coming soon
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take until my order ships?
You can expect your item to be made & shipped in as little as 3 business days, although I strive to turn around orders within 24 hours whenever possible. You will be contacted of any delays past this point.
Where does my item ship from?
From the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia.
I’m local. Can I browse your products in person?
Currently bb3 exists as an online entity only, however if you are in the Canning/Wolfville/Centreville/Kentville/New Minas area, we can arrange for pickup or delivery of the items you have ordered. Delivery via local courier could be arranged for HRM as well.
I also offer delivery in the Maritimes via Maritime Bus. Once your item is shipped via the bus, receive it same day/next day (weather permitting in winter). The bus runs 7 days a week and goes to many destinations in NS, NB & PEI. Pick up your order at the bus station near you.
Click here to see Maritime Bus locations
How long will it take to receive my order?
You can expect your item to be made & shipped (or ready for delivery/pick up) in as little as 3 business days, although I strive to turn around orders within 24 hours whenever possible. You will be contacted of any delays past this point. PLEASE READ BELOW FOR DELIVERY TIME AVERAGES. Note that these are averages and not guarantees.
PLEASE BE AVAILABLE FOR CONTACT AT THE EMAIL ADDRESS GIVEN IN YOUR ORDER. Most of the time, orders become delayed because information (such as engraving) is missing, or because I have a question about a request. If you have not received any order confirmation within 24 hours, please check the SPAM/JUNK folder of your email. When in doubt, always contact me. I have had situations where the customer entered an invalid email address (usually a typo) and the order never completed on my end.
Delivery times are based on Canada Post shipping standards & Customs. Please allow adequate time for your item to arrive on time if it is a gift. There can be delays due outside factors such as weather & customs or higher volume periods such as the holidays.
Here is more info on the different types of shipping rates available:
***CANADA***
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OF $45+ WITH CODE FREESHIP45
From time to time I offer free shipping without minimum purchase or certain or all items. The best place to find these codes is on my blog, facebook page or instagram.
ORDERS THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE SHIPPING WILL SHIP WITH THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD (WITH TRACKING)
I try my best to honor your prefered way of shipping, but at the end of the day the cost of shipping comes out of my pocket so I have to do what is most affordable for me. If there is a reason why you prefer one carrier over another please let me know in the comments box at checkout. I will accommodate you as best as possible.
REGULAR MAIL: Canada Post Standard Mail – delivery is not guaranteed by a certain date and the average to most Canadian destinations is 10 business days.
Expedited (Canada) – tracking number provided. Can take up to 7 business days depending on your location in Canada
Xpresspost (Canada) – tracking number provided. Get it in as little as 2-5 business days.
Purolator Ground – tracking number provided. Delivery time approx 1 – 6 business days. Rural areas may take more time.
Canpar Ground – tracking number provided. Delivery time approx 1 – 6 business days. Rural areas may take more time.
Maritime Bus – available for residence of NS, NB & PEI who live near a Maritime Bus stop. This economical shipping method is fast and convenient as the bus runs 7 days a week, and items are usually available for pickup the day after they are shipped. If you have a prefernce of bus stop please state so in your order, otherwise you will most likely be contacted via email or text to confirm your pick up location.
Click here to see Maritime Bus locations
***USA***
FREE SHIPPING ON ALL ORDERS OF $45+ WITH CODE FREESHIP45
From time to time I offer free shipping without minimum purchase or certain or all items. The best place to find these codes is on my blog, facebook page or instagram.
ORDERS THAT QUALIFY FOR FREE SHIPPING WILL SHIP WITH THE MOST ECONOMICAL METHOD (WITH TRACKING)
I try my best to honor your prefered way of shipping, but at the end of the day the cost of shipping comes out of my pocket so I have to do what is most affordable for me. If there is a reason why you prefer one carrier over another please let me know in the comments box at checkout. I will accommodate you as best as possible.
Delivery via Freight Forwarding to US Border (recommended)
How it works:
Once your order is completed, it is dropped off to a company who will drive your package over the Canada/US border for USPS or UPS to complete your delivery. Although it may seem like your order takes longer to ship (normally one day a week designated for this option) you will receive your package much faster than waiting for it to clear customs with Canada Post. This option also means you will always receive tracking on your package with USPS where the economical shipping with Canada Post does not. USPS Priority & UPS Ground also available through the same option.
Small Parcel USA – No delivery date guarantee and averages about 10-12 business days for delivery to most locations. This is the most common way I ship and it has proven to be very reliable. In 15 years selling online only one light packet USA went missing (it was returned to me – customer provided wrong mailing address to recipient).
Tracked Packet USA – tracking number provided and delivery average is 7 business days to most US locations
Expedited USA – delivery average 4 days to most locations in the USA
Purolator Ground USA – tracking provided. Arrives on average within 7 business days.
***INTERNATIONAL***
I AM NOT SHIPPING INTERNATIONALLY AT THIS TIME.
Between rising shipping costs and confusion regarding GDPR compliance I am forced to not sell internationally for the time being. If you are outside Canada & The US and would like to purchase something, please email me directly for a direct quote. Thanks for your understanding!
