newsletter archives
Recent Newsletter Articles
If you missed any of our recent newsletters, this is where you will find them all archived. Articles include news about all that goes on at Divine Women Creative Studio - as well as any and all of our new crocheting and beading patterns (many of which are FREE!), our beading and crochet kits, our Divine Woman bracelet series and all new releases. Of course, we also tell you about any new goddess / Divine Women myths we have retold from that so very incisively feminine perspective!
DWCS First Anniversary!
It is our first anniversary!
DivineWomenCreativeStudio.com went live on Halloween one year ago! Time has flown by, and so much has changed since then - we have grown from a half dozen or so crochet and beading patterns and kits presented at the 2008 Fall Knit & Crochet show to dozens!
And that’s not even counting the fabulous how-to videos, Divine Women stories and one-of-a-kind artisan products that have been making their way onto the website and shop! In fact, the website has grown from a few basic pages a year ago to nearly 80 rich pages of articles, stories, videos and projects designed specifically for you, the soul-crafting Divine Woman.
So, as you may well imagine, we are in a mood to celebrate! It has not been an easy journey for us, as it has been a difficult year for all of us, but we thought we would mark the occasion with a special offer for you: our first collection of crochet patterns in e-book format.
Crochet e-book offer
Our first e-book, “12 Crochet Patterns for the Soul-Crafting Divine Woman” is a collection of our favorite crochet patterns. In celebration of Divine Women Creative Studio’s first anniversary, we are offering it to you for the same price as an individual pattern: $6.00. Now how’s that for a good deal? It contains patterns for the following projects:
• Aphrodite’s belt, choker and necklace
• Ariadne’s barrette and hair elastic
• Eve’s apple tote bag
• Eurynome’s wind scarf
• Flora’s flower pins
• Three sisters hats - cloche, tam, felted wool and cotton brimmed
So, if you have been thinking of downloading a crochet pattern or two, here’s your chance to get a dozen for the price of one! Simply click on the PURCHASE PDF link and you will be guided through the checkout process quickly and easily. It is, of course, a limited time offer - and if you would like a full color printed version, you will find it in our SHOP for $18.00.
Wind scarf videos are here!
Eurynome’s Wind Scarf how-to video is ready for you! It features full details on how to make both a crocheted version as well as a flowing China silk scarf, as well as the beautifully narrated story of Eurynome, Goddess of All Things, who created that cheeky North Wind as she danced along the water’s edge. It is stunningly filmed and edited, as usual, by our video druid, Brendan Gill. If you’ve enjoyed the short videos featured on our home page, you’ll love the full version. Available in our SHOP - as are Eve’s Apple Tote and Three Sisters Hats - each a steal at $15.00!
Colorful Dates:
‘Colour Affects’ workshops
Combining the Colour Affects technique and scientific research with intuition, this workshop explores these questions in the context of how color harmoniously expresses your essential self.
Designed to demystify the very complex subject of color in a down-to-earth, practical way, in these intensive workshops, you will learn:
• How color affects our emotions - our moods and behavior
• How your physical coloring reflects your personality
• How to know yourself through your own color preferences
• How to increase your self-esteem through color
• The psychology of each of the 11 main colors
• The practicalities of combining colors effectively
This fall, we have only oneweekend workshop date left in Portland, Oregon: November 14 & 15, 2009
Workshop fee is a very affordable $225, which includes handouts and lots of fun!
Max. class size: 12. Should you like to also have a personal color consultation, we are offering a special rate of $100 (normally $175), if booked at the same time as the course. E-mail us or call us at 503 534 2600 to make your reservation now!
If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, please do contact us at the number or e-mail above for available dates and rates.
One-of-a-Kind Products
The creative process that culminates in each and every project we make available to you is not always straightforward. In fact, it rarely is. The result is that we usually end up with several versions of a project which are all fabulous in their own way, but not necessarily practical to transform into a kit and pattern, often times because they would be too costly.
