VERY Special Announcement and a GIVEAWAY!

I'm so excited to tell all of you that Belle + Bee was selected to be featured on the Growing Your Baby website today! And they're hosting a GIVEAWAY of one of my handmade bunnies! A while back I was contacted by the editor of the website and asked if I would like to be part of their month-long series on Etsy artists...um, yeah! So I've been working my little fingers to the bone to update the shop listings and get some new designs ready before the big day. I hope you'll hop on over to the feature, take a look around in the shop, and share your favorite item in my collection. Then I really hope one of you will win a handmade bunny from me:)

Pay It Forward 2011

Have you heard about Pay It Forward 2011? It's been everywhere from various blogs to Facebook. A couple of days ago, I signed up to play on FB...but only got two takers!!! Come on folks, I'm offering to give you something, probably something fabulous, and you won't take me up on the offer! So maybe there are a few strings attached. Are you worried about having to make things for 5 other people? I'm fairly certain that a batch of brownies would count:)

Well, then I found the blogger version at Lindsay Sews. I figured I might get a better response out here in Blogville...so here's the scoop.

The first three people to comment here will receive a handmade gift from me sometime in 2011. BUT, you have to respost this to your own blog and offer three handmade gifts to others, who of course, have to repost, and so on, and so on. Pay it forward:)

What will you receive...who knows, but I have already planned super fantastic gifts for Holly and Shawna who bravely agreed to play on FB. Things that I know they will love:) So who's gonna play in Bloggieland???

Be sure to leave some way for me to contact you in your comment...and if you haven't already click on "follow" and show me some love:)

Lucky Me!

I won!

I love giveaways, and I enter them all the time. Unfortunately, I very rarely actually win anything. But it seems my luck may be turning. I won two great prizes on Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway day (pics to come when they arrive...both from outside the US), and now I've won a bundle of gorgeous Henna Garden. A HUGE thank you to Kaelin at The Plaid Scottie for her super generous giveaway. And also congratulations on your 10,000th hit!

Maybe I'm lucky afterall....

The Giveaway Winner is...

Addy:)

Who said, "Your hats are lovely, and since I can't knit or crochet at all, I am super-impressed!"

Congrats! You should already have an email from me in your inbox...if not, leave a comment here and we'll track it down in cyber-space.

And for those of you who are super jealous of Addy right now...custom hats are available for order through my Etsy shop. You'll notice the shop is on vacation through 1/4/11, but I'm still taking custom orders, so just send me a convo and we'll make sure you get the hat of your dreams:)

Last Chance and Another Teaser

It's your last chance to get in on my GIVEAWAY! Comments will close tomorrow (12/17) at NOON EST. You don't want to miss out, so scamper on down the page and be sure to leave a comment about your favorite winter crafting activities! I'll contact the winner by email sometime tomorrow afternoon.

In the last couple of weeks I've been churning out holiday orders like mad around here, and I'm almost there. Two tees, one hat, and one grocery bag are all that remain. And then I get to really start on all the gifts that I have planned. A little late...I'm fully aware. But, I have a rock solid plan to get it all completed:)

So here's the Handmade Holiday update...

You've seen the start of Belle's BIG gift (and there's still lots more to come on that one). So here's sneak peak at what Bee will be finding under the tree next Saturday. Any guesses on this one???

What might have ducks...


and dots...



flowers...

lattice...

and more dots...

and even some leaves???

I need to make a run to the fabric store before I can finish it, so I guess you will just have to wait and see:) But if you love those fabrics...most of them came from Melanie, so pay her a visit and get $5 shipping no matter how much you buy!

And seriously, don't forget the GIVEAWAY!