***LOCAL PICKUP/DELIVERY***
If you are in or can travel to the Centreville/Kentville/New Minas or Canning/Wolfville area we can arrange to meet up for pickup of your order and I am happy to deliver your order if you live in this area. I can also arrange delivery via local courier service to HRM, and to other locations in the Maritimes via Maritime Bus (see info under Canada shipping options).
What if I do not receive my order?
USA/CANADA:
Regular mail – If you do not receive your order within 30 days please contact me for replacement/refund.
With Tracking – if your package has not arrived within a week of the date stated for arrival by the carrier, please contact me to trigger a search for your package. Canada Post will require to speak to you before issuing a refund. Normally, lost packages turn up and in my experience a totally lost package within Canada & The US is rare. I am happy to refund shipping for any late packages (as stated by tracking with the carrier. Does not apply to standard mail). Completely lost packages will be refunded in full of course, after Canada Post speaks with you on the matter.
You can rest assured that I want your experience to be a pleasant one, and to gain your trust. Should you have any issues with shipping I will work to rectify it with the shipping service in a timely manner, and will refund you out of pocket if need be.
What is your return policy?
CUSTOM ORDERS SUCH AS NAME OR MONOGRAM ENGRAVING ARE NON-REFUNDABLE (generic engraving is certainly refundable – see below) & CLEARANCE ITEMS ARE NON-REFUNDABLE
Due to the nature of custom work, & due to the low price of my Clearance items, these orders are considered FINAL SALE with the exception of: error made by me, the artist, in size/specifications made by the customer, or defect of craftsmanship. If there is any problem, you must contact me within 7 DAYS of receiving the product. Defect or error will be remedied by replacement of the item or refund. Whenever possible, I will replace the item. Refund will only be issued if a replacement cannot be made.
ALL OTHER RETURNS MUST BE INDICATED WITHIN 7 DAYS OF RECEIPT AND RETURN SHIPPING WILL BE AT THE EXPENSE OF THE CUSTOMER.
This would include artisan jewelry, and non-specific engraving (one letter, a (generic) word or symbol).
You must contact me directly to advise me of the return. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY GOODS LOST IN TRANSIT, it would be wise to purchase insurance/tracking whenever possible.
ALL RETURNS MUST BE RECEIVED IN THE SAME CONDITION AS THEY ARRIVED AND IN ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING.
EXCHANGES
If you wish to exchange your non-custom/engraved item for an item of equal value, you are free to do so at your expense if you inform me within 7 DAYS of receipt of the original item of your intention. Return shipping & the cost of shipping of exchanged item is the responsibility of the client. Original item must be returned in original packaging in its original state. I am not responsible for the original item if lost in transit. Exchanges for customized/engraved product please email me leilani@heavenlyflower.com to discuss as these are normally final sale items.
Above all, I want my you to be happy. If you are left unsatisfied by your experience/purchase I want to know. The intent is to share my talents/expressions. I would hate to think someone was left with a less than satisfactory experience with their purchase. I am happy to hear your feedback and offer solutions so that you are left feeling confident in your purchase.
What forms of payment do you accept?
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express
Paypal
INTERAC EMAIL TRANSFER: At checkout you will see this option as well as a space to enter your challenge question answer. I will await your money transfer before the order can be processed. Please note that once you enter the challenge answer and hit “make payment” you will NOT have another chance to review your order. Please review your order before submitting your challenge question answer.
Cheque/Money Order (must clear before order ships)
Barter/Trade (Please contact to work out an agreement prior to purchasing).
Can I have back engraving?
Back engraving options are available on individual product listings. Choose the style of back engraving you want in the drop down, and don’t forget to specify your engraving in the “personalization” box before adding to cart. There is an additional fee for back engraving.
Can I substitute engraving for a different font/word/date or more than one line of text?
I engrave manually and not via a computer, so I am limited on the size/number of characters that will fit. I usually give the maximum of what can be engraved as an option already. If you see another engraving style elsewhere on the site and you would prefer it, send me a message via the “Product Inquiry” option on the product description page.
Here is a blog post I wrote on the subject: http://creativityinspired.ca/engraving-much-text-can-really/
What are the jewelry pieces made out of?
I generally provide this information on each individual listing. Most pieces are made out of sterling silver (necklaces), as well as 14KT gold-filled. All other engraving pieces are made of a silver or gold plate over steel or brass (keychains, stitch markers, bookmarks). I’ve spent hours and hours researching and finding items that are suitable for engraving but also fit the price point of the majority of my customers. **PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE** and are based on current silver/gold prices, as well as the ever fluctuating Canadian dollar.
This is a gift. What chain length should I choose?
I’ve tried to add the sizes XS, S, M, L, & XL to the chain sizes to help give a rough idea of the length of each. Here is a blog post I wrote on the subject, that may help you: http://creativityinspired.ca/necklace-lengths-personalized-gifts/
Will you engrave on an item of mine?
I do not offer engraving on your personal items. I engrave manually; therefore I do not feel comfortable engraving on anything that cannot easily be replaced, just in case error occurs.
