Lavender and turquoise scarves

I've not been idle this weekend and crocheted some scarves.
Discovered the loveliest of yarn and thread at my favourite wool shop and bought a whole bunch in all the palette they offered. Mostly cotton ones, but I couldn't resist the charm of the sparkly ones.
The lavender scarf is made of a cotton and viscose yarn. The viscose gives it a lovely shine and at first glimpse it appears silken. It is even more appealing because the yarn itself changes the hue from lightest to darkest.

The turquoise one is shorter but wider. Both end with fringes. They are made with a purpose. Tell you later about it! Have a great Sunday and I'll be talking to you soon!

Shades of gray

Image courtesy of Abernathys

I was thrilled when Elizabeth Abernathy contacted me regarding the review of the Nuno Magazine. Knowing Elizabeth through her blog I knew that there was a phenomenal project in front of me and I was not wrong.
The two talented sisters Elizabeth and Rachel are the creative force behind the e-"Nuno Magazine". Their philosophy is the creation of your own clothing, accessories and home decor, by salvaging, modifying, recycling, altering and transforming things.

Image courtesy of Abernathys

The winter edition of this incredible well of fabulous ideas and inspiration revolves around the color grey. Gray has never been more attracting and inviting. Through all shades of gray you enter into a world of splendid and wondrous projects that offer a feel of delicate femininity, elegant simplicity yet marvelous down- to- earthiness. The step-by-step elaborate instructions are intelligible and clear, accompanied by fantastic photographs.

Image courtesy of Abernathys

Last but certainly not least. What warmed my heart is that share of the profit from this issue of the magazine benefits a goat bank in Uganda. Haven't heard of goat banks? Here's what the project is about: "Goat banks are elegantly simple. A family is loaned a goat. The family breeds the goat. The family returns the first born kid to the goat bank (after it is big enough, of course) which in turn provides another family with a start to their own little flock". Isn't this divine?

Image courtesy of Abernathys

You can buy and download the copy of the magazine here.The price is symbolic. It's only $5US and for the value you receive 125 ad-free pages of craft, sewing and knitting projects made from recycled and salvaged materials. And you also participate in a good and humane cause.

The cat, the donkey and the running carrot

My mother is moving into a smaller flat so guess who gets to inherit all the pretty stuff she usually wonders "what do I need for".

But how could I get rid of this sweet, sweet needle point of a cat playing the violin and the lovely notes floating around it! I found this in a bag my mum uses for her finished but unframed work. It is more than 30 years old. I am so sorry she didn't hang this in my room when I was a child and didn't give me when my children were small. But I am not letting it go. I am sure I'll find a use for it. I mean what is the point of doing such an exhausting work (did you notice how small and tiny those stitches are?) and not display it anywhere.

And then I found this. A donkey running after a carrot! This is appropriate to sprout children's imagination and not entertain a cotton bag! I may use this one to make a bag... or a pillow. The bag sound more appealing - at least to Eva. Can't decide right now. Have to wash it first! And with this let me finish my post on children's needle point and pointless embroidery!

Once in a blue moon

Well, according to this article, today we'll be witness to the appearance of "the blue moon" although necessarily it does not always appear in that hue. So you might tell people that everything you did tonight you did it "once in a blue moon".

I, myself, was not aware that the infamous saying was born that way and it was interesting reading about it! And I still wonder about the influence a common mention of a word may have in a language!

The pictures I used for this post are actually postcards of a famous Sicilian artist Caroline van Riet (by Dutch origin) , who we had the pleasure of meeting in person at her lovely shop in Syracuse's old town Ortigia. Her work is incredible. You may check it here.

Reanimated mittens

Last year, at the end of winter I bought my children 2-3 pairs of mittens for a bargain with a lovely Nordic pattern. They came in five different colors. For myself, I chose the white ones, although I was painfully aware that they do not fit me and that they are too small. Nevertheless, I bought them with the intention of re-doing them in any way.

So this is what I did. A simple how to on saving shrunk /shortened/ small mittens.

Take the pair of mittens ...


.. and cut the upper part and the thumb part.



With a sewing machine, sew an ordinary stitch to prevent the stitches to unravel.