Or, we may no longer be able to get the materials we used for them. An example of this is the wonderfully subtle Dreamlight Windscarf pictured above - we were delighted with how the prototype turned out, but the company announced that that particular color would no longer be available!
Disappointing for us, of course, but good news for you, if you like this unique scarf (click HERE to go directly to it!) and other items that have a similar story - such as these prototypes of Aphrodite's belt: (available HERE)
Also available are some fun and casual necklaces - just look for the 'One-of-a-kind' listings in the ARTISAN section of our shop!
Eurynome's Story Video
Hers is not a name familiar to most of us - Eurynome (pronounced ue-rin'-ah-mee, meaning 'far-ruling') - but her story is one of creation, creativity, dance and delight. Eurynome is an ancient Divine Woman, and our new video tells her story as we imagine she would do so herself. Fabulous animation by Brenda Gill, of Alphabet Films, and voice talent by Barbara Genovese.
Colorful Dates:
Stories in Living Color
Save this date: Tuesday, August 18. If you can be in Lake Oswego, Oregon, at 7 - 9 pm on this evening, please join us at the Lakewood Center for the Arts for a FREE evening of storytelling.
Five women will share with you colorful stories of love, laughter, missteps and insights. Our very own Teresa Dane Marcel will lead off the evening with a journey through color and fairy tales entitled “Awakening to Color.” If you ever wondered about the hidden meanings of individual colors, this will give you fun insights and food for thought. Please join us!
‘Colour Affects’ workshops
Combining the Colour Affects technique and scientific research with intuition, this workshop explores these questions in the context of how color harmoniously expresses your essential self.
Designed to demystify the very complex subject of color in a down-to-earth, practical way, in these intensive workshops, you will learn:
• How color affects our emotions - our moods and behavior
• How your physical coloring reflects your personality
• How to know yourself through your own color preferences
• How to increase your self-esteem through color
• The psychology of each of the 11 main colors
• The practicalities of combining colors effectively
This fall, we have only two weekend workshop dates in Portland, Oregon. These are: Saturday & Sunday, October 3 & 4, OR November 14 & 15 2009
If neither of these dates work for you, the workshop is also being offered on Wednesday evenings: 6 - 9 pm, Sept 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2009 OR
Tuesday evenings: 6 - 9 pm, Oct 6, 13, 27, & Nov 3, 2009
Workshop fee is a very affordable $225, which includes handouts and lots of fun!
Max. class size: 12. Should you like to also have a personal color consultation, we are offering a special rate of $100 (normally $175), if booked at the same time as the course. E-mail us or call us at 503 534 2600 to make your reservation now!
If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, please do contact us at the number or e-mail above for available dates and rates.
Color for you, Color for your business
DWCS is proud to present the following ways in which we can help you with your color choices, needs and applications:
• Individual consultations: Learn to recognize, apply and embody the uniquely personal color palette which most authentically expresses you, your personality, the essence of you. An individual color consultation will provide you with this intuitive and practical knowledge – and a personalized color chart to refer to again and again. Please allow 2 hours for your private consultation. Fee: $175.
• Business, service or product branding consultations: In marketing, every detail counts – and color accounts for a lot in successful marketing. Color is, after all, the first thing that draws your customers’ attention, whether it be to your logo, website, brochures or product line. How do you choose, then, colors that express the ‘personality’ of your business or products? Colors that harmonize with each other and with your goals? We can help you with that. Please call 503 534 2600 or
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
for marketing color consultation fees.
June 23, 2009
All about color!
Today we'd like to talk about color. As you have noticed, color is very important to us here at DWCS - after all, "color," according to Angela Wright of Colour Affects, UK, "is light, the source of life; it touches and expresses the soul of mankind." The article below tells you more about it.
But that is not all: following the flurry of creativity and activity around the Knit & Crochet show reported in the last newsletter, we slowed down our pace for a couple of weeks while Teresa went to London to complete her training at Colour Affects, UK, and become their only certified teacher in North America. This means that we are now adding color harmony courses and consultations to the services we provide for you, and we are very excited to do so! - details in article to left.
