Little Treasures

A new crochet flower necklace in the shop

2012-02-02T15:06:00.001+01:00

Recently, I was sent a photo of crocheted flowers and asked if I could make them.

Well, now, I love a good challenge, and I accepted only to find myself disappointed because the pattern was quite simple. While I was working on the order, I decided to chain some of them and make a necklace and voila!

I made these in different sizes and colors ranging from green to blue and I am working on other shades from the color palette. For those who are interested in this necklace, it can be bought here.

However, if you know how to crochet and do not like to part with your dear money, I have a special offer for you. Come tomorrow and you'll have the pattern for free. Otherwise it wouldn't be fun, would it?

Bye!

White puff stitch cape

2012-01-30T16:25:00.000+01:00

Hello and happy start of the week!

I finally took pictures of the cape, you know the one that was quite tedious because of the pattern, but when I finished it I just couldn't take my eyes off of it.

It is crocheted with a soft wool and acrylic blend. The puff stitch gives it an amazing texture and it looks as if taken out of a fairy tale. Seriously lovable!

Irish Lace Crochet Necklace

2012-01-26T20:10:00.000+01:00

This is a short presentation of a necklace I made for my Irish Lace Crochet Collection.

Crocheted in ecru, this necklace conveys a rich and vintage feel.

The rolled, dangling vines make it quite eye-catching and interesting.

It closes with a loop and a crochet covered bead.

Upcoming:

Shoppe presentation and a Rufly Scarf tutorial

2012-01-23T22:18:00.001+01:00

Hello everyone and Happy start of the week!
Lovely Vanessa of Home Sweet Butterfly invited me to make a presentation of my shop over on her blog, so it would be nice if you could drop by for a visit.

Ok. Now, with no further ado

{The Rufly Scarf Tutorial }

I got this idea from seeing a gift wrapped in yarn and I thought it would be nice if scarf was attempted to be made. All you need is a skein of chunky yarn (I used 100 gr. of skein) for an exquisite and rich look of the scarf and a sewing machine.

First decide how wide you want the scarf to be, gather a small portion of yarn, hold it tight and sew through the center of it. Next and this is a bit tedious and requires good finger coordination, gather the yarn and push it under the feet but do not sew until you get a nice bulky part. Be careful to keep the same size throughout. Then gather another portion, and so on....until the end.

I said it is a bit slow and boring but you'll be finished in less than half an hour and this also makes a sweet gift without any knitting. When you get to the end back stitch it. It is good to make the scarf stronger by stitching another row over the existing stitch.

I hope you like it. My daughter adores it!

P.S How do you like the "new Blogger"? Me ~~dislike~~ not crazy about it! I guess it takes a while to get used to it!

Ramblings of an Unadultered Crafter (*)

2012-01-17T18:54:00.013+01:00

My household is a one of a kind kingdom where crafty things burst out of every corner and then revolve around the house creating wondrous sights and sometimes make me feel like Alice in Wonderland. And..oh boy... ! Do I know how to make a mess! I am mastering the discipline - take my word for it!

In order to support my claims here's the evidence for it, so witness it yourselves.

Warning: the following images may be deeply disturbing so people with weak hearts are strongly advised to refrain from further viewing.

In my shop. I made a bracelet with this rose and today it received a sister for another project.

On one side of my table - this collar (shrug) I discovered had one last row before I made the lace edging so had to unravel it...(cursing inside myself).

On the other side of the table -three new flowers {figuring out the design..}

On my chair - newly bought yarn waiting to be rolled into a nice ball.

On my walls - a ruffly scarf for a (photo) tutorial I am preparing.

In the finished pile, the wrap (the tedious one mentioned a couple of posts ago) waiting for the return of the model so that pictures can be taken.

On the coffee table - Pine (cones) rosettes I collected recently, waiting to be spray painted

and this lovely book which is a craft of another kind. I carry it with me around the house because it successfully drags me out of my creative ruts and throws me into fits of laughter. This is my first encounter with Cecilia Ahern (followed the librarian's advice to take it) and I didn't go wrong. She's hilarious!

So let these be a kind of announcement of what is going to follow in the course of January. Stay tuned.

(*) the alternative title may also stands as "Revolving around my household".

Crochet flowers going to the Dark Side and a proposal for the Star Wars producers

2012-01-15T14:15:00.008+01:00

The thing is that I had an idea of making a necklace with these two flowers just because I think they make a lovely match. Then I thought of brooches. But together they might be just too much for one brooch - it would be too heavy. But since I am never lacking on ideas, I'll come up with something really soon. One of these may run for the marine beauty category. Can you guess which one?

Wasn't hard, was it? This little thing turned out to look more of an octopus than a flower (I know I had to work more on the arrangement of the different bits).
This happens to remind me of a comment I received on this brooch (below) by a flicker member who said (or rather asked):

"It's not cthulhu?"

Of course I didn't know what a cthulhu was so I had to google for explanation and images. Hilarious! The resemblance is incredible, and I wasn't even trying hard. That incited a fit of a good laugh :) My crochet flowers go to the Dark Side!

OK. It turns out that I am good at creating oddlings, so if any of you Star Wars producers happen to brush by this post, bear in mind that there is a crocheter who can make the wildest, strangest (imaginable) creatures without even knowing it! You may want to hire me for one of your sequels! You will disappointed not be!

The birth of a flower

2012-01-13T17:45:00.003+01:00

The title says it all. Here's the birth of my newest flower. One of top of another for an amazingly lovely and structured flower.
I've been caught in a crochet flower craze, making lots of flowers for necklaces and brooches, only to realize that there is not.a.single.pin in the house. Imagine my despair and frustration. To top that I also found there is no chain left and no jump rings. I hate when this happens.

Have a lovely weekend! I'll be having a grand time myself since I am attending a wedding tomorrow!

Keito Dama - winter knits

2012-01-10T12:27:00.004+01:00

Some winter knits I selected from the lovely craft magazine Keito Dama. While browsing it I realized that I haven't touched my knitting needles for more than a year now ! On the other hand I haven't put down the hook and sometimes I think it has roots in my fingers :)
I am in a hurry to finish a project I actually started 3 months ago and left it aside because the repeating pattern was so tedious it almost threw me into a fit (don't worry, I am ok).

Today while catching up on my favourite blogs, I fell in love with Tammy's dishcloth {which I strongly believe could aspire to become a pouch}. I must also mention Michele's crocheted curtain edging and Kate's dress with a sweet crochet hem and upper dress detail and Sachiko's amazing bag.

Are you working on something interesting?

Master quiller - Yulia Brodskaya

2012-01-08T19:38:00.005+01:00

When I started dwelling into and researching more of quilling, I discovered the works of Yulia Brodskaya - a young artist with magic and passion in her fingers who has taken quilling into a new and astonishing level. All her works show amazingly rich textures and depth and her use of color is spectacular. Enjoy!

Irish roses headband {for Valentine}

2012-01-04T16:01:00.004+01:00

Too early for Valentine?

