Packing orders!

This summer is passing like the wind - more like a whirlwind but oh so much fun! No time to bloggy-dy-blog! Instead we did a lot of sightseeing and worked on some custom orders like these 10 Custom Initial Felt Keychains. They will be stocking stuffer's for 10 nieces. Isn't that a great idea! What a nice auntie.

Sale, SALE, Sale!!!

BUY ONE GET ONE HALF OFF!!!!

It's time for a BIG sale! You know my sister is finally back to start College over here, but what you don't know is that my other sister is here as well right now for 3 weeks with her boyfriend. This is the first time in like 5 years that my entire family is together. so yes, there is little time to post and lot's of time to be spend together!!!!!
The other exciting news is that Etsy will feature my Custom Initial Felt Pendant in their weekend deal email! I can't believe to be chosen and can't wait to see it! (I will post a screen shot as soon as I can)
So yes, all of this is course for a gigantic sale! so starting today and lasting all weekend long, buy one item and receive 50% off on your second item. Use code "weekend deals" in the message to seller during checkout and specify your "50% off" item that's equal to or lesser in value to the item purchased. I will send a revised invoice promptly or refund your money. Happy shopping!

New Designs - Jeweled Bib Necklaces

Reading about the latest styles in Jewelry, my sister Ina and I have been fascinated by the new bigger is better and especially by the new jeweled bib necklaces. They remind us of Egyptian princesses and old style Hollywood.
Of course, our minds immediately started thinking about how we can transform this style and make one of our very own embroidered felt bib necklaces. We had so much fun with it that we kept running and talks of rhinestones and studs are abound. Well, this is a little preview and I hope to have the first one ready to list tomorrow. Be sure, there are more to come and don't miss this hottest item of the season!

Just hit 1000 Followers on Twitter

I'm so excited to have a 1000 followers on Twitter now! It is so much fun to post little insights to my life, work, and more. And also so great to read about what is going on with everyone else out there. So if you want to know even more about me and what I'm doing when I'm not updating my blog (which, well, is most of the time) then why don't you follow me too! It'll be fun!
https://twitter.com/GemsandJingles

Frontpage on Etsy

It is always excited and it happened again last night around 8:30...one of my items graced the frontpage on Etsy!



It was this colorful embroidered Felt Necklace. Really looked great and I'm just a tiny bit sad I couldn't get a screen shot of the whole page. My laptop doesn't fit much. just good that mine was on the first row.
Now for the stats. During the hour or two that it was up there, I received over 380 views on the item, 26 shop hearts, and 18 new hearts on this item. Of course, also lot's of more views and hearts for other items in the shop due to the frontpage.

New Item: Embroidered Felt Earrings

I'm so excited to finally be able to list the first of these Embroidered Felt Earrings. They are made just like all our other felt pieces but with metal post backs. We got this great idea from one of our customers. She selected a pin for her grandma's birthday and asked if we could make a matching pair of post earrings to go along. Then she explained that her grandma never wears earrings in the winter because they felt too cold to her. So our felt would be great, since it isn't cold! We think it is a great idea and they look so bright and fun! Can't wait to make more...

Another great Front Page on Etsy!

My elegant embroidered felt Paisley Necklace hit the front page on Etsy this morning! It is right up there on the top of the right side. To give you the stats again, during that time it got over 400 views with 12 item hearts and 51 shop hearts. So not quite as popular as the bangles that were on the front page not too long ago. It is still amazing what a difference the front page makes. And this time, I actually had a sale from it and a custom request. I'll take that as a Mother's Day present!

Ready --- Go --- Read

I finally finished my first bookmark! I have been wanting to make one for so long, but never really saw the right motif for it. Now this bright and sunny Embroidered Flower Felt Bookmark is just the right thing. It just makes me smell the roses without being anywhere near a garden. This will spice up you reading and let you feel connected to Mother Earth no matter where you are within your mind. I can't wait to make even more bookmarks now. I already thought of a little bookworm...

Front Page!

My cute embroidered felt Bangle Bracelets hit the front page yesterday! In that hour or two, it got over 500 views with 34 item hearts and over 60 shop hearts. I want to be on the front page every day!

Custom Letter Keychain

I just finished this cute little P keychain! Guess what it stands for!!! THese are great even to hang from your purse, bagpack, or in the car. i actually use mine as pin cushion! Just the right little size for one or two needles.

CUSTOM Bangle Bracelets just for you!

I just love making these Bangle Bracelets that combine felting techniques, crocheting, and embroidery. They are nice and chunky looking, yet very lightweight and never awkward on your wrist. I love putting mine on just to spice up any wardrobe. I actually have one in every major color to go with just about anything. And so, since I thought I can't possibly offer every color combo one might like in my shop, I decided to just show a couple I made so far and offer them as a custom piece. So if you have a special color combo you would like or need for your outfit, I can show several color options and we can work from there. These really are perfect for the summer on your bare arms. Just imagine a stack of them and tell you people wouldn't notice!

Cheep...Cheep...Treasury

Lilly would be so happy about this Treasury and I just think it is totally adorable! The colors are just so perfect! I also can't wait for the spring to totally get going. Last weekend started very nicely, but now it's raining out of buckets again! I'm just hoping Easter will be nice, warm and sunny. I am so already picturing Lilly in a cute flower dress, carrying an Easter basket and searching for all her Easter treat! It will be soooo much fun! And her cousins are also coming, so even more children hunting for some Easter Eggs.

Spring PURPLE treasury

I love treasuries and this Spring PURPLE one is so exquisite! And even better, I'm in it!

Flip Flop Key Chain

We finally went to the German Playgroup today for the first time! Lilly had so much fun and with all the German Mommies to meet, so did we. And afterwards we even had a little time to walk around Harvard Square. I just love it there with all the energy and commotion. Doesn't matter how the weather is, it still feels like a summer day walking around - well, not quite, but it sure doesn't feel as wintery as it does here in Framingham. And back home I worked on some more of our newest Keychains! It is amazing how you just can't stop doing it once you discover something new. So now I have to make a gazillion key chains! It's time to hang one on my key anyway. I can never find them in my large purse and these Flip Flops are large enough to make it a lot easier.

Cool New Bangles!

We went to Lilly's cousin over the weekend to celebrate her 4th Birthday! We had sooooo much fun with a chocolate filled Willy Wonka Party. I wore my own Embroidered Felt Bangle like I now offer in our shop and my sister-in-law loved it so much that I had to leave it with her. I know it has a good home there ;)

Work in Progress

And? Can you see what it is? YES! We are working on Easter decorations already! These are the cutest and oh so colorful Easter egg ornaments. I can't wait to finish the first set and put it in the shop. So watch out!

Treasury Time!

I LOVE this great colorful Treasury!!! It is so cheery and exactly what I need with all the white snow around us here right now. And can you find our contribution to this treasury?...it's the alphabet initials in the center! Check this treasury out on Etsy before it's gone!

Our new best friend---Stella the Mannequin

It is about time for me to introduce you to Stella, our faithful new mannequin. I am so excited to have her around. She is such a blissful girl with her spiky red hair and swoopy eyelashes. And as you can see, she is always ready for a kiss! From now on, she will be showing off all of our new creations around town and I will try to give you a glimpse into her everyday life with each listing. This should be fun!

Already she is getting excited about Valentine's Day with this Soft Heart Necklace. She is imagining what it would be like to wake up on Valentine’s Day with this necklace around her neck. What a surprise that would be from her sweetheart. Who will be so lucky!

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

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!