Do you have time for hobbies?

Well see my hobby has turned into a full blown business (which I love and am completely grateful for!) But sometimes, I miss making something by hand, just to make it, out of nothingness, from start to finish, with no other creative persuasion but my own!

I am blessed to work with so many lovely customers and brides, but the nature of the majority of that work is custom (which is super fun and challenging sometimes!). So you get what I'm saying? I just every now and again want to create something out of my head with no direction.... until I'm happy I've produced something pretty. That's all.

You may want to sneak a peek over at my baby shop for some of my latest creations (I'm considering this my new 'hobby') ♥

Upcoming Halifax Shows!

Christmas season is soon going to be upon us, I can hardly believe it!

LouLouBell will be exhibiting at the following shows and hope you can join us there!

November 4 - 6, 2011
Christmas at the Forum
Halifax Forum
Halifax, Nova Scotia

November 25-27, 2011
Dalplex Christmas Craft Market
Dalhousie University
Halifax, Nova Scotia

December 3 & 4, 2011
Halifax Crafters Yuletide Cheer
Olympic Centre, Cunard Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia

LouLouBell Clutches on the big day

Congratulations Heather! Your wedding looked like it was a beautiful day! And thanks for sharing these photos. It's always so nice to see my creations in use....

Tied up with a Bow

So I noticed my little sisters have been tending towards bows and ribbons lately, and if your a 'Gleek' (like myself) you would have noticed the ladies wearing black bows in their hair at Nationals. So I made some bows out of double-face satin ribbon, added some feathers and netting and attached them to a hairband. What could be easier than that? Voila! No-fuss, toss my hair in a headband fascinator! I'll be adding more to the shop soon!

Updates

Update Number 1:

Here's a little preview of some work I packaged up and am sending off to the Cannes Film Festival this week to be gifted to the stars! I wish I could fit in the box and and be fedexed there too...someday :) I'm just grateful that the organizers of the gifting suite at the festival are kind enough to host my designs for me, I'll keep you posted later if I get some good celeb photos back!

Update Number 2:

My Morning Glories are sprouting! Yay!

Muffins & Seedlings

It's a rainy day here in Halifax and it's just me and my Taylor hanging out.

So I thought i'd start by bringing the outdoors in today. I've been carrying around these seeds that my Nan took from her gorgeous garden in Mull River, Cape Breton. And finally got them in some soil. Now let's hope that I've inherited her green thumb. There's Morning Glories, Hollyhocks, Cosmos, Climbing Nastursions, Purple Corn Flower and Poppies. Now I'll wait patiently and hope to see some sprouts.

Someone who's not waiting patiently? Taylor, anxiously wishing for the chocolate chip muffins to come out of the oven!

Wedding Cake Blossoms

Wedding Cake Provided by Layers Wedding Cakes

Handmade Flower Cake Embellishments by LouLouBell Handmade

Hi friends, I'm so super excited to share my latest project with you!

I recently visited the delightful bakery shop of Jennifer Harris, cake baker extraordinaire of Layers Wedding Cakes. She and I collaborated to design a wedding cake with a new idea of using my fabric flowers as cake embellishments! Cool right? I think it turned out really pretty if I do say so myself :) So basically, the idea is that you can have flowers made to coordinate with your wedding theme and colors, and they are ready for you to bring to your cake decorator. Made from satin, chiffon and organza, they won't wilt, and you can use them later in other applications as a reminder of your special day! Or bring them back to me and have them made into hairpins or sewn onto a special clutch. Sold in set of one dozen in varying sizes, in any colors you'd like. See them in my Etsy Shop.

If you're local, Layers Wedding Cakes is the leading bakery here, your senses are awakened when you walk in the darling Layers kitchen to the sights and smells of gorgeous cakes and cupcakes in every possible flavor you can think of. It's pretty amazing. (and I used Jen for our own wedding cake too a few years back). Whatever you have in mind for your big day, this is the lady to see!

My Big Day Downtown

I just had a Big Day in Downtown Halifax! First of all, I was honored to be a part of this awesome promotion that was offered through the Downtown Halifax Business Commission. $100 to spend at my discretion... oh my, a little overwhelming! That money was burning a hole in my pocket!

