BelaDonna

Welcome Back to my Blog Sweet Blog

2011-07-13T04:27:00.039-04:00

Hello! Wow! I know I've been a stranger to the blog. It's been too long and way over-due! In the past week I've been giving the blog a makeover, maybe because I got tired of the old design but it's also to give me the motivation to blog again. It's always refreshing to look at something new, don't you agree? Hope you like the new design.

I promise you that my absence will be made up. So many new features and creative thoughts to share. Stay tuned and enjoy!

(old blog design)

Monthly Giveaway: May: Key to my Heart Necklace

2009-05-14T15:53:00.008-04:00

This Giveaway is for the above necklace "Key to my Heart".

4 ways to enter:
You can do each of the following once for 4 chances to win.
Please post comment to let me know!

1. Tell me how you got to my blog.
2. Visit BelaDonnaJewels and pick your favorite item in the shop.
3. Blog and/or Twitter (@belacer) about this Giveaway.
4. Follow my Blog.

Please be sure to include your contact information in your comments so that I can contact you if win!

1 winner will be chosen via random.org.

All entries must be received by Sunday, May 24th at 11:59pm Est.
Giveaway ends Sunday, May24th at Midnight EST.
I will be announcing the winner on Monday, May 25th.
Thanks for entering & Good luck! ^_^

UPDATE: WINNER!
Sara from Soap Rehab is the Winner to this Giveaway
Congratulations Sara!

Featured Artist Interview: Machiko from Go Buggy

2009-05-06T13:02:00.019-04:00

I discovered Go Buggy while I was surfing through Etsy to look shops I haven't seen before. I was so fascinated with what I saw in Machiko's shop. The felt items that she makes are so delicate and fun yet so complex! Some of them even look eatable!! By looking at them in her shop, I can tell how much time, care and patience go into what she does and it's all so creative! I'm so proud to be able to feature Machiko from Go Buggy. She was also an Etsy Featured Seller in January 2008. Best of luck Machiko!!
Please read on to find out more about this talented artist and go check out her shop for more goodies!

5 random facts about you

1. I love cleaning lint traps.

2. My daughter sucked me into Sesame Street.

3. I am blind without my glasses.

4. I got pulled over for driving too slow.

5. I will try any food once.

How long have you been doing this and how did it all begin?

Making fake food started when my daughter was born, so that would be in 2007. Before kids, I went and got an art degree so I have always liked working with my hands. Arts and crafts were always my favorite classes to attend. I occupied myself pretty well.

What inspires you?
I love watching people do their own thing. I loved to be blown away by people's smarts, work, art, and sense of humor. I love hearting on Etsy when I find awesome shops. When I do, I just want to do my own thing too! Aside from exposing myself to people's talent, my children also inspires me in the strangest ways. To pick a few, when my daughter tries really hard to sing her alphabets (25 months), or my son trying so hard to roll over his chunky arms (he is 5 months).

Describe your creative process

That is a good question and I never answer them well. Sometimes, I sit on ideas for months and sometimes years. Sometimes, I can push it through over night. Lately, my quiet time is before I fall asleep. I like to think what I can make while doze off. I usually have to try couple of times to get things right and I have a lot of waste. I am working on my efficiency.

Any challenges you face along your creative road?
I have a hard time when I feel like everything I make just plainly suck. I try not to take myself too seriously when that thought takes over my life.

What advice would you give other artists out there?

I am not in any position to give any advice for people but this is what I tell myself. Nuture what I think I do best. I should stop if I don't love what I do. Be obsessive.

How do you promote your work?

I know this sounds unprofessional but mainly, I rely on the word of mouth. I sell my work through Etsy which helps with traffic, and I also started Flickr and I have gotten so much support from it too.

Apart from creating beautiful things, what do you like to do?

I try my best to be a good mom to my two kids. I like learning about plants, and how to take care of them so I won't kill them often.

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?

Thank you for inviting me and indulging me!

Currently, I don't have a studio and have taken over the kitchen or anywhere horizontal in our little house. I can't send you any pictures because my background will be sinks, microwave , and kitchen counter which will expose that I am not the best house keeper.

Photo ID - Chick Comedy

2009-05-04T14:54:00.001-04:00

Johnny Sanchez - Payaso Comedy Slam

2009-04-27T15:00:00.013-04:00

Top 6 Thursday: let's go Green!

2009-04-23T10:06:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was Earth Day. It is a day designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. It was founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in in 1970 and is celebrated in many countries every year. To me Earth Day is more then just one day. We should all do things for where we live everyday. Hopefully we all do and did part to keep our Earth environments. Here I put together a collection from some talented artist to celebrate our "green". Please show them some love and enjoy!

Featured Artist Interview: Lynn from UnaOdd

2009-04-22T11:57:00.018-04:00

It's a great pleasure for me to feature Lynn from UnaOdd. Few months ago I was searching for handmade pretties for my "Top 6 Thursday". While doing so, I came across UnaOdd on Etsy. Her original bangle bracelets caught my attention at first sight but also makes other beautiful things! Thank you Lynn for letting me feature you! Please read on to find out more about Lynn.

5 random facts about you:
I collect cat whiskers. I am crazy about gardening. I can beach-comb and fossil-hunt endlessly. I am a hermit-type who was saved from a solitary existence by my very understanding husband. I have two lovely, artistic children who I send outside regularly.

How long have you been doing this and how did it all begin?
I started around 1992, so almost 17 years. I began experimenting with resins and polymer clay and sketches from my college sketchbooks.

What inspires you?
Anything in nature -especially growth, patterns and color. Seed pods, bones, bugs, leaves, fossils, roots, flowers...if it was alive I'll look at it!

Describe your creative process:
I'm very much a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kind of artist. I'll see something that interests me and then mush, impress, bake, draw or engrave it. If it works and I like it I'll do some more. I'm a big fan of adding and taking away. Most of my pieces go through a lot of painting and sanding....covering and revealing.

Any challenges you face along your creative road?
I get tremendous support from my family, but being a wife and mother means having to carve out time to work. Trying to balance art and family is a tough thing.

What advice would you give other artists out there?
Experiment and play around. Don't be afraid of your materials or of failure.

How do you promote your work?
I recently joined Handmade in PA Street Team. I network through the Treasury system and I post on Twitter and Flickr.

Apart from creating beautiful things, what do you like to do?
Well first, Thank you! :^) I love spending time with my family, gardening and doing photography.

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?
First, I thank you for the invitation to do this interview. Second -I think it is very important that people connect with nature, one on one, from childhood. Only through exposure to other living things do we develop respect, empathy, and appreciation for the world and life around us. Parents, turn off the television, put the computers away and let your children see 'real life'.

Please check out Lynn's Blog @ http://unaodd.blogspot.com
Appreciation blog post from Lynn (thank you): http://unaodd.blogspot.com/2009/04/thank-you-anabela-from-beladonna.html

April Resin Bangle Giveaway Winner!!

2009-04-15T13:35:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated and entered to my Monthly Giveaway! There was a total of 24 entries to this Giveaway.

The winner to this giveaway is: #2 MOMFOREVERANDEVER!!
Congratulations!

Please stay tuned for my next Monthly Giveaway coming on May 4!

