Happy New Year 2012!

This is a time of reflection on the past year; on things we enjoyed or regret, on friends we made or lost, and on other changes in our lives, for the better or worse. As we try to recall all of the highs and lows of the great expanse of time that has been 2011, it is also a time to consider goals for 2012.

2011 was an extraordinary year for QuellyRue Designs. We had the opportunity to work some fabulous people, vend at a number of events, and we were featured in countless blogs/websites including Essence Magazine, Huffington Post, Audacity of Color, Natural Hair Beauty, Ghana Rising, Fly Girl Blog, and OmoYankee!

I'd like to give thanks to our loyal customers, bloggers, friends, and family for helping propel QuellyRue Designs to where we are today. We’re looking forward to a great 2012, rolling out a few new fashion accessories in the new year and something special that I hope to be able to share with you next week.

Cheers to a new year filled with endless blessings, love, peace, and prosperity!

smiles

QuellyRue

BLACK FRIDAY SALE!

GET A JUMP START on your holiday shopping and SAVE BIG!

Shop here

smiles

QuellyRue

Bullying Prevention Awareness Giveaway

Hi Everyone, it's time for another giveaway!

This week at QuellyRue Designs, we're promoting Bullying Prevention Awareness! Bullying affects so many people in so many ways. Bullying can be verbal, physical, or via the Internet. It can severely affect the victim's self-image, social interactions, and school performance―often leading to insecurity, lack of self-esteem, and depression in adulthood.

My first experience of bullying was in 3rd grade. There was a girl in my class who didn't like me for some reason, I don't know. We never spoke and to my knowledge I kept my distance from her. Besides, I was very quiet in school. I mainly only hung out with my brother, sisters and a small group of friends I pretty much considered family. One afternoon during recess, I was standing in front of my classroom and holding on to the doorway when she slammed the door shut on my hand. OUCH, I know! It happened so fast but I remember the look of anger on her face as the teacher reprimanded her. I wont share the graphic details of my injuries, only that I broke my pinky finger and I had a high fever for several days. My parents, who very upset over the situation, played an active role in making sure this never happened again in my school.

It saddens me to my core when I hear these cases of school/workplace shootings and children being driven to suicide or died because of bullying. It's time for bullying to end in society. Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others. For more information on bullying prevention, or if you suspect that someone you know is being bullied or is bullying others, please visit StopBullying.gov, and join the fight against bullying.

Here are my offerings for this week's Bullying Prevention Awareness Giveaway:

One Lucky winner will receive the Cascading Cowrie Shells Earrings and Necklace Set!

Contest Rules:

• Follow/Join QuellyRue Designs blog (click button on top left-hand side of this page)
• Leave a comment. Your contributions and your personal experiences, in whatever form you chose to share, play a part in the continued discussion about bullying. Perhaps these stories will inspire those who feel threatened by bullying in their lives to reach out for the support of a friend of family member.
• Contest ends Monday, November 21, 2011 at 11:59pm Eastern time, and the winner will be chosen at random.

I will announce the winner at 9am Eastern time on Tuesday, November 22nd. Good luck!

Cancer Awareness Giveaway Winners are.....

Hi everyone, I am so excited to announce the winners of our Cancer Awareness Giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS

TO

Charlotte and Sharon

Charlotte has won my Naturalbella Tote Bag Number 1, and Sharon has won my Naturalbella Tote Bag Number 2.

Winners, please send an email to quellyruedesigns@gmail.com with your mailing address to receive them!

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the giveaway, donated, and helped me promote cancer awareness. I enjoyed reading all the comments, and I thank you again for sharing your personal stories with me. Please stay tune for my next giveaway!

smiles

QuellyRue

Cancer Awareness Giveaway

This week at QuellyRue Designs, we're promoting awareness for Cancer! There are so many different types of cancers, I had such a hard time narrowing it down to one. Especially since they are all equally important and several of my loved ones have been affected by difference forms of this deadly disease.

This giveaway is dedicated to my great-uncle, Fred, who passed away a few years ago from cancer. He had been fighting what believed was a common cold for several weeks. When he finally decided to see a doctor, he was diagnosed with throat cancer in stage 4 which had also spread to his nasal cavity. Two weeks later he passed away.

You can learn more about the different types cancers, find support and treatment, explore research, or get involved in the fight against cancer by visiting the website of the American Cancer Society.