Harmony in color is good for our souls, but it is integral to our relationships with each other, particularly in these times of financial hardship. The solution? Helping each other, of course - read more below!
Choosing color
Color is all around us. There is simply no getting away from it - fortunately! Apart from the obvious applications of color in the choice of materials for your hand-working projects, you have probably also noticed that color expresses our emotions - we might see red, be green with envy, or feel blue, for example. We see some people through rose colored glasses. In addition, color affects our bodies: green is healing, certain pinks make us crave sweets, and we all know that black is powerful, sexy, mysterious - and a 'safe' color.
Color - it's psychological effects on us, as well as the harmonious use of color - is integral to the DWCS concept and products. That's the reason we have a whole section on color in the Learning/Library, which includes our fun and informative color test.
The test and the colorways we use, are based on the color psychology system developed by Angela Wright, of Colour Affects, UK. She combined insights into human psychology with principles of both color psychology and color harmony, resulting in the creation of a color psychology system that links color patterns to human behavior and personality - which means that the colors you choose to wear and surround yourself with express you, your personality, your soul.
Recently, her theory was proven by new research and development carried out by Colour Affects, UK in conjunction with the Color and Imaging Institute at the University of Leeds in England - during which a mathematical correlation between harmonious colors was discovered, scientifically defining and confirming the four tonal color groups we use at DWCS! It was, in effect, the discovery of the color equivalent of a musical chord.
Now we are delighted to offer you even more color: following completion of intensive teacher training this past May in London, Teresa Dane Marcel, a Colour Affects, UK color consultant for the better part of a decade and a half, is now able to teach you all about this amazing system of color harmony and psychology. If choosing, combining and/or applying color for your hand-working projects, wardrobe, home, business environment or product branding is a challenge for you, this system will make it easy and clear.
Color harmony, color psychology - workshops & consultations for you
DWCS is proud to present the following ways in which we can help you with your color choices, needs and applications:
Individual consultations
Learn to recognize, apply and embody the uniquely personal color palette which most authentically expresses you, your personality, the essence of you. An individual color consultation will provide you with this intuitive and practical knowledge - and a personalized color chart to refer to again and again. Please allow 2 hours for your private consultation. Daytime, evening and some weekend appointments available at our DWCS location in metro Portland, OR.
Fee special: $125 for all consultations booked before the end of July, $175 from August 1, 2009.
Business, service or product branding consultations
In marketing, every detail counts - and color is vital in successful marketing. Color is, after all, the first thing that draws your customers' attention, whether it be to your logo, website, brochures or product line. How do you choose, then, colors that express the 'personality' of your business or products? Colors that harmonize with each other and with your goals? We can help you with that. Please call 503 534 2600 or e-mail DWCS for marketing color consultation fees.
Colour Affects workshops
Are you living life in tune with the real you? Does your home truly reflect your personality, and provide the most supportive environment for you? Do you dress to express - or do you prefer to hide?
Combining the Colour Affects technique with intuition, this workshop explores these questions in the context of how color expresses your essential self.
Designed to demystify the very complex subject of color in a down-to-earth, practical way, in these two intensive days, you will learn:
· How color affects our emotions - our moods and behavior
· How your physical coloring reflects your personality
· How to know yourself through your own color preferences
· How to increase your self-esteem through color
· The psychology of each of the 11 main colors
· The practicalities of combining colors effectively.
This fall, we have only two weekend workshop dates in Portland, Oregon. These are: Saturday & Sunday, October 3 & 4, OR November 14 & 15 2009
If neither of these dates work for you, the workshop is also being offered on Wednesday evenings: 6 - 9 pm, Sept 2, 9, 16 & 23, 2009 OR
Tuesday evenings: 6 - 9 pm, Oct 6, 13, 27, & Nov 3, 2009
Workshop fee is a very affordable $225, which includes handouts and lots of fun! Max. class size: 12. Should you like to also have a personal color consultation, we are offering a special rate of $100 (normally $175), if booked at the same time as the course. E-mail us or call us at 503 534 2600 to make your reservation now!
