Holiday Handmade Gifts Under Twenty Dollars

This time of year with the high cost of heating your home it is especially nice to be able to shop for gifts that don’t break the bank but are still a pleasure to give. Handmade gifts, even if the gift giver does not make them with their own hand are also more pleasing to receive than something bought in a big-box store. It is comparable to shopping at a hometown boutique as opposed to fighting the crowds at Wal-Mart. As an added bonus you can feel good knowing that you are supporting an independent artisan.

Another advantage to buying directly from the artisan is that the quality is usually much better. We care what our customers think and we want them to come back to us again and again. If something does happen you have someplace (besides China) to go to get your situation resolved.
Think outside the box this year! If you can’t think of a "thing", how about offering your services to that single parent friend of yours for a few hours of babysitting or for the elderly woman next door a few hours of lawn care, snow removal, or cleaning? If you can’t do those things yourself, find a teenager in the neighborhood and pay them to do it! You can make up gift certificates on your home computer. While a lot of people think these things are trivial they mean so much to those who receive them, much more so than that box of chocolates.
That brings me to another idea of gift giving that has seemed to die out. Bake some cookies, make fudge! One of the most cherished memories I have is one year when all my kids were actually able to be together for the Holidays and we baked cookies, biscotti, made fudge. We had a great time with lots of laughs and made a huge mess that we were happy to clean up. This year those same kids are spread out through all corners of the earth, literally.
Kids can get in on this too. They are fabulous at coming up with amazingly appropriate gifts that they have made themselves out of very little.
There are many of us in the designer and crafting world that sell our wares as a hobby, but most of us are trying to support themselves and their families by marketing their goods and/or services. This year why not make a pledge with your family and friends to have a handmade Holiday gift-giving season? If you can’t make it yourself, buy handmade!
There is an idea many people have that buying handmade has to be expensive and that is simply not true. Look at my shop. There are many items that you can give your friend, sister, mother, daughter, aunt, etc…that will cost you under $20.00. Of course if you want to spend more, feel free! Really though, all kidding aside if you look around you will find fabulous gifts appropriate for every member of your family that had the caring, loving touch of an artisan that won’t wreck your holiday budget. It can even be a family outing. Go to your local craft fairs this year. It’s not just a bake sale and granny square afghan kind of affair anymore (although I do love those!). You’ll be amazed at how much talent lives in your area and you’ll probable see someone you know that does beautiful work you have never seen.
In closing, whether you pick out an "Oh I love it, love it love it" gift from Divella Delights or another artisan or crafter, try to buy handmade this year and support a starving artist!
Have a great Holiday!

Design of the Week

Hello!

Some of you may have noticed that I have a new Categiry in my shop at Divella Delights, "Design of the Week".
There will be a new design each week. It might be jewelry, a hat, bag or anything else in my shop that is 40% off and of course shipping is always free in the US. There will be only one (excpet in the case of beading patterns) and it is first come, only served.
I offer shipping internationally but you'll need to contact me for rates at info@divelladelights.com
This week it is the Kathryn Cap in Autumn shades at only $17.40!

What a great brain cage for leaf peeping, you'll blend right in!

New Fall Jewelry Designs

I love this time of year and I find it much easier to design jewelry with the colors inspired by the season of Autumn.

Fall brings with it the end of those dog days of Summer and ushers in a gentle reminder that Winter is approaching. It is the time of year for fresh warm apple pie and hot cider, cozy sweaters and warm colors. It is once again time to pull out the crock pot for delicious homemade soups and stews and heat up the oven for fresh biscuits. We can justify putting a few logs in the hearth to chase away the early morning chill.
It also means football is finally back and in our house that is serious business!
The best part as a jewelry and hat designer is the fabulous Fall palette I can delve into for my designs. I could never decide if it was the fibers or the gems that give me the most joy, I enjoy both immensely.
You can see some of my Fall flavors above but there are many more to choose from.
I will leave you now and go give the Split Pea Soup a stir and get those biscuits in the oven.

Enjoy your stay here and when you leave don't be gone too long because I am shopping for yarn this weekend so I should have some lovely hats for you to look at soon!

Pele Goddess of Fire

Although I am selling this pattern on my website I thought I would let you know how I attached the cabochon on this piece as I did not do it as I normally would have. Usually I would attach the cabochon to a piece of suede cloth and bead around it then attach it to the piece. This time I completed the bracelet piece, then used E6000 adhesive to attach the cab to the bracelet, clamped it and left it for several hours. After that I worked a bead embroidery technique to go around the face and then worked circular peyote stitch from the base.
I attached my Fireline securely and picked up 4 beads keeping with the color on the base. I went through he bracelet, through a couple of beads then back up and through the last 2 beads, added 4 more bead and repeated. I continued this around then worked the circular peyote. It is a basic bead embroidery stitch so if you are unfamiliar with it do a search for “bead embroidery tutorials”, there are hundreds out there free!