Here are my offerings this week's Cancer Awareness Giveaway:

TWO lucky winners will receive one of my hand-painted Naturalbella Tote Bags.



Winner 1 will receive bag #1, and winner 2 will receive bag #2

Contest Rules:

• Follow/Join QuellyRue Designs blog (click button on top left-hand side of this page)
• Leave a comment. I'd especially love to hear of any experiences with cancer, so if you have one, share it.
  
• Contest ends Monday, November 14, 2011 at 11:59pm Eastern time, and the winners will be chosen at random.

I will announce the winners at 9am Eastern time on Tuesday, November 15th. Good luck!

smiles

QuellyRue

Diabetes Awareness Giveaway winner is.......

Hi everyone, I am so excited to announce the winner of our Diabetes Awareness Giveaway!

CONGRATULATIONS

TO

Chenequa "Nicky" Cash-Johnson

Chenequa has won her choice of three of our African Tribal Bangles

Chenequa, please send an email to quellyruedesigns@gmail.com with choice of bangles and your mailing address to receive them!

I would like to thank everyone who participated in the giveaway, donated, and helped me promote diabetes awareness. I enjoyed reading all the comments, and I wish you all more luck next time. Don’t worry, I've got more awesome stuff to giveaway this month!

Stay tune for my next giveaway!

smiles

QuellyRue

Diabetes Awareness Giveaway!

Happy November, everyone! What better way to start this month than to have a giveaway!

I will be doing giveaways each week, but I want them to have more meaning than just giving stuff away, so I've decided to tie each giveaway with charitable causes I support. Each post will contain a blog button for the charitable cause of that week. When you click on this button you will be able to donate to these wonderful causes. You don't have to donate to be entered to win the giveaways, but each donation (large or small) will go a long way to helping these causes.

So now for this week's giveaway...Let's talk diabetes for a minute.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to produce or unable to properly use and store glucose (a form of sugar). Glucose backs up in the bloodstream — causing one’s blood glucose or "sugar" to rise too high.

Several of my loved ones are living with diabetes, and I had my own scare early this year at a routine checkup. There are different types of diabetes with different challenges, but the bottom line is, we need a cure.

I'm doing my part by offering a portion of proceeds from the sale of items from my shop to the American Diabetes Association, and I hope that you will also join me in supporting this cause.

Here are my offerings this week:

One lucky winner will receive their choice of THREE of my African Tribal Bangles. Ladies- how can you resist??

Contest Rules:

• Follow/Join QuellyRue Designs blog (click button on top left-hand side of this page)
• Leave a comment. I'd especially love to hear of any experiences with diabetes, so if you have one, share it.
• Contest ends Monday, November 7, 2011 at 11:50pm Eastern time and the winner will be chosen at random.

I will announce the winner at 9am Eastern time on Tuesday, November 8th. Good luck!

I gotta say – this giveaway is very close to my heart and I can’t wait to read your comments. Good luck everyone!

Smiles

QuellyRue

Support local and independent artists this holiday season!

We’re coming up on the holidays, and many of us will be searching for great ideas for gifts for loved ones. Please remember to support local and independent artists this holiday season!

Spread the word!

Smiles

QuellyRue

Dream Weaver Ankara Bangle

Live the fashion dream with this exuberant wooden bangle finished with a braided detail.

Get yours here

smiles

QuellyRue

9.11.11 A decade long, A decade strong

Look back with compassion, look forward with peace, and sit in the present with gratitude.

Love

QuellyRue

How to Start Dreadlocs: Mohawk Tutorial

I am so happy to share with you this amazing hairstyling video by Cleopatra which also features my Ankara Bow Clip. Be sure to subscribe to her Youtube channel for more helpful tips and tricks for daily hairstyling.

Thank you Cleopatra!

Get your Ankara Bow Clip here

smiles

QuellyRue

Back to School Sale starts TODAY!

Our Back to School sale is here. Get is 10% off your next purchase, and it only lasts till August 14th! So hurry up and pick up that QuellyRue Designs item you’ve been eyeing for a while.

SHOP NOW

Enter code: QRDB2S10 at check out.

DONT MISS OUT: Back-to-school shopping has never been so much fun.

smiles

QuellyRue

And we have a Winner...

I am happy to announce that I've picked my Birthday Giveaway winner. The number was chosen through random.org.

And the winner is (drum roll....)

