White Wine Spritz

 

 

The weather being heavy and scorching hot with obvious intentions to throw tantrums in the shape of thunderstorms, I decided to make this white wine spritz that is just perfect to cool off with in hot summer nights.

 

And there is another reason for this. You see, today is my 46th birthday so I wanted to make this easy and refreshing drinks for the family.

 

You need:

 

* 2 bottles (0.75l) of semi- dry white wine

(I used local wine - Alexandria (Riesling) by Tikves)

 

* 1 bottle (1.5l) of Schweppes Bitter Lemon

(I have also used Schweppes Tonic or Sprite in several occasions and you won't be wrong whatever you choose)

 

* 2-3 medium size nectarines (or per preference)

 

* ice cubes

 

Pour the wine and the Schweppes into a large bowl. Cut the nectarines into small slices / chunks and together with a handful or two of ice cubes, put them into the mixed wine.

 

 

 

You can serve this with a plate of hard yellow cheese and crackers along with some dried cranberries and sultanas. 

 

Enjoy!

Insta Love: Morocco

 

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Morocco has been on our bucket list forever. Back in 2009 we celebrated our 10th anniversary in Tunisia. And then in 2011 we went to Tunisia again - it simply clung to our hearts. But we promised ourselves to go to Morocco when we get the chance, and I hinted to my hubs that it would be lovely if we could celebrate our 20th in Morocco. I truly hope we do.

 

 

So no wonder I am pinning and liking like crazy, images from Morocco that soothe my soul and tickle my fantasies. Here are some images that might tickle yours too. 

 

 

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Dotted Tie Headband - Crochet Pattern

 

 

 

I have a huge collection of scarves. And when I say huge I am not exaggerating. But there is just one crochet kerchief in all that enormous collection that my mom made herself and wore it as a scarf and a head wrap. So I wanted to make a couple of crochet headband / head ties that we will use for our bohemian photo shoots.

 

This one is a piece of cake, works up fast and it's handy when your hair is messy and you need the right accessory to tame it down. The pattern that goes along step by step photos is here and here.

 

 

DIY Granny Top

I have long wanted to make Eva a granny top and finally I did it! The granny square I chose is pretty easily worked and it is a big one. One square measures 17 x 17 cm.

I worked with sport yarn (1.9mm hook) and used about 50 gr of white (without the fringes)  and less then 50 gr of blue. 

Eva is size XS so we needed only 6 squares. 

The granny square pattern goes like this:

Ch 5 and join to make a ring.

Rnd 1: ch 3 (counts as 1st dc) and make 11 dc in the ring (12). Sl st to end rnd. 

Rnd 2: {work the clusters over the dcs from the rnd below} Ch3 and dc2tog (counts as 1st dc3tog cluster), ch1 and in the next st, dc3tog. Repeat this pattern around. Sl st to end rnd. 

Rnd 3: Ch3 over the clusters, sc in the st between two clusters. Repeat this pattern around. Sl st to end rnd. 

Rnd 4: on the chain space of the round below, work this pattern-  sc1, ch1, dc3, ch1, sc1. Repeat this for every chain space. We are going to refer to these as "fans".

Rnd 5: sl st thrice to get to the second of the three dcs of the round belo. In that stitch, ch3, dc2, ch3, dc3. You've just made the corner of the granny. Next, ch1 and in the 2nd dc of the "fan"pattern below, dc1, hdc2, ch1, hdc2 + dc1 in the next 2nd dc of fan.  Next, ch 1 and work the corner (dc3, ch3, dc3). Repeat the side and corner pattern accordingly. Sl st to end it.

Rnd 6: Ch3 and dc2 over the 3 dcs below. Ch 4 and dc1 over the 3 dcs below. That was the corner pattern. Next (for the side) ch 1, sk1, dc3. Repeat corner and site pattern to finish the round. 

Rnd 7: Bring yarn to the corner chain space. Ch3 and dc2 in that space, ch4, dc3 (corner done), next for the side, dc in each st - there should be 21 dcs (including the half corners). Repeat this pattern around.

Rnd 8: Bring yarn to the corner chain space. hdc4 in space (corner filled), ch3, sk2, sc in next st. Repeat this pattern until the corner. Repeat corner and side pattern to finish the round.

Rnd 9: Ch 6 (over the corner below), sk 2 of corner stitches and sc in 3rd. Ch3 over the chain below and sc as in the round below, i.e over the sc stitch below. 

Rnd 10:  In the chain space, ch3 and dc2, ch3 and make a picot, then dc3. Corner is done. Next, ch1 and sl st in the 1st chain. In the 1st chain, ch3 and dc2. Next dc3 in every chain up to the corner where you ch1, sl st in the corner chain and repeat the corner pattern. Repeat corner and side pattern to finish the round. Sl st to end the round. 

This is the front. I added a crochet button at the center.

The 1st two squares are set as diamonds. Sew squares below these two. 

This is the back. I positioned the back squares in a straight line and sew them to the sides. Now, as Eva is very slim I couldn't sew the back squares together because they would have been baggy on her, so we had to improvise. To bypass this "issue" I added buttons to the back squares too. 

We tried this top onto a medium size  friend of hers and with the back squares sewn it looks fantastic. 

