The Bag of Hope Project

We have a wonderful new shop and neighbor in downtown Milford. This summer Anne Jenkins moved to Milford and opened her art gallery just down the block from the LadyBug Shop. Anne is originally from South Africa and previously had a gallery in Georgia. It was there that she started The Bag of Hope project in December 2008. A group of unskilled women in rural Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, formed a support group for those living with HIV and AIDS, especially the orphaned children. The learned to sew and embroider, tutored by Jenkins’ sister. They produce little fabric landscapes or pictures made from donated handmade and dyed fabric and thread. Each picture is different and charmingly simple. Some depict African life, some are whimsical. Anne then uses these scenes to decorate canvas tote bags. Jenkins has set up a website
http://www.thebagofhope.com/ for the project and sells the bags for $30 each at her gallery.

http://www.annejenkinsart.com/


The group has constructed a community center to provide education, support and material help for the needy. And they run a soup kitchen and feeding program for the little ones. A portion of the money from the selling the bags goes directly to the soup kitchen. The price per bag has been set to cover the cost of the bags and shipping, with the balance of $25 per bag sent back to the group.
The LadyBug Shop is also now carrying these bags. Anne worked with the ladies in South Africa to produce ladybug themed landscapes.

These lovely and inspirational bags can be used for a variety of things – shopping or carrying a laptop computer. And they make wonderful Christmas gifts – inexpensive, handy and a way of helping people.

Ladybug Chocolates for the Holidays

What is small, round, has spots, brings luck and joy – and is delicious? Why ladybugs of course. However, you need to be careful that they are ladybug chocolates and not live ladybugs. We have read that the live ones have a very nasty, bitter taste. (But we have never tested this to see if it is true.)

With the upcoming holiday season, ladybug chocolates are a gift that you may want to consider. Here are a few recipes on the Web to choose from:

Lovely Ladybugs http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/lovely-ladybugs-686050/

Ladybug Truffles http://candy.about.com/od/valentinesdaycandy/r/Lovebug-Truffles.htm
Ladybug M&Ms http://everything-ladybug.com/ladybug-mms.html

And if you don’t have time or want to make your own ladybug chocolates, you can order some from John & Kira’s in Philadelphia. They have beautifully packaged boxes of ladybugs chocolates just for the holiday season. Some of their beautiful ladybug chocolates are shown in the accompanying photo.

And if you want to combine your chocolate ladybugs with other types of ladybug gifts, the LadyBug Shop  has the world’s largest selection from which to choose some. Check out our “Top 20 Holiday Gifts”.

NEW Pink Twilight Ladybug Nightlight by Cloud B

The Twilight Ladybug Nighlight has been a Best Seller and great gift for several years, the Ladybug Shop is now carrying the NEW Pink Twilight Ladybug Nightlight by Cloud B. The adorable bright pink ladybug is a wonderful twist on an already perfect design.

If you are not already familar with the award winning Twilight Ladybug Nightlight, the Twilight Ladybug Nightlight makes bedtime fun and helps ease children’s fear of the dark by projecting a starry night sky onto their bedroom ceiling and walls. The stars and Ladybug shell illuminate in three magical colors, emerald green, ruby red, and sapphire blue, all with the touch of a button, to help children sleep easier. It even has a 45 minute automatic switch off. The Twilight Ladybug features a book to locate the constellations the ladybug projects. It requires 3AAA batteries which are included. The Twilight Ladybug is the perfect sleep companion for children of all ages!

New Items at the LadyBug Shop

Our collection of ladybug gifts, turtle gifts, holdiay gifts and more...is still growing!! Our absolute commitment to finding the most unique and fun gifts for you to give any time of year keeps us "spotting" more and more gifts!

Browse our newest items added to our collection by visiting

New Items or Turtle New Items



The Ladybug Sisters

Last week the LadyBug Shop had some very special guests. Mid-day last Wednesday four sisters arrived together, all wearing their special ladybug t-shirts that they had made themselves. Each t-shirt was a different color, with a large L and a ladybug on the front. And on the back they had written each of their nicknames. They were Joan Santa Maria (the “Good Sister” from Arizona), Cate Lanphier (the older “Bad Sister” from Florida), Ethel Manns (the younger “Bad Sister” from Pennsylvania and Delaware) and Peg Sodano (the “Baby Sister” from Pennsylvania). To compliment their attire they had painted their fingernails and toenails bright red with black dots.