Will you wholesale or give a discount on your jewelry, keychains or stitch markers for my wedding/event/business?
Yes! I would be happy to discuss supplying your event or business with my products at a wholesale or bulk discount. I’ve supplied jewelry for wedding parties, keychains/bookmarks for wedding favors, keychains for events such as breastfeeding and babywearing fundraisers, and I’d love to discuss having my items in your store either wholesale or consignment. Please fill out the special order form for more info. I look forward to hearing from you!
Will you wholesale your yarn or take special orders for specific types/colors/amounts of yarn?
I’m happy to discuss bulk/custom orders for yarn as well as the possibility of a bulk discount on pre-made yarn. Please note there is no markup on handspun yarn; it is impossible to recoup all the time involved in developing and making yarn but I am happy to give some kind of discount on a bulk order. I will also need several weeks to develop a bulk order from sratch. Please fill out the special order form for more info. I look forward to hearing from you!
How often do you have sales?
You can view my current sale items here. As far as sales for percentage off for promotion or a holiday I rarely have them. I don’t have a lot of wiggle room with my pricing. Most items on clearance are at or below cost. I make the items by hand and absorb a lot of the cost/time that goes into these pieces. I would much rather sell at an honest price than one with 3 or 4+ times markup like you’ll find in a retail store or an MLM business. I am not from money, and I feel it is important for my work to stay affordable to all walks of life.
How can I contact you?
I answer email, direct or via my facebook page promptly, usually in less than 24 hours. If you do not receive a response from me in 24 hours, check your spam/junk folder. If still nothing feel free to send another message. It is very rare that I do not respond to messages right away, so don’t hesitate to send another message. It is possible I never received the first one.
Please check out the RECOMMENDED POSTS section of the blog. As it will cover information such as: back engraving, choosing a chain length, cleaning & storing your jewelry and general posts on my handmade philosophy that I think would be of interest to individuals interested in my work.
About us
About Us
“Fiber work is my way of coping with daily stress and anxiety; whereas jewelry making is my way of releasing it.” ~ Leilani
BB3: Leilani Handmade (formally known as heavenly flower/fleur de paradis) is a fiber & jewelry studio owned & operated by Leilani Cleveland Deveau. Inspired by her family, the name of the studio is derived from her daughters (AKA 3 gems/3 bébés), fiber interests (baa baa black sheep, 3 ply wool) & the overall superstition that things (good or bad) come in 3’s.
Born and bred in Nova Scotia, her home studio is currently located in the Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia. The studio is currently not open to the public, but meetup for delivery of your order in the Centreville/Kentville/New Minas or Canning/Wolfville area is available.
Leilani started making/selling jewelry over 17 years ago, a pursuit started as an outlet for expression and healing from a stressful job situation. Now as a mom the jewelry has evolved into wearable keepsakes. The progression into working with fiber started in 2011 when the family began attending Wool Shows and Fiber festivals throughout New England. Turning raw, unprocessed fleece into beautifully dyed fibers for felting and spinning into yarn has become a daily ritual, and yarn for sale is listed at the wholesale price for all to purchase.
The items for sale on this site were designed to be affordable to everyone, despite income bracket or circumstance. The goal is to share the creativity, to have an outlet for expression, and not to monitor profit margins. Handmade work is a labour of love and it would be impossible to recoup all costs involved in bringing these products into fruition. Most items here are available to giveaway for grassroots fundraisers and payment is accepted in many forms including barter (trade). Simply contact for more info.
Please check out the RECOMMENDED POSTS section of the blog to learn more about the products I develop, and my handmade philosophy.
Leilani loves to hear from others in the handmade/art community & as well as those looking for items for consignment, wholesale or group events. Whatever the reason, never hesitate to drop her a line.
bb3 exists online only, but if you have suggestions as to where you would like to see these products, don’t hesitate to pass it along.
Studio bb3
Leilani Handmade
Leilani Cleveland Deveau
Mailing address:
156-9049 Commercial St.,
New Minas, NS B4N 5A4
Canada
902.996.1234 (text)
1.866.665.6776
Follow my studio life via Instagram
lcd@bb3.ca
(Please note: email or text is the quickest way to contact). (Also note: Leilani frequents Hants, Kings & Annapolis Co.: pickup or delivery is possible in these areas).
Testimonials
Legal
Legal
Credits
Copyright
All items featured on this website are the copyright of Leilani Cleveland Deveau and heavenlyflower.com.
Images may not be reused without the prior permission of the artist.
All items may be resold only at the credit of the artist, Leilani Cleveland Deveau.
Copyright heavenly flower/fleur de paradis/bb3: 2002-2018
Artisan creative custom keepsake jewelry/gifts and yarn with a handmade twist.
Kings Co., Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia Canada leilani@heavenlyflower.com
design by: Leilani Cleveland Deveau; architecture by: Deveau Developments, Inc.
Necklace Lengths for Personalized Gifts
What necklace length is appropriate for a gift? If you google necklace lengths there are many good diagrams to give you a visual idea of the different lengths available. Here’s my advice for some of the common chain lengths that I offer with my personalized engraved and artisan jewelry.
