Creatively Belle

Hey there,

For those of us who love crafts like quilting, patchworking, scrapbooking, beading, any sort of craft one of the most challenging things is finding the balance between gathering too much of a good thing and having money for the rest of things in life (or getting more crafty things!).

When I decided to be serious about earning my living from my craft - beading and jewelry making - I decided to learn from others. One of the books I devoured was “Crafting for Dollars - Learn How to Set Up, Start Up and Prosper - Maintain and Expand a Successful Craft Business - Recognise and Avoid Common Difficulties” by Sylvia Landman ISBN 0-7615-0442-7.

There’s also “Selling Your Crafts” by Susan Joy Sager ISBN 1-58115-266-3 that is worth exploring as well.

Neither cover building income from a website but the Internet Marketing Centre’s course is excellent and far more detailed (with examples you can copy!) than any one book on building an arts and craft business could achieve. 

Personally I recommend both - the Internet Marketing Centre and the books! I also have a series of free business building articles online for you too.

Earring Holders Online Now Click here

Happy Crafting!

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - our free email newsletter lets you know about new designs, sales and articles

Up to 40% Off Sale! Free Gift for all Online Orders for a Limited Time!  www.CreativelyBelle.com/sale

Hey there,

Sometimes when you’re creating a new design it can seem like a rather isolating experience with all those ideas circling and tumbling around in your mind while you try to pull them out into a design for your craft.

What is a lovely experience is talking with other women about this and having the shared experience. Often these conversations happen within structured arts and craft groups that meet regularly, either locally or online (just search craft circle to see the results).

They can also happen at craft expos, eg. quilt shows, and at suppliers and while the cynical may say that’s so they sell more the logical explains it that passionate people about their craft setup these shops and they naturally enjoy the conversations.

So if you have an idea tumbling and bumbling around inside and it needs to see the light of day get out there and start talking with others about it, either online or locally and see how lovely the results are!

See More of Our Creative Designs Online!

Click here to see these earrings online.

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - join our newsletter today and be the first to know about new designs and sales

Hey there,

I think I’m more of a fabric collector than a quilter but in an effort to actually use some of the beautiful quilting fabrics and have them in my daily life I made pot holders using a fat quarter or a 12″ width.

1. Simply trim the binding from the edges of the quarter, 2.5″ is good. Make sure there is enough to bind trim two pot holders and make two loops.
2. Cut the fabric in half to make two pot holders.
3. Cut natural fibre wadding to fit - 2 pieces so there is wadding for both pot holders.
4. For both pieces: Fold wrong sides together with one piece of wadding in between to make the padding for the holder.
5. Pin together around the edges and through the middle- use lots of pins for the best effect.
6. Sew parraell lines 1.5″ apart diagonally across the rectangle of the pot holder to give the quilted box effect.
7. Make a loop and attach to a corner for each pot holder so they can hang in the kitchen.
8. Attach the binding around the edge of each pot holder. Machine sew the raw edges and fold over, hand sew the folded edge of the binding to the pot holder.

Beautiful Aquatic Inspired Long Necklace and Earring Set - click here to see more!

We also have decorative metal earring stands (our earring holders are really popular so check them out!), earrings, necklaces, bracelets, Catherine Popesco French Designer Jewelry, eBay specials, matching jewelry sets, and much more. So come shop online with Creatively Belle.

Smiles

Belinda

http://www.creativelybelle.com/ - join our free newsletter today

NEW! Jewelry Sale 10% - 40% Off

Need comprehensive info about building and maintaining a successful online business? Get your copy of Insider Secrets today and you’ll be ahead of the pack!

Hey there,

I think using quality components in your craft is really important, it is key to the success of a craft project.

When you create something you want it to be the best it can be and that’s based on using quality components and the care you take in creating.

So when you’re using beading components in your work use beauty rather than mediocracy - use Czech glass and crystals - the real things rather than the poor quality Chinese plastic crystal cut beads or glass that breaks (they aren’t cooled slowly enough so the particles become fragile).

Czech glass and crystal is really good quality, in part because they have had competition on their doorstep for centuries and they have competed on quality as well as colour, design, beauty and initiatives.

The new wave of Chinese and Asian beads are siezing opportunity and are only competing on price, not quality or anything that brings out the best.

