cozy up!

A shop update!! I've got a whole new line of items being introduced in the shop as we blog. New this fall in the Broken Hallelujah shop are these coffee cup cozies.

They are perfect for any coffee or tea lover who just can't resist heading out to your local coffee shop and indulging. Believe me, you aren't the only one.

If you are like me and can't resist a good cup'o'joe every day, then this is the item for you! These take the place of those cardboard sleeves you pick up at the counter. With this sleeve you are not only drinking your coffee in style, but it's also an eco friendly solution to your burning finger tips.

I've made a bunch of these up in lots of different colors, patterns, yarns, etc. You can see the whole collection now in my shop. And of course, custom orders are always welcome.

And if you have any suggestions for color combinations, please share! I'm always open to new ideas.

falling in love with handmade.

I have been busy this week, man o man. It seems like fall is really gearing up here and sales are reflecting it. But I haven't been too busy to look a

round Etsy and Artfire and find some of my favorite items that are perfect for fall.

These gorgeous earrings are made with crystal and aged brass and are bound to be the prettiest acorns on the block. Simple and elegant, I think these would make a great accessory for any autumn wardrobe. You can find these wonderful dangling acorn earrings in ellejewel's shop for only $13.75.

Another thing I love about fall is bringing out the cold weather wear. This gorgeous scarf is bursting with fall color and looks so snuggly and warm. It's perfect for women or men, and you can find it in loriloom's etsy shop on sale this weekend for $32.

And finally, you can't have fall without having a spicy candle that captures all the scents of the season. Pumpkin, apples, cinnamon, and more, I love this time of year when I can find an abundance of wonderfully spiced, warm scented candles that can just warm me up with one whiff of their delicious scent. Blisscandles has many assorted fall scented candles available in your shop for very affordable prices, like this 16 oz candle for $34.

fall makeover.

September is here and fall is coming! Broken Hallelujah is getting ready.

Both the Etsy & Artfire shops have gotten a make over to reflect the changing seasons. Changes have also come to the Broken Hallelujah fan page on Facebook. Lovely new fall oranges, blues, reds, and greens are taking over!

Plus there are lovely new fall accessories in the shop with more coming soon. Scarflettes, hats, and of course my mary jane slippers are perfect for keeping you warm and fashionable this fall. With these quality, one of a kind items, you are sure to make a statement on campus, in the office, or out with your girl friends.

Stop by the shops (Etsy or Artfire) today and see all that is new with Broken Hallelujah accessories!

back to school.

Everyone seems to be headed back to school around this time of year. While I'm not headed back myself, I still love shopping through fun back-to-school items. Here's some great handmade items perfect for heading back into the classroom (or just oogling).

These adorable apple name tags are perfect for labeling items on the way back to school and making sure nothing is lost. Plus they are so bright & cute! You can find them in MiChiMa's etsy shop for only $3.

Sleevy's beautiful crochet notebook sleeves are officially drool worthy. They are offered in wonderful, sophisticated color schemes and heading back to school is the perfect excuse to pick up one today. You can find them in sleevy's shop for $50.

And finally, you can't go back to class without a great notebook to doodle in. This one Baghy is gorgeous leather embellished with a wonderful flower-esque design. You can find this (and other wonder journals) in Baghy's shop. This one is only $32.

keep it colorful.

Brand new in the shop! A new line of coin purses that includes these adorable little mini purses.

These fun purses were an idea from my mother who found some fun crochet coin purses on the internet and thought I should give it a try. So I researched the little frames (which can be quite expensive!) and bought some bright, tropical yarns to make fun patterns and color combinations. And these little purses were born!

Although they are small and adorable, they have an unsurpassed durability. The tight knit and durable yarn means these little pouches will last through many shopping sprees while keeping your purse just an tiny bit more organized. They hold a good deal of change so you won't be digging around the bottom of your bag looking for direct change. Plus, they're small size makes them great stocking stuffers for the upcoming holidays!

And already I've had great feedback about these little purses. The first couple I listed in my shop have sold right away, so I have more planned and already ordered a few more frames which should be arriving soon.

I've had so much fun designing and making these little pouches and I can't wait to continue. Check out the Artfire and Etsy shops to order your very own mini coin purse today!

can you feel it?

Can you feel it in the air? Autumn is coming!

Okay, perhaps you can't feel the crisp evenings coming quite yet, but I can bet many of us are wishing for the cooler temperatures and warm, comforting foods that accompany the season change.

