PooLou Designs: 2010

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Feedback

Hi! I am hoping you can help me out a bit here. I want 2011 to be the best for PooLou Designs! I mean, who doesn't want that for their business? What I need from you is feedback. What can I do to improve my business? What can I change? I have been brainstorming, but sometimes a person on the outside can see everything clearer. Even if you have no direct experience with my business, I welcome you to help me out. Please leave a comment here or you can email me at klkestner@yahoo.com. I hope to hear from you!

Kristen

Monday, November 15, 2010

Honey Face Cream

I have been making my own face cream for 3 years now. I also make it for my mom, mother-in-law and a few others. Everyone who has tried it, loves it. Well, I am finally going to try and sell it! I ordered some labels, which I am in love with. I hope everyone likes it as much as we do!

I wanted to incorporate some honey in the pictures.

What do you think about the labels?

This is a big step for me! I never planned on selling it, but it is worth a try. If they don't sell, I will have great gifts!

There are 3 main ingredients in the face cream that make it so amazing!

Honey ~ Honey has the ability to attract and maintain moisture. The skin's ability to stay moist is an important factor in its ability to maintain softness, suppleness and elasticity.

Shea Butter ~ Shea Butter is known for its softening and restructuring virtues. It also aids in the prevention of stretch marks and delays aging. It is a natural sunscreen.

Vitamin E ~ Vitamin E is an antioxidant that prevents radical damage to skin tissue. It also conditions and moisturizes the skin.

I am having a Holiday Sale in my studio now. You can find the face cream listing here http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=Shop&op=listing&product_id=2417483.

Enjoy!

Friday, November 12, 2010

Friday Feature ~ Diane's Dangles

Meet Diane of Diane's Dangles! Diane began her crafting journey through making beaded earrings. She realized it was a great stress reliever from her day job. Diane creates jewelry that really "pops" and has lots of color. I love her studio! It is so bright and welcoming. It is very hard to choose just a few favorites! Visit her studio and you will see for yourself! From her gallery of personal pictures on Artfire, I can see Diane travels quite a bit. She probably draws a lot of inspiration from these adventures. I know I would!

Square Hematite Gemstone Fine Silver Dangle Earrings ~ I have never seen a pair of earrings quite so unique. Add these to my Christmas wishlist!

Brown Tiger Eye Large Gemstone Sterling Pendant ~ This necklace is AMAZING! It is so rich in color and the sterling silver really brings it out.

Square Seraphinite Gemstone Sterling Silver Ring ~ I love how this ring looks like it has the ocean in it. I get a calm feeling while looking at it.

Bold Sterling Silver Hammered Cuff Bracelet ~ Can you believe this is handmade? It is beautiful! I wish I could make things like this!

I hope you will visit Diane's studio at http://dianesdangles.artfire.com/. I have enjoyed looking through her shop and finding some amazing jewelry!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Girl Burp Cloths

Ok, I know this is not my usual thing...I had a double baby shower to go to last night. Both women are having girls! I got the idea from a friend to make burp cloths for them. It had never crossed my mind to make them something. I was going to go to the store and get something everyone else had. I can't believe I was going to do that! I am creative. I can make gifts instead of buying. Handmade is so much better! More personal. Here is what I made for them.

I was going to give the burp cloths to them matching, but variety is good! They have 2 different patterns.

The pattern fabric is cotton and the pink fabric is flannel. Absorbent and it stays put!

Showing off the back with my labels :)

The whole front and back...

Up close...My sewing is pretty good, isn't it?

Folded and ready to go into the baby gift bag.

Unfortunately, one of the ladies was sick. She will get her gift next month. The other lady loved her burp cloths! She said they were too pretty to use...awwwwww :) Everyone said they were her "going out" burp cloths. I guess they were a hit! Now I want to make some boy ones ;)

Friday, November 5, 2010

Friday Feature ~ Charmed Design 1012

Meet Lori, a former lawyer turned crafter! She wasn't happy being a lawyer, but now loves making jewelry! She makes these very unique wrap charm bracelets (and most of them double as a necklace)! So chic and stylish!

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet with Labradorite Briolettes ~ I love the richness of the blue ribbon and the contrast of the brioletes. This can also be worn as a necklace! Two pieces of jewelry for the price of one!

Silk Ribbon Wrap Bracelet with Heart Charms ~ This would be the perfect bracelet to wear for Thanksgiving! Perfect fall colors. The gold heart charms really brings it all together.

Evil Eye Red Braided Wrap Bracelet ~ Fun and colorful! I love the braided red cord. This bracelet will really pop and be the talk of the party!

Peace Sign Charms Burgundy Wrap Bracelet ~ The bracelet looks like several bangle bracelets. I just LOVE the knotted design of this!

I hope you have enjoyed getting to know Lori! You can visit her shop here http://charmeddesign1012.etsy.com/

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month

The inspiration for this blog post comes from a collection on Artfire. A pair of my earrings are in this collection http://www.artfire.com/modules.php?name=collections&op=details&cid=6863 promoting Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month. I admit, I do not know very much about pancreatic cancer. The only things that some to mind when I think about pancreatic cancer are that the patients don't live very long and Patrick Swayze. So, I decided to do a little research.

Pancreatic cancer is widely understudied and underfunded.

The pancreas aids in digestion and helps regulate the metabolism of sugars. Because it spreads rapidly, pancreatic cancer often has a poor prognosis. Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death. Fewer than 5% of those diagnosed with this type of cancer will still be alive in 5 years. Here are some very interesting facts I found:

I copied the information below from
http://www.pancreatic.org/site/c.htJYJ8MPIwE/b.5050503/k.40C9/Pancreatic_Cancer_Facts.htm

•An estimated 43,140 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the U.S., and over 36,800 will die from the disease.