And they brought with them their pets – a collection of small toy ladybugs that they had decked out in a variety of costumes they had made for them. The sisters gather once a year to spend time together and have a fun outing. A couple of years ago when they visited a casino they took along a toy ladybug to bring them luck. And that started a chain of events that led them to now consider themselves the ladybug sisters. They are a lively and fun group and we look forward to having them visit us again.

We love having visitors at the LadyBug Shop so please plan a trip and Come See Us.



Ladybugs and Arbor Day

In 1854 Sterling Morton moved to a western frontier region located in what is now the state of Nebraska. There were virtually no trees on the plains of his new home, so he started planting them and encouraged his neighbors to do likewise. The trees flourished and provided shade, fuel and building materials, as well as much needed windbreaks to prevent soil erosion. In 1872, at Morton's urging the Nebraska State Board of Agriculture initiated a holiday to plant trees on April 10. This was the first "Arbor Day" in the United States.

About one million trees were planted in Nebraska on that first Arbor Day. All states in the US now have an official Arbor Day. Most are observed in April, but a few states hold theirs in other months. National Arbor Day is celebrated on the last Friday in April.

Releasing ladybugs is a great way to celebrate Arbor Day. Ladybugs are a natural form of pest control as they eat aphids and other pests that damage plants. This video shows children at an elementary school in Arizona celebrating Arbor Day in this manner. If you come to Milford next Saturday, April 30, you can help us release ladybugs as part of our annual Bud & Bug Festival when we celebrate Delaware's official state bug and Arbor Day. Stop by the LadyBug Shop to pick up your package of FREE Live Ladybugs, while supplies last!

FREE SHIPPING

We are so thankful for all of the wonderful customers that shop at the LadyBug Shop and Turtle Treasures, over and over again for all of their gift needs. . .

We would like to give you FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $35! Use Promotional Code THANKS when you check out online.

Act quickly because this offer ends on Thursday April 14th!

Why are Ladybugs so Lucky?

Why are Ladybugs so Lucky?


The Luck of the Ladybug is known all across the world. But what is so lucky about a ladybug? Many cultures believe the sight of a ladybug means future luck in love, good weather, a financial windfall or the granting of wishes. Having a ladybug land on you is supposedly to be particularly lucky.


Folklore suggests if you catch a Ladybug in your home, count the number of spots and that's how many dollars you'll soon find.
More than likely ladybugs were thought to be of good luck because of their usefulness in gardening and farming."Twice the Luck"


The Lucky Ladybugs Rug is for indoor or outdoor use. The Ladybug Rug by Jellybean, "washes better than your jeans." Wash the Ladybug Rug over and over again to keep it looking new. The ladybug floor rug measures 22" by 34". 35% of the material is made from recycled post consumer PET plastic. Use this colorful rug in a child's playroom, in the kitchen, and at the back door. Bóín Dé is an Irish Gaelic translation of 'ladybug', and literally means 'God's little cow.' Visit the LadyBug Shop for more unique facts and fantasies about ladybugs!

Top Ten Ladybug Facts

Given how many blogs and magazine articles are titled "Top 10 ...." it appears that many people love to read lists. If you are one of these, I found a good one for you about ladybugs. On the About.com website is an article titled "10 Cool Facts About Ladybugs". And they are pretty cool facts. I found it especially interesting to learn that ladybugs bleed from their knees when threatened! On this web page you can find (at the bottom) some links to other interesting ladybug related websites. Read more fun Ladybug Facts and Fantasies at the LadyBug Shop website.

Once you have memorized all these cool facts about ladybug, wear a pair of our ladybug slippers to strike up a conversation and show how smart you are!

DIY Ladybug Gift Box

Do It Yourself Ladybug Gift Box by NuNu Toolies is an easy to do adorable craft. The Ladybug Gift Box is perfect for birthday party favors, baby shower favors, small Valentine's Day Gifts and much more! Click here for instructions.

