest little girl (well, except of Lilly, of course!) that I have ever seen! I'm not much into dolls, but this Art Doll is so darling, that I wish it was standing in my house on the mantel (if I had one). And there are so many other great items in this shop; it is hard to just stay with one. You just have to look at the switch plate covers.


Now for all the princesses and queens obonst us, I found the perfect Ring. While I was still in metalsmithing class, I always wanted to make me a little crown ring to go with my wedding band, but I never really dreamed up a design that would have been doable. Now this one is! I love the form, the little gold accents - all in all, a ring to have and behold!


And I just had to show this little Pink Chickadees Print because it is pink, and they are Chickadees, and I wish it was still summer! Don't they just make you dream about the little birdies chirping at your window sitting on some cherry blossom? That is what I'm dreaming about right now!

Wordless Wednesday

Lilly's first time drinking from a staw!

Making your own tags - a DIY Tutorial

Now that our Santa's Felters Ornaments going to be carried in several stores, we wanted to create some neat tags for them. Here is our tutorial on making your very own tags for all your resale purposes. I even let you know where to get all your supplies so you don't have to scramble to get them.
First you need a stamp with you shop name or other desirable graphic on it. You can carve your own like we did or just order a custom one from some great Etsy shops. I like the options from Corrabelle and Craftpudding.

This is what you need:
- cardstock paper (mine is double sided)
- ink pad
- small hole punch
- hole puncher, there are several sizes and shapes available
- DMC #10 Crochet thread

I brought all of these items at my local A.C. Moore. Very easy!
It is best if you choose the size of your tags (depending on what punches are available) before you go design your stamp. Otherwise you might not be able to find a puncher to fit your design. Better to create a design that fits your puncher than trying to find a punch to fit your design. After getting all the materials and your stamp - just stamp away! But make sure to leave enough space around each print to get a full circle when punching it out. This may take some trial and error.

Once your paper is fully stamped, you can get the hole punch and punch out all the circles. I love how you can clearly see what you are cutting out before you do so with this cutter.



When you have all your tags punched out, you need to use the small hole punch to punch a little hole in the top of each one to attach your string.

The crochet threads come in the most amazing colors and are just the right thickness. To get them all the right length, I cut a piece of cardboard the size that I want my tags to hang to. Then just wrap the string around it and then cut one side only.

Now you need to make a knot at the end of each one of them and then string them through the individual tags.

Voila! Here are the finished tags! They do look very professional and at the same time high end and handmade. Just like our jewelry and ornaments.
And they are fun to make!

Our Almost Giveaway!

The necklace I showed you last week that I was working on is now finished and just so neat and easy to wear! I just added it to my Etsy shop, but thought to give everyone here reading my blog an extra deal---you can get this necklace right now, right her for over 50% off at only $20 instead of $43 with free shipping!!!!!
I call it the "Almost Giveaway" and you can decide if you want to win!

New Santa's Felters Ornaments on Etsy!

I finally feel the winter coming and started posting our new Santa's Felters Ornaments! They are already in 2 stores in Boston and Cambridge and more are to come. Let the season begin!

Wordless Wednesday - my little Kitty Cat

Lilly had soooo much fun trick or treating on Halloween! She couldn't believe that she was getting chocolate from all these people and she laughed at all the scary costumes. She didn't want to wear her costume, so I just drew a little nose and whiskers on her face and put her hair in 2 piggy tails - she was the cutest kitty cat out there! She was still full of energy on the way home...


...and 5 minutes later she was totally out!

On my desk Saturday

I thought it would be great if I would start another little weekly post! This one will give a sneak peek of what I'm working on right now. So you can see what's on my plate and what I'm working with before the final item gets to my shop. What do you think this one will look like?!