I have been having much too much fun!
The folks at Artbeads have featured me on their Facebook page, which I think was really sweet of them. We have been making great designs together and will continue to do so from time to time. I enjoyed designing that one so much I made another, pictured here.
In addition to the jewelry I am making now I am having a wonderful time playing with my hats. The red one I just finished I love and I want to do more like this. I will wait and see how it is received first because in retail you just never know. There have been things I have made that I thought were just fabulous but they did not sell well. It is indeed a tough business.
When I am finished with my contract at the State offices here I am hoping to take a trip and do some marketing…not my forte to be certain but I have to get my designs out there. The jewelry store here does extremely well for me and is surely my bread and butter throughout the year. I need 3 more just like them and I can stay home and work and not have to look for other work to fill in the gaps. Wish me well! Stop by Divell Delights and drop me a line in my guestbook

Flapper Hats

Divella Delights has been very busy making new hats in a variety of styles. There are even a few new hat and scarf sets like the ones pictured here. Stop by Divella Delights and see all the new handmade hats and scarves. All orders over $20 receive a free gift and there is still time to get your name on the e-mail list for December’s free drawing.
I send out one e-mail a month to notify my customers of who won the monthly drawing (first name only) and if I am running a sale I let my customers know. You won’t get inundated with useless junk in your mailbox.
This month’s drawing is going to be something extra special so go to Divella Delights and get on the list!

Jewelry Hat and Bag Sale

Wow! Divella Delights is having a 3-day sale fromFriday morning until midnight (EST) Sunday.Although the crochet bracelets will remain on saleuntil they are gone, the hats will not be on saleagain this year. There are some gorgeous newstyles including the new Uptown Cloche.Crochet Bracelets 50% offCrochet and Felt Hats 15% offCrochet Hats by Jessy 20% offAnd remember shipping is free!Oh heck, let’s just start now!Ready…Set…GO!

Great Gift Ideas

What a great idea, thanks Marsha!
Do you give gift cards, or want to but think it might not be personal enough? Check out these great little handmade felted bags just the perfect size to slip a gift card, or even cash into.
They are hand knit then felted to make a beautiful, thick durable fabric. Once dry (takes about 3 days) I embellish them in a variety of different ways and no 2 are ever alike. There are a few different sizes of the small bags and then of course the beautiful clutches are back this year.
The clutch is perfect for a night out, especially all those Holiday parties that are coming right up. It holds the essentials but does not overpower your outfit and they are quite elegant and feminine.
These little bags would make wonderful gift bags for a nice piece of jewelry too!
Some of the uses that have been suggested are:
Coin Purse
Gift Bag for jewelry,
gift cards and moneyCredit Cards
Business Cards
Eyeglass Case
GPS case
Digital Camera Case
All this and more can be seen at Divella Delights.

Wool Allergy?

Do you have a wool allergy or just don’t need quite the warmth of wool hats? Perhaps you live in a more temperate climate and don’t really need the wool.
The hats I usually make all have some sort of wool in them. I use mohair, angora, lambswool and a variety of wool blends. A couple of months ago I had a request from a Boutique to make some without the wool as they have quite a clientele who are allergic to wool. I put together some of the same beautiful Flapper hat that was so popular last year only I made them using only acrylic yarns. They still have that same great appearance, just no wool. Here are some photos, some with wool and some without. You can see more at http://www.divelladelights.com/

Armed Forces Day

For those who do so much for all of us...Thank you for your service, past and present! Please enjoy 50% off your entire order this weekend if you serve in the military. E-mail me your rank and I will give you the password! http://www.divelladelights.com

New! Spring Knit, Felted Clutch

These beautiful bags measure roughly 10"x6"x2" and are felted very thick. First I hand knit them using exquisite woolen fibers then I felt them. After they are dry I add the embellishments.
I make the felted adornments as well and any items with needle felt are also done by yours truly. Naturally I also so all the beading. About the only thing I don’t do is raise the animals and spin the yarn.
This series will be going to the local shop when I get a dozen made. At that point they will no longer be available on line.
I am having a sale on my site at http://www.divelladelights.com/ on selected hats and jewelry so come by for a visit!

Peyote Stitch and Knit One Pearl Too

As the vase nears completion so does the bracelet. The direction of the vase is hard to see but after I finish beading the actual vase I will add the embellishments. I have decided on a title...Midnight Garden so I will be going with that theme. There will be beaded flowers, leaves and a few dragonflies, perhaps a butterfly and I am thinking vines...we'll see. I go back and forth between the two and now I have thrown in a sweater into the mix. I made the boyfriend sweater a few years ago and actually married the guy! Against the old wives tale for certain. Anyway he is due for another and here is the beginning of that...did this last night watching some tube with my honey. I am adding a copper crochet necklace to the batch of projects tonight, although I have to get that done for a special order at the jewelry store. I love having a few different things going on at once, it keeps me from getting bored. The free form peyote is really good for me as I tend to be OCD and very black and white. Abstract has never come easy for me, I do better with realism so this is quite a stretch.