What did I shop for? I admit, I was 100% greedy with my $100. Since having a baby last year, any bits of my shopping time are usually spent shopping for him, groceries, or other not-so-fun errands that have to be done - and any spare money I use to buy up fabric and other crafty supplies for my stash! So I put the baby in daycare, and away I went!

Gorgeous vintage styled store-front window at Boutique Joliette, Halifax.
(Cool tip: all the vintage lighting used in the shop is for sale, including chandeliers)

I knew the first place I wanted to hit up for sure was Boutique Joliette on Hollis Street. I've been in briefly a few times before, but usually as I'm rushing around trying to get errands done and dropping off orders (shop owner Alexis carries a variety of LouLouBell accessories there!) So I've been given brief glimpses of the boutique and every time I've stepped foot in there I knew I wanted to come back on a day that I can take a leisurely look around. There are soooo many little trinkets and treasures to look at, a quick look just won't do!

Above: Shameless self-promo - My hair accessories on display at Boutique Joliette

The thing I like about this place is that it mixes two of my very favorite things - Canadian handmade pieces and quality vintage finds. Below is a mix of some of my favorite things that stood out.



I have to say a very big thanks to Alexis' Mom for putting up with me while I asked her to see every ring in the shop - she literally had to drag out just about every size 6.5, in every jewelery display case in the place!

I love big rings! Which is kind of bizarre, because I totally hate the look of my stubby hands, but perhaps I hope that a nice ring will catch a person's eye and distract from my yucky, ragged nails that are in desperate need of a manicure! A friend recently gave me a gift certificate for a manicure that I am hoping to use soon. If you are in downtown Halifax and looking for a great place for a manicure, I would highly recommend Spirit Spa - I love that place! Modern, welcoming and comfortable and always smells so awesome when you walk in the doors. And it happens to be right next door to Felicity Bridal (super nice bridal shop) so it's really convenient if you wanted to plan to make a day of dress shopping and pampering with your girls!

Kind of went off my track there, but anyways - back to rings. I had a really hard time deciding on just one. I am partial to silver or white gold. And Boutique Joliette carries such an amazingly huge selection of stones and pearls and vintage pieces, you're sure to find one that strikes you. I had it down to a few that were all beautiful and I would have taken with me, including other local designers including Peter Bauer and Tory xo. When we were in Dominican for our wedding, my husband bought me a silver ring with a blue Laramar stone that I love and wear all the time. I wanted something simple, and plain that I could wear for any occasion and after trying on a bunch of them (and loving all of them!) I settled on this hammered silver ring from local designer Lynda Constantine. It's shiny and beautiful, I haven't taken it off yet, I love it!

Hammered Silver Ring by Lynda Constantine

So after feeling like I had completely combed over every gorgeous trinket and gem at Boutique Joliette, my next stop was up to Argyle Street to Biscuit. I've known about Biscuit General Store for a couple of years now, but have never stepped foot inside until my big day downtown, and I am so happy that I finally visited this place! Have you ever been? You need to go!


This is my new favorite place for clothes shopping! I seriously, no word of a lie, had to phone my husband while standing in line at the cash register to talk me out of spending my entire pay cheque here! Yikes!


This place is a mix of just about everything. Candy, housewares, stationary, accessories - it's got it all!
Here's a sampling of some the really cute stuff I found here and wanted to take home.

These little sundae dishes remind me of eating ice cream at my Nan's house as a little girl.

Ceramic soap dish with cherub.

I had been collecting articles of clothing as I went and I'm pretty sure the lovely sales girl that was there helping me had to take 5 or 6 trips back to my dressing room to unload piles of clothes for me to try on.... I was in there for a while!

This is fun. Random trash mag clippings splattered over the wall of the dressing room for your reading pleasure.

This is the sweater dress I haven't stopped thinking about since I tried it on.
I was HEARTBROKEN to leave this behind, but alas, my pocket book is only so big.