•Pancreatic cancer is one of the few cancers for which survival has not improved substantially over nearly 40 years.

•Pancreatic cancer is the 4th leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States.

•Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate of all major cancers. 94% of pancreatic cancer patients will die within five years of diagnosis – only 6% will survive more than five years. 75% of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.

•The average life expectancy after diagnosis with metastatic disease is just three to six months.

•Few risk factors for developing pancreatic cancer are defined. Family history of the disease, smoking, age, and diabetes are risk factors.

•Pancreatic cancer may cause only vague symptoms that could indicate many different conditions within the abdomen or gastrointestinal tract.

•Symptoms include pain (usually abdominal or back pain), weight loss, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), loss of appetite, nausea, changes in stool, and diabetes.

•Treatment options for pancreatic cancer are limited. Surgical removal of the tumor is possible in only approximately 15% of patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Chemotherapy or chemotherapy together with radiation is typically offered to patients whose tumors cannot be removed surgically. Only three drugs are FDA‐approved for the treatment of pancreatic cancer: fluorouracil (5‐FU), gemcitabine (Gemzar®), and erlotinib (Tarceva®).

•Pancreatic cancer is a leading cause of cancer death largely because there are no detection tools to diagnose the disease in its early stages when surgical removal of the tumor is still possible.

•The National Cancer Institute (NCI) spent an estimated $89.4 million on pancreatic cancer research in 2009. This represented a mere 2% of the NCI’s approximate $5 billion cancer research budget for that year.

Source for statistics: American Cancer Society: Cancer Facts & Figures 2010 and NCI Funded Research Portfolio.

This is a very scary disease. One I hope never to have personal experience with. Spread the word and lets help further the research so we can beat this thing!

Best,
Kristen

Friday, October 22, 2010

Friday Feature ~ Katie Jeans Jewelry

Meet Candy, the designer behind Katie Jeans Jewelry! Candy is passionate about jewelry making and is committed to making beautiful, affordable jewelry. She works in an office during the day, but she is always thinking of her next design! Besides being a jewelry designer, Candy enjoys reading, fly fishing, decorating and photography. I found some wonderful designs in her studio that I am sure you will love!

When I was browsing Candy's studio, this magnificent piece jumped off the page at me! They look kind of like coffee beans (which I love!) and are actually fresh water pearls!

This gorgeous pendant looks like seeing the sun through the branches. The chain is sterling silver. Simple, yet amazing!

This key chain is so fun and unique! It features a theater mask and purple glass beads. A great gift for that aspiring actor/actress!

Golden Smoky Quartz Earrings sparkle when the light catches them! Wear with your fancy dress, or add a little something to your casual attire. I love long and dangly earrings!

I hope you have anjoyed getting to know Candy! Visit her studio at http://katiejeansjewelry.artfire.com/.

Friday, October 15, 2010

Friday Feature ~ Pinks Pleasures

Meet Peggi, the woman behind Pinks Pleasures. The studio I am featuring is her 3rd Artfire studio! Peggi has a great sense of humor and a passion that has made her very successful. In this studio she makes soaps, soaps, and more soaps! She also makes scrubbies and dishcloths. Everything is very colorful and looks beautiful! She has such a large selection of soaps, it was hard to choose! The first one I chose because it is my favorite color and looks so yummy!

Coconut Lemongrass Soap X Large 6 oz. Doesn't this look so good?

Yuzu Citrus Soap Calla Lily large 4.5 oz. I love calla lilies! She makes soap in assorted shapes too!

Christmas Snow Tree in Spiced Cranberry. These are too cute! Great for display during the holidays and for gift giving!

Crochet Handmade Facial Scrubbies. Pamper your skin and help the environment too!

I hope you have enjoyed this feature! Visit Pinks Pleasures at http://pinkspleasures.artfire.com/.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

A Family Project ~ Bird Feeders

Last weekend we decided to do a family project. We did some research online for woodworking with kids. Bird feeders is what we came up with. We started out Saturday at Michaels getting supplies to decorate our bird feeders. The kids picked out their own theme. They loved it! Then we went to Lowe's to get the wood. They both decorated their bird feeder however they wanted. We can't wait to complete them and start feeding the birds! We haven't picked out where to put them yet, but I am sure we will find the perfect spot. Joe and I did one together and we are quite happy with it.

Chris added an airplane to one side...

And a rocket with a star on the other side. Do you like the flower pots? Lexi put some on hers, so Chris needed some too.

So proud!

Lexi put a picket fence boarder, flower pots, a tulip and a heart...

And a sun.

Daddy painted the American Flag for her.

We made ours rustic. We added moss to the roof and cut pieces of Aspen around it.

Don't you love their hand prints on the roof? We are already thinking about our next family project!

Monday, October 11, 2010

Coming Soon!

Don't you hate it when you go to the grocery store and you come home with tons of produce bags? I sure do! It is a waste, not to mention bad for the earth. I have been frustrated about this for awhile, and finally decided to do something about it! I am going to be making reusable mesh produce bags. They will be great to have on hand whenever you make a trip to the grocery store. They will also make awesome gifts! I know what I am doing for Christmas this year ;) Here is the first one I made. I love the color, don't you?

This is the standard size you get at the grocery store. I am thinking about making them in different sizes and offering them in a set. I will also do different colors. What do you think?

Friday, October 8, 2010

Friday Feature ~ Care More Creations

Meet Carolyn, the owner of Care More Creations. She is a lover of nature and fashion and it definitely comes through in her very unique work! She currently resides in Alaska and draws most of her inspiration from her surroundings, along with her family and friends. Carolyn loves creating these one of a kind treasures of wearable art!