Autumn is on the horizon, though. Soon it'll be time for kids to go back to school, ripe crisp apples, and changing leaves. I've been working hard to get my shops ready for the upcoming season change. New hats, scarves, scarflettes, and more are coming to help keep everyone stylish and warm this fall. I am working on some new designs as I type in great colors and luxurious fibers like merino wool, angora, silk, and more!

I'm also beginning to take custom orders for the holiday season. It may seem early, but it's wise to order far ahead of time to ensure I can get the order finished in plenty of time for the holidays. If you are thinking of ordering anything custom, please think about doing it soon. Custom orders are first come, first serve.

In the mean time enjoy the rest of the hot summer days ahead of us. And keep your eyes here for an upcoming fall giveaway!

freebies are goodies.

One of my favorite parts of buying handmade online are the freebies! Us handmade artisans are sure desperate to please, and one of the ways we attempt to do it is tossing in freebies. Whether it be a wee bit of candy for the sweet tooth, a sample of lotion or soap, or a fun magnet, I love them all. With all my love for freebies, it may surprise you to find out that I don't give out my own. Not for lack of trying. I just think that some crafts are better suited towards creating small, relatively low priced samples and crochet wasn't one of them. Until now.

Earlier in the week I spent an afternoon crafting up these simple beauties. Some cotton double bloom flowers with delicious candy-colored button centers. One thing that held me back till this point in time was my lack of focus in my shop. It was hard to find something that reflected my shop style when my shop was way to eclectic. But now that I've focused my items more, these flowers reflect the colorful simplicity I think of my items (and myself). Plus these flowers use up scrap yarn that just doesn't have enough left for larger projects.

Now I just need to design some fun "thank-you" cards to go attach to them for when I slide them into the packaged - headed for their new home. These will start going out with all incoming orders, so there's even more incentive to take advantage of my Artfire 20% off sale - get a deal and grab one of these for free!!

I think it's important to think up freebies or other ways to make your customer feel special. Anything you can do to encourage people to come back and continue to support handmade will not only benefit you, but all handmade artisans trying to sell their goodies on the web. And if, like me, you are stuck on what to give I've selected some great shops I found on Artfire who sell customizable promotional items like magnets, pins, notepads, and more. So check out some of these great links to be inspired!

• Buttonhead - buttons, tattoos, stickers, postcards, zipper pulls & more!
• TootsiesTidbits - custom clothespin magnets
• TheLetterCrazy - mini notebooks, scratch offs

keep your place.

Summer is always a great time to catch up on some reading. As a former student, I understand that finding time to enjoy a good book can be hard to find when more pressing matters are at hand. But there's just something about long summer days, porch swings, a glass of ice tea, and an exciting book that just screams summer.

In that same spirit, I've designed some new bookmarks that have been added to the shop over the past few weeks. These colorful place-keepers feature a bright, colorful flower attached to a green vine that wraps around the book's spine and attaches under the blossom. And sitting on the leaf beneath the flower is a little lady bug for that added sensation of summer.

The bookmarks are handmade using cotton yarn so they are light, soft, and washable. And at only $7.50 they are also affordable. They would make great gifts for anyone you know who loves to read. Custom colors & sizes are available, so if you have a specific type of flower you have in mind I can easily make a one-of-a-kind bookmark just for you. Along with the pink dahlia shown here I have a white daisy, a blue forget-me-not, and a purple violet. More colors coming soon, so visit the shop today to pick up your own.

braided.

In summer selling crochet items can be, well, darn hard. My slippers always do well for me once the cool weather starts to roll in, but during the hottest months of the year the demand for them is not very high. (Though I do hear, "Come winter, I'm getting myself a pair of these!" alot.)

To remedy my selling summer blues, I knew I had to come up with a crochet item that broke the traditional mold of crochet. It can't be bulky, hot, or heavy. And one fiber always seems to be the most associated with summer, cotton.

So I designed a couple lines of headbands, one of which is my braided crochet headbands. These are near and dear to my heart because they are 1) fun to make and 2) allow me to play with fun color combinations.

If I could have my way, I would have every color of yarn - ever! Then think of all the possibilities. But believe me, I have enough (for now) and I do have a blast working out new headband colors. These two new headbands have just been added to my Artfire shop and run $8 + shipping. One is summery with bright yellow & blue, and the other is more traditional with red & black. Both would look great with a tank top and jeans or as a fun accessory with a swim suit out by the pool.

Either way, these crochet goodies weigh you down in the summer heat. For more information, visit my Artfire studio.

a room with a view. of the ocean.

I'm so sorry for disappearing! Real life is once again taking hold and prohibiting me from blogging and visiting all my favorite reads, and it doesn't look like it'll be letting up anytime soon.