Top 6 Thursday: tweeter birds

2009-04-09T14:45:00.004-04:00

Birds are one of the many signs we see of Spring. They are very cute, fun, and small. Many artists use them as inspiration to their work. Here are some of my favorites. Please show them some love...enjoy!

Featured Artist Interview: Shellie from PillowHappy

2009-04-07T10:00:00.028-04:00

I'm very pleased to present to you my 1st featured Artist: Shelli, the beautiful and talented woman behind pillowhappy! I came across pillowhappy a few months ago when I was looking for Spring and nature inspired handmades on Etsy. There are many reason why I like Shelli's work so much. I love the details, color combination, variation in design, nature inspired and photographs she takes of her work. Thank you Shellie for letting me feature you. Please read on and find out more about the talent behind pillowhappy!

5 random facts about you:
1.I used to be an "auto show" model....cheesy I know!
2. I also used to act, but didn't make enough money, hence #1.
3. I have 4 kids 21,19, 7 and 5 (3 boys 1 girl)
4. I’ve lived in mi, ky, co, southern ca, and now nc!
5. I’m married to a stand up comic.

How long have you been doing this and how did it all begin?
One day I was sewing a slipcover for my couch. One day turned into a week as I went a little "slipcover happy" and slipcovered virtually everything in my house. In the meantime, I needed to get some ideas of mine on "pillow", and this shop was created! I've gone pillowhappy people! My shop, pillowhappy, has a double meaning. Yes, the pillows are happy pillows. But, I have literally gone crazy making and designing pillows, so the name "pillowhappy" more than fits!

What inspires you?
I’m very inspired by nature. Trees, leaves, bugs, flowers, sea life....whatever you can see from your own backyard! I’m continually amazed by God's creations! I also have always gravitated to little breakfast nooks, cubbies, tree forts....any secret place that's cozy. I also love love love a good nap. For a while I considered myself a professional napper (minus the pay), so, I think the combination of nature, and the comfy led me to..... pillows! I love working with soft things, soft fabrics....I’d love to learn to paint, but it's not cozy and soft. It’s messy. So, I probably won't.

Describe your creative process:
Nothing out of the ordinary....I have to work on my time management, and try to get things done before the kids get home from school. I try not to stress out to much about sales, etc....the great thing about etsy is that I can work in my pajamas, be my own boss, be at home, and create my own designs! I’m still amazed that I’m selling my own creations! There is something very special about that. I’m so happy people enjoy my pillows too!

What advice would you give other artists out there?
Don’t "force" yourself into making things just to "make things". Go with your gut and your inspirations and see where it takes you. Don’t put pressure on your artistry to be a machine and pump out cash. yes, it's sweet when this happens, but I think when you focus too much on it, you lose the joy, and sometimes, the creativity....if I feel myself getting this way, I start singing, "hold on loosely, but don't let go.....if you cling too tightly, you're gonna lose control". (It’s a classic rock song)

How do you promote your work?
I relist items daily. I include business cards in all my orders. I have a Facebook page that has a neat sidebar displaying my pillows. Other than that, I haven't done much else....people have put me on blogs (like this one) which is such a gift! I know that has helped too. I also try to have really really good customer service. oh! I am doing my first craft fair in a month or two! I’ll let you know how that goes!

Apart from creating beautiful things, what do you like to do?
Play with my kids, beach days, travel to see my bigger boys who live in Ca and Alaska, dates with my husband, Matt. I am pretty simple these days....oh, I do love movies, and (not to brag) I make the best popcorn....

Is there anything you would like to add to this interview?
Thanks so much for reading, and I am loving this blog!! Good luck everyone!

Monthly Giveaway: April: Resin Bangle

2009-04-06T10:00:00.008-04:00

I'm very excited to announce my 2nd Giveaway!!

This Giveaway is for the above bangle.
Resin Bangle: Luck is Believing You're Lucky That's All

4 ways to enter:
You can do each of the following once for 4 chances to win.
Please post comment to let me know!

1. Tell me how you got to my blog.
2. Visit BelaDonnaJewels and pick your favorite item in the shop.
3. Blog and/or Twitter (@belacer) about this Giveaway.
4. Follow my Blog.

Please be sure to include your contact information in your comments so that I can contact you if win!

1 winner will be chosen via random.org.
I will be announcing the winner on Wednesday, April 15th.
All entries must be received by Tuesday, April 14th at 11:59pm Est.
Giveaway ends Tuesday, April 14th at Midnight EST.
Thanks for entering & Believe in luck! ^_^

Top 6 Thursday: Happy Easter!

2009-04-01T19:56:00.009-04:00

Happy Thursday! Many people seem to have lost the true meaning of Easter. Please remember that Easter is not all fluffy bunnies and Easter eggs (although it can represent "new life") and chicks. For those of us that are Catholics/Christians, we should understand what Easter is all about. It's a day to celebrate the resurrection of Christ and giving us new life in Him. "The story of Easter is the story of God's wonderful window of divine surprise." ~Carl Knudsen
I want to share some beautiful Easter items from these talented artists. Please show these beautiful Easter gifts some love. Happy Easter!

MyKokeshi Custom Orders

2009-03-31T17:37:00.007-04:00

Few weeks ago I made a custom Kokeshi couple for a friend of mine. His friend saw his kokeshi dolls and loved them so she asked me to make 3 custom orders for her and her friends. She provided me with 3 photographs, 3 colors for each doll and a quote for each. I love custom requests because there's fun, challenging and always original!

Would you like to request for your own custom Kokeshi? If so, please contact me at belacer@gmail.com. Thank you!

March Kokeshi Giveaway Winner!!

2009-03-31T01:11:00.005-04:00

Thank you to everyone who participated and entered to my 1st Monthly Giveaway! There was a total of 71 entries to this Giveaway. The most popular Kokeshi was Haruko with 13 votes.

The winner to this giveaway is: #61 Medoly (mel*~reachforthestars~*)!!
Congratulations!

Please stay tuned for my next Monthly Giveaway coming on April 6!
Surprise surprise coming!

Spreading the Love one at a time...

2009-03-27T13:05:00.007-04:00

Lately I've been working a lot on the Kokeshi dolls more than I have on my other handmade projects. I decided that I will try to make at least a new Kokeshi doll everyday to get most of my designs and ideas out. Here are some of the latest Kokeshi members.

Top 6 Thursday: Berry Berries

2009-03-26T13:51:00.007-04:00

Another Thursday has arrived and the weekend is almost here!
So far, the beginning of Spring has been wonderful and the weather has been beautiful!
Here are some beautiful berry colored pretties I picked out from some talented sellers! Like always, please show them some love!

Display Stands

2009-03-25T13:03:00.001-04:00

I have been searching for display stands for my handmade items for some time now. So far there's nothing I have seen that are to my liking or they are way too expensive for what it is. Since I love building and making things, I've decided to make all my display stand if it's possible.

(left) for bangles and bracelets
(right) I bought this display box from an AC Moore craft store sometime last year for $5 when they were doing their store closing sale. I took the wooden slats out and nailed nails on each side and ran wires through them to hang earrings on them.