If you are interested in hosting a workshop in your area, please do contact us at the number or e-mail above for available dates and rates.
Helping each other
A couple of days ago I was sitting at my desk when I became aware of various aches and pains. Perhaps they are par for the course at my age, or jet lag, or the stresses of everyday life in today's world. Reflecting on the latter possibility, I wondered about likely emotional or psychological causes. So I pulled out my old copy of Louise Hay's "You Can Heal Your Life."
This has made me wonder how many of you may also be experiencing, say, lower back pain? "Fear re money. Lack of financial support," might be causing that, says Ms Hay. Or upper back problems - "Lack of emotional support. Feeling unloved. Holding back love"? Or foot problems - "Fear of the future and of stepping forward in life"? Or... well, you get the idea.
The next question, obviously enough, is how can we help each other through these pains and fears as we make our way back along with the rest of the world to hope and joy? What are you willing to do to help another Divine Woman? Perhaps you will find one or more of these suggestions helpful:
· Learn to crochet, knit, bead, sew - or if you know how already, teach someone else. We can help you with this - there are several simple FREE crochet and beading patterns on our website to get you started, as well as inexpensive KITS to make them up!
· Start a 'Conversation Coven' - get together with other women and share conversation, woman to woman, life to life, heart to heart. More info HERE.
· Get several of your friends together and organize a color workshop, a beading/jewelry making class or a crochet class.
· Make and/or give a Divine Woman Bracelet with a personalized message of appreciation.
· Show your appreciation and boost the self image of a dear friend by giving her one of our new patterns, such as Aphrodite's Belt and Choker.
· Tell your friends about DWCS, share the stories and enjoy the patterns!
For our part, we would love to know how we can better meet your needs. We've gratefully received e-mails saying that our patterns are 'innovative.' Thank you - we strive to create classic designs with a modern edge, and yet simple to make. Others have found our stories and articles helpful in mending relationships - with themselves and with other women. We cherish all feedback, and appreciate the connection with you. Please do write to us HERE and share your ideas, experiences, needs, suggestions and requests for ways in which we might meet them!
May 21, 2009
New this week!
It was such a pleasure to see so many of our VIP Divine Women at the Knit & Crochet Show this past weekend! If you joined us then, welcome! As it turned out, Divine Women Creative Studio was just about the only booth dedicated to crochet in an otherwise mostly knitting show.
It was wonderful to have the opportunity to showcase our exclusive & original designs. As you have probably noticed, we strive to offer simple, yet elegant, crochet projects, both classic and modern in style - and we love to mix media, adding beads and fabric here and there, tying it all together with a story we hope will give you food for thought, as well as enjoyment. In fact, our cotton brimmed hat, cotton cloche and our new Aphrodite's belt were show favorites!
We have been amazingly busy here at DWCS these past few weeks getting ready for the show and as a consequence have added several new products to the website for you. This includes: four new patterns, three new kits and two new stories. See articles below for details!
· Three new patterns plus the free pattern we made available at the show - see article below for details.
· In our shop: coming in the very near future are the gorgeous Aphrodite's Belt, available in two styles, Aphrodite's also elegant choker and Ariadne's fun hair barrettes - all crochet with beads projects.
· New stories in our story/myth section: Aphrodite's Girdle and Ariadne's Labyrinth.
New patterns & fun kits!
We are delighted to offer you four new fun accessories patterns! These are:
· Aphrodite's Belt - so very elegant, this grosgrain- or ribbon-lined crochet belt is not only versatile, but is also sure to live up to the reputation of the belt that inspired it - Aphrodite's girdle, which, when worn, made her completely irresistible to both humans and gods alike! The pattern is available for download HERE, and includes directions to make two versions: one with a crocheted ruffle, another with a buckle. KITS for both versions are available soon in our online SHOP.