This past week I spent in my soon to be future home of Wilmington, North Carolina. A big move is coming for Andy & I as we trek (literally) halfway across the country for school. We'll be making the move at the very end of July, but we had to get our living arrangements sorted out before hand (mostly just to calm my nerves). We now have a beautiful, roomy new apartment that is about 15 minutes from the beach and I couldn't be more excited about calling it home soon.

For now we are back in Texas and I trying mentally and physically to prepare us for the move coming up. Been cleaning the apartment and starting to get stuff packed away into boxes so when August 1st comes rolling around the actual moving part won't be such a headache.

In between packing, cleaning, & traveling, I've managed to fit a teensy bit of crocheting in. These slippers I added to the Artfire shop last night. I have named them Oceanview - I guess my trip kind of inspired me!

I don't know when I'll get more things added to the shop. Besides the move, there's been a serious development with my dad. He underwent bipass surgery a few months back, but right now things aren't looking as good as could be hoped. A few of the grafted arteries seem to be clogged & the surgeon thinks it's too soon after the first bipass to attempt to perform another one to graft a few more arteries. For now it looks like he'll be getting some stints placed in the bad arteries in an attempt to relieve some of the pain he's been feeling & buy him some time incase he'll need another bipass. Please keep my family in your thoughts as I think we're all still in a bit of shock on how this is turning out. And please think fondly of my dad & hope he gets better soon with no more pain, surgery, and hopefully no heart attacks.

Sorry to leave off on such a sad note, I just wanted to give you all a heads up on why I may not be around as much as I'd like to be. And I'll try to keep updated as things progress with both the move and my dad. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of the week (and may it lead quickly to the weekend!).

shop update

I haven't done an update on all the goodies being added to the shop in awhile. I've been busy busy busy crocheting up a storm. Slippers, headbands, bookmarks, and more are all being added to the shop almost daily!

Recently added to the shop is this pair of mary jane slippers. They are crocheted in a variegated green color that inspired their name: Mint Mojito. It's the perfect color for a pair of comfy spring house shoes & that's what you'll find with these slippers. Those and several others (including some old favorites like Sunburst and Cotton Candy) are now available in the shop and I have some more on the way! You can see all of my handmade mary janes by clicking here.

I have also been working up a storm on my increasingly popular three strand headbands. I have added more with a detachable flower pin (like the one pictured here) & a new style that has alternating colors of the strands. They are both selling really quickly. This black one has been a very popular choice & I'm constantly having to make more to replace the inventory.

New colors along with classics like Midnight Black, Espresso Brown, and Cornflower Blue are stocked up in the shop now.

What I love about these headbands is they have a classic style - inspired by the always fashionable Greek goddess look. You can wear them in more than one way, however. You can customize the flower and create fun color combinations (alternative flowers are also available in many colors for only $2.50!). You can wear them further back on the head for a classic look or can wear it further forward on your forhead to produce the popular bohemian look. Wear it your way depending on your mood!

You can see all my headbands in my shop now!

clean & green

I love the clean lines of these works & the combination of simple green and white. Click the images above for more information on each item.

friday spotlight: birds.

This spotlight is going to the birds!

friday spotlight: tangerine

So good you could almost eat it up!

Click the pictures for more information on each item.

bookmark it!

Just in time for Mother's Day, I am introducing these new flower bookmarks in both the Artfire and Etsy shops. 

The bookmarks feature a fun flower with a glass bead accent in the center. The flower rests on top of the book's spine, while the three strands of yarn below easily keep the place in any sized book. 

It's a fun, feminine way to mark your place. Not to mention unique and colorful! It would also make a great handmade addition to cards (like Mother's Day cards!).

An assortment of colors will be available in the shop soon. But Mother's Day is coming up fast and there's only a limited number of shipping days left to ensure your one-of-a-kind, handmade gift will make it in time, so custom order a great crochet flower bookmark in Mom's favorite color today! Direct shipping to Mom's house is available at no extra charge along with my customary gift wrapping. 

These bookmarks are great for any occasion, though! Toss one in a 'Thank You' or 'Get Well Soon' card - it'll be a gift that won't quickly be forgotten. It's a great way to say 'I'm thinking of you!". 

These and more available in my Artfire and Etsy shop! Check them out today.

AccessoriesByGottjoy

This is a shop you just can't afford to miss! AccessoriesByGottjoy is a treasure trove of gorgeous, amazing finds of all sorts. Every single one of them is gorgeously made. The range of items you'll find in this shop is slightly mind blowing! You can find great jewelry (like what I've displayed here), along with wine stoppers, fan pulls, ball point pens, key rings, and more! Everything is a treat for your eyes to look at! If you are looking for a tasteful, well priced gift for a friend then this shop definitely has you covered. You'll be able to find something for everyone for all occasions.