Since there were about 10 wooden slats left over from the display box, I decided to use them and made these displays this week to organize the MyMokeshi (www.MyKokeshi.com) dolls more organized and my keychains nicely hung. The results were very satisfying. I love how they all came out!

Top 6 Thursday: welcome Spring!

2009-03-19T10:00:00.007-04:00

Every Thursday I will be picking "Top Finds" items from different shops in my favorites. It's Thursday once again and tomorrow is the beginning of Spring! Let's celebrate together with their beautiful items from these talented artisans. Please give them some love! Enjoy!

Monthly Giveaway: March: Kokeshi Doll

2009-03-16T10:00:00.007-04:00

I'm very excited to announce my 1st Giveaway!!
This Giveaway is for one of the above of your choice Kokeshi Doll!

4 ways to enter:
You can do each of the following once for 4 chances to win.
Please post to let me know!

Go to my shop's Kokeshi section and pick out your favorite Kokeshi Doll. Post a comment on this posting about what you have chosen.
Visit BelaDonna and BelaDonna Jewels shops. Post comment with your favorite item from any shop!
Blog and/or Twitter (@belacer - that way I'll know) about this Giveaway
Follow my Blog

Please be sure to include your contact information in your comments so that I can contact you if win!

1 winner will be chosen via random.org.
I will be announcing the winner on Tuesday, March 31.
All entries must be received by March 30th at 11:49pm Est.
Giveaway ends Monday, March 30, Midnight EST.
Thanks for entering & Good luck!

2009-03-15T18:02:00.009-04:00

This week I've been working on new projects and a couple of beautiful custom orders. The end results are always very exciting to me!

These are the Mamasan Keychains. They are now in my SHOP!

This one was for one of my lovely customer from Etsy.

and this special couple was for my friend.

I'm always opened to custom orders. I love and enjoy making them every much! If you would like to request something custom made just for you, please don't hesitate to contact me at belacer@gmail.com.
Thank you!

Top 6 Thursday: for the home

2009-03-12T08:00:00.006-04:00

Every Thursday I will be picking "Top Finds" items from different shops in my favorites. Please give them some love! Enjoy!

Comic: GC's Basketball Shoes Shopping

2009-03-11T10:25:00.002-04:00

I decided to take the pictures we took from this day and make them into a Comic (something new I'm trying out just for fun). GC's been getting pain in his feet from his old basketball shoes when he plays countless hours of Basketball every week. So he finally decided it was time to get new ones. We dedicated this afternoon looking for his shoes. We went to Adidas, Festival Bay, Reebok, Nike and Converse...

..5 places and 50 pairs later...Converse was the winner!

Kokeshi Dolls weekend Special! March13-15

2009-03-09T14:22:00.000-04:00

Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 15
Weekend Special for my Kokeshi Dolls.
20% OFF on all Kokeshi Dolls (including custom orders)!
Buy 2 get 1 1/2 OFF!
Get them while sales last!

Anjelah Johnson- Nail Salon Uncut

2009-03-09T11:51:00.000-04:00

My cousin sent this to me today. I laughed so much...it was awesome! Hope you enjoy it as well!

Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

2009-03-08T12:29:00.000-04:00

This is a very easy and fun recipe to make!
Ingredients:
Pound Cake (homemade or cake in a box would work just fine)
4 cups of Fresh strawberries
1 cup sugar
4 tbs water
Whipped cream (from the store or homemade) - 5 cups heavy whipping cream, confessional sugar

Preparation:
Cake: If you're making a cake from the box then go ahead and follow the box instructions to bake your cake. Once it's ready, crumble it with a spatula into loose pieces.
Strawberry filling and syrup: Cut 3 cups of strawberries in 4 pieces and 1 cup in 1/2 (this will be for the top of the cake once it's finished). In a medium saucepan at Med heat add sugar and water and bring it to a boil. Add the 3 cups of cut strawberries in. Lower heat and let it cook until the strawberries soften and when strawberry syrup starts to form. Once it's done, set aside to let cool.
Whipped Cream: In a medium bowl add heavy whipping cream and about 4-5 table tbs of confessional sugar (depending on how sweet you want it you can add more). Whip with electric mixer at medium speed for about 2 mins or cream forms soft peaks. This process adds air to the cream which causes it to fluff. Don't whip beyond the soft-peak stage, because the cream will get stiff and curdle (like cottage cheese).

"Putting it together":
You can choose to use a regular glass baking pan or Truffle Bowl (glass baking pan is much easier to cut cake from).
1. Layer 1/2 an inch cake on the bottom 2. Spread whipped cream evenly over cake 3. Spread strawberry filling and syrup on top of whipped cream, along the edges and them spots in the center (the more you put, the sweeter the cake will be) 4-finish. Repeat steps 1-3.
Topping: Generously spread whipped cream on the top and decorate with the 1 cup of cut in 1/2 strawberries.
Voilà and there you have it! Enjoy!

New Blog vs. Old Blog

2009-03-06T16:41:00.000-05:00

Lately I'm been blogging a little more often and I would like to keep this up to share with the rest of you who do like reading my blog. For the past week I've been making corrections and designing a new layout for my blog, because it was time to let the old boring look go.
BEFORE:

Overtime, I have made a list of things I wanted to add and corrections needed to be made. I have fought with html and I feel so rusty working with it. I know that there is still much to be corrected and new things to be added, but that will eventually take place little by little.
AFTER:

Hope you enjoy the new look! Let me know what you think.

My 1st Etsy Treasury Ever!!

2009-03-03T19:29:00.001-05:00

I've always found it being a little hard to grab a spot in the Etsy Treasury, but this morning I got lucky! Here are a few of my favorites and my 1st Treasury Ever! Enjoy! :)

(From left to right)

Note: this Etsy Treasury listing expires Thursday, March 5 @ 5:28pm.
Click here to go to the Treasury

UPDATE: This treasury made it to the Etsy Front Page on Thursday, March 5!

Saturday Night: Sushi Happy Hours!

2009-03-01T21:04:00.000-05:00

Last night, Saturday, February 29th, my boyfriend GC and I hosted a Sushi Night get together with a few of his closest friends, Rey, Rhiannon, and Wilson. I made 11 rolls, 1 salad, 3 appetizer/sides. Click here to check out my MENU! I had forgotten that it's been 4 months since I've made sushi...no wonder I miss sushi so much! ;)

The big plates contain Sunrise (drizzled with my special yum yum white sauce and lemon zest on top), Summer, Volcano and Dragon Roll (drizzled homemade eel sauce on top).

Showing everyone what all the rolls are...Are we hungry yet?

(left) Fantasy and Mega Tempura Roll (right) Mexican Bubble Roll
Click here to check out what's in them

(left) Sumono Salad
(right) GC, our bartender is making us some very tasty Martinis

GC is preparing our chocolate sauce for our delicious dessert!
(Ice Cream, palmier, strawberry, bananas, pound cake and GC's very special chocolate sauce)

It was a night of great company and good eats!
We had an amazing time together!!

Weekend SALE has officially started!!

2009-02-28T01:26:00.000-05:00

Sale from Sat, Feb.28th - Sun Mar.1st
25% OFF Entire Shop!
http://beladonnajewels.etsy.com
Sales price will be refunded through PayPal asap!
(gift certificates and packaging/gift wrap not included)
Sale ends Sun Mar.1st 12:01am (Est.)