First and foremost, who are you buying for? What body type do they have? What length of necklaces have you seen them wear before? As with most things, all necks are not created equally. When I first started making jewelry, I was barely out of my teen years & far more petite than I am now. I really liked chokers, thus I made a lot of choker style necklaces. So I naively made all my necklaces in the 14- adjustable-to-the-16 inch range, believing this would fit my target clientele just fine. Until a 6 foot plus co-worker tried a necklace and she could barely get it around her neck. My bracelets, in that 7.5 – 8 inch size would not fit her either, and let’s not even go there with anklets. It made me re-examine the “average” size stereotype, and why it’s more important to know who you are buying for rather than relying on the S, M, L, XL size categories.
Here is my general guideline for picking necklace lengths, but again think of who you are buying for:
14 inch – this is my general child size, or choker size for a petite person.
16 inch – Another length on the smaller size, great for children, teens or petite/slender build people
18 inch – I consider this the “when in doubt” size. It is a decent average length without being too long or short.
24 inch – for those who prefer longer chain or are more bigger boned or curvy/full figured.
30+ inch – this is a nice long chain that I find great for layering with shorter necklaces.
I will emphasize that this has simply been my experience & observation selling jewelry for 15 years. It is definitely not true of all people. I hope it helps with your decision making if you are unsure which length to go with.
June 2015 Newsletter: Win an Engraved Butterfly Necklace
June 2015’s bb3 project newsletter is available! This month there is a chance to win an engraved butterfly necklace. Just click on the image above to read and find out more…
Butterfly Teardrop Necklace with Choice of Bead Color
This is a revamped product that I used to offer. The original engraved butterfly teardrop necklace is now available with your choice of eight different bead colors: light blue, grey blue, smoke blue, light pink, citrine yellow, clear, ruby red & gold.
Available in these silver or gold plated brass teardrop pendants. They have a fabulous weight to them & wear very well.
I love these glass beads and use them often. They are weighted and thus have a sparkle similar to crystal. My photos don’t really capture just how pretty they truly are.
The butterfly is a symbol or transformation. These necklaces would be lovely for anyone who has made a major positive change in their life and need to signify it in a tangible way. Or maybe, you just like butterflies… 😉
Upcycled Handspun Yarn – Vegan Friendly – and The Scarf it Made
I made this yarn this past winter & it occurred to me that this upcycled handspun yarn is vegan friendly. Most of the yarns I spin are with animal fibers, but this was made using sari silk remnants (banana fibers that are similar to rayon – so not exactly “natural” as the name would suggest). I can’t always get these from the company in Vermont but when I see them I nab them. They are colorful and silky & usually I add them to my batts. This is my first time making a complete yarn out of them. I love the idea of up-cycling a discarded product.
After thinking it over, I decided the best way to showcase these fibers as well as keep it an even diameter was to core wrap spin it. Core wrapping is a technique where you wrap fibers – usually from a batt – around a finished yarn, the core. Many people use commercial yarns for the core. The banana fibers come in a bag in one big mass, so I found it easy to tease out a bit at a time and let it wrap around the core. I used this dacron yarn (polyester) as the core. I found this huge cone of it at a second-hand store for only $3.50! Score!
To add a little more glitz, I added a commercial sequined thread at the same time I was wrapping the fibers. Another bargain find from the clearance section of the craft store. I am a bit of a magpie (or squirrel? Mouse?) when it comes to shiny and cheap things. 🙂
I made a really cool scarf with this yarn, I really wish the pictures would capture the texture better. It’s very organic in feel yet glitzy all at the same time, and naturally 100% unique. I love rocking this!
This is a continuous scarf knitted in the round using an elongated stitch. I made it really long (it’s approximately 36″ from top to bottom) because I wanted to be able to fold it over more than once for different looks.
I used size 11 circular needles. As I harp and preach about handspun yarn: go big or go home! 😉 Always go with a larger needle to allow the fibers to open up and have room for any larger sections.
I love elongated stitches and use several methods when knitting my handspun. I love that airy, webby effect and I think it showcases the handspun so well. Not to mention it’s super simple and works up fast. I’ll have instructions for this stitch at the bottom of this post…
Because of the ease with these kind of stitches, I threw this project in my bag and worked on it when I had a passing minute while out on errands. You never have to remember where you left off because it’s all the same until binding off.
Elongated Stitch for continuous scarf
CO desired number of stitches (I CO 110 with size 11 circular needles)
Be sure all stitches are facing the same way, and are not twisted then:
K1;
Insert your left needle into the front of the ST you just created and make a stitch within this stitch: just like a continental purl stitch only using your left needle instead of your right.
Continue until scarf is desired length & CO. It doesn’t get more easy than that!
2015 New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival
We had yet another wonderful Mother’s Day weekend attending the 2015 New Hampshire Sheep and Wool Festival. The show has become a yearly family tradition of ours. One of our favorite stops is the Alpaca barn which was showcasing many babies & adolescents this year. I swear I dropped an ovary or two looking at these cuties! Special shout out to Skyeview Alpacas. Always a pleasure stopping by their booth.
