Bella Dia

Sentimental Jewelry

Isn't this pretty?! It's my new necklace from Lisa Leonard Designs! I rarely get things for myself, especially jewelry, so this was a real treat. I'm very fond of the circle shape, the simplicity, and the pearl which is my favorite "gemstone." She hand-stamped it for me with three special words: inspiration, sunshine, laughter.  Each word is associated with one of my children: inspiration is for my daughter, my first born, for giving me the gift of seeing things with new eyes. Sunshine is for my middle child; my son that warms a room just with his quiet and calming presence. Laughter is for my youngest son, always there with a hug and a smile so that no day goes by without love and laughter. I always tell my children that they are my treasures and they truly are.

Sentimental jewelry is the best and Lisa is such a sweetheart to work with and quick too! Please visit her shop to see her other gorgeous designs and treat yourself as well! She's got an amazing new bird necklace that you can see on her blog that I'm in love with too.

Can't Miss Gifts for the Crafter in Your Life: A List

Omnigrid Quilting Rulers

gift certificate to Sew Mama Sew or Superbuzzy

Prismacolor pencils

Sharpie markers in lots of colors

Japanese craft books in English:
Aranzi Aronzo Dolls
Aranzi Aronzo Cute Dolls
Sock and Glove: Creating Charming Softy Friends

subscription to Marie Claire Idees

glue assortment: Fabric-tac Mod Podge Tacky Glue UHU glue stick Sobo
rubber cement

bone folder

Olfa rotary cutter

self-healing cutting mat

extra strong hand quilting thread

ribbon & trims

wool felt

tea cup warmer

Gingher scissors

scalloping fabric scissors

embroidery floss

assorted colors of acrylic paint

fine glitter

needle nose pliers

mood music

cool containers

pretty paper

Flickr pro account

Tiny Showcase: Winter Print Collection

Tiny Showcase has a beautiful set of 4 prints for their Winter Print Collection and the best thing about it is they will all be available through the season. You can buy the whole collection or each print individually. It has two of my favorites: Catia Chien (above) and Jen Corace (below).

Isn't this a wonderful stoneware pendant
I got from Molly?! For some reason it brings out my inner Hippy and I feel so cool when I wear it - pretty powerful stuff since being cool is
definitely not a way I would describe myself! The adjustable leather cord is great and the pendant itself has a nice heft to it. Take a look for yourself at her Etsy shop.

I also have some of Molly's buttons
that I'm in love with. I'm crossing my fingers that I'll have time to make a big totebag with these for the closure before summer ends.

Vicki tagged me awhile back for the 5 Things meme (thanks Vicki!) but I haven't gotten around to it since I've been behind on my blogging and blog reading. Anyway, here goes...

1.  Five minutes to yourself:  how would you spend them, ideally?
sitting in the sun with my eyes closed

2.  Five bucks to spend right now: how would you spend it?
I'd head for the thrift shop with my fingers crossed

3. Five items in your house you could part with, right now, that you hadn't thought of already?
oh, just 30 seconds in the kids room and I could find plenty to throw out - I just have to make sure they’re not looking

4.  Five items you absolutely, positively could never part with in your house?
boxes of family pictures, my computer because it has tons of family pictures and lots of other important info, a small statue that my mother made, momentos from my children’s childhood, Christmas ornaments

5. Five words you love?
wonderland, lollipop, loopy, ruffles, chickadee

I'm not tagging anyone 'cause it seems this has been done by most of you but feel free to tag yourself and join along :)

This is my second order from Loloko
and if you haven't paid a visit yet you really are missing out on some amazing cuteness! Laura does a terrific job sending it out quickly and the prices are great too.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I'm
really trying to get all my responsibilities in balance again. You know (or might not) that I'm raising my three kids by myself and I homeschool them, plus I'm trying to grow my little online business. It's a constant juggle of need and priorities and laundry :) If I spend too much time on any one thing then the other stuff quickly gets out of hand and then if it's left for too long it gets to be such a monstrosity that I lose all motivation to get it done. I do have some new things to share so you'll see a little more of me over the next week. And, I think the weather might be at least turning in the direction of spring. We've had a little bit of melt but we're still getting snow too so it looks like I'll be buying my spring at the grocery store for a little while to come.

Japanese Craft Books #28,#29 and #30

I'm finally putting up pictures of my most recent purchase of Japanese craft books. I have 3 or 4 more that I'll post in the next couple of days and then they will all be added to my Japanese Craft Book library at Flickr.

#28 isbn 4-529-04180-8

#28 excerpt
I've already shared some images from this book here. I love the embroidery in this picture; this book is one of my favorites, lots of good stuff.

#29 isbn 4-277-49040-9

#29 excerpt
This is a small book with pictures and instructions for simple quilted accessories.

#30

#30 excerpt

It looks like the linen fabric in this picture is stamped with a tree stamp which was really exciting to think about. I was able to find an ink pad by VersaCraft (which used to be known as Fabrico) that can be used on fabric and then heat set. I've only been able to find the black ink and used it to make a few labels but more experimenting is in the future. Do a search for VersaCraft ink pads and you'll find lots of online resources.

It's already Monday?

Just a quick post, it's late and I've been gone most of the weekend with my kids and their snowboarding. Aaack, I hate feeling stressed at the *end* of the weekend - I never got a chance to get caught up on housework and sewing so I'm already starting the week from behind.

If you love tea like I do you might be interested in the Teastick from Gamila. I've been wanting to try more looseleaf teas so when I saw the teastick I thought "that's for me"! I also want to start making my tea in a teapot - why? so I can make a cute teapot cozy of course!

**edited to add that I bought my teastick online from Izadra

Hoo Hoo Hooray!

I am now the proud new owner of these two lovely prints from Jackie at Littlest Flower! I am completely smitten by her work - I've even purchased her third print, Freedom. (Check out her shop at Etsy) I can't wait to get them framed and hanging near my work area; they make me happy just looking at them:)

The owl print reminds me of the book Owl Babies by Martin Waddell and illustrated by Patrick Benson. If you're an owl lover, as I know many of you are, be sure to check this book out - the illustrations are precious and the story, charming!