'Tis The Season

Happy Holidays To All! I am sure I am not the only one running around like a crazed lunatic, preparing for the holidays! To add to the craziness, Soulful-Lee has been preparing for Winter On Main this Friday and Saturday and another holiday fair next weekend in Fox Point. Busy little elves we are!

But I promised myself that this holiday, I will keep myself grounded and not be a part of the commercialism of Christmas. My childhood Christmas's weren't memorable, so with my children I try my best to make theirs 'magical' and everything that mine wasn't. In the past, I was succumbed to the materialism of Christmas, giving my kid's all of the gifts they could wish for. They are great kids, so they never asked for much....so it made it even easier for me to want to spoil them.

With money hardships and struggles, we have learned to live simple. Not that we have ever really lived beyond our means in the first place. But we do more family games than movies, home cooked meals than eating out. Back to basics. So this holiday, we will do just that. Hopefully.

I hope you all have a magical, and meaningful Holiday, also! Peace!

Fall For You

A few good things since my last blog I would like to share! First off, I hope everyone is having a fabulous fall! It is one of my favorite seasons! Its the pop of colors in orange, amber, yellow and burgundy. Making caramel apples with the boys, and stocking up on the hot cocoa. Switching from sandals to fuzzy socks and shoes....scurrying around for mittens and hats. Lighting my baked good candles, and putting up my Halloween decorations. What's not to love!

Soulful-Lee Yours Designs has an ad on a great mommy blog called http://www.makeovermomma.com/. Bailey does great posts on many different things from fashion to fitness. She also writes for walmart.com and many other magazines. Take a peek! She will soon be doing a review on our designs and will let you know when that will be.

We had the honor of being featured on a blog called http://dancethemoon.com/. Colleen Speed is the owner of this blog, and also makes/sells the most beautiful dream catchers.

Soulful-Lee Yours was also mentioned on another blog called http://mylittlefatshionblog.blogspot.com/. We are getting out there!

On November 6th, we will be at Fond du lac County Fairgrounds for a craft/art fair. Lucky us we have a prime spot so hopefully we will ROCK this year!!! I should probably start cracking on making pieces soon.

We are starting a little princess collection which will be up soon. It will be of cutesy bracelets, necklaces and adorable hair accessories for our littlest Soulful-Lee Yours fans. We have acquired quite a few of those lately!

Happy Birthday, Soulful-Lee Yours!

Back in 1996 in Bakersfield, Ca- my grandma, ('indian grandma' as I called her) taught me a few basic beading skills. She had such an incredible talent which amazed me, but even better was the passion she had for her art. That touched me more- and sparked my interest in jewelry. I tinkered a bit- but money held me back then.

I reconnected with my love of beading again in 2005, making pieces for myself, not exactly confident enough to share them. My pregnancy somewhat hindered by hobby after that, and didn't pick up any tools for a few more years. I remember giving away all of my supplies- with a little pain in my heart.

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and my small motor skills didn't cooperate with me and realized I wouldn't be able to create anymore. I didn't have time I told myself- being a mother of four boys and running a daycare- so I didn't let it phase me. Until in 2009 ,when I went back to Bakersfield to visit indian grandma- who was very ill. Something about that visit changed me. I soon came home, bought some beads and a few tools. And that is how Soulful-Lee Yours Designs started.

We have sold a tremendous amount of pieces, are in two boutiques in Milwaukee and soon will be in a hair salon , had a chance to be a vendor at a fashion runway show at the Calatrava in Milwaukee, have almost 300 fans on our Facebook Fan Page and are listed on 8 websites. I also have 4 beautiful ladies who have joined me on this journey- who each make and create exquisite jewelry. So thank you to Teri Benz, Merry Revenaugh, Wendy Schneider, and Linda Deppert for sharing this experience with me. And thank you to so many people for making my dream come true!

DETERMINATION

This past friday we had a 75 mph storm that knocked out power to many- us being one of the 'lucky' ones. It was a test of our survival tactics in the dark. Despite the 14 year old (who whined until we agreed to let him stay somewhere else), we all passed. The 4 year old was extremely befuddled and was unable to comprehend WHY he couldn't watch The Upside Down Show (our new favorite). I showed him what 'FUN' we could have in the dark- by playing jenga , and working on his journal all by a warm glow of the lantern. He eventually fell asleep a lot earlier than normal, so I took the opportunity to work in the studio and CREATE. I am not going to lie...it was a bit inhibiting not being able to see a few inches from me...but I love a challenge. So ladies, this goes to show you how committed I am to keeping you all gorgeous, even during a 24 hour power outage!

Fall Is In The Air

I don't know about you, but I am definitely feeling that autumn rush. Perhaps it's because I have been buying the four boys school supplies for the last month (and let me add that I am not done yet) or because as I am typing this I am wearing a sweater. Brrrr. OR, it's because Teri, Wendy, Merry and myself having been working on our fall collection!

We are all incredibly stoked about our new designs and fabulous ideas we are coming up with for the new seasons. Also in the works are doing 'trunk shows' (if anyone wants to be the first, give a holler) AND we have some art fairs getting lined up.

“Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.”

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Whew...I made it! It was a long week with daycare, working on business pr'ing, and not feeling so well.

My goals this weekend (besides spending quality time with my family :)) are:

1) To learn how to wire wrap rings. Something I have always wanted to try- so I will give it a whirl.

2) We are also working on finishing our fall collection which will be whimsical, eclectic with a twist of romance. I am excited to share it with you!

3 )We are preparing for our END OF THE SUMMER SALE which begins August 9th. I will be posting pictures of the items or you can call to set up a time to visit.

4) Getting pieces ready to ship off to Project M Boutique and Boutique Revolution.

What are your plans? I hope you all have a good weekend! Peace n love

A New Adventure

Well, a few months ago I made the statement 'I could NEVER figure out how to create a blog'. Hi. Here I am. As I am typing this, I really don't know if this blog thing will work. But in order to keep up with this evolution I am going through with myself, I had no more excuses to not try.

I am not sure exactly what I will even write about....jewelry, inspirations, kids. I guess I will let it just take it's course, which is a lesson I have been learning and struggling with. I would like to share thoughts and ideas with friends, family, and customers. So, welcome all to my new blog.