Summer Inspirations


All I can think about is summer vacation.
I have lost my mind...
So I'm sharing some summer inspirations.
Hope I will be back soon with many outfit posts which I've missed a lot.

Fashionably yours,
Despina


   
  

  

   
   
         
    



  

Fun Friday Finds ~ Born in the USA!

By Mara Olden of Dragonfly Adornments

All of the products were born in the USA... and Minnesota! 
Show your support by checking out our talented artists and crafters from Minnesota on Etsy.

Visit these HandmadeMN shops to see more: 
Click on any of the names below 



Primrose joins the Lily Gang :-)

If you think these dolls are fun to make, you're right!  They will make delightful Christmas gifts for the little girls on my list.  Primrose is the latest of the Lily Gang, with her move-able head and nifty knee joints.  Tutorials for both of these techniques are on the blog; look for 'Tutorials,' and 'Tutorials by Joyce.'  The basic doll pattern can be found on the Lily Sugar&Cream website:

http://www.sugarncream.com/

Enjoy the crochet!

OASAP GIVEAWAY


Giveaways are my favorite part of blogging.
I mean who doesn't love gifts???
Well if you haven't heard the news it's time to spread the word.
One of the greatest giveaways is hosted by Oasap and all of you can participate to win 152 items (YES 152) by doing just a few things.
Don't worry entering is absolutely simple and quick:

1. Sign in your Oasap account. If you don't have one register and also win a 20% discount coupon.
2. Go to the giveaway (here) and choose the size of the product you would like to win. For more details about sizes click on the dresses pictures.
3. You can do the second step for 3 items.

Simple as that!!!
The giveaway ends July 10th.
So hurry up and choose your favorites.
GOOD LUCK FASHIONISTAS!

Fashionably yours,
Despina

Handmade MN Giveaway ~ Kibbles 'N Knits

by Monique Parent, Glass Garden Designs
Congratulations to our latest giveaway winner! Thanks to all who entered and we wish you good luck with this week's giveaway!

This week's giveaway is from Nancy of Kibbles 'N Knits. She is giving away this one-of-a-kind necklace.
Nancy created this one-of-a-kind necklace using vintage quilting fabric handed down by her grandmother. She made the vintage fabric into a bead pendant. She paired the fabric bead with a new glass bead and added an 18 inch mini ball chain necklace with lobster clasp. The pendant itself is 1.75" from the top of the bail to the very bottom of the vintage fabric bead. This handmade necklace is both simple and bold. Hop on the yellow and gray trend with a one-of-a-kind piece!

Open to US Only.

Contest ends Saturday, July 7th, at 12:00 noon Central. One winner will be chosen by Random.org.

How to Enter:
Visit Kibbles 'N Knits, pick your favorite item and leave a comment on this post about it. (Scroll to bottom of post and click on Comments)

         Please make sure you include your email address
               so we have a way to contact the winner!

For Bonus Entries:
Please leave each in a separate comment, as each comment is an entry (To qualify for extra entries you must do step one above).

1. Visit other HandmadeMN team members shops (listed in the sidebar here) and leave a comment(s) here with your favorite pieces.

2. Blog about this giveaway with a visible link back to this posting and comment here with a link to your post.

3. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment(s) with a link to your tweet(s).

4. Follow this blog (you want to do this anyway to learn about upcoming giveaways!). Leave a comment here letting us know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

5. Follow HandmadeMN on twitter. Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

6. Become a Facebook Fan of HandmadeMN. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

7. Become a Facebook Fan of Kibbles 'N Knits. Comment back here with your Facebook name. Existing fans just leave your Facebook name here.

8. Follow Kibbles 'N Knits on Twitter.  Comment back here with your Twitter link. Existing followers just leave your Twitter link here.

9. Follow Nancy's blog.  Leave a comment here letting us know you are a follower. If you are already a follower, leave a comment anyway, as each comment is an entry.

Contest ends Saturday, July 7th, at 12:00 noon Central. One winner will be chosen by Random.org.

Good luck!

HandmadeMN members are not eligible to win.

Shine Accessories- Be Special Everyday


One of my personal motos about style and fashion is that 'a look without accessories is nothing'. My passion for accessories and in particular jewelry is endless. Without a doubt they are the final but very important touches for a uniquely styled outfit. Recently I discovered a new (at least for me) accessories brand, Shine Accessories which has absolutely stolen my heart. It was one of the greatest online discoveries I have made lately because I finally found a brand which products matched perfectly with my style and taste. Naturally I wanted to share with you from the very first moment my latest Shine obsessions. So here are some of my top choices.










You can find a lot more if you just take a look on their online store and believe me, you will be pleasantly surprised by the variety and the prices. You can also find them on facebook here, pinterest here and twitter here where by following them you can catch up on their latest updates and not only! I haven't told you the most exciting news from Shine Accessories yet! If you are a fan/follower you can get fabulous gifts from their new activities. Once a month there's a giveaway called 'Chain of Love' where you have the chance to win a free gift following a few simple steps (find out how here) and also there is the 'Create to Win' contest where you can win the jewelry you will use creating a set (click here for more details). So what are you waiting for fashionistas? Go on and give luck a chance to happen!!! 

Fashionably yours,
Despina

Fun Friday Finds ~ Midsummer!



By Maggie Schultz ~ 
BodiceGoddess by Maggie

Happy Solstice, all!


(Click on the image to go to the Etsy Treasury!)

Visit these HandmadeMN shops to see more:
Click on any of the names below

First Row (Left to Right):  pogtotesArtyDidactmirasolfarmCrafterall
Second Row (Left to Right):  SmilingTreeToyswayfaringartamyleanmeTCWitchcraftFactory
Third Row (Left to Right):  eastashleystudioArielSimonejanravenembeshop
Fourth Row (Left to Right):  lightreadingBirdIndustriestillymaisonStudioNorthernLights

Boundless Cover Reveal

Wow, am I ever excited! My editor has given me the go-ahead to share the cover for BOUNDLESS!!!!

First off, I want to say that this might be my favorite cover out of all of them, and I love all my covers. But this one. . .  I love her expression, I love her dress and the way the wind is moving it, I love the lake rocks under her feet, the suggestion of water, the parting of the clouds, and I love the color. It's all LOVELY.

Squee!!!!

Ready to see?

Okay!

Ta-dah!

What do you think?!!!!

And again, in honor of Boundless, I'd like to share another song that I listened to a LOT to get me in the Boundless frame of mind: Human, by Civil Twilight. Let this play and stare at the cover for a minute, I dare you. See if you don't feel what Clara feels. . .

Pepper!

Pepper is another doll created from the free Lily Sugar&Cream pattern, with some modifications :-)  She has Joyce's great knee joints, and her head is move-able.  You can find both of these techniques on the blog...look along the left sidebar for "Tutorials," and "Tutorials by Joyce."

I used Vanna's Choice yarn in beige for most of her body.  I really like the way this yarn works up for crochet (and knit) dolls.  Her lower legs and her clothing are Sugar&Cream yarn.  Her hair is a dreamy tencel/wool blend from Berroco called Lustra.  It made heavenly ringlets :-)

Enjoy the crochet!

Every little thing she does is magic (The Police) #2


More style lessons from the fashion chameleon, Rihanna!
Hope your having a great summertime.
See you soon with my next outfit post.

Fashionably yours,
Despina