New Project for 2011.....Me & Dot!

.....a sneak peek at our project for 2011....Me & Dot! A new range of kids stationery with clever thoughts to share and whimsical illustrations with a flair of fantasy...

Official launch: January 2011

Yay!! for whimsical fun and fantasy....and clever thoughts!

A smile...

It was with her smile that she stole my heart..the little girl sitting in the front row. A kind, loving, just-because smile. I smiled back at her and remember thinking how easy it is to let these kids into your heart. She stood up, walked over to me where I was sitting on a plastic chair and gave me hug...a kind, loving, just-because hug. She stepped back a bit, looked at me, turned around, grabbed the child closest to her by her arm and pushed the poor unsuspected girl towards me.
"Give her a hug" she ordered. The girl spontaneously gave me a hug and that spurred 6 or 7 more kids to do the same. There I was thinking I am here to let these kids know that THEY ARE special, and now I find myself being showered with their love and joy! Unconditionally! They're the ones wondering where their next meal will come from, that have to deal with the threat of gangs and safety issues, and yet they find love and joy to share.......The surprises of life!

This was at an "end of year" party for the kids, arranged by the I am Special Ministry Team in Cape Town. I will be volunteering with them next year and I cannot wait! This was the first time I joined them while visiting a school and I'm hooked!

http://www.iamspecial.org.za/

The Apple of my eye!

When I started working on the Bella'ki Characters, Jojo was the first to see the light of day. He is my favourite! Certainly the Apple of my eye....so don't be surprised if Jojo features a bit more on the Bella'ki Gift card Collection.

Spreadin' the love!

This sticker will appear on the Bella'ki Cards sold as part of the GIVE project!

GIVE a little....

"GIVE" is our Feed-a-Child Project and I'm super excited about this new baby! We are the lucky ones, by Grace we can provide our children with healthy and balanced meals.... For others, their reality is an everyday struggle to survive.

With every "GIVE" card that sells, we can provide a child with a healthy meal. Every card sold represents a meal box. It's all about putting a smile on hungry child's face. These cards can only be ordered from Bella & Co. Please email: jana@bellaandco.co .za for more info.

Introducing the Stars...in Christmas Gear

Meet the adorable characters that appear on the stationery....getting into the Christmas Spirit.

Circus came to Town!

Circus came to Town!

It was my kids' annual school concert and they brought the Circus in all it's colour to entertain us! Talk about an explosion of colours, dance, fun, laughs and song! I loved it, every parent there loved it! To see those excited little faces with their hearts full of joy and happiness surely brought a huge smile and certainly a tear or two to our faces. A tear for the unbelief that my 2 little babies, are dancing and singing their hearts out, while it seems like just yesterday they were crawling around the house in nappies. Oh, how time flies! It just made me realise again...do not waste a minute! Get busy Living...by the words of Goldfish.

I love you, my "babies". You are mommy's super stars!

Discover beauty again...

"Some people are music to the soul simply in being just who they are. And I'm amazed how life gives us countless possibilities to discover, and to be wrapped up in levels of beauty that we could have never imagined without a divine touch of Grace" ... I wish I could take credit for this little piece of truth. It was a friend's Facebook status, which became mine in a moment of "why didn't I come up with that" weakness. But this statement is so true! Life do give us countless possibilities to discover beauty. Why did we become so reluctant to see that?

I had a meeting this morning with Luani, the director of a Children's Ministry called "I am Special." What an amazing woman! This is an awesome charity who's only mission is to let children feel loved and let them know that they are special...just because (like one of her Grade 3 students said) "God made me too!"

I will be volunteering with them starting February 2011 and I can not wait! I'm so excited about working with these kids growing up in difficult circumstances and to make them feel that they ARE special, even if it is just for half an hour a day.

Visit www.iamspecial.org.za to see what they're all about.