I’ve been squirreling away these fuschia and awesome ties waiting for the big love holiday. And these are HOT! Each is made from a necktie, so there’s only one available in the shop. And, in case you didn’t know, bow ties make ladies’ knees weak. It’s totally true.

wow you guys. Ya’ll kept me working during this last weekend. THANK YOU. It took me two and a half days to pack up all the orders- and I listened to Christmas music the whole time. So big hugs and high fives to everyone who acquired some new xoelle bow ties- they are happily making their way to you- watch your maily boxes!

xoxoxo
elle

I made up a big ol’ batch of recycled journals to ship out to the ICE Pop-Up shop and just couldn’t stop making them so I’ve put them in the shop. Most of them are made from used gameboards, but there are also art journals and adorable pocket notebooks made from playing cards and garth’s old baseball card collection. There are dozens of bow ties coming into the shop later this week too to stock up for the big sale (yay! And if ya’ll want an invite to shop the sale a day or two early sign up to be on the mailing list over at the botton of the right sidebar there where it says, “get quarterly updates” ——->)

The days are squished full for us here at the Hawker/Plouzek household. We’re preparing for the holidays and getting as many hugs from each other as we can.

Lots o’ love,
Laura. =)

happyiest etsyversary to my little shop! Three years ago this very day I finally settled on a name and opened an etsy shop where I planned to sell lots of different things, bow ties among them. The bow tie pictured above is the very first bow tie I sold. This little shop has been an amazing blessing in my life, allowing us wiggle room in our budget (and extra travel plans!) and giving me an outlet for a little of my creativity and drive. It has been awesome and I owe you, my dear sweet bow-tie-wearers and bow-tie-wearing-supporters, for it’s success. So friends- let’s take 30% off of everything in the shop on this lovely etsyversary- you totally deserve it. Just use “happy3” in the coupon code box for your discount. The code is only going to be good as long as it is today in Hawaii.

Thanks a million my lovies! Rock those bow ties!

ps. isn’t my model adorable? Mr Garth used to try on every single bow tie that I sold to help me photograph them. It got harder and harder to do with more and more bow ties and two children, so we gave it up- but I kinda miss that goofy grin in my shop pictures!

pps. it’s amazing how far I’ve come as a business and a craftsperson- I am embarrassed by the wonkiness of this bow tie- if you are out there listening Mr. first-sale-ever shoot me an e-mail and I’ll send you an xoelle bow tie with 3 years of experience and skill built in.

xooooOOOOOxxo

elle

The work that has been going on behind the scenes here in xoelleland is out of this world. I was pretty much starting from scratch with the business again as all of my inventory, equipment, supplies, and even business cards and scissors were packed in giant crates back in Florida and I haven’t seen ‘em since. So I’ve been gathering everything that I need to run this little business (which is harder to do in a brand new place that also happens to be an island- I still haven’t been able to find the right kind of interfacing that I need on island) and hitting thrift stores like crazy plucking up awesome prints for bow ties. I’ve also been cutting and sewing like crazy and have quite a few dozen bow ties lined up in the sewing queue. I mean, there are bow tie parts all over this house. Under the sink, in boxes in the living room, hanging off of the curtain rods, and piled on my sewing desk. We are swimming in bow ties over here. It’s time for them to go out in to the world and onto awesome necks everywhere.

So this is your official notice that xoelle is back in business. Bow ties will be flying into the shop in lightening speed later this evening and there’s no telling when they’ll stop.

happy almost-friday my friends,

elle

It’s here! I only discount my items once a year and this is the weekend! Ya’ll have until late Monday night to snag all the bow ties you can handle from the shop at just $25 each. Awesome.

And, if you’re in the Atlanta area the Indie Craft Experience is having a pop-up shop for the holidays that opens today. You can find my bow ties and game board journals there. Yippee!

hello there friends!
I know, it’s been a while. I have a stack of blog posts in my mind to write but have just been so short on time. It is a good thing that life is keeping me so busy that I don’t have time to blog about it- I mean, it’s all about doing and making a being and enjoying, right?

I am just popping in today to mention that I have an e-mail newsletter and it is rad and those who have signed up for it will be getting a very special (better than black friday/cyber monday!) surprise in thier inboxes tomorrow morning. This is your official invitation to sign up for the awesomeness. Just enter your e-mail address and e-mail preference in the little box titled “get quarterly updates” at the bottom of the sidebar, click submit, and you’re set! And, have no fear, I am not one to send out newsletters more than once every few months and I will fill them with interesting and rad things, scouts honor. Oh, and special deals available only to newsletter subscribers will be tucked in each time as well.

Cannot wait for Thanksgiving ya’ll! (you know it’s the grand entryway to Christmas, right?)

loves!
elle

ps. I’m working on making a tutorial for the advent calendar above- it’ll be posted soon (ish).

Have I mentioned yet that I’ll be at the Port City Market in November and December? I will. We’re on the corner of Palafox and Main Saturday mornings from 9am-1pm. I’m starting a clearance bin to try to lighten some of my inventory before my move to Hawaii. The market will be operating (and I’ll be vending!) these dates: Nov 20, Dec 4, 11, 18. Love the market.

And, tonight is gallery night! I’ll be participating by setting up outside of my friend Bia’s brand-new-not-open-yet shop at 208 Alcaniz (it’s just a block away from Seville). Come by and see me (and where Bia’s shop will be opening up in just a few weeks!) and grab some journals for the holidays to gift to the people you love.

I’ve just made dozens of journals and some pretty rad little notebooks too. Here are a few that have made me smile the last few days while working on them:

Operation, Heroes and Hero Worship, FDR (the title was, “When the New Deal was Young and Gay”), and a beatiful German book that I almost didn’t cut up because it’s so stunning (but then Jack ripped some pages out, so that was that). And I finally got around to making another batch of the art journals. They’re the delightful journals that are made entirely of non-blank paper. They’ll all be there this weekend, as will I. If you’re not local, have no fear, I’ll be adding all of these lovelies to the shop early next week.

see some of ya’ll there

much eckses and ohs,

elle

A whole gaggle of new bow ties are in the shop for fall in hues that’ll fit right in with your pumpkin-pie-eating and corn-maze-wandering. Check ‘em.

And, remember those camo bow ties? A mention on Valet assured that they sold out in an hour. I’m working on another batch that it’ll be in the shop later this week.

elle out.