I didn’t take near enough pictures, of course. How could I when there was always a bag of something in my hands?? I took a pic of this year’s take in the back of our Jeep but the camera setting was bumped to monochrome & I didn’t realize it. I guess it doesn’t matter too much since the theme this year was definitely white. Besides the angora rabbit fur and white alpaca fleece from Skyeview, I also came away with 2 bags of merino wool from Joe & Judy Miller to process; 1 lb. of to DIE for (or should I say, to DYE for – har har) white BFL top – I just couldn’t say no; and 3 4oz balls of coopworth top. The only thing of color was 3 hand-dyed 4oz balls of a wool/silk blend to play around with. I normally don’t buy roving anymore. But sometimes it just calls my name. I look forward to doing some experimental dyeing this season. I definitely had some restraint this year, but my studio is over flowing. I really could use a bigger space for processing fleece. I would probably get through it faster if I did. Someday…
May 2015 Monthly Newsletter bb3.ca
The May 2015 monthly newsletter was unleashed earlier this week with the 3 winners from last month’s giveaway announced, new products, my latest blog challenge and of course, this month’s giveaway – for an “apple of my eye” necklace! Click here to read.
Don’t forget to sign up in order to enter the giveaways.
You are the Apple of My Eye Necklace and Teacher’s Gift
I recently found these sweet epoxy apple charms. I love the pop of red color and they were just begging to be made into a necklace. I present you: The Apple of My Eye Keepsake Necklace – or Teacher’s Gift.
I couldn’t decide which way to go with this when I first set out to do the engraving. I ended up liking both ideas so much I just kept it that way. I love the script letter paired with the apple. I also thought an engraved “TEACH” along with a heart was a nice touch.
These would make wonderful, affordable teacher’s gifts as well as a sweet message to a loved one: “You are the apple of my eye”.
I currently have a limited number of charms as at the time my supplier only had a few available. I’ll see how popular this item is before ordering more (in order to get the best possible price I need to order several hundred dollars worth of goods from my supplier. So I don’t like to do that too many times in the run of a year).
Finding Inspiration: What to Make With Handspun Yarn
If you are like me, you like to comb the internet for inspiration. I consider myself a spinner, but not so much a knitter or crocheter. My knowledge of knitting and crochet is actually pretty basic. People tend to be quite surprised by this because the assumption is one starts spinning after mastering the needles.
I taught myself to spin just few months into teaching myself to knit and crochet (the beginning stages, anyway). The story as to how I got started would suit a post on its own, but the fact that I learned about making a textile from the ground up made me appreciate the basics of knit and crochet. Handspun yarn literally has a life of its own. Rather than you making it into what you want it to be, it tells you what it will be. Thus, you gain a respect and appreciation for handspun that you realize is best left to speak for itself.
Because of this, we are often left scratching our heads as to what to do with gorgeous artful textured handspun. I say “we” because I know I am not alone in this. Many of us have that stash of pretty yarns. Because of its unusualness (or its mind-blowing prettiness) it becomes a permanent fixture in the yarn bin like the wall-flower never picked to dance (and we know it really should be the belle of the ball!). Whether it is handspun or an artful commercial yarn, I know many knitters know exactly what I mean. When I started spinning the goal was to make the most even, symmetrical yarn possible. But soon I really wanted to push the boundaries of what yarn is. The problem was I wondered what I could make with such unusual and small amounts of it. I have a growing collection of yarn that I spun that I feel is “too pretty” to use.
So even as a spinner, I find myself taking to the internet to find inspiration. Not patterns. Patterns are no good with such a unique medium. More of a reassurance that others truly are making items out of handspun and it’s not just a pretty yarn to be hung in the studio. I also have this bad habit of over critiquing my yarns and again, a post for another day… I found this wonderful article on craftsy that really sums up what to make with handspun yarn.
Since it is recommended to use larger needles with handspun and to keep the stitches simple, I believe handspun is a great textile for the novice knitter or crocheter, or, if you are like me – those who do not possess the time or patience for a long term project. I want to get back to the wheel, afterall. 😉 It may look intimidating at first. It can be comprised of many bumps, thick and thin sections and even over twisted sections, but when you realize a basic knit or crochet stitch will give you a stunning one of a kind scarf for example, one quickly realizes how how satisfying it is to use. The projects are not only simple, but since they are worked up with large needles, they make the perfect afternoon project.
Don’t be afraid to mix your handspun with commercial yarns. I love to make the ribbing of my hats with commercial yarn and then let the handspun be the personality of the rest of the hat. What about a scarf in elogated knit stitch switching back and forth between handspun and commercial? The possibilities can truly be endless, and it is freeing to not have to follow a pattern. Free form crochet is your friend with the leftovers! I’ll be starting a series here on the blog showcasing what I have knit with my handspun. Some will be hits, and some will be misses I am sure. Many of the examples posted here are from my spun seconds pile. I really need to have the courage to tackle that pretty yarn stash. My goal is to share the journey with you so that we can grow together. The yarn is piling up here and I need a butt kick to come up with some projects with it. I do not feel comfortable selling my handspun when I myself do not know what to do with it! With that, I am off to play with that jumbo rainbow yarn pictured above.