I don't think so. You know that I got the greatest and definitely unbeatable gift for Valentine {my daughter} so for her birthday we plan to have these as 'thank you gifts' for the girls.
And since Irish roses definitely marked the start of this year for me, I decided to surrender myself completely to the urge, hence the creation of this headband which I made from an acrylic blend in thulian pink.

The headband can be found in the shop.
I have also been working on an Irish lace crochet collection of accessories which I plan to finish soon. The whole set is in ecru and I am quite excited about it.

That's all for today. Talk to you later.
P.S. I can listen to Zaz singing this all day long. Enjoy!

2011 in Retrospect

2012-01-02T10:21:00.022+01:00

Hello and welcome to the 2012!
I hope you all had fabulous time and that you will mark the start of the new year successfully in any field.
While I was preparing for this post, browsing through my archive, I couldn't help but wish for another year as good as the last one in terms of everything I achieved personally and professionally.
Considering my blog, in terms of craftiness and in retrospect, 2011 was an overwhelmingly fruitful year, sublimed into the following collages:

A snippet of my projects in 2011

Tutorials I made

1. Bra wire necklace; 2. No knit scarflette; 3. How to crochet onto a piece 4. How to attach a trim to a tee; 5. Crochet Delight Necklace; 6.Crochet trim;7. Crochet around a ring; 8. Fabric covered paper; 9. How to crochet beads

1. Cutwork: the basic techniques
2. Cutwork:multiple bars
3. Cutwork: finishing techniques

1. Fabric cuff/Bracelet
2. Fabric Rosette Necklace
3. Wrist Warmers
4. Crochet earrings and ring
5. Fringe Necklace
6. Crochet Lace Earrings

I also hope to continue creating as well as writing here and have you visit my virtual diary.

Good Wishes for a Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T10:43:00.004+01:00

May you have a wonderful time with your family and may this be a year filled with good health, tons of love and great success!
I'll see you next year :)

Paper filigree

2011-12-30T00:00:00.005+01:00

It does sounds much refined than just quilling, don't you agree?
These are some of the cards we made by an idea we saw on the Internet that gradually sprouted into craze over the teardrop shaped papers.
Kids loved this activity and quite enjoyed rolling the paper with their fingers. And the shaping was not so hard after a few failed attempts.
Quite by coincidence, as I was getting this post ready, I found these quilling basic techniques on pinterest and simply had to share. Now, I want to try them all :)P
Sorry about the bad quality of pics. My android hates working at night.

Crochet earrings

2011-12-27T21:44:00.004+01:00

Well, hello everyone.
I hope you had fabulous time for the holidays and that you still have the strength, the will and the desire to see this year through (it'll be over in just four days). I feel exhausted and sleep deprived and would love to be able to allow myself the luxury of two more hours of sleep in the morning.
Anyways, we've been pretty busy in our household, each and every one of us working on separate projects (me jumping in for help). The latest grown up craftiness I indulged yesterday was to make these crochet earrings. They accompany the royal headbands as a "thank you" gift. I plan to make ones in ecru just to see what they would be like .
I 'll be visiting you soon and see your Christmas related projects you share.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-24T14:46:00.004+01:00

May you have a lovely time with your loved ones!

Last minute gifts - {A fringe necklace}

2011-12-22T22:07:00.002+01:00

This is something I actually made for myself. The minute I saw this on the Internet I knew I would be making it sooner or later. For this project you need jersey, a metal chain and good scissors. Cut (long / short) strips of jersey and attach them on the chain. I should have worked more on the alignment, but hey - it's for me. I wouldn't mind :P
For this one I used a piece of jersey (teal / turquoise) I bought 2 years ago for a blouse but it was obviously destined for something else.Now I am wondering what to do with the rest. The black jersey strips are remnants from Jacob's Batman costume - I know, I know... I keep (s)crap(s), yes Sir!

Hoping that you are 'big' into the holiday heat I bid you farewell - for today!

Last minute gifts - {Wrist warmers}

2011-12-21T15:10:00.008+01:00

Hello and welcome to the LMG series.
For today I prepared a repurposed piece which could be a great gift for someone that appreciates refashioned / recycled handmade gifts (or you can just make them for yourselves).
This one is ridiculously easy and takes no more than 10 minutes (if you have everything ready).

So here goes:

(Woolen wrist warmers)

What you need:
* a woolen rectangle piece (I used the collar of a woolen sweater);
* silk ribbons, (crochet) flowers, decorative buttons... {run your imagination free}

"Decapitate" an old sweater. Ours being a woolen one has shrank and this was reason enough to cut the collar off.

Cut the piece into two halves, sew the sides of the newly acquired pieces and your woolly warmers are ready to go.

Next, decorate them according to your ideas, inspiration and supplies.

Notification - LT on FB

2011-12-18T10:44:00.010+01:00

Hello everyone,

After quite a long hesitation, I decided to open up a page on facebook.
I hope you join in and "like" me :)

The ring from the intro picture can be made if you follow this pattern

If you missed the posts from my Last Minute gift series, here they are:
{Last Minute Gifts- Flower Rosette Necklace}
{Last Minute Gifts-Crochet Earrings and ring}
{Last Minute Gifts-A fabric cuff/bracelet}

Last minute gifts - {A flower rosette necklace}

2011-12-15T19:20:00.008+01:00

This necklace was inspired by my love for vintage things and lovely roses so I combined both to make this sweet necklace.

What you need:

(and a metal chain)

Make the fabric rosette by sewing a strip of fabric, roll and twist it around to get it into shape. There are lots of fabric flower tutorials on the Internet so if you are new to this, it won't be a problem. For the rose I used gauze. I loosely sewed a tube out of it and then pulled one of the threads to gather it. I shaped it into a rose.

Then I gathered the piece of lace and sewed the flowers on top of it. I attached the chain to the lace piece and this lovely necklace was born.

Isn't it gorgeous? And it doesn't take more than 15 minutes to make it! Enjoy!

I just can bear the cuteness!

Last minute gifts - Crochet earrings and ring

2011-12-14T18:18:00.009+01:00

Hello!
Today I have prepared the instructions for crochet earrings and a rose ring. I believe many of you will like this because the final result is quite appealing.

For today's earrings and ring I used ecru crochet thread simply because I like the feeling crochet jewelry in ecru conveys and it makes jewelry immensely rich and breathtaking. It also adds a vintage feel and is so romantic. The perfect ingredients for a gift.

{Crochet earrings and ring}

Supplies you need:

* Crochet thread of your choice
* For this project I used a 1.9 mm hook
* Metal parts for the earrings and ring base

Skill: Beginner
Time: Less than an hour for all three (including attachment)

Pattern:
1) ch 34

2) ch 3, "3 tr in 2nd st from hook, ch1, 3tr in every second st"; continue from " to" until the final stitch. Then, 2 dc, 1 sc and sl st to end it.

* Leave a long tail because you are going to use it to tie the earrings with the metal part and to stitch the rose itself and to the base of the ring.

