A random post to break the spell

Maybe you are perplexed with the title so here's the explanation.

I love blogging. But blogging with a purpose. I don't post at all costs. Sometimes it happens I have posts all throughout the week, sometimes there are small/big gaps between them {time/life permitting}. However. If you scroll down the right bar to my blog post archive, you'll notice that in the past 6 months I had written a total of 11 posts per month (with the exception of January with 10 posts)- Wait - don't go there to check this - just take my word for it :)

Well, I find it curious that even most of my posts per months in 2011 {and 2010 for that matter} equal 11. I felt like trying to find the lowest common denominator. Now, I am neither a fanatic nor superstitious and I am writing this post to "break the spell of 11" just from entertaining purposes. Sometimes I like to wander off the right track, you know :)

So for this post I've taken out an embroidered piece (above) I compulsively made after making this cutie. It is unfinished because I lost the concept for it - wanted to make a brooch at first then added a second layer and it lost its attractiveness and I lost the idea and the imagination to continue so I set it aside to wait for better times.

Then I want to show you the embroidery of this dress I made when Eva was a baby. This was my first take on embroidering a dress and I still remember enjoying making every little stitch. Not an elaborate embroidery but effective I believe. Especially the one at the hem.





So there you go Number 11!

Little China Necklace

When I went shopping for beads for this necklace I came across these red and black hand painted, gorgeous beads (I don't think the photos do them justice!). They are all different but part of the same concept. And, understandably, I was immediately captivated by their beauty. And I just had to have them.

It is interesting that at the same minute I laid eyes on them I knew what the necklace would look like. I crocheted a lovely burgundy rose as the focal point of it, beaded the little works of art and crocheted the ties.

As the black strokes reminded me of calligraphy (as well as the combination of red and black) - hence China - I named it 'Little China Necklace' and think that the name suits it perfectly.

Red leaves to complete the looks of it.
Just lovely.

Sweet roses necklace

Hello,

Here I am with another finished project, which I must say I enjoyed working on. This one is made with the new rose pattern I've been working on, and that you;ll be seeing a lot in the upcoming creations.

I added shiny beads at the roses' center although I was tempted to place Swarowski resembling beads in burgundy, but thought it would be too radical for it and I was aiming at simplicity. Because one great mind once said: "Simplicity is the essence of elegance".

Well, stay well and I'll be talking to you soon!

For a cheerful weekend

EXPERIENCE

(noun)

Ability to recognize a mistake when you make it again.

DRY CLEAN

(phrase)

This will never get washed. ever.

WINTER

(noun)

The three month break

between a woman and her razor.

CHRISTMAS

(proper noun)

The only time of the year in which

one can seat in front of a dead tree

and eat candy out of socks.

GYNECOLOGIST

(noun)

A pervert with a medical degree

FEET

(noun)

A device for finding Legos in the dark.

SWEATER

(noun)

What you put on when your mother is cold.

NUTELLA

(noun)

The only reason to buy bread.

CALORIES

(noun)

Tiny creatures that live in you closet and

sew your clothes a little bit tighter every night.

POOR

(adjective)

When you have too much month at the end of your money.

STUDY

(noun)

The act of texting, eating and watching TV

with an open textbook nearby.

For more laughs here's my LOL board on pinterest.
Do share yours, please (if you have one)!

Summer dresses - Inspiration boards

Well...
scouring through the Net in the search for the right summer dress, I found some real cuties.

So I made some inspiration boards - all images are taken from the Grooz collection.
Enjoy!

The Garden of Eden - crochet necklace

Hello my dear friends,

I was a bit quiet last week but with a reason. The real world has {almost} taken the best of me, but I am persevering, all worries set aside.

In the crochet kitchen some new roses were cooked and I loved them so much so I had to use them to create this new necklace. This necklace is for the free spirited girls. Those that love pinks and purples. And a little of the fairy dust that will make them feel special.

Until soon,
M

Repurposing old jeans - A Beach bag

Yesterday I said I am going to post about a refashioning project, but this is in fact a repurposing project since I turned an old pair of jeans and a skirt into a beach bag. Sorry about the slip of the tongue.

Well, this is the pair I refused to get rid of knowing that it'll come in handy one day.


 

And this is the skirt Eva wore only once and vowed never to wear it again because "she looked dreadful in it". I should have taken a better shot of it, although there is nothing special to see. It was a knee long skirt with pockets up front and an elastic at the back so it had a bit of a ruffled look before I chopped it off. I had that done before I decided that it will be the perfect thing for lining the bag, so no before picture of it.



What I did. I cut the legs and sew the sides together. I used the fabric of the legs to make the handle and sewed it at the sides.



