Zulu Bantu Knot Tote Bag

Zulu knots are widely considered to be among the more ethnic hairstyles for African Americans. As the name implies, the style originated in the Zulu tribes of southern Africa. The style is simple, yet dramatic and one of my personal favorites.

This cotton canvas tote measures 18" x 14" x 6" with 28" handles. Best of all, this bag is reusable, washable and environmentally friendly.

A hand painted silhouette stands out in the center. Her Zulu Bantu knots hand sewn from various pieces of African print fabric

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

Women of Africa Tote Bag

Have a looksee at my latest creation, Women of Africa Tote bag. I made this bag over the weekend and I had so much fun painting and sewing away.

This tote bag reminds me of the funtimes I had growing up in Ghana, West Africa. Playing soccer with the boys, pounding fufu for dinner, climbing the mango and orange trees for sweet healthy treats...ahhh those were the days! The memories of my late grandmother, Nana Serwaa Bonsu, and all the children in the village she cared for. Even when they had so little, they had so much more - Life, Love, Happiness.

I hope you like it too.

smiles

QuellyRue

African Tribal Print Scarf

Layer on some fun with this stunning tribal print scarf. Nicely woven with colorful graphic prints in red, green, yellow and black.

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

GC Giveaway: Win QuellyRue Designs Shape of Africa Tote Bag Now!

To celebrate the 2nd year anniversary of GhanaCelebrities, I am giving away one of my Shape of Africa tote bags to one lucky reader. This bag was made specially to help to commemorate 2years of Excellence in Ghanaian Celebrity News.

Click HERE for more details and for your chance to win this new ultra exclusive tote - you won’t find this anywhere.

GOOD LUCK!

smiles,

QuellyRue

Recap: Shecky’s “Girls Night Out” Returns to the Big Apple!

So last Wednesday I attended Shecky’s Girls Night Out with my girlfriends, and we had a fabulous time! If you don’t know what Shecky’s is, you are MISSING OUT. It’s a fun biannual shopping event that occurs in many cities across the US and offers clothing, jewelry, accessories, and services from hundreds of vendors — plus free cocktails and amazing treat-filled goodie bags too. The best part is that this year, admission + a goodie bag was $15 advance!

We wandered around for a bit, checking out the different vendors. There were definitely lots of cute options in many different price points and everything with a special Shecky's discount! The selection of clothing was nice, but most of it felt like something you could pick up at your local H&M, Forver21, etc. The perfect nightcap to the evening was getting the famous Shecky’s goodie bag!

Yes, all this for $15!!!

Overall, Shecky's continues to be a super fun night out, a perfect way to indulge a few hours, and amazing vendors. I definitely recommend checking out the next one in your area!

smiles

QuellyRue

Sesame Street's I Love My Hair

Where was this when I was coming up? If had just seen some love for kinky curls I wouldn't have spent 10+ years of my life abusing my hair to fit in with societies standards of beauty.

Check out the cute little muppet singing a song called I Love My Hair. I found the video on SesameStreet.com and had to share. I'm so happy sesame street did this video! Our Afro-naturalbella's need to love themselves for who they are! GO SESAME STREET!!!!

See the video here.

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QuellyRue

Music to My Ears: Forever - The Floacist (featuring Musiq Soulchild)

Lovin' this song and lovin' Natalie's bald head, gap teeth and tattoos. Don't let society define your beauty, Ladies. And remember, while we love make-up, it isn't necessary. It simply enhances the beauty that we already have!



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QuellyRue

Llanos-Figueroa’s first novel is a beautiful, sensual tale of mothers and daughters, love and sorrow, hardship and pride. The story begins with Fela, a tall, mute West African woman who has been sold into slavery in Puerto Rico. The only memento from her homeland is a stone imbued with her prayers and hopes to bear a child. Torn from her husband, Fela accepts the attentions of the sugar plantation owner as a surrogate. Their child, Mati, relies on the stone to guide her to her ancestral truth and her own calling as a healer.

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QuellyRue

Wednesday Words of Wisdom

Never let other people’s opinions define you. Our lives follow our thoughts, so if you think negatively about yourself, you will attract negative experiences. Love, accept and express every part of yourself.

Birdie Bunch

Modern enough for the most fashion-forward, sweet enough for the hippest of nurseries or young girls' rooms. Also a great addition to the living room, master bedroom, den or cottage. This pillow is a crowd-pleaser and a friend teaser.

Get yours here

smiles

QuellyRue

The Elephants are Here!

