the minor FALL, the major LIFT

and the winner is...

2009-10-01T12:10:00.003-05:00

And the winner of Broken Hallelujah's fall give away is.....

Joann Temple Congrats!!!

Everyone was entered in the contest based on the date they submitted a comment, note, or message to me and I used a random number generator to produce the winner. Out of 17 entries, number 2 was selected. So congrats, Joann!! Be on the look out for Broken Hallelujah's winter giveaway coming soon.

fall giveaway!

2009-09-22T15:44:00.003-05:00

It's time for a giveaway! In honor of the first day of fall, I'm having a fall giveaway.

With this giveaway you have your chance to win a custom pair of mary jane slippers made out of your favorite two-color combination and a matching coffee sleeve (like those pictured above). The slippers will be made specifically to your color request and shoe size if you are the lucky winner.

This contest will run until 12:00 am Eastern on September 30th. A winner will be drawn at random from the entrants on October 1st and will be notified by email of their win.

So if you are ready to keep your toes cozy and your fingers comfy this fall, here is how you enter:

Visit Broken Hallelujah's facebook fanpage and become a fan. This will earn you a single (1) entry. Leave a comment linking to your facebook profile so I can verify your entry.
Visit Broken Hallelujah's etsy studio and leave a comment with a link to your favorite item and a small blurb about why this item is your favorite. This will earn you a single (1) entry.
And if you tweet about this giveaway including a link to this entry and include a comment with your twitter username you will earn another bonus entry.

Everyone can enter using any or all of the above methods for a total of three (3) entries per person. In your comment please be sure to also include your email address so I can contact you if you win.

Good luck! And happy fall.

cozy up!

2009-09-15T18:57:00.003-05:00

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.

share the love.

2009-09-11T09:54:00.002-05:00

Broken Hallelujah is being featured in some very cool places right now.

You can catch us in this beautiful red inspired treasury on Etsy. Besides featuring one of my headbands it has some really great items to gawk at.

Speaking of gawk, you can catch some of our items on craftgawker.com . The site features beautiful handmade items and is a wonderful way to see all the talent the web has to offer (and empty your wallet at the same time).

And, I'm very excited to share that Broken Hallelujah has also been featured on the Funky Finds blog (see the feature here). It is a very sweet little write up, so go show some love and leave a comment.

Lots of new items are being added to the shop, so check back soon for an update! Have a great weekend.

falling in love with handmade.

2009-09-05T09:00:00.002-05:00

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.

2009-09-01T11:07:00.003-05:00

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!

long live the coupon.

2009-08-29T08:13:00.006-05:00

Artfire has stunned us again with another great feature available to it's sellers - coupon codes!

Just in time for the holidays, you can now use a coupon or gift certificate in Artfire shops (participating shops only) to receive discounts, free shipping, free gifts, or more! No more waiting for modified invoices to receive a discount. At checkout you simply enter the coupon code you have for that shop & the rest is done for you.

In honor of this exciting new feature Broken Hallelujah is offering a special (and it won't last long!). On order totals (including shipping) above $35, receive 20% off! No items are excluded.

Use coupon code letsgoshopping at checkout to receive 20% off orders of $35 or more.

Available for a limited time only. Offer not applicable with any other specials or sales.

Now let's do some shopping!

back to school.

2009-08-27T11:43:00.004-05:00

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.

weekend fun.

2009-08-24T09:16:00.021-05:00

This past weekend I had a really great time exploring some of the goodies Wilmington has to offer.

I finally remembered on Saturday morning to head to historic downtown Wilmington to check out the farmers' market that runs through December. The market offers a lot more than just farm fresh produce, however. I found fresh bread, beautiful cut flowers, and even craft booths. I picked up some wonderful fresh produce - including green tomatoes to try making my own fried green tomatoes - and some beautiful cut flowers to brighten up the apartment.

After the market I headed off to the beach. This weekend Hurricane Bill was blowing by off coast. Luckily we didn't have any real impact from the storm other than some major surf and currents. I wanted to comb the beach and see if Bill washed up any good shells, but sadly didn't really find much. Even though I went at low tide, the large waves kept the water above the shell line making a bit difficult to spot shells. It was a beautiful day at the beach though enjoy the waves and the sea breeze.

It was a lovely weekend, and I'm already counting down the days till the next one. I hope everyone else had a nice weekend and has a great week ahead.

keep it colorful.

2009-08-20T15:47:00.003-05:00

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!

riding the train.

