TinoSki: Ceramic Stories that Capture Hearts

 

 

 

Hello lovelies! I have a special treat for you today.

 

Meet TinoSki!

 

A brand that will tickle your imagination and capture your heart! But who is the artist behind the brand?

 

 

 

 

Please introduce yourself to my readers. Who is the creative force of TinoSki?

 

My name is Valentin Petreski. By profession I am a journalist and in the past I worked both as a TV reporter and a host for national TV stations. For the past 4 years I have been working for a leading national e-commerce site. Aside from that, for the past year I have been passionately creating my products under the brand TinoSki.

Creativity and communication have always been my forte and I love spreading positive energy through my work. I believe in a success based on hard work.

 

 

 

 

How did your brand TinoSki come to see the world and what does the range of products include?

 

TinoSki started off quite spontaneously - with an idea to make a cup for myself, the kind I wouldn't find in a shop. I experimented with an ordinary marker on a yellow cup, made it according to my taste and I shared it on Instagram. And you know how the story goes... people loved it, asked where they could find such cups, whether I could custom make them, etc. After a few cups given to my closest friends and family, TinoSki started its fame by word of mouth. That motivated me to more seriously research the process of drawing on porcelain and ceramics and the use professional paints to create cups that tell stories. After a year of beautifying cups, which by the way are my trademark, I also draw on plates, teapots, bowls, etc. Beside that, the newest refreshment of the TinoSki range are the 4 notebook designs that I have been yearning to do for a long time and the idea just got realized. These are the basic products, but I am in a process of brainstorming and shaping ideas that I hope to bring to life really soon.  

 

 

 

What is your last collection and what was the inspiration behind it?

Chronologically, my last is the mini-collection of plates featuring cities. I wanted something unique to accompany savoury food. So through a drawing and a cute note, you can eat pasta in Venice, have breakfast in London and munch cookies in Amsterdam... Always in your favourite city in your mind. The beauty of the cities and my never-ending desire for travels have inspired me to make this collection. Before the plates, there were the flower pots and those were inspired by everyday hearty smiles provoked by the spring sun.

 

 

How did the story of hand-painting porcelain begin?

I have always loved art, not in a classical way but I experimented with what had already been there and I finished it by giving the piece a new shape, new appearance. The porcelain was a true challenge  - a new, clean, clear and shiny surface patiently waiting to be carefully decorated. I was attracted by the purity of it and its specific drawing space so I started finding out my own techniques.

 

 

What motifs appear the most in your creations? Where does inspiration come?

I am mostly inspired by conversing with people and exchanging ideas. I cannot single out an individual motif since each order carries its own story. Most often the orders are personalized. However I can say that they all contain dots as a symbol of a completed thought, a basic element of every picture. And yes, black and red are the most dominant colors as they are my favourite and basic color combination. Of course I introduce other colors as my customers desire, but that is quite subtle.

 

 

 

What is trending at the moment?

Just recently I posted a teapot featuring a flower design, irregular shape and spring colorfulness. People loved it, so I can say that that particular spring design is popular right now. Also the personalized notes especially written in Cyrillic as something authentic are always popular, then there are the cups and saucers that form a complete picture when put together.

 

 

I know that all artists like all their pieces equally and that it's hard to pick just one as a favourite. Still, I will ask: is there a favourite piece? What binds you to it?

It's true that one loves his all pieces but it is also true that something comes to your mind first when asked this question. I have to admit that I find the sets from my collection "Share love" are dearest to me because I invested a lot of energy and desire to share them with others. The sets are composed of mini cups that when joined make an animal drawing: a giraffe bear, owl and a cat. They are given human characteristics, that is they all have a moment that connects them to people, because animals have feelings too. That is maybe my dearest collection, although I love everything I have made so far.

 

 

What are you working on at the moment?

At the moment I am trying to decide what will come next from TinoSki because I like all ideas to realize at the same time, which of course is not possible. It takes time and space, but I think I can order the plans and bring them to life. I would love to keep that a secret so that we share the joy when that happens :)

 

 

 

Is there a technique or a style you'd like to try your hand at in the future or maybe work with new materials?

The porcelain is a fantastic foundation, however I'd love to try out new materials. For the time being I am interested in   trying out some new drawing techniques to me and I would be ecstatic if I manage to make ceramics myself one day. I believe everything happens at a given time, so we'll just wait and see.  

 

 

 

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I have less and less free time. The work on my brand TinoSki is actually done in my free time, but besides that I want to go out grab a coffee with my friends and family, I love being in the sun during the day. I love new experiences and challenges - at the moment I'd like to try out still water kayaking :)

 

Thank you so much for sharing your world with us!

If you want to order a custom made piece from TinoSki, you can contact Tino on his page

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Make Jewelry: Crochet Flower Ring

 

Happy Friday all!
With a national holiday mid-week we really didn't feel this week. It flew by so quickly.

Since there are no idle hands in our household mine created this super easy tutorial for a crocheted flower ring. You are going to love it!