Biscuit only stocks a few of each pieces they bring in, so you know that not everyone downtown will be wearing what you have on. So a word of advice girls - if you LOVE it, BUY IT! Or it will be gone. I'm sure my sweater dress that was just my size, or the gorgeous burnt orange ruffle sweater that I had in my clutches right up until I had to pull my wallet out is also now gone to another happy shopper : (

I had to be dollar wise, so I landed on a purchase of a cozy, blue Cheap Monday t-shirt, and a safe and versatile long, gray, button down cardigan by Tulle LA.

So this was my 'Big Day Downtown'! So much fun! Besides the unique boutiques and amazing shopping, Halifax is also a great place in the summer time for patios - beer and nachos, and people watching! When I first moved to Halifax a friend of mine dragged me on the big green 'Harbour Hopper' and I would also highly recommend this as a good way to spend some time getting to know the city. Even if you've lived here for years, the amount of information and cool tidbits you can learn about Halifax is really great - you'd be surprised!

So thanks again DHBC, and to all the helpful ladies at Boutique Joliette and Biscuit General Store -

And friends, if you're local - take a walk downtown this weekend! And for my blogger friends, if you're ever planning a visit to Halifax, I'd be happy to point out some of the best places to hit up downtown Halifax!!

Halifax Crafters Spring Fling!

Up to my ears in fabric and ribbon and lace! Local friends, please come visit me and so many of my favorite Halifax Crafters this weekend at the Olympic Centre, corner of Cunard and Hunter - Saturday and Sunday! I'm bringing lots of my bags and pouches, hair pins and accessories, and a few new additions including some quilted throw pillows and infant spring dresses! 

Going to the Market!

And my FAVORITE market at that! This is the Halifax Crafter's Market - a super fun bunch of folks, I'm so happy to be joining them again for their Spring Market, April 17 & 18 at the Olympic Centre in Halifax (Corner of Cunard and Hunter, near Windsor) If you're local - you don't want to miss it! Some lovelies I know who will be there include Trudi of Double Happiness, Susan from the Silver Hook and Jessie Tesolin with her beautiful glass work. Come out and visit!

Happy Holidays!

Ah, Christmas cards, carols and a nice glass of red wine........and a sleeping baby!

I couldn't resist posting this pic of our little Taylor. After standing in a line with tons of super excited and screaming kids for half an hour, Taylor finally got to meet Santa! So now we've made the introductions and Santa will know where to find him on Christmas eve : ) I'm pretty sure I cried and cried and did not want to sit on Santa's lap when I was a little girl, but Taylor loved him and smiled for the first picture! 

Merry Christmas friends! 

Well.......we did it!

We loaded everything into the Jeep........

............well, almost everything - the shelf got tied on top. 

And we packed all my little pouches into the Forum to setup for the weekend. 

Thanks to all our friends and family for helping out, setting up, covering off shifts (Meg I love you), babysitting, and bringing us hot coffee : )  And thanks to Dare for doing the heavy lifting and helping me in countless ways!

Of course, also a huge thanks to my customers for all your support, it is greatly appreciated! 

Fa la la la la......Christmas at the Forum

Photo courtesy of Mr. Hubley (digitalbuild.ca)

Wow, I've been quite neglectful my bloggy friends. Please forgive me, I've been so busy spending every spare minute I can find to lock myself away in my sewing room! 

Every year I go to the annual 'Christmas at the Forum', a really large crafters and artisan market here in Halifax. It's a perfect way to start getting in the festive mood. When you walk through the door you can hear familiar Christmas Carols playing and the smell of delicious food hits your nose! So not only am I excited to be attending this year, but it's my first time as a vendor there! So this is why I've been so busy, sewing away! 

If you're local, please come visit at the Halifax Forum, November 6, 7 and 8th! 

Local Love

Etsy has this great feature to locate sellers by location. So I popped in Halifax, and look at all these fabulous finds, right in our backyard! 

1. Crocheted Cloths by BlueFrogCreations
2. Victorian Pin Cushion by PinkBunnyPatterns
3. Pleated Small Handbag by piprobins
4. Clear pinch pots by pointofviewglass
5. Big Notebooks by Doublehappiness