The technical drawing:

As you work the pattern the crocheted piece will start to curl up. When you come to the end, leave a long tail which you'll use to tie the piece and attach the metal parts. Weave the ends.

As for the rose, when you get to the end, roll the piece around to bring it into the shape of a rose (flower). With the long tail, stitch trough the rose to fasten it and then sew it onto the disk of the ring. And your gift is ready to go :)

I really hope you like this and that you will make it for someone special in your life.

If you don't want to bother, you can find them here and here.

There is an interesting project coming tomorrow. Do come back!

Last minute gifts - A cuff / Fabric bracelet

2011-12-13T16:44:00.017+01:00

Welcome to my short series of Last Minute Gifts!

Many times have I found myself thorn between duties and obligations and little time to make gifts for holidays and celebrations. So I have focused on making gifts that can be whipped up in very short time. These are ideas for gifts that can be given for a number of occasions and I will be focusing mostly on accessories and jewelry. I've included sewing, crocheting, embroidering and mixed craft projects. I plan to have two weeks of sharing ideas and tutes, so without further ado, this first one is a sewn Cuff or a Fabric bracelet.

Friends of my blog know that I am deeply captivated by cuffs regardless of the material they are made or the method for that matter.
This is a project I am sure you all now, but let us refresh it a bit.It does make a lovely gift especially if the person intended likes cuffs / fabric bracelets.

{Fabric cuff / bracelet}

Supplies
* two rectangle pieces of fabric
* decorative buttons (bows, flowers, charms, beads, sequins, etc.)
* lace (or lace or fabric scraps)
* elastic band

Step 1: Measure the length of your wrist adding the allowance and the width you'd like the cuff to be and cut two pieces of (mis) matching fabric. I chose a soft flowery cotton and combined it with taffeta. I chose the taffeta to be the face of the cuff.

Step2: Add whatever you like. As you see I used a small piece of the inner fabric over which I top stitched two lace ribbons.For the closure I didn't have an elastic band in a matching color, so I cut out a thin strip of tafetta and stitched for closure.

Step 3: Decorate. I used two vintage buttons from my collection. You may use whatever you like, like flowers, sequins, beads...

Step 4: Turn the fabric pieces with the facing inside, pin and sew leaving one end through which you are going to pull it outwards. Stitch the unfinished side.

Step 5: Add the closure button and you are done!

I hope you enjoyed! Do come tomorrow for another simple and easy project!
P.S. Thank you Nat and Ira for the fabric and the lace ribbon :)

Japanese crochet: Flower brooches

2011-12-12T18:25:00.003+01:00

Doesn't looking at them make you feel joyful and happy? The heavy, layered structure of the flower brooches gives richness to anything they are pinned to. The colors are soft and tender, yet the flowers appear powerful. These are my latest brooches inspired by Japanese crochet flowers. Can't describe how much I enjoyed making them.

Another thing. Starting from tomorrow I am having a short series of posts with handmade gift tutorials named "Last Minute Gifts" that will go on until Christmas. So if you are interested come back tomorrow for a sweet and easy gift making idea.

Crochet treasuring bag

2011-12-10T08:21:00.006+01:00

I have been hiding this jewel for long. I have kept it selfishly just for my eyes only. It hangs in my studio and treasures the little crochet flowers, leaves and buttons I make.
It came into my house as a surprise present for my birthday - and a very emotional one it was. The minute I opened the package and upon seeing what was inside I exclaimed: "My grandma's clothespin bag!"
But,no. It wasn't from my grandma, because she is long gone. It was from my dear blog friend KJ.

One day she had a post about installing a clothesline and sewing a clothespin bag for it.
When I saw it I immediately thought of my late grandma because she used to have such bags in wonderful flowery fabrics. I made a comment about it and KJ remembered it. And she sent it to me to treasure it forever. I was touched by her thoughtfulness!
Whenever I look at it, warm childhood memories come rushing down...summer afternoons in the back yard and I, the proud carrier of the clothespin bag, helping my grandma hang the washed sheets and clothes...

This is the bag that started it all. Isn't this the most adorable bag you've seen?
KJ you are an angel! Thank you to heavens and beyond for bringing to live old memories! I will never forget this gesture and I am eternally obliged!
And as you can see I couldn't bring myself to use it as a clothespin bag. I feared it might get ruined soon by them so I found it a far more exciting and tender use. To caress my crochets.

Queen of my castle

2011-12-06T16:42:00.007+01:00

Since the moment Ira told me she has sent me a parcel, I was burning with anticipation to find out what it was. Because, let me tell you, Ira has a magic powder in her hands and she makes wondrous things. She manages to pour large portions of love and attention into her creations and every single detail is well thought over - I've found myself gaping into them and discovering more with every single look.
When the parcel arrived, the kids almost got into a fight who is going to open it. The most precious moment was the one of surprise whispers and wowing at the beauty in front of us.

Laying inside was this meticulously made paper shoe. The detail that took a hold of my heart was the little lace crown above the cameo. Ingenious! I couldn't stop marvel at it. It looks as if a damsel has just slipped it off. I am having it hung on the wall above my work space so that I can enjoy in it fully.
The shoe hid amazing ribbons inside (another surprise) and there was the lace. In its whole glory! I gasped at the beauty of it! {And immediately imagined it as the collar of a black velvet dress}

If you want to see Ira's work for yourself, visiting her amazing blog is highly recommended. Prepare to be smitten away ;)
Ira, you have made me incredibly happy and I am sincerely grateful to know you. Your friendship and support mean a ton to me! Thank you so much!

Warm orange wrap

2011-12-01T12:46:00.004+01:00

Well, December came in a blink. The next thing I know would probably be Christmas. In a blink again. Does time fly for you too?

I am happy to report that in spite of bazillion things I try to squeeze in my schedule and actually make, I am more than half way through with my gifts which on their part bring a peace of mind.

A couple of these wraps in warm earth tones are being gifted and this one is for the shop.
The pattern is so easy one can do it with eyes closed and its gets finished in an evening. This also adds up points on the perfect handmade gift list.
I have also been working on the PDF pattern for these cuffs which also is a great gift if the person intended loves such, of course. Hope to finish it soon (the technical drawing is killing me).

"Tis the season to be jolly...

2011-11-28T19:31:00.004+01:00

Fa la la la la la....
Couldn't resist it! Enjoy!

Creating sweet gifts - A crochet necklace

2011-11-27T12:15:00.004+01:00

Having been caught up in the works and doing last minute gifts for a number of occasions, especially Christmas, I am of the opinion that it is never to early to start making gifts for Christmas. I was hooked when I created this necklace.
All you need is a crochet flower, some beads and a silk ribbon. You thread the ribbon through the beads and the flower and your gift is ready in an hour or two depending on your crochet skills.

There are lots of great crochet flower tutorials around the web, try finding something here, and I also have a tute on how to crochet beads yourself. For the shown necklace I used elliptical wooden beads but the process is the same as shown in the tutorial.

You can add other beads, bows, or maybe do this with fabric flowers, buttons and such. You just let your creativity flow.