DIY Crochet Flower Ring Tutorial

What you need:
1. DK and sport cotton yarn (adequate hooks)
2. Adjustable metal ring
3. Sewing needle and thread
4. Hot glue / liquid silicone glue

Bottom Flower Pattern

Using DK yarn, ch 5 and join to make ring. Sc 5 in ring.
Rnd 1: "ch 6 and starting from 2nd ch from hk, sc across (5).
Sl st in the same st you made the petal in, sl st" in the next and repeat "this pattern" for every st.
When done do not cut yarn.

Rnd 2: Repeat pattern of rnd 1, but sl st at the back of next petal in the previous row. Work the round and end with a sl st. Cut yarn, tie ends.

Upper Flower Pattern - for greater effect I would suggest you use different color for the second flower. Use the same pattern as above but with sport yarn so it comes thinner (and smaller  in size for that matter) than the bottom layer.

Bead - for the bead use this pattern.

Stack flowers one on top of the other and finally, add the bead. Thread a sewing needle and sew through all the layers, fastening the whole flower together. When done,  glue the ring to the flower.

You can add sequins or beads to make it more appealing or instead of the crochet bead you can add (fabric) buttons or wooden beads.

 

 

 

Fairy Lights - Crochet Necklace

I really enjoyed working on this lovely necklace.

The whole piece was made aiming to capture a mesmerizing starry night in the forest with fireflies twinkling between the flowers crowned with leaves and heavy with invigorating scent. The perfect setting for a romantic night out.

Hence I used a lot of glass and plastic beads to get that effect, sprinkled it with tiny metal ones and added fabric ribbons for extra cuteness.



Insta feel - Puurcreatief

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I  started following Lilian of Puurcreatief on instagram after being hooked by her amazing color combinations and especially by her use of black to make things pop.

 

Both her crochet and knit blankets are true works of art to which I am sure you'll agree.

 

If you want to see more of her work, you can do so here.

 

 

Shop sale!

 

 

 

Happy weekend everyone!

 

Just to let you know I am having a 10% discount on everything in my shop for a week, including the discounted pattern packs. To use it, the minimum purchase is $30.00.

The coupon code is springfun!

Crochet Fringed Necklaces in the shop

 

I have two new necklaces in the shop.

 

These are my side project necklaces :)

Let me explain. Whenever I work on something big, I always have small things as side projects to take my mind off the big one if I grow tired of it, and they serve as a nice filler.

 

I was experimenting with a fringe pattern and the design of both necklaces was actually completely different - I wanted to have the fringes stacked one on top of the other - but this fringe pattern allows no playing around so in the end I ended up having two necklaces instead of just one.

 

Miho Fujita - minute crochet artist

 

 

 

These exquisite jewelry pieces are created by an amazing minute crochet artist Miho Fujita. Although I tried to find more about her- the internet does not reveal much about this artist - information is scarce if not almost non-existent.

I have always admired her intricate and delicate looking creations breathing with elegance and richness of expression. Although they are monochromatic she manages to make them appear lively and vivid as if splashed with colors.

More here.

The Bronte and Austen Brooches - Victoriana Collection

I am happy to show you my first brooches of the small Victoriana collection. Inspired entirely from the gorgeously romantic clothes and jewelry of the Victorian era that were based on generous amount of laces, ribbons, flounces and layers with soft touches of flowers, beads and pearls.

The Bronte Brooch
The Austen Brooch

Casa Batlló - Barcelona

 

 

 

 

One of the buildings that was on the top of my list of places to see was Casa Batlló. It is one of Gaudi's masterpieces and it was really breathtaking. I couldn't help but be amazed with his genius and extraordinary creativity and imagination.

The house itself was originally built between 1875 and 1877. In 1900 it was bought by the rich industrialist Josep Battló i Casanovas who commissioned Gaudí to tear down the old house and reconstruct a new one. Gaudí however convinced Battló to remodel the existing building. Between 1904 and 1906 Gaudí redesigned the façade and roof, added an extra floor and completely remodeled the interior.

From the outside the façade of Casa Batlló looks like it has been made from skulls and bones. The "Skulls" are in fact balconies and the "bones" are supporting pillars. So it also goes by the name "The House of Bones". While the enlarged windows on the first floor look like yawning faces and that brought another nickname to the house: "The House of Yawns". The facade of the Casa Batlló is made of sandstone covered with colorful trencadis (which is a Catalan type of mosaic). Typical of Gaudí, straight lines are avoided whenever possible.
Gaudí used colours and shapes found in marine life as inspiration creating the interior and exterior of this house.

 

(The effect of the tiles when seen through glass captures the underwater feel)

The house's interior is as fascinating as its exterior. Gaudi designed the wooden doors, stained glass windows, colorful tiles and carved out fireplace having in mind his sea world.

 

 

The colorful scaled roof recalls a reptile skin. According to some knowledgeable people on Gaudí architecture, the roof represents a dragon; the small turret with a cross would symbolize the sword of St. George stuck into the dragon. The bones and skulls on the façade represent all the dragon's victims.

The house is always swarming with tourists and it was really hard to snap pictures - someone was always in the way, but I am happy I managed to have certain places all to myself to make some memorable photos. I hope you like it as much as I did.