Dog Loving Bag Lady

My kids and husband call me the bag lady. I have bags in closets all over the house. I have leather bags, canvas bags, and wool bags; crochet bags, knit bags…You get the idea.
I also have 2 dogs; both rescue who are my constant companions.
I was on Etsy recently doing a search for yet another bag when I came across the Shop ‘Bee By The Sea, LTD’ Not only does she have bags, beautiful bags, she also has a line entitled ‘Pet Couture’. This includes charming fashions for your canine pal (just look at Charlie in his Sunday Coat!) she also creates high fashion collars, leashes and beds.

There’s more! For Charlie’s human friends Bee makes not only bags but also cozy blankets. These are wrap yourself in delight, and cozy up with your Hot Cocoa and good book blankets. Ah, what a great way to spend a cold Maine winter’s afternoon! For Charlie too, he has his own Bumble Bedzzz.

Now it is time to cozy down…

How to put a Bead Cap/Cone on your Bead Crochet

Every week I check my report page to see what keywords and phrases people are using to search. This week I came across one that was asking how to attach bead caps and bead cones to a crochet bracelet.
This is how I do it.
First I hide both my tails in my work with a large blunt needle. I use the blunts because they don’t catch the threads.
I then cut a 4" piece of wire…silver, cold, copper; whatever the color of the bead cap/cone is. Now, if I am using a cone I put the wire through the rope under the 2 row of beads until there is about 1 inch on the other side.
I bend the wire so the short and long ends of the wire are parallel. Then wrap you’re the short wire around the larger one. Slide on your cone and wrap.

Using a bead cap you would do it the same way except you would not put the wire through the rope. Instead you would pick of the center threads in the bead crochet.
I have lots more hints, tips, tricks and even tutorials on my website at Divella Delights

Cure for Dry Skin Woes

Peace through Pampering does it again!


For 3 months I have had this patch of skin on my leg that was so dry it actually bled and formed scars. Wearing jeans has been painful. I tried creams, lotions, and salves; medicated, non-medicated. You name it I probably tried it. And yes, I had upped my water intake as well.

I contacted Barbara at Peace through Pampering where I got that wonderful lip balm hoping she might have some suggestions. She sent me some lotion that she had whipped up for her husband as he has a skin condition with very dry skin.

I cannot believe that after only 3 days of using this creamy lotion, once in the morning after my shower, I am seeing massive improvement. The cracks and flakes are gone and the skin tone is even improving! It feels so much better I am stunned quite frankly. I can wear my jeans without them causing pain to my leg. It has the perfect consistency, more like a face cream density and a light fresh scent. I am hoping she comes out with a lemongrass scent, I’ll keep you posted!

At this point she uses no preservative but because of the nature of lotion if it is not used up it will turn so she is seeking a natural, healthy stabilizer. The containers are large, like her sugar scrubs and a little goes a long way but even so I don’t think it will last long around here!

Healing Lip Balm

Here is the lip balm I have been raving about and Barbara's story on how it came to be.

" Every winter, my son gets dry, chapped lips and cold sores. There are about a million different lip balms out there and I think we may have tried most of them. Forget petroleum products, they're just horrible in so many ways. The 'waxy' natural ones are too stiff and painful to put on. The natural butter and oil ones are good, but they didn't actually heal the cold sores, just kept them from getting worse. So it was time for research and experimentation.

So I started with unrefined Shea Butter, with it's whole host of amazing benefits for the skin. Full of vitamins A, E and F, it keeps skin clear and healthy while rejuvenating and healing. The high fat content makes it penetrate deeply into your skin. It has a high level of cinnamic acid, which offers some natural sunscreen protection. It is also an anti-inflammatory, which helps reduce the pain and size of cold sores.
For texture and healing properties, add beeswax. It is a natural emollient, so it helps to soothe dryness and chapping. Beeswax locks in moisture, fosters cell health and protects skin from damaging environmental factors. It is also a naturally nourishing moisturizer as well as being anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergenic and a germicidal antioxidant.
Most lip balms are made with almond oil, avocado oil, etc. They certainly have their benefits, but Hemp Seed Oil is the champion of skin care. It is a perfectly balanced oil containing 80% of the essential fatty acids required by skin to maintain its integrity and function. It can slow the affects of aging and minimize wrinkles by delivering the necessary nutrients and fatty acids directly to the skin. It also contains vitamin E and carotene anti-oxidants to help avoid damage and speed healing of damaged skin.
Tea Tree Oil is one of the most potent natural antibiotic and antiseptics. Terpenes and other phytochemicals in Tea Tree Oil are powerful antiseptics, antivirals and antifungals that are readily absorbed into the skin.
Voila, a lip balm that soothes chapped lips, helps prevent and heal cold sores and can help prevent wrinkles. For the first time, my son has gone through this winter (a particularly harsh, cold one no less) without a single cold sore.
This is a .15 ounce tube. This item will be sent in a padded envelope. "