Shop Notes: Monday Jan 25th 2010

Hi Dear Reader! Today I announced the winner of the Be My Valentine hair pin set over on my Facebook fanpage. Check it out, if you're not already a fan. It's just so wonderful to see new folks over there and to connect with people who support handmade. :)

Just a note to let you know that Fancybelle Boutique will be closed for a little bit starting tomorrow, January 26th, through possibly the first week of February. I'm having surgery this week and my helper will begin shipping orders out for me sometime in early Feb, depending on how my recovery goes.

Despite all of this, I still have new items in the works! Since I'll be housebound for 6 weeks, there will be plenty of time to knit! I have some gorgeous handspun fibers to work with, as a part of my new luxury Lady Belle handknit line. Think: ladies knitted cowls in Peruvian wool and chunky baby alpaca, plus some premium girls baby legs in alpaca and organic cotton. Bee-yoo-tee-ful!

The cowl pictured above was knit in baby alpaca. If you're not familiar with that fiber, it's warmer than wool and almost as soft as silk. Very cozy, yet non-itchy and lightweight to wear. My favorite! I'm one of those people who's always cold, so you gotta know I love alpaca. 

Also incoming in my Hair Adornments collection are fabric flowers attached to hairbands or clips. For spring, I'm hoping to work on a couple light wrap sweaters...perfect for pair with tanks and summer dresses on chilly evenings.

Take care and have a wonderful week!

Giveaway: Be My Valentine Hair Pin Set

Welcome to yet another store giveaway, and just in time for Valentine's Day! This hair pin set is perfect for showing your V-Day spirit, and just adorable on any girly-girl toddler or child. I'm in love with these gorgeously shiny hair pins. They feel very lux and substantial, but stay in your 'do really well.

 Rules:
Existing Facebook fans automatically receive 1 entry. For extra entries...
For one entry: Tweet about this post
For two entries: Become a Facebook fan here
For three entries: Become a follower of my blog
For four entries: Blog about my giveaway

NOTES:
*Contact me or leave in comments section which entry you completed
*Contest ends 7pm Sunday January 24th
*Entries will be digitally counted and winner will be picked at random
*Winner will be contacted on the 25th of January

Thanks so much for reading my blog and connecting with me here and on Twitter. I've talked to so many wonderful people out there that I never would've met otherwise. I appreciate everyone's loyalty to Fancybelle Boutique and your support of handmade items!

Not Me Monday: Me Time

I technically have 5 blogs. One is closed, another is personal, yet another is a comedic blog my friend dreamed up. Still, I would never consider starting a new blog right now. No way! Especially since I'm having major surgery next week and can barely find the time to update this blog on a weekly basis. No sirrreeee...that's not me! Just because I saw a friend's baby blog and got jealous/inspired doesn't mean I need to blindly leap into another time-sucking yet rewarding way to spend my precious "me time".

"Me time" is free time. Right? And I have soooo much "me time" that I'm at a loss as to how to fill it. Same with you? I thought so! Never mind that I have the attention span of a gnat recently. I can't even upload a new video of my daughter to Facebook because it takes too long. I've started it twice and always hit "cancel" because I decide to do something else. I'm sure my in-laws will understand once I explain.

This is why I never take on more responsibilities that I can handle. I only have a finite amount of concentration due to rigorous multitasking over several years. Nope, I learned my lesson on that one. Case closed! Right. ;)

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Wordless Wednesday: Move Over?

Siblings!

For more Wordless Wednesday, head over to 5 Minutes for Mom.

Not Me Monday: MOA

I would never take a toddler on a 45 minute walk through the Mall of America, then expect him to behave at a "nice" restaurant. Never mind that his baby sister was a veritable perfect angel while her brother Zach had a meltdown at Game Stop after spotting a Cars" Wii game hidden within the pre-owned games rack. My son has a good eye!

It was probably the only time that two women were in that Game Stop at the same time, actually. Even if one was only 6 months old.

And I never try to bribe my 2 1/2 year old son to behave with promises of treats afterwards. Not me! Zach made every effort to escape his highchair, even turning down noodles (his favorite!) and then saying he wanted to take a nap. Desperate times call for desperate measures, apparently.

Dad: "If you behave until we're done with lunch, you can have a special treat."

Zach: "No. Treat first!"

What a negotiator!

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.