Violeta J

She won the Gye Nyame tote bag. Congrats Violeta J!

Thanks for the entries and birthday wishes everyone.

Thanks again for making my birthday week so much fun!

smiles

QuellyRue

It's my birthday and I'm pulling an Oprah!!!

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE !

That's right! Today is MY 26th BIRTHDAY and of course I wanted to invite ALL of YOU to help me CELEBRATE!

And what a better way to celebrate then to have a SURPRISE GIVEAWAY!

Here’s all you need to do:
1. Follow this blog
2. Leave a comment and let me know — which is your favorite QuellyRue Designs item, and how do you plan to rock it? — comments will be open until July 17th and a winner will be chosen at random.

Good luck!

Oh and click here to join my Facebook fan page. And are you on Twitter? Click here to follow me!

smiles

QuellyRue

On Vacation....

Hi there! I am taking a vacation from 6/15/11 - 6/21/11. But wait! There is good news! Any purchases made during this time will be shipped via priority mail at my return. Feel free to email me your questions, comments, etc at quellyruedesigns@gmail.com. I will check back with big smiles, tall tales, and a sunburn.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE.

smiles

QuellyRue

Style Muse: Kifana Hinkson-Holder

Simple and sweet with a hip downtown flair, Kifana exudes effortless style with simple pieces that compliment her natural beauty. AND she's wearing our Ankara Hoop earrings!

Get yours here

smiles

QuellyRue

QuellyRue Designs Tote Bag Winner

Thank you all for entering the QuellyRue Designs Giveaway at the CurlyGirlCollective launch event yesterday in NYC. The lucky winner is #23, Kamara B.

Congratulations Kamara!

smiles

QuellyRue

EVENT FAB: A Celebration of Textured Beauty in NYC

QuellyRue Designs is honored to partner with Curly Girl Collective for their launch event, Collective Expressions on Sunday, May 22nd in New York City. 'BE CELEBRATED. BE YOU. BE THERE!'

smiles

QuellyRue

Customer Appreciation Photo from Kimaada

So happy to share with you another customer appreciation photo from Kimaada, rocking the Shape of Africa Earrings in Green!

I just LOVE them on her, and her beautiful fiery, golden natural tresses.

Many thanks Kimaada for sharing this lovely photo, and for your continued support of QuellyRue Designs.

Remember friends, send me a photo of you wearing/using/rocking your QuellyRue Designs item (s) and get 10% off your next purchase.

smiles

QuellyRue

Ankara African Fabric Headbands

These Ankara African Fabric Headbands are the perfect accessory for all seasons - all color and fun. They are handmade to wrap around your head, with an elastic band sewn in back to keep it from slipping.

AND they come in so many different prints. Show your style and have some fun with these headbands!

Get yours here

smiles

QuellyRue

*CUSTOMER APPRECIATION TIME *

Have you ever purchased anything from QuellyRue Designs? Jewelry, Tote bags, Cozies, Scarves, or anything else? If you have, I would absolutely love it if you could send me a photo of you wearing/using/rocking your QuellyRue Designs item(s), and get 10% off your next purchase! All photos will be shown on here. You can email your photos to via email at QuellyRueDesigns@gmail.com, Etsy, twitter, facebook, or tumblr.

Here is a lovely photo I received today from Ashley rocking the Color Splash earrings! LuvLuv them on her....just the way I would wear them. Many thanks Ashley!



smiles

QuellyRue

...And we have a WINNER!

BIG BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Betty T on winning my Afro Woman tote bag in the BIG BIG GIVEAWAY, helping the children at the El Olam Orphanage in Ethiopia!!! And many thanks to Kim for this wonderful opportunity, and to all those who participated. I am truly honored to have been a part of such a wonderful cause. ♥ Africa!

Read more about Kim and the Change Me Crew here

smiles

QuellyRue

Shape of Africa Earrings

~ Funky. Eclectic. Bold.~

Get yours here!

smiles

QuellyRue

It's the BIG, BIG, GIVEAWAY!

In the voice of my fairy godmother, Oprah Winfrey: It's time for a GIVEAWAAAY... YAAAAAAH!

This Afro Woman tote bag is up for grabs and YOU could be the LUCKY WINNER. Enter the BIG, BIG Giveaway, helping children at the El Olam Orphanage in Ethiopia, for your chance to win this OOAK tote.

smiles

QuellyRue