Domestic Bliss!

                                                                       Source: Uploaded by user via Ooh on Pinterest

Although I love taking care of my home, domesticity doesn't always come naturally to me. Let's just say that instead of cleaning the bathroom or doing other household chores, I much prefer to spend my precious leisure moments watching the Housewives of {insert location here}, a night out, sewing, kissing my pooch, driving hubby crazy by criticizing his favorite football team.... You get the idea.

                                                                              Source: Uploaded by user via Ooh on Pinterest

But I must admit that a clean & organized house makes me happy and allows me to be more creative. So I am always thrilled when I learn about housekeeping tips that are cheap, creative and make my life a whole lot easier.

                                                                               Source: squidoo.com via Ooh on Pinterest

I have been carefully researching and collecting cleaning tips & testing said tips for about a year or so. Now that I have had a chance to test each and every one of them, I am ready to share them with you!

Thus the new blog series: Domestic Bliss! The first tip I have to share is how to look this sexy when you clean your house:

                                                                              Source: Uploaded by user via Ooh on Pinterest

Not really!

But seriously, I hope you will join me every week, starting tomorrow when I share uncommon uses for our beloved coffee filter!

Do you have any cleaning tips you would like to share? Email me! oohleela{at}gmail{dot}com.

Thanks for stopping by!!!

Halloween project ideas

Hello blog friends! This is my 100th blog post, so I'd better make it extra special!

While browsing the interwebs I came across these cute Halloween projects and had to share!

TP rolls party favor pillow boxes by Crissy Crafts

Felt trick or treat bags by Homemade by Jill

Easy pipe cleaner spider by Homemade by Jill

Pumpkins carved with a drill by Crafty Nest

Do you have a fun Halloween project you would like to share?

Xoxo's!

Meet Boo, the girlie ghost

October is Think Pink month. We celebrate Halloween in October. That got me thinking.... Why not make a coffee sleeve/cup cozy with a pink ghost on it?

Let me introduce you to Boo, the girlie ghost:

I used osnaburg on the outside. Osnaburg looks very similar to linen.

The hand cut ghost applique was done in a super cute pink/white polka dot fabric, with 2 black buttons for her eyes and a pink bow (because every girlie ghost has got to have a pink bow).

I used a super cute floral back on the inside. You may remember seeing this fabric on the blog before. I used it in the fabric bunting I made for the baby shower.

20% of all sales this month will be donated to support Breast Cancer Awareness.You can find Boo here.

Have you made any new items to celebrate Think Pink month or Halloween?

Thanks for stopping by. Leela says hi!

Think Pink BNR

And we are on! Come say hi! Ooh Leela is donating 20% of all sales proceeds to help support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research.

We have a very special BNR tomorrow!

Prayer box by Maranda

 I have recently discovered the joys of participating in a BNR. What is a BNR you ask?

BNR stands for "BUY AND REPLACE." Someone creates a treasury on Etsy and if you want your item featured in this particular treasury, you have to buy one of the items featured in the treasury. It is so much fun: you get to meet a lot of wonderful sellers and it is a great opportunity to get some exposure.

If you are not an Etsy shop owner, it is still fun to participate because sellers usually offer tons of discounts, so you may end up getting a great deal that you would not haven gotten had you not participated. 

Based on my experience, if you are a seller, the key to a successful BNR experience is:

1. Great product photography
2. Don't have the most expensive item in the treasury. You want to see what the other items are priced at and try to stay in the lower end if possible
3. Participation is super important: when I am able to participate and interact with the other people who are participating in the BNR, I sell more items.
4. BNRs are a great way to get hearts. Don't forget to heart other sellers' items and add them to your circle!
5. If people invite you to attend a BNR (and chances are they will send you invitations after your first BNR experience), go and say hi! Even if you can't play, people do appreciate the fact that you took the time to visit and favorite the treasury.

Why am I telling you all this?!?

Because tomorrow, my dear Etsy Angel sisters and I are hosting our very first BNR! We are raising money in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month.

I would love if you joined us between 5pm EST - 8pm EST tomorrow, Thursday 6th, 2011.

Would you like to learn more about Etsy Angels Team? Please click HERE.

Please feel free to leave a comment or email me in case you have any questions.

Thanks for stopping by. Xoxo!

Welcome October! Think Pink month!

The more I think about it, the harder it is to believe that we are in October! October? October? Yes, siree.... October indeed.