Autumnal accessory

2011-11-26T15:01:00.004+01:00

Hello everyone,
A whole week has passed since my last post and it seems like it was yesterday. Today is the day when everything I left unfinished is going to meet its end.
So the little crocheted flowers turned into a scarf and today was its lucky day because I actually took photos with my little helper. It wasn't an easy job to be honest, because the yarn stubbornly reflected light and I put a lot of effort to capture its colors.
Well, I am off now and you be well and have a great Saturday!

Gift keepers - clutches

2011-11-21T13:39:00.005+01:00

Another gift "wrapping / holding" idea. Sewn clutches. The project is ridiculously easy and quick and yet it is a sweet touch in sense of "wrapping". I send out my crochet necklaces in clutches usually made from remnants. If you remember I had a dress made out of this particular silk fabric this summer. The design of the clutch certainly complements the color choice of the necklaces.
In line with the above, if the recipient likes it, she can use it for other purposes instead of using it as a "keeping /storing case".

The colors of autumn

2011-11-19T10:19:00.008+01:00

Although snow has appeared in certain parts of the world, autumn still officially reigns, that is until the winter solstice.
We have been enjoying some fair weather and watching nature change its attire. Inspired, I bought colorful yarn that captured all the colors of autumn.
These flowers aspire to become a warm accessory. Stay tuned.

Gift wrapping - fabric covered paper

2011-11-17T20:00:00.008+01:00

This little tute came to mind after my last post regarding gift wrapping. Last spring I played with paper and fabric (helping Jacob with a craft project) and got the idea of sewing a fabric piece over a sheet of paper to make wrapping for my crochet flowers. I tried it and it looked great, and I didn't miss to take pictures.
Here's what is needed:

You need a fabric piece (scrap), a piece of paper and a sewing machine.
For the wrapping I used an A4 copy paper and a lovely and quite thin cotton piece. I sewed the fabric onto the paper ( seam allowance included).

Inside I placed the crocheted flowers...

and wrapped them nicely. I fastened the wrapping with a silk ribbon in the end.

If you have any ideas about fabric covered paper, please share them with me!

My Collection of Vintage Scarves

2011-11-14T18:59:00.010+01:00

Once in a while I mention my vintage scarves but never show many of them. I have collected them fervently over the years and was quite brave to extend their use, hence these were created: a shirt, a balloon dress, a scarf, and some feathered friends.

As you can see they are intended for children and the patterns are quite varied, colorful and attractive. I don't have a favourite because how could I pick just one from all these beauties?

The reason for this post is actually this pin that set me thinking what would a top look like if I combine several of them.

Gift wrapping with yarn

2011-11-11T13:35:00.000+01:00

On pinterest, I have a board named gift wrapping. It contains the most amazing ideas circulating the web and I love getting inspiration for my own gifts.

In line with the above, I never throw away scraps of yarn because I know one day they will come in handy. And they do.
I created these:

The possibilities are endless. If you are interested my board is here.
Have a nice weekend!

In the loops

2011-11-09T20:02:00.000+01:00

Hello dear friends and family,
These babes are the reason for my absence this week. They had taken every free minute I had in the past weeks, and finally they are packed in a sturdy box and sent overseas. I like the palette the client chose especially the combination of the celery and sea green with baby pink and beige.

Come tomorrow I will check up on my blog roll to see what you have been up to.

Toodles!

In the woods - Our family trek

2011-11-04T12:06:00.000+01:00

Our family trek last weekend was wonderful. The weather was just right and we happily set off.
We managed to make it quite exceptional and memorable for the children. We studied nature, revised lessons learned in Science (with Eva) and collected material for future Science projects.
We told "wood related"stories (Hansel and Grethel, Little Red Riding Hood) and my favourite part. Making up stories about elves. Whenever I see a big, old tree I immediately start describing the family of elves living deep down in the roots and elaborating the looks of their dwelling place. (Jacob loves that the most).
I took a ton of pictures mostly involving nature. Sharing just bits. I hope you enjoy them!

(This one reminded us of the Aiwa tree portrayed in the film "Avatar")

Winter knits

2011-11-03T12:09:00.000+01:00

I knit this sweater 20 years ago. I can't believe myself how ancient that sounds and I still remember knitting it - just as if I did that yesterday. This sweater still resides in my wardrobe. I wear it but not that often, yet I don't have the heart to give it away. I made it with a huge help from a friend of my grandmother's who was masterful in deciphering knitting patterns. This one came from the Italian magazine "Rakam". At first I was intimidated by the intricate pattern which turned out to be quite easy once you got the hang of it.

These two were also considered, but they dropped off because both showed off too much cleavage for my taste. (Disclaimer: Although I may sound as a puritan to you - I am not :)

Welcome to the witching corner!

2011-10-31T12:36:00.000+01:00

Don't be afraid! Today is All Hallows Eve and we're going to have so much fun! There will be ghosts hovering over your heads and zombies lurking in dim-lit corners. Witches on broomsticks, with cats and bats, ride 'round after dark in their pointed hats. How spooky are the noises on Hallowe'en night, and then through the window we see a strange light. Bright staring eyes and a glowing nose, I sit close to Daddy and curl up my toes. It's old Jack-o'lantern, he peeks in the room, a worse looking spook than a witch on a broom.

My children love Halloween. This year we made some new decorations. Some paper witches, pumpkins and ghosts. They loved the witches the most, and they were quite easy to make.

Happy Halloween!!!

Lace crochet - Pink and cordovan lariat

2011-10-28T14:52:00.000+02:00

This is the new lariat that has been ready for almost a month but I kept adding vines to it thus prolonging its completion and finally I like how it turned out. Especially the vines. It seems that I cannot get enough of them!
This one is made in soft pink and cordovan and shows my love for the lace crochet represented in the central part. The laced shells gradually turn into vines.
Next time I want to try making one in wool. Chunky wool so that I can use my biggest hook. Do you know how fast can projects with chunky wool be? Tremendously fast!
There is a nice weekend ahead of us. We have planned a healthy trek. Will show pictures. Promise!

I wish you a nice weekend too!

(waving)

Sewing girls' clothes

2011-10-27T17:18:00.000+02:00

by Jottum

I attempted to squeeze a little sewing into my weekly agenda. Both for me and for Eva. And I was mending a lot of Jacob's clothes, but that is a story for itself.

For inspiration I browsed through my inspiration boards and I'd love to share these with you.

How cute are these? I wouldn't mind having a jacket just like the one above!

all images via Pinterest
Ruffled hem coat for romantic girls.

Having a baby niece to spoil I have several ideas of sewing something special for her. Soon.

Fiber art in white

2011-10-24T19:16:00.000+02:00

Hello everyone!
I am here with my latest project. Inspired by this one I created another; this one's tube is bigger and I have used different flowers, vines, leaves and buds. And yes, I decided to leave it all white.