Feel free to contact me with any questions or requests!

♥ Have a great weekend!

Kokeshi Doll in Etsy Treasury

2009-02-25T10:13:00.000-05:00

My Haru - Kokeshi Doll was featured in this beautiful Oriental/Japanese treasury on Etsy.

This Etsy Treasury was made by SewSassyHeirlooms.

Thai Noodles

2009-02-21T16:34:00.002-05:00

This evening I craved for some Thai noodles so I decided to make some at home. This meal only took 1/2 an hour to make and it was super delicious.
Prep time: 10 mins
Cooking time: 20 mins
Serves: 2 hungry people

Ingredients:
1/2 bag of Thai flat noodles
2 tbs Sesame Oil
Salt and Pepper for taste
1/2 cup Oyster Sauce
1 tbs Rice Vinegar
2 Garlic cloves
2 tbsp water
2 cups Broccoli cuts
1 chopped Onion (if you're an onion lover, add more)
1 or 2 Chicken breast (depending on how much chicken you want)
Fresh cut Cilantro for garnish
2 tbsp Olive Oil
2 Eggs

Preparation:
In a large bowl soak noodles in warm water to get them soft.
In a small bowl mix sesame oil, oyster sauce, rice vinegar and water together.
Cut chicken breast into 1/2 inch cubes or slices

Cooking:
A Wok or a pan close to it's shape would also work. Turn on your stove to high. Add Olive Oil to your pan. Once the oil is hot, add your eggs...scrambling them constantly. Add a few sprinkles of salt to the eggs for taste. Turn stove to Medium heat. Use your spatula to move the eggs to the side of the pan then add onions and garlic to the other side. Once the onions are a little brown you can add the the broccoli into it. Let it cook for a minute and then pour in 1/2 of the small bowl of mixed liquids. While it cooks, strain water from the noodles and put into pan and stir with the rest of ingredients. Lower stove temperature and cover for 2 mins. Remove cover and pour the rest of small bowl of mixed liquids into it. Stir everything cover again for 3 mins. This is to cook the noodles and to get them to soften up without over cooking. If noodles are still not fully cooked yet, you may add a bit of water and cook with lid on (this will create a steam reaction for it to cook faster). Once the noodles are soft; it's ready to be served. Garnish
with fresh cut cilantro and server! Enjoy...Bon Appetite!

New Bracelets I

2009-02-19T14:17:00.000-05:00

I made these bracelets along with the new necklace collection (more to be posted soon). I will be listing these bracelets into the shop very soon, but if you see something that you like before I list them in the shop, please let me know. In order to keep them unique and special ...they are very limited in quantity. So get them while you can! :)
Please check out more jewelry in my Flick.

New, One of a Kind necklaces

2009-02-17T17:06:00.001-05:00

Lately, besides working on my kokeshi dolls I've been designing and making new One-of-a-kind necklaces for the shop. Here's a sneak peak on what's new to come :)

sold

sold

Kokeshi

2009-02-15T16:16:00.000-05:00

For those who don't know what kokeshi dolls are, Japanese dolls, originally from northern Japan. They are made out of wood and they were very simple in design. Traditional Kokeshi dolls had common characteristics that consisted of a basic cylindrical limbless body and a round head. They can also come in different shapes and height. Here are some examples of traditional Kokeshi dolls:

Sometime last year I made a wedding kokeshi couple for my friends who got engaged and will be getting married this year.

After that I started on the Sakura Family but I had to put them on hold.

Since then I have not made many more kokeshi dolls because I've been busy making jewelry. 2 weeks ago I got back into making these beautiful dolls and I made a birthday one for a very close friend. It said "The secret of staying young is to live honestly, eat slowly, and lie about your age."

New earrings in BelaDonna Jewels

2009-02-12T18:10:00.001-05:00

Although I enjoy making more necklaces than anything else...I've been trying to bring out a variation into the shop because I know a lot people who like wearing earrings more than anything. So lately I've been working in a whole bunch of new earrings designs... different styles that would fit for tastes. I'm still working on posting everything to the shop. Here are some new goodies in the shop: Earrings in shop and more to come!

Crucial info for every woman to know...

2009-02-04T12:07:00.000-05:00

Last Night I got this email forward from my sister. I would like to share it everyone because it kept me up just thinking about it.

Because of recent abductions in daylight hours, refresh yourself of these things to do in an emergency situation...
This is for you, and for you to share with your wives, mothers, children, everyone you know.
After reading these 9 crucial tips, forward them to someone you care about. It never hurts to be careful in this crazy world we live in.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans. If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM.
Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse.
RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc. (DON'T DO THIS!)
The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go.
AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR , LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.
If someone is in the car with a gun to your head
DO NOT DRIVE OFF. repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF!
Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it .
As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking lot, or parking garage:
A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor , and in the back seat.
B.) If you are parked next to a big van. Enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.
C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side.. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out.
IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs.
(Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. (This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ... ALWAYS RUN!
The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times; And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, Preferably in a zig -zag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP
It may get you raped, or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking, well educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked 'for help' into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her
'Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.'
The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over.
The policeman said, 'We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door.' He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night.

Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ----
This e-mail should probably be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America 's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana.

15, 25, 35 Dollar Gift Certificates

2009-01-14T21:58:00.000-05:00

Not sure what to get your special someone (friends, girlfriend or mom) as a gift? Don't know what they might like or can't decide on an item? Then this listing is perfect for you! They can be redeemed for any items in my shop for every occasion!

Online Places For Your Handmade Goods

2009-01-13T23:40:00.001-05:00

Many artists, crafters, jewelers out there like myself have searched for places where they can sell or promote their handmade work. Last year I decided to take my handmade work to a new direction. After long research and readings I came across Etsy and now that's where I have my shops.
Today I dedicated most of my day checking out all these sites where one can promote their work. Whether it's a social network or market, you also learn from and support other fellow artisans. Some require a registration fee, but most are free. If it's of any help, please do sign up and promote away!

Etsy: http://www.etsy.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com
MySpace: http://www.myspace.com
Hi5: http://hi5.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com
ArtFire: http://www.artfire.com
Plurk: http://www.plurk.com
Supermarket: http://www.supermarkethq.com
1000markets: http://www.1000markets.com/
ecrater: http://www.ecrater.com
indiepublic: http://www.indiepublic.com
PaperNStich: http://papernstitch.com/
PinkDoodle: http://pinkdoodle.com/
icraft: http://icraft.ca/
DeWanda: http://en.dawanda.com/
Handmade World: http://handmadeworld.ning.com/
Loveli: http://www.lov.li./
Craftster: http://www.craftster.org/
Flickr: http://flickr.com/
Google Groups: http://groups.google.com/
Ruby Lane: http://www.rubylane.com/
Big Cratel: http://bigcartel.com/
Bonanzle: http://www.bonanzle.com/

It always helps to participate in forums and past out your business cards whenever u can! I know there are many more out there. Please let me know if you've come across any that I haven't mentioned :)

Monday Special: 20% OFF All Earrings

2009-01-11T23:23:00.000-05:00

Looking for something special for yourself or a gift for a friend? Take advantage of this great special at my BelaDonnaJewels Store.
I have many more new earrings coming up in the store very soon!
Please don't forget to mention "Blog 20% OFF" during checkout...Happy shopping!