April’s Giveaway is a Triple Play
Today is my birthday! To celebrate I have an extra special giveaway with 3 chances to win. April’s giveaway via the newsletter is a game of sorts. You enter telling me your first and second choice of prize from bb3.ca. I’ll draw the first name at random, and they will win their top choice. The second name will get either their first or second choice, whichever one is not already taken. Same with name #3: however, if both of #3’s choices have been taken, I’ll draw for another winner. Clear as mud? Check out the entry form for a more concise explanation. Hey, it’s my birthday, my mind is definitely not on blogging…blah blah blah… 😉
I’m taking entries until April 30th, 2015 11:59EDT. The only thing I ask is that you are a subscriber to the newsletter. You can sign up here and unsubscribe at any time, no problem! The newsletter is a once a month emailed publication, and I do a giveaway every month, so why not? The newsletter helps me share my creative ideas and also keeps me on point, per se. It’s my monthly butt kick to keep the creative juices flowing. 🙂
April 2015 Newsletter bb3.ca
The April 2015 newsletter from bb3.ca is hot off the press. April is my birthday month so we are doing an extra special giveaway with 3 chances to win. The draw is always open to newsletter subscribers so make sure you sign up before you enter. 🙂
Engraving Necklaces Now Available in Gold
I always try to offer my products in both silver and gold, as I know they are both very popular. With the exception of my sterling silver products, due to the price of gold I find even gold filled can get quite pricey. I know we all are on a budget these days, which is why I do my best to make quality, affordable products that would be suitable for gifts or personal keepsakes.
Most of the engraving blanks I use are silver or gold plated. But they have a marvelous weight and wear very well. I would simply advise against getting them wet or wearing them 24/7 to keep them looking shiny & new. That said, I tend to wear mine constantly, even in the shower. They can take quite a beating until I officially have to retire them.
These following engraving necklaces were available in silver only. I am happy to say I was able to acquire gold charms thus am able to offer a gold option as well:
Gold option is now available in each listing.
Engraved Lotus Teardrop Necklace – Now Available –
This is not a new product – but a revamping of a product I used to offer. I love the pairing if the teardrop pendant and the lotus flower, it feels so fluid & calm. I especially love to wear this necklace with a long chain. I have the silver version on a 30″ chain in my personal collection.
Available in either silver or gold, you also have a choice of either a fuschia or opal Swarovski crystal.
The lotus will symbolize different things to different people. Personally, I love any kind of flower symbolism. I am a heavenly flower/garland, afterall. 🙂 When an object such as a flower – which I think of as delicate – blooms & thrives out of murky, muddy water, this for me speaks a lot to where I have been, and what I have become. The lotus also has several stacked petals, holding an intricacy all its own: just like my own individualism.
The Buddhist & Hindu religions use the lotus in their symbolism & beliefs, and although I am not of either persuasion, I have the utmost respect for the teachings of both.
Tabletop Fleece Picker
I have been combing and carding a lot of fleece this month. I’m actually squirreling away my pulled top. It’s the “premium” stuff so I am not sure whether I will make yarn with it, or sell them in batches eventually so others can spin/felt with it. I’ve actually been been enjoying spinning the “waste” product from pulling top – the lumpy bumpy stuff. Such interesting yarns! That’s a textured yarn addict for you. 😉 But that is a post for another day…
I realized I never blogged about my tabletop fleece picker I acquired last fall. I have written before how I like to hand pick fleece, but I finally conceded that I needed something that would get the job done quicker. I did not have the funds for what I’d really like (a triple picker!) nor the time/inclination to build my own so I found this inexpensive one. Above you can see the difference in fleece before and after it is picked with said picker. Note: the wool on the right is not the same color as the wool on the left. It is from the same batch, however.
The picker has heavy sharp teeth on the bottom as well as the top piece, that slides back and forth, teasing the fleece apart; opening up those fibers so that they are easier to comb or card. I really like that this one locks in place when not in use particularly since there are many curious little hands in my house. You could even add a pad locks to it, if you wanted to.
How well does it work? You ask. It is adequate. For the price I had really low expectations so I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works. It still requires a bit of elbow grease and it’s no triple picker, but it certainly aids me into getting fleece picked faster than I could do it by hand. But someday, triple picker – you will be mine! 🙂
March 2015 Newsletter and Giveaway
March 2015 Newsletter and Giveaway has been sent – you can read it above by clicking on the image as well as find out how to enter the giveaway (open to newsletter subscribers only – but you can unsubscribe at any time).
New Engraved Celtic Knot Necklace
This necklace came to me the other day on a whim. I’ve had these diamond shaped blanks for quite some time now, and although I like their unique shape (as far as engraving blanks go) I could never find a design that I liked with them. With our annual spring trip to Nova Scotia coming up I had the Celtic knot on the brain. It is a common symbol in said province, and I love the symbolism of this endless knot. It just hit me out of the blue to engrave a Celtic knot onto the diamond shaped blanks.