And if you see something you'd like, but need customized she also does custom orders. So be sure to drop by this beautiful studio and let her know how great the work is! And let her know Brandy of Broken Hallelujah sent you. 

taking it forward.

Lately new ideas for headband styles have been taking up most of my time. I always try to rework things to see how far I can go creatively with a single idea. And thanks to some inspiration sparked by my friend Fran (who has a wonderful embroidery shop that you really need to check out) I've come up with some new ideas for my original three-strand headband.

Fran was really instrumental in the construction of the braided headband I've developed. It's three strands like the other headbands, all a single, different color braided together to produce a very clean, sophisticated look. Playing with color combinations has been a lot of fun and I'm really looking forward to trying out a few more. I've already got a couple braided headbands listed in both the Artfire and Etsy shops. 

Another look I've been playing with this weekend is similar to the original three-strand look, but plays with more color. These headbands have been designed to have a playful but clean look. The colors of the headband alternate with the middle strand being a separate, matching color to the outer bands. The combinations for this design are endless (well, it would be if my yarn supply was endless. A girl can dream.). I think it is definitely a playful look, yet still sophisticated because of the slightly muted color combinations that are both great for us "grown-ups" and kids, alike. 

These redesigns come just in time for Mother's Day, too. I think these headbands would make fun, handmade gifts for moms of any age! And custom orders are always welcome should you have a specific color combination you'd like to see. Want to use Mom's favorite color? No problem! And for $7 a pop you can afford to buy a little gift for yourself, too. 

All my headbands can be found on both Artfire and Etsy. Be sure to order soon to guarantee items arrive in time.

byhand.me

Byhand.me is a great online community that is specifically designed for artisans selling handmade goods online. It has grown very quickly and is a great place to meet fellow artisans and for artisans to showcase their work and the work of their peers. 

One of my favorite features available on Byhand is the spotlights. Each week for this blog I use this great feature to showcase handmade goods in a certain theme. This week my showcase highlighted cute spring animals. The great thing about these spotlights is that other Byhand members are able to view them as well as share them on Twitter and on their blogs. Byhand allows you to post a code to display your spotlight in numerous ways on your blogs so you can share showcases with the world. It's a great way to share your goods and those you love! 

Another great feature is the member blogs. You can share blog posts with friends as well as share them on the front page of the website. All the stories you see on the Byhand front page are provided by members! This allows you go skip one of the hardest parts of blogging - getting traffic! Byhand does all the work for you and all you have to do is share your great blog entries. Member blogs are customizable just like blogs here on blogger and wordpress. You can customize the sidebar of your blog such as I did to share items from your shop. There are a lot of other options available to you, too. 

And finally, Byhand allows you to consolidate all your stores, social networks, and more into one page! Byhand member's profiles are customizable to showcase member's bios, shops, RSS feeds (for Etsy, Artfire, or your blog), flickr accounts, twitter, spotlights, blog entries, and so much more. Customizing your member's page is easy and fun! And you can visit other member's pages and form new friendships. And we all know how important networking is in this time & age. You can see my profile on Byhand here. I've only just begun to customize the look of my page. All the options you are given really allow you to make the page your own and use it to your fullest. 

Overall, Byhand.me is a great community for all handmade artisans. Check it out today! And be sure to add me as one of your friends. 

picard creative

Picard Creative is a great shop that features some one of a kind, sassy magnets. Everything in the shop seems to be somewhat tongue in cheek, and I love it!

Check out her shop on Artfire for more great magnets that are made from recycled art. So they are not only sassy, but also eco-friendly. And they beat greeting cards that get tossed in the garbage after a week.

At the great prices she offers, you can afford to pick up some, save em away for all occasions.

small redesign.

New headbands! In bright, new colors! With bright, colorful flowers. These, and several more are available now both in the Artfire shop and on Etsy. Or shop now, below, directly from this page.

I've really enjoyed working on my new collection of headbands, but as with everything I start to tweek my designs a bit to play with new ways of working it. Working on getting the exact look I'm going for. With these new headbands, I've done a tiny bit of a redesign. The bands of the headband are now skinnier. I've decided to go with this look over my wider design because to me this one looks more like the Greek goddess design that first inspired me in the concept of these headbands. 

What do you think of the slight redesign? Can you even tell anything has been changed?

And one more little reminder - I have set up a new mailing list for Broken Hallelujah Accessories fans! Receive updates on new items and special discounts! Sign up now using the form in the sidebar. 

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