BelaDonna at HomeGrown for the Holidays

2008-12-22T13:13:00.002-05:00

Last Saturday December 20th from 10-7pm I participated in the Homegrown for the Holidays Artisan Market and Winter Solstice Celebration as a Vendor. It was such an amazing experience! This incredible event was a celebration of the local sustainable community and an opportunity for local artisans to share their goods and services with the community.
I rented out a space for a table. My friend Ashley was also there to help me out. I'm very pleased with the outcome. I can't wait for the event to roll around again next year. I'll be ready!

Featured Artist: Love, Bella Hope on Etsy

2008-11-25T17:52:00.005-05:00

Today I was in one of the many Etsy Chat rooms and I met a few nice Etsians and saw a few very nice and interesting shops. One of the ones I came across was www.Bellahope.etsy.com . Lisa is an artist located in New Jersey and is a graduate of Moore College of Art in Philadelphia with a Bachelor's Degree in Graphic Design. She enjoys doing crafts as well as logo and print work. During her 9 months of pregnancy, as Lisa patiently awaited the arrival of her baby girl she thought she would pass the time by creating one of a kind baby keepsakes & nursery decor. It quickly became a way to keep her love for art thriving and so Love, Bella Hope was born.
The ones I particularly liked the most are the ceramic piggy banks. Here are just some ideas or events she gives to grab a piggy bank for...Birthdays, Weddings, Anniversaries, College Fund, Vacation Fund, Honeymoon Fund, Baby Shower, Baby Arrival, Graduations, Keepsakes and Nursery Decor. She personalizes them with names and designs. The paintings on them are done with great and delicate details. The paints that she uses are non-toxic and lead free. The large size is 8 1/2"x 7 3/8". They are very unique and make great gifts! Go check her out and show her your support! :)

Saturday Night Sushi

2008-11-24T19:47:00.001-05:00

Last Saturday my boyfriend and I had a few friends over for a night of Sushi. I started making sushi at around 3:30 and finished at 6:35pm. The work wasn't so bad. All together I made, Philadelphia rolls, Smoke Salmon rolls, Dragon rolls, Shrimp tempura rolls, Volcano Roll, Eel Rolls, bubba roll, extreme roll, crab salad with Wakame (seaweed salad), surf clams (not everyone enjoyed them but I did) and Edamame. My boyfriend GC took care of our delicious dessert (homemade chocolate sauce over fruits and cake). It was overall a night of happy stomachs full of sushi, delicious chocolate dessert, martinis and great company!!

BelaDonna Jewels New Photoshoot!

2008-11-19T16:34:00.003-05:00

By attending the Etsy Virtual Lab Critique-in-the-Fly helped me realize and see that the old picture of my items in my shop were not up to par because I used to take the pictures indoors with my desk light (bad idea), so I decided to photoshoot everything all over again. After 400+ photos, I must say it was a lot of work but it was well worth it, because it now gave my shop a new look and great photography that reflect on all my jewelry.

Thank you for the Support!!!

2008-10-08T13:51:00.000-04:00

Thank you dear customers for all your kind support!
In order to thank you, all return customers will get 25% off on their next purchase in either of my shops. Please write "Return Cust." before purchase :)

BelaDonna Graphics
BelaDonna Jewels

Don't forget I also do custom designs.
Happy shopping!
♥ BelaDonna

In BelaDonna Jewels

2008-10-07T11:08:00.000-04:00

Lately I've been making a lot of jewelry during my free time and I enjoy every bit of it!! Everything that I design are from original sketches up even up to the choices of materials.
I enjoy going to my local stores to buy all sorts of materials and unique beads. I had no idea this would tickle and rub my buddha as much as it is now! ^_^

my latest designs:

Visit BelaDonna Jewels to find more! :)

Ideas for new product line and shops

2008-09-23T02:43:00.000-04:00

I was really happy on the outcome of all my self promotional pieces for my portfolio. I've had many positive feedback after all my portfolio pieces (messenger bag, postcard box, portfolio case, tags...etc) were done and I have thought of remaking the messenger bags and coming up with new items to sell.
It's recommended that people who sell different kind of items on Etsy should make different shops for them or not and only sell similar items.
I've been hesitating on opening other shops because I didn't want it to be confusing. After doing more and more research I've found that most people that succeed with Sales are those that sell a specific category in their shop.
So I've finally decided, I'm opening 2 more shops.

BelaDonna Travel: the self promotional line that I did of "travel"...messenger bag, boxes, books...etc

BelaDonna Jewels: strictly jewelry and accessories

So far they're still at their early stages.

BelaDonna's Etsy shop ♥

2008-09-19T11:59:00.003-04:00

In my Shop http://www.beladonna.etsy.com you will find my graphic design work, drawing, painting, mixed media, crochet, jewelry and everything else handmade by me.
♥ Everything is carefully handcrafted with love ♥ and care in a 100% pet free and smoke free environment.
Everything in the shop is made to order!
♥ I truly appreciate each and every sale I make through Etsy because it allows me to purchase supplies and continue making what I love! It would be my customers that keep me going, and help me improve my artwork.
♥ Custom Orders are welcomed! Most designs have limited quantity or they are one of a kind, so get them while you can!!
Please feel free to leave any questions, suggestions or feedback...I'd love to hear what you have to say.

I hope you enjoy my life's love as much as I do ♥

Show off tomato with your Art skills and you can win $3,000!

2008-09-18T22:54:00.000-04:00

I was browsing through Craigslist and I came across a listing calling for all artists to enter to this Tomato Art Contest.
All art submitted for consideration must include the words “Florida Tomatoes” (can be subtle) and must depict "round field-grown tomatoes” and be approximately 20” x 30” in size. Acceptable mediums can include watercolor, acrylic, oil, photography, digital or mixed media.
One art-contest winner will be selected from each 15 cities. Winners will receive $1,000 each for their art, as well as an opportunity to win the Grand Prize of $2,000.
http://www.floridatomatoart.com/index.html

Hurry!! Submission is due Wednesday, October 15, 2008!

Give your ride a mileage Makeover

2008-04-01T14:16:00.000-04:00

These days gas is getting more and more expensive, and this is not new news to anyone. The price of gas is a sore spot with most people when the cost of filling up keeps on rising! You might not think you can do a whole lot about it, but actually there's quite a bit. After doing some research, I figure I should share some tips with you to save $ by not wasting your gas. Here are some simple things you can do right now that will help you increase your gas mileage and pump some $ back into you pocket. :)

Slow Down
What's the rush? Where's the fire? Hard acceleration, aggressive driving and speeding reduce fuel economy significantly. Although it's true that different vehicles reach their optimal fuel economies at different speeds, in general the faster you travel over 60mph the faster your fuel consumption is. Slowing down and avoiding "jack-rabbit" starts can yield from 5% to as much as 30% saving in fuel economy.

Just Cruising Along
When you're out on the open road maintaining a steady, constant speed bu setting the cruise control on your car is a great and easy way to improve you fuel economy. Using the cruise control helps avoid sudden accelerations that waste gas.