Until tomorrow :)

Blue and beige crochet lariat

2011-10-21T14:20:00.000+02:00

Hi there!
Lately, I've been crocheting a lot of lariats - and I am sorry that I had a few I made and didn't photograph because there wasn't really any time for that. I love photographing my work, it's a kind of a portfolio of things I make.
This one was made a while ago for my shop and presented by Eva.
I used one of my all time favourite color combinations: blue and beige.
The highlight of it are the vines twirling at the ends ever so beautifully.

If you are interested in finding out more about it you can do so here.
I am going away for the weekend and due to a holiday on Monday we will all have a nice prolonged weekend and some quality family time.
I wish you a nice day!

Living the crochet life

2011-10-18T14:18:00.000+02:00

Lovely Kathreen of Whip Up let me talk my heart out about my crochet lifestyle for which I am ever so grateful!

Currently, I am having an exciting, inspiring and rewarding crochet lifestyle and I love every single minute of it! So when lovely Kathreen invited me to guest a post I knew right away it is going to be crochet as the main topic.

I grew up in a family where traditions were deeply rooted and respected and handwork was highly appreciated and praised. Both my grandmothers were proficient in what I like to call handmade art – one was a professional seamstress, the other masterful crocheter and knitter. I readily accepted the love they shared for sewing and crocheting and started paving the way of my handmade life.

Having been surrounded by wonderful crochet creations that leapt into life through the magical hands of my grandmother I became deeply entranced by the world that could be created with the simple ‘twist and turn’ dance of the yarn with the hook. And I was truly hooked. To be honest I find it quite rewarding. Thus for example, when I get tired of (the plainness) my clothes I settle this by adding a crochet detail and a trim and voila! My garments shine with a new sparkle.

Then I plunge into creating amazing, eye-catching accessories. The palette can be immensely varied: headbands and lariats, scarves and chokers, necklaces and rings; or if I happen to come across old bangles I give them a face-lift immediately. These make my style unique, distinctive and sometimes whimsical.

For me crocheting is not simply a hobby or a recreational activity. It is the tool for preserving tradition, making my own clothes and accessories, embellishing my home. It also contributes to my pledge to live an environmentally conscious life. The yarn I use is mostly organic and when something loses its attractiveness or I just get bored with it I can unstitch it and re-use the yarn to make another lovely thing. In a word – it makes my world richer and more meaningful.

Here are some tickles for you:

If you want to make a necklace yourself with some crocheted beads – I have a tute for that here

How about a sweet home project? Here is a free pattern for a blanket you would certainly love to make!

Or a rug maybe? You can surprise your kids with wonderful crochet toys. You can make a pony, a dragon or an octopus.

For more inspiration boards, visit Whip Up.

God's Pharmacy

2011-10-15T09:26:00.000+02:00

Sometimes, in regards to my blog, I want to roam outside of the craft circle and share something I find quite inspirational, entertaining or awakening.
This is such a post. It is about our interconnection with nature and that God has provided everything we need to be healthy and cure body ailments - and all that is at the reach of our hands. For me it arrived in the form of a mail and finally I decided to archive it here. Later, while searching the Net I discovered that there is a book by the same name by Herman Uys and the book endeavours to address and remedy the causes of sickness and disease, instead of suppressing the symptoms.

I am using just a short extract to catch your attention.
The truth behind the words:

A sliced carrot looks like the human eye. The pupil, iris and radiating lines look just like the human eye. They greatly enhance blood flow to and function of the eyes, and help protect the vision, especially night vision.

As you may suspect from their looks walnuts resemble the brain with the wrinkles and folds of the neo-cortex - there are clearly divided left and right hemisphere, upper cerebrums and lower cerebellums. Research suggests that walnuts may reduce the risk or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.The high concentration of omega-3 fats in walnuts promotes healthy brain function.

The tomato with its color and chambers resembles the heart and researches have shown that they are rich in lycopine and are pure heart and blood food. Besides preventing heart diseases, they also prevent prostate cancer, breast cancer and more. Tomato juice can also reduce the tendency toward blood clotting.

Onions look like body cells. They help clear the waste material from body cells and along with their relative the garlic are considered cancer fighters.

Avocados were used by the Aztecs as a sex stimulant and the Aztec name for avocado was ahuacatl, meaning “testicle”. An extract of avocado impedes the growth of both androgen dependent and independent prostate cancer cells.

On the same note figs increase the mobility of male sperm and increase their count to overcome male sterility.
Oranges and other citrus resemble female mammary glands. These fruits contain nutrients that are helpful in the fight against breast cancer.
Olives resemble ovaries and may help reduce hot flashes in women going through menopause. Research indicates that Olive Oil may reduce ovarian cancer by 30%.

This is not all. What about grapes, celery, rhubarb, sweet potatoes, kidney beans and more? They all have their contribution. You just have to find it out.
For more raising awareness here is a link

Do you feel tres chic today?

2011-10-13T14:56:00.000+02:00

I don't to be honest. I feel like ran over by a train.
I had an interesting and quite awakening post planned for today but I just can't do it.
Here's a treasury I made though for all you who feel chic today!

Enjoy!

My Needles Have a Glamorous Home

2011-10-10T18:46:00.000+02:00

My embroidery needles have fabulous homes.

They are cozy and warm in their castles waiting for the duty call.

These two belonged to my husband's grandmother. She bought them on one of her travels and they are actually containers of small bottled perfumes. Thin and tiny perfume tubes are inserted inside and sold as souvenirs. Aren't they gorgeous? They still smell wonderfully.

I acquired them recently and still haven't tried to refresh them a bit with a little paint and polish, but I will soon. They look a bit rugged and beaten but that is understandable since they are more than 50 years old.
I love having them especially the tubular one because it is wonderful to carry around while on the road.

We had black and heavy clouds clinging from the sky today and I couldn't make a proper photo to better capture their beauty. I guess some other time.
Have a Happy Monday wherever you are!

Lace crochet cuffs

2011-10-05T14:54:00.000+02:00

There isn't any accessory that I adore as much as cuffs. Whatever the material and the method they are made of - they make a lovely accessory and a great detail.
Peeking under shirt sleeves or worn as bracelets they always make me feel feminine and in a romantic mood.

I crocheted these in a lovely shade of baby pink cotton and used a pattern I made up myself.
If you are interested in making some yourselves here are ones you can knit, or if you don't knit or crochet, well you can always make ones out of old socks ;)
Have a nice day!

MyMemories - Giveaway Winners

2011-10-03T13:59:00.000+02:00

Hello and happy start of the week!
For Jolee who said:

it is also lucky because she won the giveaway!

Congratulations Jolee! I'll be in touch with you soon to give you the prize!!

Estonian lace

2011-09-30T12:38:00.000+02:00

"Estonian lace" is the book I quite often leaf though these days.It is one precious jewel of a book with staggering patterns.

I tried a zig-zag pattern for wrist warmers and quite like the effect on them although I didn't use it sideways as the pattern suggested. Sometimes I wonder if there is anything I can follow through as it is and not drop something of my own - but I guess I am cut out like that. Anyhow. Here is a sneak peek of the warmers. I am making some for the shop too.