This is definitely not my favorite design to engrave. It is incredibly intricate and if I miss a spot well, there really is no going back to fill it in. So like a maze or complicated jigsaw puzzle I have to analyze every line to make sure I have every piece connected correctly. I thought about what stone I wanted to pair with this celtic knot necklace, but in the end, I decided it looked the best on its own.
I’m really quite pleased at how quick of an idea this was. I have a sketchbook full of ideas and yet, some of the best ones simply come off the top of my head. I’m also looking forward to getting more practice engraving this mystical symbol.
New Clearance Jewelry Items – More to Come…
I’m going to be adding new items to the clearance section for the next little while. I finally have to give up some of this stuff. I have a huge bin of product that I made, either it was once available for sale and I took it down for some reason or another, I had plans to develop it further – or for no particular reason they just never made it up on the website (probably because I am so busy. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it ;)). For example that cute pair of earrings above is available at 40% off. Sterling silver people! 🙂
I also have items that I engraved to fill orders but they weren’t quite up to my standards so I redid them. Maybe they are engraved slightly off center, the blank was scratched up or I simply made a mistake and engraved the wrong letter. They are essentially handmade seconds. 🙂 So I’m thinking I should list these deeply discounted as well. Why waste them? They may be perfectly acceptable to someone else. Score if you can get them below cost!
I’m starting with earrings and I have quite a few pairs. Some of these I can make more of and I just might do that if they sell/time permitting. I do so much custom stuff these days it is fun to just play around with stones and beads again just for the heck of it. 🙂
Introducing: My New Mach III Spinning Wheel by SpinOlution
The best gift ever. DH got me a Mach III Spinning Wheel – by got me, I mean, he said “go ahead and order that spinning wheel you want”. Ha ha! So I ordered it in the New Year, and 3 weeks later, my Mach III by SpinOlution was shipped from California and on its way to my dealer in Vermont.
We drove down to Burlington to pick it up, and after arriving home and removing all the pieces from the box, the initial overwhelming feeling of “how am I going to put these pieces together?” was short lived. It was actually really easy to assemble! With the exception of attaching the strap to the front (which helps you move the 35lb studio wheel from one end of the room to another) – it was in a new, but totally obvious place. Thanks to Leah for helping me out with that! Putting it beside my Lendrum was almost comical – the difference in size. This Mach III is a beast and I mean that in the most affectionate way!
I got all the bells and whistles with my Mach III, including the largest bobbin/flyer – 32oz – you can make up to 2 lbs of yarn with it!
Take a peek at some of the other accessories:
The lazy kate is genius as it attaches to the wheel as well as free standing.
This is a pretty nifty attachment. You simply treadle and the yarn winds. I need a lower chair though as I find it does brush my thighs while rotating. And, I really like my 2 yard skeins, so I still use my niddy noddy more than this. I do find with yarns with large inclusions this is a really handy tool to have.
For the first few days I had the wheel I simply played around with it. Like buying a brand new car I really like to sit and get acquainted with a new piece of equipment. I tried out different tensions (settings) and fibers before settling on a kid mohair to make into my first skein of yarn (the orange you see above). The first skein took me only an evening to make – approx. 4 hours in total. The large 2lb skein took me 2 evenings – about 3 hours each night. I was determined to fill that large bobbin and I was surprised at just how quickly it took. This is an easy wheel to use and the biggest hurdle was to get used to the bigger rotation of such a large bobbin as well as treadling much slower. This wheel is very smooth and will get going quite fast much more quickly than I am used to.
I’m currently working on a core wrapped yarn with large flower inclusions. I put the flowers together with left over handspun, felted in place and tied with a pearl bead. Very fun and so easy to do with the hook attachment & open pegs SpinOlution is known for. I really want to try the many different techniques of textured art yarns I have grown to love so that I become comfortable with the Mach III. Thus far it has been an easy wheel to fall in love with.
If you are looking for a dealer for any of SpinOlution’s products on the east coast/New England, I highly recommend Leah Rosenthal! She was on top of things giving me updates by mail and she really knows her stuff. You can find out her details on the SpinOlution website under Vermont, and be sure to checkout her blog.
bb3 February 2015 newsletter and giveaway
The February 2015 newsletter was released to inboxes last night. You can click the above image to read whats new, see who won last month’s giveaway and of course, see what is for up for grabs this month.
Be My Valentine: Personalized Sweetheart Keepsake Necklace
My new product for the month of February is a Personalized Sweetheart Keepsake Necklace. If you subscribe to my newsletter you may have received this necklace as a thank you gift sent out to subscribers last April.
You can choose 1 or 2 initials in the curlz font or a monogram. I think initial + sign and initial in script font would be a nice idea for a gift as well (A+B) although I don’t have an example of that to share, yet.
The heart is a culinary grade pewter & the chain is lead & nickel free. The engraving blank itself is a silver plated brass. I love the weight of these blanks. I have yet to play around with my sterling silver disks I purchased around Christmas time. Never enough hours in the day, to balance time with my family, their creative pursuits, and my jewelry & fiber projects. It is the life, however! I’d rather have many things to do/explore than nothing at all.
