Bella Dia

Shop Update Preview: Mushroom Forest Pincushion

I haven't been posting much because I'm busy working on a shop update, I know, finally! This little pincushion is one of my new designs that I'm calling Mushroom Forest. I've got a lot on my plate right now but I'm hoping to put the new items in my shop the first week of November. If you join my email list then I'll send you a notice with the exact time as soon as I know it. The information is at the top of the left-hand column.

With all my sewing lately I'm dealing with a bit of carpal tunnel, well, I guess that's what it is - wrist pain and burning and the same running along my forearm down from my thumb. I wear one of those wrist supports when I'm not sewing and sleeping and it seems to help. Anybody else have this?

Thank you so much for all the nice comments on my felt flowers, I'm really glad you like them :) Back to work now...

Felt Flowers

Recently, one of the editors from Parents magazine contacted me to ask if I could make some felt flowers for a photo shoot!  Of course!  These flowers are the result.  I had a lot of fun making them and am planning on adding some to the shop when I update it next month. 

They are about 3" across and made from wool felt.  They will be in the June 08 issue so I have to be patient for a bit.  I hope you like them too!

Softies by Therese Laskey

I'm very excited about this book - one reason is that the author is my friend Terry who had an idea and took it all the way to fruition and it is so exciting to see that happen; another reason is that there are tons of great simple adorable projects that will appeal to a wide variety of people; and, my third reason is that the book features one of my pincushions!

Isn't the photography beautiful?! This is my Scattered Flowers pincushion. All patterns are included in the book too, I love that :)

It's available in all the bookstores as well as Amazon; I hope you'll check it out and give one of the projects a try. The projects, or even the book, would make a great gift too; yep, it's almost that time again ;)

N is for Night and Netflix

My favorite part of the day? Night time. I'm definitely a nightowl. I usually have a lull in my energy in the late afternoon but after that I tend to gain energy. If it weren't for social conformity I could easily be up working through the night and sleep halfway through the day. I like the quiet and the privacy of the night - no phone calls, no doorbells, no appointments or classes - and I can really focus on my projects. But, if I'm not careful of watching the clock, I'll be working until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and then really regret it the next day. Making sure I get to bed on time takes real effort on my part.

Many of our evenings the kids and I watch movies that we've gotten from Netflix - one of the greatest inventions of all time ;) I've listed some of the movies (and TV shows) that we've really enjoyed - just good ol' great stories full of mystery, adventure, comedy, and a smidge of romance.

Andy Griffith Show
Hogan's Heroes
Mister Ed

The Count of Monte Cristo
The Golden Voyage of Sinbad
Rear Window
Jim Henson's The Storyteller: Greek Myths
Jason and the Argonauts
The Odyssey
Arabian Nights
Pollyanna
Vertigo
The Great Train Robbery
The Secret of Roan Inish
A Home of Our Own
To Kill A Mockingbird
Spartacus