It is your choice - use afforable and quality focused components or the cheap, nasty things that break and make creations look cheap and nasty. Yes, I am passionate about this because I loathe plastic and crap, quality in design is paramount to making anything good. Why spend time, effort and care on creating something with out using quality components?

Stunning and Light capturing - these beautiful handcrafted Czech glass lampwork earrings are part of the Lavish Range of earrings available online at Creatively Belle. Order these directly from here:

Sea Fresh Aqua Blue with Pretty Pink Roses Lavish Earrings - Must Have!

Hey there,

I’m a fan of the Cook and the Chef and have just printed off some of their delicious recipes. It is a real craft creating wonderful meals and Maggie Beer and Simon Bryant share the tips and wisedom needed in their show “The Cook and the Chef” based in South Australia’s Barossa Valley.

Click here to access their free recipes! The recipes can also be selected as print friendly versions.

Beautifully crafted Limited Edition necklaces also have matching earrings available online now! Come visit!

Smiles and happy cooking,

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - free newsletter with $50 jewellery gift voucher competition online - free to enter.

Hey there,

A great way to make use of your fabric stash is to make a shopping bag. I’ve made ones by inventing the design myself but I’ve found a free design instruction page online so thought I’d share it with you here.

Click here to check out the free pattern for making an environmentally sensible shopping bag.

Great French Designer Catherine Popesco earrings and brooches available online - shop today securely with PayPal!

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - go in the free competition for your choice of jewellery and earring stands!

Hey there,

The Quilt and Craft Show is on! What joy!

The range of quilts on display is wonderful and as usual showcases the talented women we have. I was delighted to see a quilt made by a teenage girl with text starting with “I believe in angels” ! I love the positive affirmation of this opening line.

So make sure you get to your quilt show when in town and celebrate the creativity all around us.

Come check out our creativity with our matching necklaces and earrings here!

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - join our newsletter today and enjoy!

Hey there,

I was reading in a magazine of a sea change lady being given a quilt for her 40th birthday by her new regional neighbours.

The making and giving of the quilt is a local tradition to make significant signposts in life such as key birthdays, births of children, new beginnings and such like.

The quilts are made by different members of the community for one person. I just love the idea - so generous and welcoming.

It has me thinking that I should do something for my neighbours instead of bemoaning the lack of manners I’ve bumped into with strangers lately. I don’t want the negative incidents to have the dominance. I want happy things in my life so why not be part of it?

Be the change you want in the world.

These lovely earrings and necklace are available online in our Design Gallery - check out the Limited Edition Necklaces!

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - come join the design update newsletter and go in the running for free jewellery.

Hey there,

Over the last year or so I’ve had some interesting conversations and observed discussions about money,  and the ethics of making money from arts and crafts.

I’m finding confusion within myself about this. I think mainly because I am someone who is making my living by doing something I love, from an arts and craft business. I also love sharing the business skills that are giving me the freedom to live this life style I’m so deeply enjoying.

Personally I feel very blessed that I can make my living doing something that I love, something that is creative and stimulating. So many of us have to earn our living from jobs that aren’t stimulating, that we don’t love and aren’t satisfying (I did for many years).

So why do we sometimes think making money from art and craft steels the purity from the love of art and craft? Personally I don’t see the link. But I don’t think money is bad. I know from experience not having money makes life hard, that having enough money to live lets me feel secure enough to be creative, to design and to flourish.

I love being part of the creative community, being able to bring beauty into people’s daily lives, being able to share experiences and skills with others so they can do the same and escape the rat race and most of all being happy and healthy. All of this is happening because I make money from my arts and crafts.

So celebrate creativity and making a living from it! Remember money is just plastic and metal, it is what we humans choose to do with it is good or bad.

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com

Free newsletter with regular tips on how to have your own arts and crafts success business.

Hey there,

Tasmania is an amazing place for the arts and crafts - you really should come and visit it. I think what makes the difference is the general culture that values and supports the people involved.

Many regional galleries will only stock local Tasmanian arts and craft people, showcasing their talents in next to perfect spaces.

Even at the markets you’ll find someone selling locally crafted goodies that have been made by a group of people from their own community - very much the group effort.

I think we could all benefit from developing a culture of valuing the arts and crafts - image the blossoming of individuals through out the community this would bring!

Sparkle, Sparkle - Just charming! More designs online - shop securely with PayPal.

Smiles

Belinda

www.creativelybelle.com - come visit and enjoy!