I really like the color combination although, upon seeing it, Eva "knowingly" told me that it is the most awful combination I could ever make. I suggested she borrow my eyes and has another go at them. And in continuation I had to explain about tastes and people being different, liking, wanting, wishing, feeling, perceiving things differently. Sometimes we forget that part. Tastes are not to be discussed. I hope she learns this soon.

Have a nice weekend wherever you are!

White?

2011-09-29T16:52:00.000+02:00

I am not crazy in love with white fabric or yarn except if we are talking lace. So I was a bit reserved when I made this necklace, although I think the almost final result is satisfactory. You see... I couldn't just leave it all white. There are little splashes of pink and I think I might add other colors. Being in its gestation period it might transform a little more until it is born :)

MyMemories - Digital Scrapbooking Giveaway

2011-09-26T00:58:00.000+02:00

I can only hope that you are as excited as I am!

Welcome to MyMemories Software Giveaway!

MyMemories Suite is a company that has created a fabulous software for digital scrapbooking so that you can create your own memories with the click of the mouse. And, yes it is that simple.

By using this software literally anyone can create digital scrapbooks, photo books, calendars cards and gifts from scratch. It offers a wide range of powerful design tools, a user-friendly interface, and sharing options. The best thing is that you can create one page or you can design an entire scrapbook album, with the ability to create, add, and arrange all of your pages in ONE workspace. The size and creativity of a My Memories Suite album is limited only by the imagination of the user and space on their computer.

{ This is the intro picture I made for my photo book.}

What I also love is that you can share your albums / creations in numerous ways.

You can choose between home or professional printing. You can make whole albums with wonderful photos to present to family and friends, or you can take advantage of a full suite of sharing options and turn your scrapbook into a movie to watch on a DVD-or view on an iPod.

Journal those special moments in your life ...

... to enjoy forever!

The winner of the giveaway will receive a copy of the digital scrapbook software!

What do you have to do?
Well, in order to enter the giveaway visit MyMemories and choose your favourite digital paper pack or layout and write that in your comment here.

If you like to take full advantage of the internet then visit their blog, facebook page or twitter for extra entries to the contest.

Another thing: with this special promotional code: STMMMS33674 you get $10 off the software and $10 in free merchandise.

Contest ends on Sunday, 2 Oct and the winner will be announced on Monday (3 Oct.)!
Join in the fun!

Crochet coral reef

2011-09-22T11:50:00.000+02:00

Hello and welcome to see my crochet reef. It is slowly growing right there on the table. Its dimensions are not intimidating yet. I do not promise it'll stay like this, because right now crochet flowers are coming out of my ears.

Another thing. The best way to discover and learn new things is by mistake. You miss a stitch or just add an extra loop or stitch and there you go. Another new flower. The word 'errata' does not exist in my vocabulary. Instead it is replaced by the phrase "the never threaded road to something amazing". And when I see how beautiful it is I cannot stop with just one or two. I have to have them in every color I have in my stash. But you already know that :)

The last days of summer

2011-09-19T15:27:00.000+02:00

Like it or not summer is packing up, waving goodbye!
I am still not ready to let it go. So we spent the weekend at the beach, enjoying the last days of summer.

We made ice cream stick family.

Played some "Bonjour Madame". It was hilarious!

Explored the underwater world.

Ate some fab vegetable salad.

Did you have a fun weekend?

Going tribal

2011-09-15T11:48:00.000+02:00

Look at the lovelies.
While I was making the crochet tubes I constantly had in mind the gorgeous tribal necklaces worn by African women - I am crazy about those to be honest.
These are plain but I am having others adorned and they will be presented soon.

Do you like them?
While I am writing this Adele is singing her phenomenal "Someone like you" on the radio; it is so touching and emotional and a quote I have pinned comes to mind which says:

"People cry, not because they are weak.
It's because they've been strong for too long."

Be strong and enjoy your day!!

Anemone brooch

2011-09-13T11:59:00.001+02:00

Well, you didn't think I could stop myself with just one anemone, did you?

This is a brooch I made in two colors - flaming pink and red. The pink core transcends into layers of red tentacles. There are several layers which give the brooch a great texture, compact structure and attractive appearance. The back is lined with a woolen patch onto which a pin is fastened.

Brooches can be so versatile and personally I love them a lot and have many of them - some made some, bought and some inherited. They are the perfect accessory if you want to enliven your clothes or make your bags or belts hip!
Updated disclaimer: I solemnly swear that I have not been digging the garden prior to taking the pictures although the intro picture seems to convey a different notion. Sorry! It is up to blogger to make my pics look dirty ;)

The Anemone necklace tutorial

2011-09-12T13:04:00.000+02:00

This for the people that enjoy crochet!
Here is the tutorial for the necklace I showed last week:

"Anemone Necklace Tutorial"

What you need:

Skill level: elementary

Time: less than an hour

Yarn and hook: any yarn scraps, a crochet hook (optional)*

Hardware: jump rings, a metal chain

Used terms: chain (ch), single crochet (sc)

Tip*: when choosing the crochet thread/yarn for your project, check the label because it contains information about the kind of thread and suggested hook size. For this project I used thin 100% mercerized and gassed cotton and the label suggested a 1.5 – 2 mm hook size. I used a 1.9 mm hook. Also, for this project I would suggest you use thin yarn and a small hook so the tentacles would acquire a tight, neat and compact appearance.

Step 1:

You start by chaining a total of 16 stitches.

When you make them, single crochet for about 13 stitches. The remaining 3 would be used for attaching this part to the necklace. Next, *Chain 16 and single crochet 15 of them leaving one stitch as a border between the tentacles*. Repeat from* to * until you get the desired number of tentacles (I made 8). This is the lowest and the widest part.

When you come to the end, chain 3 (for the attachment), cut yarn and weave ends.

Step 2: Now you have to make the other two rows.

Look closely at the picture. I have made the consecutive rows smaller. For example the lowest (the one I made first) has 8 tentacles, the middle has 7 and the one coming first has 5 tentacles. I would suggest you cut the number of tentacles as you move higher, so that the cascading rows appear attractive. Also you can use the pattern of making the tentacles as in the first one (16 st) or you may decrease the number in the next rows. I decreased them to 12 and 10 respectively. Remember to leave 3-4 stitches on both sides for attachment.

Step 3:

Here’s what you need next:

Attach the small jump rings to each side of every row.

Then put all three onto the bigger jump ring.

Attach the bigger jump ring to the metal chain and there you go!

Your necklace is ready to see the light of day!

Woodcarving

2011-09-09T18:42:00.000+02:00

At the beginning of the summer I briefly visited a woodcarving school. I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed it! The inner beauty of the wood emerging by the hit of the chisel is breathtaking.
I've never tried woodcarving (I've carved only a few rubber stamps) but from what I've seen it requires excellent skills. I guess everything comes with practice.

The great thing was that almost all the students were teenagers with the exception of two ladies. I love seeing young people taking interest in crafts, especially in this delicate kind.