GIVEAWAY DAY!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. I'LL BE IN TOUCH WITH THE WINNER VERY SOON:)

If you are a new visitor to Belle + Bee...WELCOME! I'm so excited about Sew Mama Sew's Giveaway Day because not only do I get to meet new blog friends, but I also get to roam cyber-world and drool over all the prizes that I want to win! I had the WORST time trying to decide what to offer here at Belle + Bee. There were just so many choices of fun things to share:)

But, first a tiny bit of background about Belle + Bee for our new friends. I'm a stay-at-home mom with two adorable little girls, "Belle," who is 3 and "Bee," who is 1. I started quilting as a little girl and over time have branched out to pretty much any thing that can be sewn, stitched, or created. I'm a compulsive project-starter, which drives my incredibly supportive husband just a little crazy. And Belle + Bee, the blog, is my outlet to share all the various projects that fill my days. You can find everything from needle felted fairies to clothing tutorials to kids' crafts in the archives. And there's always something new around the next corner!

But enough of that...on to the fun stuff:)

In my world, winter is all about cozy crafts...things that warm you as you work. So, after much debate, I settled on a COZY CUSTOM HAT AND SCARF SET for my prize. The options really are endless. Adult, child, infant, earflaps, fur, fuzz, animals, flowers, pompoms... I'll contact the winner via email to design your custom set.

Now, if I were you...I'd take a good hard look at that Christmas shopping list. Then I'd bury it in my bag and order this first set for myself. Of course, I'm just a bit biased. That's my hat and scarf:) It is the thickest, softest, my luscious yarn ever! Warm, wooly, and oh so happy:) (And available in other colors, of course!) The perfect way to reward yourself for surviving all the holiday hubub! I just wish you could touch it through your screen!!!!

But, there are lots of other options too! Animal hats are very popular with small children, but also HUGELY popular with teenagers and young adults. I've actually sold more in adult sizes than child sizes this holiday season.

And every little girl needs a snuggly flower hat that ties securely around her chin so she can't wrestle it off in mid-walk. Because that has NEVER happened in our stroller! HA!

Teddy bears, panda bears, cats, and lions, oh my! [That's a "GRRRR!" in the pic:)]

But of course, if you live in a windy climate, it's nice to be able to tie your own hat securely around your chin.

And one more flower because Bee is just so darn cute!

As you can see, the options really are endless...you design your own prize. I'll work with you to get color, yarn, style, and size that will be perfect for anyone on your list, including yourself!

To enter, just comment below! Tell me your favorite winter crafting activity, and PLEASE leave your email address in your comment so that I can track you down easily. I'll randomly select a winner on December 17. Of course, I'd love to have some new followers, so take a look around and if you like what you see you can use the various tools on the right to follow in your reader or on Facebook. If you follow on Facebook you'll find occassional FB specials and Etsy coupon codes available only to followers.

That poor child is so tired of having to pose in hats!!! I hope she'll forgive me someday!

Thanks for stopping by, and don't forget to take a look at the other great giveaways at Sew Mama Sew.

100!!! A Celebration and Giveaway:)

I can't believe this is my 100th post! In celebration I've put together a little round up of some of my favorite moments from the last several months. And as I was working on this post, I noticed a distinct absence of Bee. Poor thing is always getting left out:( So for the next 100, I'm going to try my best to include her a little more. It is getting easier since she is actually able to participate in things now!

And if you actually took the time to scroll through all those pics, then I have a tiny little giveaway today too:) The first person to get Belle + Bee 5 new followers on facebook or the blog (that's 5 different people) will win a custom designed t-shirt. I'll work with you to create something that your special little one will truly treasure! So go recommend Belle + Bee to your friends and family. Have them comment either on the Facebook page or on this post and let me know who sent them. First person to 5 wins:)

GIVEAWAY DAY!

It's Sew Mama Sew Giveaway Day! Luv it, luv it, luv it!

Find the link to Sew Mama Sew down and to the right....keep going...yep, there it is!
There are over 250 giveaways on blogs across the world and they all end on Thursday.

I have my eye on the mermaid beach towel at http://mamasamess.blogspot.com/2010/05/sew-mama-sews-giveaway-day.html So CUTE! And with Belle's current Ariel obsession it's a must-try-to-win!

Be sure to comment below on the best of the best that you have found!