I am particularly excited this month because my Etsy Angel sisters and I will be working hard to raise money to support a great cause: breast cancer awareness.

This month, I will be donating 20% of all  sales proceeds to this worthy cause. I will be adding new items to the Think Pink section throughout the month, so be sure to stop by often.

Some great Pink items by some of my sisters:

Sharla, aka Beaded Tail, will donate 25% of all sales proceeds in the Think Pink section of her shop. You can find this beautiful bracelet here.

What about this beautiful owl sewing kit? I got this one last week and I absolutely LOVE it. It sits next to my sewing machine and it sure makes me smile every time I look at it. Melana, aka Ozarknana, will donate 50% of all sales proceeds in the Think Pink section of her shop.

Mona, aka the Sewing Granny, will donate 50% of all fleece blanket sales.

Oh, and I love this car charm. Our newest member Kim, from justbyou, is donating $2.00 for each charm sold.

Here is one of my Think Pink sleeves:

We are always looking for great causes to support. If you have any charities/organizations that are near and dear to your heart, please let me know! You can leave a comment below or send me an email - oohleela at gmail dot com.

We are always looking for new Angels to join our team. If you are interested I would love to hear from you.

Thank you so much for stopping by! Xoxo's

OMG OMG OMG!!!

Do you see what I see?!?

A new blog design!!! By the wonderful Mollie Johanson.

Please bear with us as we work out the kinks.

Love,

Isabela.

What Leela wants Leela gets

Those of you who follow me on Twitter (consider yourselves hugged) may remember me tweeting about Leela's request for some new outfits. Now, let me tell you that what Leela wants, Leela gets. Period. So off I went to look for patterns, and I came across this shop on Etsy. Ahhhh-mazing! Score!

So, without further ado, this is what I made today. Okay. Truth be told... I have been working on it for the past 2 weeks. I had the hardest time getting my Brother machine to shirr.... I tweeted about that too (hubs says I am addicted to Twitter. Not.). But I did finish it today.

I used shirting fabric that I got at Joann's (50% off), along with some red bias tape that I got from one of my swap friends. I decided it needed some pop, so I made a fabric yo-yo out of a red/white polka dot fabric I had on hand.

And when she asked "Mommy can I please try it on???"

I said no Leela, you need to have a bath first. More pictures to come, after Saturday when I give her a bath!

What sort of projects have you been working on?

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!!!

PDF sewing patterns now available in the shop!

I have been working on this for some time now. Fine tuning the instructions, taking additional pictures, showing it to family and friends and gathering feedback.... But it is ready, and available right now in my Etsy shop!

Now you can make your very own leather coffee sleeves. The tutorial comes with the pattern pieces (you can print them at home), material list and where to buy them, tips and tricks, simplified, easy to follow step by step instructions and a plethora of photos. And if that wasn't enough, I will also include a couple of different ideas, so you can make many different leather sleeves! How cool is that?!?

Available right now, for $3.00. And if you hurry, I am offering 10% to all my blog friends. Simply enter coupon code sewishall at checkout!

What sort of things have you been working on lately? Any new additions to your shop? Would love to hear from you!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Giveaway

To show you just how happy I am to be one of Alissa’s new sponsors, I am giving one of my famous fabric coffee sleeves along with a $10.00 Starbucks gift certificate to one lucky reader.  Every time I use mine in public I notice it gets a lot of positive attention and compliments. It is such a great (and healthier) alternative to those cardboard sleeves, don’t you think?

Mandatory entry:
Like me on Facebook
Go to Alissa's blog and leave a comment.
Be sure there is a way for her to contact you
in the same comment in case you win!

Additional entries:
Leave a separate comment for each one you do!

-Become one of Ooh Leela’s blog follower
-Follow Ooh Leela! on Twitter

Good luck!!!

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09/11

As we were driving home with family from a wonderful dinner in San Francisco, we couldn't pass up on the opportunity to visit Coit Tower.

So up the hill we went, standing in traffic for a good 45 minutes. And although these phone pictures don't do it justice, I hope it shows you just how majestic it looked.  Though an iconic and breathtaking landmark, never before has it looked quite this beautiful.

Coit Tower resembles a fire nozzle and it was built as a dedication to the Firefighters of San Francisco. Today we celebrate the 10-year anniversary of 9/11, and I wanted to take a moment to thank all the brave men and women who have fought for our freedom and our lives. You and your sacrifices will never be forgotten.