2009-08-19T08:12:00.004-05:00

Today and tomorrow I'm riding the Artfire Crazy Train. It's a great promotional tool where members of the crazy train work together to promote one Artfire Artisan for two days. We all get together and promote for each other using blog posts, twitter updates, facebook sharing, and other great promotional techniques. And it's finally my turn! Horray!

A few people have already written wonderful blog entries about me (like here and here) and others are sharing items in the Artfire forums (here).

It's all very exciting and it really gives you a warm and fuzzy feeling to see others working to promote you and your work. A big thank you to everyone involved in the Crazy Train. I can't wait to see where this ride will take me.

august showers

2009-08-18T10:01:00.003-05:00

August is one of the rainiest months here in North Carolina and my flowers are loving it. I picked up some new flowers when I moved to town because I couldn't stand to have a bare deck even if it already was August. Luckily, Wilmington's long growing season meant there was still a bit of variety to choose from before the winter pansies had arrived. And now they are soaking up the rain and when the sun comes out it makes them sparkle.

tutorial: crochet headband with flower pin.

2009-08-12T13:05:00.007-05:00

Some of my favorite crochet projects are ones that are easy and quick. There's an instant gratification in making something yourself in just a short amount of time. So I've decided to share an quick and easy crochet pattern with you all - my herringbone crochet headband with flower pin.

Supplies

Just a wee bit of yarn - this is a good project for left over scraps. Make sure the yarn is something comfortable to wear against your head. I used Lion's Brand Vanna's Choice Yarn (100% acrylic) in a pretty rose color.

Size G crochet hook

Metal pin back

Plastic button

Scissors, hot glue gun/thread, etc.

Stitches

This headband uses one of my favorite stitches - the herringbone half double crochet (hhdc). Here's how you do it: yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, draw yarn through stitch and first loop on hook, yarn over, draw yarn through both loops on hook.

The rest are just single chain.

Pattern

Note that this pattern is completely adjustable for different sizes of heads (children through adult) and different sizes of headbands (skinny, fat, whatever you like!).

Ch 21. (This will be the tie in the back, so make it longer or shorter if you like.) OR you can just leave a stretch of yarn un-used (as in the picture) to use for the tie. It's up to you.

Sc. in last ch. Ch. 1. Turn. (1 sc.)

3 sc. in the 1 sc. from previous step. Ch. 1. Turn. (3 sc.)

2 sc. in first sc. Sc. 1. 2 sc. in last sc from previous step. Ch. 1. Turn. (5 sc.)

2 sc. in first sc. Sc in next 3 stitches. 2 sc. in last sc. from previous step. Ch. 2. Turn. (7 sc.)

7 sc. is the width I've decided on for my headband. If you would like yours to be skinnier or fatter adjust the above steps to reach your desired width.

Now, you simply hhdc across each stitch (skipping the very first stitch as your ch. 2 serves as the first stitch of each row). Then ch. 2 and turn. Make sure to crochet a hhdc in the top of the ch. 2. at the end of the row for a total of 7 hhdc in each row. Keep repeating the rows until the headband fits around your head from the bottom of one ear to the other.

Once you have reached your desired length you have to decrease the headband down to 2 single chain.

At the end of the last hhdc row ch. 1 and turn.

Sc. 7. Ch 1. Turn. (7 sc.)

Sc2tog in first sc. 3 sc. Sc2tog in last sc. Ch. 1. Turn. (5 sc.)

Sc2tog in first sc. 1 sc. Sc2tog in last sc. Ch. 1. Turn. (3 sc.)

Sc2tog in first sc. 1. sc. (2 sc.)

Now simply chain 20 (or however many you chose to chain at the beginning) to make the other end of the tie. Finish and tie off. Tuck in the loose ends.

Now for the flower.

Ch 2.

10 sc in 1 ch. Slip stitch to first sc to form a circle.

Sc 1 in first stitch. *Ch. 2. Skip 1 stitch and sc. 1 in next.* Repeat around until you have 5 ch. 2 loops. Slip stitch in first sc.

In first ch. 2 loop - 1 sc., 1 hdc., 2 dc., 1 hdc., 1 sc. - to produce petal. Repeat in each of the 4 remaining loops and then slip stitch to first sc. Tie off finish. Tuck in ends.

Then using a hot glue gun or thread attach the pin back to the back of the flower and the button to the center.

You're done!

Enjoy! And if you have any questions, let me know.

can you feel it?