Mini Faceted Gemstone Earrings – are back!
January always means a time of renewal, growth & reflection for me. So it’s good that it is also the slowest month of the year for me sale wise. I tend to go through old designs to decide whether or not I want to keep them or finally put them to rest for good in January. I have a bin of “for more consideration” jewelry pieces in various stages of design. Something just does not feel “right” about them so I set them aside until I can examine it more throughly. I think many people assume that all I have to do is assemble a few beads together and list them online, but it is a more involved – sometimes even cathartic – process for me. If something feels “off” I simply will not share it with the world. Maybe it is an issue with the flow, overall look or just with the pricing or placement. It seems awfully involved for my designs that these days are very simple and streamlined, but I create not to encourage others to spend money. Creating means so much more than that to me.
In the case of these simple gemstone earrings they were offered a few years back when I only had an Etsy shop. Then the price of silver went up significantly and the price point bothered me. I designed these earrings with add-on, event or “thinking of you” in mind. Something inexpensive you could buy in bulk to give as shower gifts or to your wedding party – or even in gift bags/party favor. Maybe you want a small gift for a colleague or just need an inexpensive “thinking of you” gift. When they started to get over the $20 mark, I simply lost interest in offering them.
I recently got these really nice stainless steel french ear hooks in stock. They have a wonderful detailing and are a fraction of the cost of sterling silver. So I plugged the pricing into my spreadsheet and the material cost was significantly less.
I’m currently offering these cuties at the price of $13 a pair! They currently come in 8 different stones and if you buy multiples, I can give a wholesale discount. Drop me a line to discuss.
Adventures in Yarn Dyeing: Low Water Immersion Technique
Here’s a closer look at the dyeing process from the post Handspun Bouclé: A Closer Look. This is only one technique I use for dyeing animal fibers. This one is super easy/quick with minimal set up or equipment required.
This is my technique for dyeing small amounts of fiber, & it worked well for one skein of yarn. I use an old glass corningware – dedicated to dyeing only, not food – that fits my smallish studio microwave. This microwave is dedicated to crafting only – never used for food. In fact, we don’t even own a microwave for food!
The term “acid dye” sounds really toxic and menacing. But it actually refers to the product used to bond the dye to the fiber. A mild acidic agent is used, normally citric acid or good ol’ kitchen vinegar. Acid dyes are non-caustic and very safe to use. You can even buy dyes such as “Greener Shades” that guarantees no heavy metals, although I have heard criticism that that is a rather trumped up claim since acid dyes normally don’t contain heavy metals. Either way, the piece of mind is there and I have used Greener Shades in the past and enjoy their color palette.
I prefer using citric acid over vinegar. I have found that the color seems to absorb and adhere better to the fiber than vinegar. Which means more vibrant colors and less dye down the sink during the rinsing process. Although admittedly I am getting a better feel for vinegar, due to the fact I had run out one day. It is more readily available in large quantities – you can buy it in bulk at Costco. My citric acid I order online in bulk for the best price.
For this particular technique I use low-water immersion. Meaning, there is just enough water to barely cover the yarn. I add either diluted/dissolved citric acid in water or add vinegar to the water. The skein of yarn is carefully placed in the glass bowl, either in a spiral or accordion fashion. I already tied off the yarn in 4 places with ribbon to discourage tangling. Then, I apply the dye via salad dressing bottles bought from the dollar store. The dye comes in powder and I mix it with water ahead of time. I literally squirt on the color!
The yarn was soaked ahead of time in warm water with a little synthropol, which is a liquid soap that helps open up the yarn fibers to receive the dye. I then cover with saran wrap and will microwave on high at 5- 7 minute intervals (I’ve gone up to 10 – 12 minute intervals for bulkier amounts of fiber).
If by 10 minutes the color is not entering into the fiber I will add a little more vinegar or citric acid to the water. Then microwave again. It depends on how many times this happens. The goal is for all the color to be absorbed into the fiber leaving behind clear water.
Upon doing this several dozen times, I noticed something interesting. When the water was clear the saran wrap was sucked down into the bowl like an air tight vacuum. The first time I witnessed this I had a heart attack thinking the plastic had melted all over my fleece. But instead it was a perfect dye – water was clear in bowl and no dye escaped when I rinsed it under hot water with a little Dawn dish detergent. Now I continue to microwave in intervals until I see this phenomenon. Then, I let it rest for another 5 minutes before taking it to the sink to rinse.
Dyeing seems like an incredibly daunting task until you do it. Then you are amazed at how incredibly simple and satisfying it is. Still, I have a lot to learn with just one year of dyeing fiber under my belt. I need to work on knowing the best combination of colors so not to create a “muddy” color, which I dislike (see the pic above – brilliant oranges and reds, but I was not happy with the turquoise/greens – very dull/muddy. I did remedy this somewhat with a quick overdye to the darker areas. Perhaps another blog post on that technique is warranted). The good news is it is a terribly satisfying practice where the possibilities are as endless as your imagination. And if you don’t like the results, you can always over dye – which gives you a whole new set of results and colors that could blow you away.