29

Birthday Blessings

Instead of counting candles,
Or tallying the years,
Contemplate your blessings,
As your birthday nears.

Consider special people
Who love you, and who care,
And others who’ve enriched your life
Just by being there.

Think about the memories
Passing years can never mar,
Experiences great and small
That have made you who you are.

Another year is a happy gift,
So cut your cake, and say,
"Instead of counting birthdays,
I count blessings every day!"

By Joanna Fuchs

Thank you Lord for another wonderful year.

Kings Mountain Art Fair

Happy Labor Day to all my US and Canadian friends!

We went to the Kings Mountain Art Fair yesterday. I did not know what to expect since I had never been there before, but it was absolutely breathtaking. You see, the fair is located in the middle of nowhere, among gigantic redwoods full of unique and varied artists.

I had never been to a fair where the artists were so passionate about their work. Earlier this year, I went to the San Francisco Renegade Craft Fair. It was an overwhelming experience to say the least. They focused on the commercial side of things and there was no variety. I swear I must have seen 1000 letterpress shops. It was very boring to say the least (which is probably the reason it never became a blog post).

Kings Mountain Craft Fair however offered a variety of arts and crafts and featured artists who actually took the time to talk to you. It most certainly didn't feel like arts and crafts on steroids...

Even though there was so much to see, I felt very relaxed and at ease. Everything was organized in sections and it was truly one of the best fairs I have been to. Now, without further ado, let me share some pictures with you.

We left our car in the parking lot and took a trolley up to the fair. The parking lot was free, the trolley ride was free and the driver was extremely courteous. Such a nice setup.

The entrance - gorgeous right?!? Oh, free admissions too.

The booths were nestled between trees...

There were beautiful paintings...

... works of art (love his Pacifico eyes)...

Beautiful music...

A charming cabin full of artsy stuff like quilts, buttons, shawls, sweaters and purses:

Beautiful pots...

And much much much more! I wish I was able to photograph all the beautiful things I saw yesterday, but some of the artists were very strict about their "no pictures" policy.Which I completely understand. Kinda.

Such a happy and memorable day! Do you go to crafts show often? Have you ever been to a craft show that made you feel relaxed and at peace?

I hope you have a wonderful week! Thanks for stopping by :)

Me

Happy September everyone!!! This is a very special month, because it officially marks the beginning of fall and because it is someone's birthday.... My birthday :)

I am proud to say that I am sponsoring another cool blog this month: Rags to Stitches Boutique. If you have not yet had a chance to visit this awesome blog, do it now. Totally worth it. Go on. I'll wait. Oh, and please tell me if you like my new ad. It was designed by the beautiful Mollie, from Wild Olive.

Back to today's post. Alissa from Rags to Stitches inspired me to copy her post. I just love the idea of being able to share with you a few personal things about me. I would love to hear more about you too!

A. age :: twenty eight, for 8 more days....

B. bed size :: queen

C. chore you hate :: laundry

D. dogs :: two: Melvyn and Leela. Melvyn is missing. Leela claims she is a baby, and not a dog.

E. essential start to your day :: check facebook, twitter, emails, play with Leela, multi-vitamins, cappucino

F. favorite color :: pink

G. gold or silver :: silver

H. height :: 5'7"

I. instruments you play :: nada

J. job title :: Accountant, crafter wannabe

K. kids :: Leela

L. live :: San Francisco Bay Area, CA

M. maiden name :: I have 2 - Secol Felix

N. nicknames :: Isa, piggy, Belinia

O. overnight hospital stays :: never, knock on wood

P. pet peeve :: fake people and traffic

Q. quote :: "Be the change you want to see in the world" Gandhi

R. righty or lefty :: righty

S. siblings :: one younger brother, Marcos

T. time you wake up :: when my hubby wakes up, at 5am. But then I go back to sleep and usually get up at 7am

U. university attended :: California State University, East Bay (aka CSU Hayward)

V. vegetables you dislike: I love veggies!

W. what makes you run late :: traffic, and the fact that I usually go back to sleep for 5 more minutes, which always turns out to be 15.

X. x-rays you’ve had :: dentist, knees

Y. yummy food :: I love to eat, but if I had to pick an absolute favorite it would have to be sushi

Z. zoo animal favorite :: I hate going to the zoo. The animals are always so sad. Love horses though.

Thank you so much for stopping by. As I said before, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to know more about you. Please tell us more about yourself in the comments below, or if you choose to copy this blog post, leave a link so we can come and visit! Xoxo's!