· Aphrodite's Choker - using the same elegant crochet stitch pattern as the belt (above), this fun choker can be worn on it's own or as a mini-scarf over a turtleneck, for example. The pattern is available for download HERE.
· Ariadne's Crochet Hair Elastic. It's a super-easy, fun ruffled scrunchie crocheted right onto a hair elastic. It's a quick project to make up, and a great gift! All you need is a hair elastic and about 1/2 oz of one of your gorgeous leftover yarns. If you did not pick one up at the Knit & Crochet Show, you can download it from our Free Patterns section.
· Ariadne's Hair Accessories - this pattern includes instructions on how to crochet a fun hair barrette, as well as the hair elastic scrunchie above. In the KITS section of the DWCS shop, you'll soon find kits for the barrette, which include the 100% cotton yarn, beads, a tapestry needle, & a big eye needle to thread the beads - all for a mere $9.00!
Let me tell you a story...
Stories are an everyday part of our lives. While words communicate, stories use words to communicate deeper meaning, to make subtler points. A story will often clarify something that is otherwise somewhat fuzzy, just outside of conscious grasp. It is rather like the difference between writing 'hugs to you' and actually giving someone a hug or two - you get the meaning either way, but the experience comes with the actual hug.
As you know, stories are integral to the DWCS concept, and we pair a story with each of our projects, patterns and products in which a Divine Woman of myth or legend tells something of her story - from her perspective, of course. Today, we have a treat: two new stories for you!
· The first is from one of our favorites: Aphrodite, goddess of love. She tells us about her famous 'golden girdle' - the one that made her completely irresistible to both men and gods. Thankfully, she is a generous goddess, and she does lend it out to other Divine Women, both mortal and immortal... Here's an excerpt:
It was truly the most stunningly beautiful gift I had ever received, the golden girdle - you would call it a belt - that my husband, Hephaestos, god of smithing made for me. In those days, a girdle was something that encircled, inspired and embraced rather than something that bound, controlled, reshaped, pinched - and essentially kept a woman from being able to live and breathe fully and freely.
We did not have much in common, Hephaestos and I, but in the hope of pleasing me, he showered me with gifts he made, for he had an amazing ability to forge beautiful things from all metals, and gold in particular. This golden girdle is surely his most wondrous creation, for it is not only stunningly beautiful, but it is also magical... READ MORE
· The second story comes to us from Ariadne, the princess who helped young Theseus make his way out of the labyrinth with a clever idea all hand-workers can relate to: a ball of yarn! Here's an excerpt:
I knew it the moment I saw him. I knew he was part of my soul, that tall, masculine young man, Theseus, who stood out among the youths sent from Athens to be sacrificed in my homeland. Our eyes met, and, at least for me, it was love at first sight. I was shaken to my very core - it was like catching a glimpse of a part of myself I did not yet know - and I simply could not bear that he was meant to be sacrificed to my shadowy brother, the half-human, half-beast Minotaur... READ MORE
It's all about the Divine Women (and Men)!
Being an online store has the advantage of being accessible to you 24/7, of course, but we here at DWCS miss being in direct contact with you. It is such a pleasure, then, when you let us know how and what you are doing - like making up our patterns!
Janet Dahl (pictured on left) graciously stopped by our booth at the Spring Knit & Crochet Show to show us the crochet brimmed hats she had been making up. The pattern is a FREE download, and she's not only made it up in the yarn we recommend, but has successfully tried it out in several other cotton yarns.
Well done, Janet! - and thank you for sharing your gorgeous work with us!
For a brief moment during the show, some of us stepped out of our usual selves and became models for DWCS. A special thanks to Julieann Barker, seen above modeling several of our items, including the forthcoming Indrani Star Duster, our Cotton Brimmed Hat, Kenyan Moon Firelight necklace and Aphrodite's belt.
Myrle Rountree Petty was so very gracious as she agreed to model with Teresa our also forthcoming Mariposa Wrap, Aphrodite's Choker and the ever-popular Cotton Brimmed Hats! Heartfelt thanks, Myrle!