You can see another little vase peeking out from behind, that'll be the next one while I wait for the shipment of larger ones to come in.

I will be taking a break pretty soon as I will be driving my daughter's car down to her in Florida where she is in "A" School in the Navy. I can't wait to see her as well as get out of the snow for a few days, we have had so much. Well, I had better get back to it...more tomorrow unless I finish it today...as if.

Summer Flapper Hats

Summer Flapper Hats are here!
As promised I have come up with a couple of designs for some lovely summer hats. Both designs have an open weave to keep you cool and comfy. There are 2 different price points depending on the materials used. The higher end summer flapper hats use cotton fleece and/or mercanized cotton while the lower price point uses less expensive cotton. Both are lovely.
If you would like a special order in these, I would suggest the higher end as the color choices are much more varied. Also you may have them with or without the flower or motif. I am happy to do special orders in either.
Remember, at Divella Delights you can design your own hat and have me make it so just e-mail me at info@divelladelights.com and I will be happy to work with you to create your own Summer Flapper Hat!

Upcoming Donations and Other News

Divella Delights is very happy to have handmade hardwood clocks by David Jacques in our inventory. He takes great care in selecting his materials and in his craftsmanship. They come in full size and minis perfect for your bookcase or dresser.
We are also please to announce a line of Crochet hats by Jessy! They are lighter weight than the ones I make so are very well suited to more temperate climates or for a chilly Springtime evening.
My hats have been discovered by a gallery in Portland, Maine and they have requested my participation in their April show entitled " Wearable Art" to open April 4th. If we do well during the show we will be entering the gallery on a permanent basis. We have also been contacted by an organization in Canada for the hats.
I am planning a line of Spring Hats, a blend of cotton for those cool evenings and perhaps some light scarves as well. I am just now in the design phase so I think around the end of the month I should have something new for you.
I have some new jewelry designs on the board as well, very exciting! We did well with the local fine jewelry store this month and our tabling events.
Be sure and check in often as I do not want to inundate your e-mail with every new design.
March donations will be going to Dogs Deserve. Please visit their website at http://www.dogsdeservebetter.org/home.html and bring your tissues!
Thanks so much for your continued support!

Flapper Hats a Huge Success

These are three more of those wonderful Flapper Hats I have been making and selling like crazy! You can see more at www.divelladelights.etsy.com or my website at www.divelladelights.com . If you happen by the Etsy shop in the link make sure you check out all the wonderful feedback I have been getting on these hats. I have sold 40+ in the past 3 weeks and everyone loves them. There is still plenty of time for your package to arrive for Christmas! I can also make you a scarflet to match! I use a variety of combinations of wool, lambswool, mohair, angora and acrylics then I add some adventure and fun to make these hats beautiful, soft and very warm.

Flapper Hats Make Comeback

If sales are any indication the Flapper style hats are making quite a comeback. I made a couple to give as gifts and thought I would put them on line until I had to ship them off for Christmas. What happened is that I sold 8 the first week. Needless to say I have made plenty more and they are still selling. I make the scarves also for anyone who wants them and have sold a few sets this way. The scarflet is a handy little item because you can wear them up or fold them down. They don't fall of or unwrap, they just stay put! You can see new hats and scarves nearly every day on my website at www.divelladelights.com and everything in my shop is 10% off until December 20th.

The fibers are a variety. I crochet the hats and knit the scarves with 2 strands of yarn for maximum warmth and it also gives a very nice shape. I use wool, wool blends, angora, alpaca, acrylic and novelty yarns in my creations. I have a lot of fun making them as you can probably tell. I make each one a little different depending on the fibers I use so there is no strict pattern I use, I just go where my mood takes me. It has come to be a lot more fun that way!

I have had a lot of wonderful feedback from my customers so I will keep making them as long as there seems to be interest. Then it will be back to the jewelry!

FLAPPER HATS

This new series of hat are fashioned after the vintage Flapper Hats except that they are hand-crocheted. I use a variety of yarn fibers and I have a lot of fun with the flowers. I tried to use patterns for the flowers but always seemed to go astray so now I just start with a chain 4, join to form a ring and go off form there. I figure they must resemble something found in nature somewhere in the world J !
The Flapper hats were very popular in the 1920s when women’s style were at their peak. Feminine and sexy, sophisticated and demure all at the same time.
I have tried to come up with a suitable replica in the crochet and knit mediums. The felted hats of course come the closest but I do love the opne weave of the crochet variety I make. They look great with both the long and short hair styles of this anythign goes style era we are in currently.
I hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoy making them. Stop by www.divelladelights.com and see all the new flapper hats!