Here are some pictures I took there:

These will be gorgeous when finished!

Some I found on the web:

Isn't this hilarious?

These are made by the Russian sculptor Yuri Firsanov. Click here for more of his masterpieces. You won't be disappointed!

Here are some more. Enjoy and have a splendid weekend!

Crochet tube necklaces

2011-09-07T17:44:00.000+02:00

My latest project.
Crochet tube necklaces.

Arranged with luscious marigolds.
I am almost finished with the palette.

The Anemone necklace

2011-09-06T11:52:00.000+02:00

Tascha from TLK Designs is having a crochet week going on, so all you interested in crochet, there are great tutes, free patterns and amazing giveaways so do drop by and check it out.
I am sharing a tute for the above necklace!

What a start!

2011-09-05T11:50:00.001+02:00

Well, being a close friend with Murphy I started September on the wrong foot. Or the sick foot to be precise, for I happened to get the stomach bug. Fast forward one week, here I am - not as good as I would like to be - but moving and breathing all right!

Little Jacob started school (boy- they grow so fast) and we were extremely excited, especially the little pupil!

You know I don't like posts with no pics, so for this one I am sharing a treasury I have prepared with wonderful items for fall. It's called Fancy in fall and for better and clearer view check it out here.

Hope you are having a great start and enjoy the summer, for it's coming to its end soon!

Romantic blouse

2011-08-29T14:42:00.000+02:00

Well, let me tell you that I was really crafty last week and now I feel content. However I didn't document everything so I guess I'll go one step at a time.

For today's post I am sharing one of the blouse I made. I bought several meters of this fantastic silk resembling fabric because I simply couldn't resist the lovely celery green color. I also bought it in light pink (don't judge, please!).

I made the pattern myself after having seen this somewhere around the web.
For the upper part of the bodice I used a shirting fabric with lovely and tiny pink and purple stripes and I must say I love how it turned out. I added ruffles at the joining place and added a flower for greater effect.

I also added ruffles at the hem. It is girly and goes nicely with both jeans and skirts.
I am having another one made for Eva but hers would be a lot different than this one. We are not that freaky to wear identical clothes :)
Have a nice day!

Take a spin with a pin

2011-08-25T15:33:00.000+02:00

I know many of you have heard of Pinterest. I love it since the first day I discovered it. For me it is the best way to bookmark things I want to try/learn/enjoy/share.
I considered it to be a cavernous treasure chest hiding all kinds of jewels. And it is highly contagious so beware when you enter it. You may be lost for hours :)
Here are some of my boards there.

Do come and visit and I hope you join in the fun!

Ena

2011-08-23T16:28:00.000+02:00

Look who came to visit today!! My Cupcake!

She's adorable! I couldn't take my eyes off of her...
And the smell... oh how much I love the smell of little babies...
Did you look at those cheeks? Well those cheeks are made for kissing and that is what they got ;D

Steampunk softies - a book review

2011-08-22T11:33:00.000+02:00

Recently I won one of Kathreen's fabulous giveaways and this is it!! I cannot tell you how excited I was when I got it! It's called "Steampunk softies" and it's available through Andrews McMeel Publishing.

Nicola Tedman, a professional model maker, and Sarah Skeate, an illustrator, joined forces to make this highly exceptional book full of charming characters with unique personalities whom you'll fall in love with at first site. As the editor says in the introduction "these softies are the very embodiment of steampunk values. Eccentric, individual and very appealing, the softies may be plushy in the middle, but their exteriors are all business".

{Minerva Dupine -a detective}

The book presents a total of eight lovely characters. Each comes with a short, witty and heart capturing introduction with a hint of his/her backstory. It also offers an extensive list of everyday crafting materials you will need (most of which found in your craft boxes), interesting aging techniques, and tips on cutting and gluing.

The make of every doll is elaborately explained in fully illustrated step-by-step instructions, supported by excellent tips and suggestions. And of course - a detailed list of every single thing you need for it!

{Floyd Fastknight -an explorer}

{Marveletta O'Houlihan -an Opera Lady}

One thing is for sure. This will make my crafting so much more pleasurable, and I cannot wait to make them.

I would like to thank Kathreen from Whip Up and Shelly Barkes- McMeel's publicist, for making my craft world richer! Dear Ladies, I am much obliged!

Field flowers on your fingers...

2011-08-18T12:40:00.000+02:00

...or bring the crochet to another dimension.

These are the rings I promised to share. Crocheted rings for girls. At first I was going to write that they are for little girls, but I changed my mind. Little and teenage girls. And maybe their moms. And moms' moms perhaps?? :)-

In absence of the little/ big Miss Eva I had to wear these for the shoot and didn't feel silly at all - but maybe I should abstain from wearing them out in the real world -eh?

While playing with flowers one day (trying to make another lariat) I put some on my hand and liked the idea, so I crocheted a ring base on top of which I sewed the flower; I added shiny beads and sequins and voila! Eva's most favourite piece(s) so far. Not to mention the hearts they stole from the neighborhood kids.

So off I go to fling myself at the project that stole my night hours this week.

Lace rings

2011-08-16T14:25:00.000+02:00

It doesn't take much to achieve the looks you want for yourself. In fact, it is at the reach of the hook.

These are the lace crocheted rings I made lately. The age span is non-existent. They can also be made out of colorful (thicker) yarn for a more playful and casual look, or with a fine and thin yarn for a more delicate appearance.

The pattern is a free download from Crochet Today you can find here.

To be honest I altered the patterns as I went along.
I also strengthened the lower part of the ring by making two sc rows.

For the red one I used one of my medallion patterns and I like how it turned out in its miniature version as a ring.

These are made with thicker yarn for colder days.

Hope you make lots of them. They are so easy and you'd love them on your fingers.

Rose lemonade

2011-08-15T14:23:00.000+02:00

Yes, you read right. A lemonade made of roses and not just from any rose bush. This is a special rose that is edible. The lemonade was given to my mother in law by a neighbour who is an expert in making it. My MIL is now set on growing such bushes so that we can all enjoy it!

I cannot describe the lovely taste and can't wait to make it ourselves!

I know I promised crochet rings tutorials but spent the weekend days on the beach having fun with the kids. In the late night hours I removed unwanted links to my posts. Still bitter about that and sorry if I filled your readers with my old posts!!
Talk to you tomorrow!

How to make crocheted beads

2011-08-12T18:02:00.001+02:00

This is a tutorial you are really going to like because the finished product is adorable!
How to make crocheted beads in a few easy steps.
Here we go.

Used terms: stitch (st.), single crochet (sc), single crochet 2 together (sc2tog)

Start by chaining three chains. Join with a slip stitch with the last chain from hook to make a ring.

Row 1: 6 sc in ring
Row 2: 2 sc in each stitch for 12 stitches
Row 3: 1 sc in one stitch, 2 sc in the next; repeat until you get 18 st.
Rows 4 - 5: sc around for 18 st. (You may stuff it here)
Row 6: 1 sc, sc2tog for 18 st.
Row 7 - end: sc2tog until end.
Tie the end, thread an embroidery needle and hide the tail inside the bead.

