July 12, 2012
24 Comments
Hiya sistahs!
just thought I would announce on my bloggypoo that “bellaland” AKA the Stamping Bella physical retail store will be closing as of August first. We sent out a newsletter yesterday and I was SHOCKED at the feedback I received.. some crying.. devastation and sadness. I hate to see people sad and it made me really sad to have this response.. but Bellaland really was the happiest place on earth.
Business on the online side has exploded. Literally LOL. If you looked at our office, you would agree. We are buried under rubbah! And what can I say.. I really thought I was a superhero but alas.. I am just a FORTY year old chick with 2 kids and a husband who need her :)…
So this is the scoop. STAMPING BELLA IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE!! Business is AMAZING.. online and in the direction of distribution and that is why I had to give something up and I am SOOO happy with the decision so please.. if you are local and you LOVE stamping bella, PLEASE don’t be sad because I am kicking up my heels! LOL … I love everyone I have met and I don’t even have the GUTS to call them customers as once people stepped over our threshold they were in MY territory BWAHAHAHA and they became MY FRIEND.
Stamping Bella’s website will have a BIG facelift (why can’t DA BELLA have a facelift..hmph)… I will be able to create more..try to explore this artist TUG that is pulling at me and BEGGING me to explore it… I will stamp and follow my original passion. RUBBAH! I will continue to offer you the most current, beautiful yummalicious stamps.. and MORE OF THEM!! can you handle that sistahs?
I will be updating my blog more often… CAN YOU HANDLE DAT, my sistahs??
I will be showing more samples… CAN YOU HANDLE DAT, my sistahs?
Cuz DAT is what’s gonna happen! We will sell Rubber stamps, and all associated with the beeyootiful magical craft.. ez mount, blocks and ink.. I can’t wait!!!
I will also continue to update my Facebook page (so you can like STAMPING BELLA and EMILY BLOCK) to see what is going on…
So let’s celebrate.. who’s getting da MARTINIS?
mwah mwah mwah!
Em
OMG, I’m so sad….happy for you but sad for me. I’m so going to miss you guys 🙁
You were my secret place where I could escape from the kids and life and just relax.
I’m so glad we met one random day and wish you lots of success. Xoxo
its sounds like the store closure of was a result of the success of your on-line business and wholesale side. So, who can argue with such amazing success? Can we pick up our on-line orders in person just so we can still see you all? and looking forward to your increased on-line presence as though you weren’t already busy posting things for us. enjoy the martinis, hey isn’t there a stamp for that?
I have to admit I was very shocked and sad to hear your news about the physical Bellaland store closeing, so upset that I couldn’t leave a response yesterday. It’s nice to have a real place associated with a person and I’m not much into this whole computer world yet. I tend to buy my stuff in person and usually with cash ( LOL I sound like my grandma here!) but I will have to make an exception now cause I can’t do without your beautiful stamps! I can also understand why you want more time to explore this artist side of you and that is why I will suck up my sadness and be so very happy for you as this appears to be what is truly calling you! I applaud your courage and your ability to define what you need and find a way how to get there! Go Emily!!!! I love your art journaling and will continue to follow and participate again as soon as all my stash of junk is resorted into my new crafty/studio space!!! Looking forward to the future it’s sure to be exciting!!!
I was totally nervous that when you said that the store will be closing, I thought no more bella stamps! I was just crushed. I am glad that you will still be around and more for us to read about with your blog! Must of been the result of your on-line success! Congrats.
Now I feel bad for my sad email :(. I can’t help but be sad the store is closing but I am really happy for you. It’s such a great feeling to do something you’re passionate about it AND make a career of it. Good for you Em! Good luck and I look forward to more releases!
Dear Emily and all the great people who work at Bellaland.
Thank you for so many years of scrap and card and mixed media happiness. I know that this is not really an ending but an exciting beginning for you. However, from my point of view, I feel sad about the ending part.
I wish you all the success that you deserve, which is huge.
Don’t ever change your positive attitude to life and work.
Sad news, however being so far away I only made it to the store once all my shopping was online! So I’m glad your still here for shopping
Does this mean more VLOG’s from the da bella too?? 🙂
you really wanna see this FACE???? Ok. more vlogs!
My happy place is closing? 🙁 ….. but my happy stamps continue! 🙂 I’m happy for you Emily – I’m sure this was a VERY difficult decision to make. I will not say goodbye, ’cause you can’t get rid of me that easy! Big hugs!
I am really going to miss the fun times we have had at Bellaland. You have always made us feel so welcome there. For me the end of the retail store is sad but I wish you the very best for the future of Stamping Bella, back to your roots and on to many future artistic endeavours.
susan and Janis, we had SO much fun together!! I am so glad you felt welcome as that was how I wanted it to feel.. like you were in my living room.. in my MESS! LOL. I am not far and I will definitely see you and you better keep commenting!
We will still discuss all of our junk shows.. we have to! Janis, you were always the rational “anchor”.. so soothing and calming :)… You mean a lot to me!! more than you know! mwah
oh and feel free to come next week and pack rubbah! LOL
mwah mwah mwah!
I’m so sad, I met you on a random day and was hooked in a second, through 2 pregnancies you have been by my side :(. I’m going to miss my place to think, the home away from home, however, I am super excited for you that things have taken off so well for you. I’m going to miss seeing your lovely girls. It really was a fantastic place.
