Boutonnieres & Corsages 2

 

They say 'April showers bring May flowers' but no one mentioned April floods! We've been having terrible weather that throws us into 'moldy' mood. 

But I am ready for May and some fair weather too. To brighten things up- at least on the blog- here's the second part of the boutonnieres and corsages I recently made. 

Until next time, stay well!

Flowers, mushrooms and snails

What I actually did all this week is crochet snails and mushrooms. Changed the pattern for the snail shell three times already... wondering if I should change it again.. hmm... 

In the midst of watching thrillers late at night I start getting images of white-spotted mushrooms and I wonder again if I should make them some spots....  

It's been raining off and on and some days I just feel my energies drain away from me... blame the weather for it and hope it clears soon... It seems it's only good for lying down with a book or a good movie... Does the weather work its spell on you?

Just finished reading The Whisperer a truly gripping novel I just couldn't put down. Already deep into the "Crocodile Soup". Any good reads to recommend?

Easter Wreath

This Easter instead of using twigs I used rosemary branches, and besides the lovely looks it also smells fantastically. 

I arranged the wreath with different crochet flowers, beads, butterflies and I also added fabric and Styrofoam eggs as well as fabric flowers. 

I wish you all a fabulous Easter!

Kuklici - Stone Dolls

 

Last Sunday we visited the geological reservation "The Merry Wedding" known among the natives as "Kuklici" ("kukla" in Macedonian means "doll"). The reservation is a masterpiece of nature, yet there is a legend associated with this place.

It says that a young man was in love with two girls, the first rich but plain, the second poor but beautiful. He arranged marriage with both of them, but on the day of the wedding he decided to marry the rich girl. 

Upon hearing the procession, the poor girl came out to see if her bethroted one is coming with the guests only to find out that he was marrying the other girl. Angered and devastated she cursed them to petrify the moment they kiss. So the whole procession turned into stones. 

The two big rocks in the middle are the bride and the groom and the two smaller ones at the sides are the brother in law and the maid of honor. The stone doll behind them is the best man. There are about 148 dolls.

 

Here's the best man in full view. 

 

The guests

 

 

Still, the creator of the characteristic erosive forms, also called earthen pyramids is the powerful nature. The stone dolls are created from volcanic mass in the period between the Eocene and Pliocene. These erosive forms are 10 million years old and they were created by vertical erosion of the volcanic rocks. Scientists believe that this area was once under salty water, because scrapings taste of salt.  

Apart from the stone dolls, fossil remnants of dendo flora were also found here.

This is one of those places worth seeing in person. 

Sweet Roses Bracelet Patten

After the great success of the vintage rose bracelet, I made another one using different roses and different pattern for the bracelet. 

It makes me smile whenever I look at it.

The pattern can be found on etsy and ravelry.

 

  
Thank you!

My Gilded Cage Necklace - free pattern

 

I found this pattern on the net and I liked it so much I had to try and make it. At first glance it reminded me of wrought iron lattices on Tunisian windows we admired so much. 

The pattern: 

Ch 14 

Round 1: Sc in 8th ch from hk, make a (3-chain) picot, ch 5, skip 3 and sc in next st. make a picot, ch 2 skip 1 and in the last st make 1 dc.

Round 2: ch1 sc1 over the dc you just made, then ch5, make a sc on the loop (chain) below, make a picot, chain 5 and sc 1 on the loop below. 

Round 3: chain 5, sc in loop below, make a picot, chain another 5, sc in loop below, ch 2 and make a dc on top of the previous dc.

Round 4: repeat round 2

 

 I liked it better vertically so that's how I used it for my necklace. I hung it on a chain and added a lovely skeleton key to it.

Work in progress

 

Hi guys! I hope everything is fine in your corner of the world. 

There's been a stir in our household, but a positive one - mind you. As for the hook- it is never resting and as a matter of fact I am torn between three projects at the time. I multitask most of the time but sometimes it is not the wisest thing to do, if you know what I mean. The three projects being a granny square dress for little girls, a flower blanket and an Easter wreath. 

These are some of the flowers that I am going to use for the blanket. I want to make a total of 12 flowers, so I need to make 6 different ones. However, it is the most enjoyable part, because you know me - I love crocheting flowers :)

So, until further notice, I bid you farewell! 

 

Crochet shawl inspiration

 

I have been restless since the moment I saw this beautiful shawl. It would be more accurate to say it is a poncho, but in my vocabulary poncho is always a woolen, colorful piece not to be associated with this spiderweb like, amazing creation.

I found this picture on the web and it is a pattern magazine ad. I would love to have the pattern for this and make it. I can imagine wearing it on summer nights over one of my dresses. 

At least, it is something I can dream about.

Refashion it with style: Lace shirts

Shirts, especially t-shirts are easily refashioned in numerous ways by using pieces of lace and applying them at various parts of the shirt / t-shirt. 

Here's a selection of some gorgeously refashioned pieces I am certain you are going to enjoy. Check out my board here for the sources of these tutorials.

 

Vintage Rose Bracelet Pattern

 

 

As inspiration to make this bracelet I had in mind the soft, alluring and seductive Victorian jewelry. 

The rose bracelet is fabulous, amazingly easy to make and with a couple of variations you can get several unique pieces. 

 

I also made some headbands for the spring babies.

 

In the shop and on Ravelry too