Teddybears with Personality

Little teddybear holding a string of holiday stars on a sunny background. Cute postage for the holiday season.

A great Christmas card to send out featuring this little bear holding a string of stars on a pretty background with stars and little snowflakes.

A customizable apron for the kids, personalize with their name. They'll love this bright and cheery holiday teddybear.

This little bear with his bright string of holiday stars is on a blue and green background with pretty snowflakes. A great Christmas gift.

Say Merry Christmas with this cute little teddybear and his stars on this fun magnet. A perfect stocking stuffer.

Teddybears have a way of making you smile! It's funny that no matter how old we are we all probably have memories of teddybears from our childhood or perhaps ones that our children played with. I love drawing and creating unique teddybears with different personalities and styles depending on the expressions I give to them. It's fun to give a gift that you know will brighten someone's day and I think these teddybears will do just that! Above you'll see some of my latest creations. Come by my store for more selection, Designs by Shell

"The thief took the dog right from the owner!! He was walking the dog & she grabs the leash!!"

I received an email that is circulating in the Evansville area.  Thought I would share it.

"The thief took the dog right from the owner!! He was walking the dog & she grabs the leash!!"



An 81-year-old Evansville man wants his dog back.


"Help find this man's dog... An 81-year-old Evansville, Indiana man wants his dog back. The rare breed dog was taken from the owner on Tuesday right before his eyes, and he thinks it was no coincidence. The two walk in downtown Evansville every day at the same time, just before heading to mass at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. The suspect is described as a bigger built woman with medium brown hair. Orman says she was about 5'6 to 5'7 and appeared to be in her 30s. She was driving a maroon SUV with a hatchback. If you have any information, please contact Evansville Police."

Dog Stolen In Front Of Owner – news video of man & picture of his dog

tristatehomepage.com

Ideas for Decorating for the Holidays

This design of 'Wrapped with Love' won me a TBA (Today's Best Award)

A non-traditional background color accents these wrapped holiday gifts.

Dancing snowflakes on a shimmery background of blue and mauve.

More dancing snowflakes in white accented by a shimmery blue and mauve background.

A cozy Christmas scene, viewed from the window. A Christmas tree all trimmed with a stack of pretty gifts beneath it.

A hot mug of coffee paired with Christmas and holiday magazines, the perfect way to relax on a rainy day! This weekend I picked up the Nov. issue of House and Home magazine. I love getting this holiday issue to see what new ideas or themes are being encouraged for the Christmas season. Do you have a favourite Holiday magazine that you love to glean ideas from, do tell? I've been creating some new Christmas designs of pretty snowflakes, cozy Christmas scenes and jolly little snowmen. I hope you enjoy those that I've shown you above. Come by my store to see many more cute designs. Designs by Shell This weeks special is $5 off all white t-shirts! Use code OCTSHIRTSALE

Gifts of Love

Another sunny October day today... had a lunch date with my Honey at a cozy restaurant. I also went for a walk with a friend I hadn't connected with in a long time. Talked to some of my family today and was encouraged. So that's why I wanted to share some of my 'love' designs. Love can be shown in so many different ways. Small ways and big ways! Perhaps by a phone call, an e-mail message, a lunch date, a visit over coffee, or a walk with a friend. So I encourage you to reach out to someone over the next week, maybe connect with someone you haven't seen in awhile, you never know how much that could be appreciated. Pop by my store to see more designs.
Designs by Shell

John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (NIV)

Indiana University's Homecoming Weekend

Isn't this picture precious?  My husband and I went to visit our daughter, Suzanne, at Indiana University this last weekend.  It was IU's homecoming game and people were pumped up for it!  The lady in pink standing with my daughter was on her way to a tailgate party.  Her dogs were dressed in IU wear from the hats on their heads to the little shoes on their feet.  They were adorable! After I took a couple pictures of her, others asked if they could take pictures too.   I think she was stuck in that spot for awhile.

We stayed at Suzanne's apartment.  I was amazed at how clean and wonderfully cozy her room was.  She has some really nice photographs.  She's grown into a pretty young woman and we couldn't be more proud.  The football game was a good time.  We also caught a soccer game there that evening. 

The one little kink in the hose was when driving home on Oak Grove in Newburgh.  I was driving with the window open and a bee flew into my eye and stung me two or three times.  I almost drove into the ditch (they have really deep ditches off that road).  My husband grabbed the wheel and saved the day.  Sooo-- we made it home safely and I have just a bit of a swollen eye.

