newsletter archives

16 March, 2009

New this week!

Change is everywhere - it is, after all, the only constant in life - and right now it is particularly visible. Outside our window here at DWCS, an azalea is trying to inspire the daffodils by blooming first. I suspect that they are both, like the rest of us, befuddled by the fickleness of the weather gods, who throw us a bit of snow one moment, sunshine the next, change their minds, and send a downpour sprinkled with periods of hail, just for a bit of variety. Come to think of it, they seem to be much like the political and economic commentators on the nightly news...

Nonetheless, 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 of $12 each when you purchase 6 or more! Bracelets are also available ready to gift (we make them for you) - at 10% off the very affordable original price of $20 each! After St. Patrick's day, Tuesday, March 17, 2009, however, not only will the sale end, but the prices will increase, because...

· Divine Woman bracelet proceeds to support other Divine Women

Help us help Divine Women in need in these troubled times: although this means a price increase in our extremely affordable Divine Woman bracelet kits to $15 each, we will donate the extra $3.00 per kit, and $5 of the new $25 price for ready-to-wear bracelets, to charities that help women. We are researching several right now, but if you have any suggestions, please let us know!

Kenyan Moon tells her story

Last time we told you about our exciting, not to mention stunning (if we may say so ourselves!) new Kenyan Moon jewelry sets. Well, the kits, which include all the materials you will need to complete one necklace and a pair of matching earrings using those beautiful Kazuri beads, are now available in our shop at a very affordable $45 each. Or, you can order them ready to wear or gift HERE.

We thought, however, that you might also like to read the story that goes with these fun jewelry sets, told from the Moon's perspective. So, we've added it to our myths/stories page. This is how it begins:


One night long ago, though it seems only just yesterday, when hyena still had swift legs and smooth fur, I was just coming into my most abundantly full phase as I gently traveled the night sky over Kenya. It was a clear summer night, at the hottest time of the year. Water was scarce, and people and animals were suffering from the drought. Of course, as I travel across the night sky, I not only enjoy the magnificent views of plains, mountains and valleys, but I must admit that I listen into nighttime conversations that waft up towards me. Some are dreamy, some so very intimate, and others, like the one I heard on this particular night I'm telling you about, quite frankly scheming! 

On this night, I caught snatches of conversation - "I'm so hungry that..." -  floating up towards me - "she's so plump and full..." - from a group of hyenas huddled together, looking up at me, talking and howling on a vast Kenyan savanah - "...good to eat..." -  Good to eat? Who could they be talking about, I wondered? Who is plump and full, and what is good to eat in this time of hunger and thirst? So I ...  READ MORE...

New helpful buttons

A few of you have mentioned that while our website is calm and reflective, with wonderful colors (thank you - that's what we were aiming for!), its 'understated elegance' (again, thanking you!) also means that it's not always obvious where certain things can be found on the site.

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 - hopefully, in keeping with the spirit and look of the overall website. Although the home page content changes on a regular basis, these buttons will remain there. Here are a couple of them:



· This button will take you directly to our 'artisan' section in our shop, which is where the ready to wear, enjoy or gift versions of our products are waiting for you. Some - all crocheted items, for example - because they are custom made for you, will require extra time before they ship. Most jewelry sets and the Divine Woman bracelets will ship within a few hours, however.



· This button will take you to our exclusive color test. It is free, of course, and it is surrounded by lots of information about color harmony, which will surely give you lots of ideas on how to combine colors in your fabric, yarn or bead stash, as well as your wardrobe!

· The purple 'Become a VIP divine woman' button is always there, and on every page of the website (except the shop) - use it to sign up for our mailing list if you are not already on there, and let your friends know about it, too!

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!



The kit comes with everything you will need to make a sturdy tote bag just right for carrying home all the freshness you can find at your local farmers market. It is available in four fantastic color combinations, and includes custom made ceramic leaves to give your tote just the right touch. Eve's apple tote kits available HERE.

A thought in closing...

Aphrodite, as you may well know, was said to possess a belt - well, actually, a girdle, in a time before a girdle was something that bound and reshaped a woman - which she wore either over her heart or around her hips, and which made her absolutely irresistible to gods and men equally. She wore it often, and lent it out on occasion, too.

It occurs to me, however, that belts are tricky for lots of us. Some of us can't find a waist to wear a belt on, whereas others have been told that we can 'get away with' wearing a belt if we wear it with a jacket. Aphrodite's alternative, wearing a belt over our hearts, is totally out of the question, as it is reserved for the special sashes and ribbons of contest winners. Now isn't that interesting? - reserved for 'specialness'...

What are your thoughts about - and relationship with - belts? (e-mail me your thoughts, or leave a comment HERE, on our blog page)