Thanks are also gratefully due to all those who helped us with this show. One of these people is my own Divine sister, Andrea Murawski. She flew into Portland from Colorado just to give us a helping hand during the show. It is greatly due to her keen artistic eye that our booth looked so beautifully presented.
If you came by, you probably noticed her gracious, helpful friendliness or saw her working on the beaded terra-cotta Aphrodite's belt that was featured in the fashion show (yes, some things got done just in the nick of time...) Behind the scenes, she did a lot of yarn winding for our free Ariadne Hair Elastic kits, making sure that we had enough for everyone who stopped by and signed up to be a VIP Divine Woman. Thank you, Divine sister!
And a final note of gratitude to the 'guys', in particular Mshkolahnee and Brendan - to both for their help setting up, and to Brendan for crafting the Windscarf video preview - look for the full video soon!
8 April, 2009
New this week!
It’s springtime! The daffodils caught up with the azaleas, and they are all putting on a show here at DWCS, and even the sun has shown up for the party! This week, here is our news for you:
• Given that it is time for blossoms, following the fun of April Fools day, we’ve got a new free crochet pattern for you: Flora’s crochet flower pins.
• This is also a grand time to get together with your women friends. As we’ve suggested before, perhaps you might like to have a Divine Woman Bracelet party? We have another suggestion: organize a ‘Conversation Coven’ (article below) - but whatever you do, do get together and talk, share, celebrate being women!
• And, if you are in Portland, OR, this coming May, come and see us at the Knit & Crochet Show. We’ll have new patterns, kits, videos, FREE kits, demonstrations...
'Conversation Covens': myth & crafting
Over the past few days a couple of dear women in my life reminded me of the importance - of the necessity - of getting together with other women and sharing conversation, woman to woman, life to life, heart to heart. We lead such busy lives working, caring, nurturing, stressing - for others, for ourselves. Some of us, being determined enough, find a few minutes each day to stop, breathe, meditate.
Even so, it's generally a lifestyle that tends to be paradoxically isolating. As it happens, we women, also generally, tend to thrive when surrounded by women who share, empathize and talk us through whatever the moment holds. We do well, it seems, in covens. In fact, as a friend put it, "our feminine spirit needs a coven to renew." No, I don't mean cackling witches, scary pointed hats or even Wiccan earth-based spirituality. I mean "Conversation Covens".
"Coven," in medieval English, was a variation of the word 'convent', both of which were derived from from the Latin conventus - meaning assembly or gathering - and had no association with witches, neither the persecuted and maligned ones, nor the wise women the word once designated.
If forming a coven - a "Conversation Coven" - is something you would like to do, we have some suggestions to help you do so. By this, we mean creating a group and place for deeper conversations using myths as a starting point. If you are in the Portland-Vancouver metro area, I would be delighted to facilitate the group for you. If you are farther afield, we are creating study guides to help you get the conversation started. Either way, please check out our events page HERE for "Conversation Coven" themes and materials.
Spring Knit & Crochet Show in Portland
May 14 - 17
The Knit and Crochet Spring Show is going to be in Portland May 14 -17 and Divine Women Creative Studio will be there! We shall have new patterns & kits - including multiple versions of our "Mariposa Wrap," a cool crocheted hair barrette, and the scrumptious "Aphrodite's Belt"!
Stop by and pick up a free kit and pattern for a beaded crochet headband which doubles as a cute choker, as shown below. We will set out a few chairs and do regular FREE demonstrations throughout the show on how to make the headband, which uses the same technique and stitch as "Aphrodite's Belt" - convenient, isn't it? Look for us a booth # 8.
Check out the Knit & Crochet Show website HERE for more details on the hours, classes and events. By the way, if you are a CGOA or TKGA member you enter for FREE, but if you are not, there is an online discount coupon on their website that you can print out!
