Bella Dia

More Ways to Twiddle Your Day Away...

 

More internet fun:

click here and just move your mouse!

oh my, this is mesmerizing - falling sand game - adults will love it as much as kids

I'd love to see a little more tweaking of this program because it's a great idea.  Get the image location for one of your pictures at Flickr then write in some text that you want to represent the picture and click Texturize!  Click here to go to a Flickr group for Texturized pictures and help.

Bembo's Zoo  - it's the book come to life - fun for the kids and inspirational for you too

I Have An Etsy Shop!

I opened a shop over at Etsy !  It's been on my to-do list forever so that's one thing I can check off.  I'll still be selling on my blog but I thought I'd give Etsy a try too.  If you are on my mailing list don't worry, I'll let you know when I add items to either spot.  For now, I've moved the three remaining chicks over to Etsy. 
I am thrilled thrilled thrilled with my new banner over at Etsy and plan to use it on my blog also.  My sweet, patient, and talented daughter made it.  She had to put up with so much tweaking from me!  Thank you baby girl!

Nature Walk

The kids and I went on a walk down by the river this weekend.  We are having an unusually early spring and the temperature was just perfect for being outdoors.  The kids had told me about this "heart rock tree" so I was eager to get a look.  Last year people started leaving heart-shaped rocks all around, and wedged into, this tree - apparently with thoughts of a loved one.   I'm very sentimental so I love stuff like this.

There's not much green to be seen.

Seed pod fluff stuck in the tree branches.

The river.

We stacked rocks into towers and the boys made a boat out of some driftwood that they launched into the current before we left.

A very enjoyable afternoon.  Something I need to do more often. 

*There are more pictures at Flickr .

Hear Ye! Hear Ye!

The Softie Awards  are up and ready to be voted on !  I am thrilled to be included in the Cozy category with my teapot cozy !  Please take the time and look at all the talent - absolutely mind boggling - voting closes March 30.

I am so flattered to be included in this book put together by Anna Torborg.  So far it has just been available in the U.K.  but as of April 1 you'll be able to buy it here in the U.S. !  I know you'll love it as much as I do.

No picture yet, but
Therese Laskey has a new book coming out September 1 from Chronicle Books called Softies: Simple Instructions for 25 Plush Pals .  I am so pleased that one of my pincushions and the pattern are included in the book.  It's available for pre-order now and I know it will be a big hit!

The pincushions went really fast in my shop - there's some quick clickers out there ;)  The next update will include more pincushions and some little houses.  I also have some special items planned for Mother's Day gifts. 

Thanks everyone - it's really exciting to me that you support and appreciate my work!

Spring items are in the shop!

Yeah for Spring!!  I've been working on this update for awhile and I am so happy to finally have new things in the shop  for you.  There is only one of each item so if more than one person clicks to purchase the same item before I can take the "add to cart" button off then the item will go to the first in line and I will send refunds to the others.

I made lots of little chicks from felted wool and lambswool sweaters.  They are really soft and come with their own nest.  What's best is they fit in the palm of your hand.

Pincushions too! 

This is a new design called Groovy Garden.

Nothing says spring like sweet smelling hyacinth!

Happy Shopping!

 

The Little Pink House

"The Little House was very happy as she sat on the hill and watched the countryside around her."

Inspired by The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton, I've made a new Little House pincushion.

Iris grow next to the front door.

A vining rose and red shutters on one side of the house.

Yellow hollyhocks and red shutters on the other side of the house.

A home for the birdies in the back.

The house itself is about 3" high and including the pincushion the total height is about 4 1/2".  I'm going to try and have some of these in my next shop update but for now this one will be entered in The Softies Awards. 

Beautiful Crafts

Here are some inspirational images from The Beautiful Crafts Book published by Sterling Publishing in 1976.  I don't know if  I would call this stuff beautiful but it is definitely colorful and jumping with interesting patterns.

I especially love the black and white versions of the designs; they are all so intricate.

Aren't these birdies the cutest?  Tree ornaments for all year long :)

Love the hedgehog!

Great blackline drawings.

New Design

I've been wanting to make a change in my blog design for a long time now and I guess today was the day.  But geez, it takes  f o r e v e r !! I'm happy enough for now, I just wish I had some Photoshop skills that matched my aspirations.   Miss Chloe has been keeping me company all day usually in my lap or on the chair behind me with her big fluffy tail flapping in my face; she's a real diva this one.