QuellyRue’s love for animals and technology is pretty obvious, so what better way to merge the two than with this elephant cozy. Keep your iPod, cell phone, camera or other gadgets safe, clean and scratch-free by slipping them into this lovely hand crochet elephant cozy.

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me”. - ♥ Erma Brombeck

Three's Company

This fabulous tote bag has my signature felt owl and birds embellished on its front panel! The owl has an opening for easy storage of your iPod, cell phone, money etc. How delightful! Swing it on your hand or carry it on your shoulder. It is definitely a handy, practical size, for both work and play!

Get yours here

smiles

QuellyRue

Crochet Blooming Flower Brooch

I've been making a lot of flowers lately and decided some of them

were meant to star on their own. VOOWALLA!...A very unique and bold flower brooch.

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

Tribal Bangles

Aren't these bangles delightful?

Brightly colored batik, geometric tribal prints, and rich with African heritage!

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

CHANGE.ORG

We live in such a beautiful world, a complex civilization with endless possibilities. Despite our many advances too many suffer, from poverty, hunger, oppression, etc... and to me it is unacceptable.

Join me and become an advocate for change!



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QuellyRue

Fashion & Lifestyle: Focus on Racquel Dwomoh, The Art of Entreprenuership

I had the pleasure of interviewing with Yaa Kesiwaa of Ghanacelebrities.com, to discuss my shop QuellyRue Designs, my future goals, and everything else that is me.

Many thanks to Ms. Kesiwaa for this wonderful opportunity and sharing my work with the world.

Check out the interview here.

smiles

QuellyRue

Color Splash Earrings

~ Bohemian rhapsody ~

These are one of a kind, hand painted, oval shaped wood dangle earrings. I have painted them with acrylic paints in various colors, such as, purple, pink, red, denim blue, orange....

Get yours here

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QuellyRue

Boy Loves Girl

How adorable are these wooden boy and girl necklaces from Steven Alan? (Designed/created by Geneine Honey)

Scratch Map

How rad is this Scratch Map? You scratch off the places you've been with a coin!

I've Been a Bad, Bad Girl.......

....and haven't been blogging as much as I should. Life has been full of alot of busy busy things and I am barely finding time to sleep much less blog (why oh why do we have to sleep, just think of how much more we could get done in a day if sleep wasn't a necessity!)

I have decided I am making it my goal to post a new blog at LEAST every other day but will try to post daily....the hard part for me is finding something fresh and new to blog about that is both interesting AND fun for those who read my blog and hasn't been done before. I want to try to set it apart a little from what alot of other blogs blog about...not because I think there is anything wrong with that (I enjoy reading so many blogs!) but because I hope to be a little different somewhere along the way...

smiles

QuellyRue

Say it's MY BIRTHDAY!!!

It's my birthday too yeah! :)

There are two things I look forward to every year on my birthday:
1. My mom baking me a birthday cake. (I don't fancy who needs store bought!)
2. Hanging out with friends eating good food and getting a little tipsy all on the account of that hot summer day in July 21 years ago. Sike, I'm really 25 :). OMG, my I am a quarter of a century!

Time really does fly, and it's amazing how things change so quickly. It always baffles me how in a year's time I'm in a complete different stage of my life. I think it's fantastic and I must say I feel truly blessed to see another year that will bring many more wonderful changes and surprises.

Today I plan on staying in my PJ's all day relaxing, crafting as usual, catch some flicks and then a nice dinner with my family. I'm not sure what else they have planned for me but honestly, just being home with the family is enough for me :)

Cheers to another year old.



smiles

QuellyRue

…do not let yourself be bothered with the inconsequential. one only has so much time in this world, so devote it to the work and the people most important to you…to those you love and things that matter…

-louis l’amour, ride the river

Ode to my sweet tooth

Looks delish...eh? Sometimes you just have to indulge!

Happy Friday folks!!

smiles

QuellyRue

Spotted on Etsy: Perfect Pins by LittleMommaErin

Check out these Text Abbreviation Magnets, from Erin's Etsy shop Perfect Pins by LittleMommaErin.

Here is a blurb from Erin's Etsy profile, please stop by and check out her amazing shop, Perfect Pins by LittleMommaErin, and get to know her a bit more:

I am a stay at home mom (trust me, you'll probably see my little punk rocker son in some of my pictures) who works from home, so I decided to start an Etsy page to rekindle the artist in me. I went to the Cleveland Institute of art for 2 years a while back, but had to quit because it was too expensive. I would have graduated as a Fibers Major there. So, I figured why not do what I love, and make a little money at the same time. I have realized that just because I didn't finish school doesn't mean I cant make things and sell them successfully. I'm really excited to be making things again, and even more so to be sharing what I make with others!

smiles

QuellyRue

Craft For A Cause: Autism Awareness Jewelry

Puzzle Piece Jewelry makes beautiful jewelry, from stone, Swarovski crystal, glass seed beads, shell, wood and other materials. She also make Autism Awareness jewelry and items to help spread Autism Awareness in a beautiful way.