Pump It Up
When was the last time you checked the air in your tires? Under inflated tires causes drag which means the engine in your car has to work harder. Keeping your tires inflated to the manufacturer's specifications can increase your fuel economy by up to 4% - not to mention extending the life of your (expensive) tires.

Clean Your Car and Lose Some Weight
No, I don't mean the outside of your car, although who wants to drive a dirty car? And I'm not talking about the spare tire around your waist either. I'm talking about the inside of your car. Get the junk out of there! Your car is not a closet or a storage shed. One way of another, we're all guilty of it, leaving extra "stuff" in the trunk or in the backseat. Coffee mugs, shoes, clothes, tools, whatever it may be...the list goes on and on. For every 100 pounds of "stuff" you can remove, you'll gain 2% in additional fuel economy.

It All Adds Up
You may be asking, "it's only 2%, does it really even matter?" The answer is yes it does matter. The point is, if you can save 2% here and 5% there and another 4% here, it all adds up. Before you know it you've just increased your fuel simple 10% or more. These are only simple things that you can do on the regular that yield big results. Results that you can see through less frequent fill-ups and a thicker wallet!
With all this said, hope this helped!
Happy cruising!

Don't be afraid that your life will end...

2008-03-10T14:20:00.000-04:00

Someone sent this to me from an unknown author:

As we grow up, we learn that even the one person that wasn't supposed to ever let you down probably will. You will have your heart broken probably more than once and it's harder every time. You'll break hearts too, so remember how it felt when yours was broken. You'll fight with your best friend. You'll blame a new love for things an old one did. You'll cry because time is passing too fast, and you'll eventually lose someone you love. So take too many pictures, laugh too much, and love like you've never been hurt because every sixty seconds you spend upset is a minute of happiness you'll never get back. Don't be afraid that your life will end, be afraid that it will never begin.

Livescribe Smartpen Helps Restless Mind Syndrome

2008-03-08T15:06:00.000-05:00

How do you count your money?

2008-03-08T14:04:00.000-05:00

Check out how people from different places count their money.

How you made them feel

2008-02-15T14:20:00.000-05:00

A person may forget what you say,
A person may forget what you do,
But, a person will not forget
How you made them feel.

2008-02-14T16:24:00.000-05:00

After watching these videos I felt so bad for Kashif, the dancer.
These judges gave the guy lots of false hopes by feeding him with the thought that he had dancing talents and let him go up to the top 20 just to then tell him that he has no talent at all. That doesn't make sense to me.
This is what America does to create show! Now, America's got talent...

Self Promotional Messeger Bag Final Photoshoot

2008-02-13T01:39:00.001-05:00

The theme to my promotional piece is Travel.
"To Travel is to take a journey into yourself"
All the typography on the bag was handwritten by me. Complementing the traveling bag I made a boarding pass from AR Airline and a mini passport with my resume and some of my best portfolio work in it. The bag tag is my laminated business card.

I'm very happy on the outcome of the project :)

Pro Photoshoot of my Portfolio Pieces

2008-02-11T01:38:00.000-05:00

It's their time to shine!
They have a life of their own... I'll let my work speak for themselves.

How to Command Respect through Body Language

2007-11-06T19:27:00.000-05:00

Some people are the center of attention wherever they go. They’re not glamorous movie stars, just ordinary people with excellent command over their body language. Here are some pointers to help you emulate these confident people and command respect from those around you.

Improve Your Standing:
Posture can say a lot about a person. Confident people seem to naturally stand tall, while those who slouch look like they're down on themselves. Be sure that you're presenting yourself in a way that commands respect.

What to do:
1. Stand tall, even if you’re the shortest person in the room. Keeping your shoulders pushed back will lend you an air of confidence.
2. Spread your weight evenly on both feet instead of leaning on one. You don’t need to stand at perfect attention, just keep your feet apart so you balance well.
3. Take your hands out of your pockets, or you may be seen like you've got something to hide. Hold them loosely by your side.
4. Stand with your arms crossed behind your back. Your shoulders will get pulled back automatically.

What not to do:
5. Don’t stand with your hands on your hips if you don’t want to come across as confrontational.
6. Don’t shuffle your feet. Pick your feet up and move like you know where you're going.
7. Don’t fidget with your feet. Drawing patterns with one foot on the floor shows you’re not interested in what’s going on.
8. Don't lean against walls or tables. You'll appear tired and lazy.
9. Don’t turn away from the person you’re talking to in the middle of the conversation, otherwise you'll show you’re not interested in continuing it.

Eye Contact:
When holding a conversation, the person you're speaking with should focus on your eyes. They indicate your emotions and can show whether you're paying attention or not. Be considerate of what your eyes tell about you: show others respect and you'll get respect in return.

What to do:
10. Look directly at the person you are talking to in order to exude confidence.

What not to do:
11. Don’t shift your attention to other people or things in the room. It shows deceit.
12. Be careful not to glare at the person talking to you. You may think you look intensely interested, but you just look mad.
13. Don’t blink excessively. People will be distracted and wonder if there's something wrong with you.
14. If you wear glasses, don’t look over the rim. It makes you look condescending.
15. Never wear sunglasses inside, especially during a meeting. Others will wonder if you have something to hide.
16. Don’t look at your watch unless you want to appear as if you're in a rush.
17. Don't rub your eyes with your hands: it signals disbelief at the situation.
18. When you pinch the bridge of your nose with your eyes closed, you'll come across in a negative manner.
19. Keeping your eyes on the door will show that you’re ready to leave the room.

Sitting Pretty:
Your posture while sitting is just as important as standing. Your level of interest in a conversation can be easily read by the position you sit in. Be careful to position yourself in a way that shows you're powerful and actively engaged in what others have to say.

What to do:
20. Sit straight so that your shoulders touch the back of your chair. Slouching promotes the image of laziness.
21. Rest your hands on the arms of your chair, place them on your knees, or fold them on your lap so that they are not a distraction.
22. Make sure your chair is positioned so you’re facing the person you’re talking to. This will show that you're engaged in what they are saying.
23. Lean slightly forward to appear interested in a conversation and stress what you’re saying.

What not to do:
24. Don’t cross your ankles. Some people think it’s a sign that you’ve got something to hide. Sit with your feet on the floor to minimize distractions.
25. Don’t tilt your chair back so that it’s standing on two legs. This shows a very casual, laid back attitude and does not earn you respect. You also run the risk of looking silly when you accidentally fall backwards.
26. Don’t cross your arms across your body. You may come across as disinterested.
27. Stretching your legs out shows you're too relaxed and may also invade others' personal space.
28. Never put your feet up on the desk in front of you. You don’t want to come across as condescending.
29. Ladies, be cautious when crossing your legs. If you'll expose things that are better left to the imagination, refrain from doing so.

Heading for Victory:
The position of your head, the frequency of your breaths, even yawning are indicators of your level of interest in a conversation. Take care to avoid looking as if you're bored or disinterested. If you seem to be involved in what others have to say, they will naturally offer the same to you and build mutual respect.

What to do:
30. Tilting your head to one side during a conversation shows you’re interested and thinking about what's being said.
31. Take regular, even breaths. Heavy breaths are a sure sign that you’re nervous.
32. Be sure to nod your head so the person you're speaking with knows you're listening and interested.