Xoxo
I had another post too but I don’t know what happend to it. Lol
Diabella.. OMG remember when we were at Cherished and I YANKED you towards the make and take even though I didn’t know you? LOL. There was certainly a connection and always will be. Thank you for bringing me with you through all of your life’s adventures.. Telling me secretly that you were prego.. and then meeting TWO of them!
Thank you for your loyalty.. and for following me.. and for secretly buying our stamps .. :shhh don’t tell Costa”!
Shhhhh, he still doesn’t know how bad my addiction really is!
They are just so pretty to look at and maybe one day I will actually get to use them all. Lol. For now I’ll continue to be a collector 🙂
Cherished really did bring about a cherished Relationship with you and your ladies. I can’t wait to see where this new adventure takes you.
Congrats on making the hard decisions , in favour of your family!
and so very glad that the online bella land is here to stay!!
You’ve definitely got something good going on, and I am so happy to part of it, as the Bella gals are what made me passionate about card making in the first place!!
Emily when I started crafting 4 years ago, it was you who helped me the most. That’s why I will miss the retail store. Helen and Dena are the best. Everyone helped me ’cause I didn’t know what I was doing. I think I bought the majority of my copics from your store, and I learned to use them at the store. Because of Bella land when I come home, I can make cards, mised media, and smash. the majority of my stamps are Bella’s, and will continue to be so. I always wondered how you could do it all, the store, distribution, family and friends! I am happy for you, and you’ll still hear from me (I can be a pest)! Bellaland was the happiest place on earth for me! We all have to make decisions that will make us happy, and I am happy for you, and wish all the good things in life to come your way! I am so grateful to know you.
OMG.. to think that people are inspired by me, love me, and admire me. I can sleep well at night because I really succeeded in what I was meant to do!
Corey, I love you and am so happy you went on all my journeys with me 🙂
Remember when you called us and asked “do you sell bella stamps?” and dena responded “WE ARE bella stamps”..LOL. Will nevah forget!
Gosh, these news are really hard to digest, you know… Bellaland was my escape heaven… I always felt like I was in a magic place, full of exciting surprises and real fest for the eyes; I could (and did!) spend hours there just circling around, touching (and oh-oh, smelling) papers, inks, stamps… I will miss the store terribly, it simply hurts to think that no more will there be a place to feel like you’re in a paradise… But that’s my “selfish me” talking out loud 🙂 From a business perspective I see tons of great things coming out of this decision, and I think that you’re doing the right thing for your business and for your customers (who doesn’t want more stamps, more inspiration and more blogtime with Em?!). I just KNOW that this evolution will be just as successful as everything you’ve done so far, Emily. Big hugs, sistah, you rock! Hope you’ll rock us even more in this new adventure we’re going into with you 🙂 lol
OLGA.. Remember that day the wind dropped you in my store? I will NEVAH forget it.. I will always be around and I want you to follow me everywhere I go.. ok?
I love you lots!
hug the twinnies from me!
GULP! Big lump in throat. For my own selfish reasons.
I loved coming to Bella Land every time I made a trip to Toronto. I loved getting on the train knowing that I would spend some time at the store with Laura when she came all the way from Texas. Giggling with Paula and Linda when they could join us. Chatting with Helen and Dina. Pulling out my pink mojo wig to make you laugh. Ahhh the memories. (wiping a tear). The poem that I wrote for you (wayyyy back) truly says it all. Go read it again. Totally true. Bella Land is a magical place where great, forever friendships were formed. We owe you the world for that.
Now that I have swallowed the Gulp. I can stand up and cheer for you. You are an amazing woman, who has built an amazing company and who will continue to do amazing things. I will be a Sistah cheerleader forever.
If on my next visit to Toronto you see some crazy lady wearing a pink wig with her face pressed to the glass of your art studio window you had better let me in!
I love you dear Em. You mean the world to me. You have made me laugh when I was having dark days. You inspire me to get out of my comfort zone. I can’t wait to see what is around the corner for you. I am SOOOOO happy Stamping Bella is still only a mouse click away.
Forever, your “Pinky Dinky Doo”
Ok so now I OFFICIALLY am bawling my head off… why did you do this to me?? That frame you made me is following me everywhere I go. Don’t think that this is the end, sistah.. this is the beginning.. and why should we so formally meet in Bellaland when we can have a slumber party in da BELLA HOUSE! We started our friendship with you saying you would squish your face on our window.. and you ended it that way.. Now I am heaving and crying and I am SADDDDD… I am always there for you Pinky Dinky DOO.. Our friendship transcends Bellaland!
I will continue to inspire and to PUSH you.. I will continue to FORCE you to enjoy the journey and create new ones..
I really truly love you.
Em
I was finally able to read the comments…. Been hesitating because it would be so emotional. I get to the end and see Pinky’s comments and bawl like a baby. My husband thinks I’m crazy…. Not truly understanding the sistahhood! Lol. Thanks for all the happy memories at the store! We will make new ones in new ways!
So happy that you will be able to be with your family more. And that you will be creating and blogging more!
Oxoxoxoxo
Laura
Emily, I too am sad~~very. But I do understand your need to step back and try and get some time for yourself, your two delicious kids, and of course that naughty Ryan 🙂 You were always an oasis in the middle of a cloudy day and Bella Land will be truely missed by everyone who ever entered the doors. What shall I do?
I hope to see more Vlogging and creative output from that twisted and warped mind of yours, so I too can copy 🙂 I know whatever your mind decides to do in the future, will be gold, like everything you touch and I shall always follow you like the loyal Bella fan ? ?