Time to Pick up Your Holiday Cards

Yesterday the sales for Christmas and holiday cards started happening! Now's the time for business'owners, bosses, and everyone else that sends out cards to find the perfect design for your friends, families, neighbours and employees! I have several designs in my store to choose from. Themes of snowmen, winter scenes, Christmas trees and ornaments, nutcrackers and shepherds. Something for every personality and style. Stop by for a look around you never know what you'll find!
Designs by Shell

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." John 4:18

Engelbrecht's Music Festival in Evansville, Indiana

  There was a music festival at this orchard last weekend.  Engelbrecht's had eight different bands play on stage in this gorgeous country setting with apple trees all around.  I got out of my car to take a picture of their sign. I braved walking down into a ditch and then up on a bank.  Not a bad picture I thought. On top of that, I was very proud of myself for daring to walk in a ditch--there might be a snake ya know. When I was finished with my picture taking, I hopped back in the car and began driving down the long country road toward the festival.  The late afternoon sun was in my eyes, but I appreciated the temperature and was thinking about how lucky they were (and the Fall Festival people) to have it so nice. My mind did an about face as I suddenly began to feel something squirming in my pants!  I couldn't believe it!!!!  Whatever it was, was over an inch long and on my upper thigh.  I kept driving toward the full parking area--people all around.  I wanted to jump out of the car, scream, and take off my pants. But no.  I remained civilized.  The mystery creature squirmed and squirmed as I drove through the bumpy field in the direction the parking attendant told me to go. These were my tight pants.  Probably a good thing or it could have been scampering all over the place.  I hate to even think about it.  Anyway, I parked  got out of the car and did a little dance. I think the grasshopper that shook out was stunned because he just sat on my shoe for a while.  I know we were both relieved "the situation" was over.

Once at the festival, I enjoyed watching people and listening to the music. There was a wine and beer garden, a place for people who wanted to camp; round, white tables and chairs set near the band area with autumn centerpieces on each one.  People from the Rivertown Butchershop were there with a big grill cooking yummy things to eat.  One of the local bands that came later was called The Pits.  I asked to take their picture because they were with some fans that wore t-shirts that spelled their name.  It was tough getting them in the right order--for a while they spelled spit. 

I guess they plan on hosting this festival every year.

Something New - A Utube Experience

Well this post is a little different from my usual posts but I wanted to share this with you. Actually it came about because my husband Brian came home with a new flipcamera and needed to practice using it. So of course I got the job of being his interviewy (is that a word?) or camera subject. All in all we had some fun with it and I did a little interview about Squidoo. By now I'm sure you've heard me talk about writing lens' for squidoo. As you can see in the sidebar I have over a hundred of these mini-articles featured. So instead of me writing about 'What Squidoo Is and why you should use it, I want you to watch and listen to my Utube talk.


As you know I use Squidoo to help market my Zazzle store and in a future post I'll share another talk about how I started my own unique store. Here are a couple of my recent products for you to view. For lots more interesting designs come by for a visit. Designs by Shell

Music Touches Us All

Isn't it wonderful how it doesn't matter what country or place someone comes from music has a way of bringing everyone together. Now that's not saying we all like the same type or style of music but just that music has a way of touching all of us. Whether it's the words of a song that speak to us or just the melody that soothes us. So you guessed it, I've been designing music items for my store. I have especially been focusing on guitar themes. I created business cards, magnets and mugs with a musical theme. I also wrote a lens (mini-article) about Unique Gifts for Acoustic Guitar Players, come and have a look! Never too soon to start thinking of gifts for the holidays or birthdays! Zazzle has a sale on this weekend called the Columbus Day Sale. Use code 1492COLUMBUS to receive 14.92% off your order.
Designs by Shell

To my Canadian readers, Have a great Thanksgiving weekend and don't over do it on the turkey! :-)

Holiday Handbags

Holiday apron for the fashionable cook or baker


A cute fashion magnet for the girls or woman in your life - Glamour


A cute black holiday handbag with the message 'sparkle' accents this t-shirt


A great holiday tote, perfect for shopping or would make a nice reusable giftbag


Pretty holiday postage featuring a red handbag and a plaid design


What a gorgeous day today, the sun is shining and the sky is so blue! No matter how much sleep you've had the sun makes you feel brighter and more alert. I haven't had a great nights sleep in about 3 weeks again. Can't wait til this insomnia passes... can anyone relate? If anyone has any great remedies or tips please do tell! Oh well, I don't let it stop me from being creative and coming up with new designs for my store. This week I've been working on some cute holiday fashion designs kind of to go with the shoe theme from last week. Some trendy handbags in holiday colors. I've put these designs on postage, business cards, t-shirts, mugs etc. Lots of cute gift ideas. Stop by for a visit to see more of my creations.
Designs by Shell