Tips: For the blue bead I used a six-stranded yarn and a 3 mm hook. The red bead from the intro picture is made by a thinner yarn and a 1.9 mm hook. You can see the difference in size. Hence, by combining different yarn and hooks you can have beads in different sizes.
Also, if you want to make big(ger) beads, just repeat row 4 until you achieve the desired size.

As you can see, I used filling for my beads, but you can use this pattern for wooden (plastic) beads too, only you have to insert it earlier and again employ the row 4 instructions.

I usually stuff it after row 6, but you may find it difficult, thus I thought that it may be wise if you stuff it before. Anyway, try both to find out what works best for you.

All these beads are in different sizes and filled with stuffing.
I hope you liked this. If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments section.

Crocheted beads ring

2011-08-11T13:06:00.000+02:00

When I make accessories I love using various kinds of beads. Crocheted beads have turned out to be the most favourable, because I can make them in any color and any size I need at the moment.
For this ring I used three beads in different colors and size (lovely pinks and purples). For this project I didn't crochet around wooden beads; instead I made them with filling and hence they are much lighter than it would have been with wooden or plastic beads.

Tomorrow I am going to share the pattern I use for crocheted beads and in the next few days there will be tutorials for crocheting rings for small and big girls.

Lace crochet cuffs

2011-08-10T17:37:00.000+02:00

Long summer afternoons are not spent in vain. I've been crocheting flowers and scarves and cuffs. Cuffs are one of favourite accessories. They add a bit of drama to clothes, and make the appearance highly feminine and elegant. Especially with a lace pattern like this.

I have also been teaching my daughter to crochet. She tried to crochet a simple flower but got bored and frustrated because the hook went the opposite direction of what her brain was dictating and soon gave up. Our lessons always end up like this, but I know that deep in her heart she wants to learn. So we'll keep trying.

Vintage finds - Burda magazines

2011-08-09T17:21:00.000+02:00

Browsing the antique stalls, stuffed in a cardboard box I found Burda magazines from the 1970s.
I would have been happier with even older magazines.

With a nice cup of coffee I spent a lovely afternoon leafing through them and pinpointing dresses I might actually try and make. My most favourite the lovely grey dress above and this pink two piece I first thought was a dress. I like the collar and the pleated part with the buttons.

Here are some boards I made for inspiration.

Burda magazine / August 1975

Burda magazine / February 1977

Burda magazine / May 1977

Children's clothes in the 1970s.The thing that struck me as curious is that the patterns were for one or two sizes only (mostly), which is not the case today. So if I like to make a dress from these (not offering my size) I will have to do the grading myself. Kind of tricky, I'd say. But I guess that was the case then, although I am still having a difficult time to get it into my head and stop wandering what they were thinking!

How to crochet on a piece

2011-08-06T12:22:00.000+02:00

This is the guest post that showed on Whip up.

History: It is believed that the earliest crocheted projects in the past were finger-crocheted and evolving from traditional practices in Arabia, South America and China. In Europe it gains popularity in the 19th century.

Crochet (meaning “hook” in French) consists of a series of interlocking and pulling loops of thread through other loops and incorporates wrapping the thread (called stitches) around the hook one or more times to create various intricate and highly detailed patterns. Various stitches and patterns can be created. Some of the more common stitches known are: Chain, Slip Stitch, Single Crochet, Half-Double Crochet, Double/Treble Crochet, Popcorn Crochet, Cluster Crochet, etc.

In the past crochet was used for decoration of the home and the clothes with which they gained a more luxurious look.

Recently the crocheting of trims and edgings increased in popularity once again. Trims are crocheted to enrich pillowcases, bed sheets and clothes. I like to use them to decorate and beautify simple tees.

Here is a little tutorial of how to crochet the basics for a trim on an actual garment, bed sheets, curtains or blankets.

What you need:
A simple tee, a crochet thread and a hook.

Step 1: Mark the neckline where you are going to make the foundation. Use a ruler for this and mark it with a washable marker .

Step 2: To make the holes use a metal poker or a thin double sided needle. For the foundation I used the blanket stitch. You may employ the embroidery needle to make this. Secure the thread on the other side.

Step 3: Now crochet a single crochet in each stitch of the foundation. I crocheted 2 sc because the foundation gap was big. Also you need to know the pattern you are going to employ later - i.e. you must know the exact number of stitches before you make the first row of single crochets.

The finished rows. Now you are ready to use whatever pattern you like. For this tute I used the same crown pattern you saw here.

I have a simple crochet trim here

However, another much easier method which I highly recommend is that you crochet the trim first and attach it to the garment later. I have shown how to do that here

As a conclusion I would like to offer some interesting crochet related facts:

Crochet as a hobby or activity has no age limits. It sorts of transcends between ages. Young children are taught and encouraged to crochet in order to increase their fine motor skills, aid in counting and following instruction, then to boost self-confidence and introduce quiet time, to learn a family tradition and so on, while the older generations love crochet for the pleasure it brings them (think of the things your grandmas crocheted for you) and many find financial security in selling their crocheted products, then there is the social element in this – many crocheters gather together to work in groups and clubs and share their love of this craft. Further more doctors recommend crochet for those suffering of arthritis!

So grab a hook and join us!

I am talking crochet at Whip up

2011-08-04T13:31:00.000+02:00

Hello sweet friends and family,
I am visiting lovely Kathreen at Whip up for a crochet chat. Do join us!

A heavenly gift

2011-08-03T09:01:00.000+02:00

Several days ago my postman brought me a gift I was so anxious to get and a lot more sooner than I expected.
Inside, the treasure box hid these.

Heavenly cards from my blog friend Sandy. One for me and the other for Eva. She also included ribbons and buttons for my future projects! Sandy wrote me a touching and warm note inside that made the gift even more special!

Now, a little introduction if you are not familiar with her.
Sandy's blog is a little piece of "card heaven". Sandy's inspiration for her crafts are packaging design, fashion, and use of scrapbooking paper for her masterful creations. She also makes fabulous tutorials to accompany many of her projects. I like many of her projects so it was hard for me to make a selection. I chose the marvelous ones with the apothecary labels, then this gorgeous recycled card, this card every seamstress would love to get, and the Cityscape wonder of a card.

"Sandy,I want to thank you for the precious gifts you sent me!! I am so blessed to know you. This proves that distance cannot hinder those close to the same beat of heart! You never fail to amaze me with your imagination, creativity and talent! Shoot for the stars my dear friend!"

Crochet anklet

2011-07-29T18:45:00.000+02:00

This is my latest crochet piece. It's an anklet (please don't faint!).
When I was a teenager I used to wear anklets but only in summer. While on the beach there were sellers selling braided anklets and I thought how fun would it be if I crocheted one. Eva loves them - that's for sure!

I love how it looks with the spiky crowns. I added wooden beads although it would have been more spectacular with shiny ones. More photos here.
But that's not everything. It's more versatile than it appears. Stay tuned.