What not to do:
33. Massaging your temples shows you’re either at your wits’ end or that you have a severe headache.
34. Don’t swallow too often; it gives away the fact that you’re not comfortable with the situation.
35. Yawning is an involuntary sign from your body saying that your brain’s bored. You may not have much control over it, but yawning in the middle of a conversation will give away the fact that you’d rather be somewhere else.
36. A blank face conveys either disinterest or a lack of understanding.

Walking into the Limelight:
Carrying yourself in a confident manner is key to commanding respect. Give the impression that you're walking with a purpose so that you'll be admired by others.

What to do:
37. Walk, don’t run. Take even strides.
38. Look ahead or in front of you, not at the floor when you walk.

What not to do:
39. Don’t walk with a swagger; it indicates that you’re cocky and have an attitude.
40. Be careful not to shove people aside as you move across a crowded place: no one respects a rude person.
41. Similarly, avoid stepping on others' toes.

Win, Hands Down:
Hand gestures are great for getting attention or making a point, but be sure that you're not creating a distraction. You want attention to be on your eyes and face while speaking, not on what your hands are doing. Command respect and control the interest of the conversation by keeping your hands in check.

What to do:
42. Open, face-up palms signal honesty and straightforwardness.
43. Gesturing with your arms can help you make a point, but don't do so much that it's distracting.
44. When you stroke your chin, it shows you’re trying to make a decision. Be sure that you want others to know that's what you're doing.
45. Making a steeple out of your hands makes a good impression, as it demonstrates confidence.
46. Shake hands firmly: not too tight or too limp. You don’t want to crush the other person’s hands or come across as unsure of yourself.
47. If the situation calls for paperwork, be sure to keep your papers in order with easy access to avoid looking disorganized.
48. Make sure your palms are clean and dry. Sweaty palms indicate nervousness and are a turn off for most people.
49. If you’re trying to convince someone of your sincerity, touch your open palm to your heart.
50. Rolling up your sleeves signals a casual, get-down-to-work attitude. Roll them up or down according to the situation.
51. Removing your tie, top button, or jacket to indicate you’re getting comfortable in your surroundings.

What not to do:
52. Don’t clench your fists. You'll come off as aggressive.
53. Never point at someone, be it the person talking to you or anyone else in the room. It’s rude.
54. Don’t play or fidget with your mobile phone when someone’s talking to you. It shows avoidance and a lack of interest.
55. Don’t wring your hands: it signals despair.
56. Don’t scratch your head. You'll come across as being unsure of yourself.
57. Don’t touch your nose, play with your hair, or rub your eyes when you’re being asked for an honest answer. They’re all signs that say you’re lying.
58. Don’t tap your fingers on a table or arms of a chair; you'll seem anxious.
59. Don’t run your fingers through your hair. It shows frustration.
60. Don’t doodle on the notepad in front of you, as this indicates boredom.
61. Closing an open mouth with your hands shows you’re shocked at what’s been said or what you’ve seen.
62. Never bite your nails. It will make you seem nervous.
63. Don’t fidget with objects lying on the table in front of you.
64. Don’t chew on a pencil or pen when talking to someone. It's unattractive and distracting.
65. Don’t sit with your palms on your cheeks. It shows you’re deep in thought about something else.
66. Don’t clench the arms of your chair or your handbag too tightly. You'll portray yourself as nervous.
67. Don’t rub your hands together: it shows you're too eager.
68. Avoid a two-handed handshake. It’s usually connected to politicians who are not very sincere.
69. Do not wipe your palms on your clothing. Use a handkerchief instead.
70. If you pull at your ear, you may indicate that you're lying.
71. Don’t shake your fists at someone, as it is extremely aggressive.
72. Clenched fists raised in the air will indicate that you’re overjoyed or thrilled. Avoid doing this when situations call for restraint.

A Matter of Manners:
Practicing common courtesy is a basis for earning respect from others. If you're rude, people will avoid talking and working with you. Be polite to ensure you're putting your best foot forward.

What to do:
73. When you need to offer comfort, a one-armed squeeze, gentle hug, or a pat on the shoulder helps, depending on how close you are to the other person.
74. Open doors and allow others to walk before you.
75. Cough and sneeze into your hands or a handkerchief, not into the face of the people around you.

What not to do:
76. A handshake that goes on for an extended period of time may be considered inappropriate.
77. Ruffling someone’s hair may seem like you’re being genuinely affectionate, but in a formal setting, it suggests you’re being condescending.
78. Don’t shout when you’re on the phone. Talk in a calm, volume-controlled voice.
79. Don’t huddle into a corner with your mobile phone while in a crowd of people. Get out and mingle instead. Keep your private conversations for a time when you’re alone.
80. Don’t mock someone’s mannerisms when you think they’re not watching.
81. Avoid taking a phone call when you're in the middle of a discussion.
82. If you have a cold, don’t blow your nose loudly in public.
83. Never wipe your nose with your hands or sleeves.
84. Don’t scratch your itches, not matter how much you’re tempted to. You'll make people wonder if you have a rash.
85. Don’t multi-task in the middle of a conversation. It doesn't show dexterity, only callousness.
86. Don’t slam doors, no matter how angry you are.
87. Don’t snap or clap your hands to call someone over.
88. Don’t burp/belch loudly in public.
89. Don’t lick your lips too often. You may jut be wetting them, but it indicates nervousness, or worse, sexual aggression.
90. Don’t make faces or stick your tongue out behind someone’s back. It’s childish and rude.

Take a Good Look at Yourself:
Carefully examining the way you present yourself can help you discover areas in which you may need improvement. Carefully groom your mannerisms and outward appearance to make your best impression and command respect.

What to do:
91. Practice your mannerisms in front of a mirror so that you can discover your weak areas.
92. Additionally, try videotaping your actions so you can find out where you’re going wrong.
93. Look at others who command respect and imitate their actions.
94. Look good. You don’t have to be conventionally handsome or beautiful; it’s enough to dress neatly in clothes that suit both you and the occasion.
95. Smell good. Use deodorant and perfume, but go easy on it. You don’t want to overpower the room with your scent.
96. Keep your fingernails clean. Close cropped nails show you’re neat and orderly, but if you prefer to wear them long, make sure they’re groomed neatly.
97. Wear footwear that allows you to walk comfortably to avoid making a fool of yourself.
98. Keep your work area and personal space neat and tidy. Avoid clutter and dust.

What not to do:
99. Avoid revealing, dirty or wrinkled clothing.
100. Don't wear too much makeup. Keep it to a minimum.
101. And last, but not least, always smile. Smiles are contagious. When you smile, others can't help but smile back and feel positively towards you.

Airport Signs Box with Drawing Postcards 3

2007-11-06T01:30:00.000-05:00

My postcard box is done! I'm very trilled about it and how it came out. It was definitely worth all the time. This is exactly how I pictured and sketched it to be.

Airport Signs Box with Drawing Postcards 2

2007-11-02T01:27:00.000-04:00

Here's what I've been working on. I finally found a decent size box to put my postcards in so that I wouldn't have to spend my time building one. There's how the inside of the box looks like and then the airport signs are gonna be on the outside of the box...I was thinking of making the yellow signs into stickers...still thinking.
I found this unique stamp sticker and they're embossed! post cards where the They will be going on the back of the stamp should go. I'm very excited about this...