Laughing and blossoming - a flower for you
It seems that no one quite knows what are the origins of our April Fools tradition. There are several theories, but none are documented - and some aren’t even highly plausible. My favorite, however, was proposed in 1983 by Joseph Boskin, a history professor at Boston University.
In an Associated Press article picked up by several newspapers, he explained that “the practice began during the reign of Constantine, when a group of court jesters and fools told the Roman emperor that they could do a better job of running the empire. Constantine, amused, allowed a jester named Kugel to be king for one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual event.” (Article HERE) As it turns out, plausible as this story may sound, Professor Boskin was playing an April Fools joke on us all.
Perhaps April Fools jokes and pranks were simply a culmination of New Year’s celebrations. Until 1582, when Pope Gregory XIII instituted the Gregorian calendar, much of Europe celebrated the beginning of the new year on March 25, the Feast of Annunciation - which closely coincides with the spring equinox - and in many places, new year celebrations lasted 8 days, from the the first day of spring until the first of April. It seems to me that the renewal of life is something to enjoy, celebrate, laugh about. I, for one, am quite relieved that Mother Earth was only kidding when she took life underground for the winter...
Laughter, and the lightness of Spring, April Fools and even April showers, is healing. It opens the heart, often causing a sort of blossoming, a renewing or reformulating of our perspective of our own world. In celebration of this, we thought we would offer you a new FREE pattern to crochet: Flora’s Crochet Flower Pin. You’ve seen it adorning our Three Sisters Hats, and now here’s the pattern! It can be made of just about any kind of yarn, so it is great to use up bits and pieces you have in your stash. We’ve made it into a hat pin, but it is also lovely on a spring jacket or scarf, as a focal point on a fun choker or bracelet… let your imagination be the limit!
But if you prefer, we've got a KIT just for you which includes the yarn, beads, pin back, needles and bead stringing material you will need to make it - all except the crochet hook! All this at the very convenient price of $9.00! Ready-made, it is an affordable $29.00 - a simple and lovely gift. We've made it into a hat pin, but it is also lovely on a spring jacket or scarf, as a focal point on a fun choker or bracelet... let your imagination be the limit!
16 March, 2009
New this week!
We are clinging to faith and hope here at DWCS - in the coming of spring, in the return of growth in our garden, our lives, our world. And growth, we firmly believe, comes with education and cooperation. So this is what we have to offer you:
· Making DW bracelets video
If you think of yourself as someone who couldn't possibly make one of our gorgeous Divine Woman bracelets, the video above will show you just how incredibly easy it really is!
· Bracelet sale ends March 17
All 12 of our gorgeous Divine Woman bracelet designs are 10% off the already super low kit prices ...
· Divine Woman bracelet proceeds to support other Divine Women
Help us help Divine Women in need in these troubled times...
Kenyan Moon tells her story
We thought, that you might also like to read the story that goes with these fun jewelry sets...
New helpful buttons
To make it easier for you to find everything you need on the site, we have added some 'quick link' buttons to our home page ...
Celebrate crochet month: crochet a tote bag!
March is handcrafting month, as well as crochet month - so celebrate and get ready for spring and the abundance of farmers markets by making yourself a tote bag. We have just the thing for you: Eve's apple tote!
A thought in closing...
Aphrodite, as you may well know, was said to possess a belt - well, actually, a girdle...
18 February, 2009
New this week!
Every moment here at DWCS is full – of ideas, inspiration, excitement, and lots of work – and the past couple of weeks are no exception...
New! DWCS classes and workshops
Fancy learning how to crochet Eve’s Apple Tote or sewing and beading the Kenyan Moon necklace sets while listening and discussing their stories with your friends and ...
Kenyan Moon Jewelry Sets
We recently went to a local bead show with a mission: to find some of those fabulous fair trade Kenyan Kazuri beads...
Welcome to our filming set!
We just finished filming the next three DWCS instructional videos, stories and creative tips...
28 January, 2009
New this week!
We just can’t help being excited these days here at DWCS – we’ve got so many new things to tell you about this week, including...