2009-08-11T10:57:00.002-05:00

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!

We've made it!

2009-08-05T17:53:00.002-05:00

We made it! After three days of driving we've successfully arrived in Wilmington and have most of the apartment unpacked. I'm still waiting for internet access to get installed in our apartment, so I can't count on the consistency of when I'll be online. I just wanted to update and let everyone know that we've made it safely and we're settling into life.

Both of the stores (Etsy and Artfire) are open again, also. Same great items as usual with some newbies coming soon.

busy busy!

2009-07-12T20:46:00.003-05:00

Sorry I haven't updated all week. Been packing & cleaning & packing & cleaning. The move is coming faster than I could have anticipated - less than two weeks away and there's still a lot to pack and get organized and make sure everything fits where it's supposed to. So I may be sparse these next couple weeks. But I'll be back more regularly after the move (once we get internet access hooked up!).

Hope you all are having a great July!

happy fourth.

2009-07-04T09:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Fourth of July!

I hope everyone is having a great holiday & enjoying time with friends, family, good food, and good fun.

Luckily, I got a three day weekend for the holiday, so Andy and I headed to Dallas to enjoy some big city celebrations. Last night we had a great time at a Ranger's ball game (obligatory hot dogs were consumed) and tonight we'll be heading to the Dallas Country Club to enjoy some good food, music, and fireworks. All in all we're making it a good ol' fashioned American summer weekend. I just need to find some watermelon to make it perfect.

I hope you all are enjoying your weekend as much as I am (and be sure to stay safe!).

freebies are goodies.

2009-07-03T09:00:00.001-05:00

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.

2009-07-01T09:00:00.000-05:00

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.

moving sale!

2009-06-29T09:00:00.000-05:00

Broken Hallelujah is having a sale! On behalf of me packing up and moving half way across the country from Texas to North Carolina I'm having a moving sale!

This is really just an attempt to sell a good amount of items so I won't have to pack them away in a box & move them with me. They need their own new homes to go to & I don't want them at mine!

So, until further notice, every single thing in my Artfire studio is on sale at 20% off. And I'll still be adding new items which will also automatically be on sale. So if there's been something you've been eyeing in my shop, now is the time to make your move (pun intended).

Visit my Artfire studio today to take advantage of this great sale!

braided.

2009-06-25T14:49:00.002-05:00

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.

the colors of summer.

2009-06-21T18:37:00.002-05:00

These are a few of my favorites taken at the Dallas Arboretum. In full bloom & in full color. The colors and scents of summer. The Arboretum is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon with bright sun & blooms alongside shady, cool hideaways. It isn't hard to find a favorite spot (or two, or three) to spend a few moments to just enjoy yourself. The only thing that would make it more perfect is a glass filled to the brim with iced, fresh lemonade.

a room with a view. of the ocean.

2009-06-16T15:13:00.002-05:00

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!).

give away winner!

2009-06-02T16:44:00.002-05:00

We have a winner!!! Congratulations to Audrey!

That's right! Audrey of Audrey's Country Crafts has won the first ever Broken Hallelujah give away! She'll be receiving her very own custom pair of mary jane slippers! Drop by Audrey's blog to see all her great handmade items and leave a congratulations note!

I'll be having another giveaway this fall, so be sure to drop by and enter for your chance to win one of my handmade items! And thanks to everyone who entered who made this give away a success.

memorial day.

2009-05-25T15:33:00.004-05:00

Happy Memorial Day!

I hope every one is having a great Memorial Day & and a great three day weekend!

Andy and I used the three day break as an excuse to head down to Houston and catch a baseball game. Andy's a big baseball fan and thus I've become one. Our team is the Texas Rangers - whose home field we've seen plenty of games at. And since we are so close to Houston, we thought we'd check out a new ball park.

We watched our Rangers take on the Houston Astros at Minute Maid park in downtown Houston. It's always an adventure driving around the big city, but we found our way (thanks to GPS; I don't know how I survived without it).

There were lots of Rangers fans at the game since to two cities aren't two far apart. And luckily for us, the Rangers won! It's always a fun time to see your team win.

The rest of our weekend has been taken slow and easy. We took in a movie on Sunday and most of today has been spent doing some chores like laundry.

And of course I've snuck in some crafting. I've got some new slippers and headbands on the way for this week, so keep an eye out for those goodies coming soon.

And don't forget to enter the Broken Hallelujah summer giveaway for a chance to win your very own custom pair of mary jane slippers. Click here for more info.