Airport Signs Box with Drawing Postcards 1

2007-10-31T19:59:00.000-04:00

I'm posting something else I've been working on for my portfolio. I have many studio drawings and paintings that I've done over time but I already have enough work to go in my portfolio case so I can't put my drawings in there to overcrowd it. Instead I'm making a box to go keep my drawing samples in. Of course it's not done. These are just the illustration of the airport signs.
So my idea is to have the these signs on the outside of the box and then the inside of the box will be covered with maps all around. This would go great with my 'map messenger bag' promo piece.

Map messenger bag: process in the making 4

2007-10-23T19:55:00.000-04:00

I just got done with some pockets and working on the straps to find ways to make it extend to any length. I went out to the junk yard to get the seal belt buckles this morning so I'll be working on them today. I had no idea they would be expensive, I mean who wants seat belt buckles anyway?! Apparently I was wrong...a lot of them were already cut from the cars, they were $10 a set...but the guy was nice enough to give me a discount.

Map messenger bag: process in the making 3

2007-10-21T19:45:00.000-04:00

After I ran into my problem (from my last post) I thought of a great solution to solve the material issue. I've been intensely working on this project this whole weekend. I lost lots of sleep, but the results was worth loosing sleep for. After 2 days of intense work, I can proudly say that I'm 89.95% done. I made 5 messenger bags + 1 big bag. I'm only missing the straps, pockets and "passports" to show my work in. My fingers are hurting and red from all the sewing that I've been doing. I think I'm gonna call it the night. I took some pictures of the process and of the bags.

Map messenger bag: process in the making 2

2007-10-16T19:43:00.000-04:00

I've been ironing and ironing plastic bags. I cut out some maps and put plastic bag around the paper and tried to flatten everything out. It seems like they were bounding together alright, but I was fooled!
When the plastic is still warm it maintains the flatness, but as soon as it starts cooling down they shrivel up!!! Check out the pic and you'll see what I mean.
My guess is that I can't go on with the bag made of maps. Ok, I just came up with an idea...I'm still going to try to stick to the Traveler's theme but now I'm going to sew all mixed wrappers with diff types and characters to represent diff places around the world, diff logos and symbols.

Map messenger bag: process in the making 1

2007-10-15T19:34:00.000-04:00

Some of you have already heard about the promo piece that I want to do. It's a messenger bag out of plastic bags by melting them together then sewing the bags together like fabric.
I started testing and practicing with the plastic bags. I melted a few and threw away a few. Most of them came out wrinkled. It's still in its trial and error stage but I think I found the problem. The plastic bags were too big and they were too thin. So I'll be trying out some more as soon as I get a hold of MORE BAGS!
I started brain storming ideas of a theme I want to have for all my pieces including the promo piece. I want it to reflect my personality, who I am and my creativity. So I thought of either making it as a traveler's bag, GD's Survival Bag or Oriental Theme. If it's the the GD's Survival or Traveler's bag then would also like to include maps of FL if it's possible. I did my calculations and measurements for the bag to be large enough to be to fit the portfolio in it.

Just some ideas
for the Outside:
-typography
-wrapper (candy/chocolate, anything plastic)
-use of map?
-Rub on lettering
-chinese characters
-seatbelt buckle
-sew self identity logo on flat

inside for "Traveler's bag"(ideas to include):
-map somehow incorporate work in there
-passport with stamps
-pollaroid pics of cropped
-CD with artwork
-postcards with work on them

inside for "GD's survival bag:
-CD w/ artwork
-measurement tape (picas/in/cm)
-paintchip business card holder
-floppy notepad
-ctrl+z (cmd+z) & crtl+s (cmd+s) buttons
-art chip

I knows it might be a lil hard to imagine how it would look like right now but please try. Give me some feedback on what you think about the theme ideas or if there's anything else I should include or take away.
I'm not a big fan of junk food but if any of you do eat anything with wrappers it'll be great if you could save some wrappers and plastic bags for me! Thank you ^_^
Here I have a rough sketch of the layout of the bag. The pic was taken with my phone. It looks much better on paper.

This video shows the idea of how I want to make the messenger bags. Let's just see if it works out!

Tokyo Breakfast

2007-08-20T09:22:00.000-04:00

This one's so old but it's still hilarious!!

Boom Chicka Wah Wah - Axe Body Spray Commercial

2007-08-18T09:10:00.000-04:00

This one always cracks me up everytime I watch it! lmao

Couples who shouldn't hyphenate their last-names

2007-08-12T09:05:00.000-04:00

Macanese Wanted!!

2007-08-07T07:01:00.000-04:00

I have never heard of a Macanese committing crime outside of Macau so it was a surprise to me to find out when my dad told me about it. His name's Couto. Pai knows his dad, they used to play hockey together. What a shame cause I do have the Macanese pride.
http://www.fbi.gov/wanted/fugitives/cei/couto_lm.htm

Listen - Beyonce Knowles (DreamGirls Soundtrack)

2007-08-03T06:05:00.000-04:00

I usually can't listen to the same song over and over again, but with this song is different. Since the 1st time I heard this song, I've been playing it over and over again. I would say that this is one of my favorite songs. Hope you enjoy it as well :)

"BelaDonna"

2007-08-01T05:45:00.000-04:00

Time and time again many people have asked me how I came up with the name, "BelaDonna". This happened years ago when I started digging deeper into the subjects of Graphics. In class, during critiques I liked it when people "tore" my work apart and critiqued my work. I actually handled it pretty well when it came to that. I've gained more knowledge from all the critiques.

My friend Kenny always called me BelaDonna while we were in class. I've asked him why. He said that it's because my work is always very sharp and that it stood out. Thanx Kens. So soon enough I caught on to the name. I liked it so much that I made it my freelancer identity. So that's how "BelaDonna" came about.

You can check out my portfolio at http://www.flickr.com/beladonna/sets

BeatBox Baking

2007-04-21T23:57:00.000-04:00

Beatbox Fame Game

Street installations

2007-04-08T22:55:00.000-04:00

Sometimes things make me wonder. In this case, I'm talking about street installations, sculpture, status, etc. Are we supposed to accept everything that is being put in front of us in the public? Don't get me wrong but there are many beautiful art being displayed on the streets, but sometimes they are just useless, waste of material and pollutant to the environment. But if there was a awareness or reasonable statement behind it then I see it feed the purpose for being in the public. Here are some that I found pretty cool, but then again...what is the purpose?

Let me know how you feel about street installations/street art!

The amazing Burma scene

2007-04-05T22:00:00.000-04:00

I stumbled upon this amazing view I found from somewhere near a lake in Burma. It is said that the photo can only be taken on certain once a year because the sunlight has to touch the rocks in a certain angle.
If you tilt your head to the left, you'll be able to see this amazing image created with the reflection from the lake...

(This is the whole scene tilted vertical)

I would have to say that this is something truly amazing.

Post your ideas

2007-04-01T13:14:00.000-04:00

This site is great for those who want to share their creative ideas with other people. I find them really interesting, although some are not possible to make realistic. Click on the logo to check it out!