Then with a crocheting needle (mine was #3 -1.7mm) single crochet the edge. I started crocheting just below the line I stitched by machine.

If you have plain mittens you may employ a more decorative or lace edging, but this was not appropriate for my mittens because of the pattern, so that's why I left it plain.

Do the same for the thumb part and you are done!
I don't think I 'll ever throw away my children's mittens.

Granny square scarf

I haven't yet showed the scarf I started long ago. After indulging in so many projects I eventually set on joining the little granny squares and completed it.

Now let me tell you something about the "scarves wearing preferences" of this blog owner. She ordinarily likes long, knitted winter scarves preferably with chunky wool which she can wrap around two or three times around her neck and the ends would still hang, and she might consider wearing much, much shorter ones - French style, that is tied closed to the neck (I am sure you get the picture)- only if they are silken.

This was neither. She'll wear it closed with a pin.

Wrist corsage tutorial

Today I made some wrist corsages and prepared a tutorial for you.
It is quite easy and the end result is amazing.

Materials needed:

* ribbons
* elastic band
* flowers
* needle and thread (glue gun)

Step 1:

Make the foundation wristlet by positioning the elastic right in the middle of the ribbon and sew it with a zig-zag stitch. When sewing pull the elastic slightly making tension. When finished back stitch it. I made mine about 20 cm long. You can measure it before hand according to the size of your wrist. I advice you to make it longer; you can adjust the length afterwards.

After you measure it on your wrist, pin it and sew both ends together.

Step 2:

Make petals with the ribbon.

I made several and sewed them together.

Step 3:

Add a contrasting ribbon. I chose white for my corsage and made it smaller than the purple one. Sew it on top.

Step 4:

Add flowers and attach them to the base. I sewed mine, but you can use a glue gun for this purpose. You may also add beads, buttons, pieces of fabric... whatever suits your imagination!
Attach the whole set to the foundation wristlet by sewing it tightly and your wrist corsage is finished!

Enjoy!

Autumn

I love autumn.
I love the palette of colours it chooses to paint nature.
Walking to the kindergarten to pick up Jacob, the street was covered with the loveliest carpet of yellow leaves and the last rays of the setting sun shimmered through the golden canopies of the trees.

There was a soft and nice breeze that brought with itself the smell of baked chestnuts...
The morning rain has made the ground evaporate with the beautiful smell of the leaves and earth...

Inspired by all these, here's my Autumn necklace.

Pom-Pom Scarf

Window shopping the other day we stopped at the Accessorize to get some inspiration (I love their tweed bags) for the upcoming winter. Eva saw a pom-pom scarf and knowing that I wouldn't pay for something I can make myself she got herself a promise that she'll have one.
And here it is.

She chose the colors (right then I realized how insufficient my knitting wool pallet is) to match her winter jacket, and leapt out of joy when it was finished. The most beautiful gratification for a mother.

Feedback

The Internet has enabled me to come across some very interesting blogs, meet (virtually) some amazingly talented people, discover and learn many new things and share the things I know about.
Sharing knowledge has always been an inseparable part of my profession and what I have valued the most is the feedback. Something that shows you that your work has not been in vain, something that made people learn, enjoy beauty or create beauties themselves.

I met this wonderful blogger Lisa recently and was amazed by her work. She used my melon seed tutorial and made some fabulous organic jewelery herself.
Thank you Lisa for the credits and for venturing into this project.
Update: You have to the check the necklace Peaches made out of pumpkin seeds. Amazing!

Ottobre sewing in November

Flipping through the past issue of Ottobre, we mutually concurred that certain pieces of clothing must be attempted to be made. The following was taken into consideration:

Eva insisted on having such a flirty skirt.

Jacob wanted a shirt just like this one.
I don't believe I am going to find similar fabric.
It is so hard to find good fabric for boys.

My choice. I want this for Jacob.
It is so simple but practical.

I've just seen the newest edition of Ottobre online. It is amazing and I must have it.
By the way, I have been busy preparing a tutorial upon request and it'll be posted next week. Tremendously excited about this one! Fingers crossed for everything to come out perfectly.

>> too-da-loo <<