Scarflets

These new scarflets are a lot of fun to make in fact I carry these in the car now in place of the sock bag! I use a double strand (or single if the yarn is very thick) of a variety of yarns to make these scarflets and you will find this information in each listing on my webiste at http://www.divelladelights.com/.
There are hand knit and crocheted hats to match most of them and if there is not, I will be happy to make you one! The scarflets are a great alternative for those who want to keep their necks warm but do not like scarf ends hanging down or coming unwrapped.
The new scarflet can be made with acrylic, wool or a blend so if there is something specific you would like, let me know and it will be my pleasure to accommodate you if I can.
I will of course be making more so if your color has not popped up yet, keep checking or e-mail me.

Please keep in mind that the model has a very long neck. The scarflet measures 4.5 to 5.5 inches wide so will cover your entire neck.
So if you are tired of those ends falling down and constantly having to adjust your scarf why not try a scarflet?

HUGE DISCOUNT ON BAGS AND HATS

These are just a couple of the bags that are being cleared out during my shop closing sale! I have hats,scarves and other knitted and crocheted times too. My shop in ETSY will close for good this Saturday and there are some really great bargains. If you are ready to do a little shopping for the Holidays, now is the time! It is a little sad because I do love knitting but my time needs to focused elsewhere. Take advantage of me and stop by http://www.divellasfibers.etsy.com

Creating a new studio on a dime

Well, not a dime exactly, but really cheap. My studio space used to be 9x12 with no closet space and I needed more room as I expanded to different mediums. I went upstairs into this old room. First thingI did was rip up the old carpet. I forgot to take photos before I began but the room I re-made was the color of the trim in the first photo...brown. Walls, trim, floor, everything brown...YUK. So I bought a gallon of KILZ primer and primed the entire room. Then the walls went white, one gallon and the trim two-toned sage (my favorite color)...1 quart of each. The room had one outlet and with all the lights, computer, sewing machine, etc I needed more so my wonderful husband put this room on it's own circuit and put in additional outlets. We put OSB on the floor to prepare for hardwood flooring at a later date, and a fixture track lighting unit, those are way cool! So far $157.20.

I looked around at the old furniture and scrap wood that has been downstairs for 6 years or so and came up with all my shelves, tables etc...still $157.20. My new studio is 10x13 with built in drawers, closets and cubby holes. Much more storage and lots of wonderful well lit space to create in.

Now all of my yarn is on drawers as are all my office and packing supplies. My gems are hung on the same old corkboards so I can see them and my beads are all neatly arranged by size and color so I can spot those easily too. My sewing stuff is in the closet which we took the doors off of and put shelves in. My table is now in the middle of the room which allows me to have have different stations around the table...general beading station with a separate design area; wire jig, hammering, you get the picture. I just love it!! So for $157.20, one weekend and a trip to Home Depot I have a beautiful new studio. Now I have to get to work!!!

ART IN MAINE

I live and work in Maine and I love it here. In an effort to help out fellow Artisans and Crafters from Maine I am going to be featuring all kinds of local work; knit, crochet, paintings, pottery, lighting, clothing, just to name a few. Check back often or better yet just subscribe to the blog. There is a lot of wonderful talent here in Maine and my goal is to show you as much as I can in the upcoming months. Buy handmade!!! Many Artisans accept custom orders and they are very reasonable. Wouldn't you rather give a beautiful, quality handmade item than something mass produced? I will even feature patterns if you have the time and energy to make gifts yourself. I am going back to a desk job full time in an attempt to keep my bills paid so I may not be writing every day although I will certainly try. I was hoping to take a full year off but with the economy today I am not selling quite enough jewelry to live on. I am sure that is true of some of my fellow artisans so I hope this will help us all!

Felted handbags and ID Lanyards

This was supposed to be the first bag for my Fall series but it has already sold and not even lined yet. I hope I can figure out how I made it as it came out really cute. My sweetie keeps telling me I have to write down what I do in case I really like it. I guess he is right (shhh). It is made of high quality 100% Peruvian highland wool, hand knit then felted, same with the flower. I am felting them much thicker this year so they keep shape much better. I have also bought some roving to begin some different needle felting designs I have had in my head, they need to get out! I am making ID lanyards for the local VA this week as well so I am keeping very busy and waiting for something to break.

Felted Accessories

Because I love artisans and I love Etsy I am doing a ittle diddy on different artisans I find on www.etsy.com where you can find just about everything you can imagine (and some things you could NEVER imagine). This sweet little felted hair accessory was done by Julie's Creation Nation and can be viewed and/or purchased at juliepersons.etsy.com. She makes a wide variety of felted objects including nursing dolls, hair accessories, tapestires and jewelry. This is no easy task either folks. It requires pain staking (at times literally) repeated poking thousands of times with a special barbed needle and wool. I love felted wool and make handbags and I am just begining to take this on and I can't tell you how many times I have stabbed myself! Julie does beautiful work, check out her shop!