Puzzle Piece Jewelry is donating a portion of the proceeds to the National Autism Association.

Go here to shop and view more of her jewelry collection.

To find out more about the National Autism Association, please go to http://www.nationalautismassociation.org/

smiles

QuellyRue

Spotted on Etsy: Changing Realities Art Gallery

I am so happy to have stumbled upon these original pen & ink, stylized landscape drawings by Lawrie Dignan on Etsy. His work is amazing and speaks for itself.

Here is a blurb from Lawrie Dignan's Etsy profile, please stop by and check out his amazing shop, Changingrealities, and get to know him a bit more:

Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada Lawrie is a self-taught artist whose unique drawing style has developed through his years working as a technical draftsman in British Columbia’s civil service. In 1987, life experiences caused the artist to focus inward, seeking ways of self expression. From this point on, his own style of pointillism and line drawing has been developing. His years spent as a technical draftsman has strongly influenced the stylization of his landscape works. The contrast of natural and technical is very apparent in Dignans’ pieces. The subject matter is derived in part from photographs, natural landscapes and life experience which are then rendered into his own stylized reflections. The pen and ink pieces become a filtration of those influences and like the artist, express a freedom and emotion that is orderly and controlled. Trees take on an architectural essence while the organic forms merge effortlessly with the hard-edged elements on the paper surface.

...I love it!

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QuellyRue

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

What happens when you mix two beautiful daughters, one handsome prince, and a marriage proposal? Well, if one is selfish, self-centered, and spoiled, and the other is kind, loving, and sweet, then you get the heartwarming fairytale by John Steptoe, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters. He credits an African folktale with inspiring this original version of a Cinderella-esque story. Steptoe's illustrations compliment the tale at every turn, defining setting, expanding characterization, and adding depth to the text; they are indeed worthy of the Caldecott Honor Book Medal which graces the cover. Pages of stunning paintings capture the very essence of the story's Zimbabwean ancestors and the landscape they inhabited.

In this typical fast-paced fairytale where evil is punished and good is rewarded, readers meet Manyara and Nyasha, two sisters of unsurpassed beauty, who are summoned to the city in order to appear before the unmarried prince. Little girls everywhere will identify with the kind and patient Nyasha and delight at the fate that the "evil" sister, Manyara, eventually meets.

Children of all ages will thoroughly enjoy a read-aloud of this fairytale. The vivid use of language and exquisite illustrations, such as the scene in which Nyasha meets the king, are sure to entertain even the most discriminating audience, from the youngest listener to the transitional reader. Complete with a surprise ending, a touch of magic, and a moral message, Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters is a wonderful story and makes and excellent comparison to more traditional versions of Cinderella.

This is my favorite childrens book, and is a must read for all children.

smiles

QuellyRue

The Battery Mug

The image appears when your pour a beverage warmer than 96 degrees Fahrenheit! Purchase and charge your caffeine battery!

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QuellyRue

Spotted on Etsy: Still Tree Jewellery

Still Tree Jewellery is a small, independently run business based in the UK, selling handmade jewellery and accessories, with a focus on wool, feathers and natural materials.

Check out these gorgeous feather earrings from their shop:

smiles

QuellyRue

Art That Was Once Alive

The New York Times is online is featuring an exhibit, Art That Was Once Alive, which is made of of pieces created from bones, feathers, cock roaches (eeeooo) and other pieces from science. View the full set here. The artist, Nick Cave, details: "My Soundsuits are like a suit of armor protecting one's identity, providing a hiding place from the outside world."

Check it out why don't ya!

smiles

QuellyRue

Drawing + Photography

From Ben Heine, I offer you "Drawing Vs. Photography."

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QuellyRue

Seeker by Michael Velliquette

Cut card stock, bristol board, and glue are used to create this series of sculptural characters by Michael Velliquette. See more from the series here.


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QuellyRue

NEW in the shop

Looking to fill your basket with Quellories?

Check out my new crochet bowtie headbands. I really love these headbands. It’s the perfect accessory for all seasons - all color and fun. The bow is so wild and goes with every outfit. Having a messy hair day? Just throw this baby on and your hair will automatically look a lot cuter!

Get them HERE!

smiles

QuellyRue