Next, since the skirt was too big to fit inside I cut it at the front {and even saved that part with the buttons and the buttonholes, because you never know what idea might pop up one day}.



Also sewed the bottom.



Fitted it inside and sewed it onto the jeans.



And here it is. The perfect bag for the beach. It turned out to be quite comfy and I can put a lot of stuff in there, and that's good because I take a ton of things to the beach starting from sun blockers, sunglasses, lip balms, a small bottle of water, a book, hats or bandanas, etc. so this is exactly what I need!




I am also happy that the skirt had pockets, because these little things are precious. For wallets and phones - to be secured inside. Now, the only thing I didn't add because of technical shortages is a clasp. I plan to add a clasp at the center so that I can close the bag.



So that's it for today!
I know I am going to exploit this bag a lot this summer ;)

Turquoise for the summer - Crocheted necklaces

The first color that associates the summer whenever I think of it - is blue. It reminds me of warm skies and beautiful seas.

I've crocheted two necklaces using the same combination of blue hues. I used a special granny 'circle' crochet to make the centerpieces.

With the second necklace I used a quite specific crochet pattern so both sides of it are immensely appealing. It makes this necklace versatile, so it can be worn with the front or the back side.

Do you see the difference?

I am having a refashioning project tomorrow, so drop by to see it.

Update: featured here



Thanx Sara!

Dusty rose tunic {with instructions how to make it}

Here I am with my newest tunic.

This is a pattern I highly appreciate because this tunic can be made in literally 15 minutes {including a coffee break :) } and this is my third tunic, so I know what I am talking about (I made the first one in 2008 using the same pattern). I thought I would grow weary of it, but 'No, Sir', I love it. And you are going to love it too, since it comes with instructions.


What do you need: just a stretch fabric - jersey being the best, but one with high percentage of elasticity in it.

Here's the how-to:


Every step in the making of this tunic is made with the right side (the face ) of the fabric facing up.
Do step 1.

You don't want to mess up step 2. Here you fold the fabric again and cut just a tiny part (where shown on pic) because if you cut it too big there is no turning back - the opening will be too large and the fabric ruined. If when put on the opening is too small then you fold it again and try to make it slightly bigger.

Unfold it when done and here it is. It resembles a poncho, doesn't it? That's right. Now, all you have to do is hem it around (shown with the dashes). When done, fold again as it was previously.

Next, you have to top stitch it where shown. Mark the sides where you are going to sew the sides along the body. For this you can either measure yourself or simply take a t-shirt or a blouse that fits you really nice and copy the sides onto the fabric. Measure yourself from the armpit to the line just below your bust. That is how much space you should leave for the sleeves. From that lower line sew a straight line to the end. Do the same with the other side. {Please note that you must sew with the fabric facing up!}

Now maybe a question that should have been addressed at the beginning:the length of the fabric. Mine was long up to my wrists, simply because I like the wavy, batty shape the sleeves get. This depends on your preferences.

Ok. That's it. I really hope you like it. If you have any questions send me a mail {my e-mail can be found if you click on my profile} or you can do so in the comments section.



Since my jersey was plain / not patterned, I made some flounces, ruffles,straps and a rose and decorated it. Something I like very much on this.




I also made a ring out of the same jersey and am already in love with it!
Talk to you later!

P.S. The intro pictures aren't a mess up of my trying to capture the tunic . I was playing a bit with an editor and thought I'd give you an artistic opening. I just had to say this and clear it off my chest.

Wardrobe re-discoveries: Summer Top

There are certain parts of the wardrobes in my home that quite resemble black holes. Only with these, one can retrieve things back. Especially those that have been lying unfinished for a long, long time. This top in particular was left untouched for more than 6 years; can you believe this? Hard-core crafters know what I am talking about - hence I find solace in the fact.


I will leave the story for when it is finished. It involves a nightgown and a crazy girl's scissors. This is only a glimpse of the front part embroidery / cutwork that I embellished with beads. I tried to take a photo of it hung but it was horrible. Better pictures next time.


As I plan to dedicate the rest of the week to completing some of the ufos, there will be several sewing related posts. Stay tuned.

Lazy Sunday Dreaming - Amazing dresses

Starting from next week, I have several weddings to attend to but the most important is my cousin's which will be late in August. That means a lot of time to find the perfect little dress.
I've been browsing my board on Pinterest for something interesting, but I cannot escape the feeling that some of them are a little too much haute couture. Here's a glimpse of some stunning pieces.

There are more amazing clothes on my boards here, here and here.




I would love if you share your fashion/style/apparel boards in the comments.
Have a lovely Sunday!