First Lady Fashion Missing Link
Michelle Obama glowed on this amazing, hopeful, historical inauguration day...
Three Sisters Crochet Tip Video
It’s all about texture – baubles and loops, in this case – and how to create them...
In Close-up Detail: Hats, Hats Hats!
Whereas our Three Sisters Hats pattern has been available for some weeks now, the full how-to video with full directions has only just received our “video druid’s” final magical touch ...
RetireSmiling Blog Offer
I have been honored with the invitation to become a blogger at www.retiresmiling.com!
Your Comments, Please!
As we build a community of women who share similar interests, we’ve created several ways in which we can stay in touch. These include...
18 January, 2009
New This Week
With the change in the climate – both the weather and political – the hope in the air is almost palpable...
Divine Girlfriend party special discounts
The idea is simple: first, invite five or more Divine Women to get together with you ...
Spring Colors forecast
OK, yes, it is still winter out there, and there is much to enjoy about it. Like cozying up by the fire with a fun knitting or crochet project. Or a good book...
Free Pattern – Cotton Brimmed Hat
We have already received requests for a version of the brimmed hat for those of you who are allergic to wool. We heard you, and here it is – and we offer it as yet another free pattern, too!
Our Thanks to You
Our deepest and heartfelt thanks to all of you who have resonated and so thoughtfully responded to the last newsletter, and in particular to “About sisters and hats”...
8 January, 2009
Happy New Year!
May the New year bring you the joy of cooperation, creativity and connection with life and loved ones – and may these be grounded in the touch and feel of sensuous fibers and delightful stones and beads!
Three Sisters Hats story video
In good times, in difficult times, and in the in-between times, if we are lucky, you and I are blessed with the support and enduring loyalty of our sisterhood of women...
About sisters and hats
Sometimes we are blessed with a friend who is so close, that she becomes a life-sister. Just over a year and a half ago, such a friend came into my life...
Is it a necklace or a hatband?
It is both, actually. Our beaded Three Graces Hatbands were designed to add just the right touch to our Three Sisters cloche, but they will do double-duty as a necklace....
18 December, 2008
Eve’s felting tip
Our new video for the week is a needle felting tip taken from our full-length instructional video for Eve’s Apple Tote ...
Wishing you Divine Holidays
My very favorite Christmas song is the Little Drummer Boy. With so many other beautiful Christmas classics out there, you may wonder (unless this is also your favorite) why? Well, it is simply that...
More Divine Woman Bracelet patterns
Just in the nick of time before Christmas, and in honor of some of the Divine Women in our own lives, we’ve come up with four more Divine Woman Bracelet designs...
5 December, 2008
Searching for the perfect gift
You’ve survived “Black Friday.” “Cyber Monday” has come and gone. But perhaps you still haven’t found the perfect gift – something simple, inexpensive, yet beautiful and meaningful – for someone in your circle of Divine Women?
Meaningful gifts for the Divine Women in your circle
Designed with gratitude and giving in mind, these four stunning Divine Women Bracelets ...
Circle of Divine Women story sharing: an invitation
Let’s start a movement. Let’s move out and away from the fear and anxiety swirling all around us...
Further thoughts from Eve
As you work up Eve’s Apple Tote – or any other tote or handbag, for that matter – here is some further food for thought that original woman might well have offered...
21 November 2008
Divine Women Creative Studio Launched!
Thank you to you and all who have expressed such eager anticipation as you patiently waited for us to travel the seemingly unending road of details and preparation. But all that is done, and we have patterns and kits and tools – and Divine Women dedicated to sharing with you their stories and insights! ...
Eve’s Apple tote and video clip
It’s a felted tote bag, really. And it is autumn and apples are in season now – so a bag strong enough to tote apples (and other stuff) around seems a natural...
You: expressed in full COLOR!
We are surrounded with glorious color. One would have thought that, since there is so much of it all around, choosing colors that harmonize would be an easy thing... a free color test for you...
A quick tour of our online studio
Please do visit our website and look around – here are some highlights...