No time to make your own ladybug gift box? LadyBug Shop carries the Ladybug & Hearts Candy Gift Box. We also carry a large line of Ladybug Party Supplies, Valentine's Day Gifts and more!

Take a look at our large collection of ladybug gifts at http://www.ladybug-shop.com/.

Welcome to the LadyBug Shop

Welcome to the LadyBug Shop! We hope you enjoy our large selection of ladybug gifts, ladybug home decor, ladybug baby gifts, ladybug garden decor, ladybug accessories, ladybug collectibles, ladybug toys, ladybug jewelry -- almost any type of ladybug merchandise you can imagine! Click here to read the story behind the LadyBug Shop.







Read more: http://www.ladybug-shop.com/#ixzz1BmtIfKRZ

Whimsical Ladybug Thermometer Now in Stock

The Whimsy Ladybug Thermometer can be mounted on the stake or mounted on a wall. The metal ladybug measures approximately 10" in diameter. Weather resistant this ladybug will add function and fun to any patio or garden! Minimal assembly required.

The Ladybug Thermometer is now in Stock and is a must have to add to your outdoor decor.

Ladybug Valentine's Day Gifts at the LadyBug Shop

The LadyBug Shop & Turtle Treasures offer a special selection of unique ladybug gifts & turtle gifts especially for your favorite lovebug ladybug for Valentine's Day!

Too many choices? Purchase a gift certificate!

One of my favorite gifts this season is the Dad/Grandpa Ladybug Mug with hearts. The adorable ladybug and hearts mug reads,

 

"You are very special, You are kind as can be, There's no one in the world, who loves you more than me! XOXO"

View all of our unique Valentine's Day Gifts

Personalized Rocking Chair on the "O" List

Our Personalized Items at the LadyBug Shop are handpainted by local artist Michele Keens, Owner of My Bambino. These superb gifts are keepsake treasures. The Little Childrens' Personalized Rocking Chair is sized just right for children ages 1-6. Canadian crafted of solid maple. Sure to be used and then treasured beyond childhood. The Personalized Rocking Chair comes fully assembled. Several different designs are available on the Classic White Rocking Chair.

This item was recently listed on Oprah's Must Have Gifts List, better known as the "O" List!

Free Shipping on this item for a limited time!

View all Personalized Gifts

Good Ladybug Luck to the Second Graders in North Dakota

The LadyBug Shop--and we expect all ladybug lovers--hope that the kids in Tamara McKeiley's second grade class are successful in their effort to get the state legislature of North Dakota to honor the ladybug by declaring it the state's official insect.
We think they have a great case, especially given their focus on the beneficial impact of ladybugs on the state's agriculture. If their effort is successful North Dakota will join the states of Delaware, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Tennesee is so honoring our favorite insect. See Wikipedia.org for a list of all the official stat insects.

The story of how the ladybug became Delaware's official state bug in 1973 is related in photos and records on the LadyBug Shop website.

Where do ladybugs go in the winter?

Ladybugs have relatively long life spans compared to many insects. The go through their remarkable transformation from egg to larvae to pupa to adult in about one month, but they can live for a couple of years as an adult. Thus they have to adapt to all the seasons of the year.

Have you ever wondered where ladybugs go in the winter?

Insects are cold-blooded. This means their bodies are roughly the same temperature as their surroundings. And when the temperature drops below freezing it can be deadly for insects unless they can find a way to adjust.

Ladybugs usually survive the cold by hibernating. When the temperature drops their body functions slow down and they go to sleep, not to wake again until it gets warmer. But they also seek shelter to reduce their exposure to the cold. They often hide under bark or leaves or find crevices in trees or rock. And they like to gather in clusters for additional protection. These ladybug clusters can consist of just a few ladybugs or thousands of them. How they find each other and what determines the size and location of a cluster are interesting questions. Scientists have studied this behavior and come to . some interesting conclusions. Click here to read their conclusions. 

Ladybug also can survive the cold winter by inviting themselves into homes. While a few ladybug guests can be a pleasant surprise, a few thousand at a time can be a little much. If you want to rid yourself of these uninvited guests you may want to try these non-toxic ladybug removal methods. A nice way to store a mixture of dishwashing liquid and water to help with the de-ladybugging process is in a Mollie Ladybug Spray Bottle,