You can see the buttons on this photo below.

To make the buttons ch8 and make a ring. Dc16 in ring. Next, sl st in next st, sk 1 and sl st in the next until you finish the round. 

The straps pattern: Ch5, and in 2nd ch from hook, hdc1 across (4). Ch2 and hdc in every st. There should be 4 st in each row. Make the strap as lon as you need it. When length achieved, make chains at the sides. Ch 3, sk 1. Repeat this for both sides. Sew straps on. 

When everything was sewn on, I added fringes to it. They do make all the difference, I am sure you'll agree. 

I do hope some of you guys tries this. And I would love if you could share your thoughts!

Insta love: Collage Vintage

Happy Monday!

Collage Vintage is an account that satisfies my cravings for travel, inspiring photography and beautiful clothes all  wrapped up vintage summer setting!

The people behind this inspirational visual journal are the model Sara Escudero and her partner - the photographer Diego Anciano.

Enjoy their creative journey and follow them here.

  

Crochet Summer Dresses {Patterns + Inspiration}

Ruffle Crochet Dress

I've been challenging my computing skills in designing crochet clothes lately, and something is already peeking at the horizon, but until I have something tangible to show you, here's my latest inspiration board consisting of crochet dresses. 

The patterns, if any are given right below the image. If it says inspiration, that means there is no pattern / chart for that particular dress. Also for more inspiration you can check my 

Crochet Dresses as well as Crochet - My Obsession Boards. 

All the images in this post are found via the "crochet summer dresses" search term. 

Textured Crochet Dress

Inspiration

 

Inspiration

 

Crochet Shell Dress

Want to check some other roundups?

 Try 15 Crochet Dress Patterns and Charts 

Or 9 Free Crochet Dress Patterns

Some Skirts maybe? 
Or Tunics?

HAVE FUN!

DIY Crochet Flower Bookmarks

Here's a lovely project to tackle - crochet flower bookmarks. Don't need to say they make lovely gifts and you can put all your yarn lefties to a good use. 

Let's start. For the bookmarks I used sport yarn and 1.9 mm hook. You can use thicker yarn + adequate hook, but remember that in that case the size of these would be bigger.

Forget-me-not  pattern 

Ch 5 and join to make a ring. 

Rnd 1: Sc 9 in ring and sl st with 1st st - it will make 10. 

Rnd 2: Ch2, dc3, hdc1 in the first stith, sc 1 in the next. Repeat this pattern around. You will get 5 petals. 

Rnd 3: Over the 1st petal: ch2 +dc1 in the 1s st, dc2 in the 2nd, treble 2 in the 3rd, dc2 in the 4th and dc1+hdc1 in the last (5th) stitch. Sc between petals and repeat the petal pattern for the next petal. 

Flower stigma (center)

Ch 6 and join to make a ring. DC10 in ring. Join with a sl st to end. 

For the stem I chained 65 - used a standard A5 book format to measure it fits. Near the flower I made a leaf. Leaf pattern below. At the bottom I made a loop, turned it and made sl st the other way. In the loop I inserted a "flower center" How do you make that? Ch 5 and join. Sc 5 or 6 in the ring and voila!

Leaf pattern

Ch 7. Sl st in 2nd st from hook, next hdc1, dc1,dc1, hdc1, sc1. 

Calla Lily

For the calla, ch 5 and make a ring. 

Rnd 1: In the ring, ch3 and dc5. 

Rnd 2: Turn work. Ch3 (counts as the 1st dc) and dc1 in the 1st st, dc1 in the second. Repeat making dc2 in one st, dc1 in the other to the end. (9)

Rnd 3: ch 3 +dc1 in the 1st st, continue making 2dc in every stitch to the end. (18)

Rnd 4: dc1 in the first 5 st. Next, dc2 in the next st, dc 1 in the other. Repeat this 4 more times. Dc1 in the remaining 4 stitches. (23)

Rnd 5: Turn work and sl st in the first 3 stitches. sc 1 in the next 2st, hdc1 in the next 2st, next dc2 in one st, dc1 in the next - repeat this 4 times, dc2 in one st again. Next, hdc1 in the next 2st, sc 1 in the next 2st, sl st in the remaining 3 st. 

For the filament - ch 20, double the chain and put in center of calla. You will sew it together with the calla. Thread yarn and sew the sides of the calla sewing the filament too.

Take green yarn and ch 5 through the calla's bottom, and join the stitches as you would for a ring. Next, chain a long chain (65). When at the bottom, ch 7 more for the leaf, crochet the leaf pattern and to make the other side just crochet in the reverse. When done, insert the hook through the leaf, yarn over and sc on the top of the leaf. Continue making the stem by making hdcs in every st to the upper end. 

I made the big calla leaf separately and afterwards sewed it on. The pattern for it: Ch 12. Sl st in the 2nd st from hook, hdc1, dc1 in the next 2 st, tr2 in the next 2 st, dc1 in the next 2, hdc1, sc1, sl st 1. Repeat pattern in reverse to make a full leaf. 

Yellow flower

The flower center as for the forget-me-not.

Ch 5 and make a ring. 

Rnd 1: Sc5 in ring. 

Rnd 2: ch 3 and sc in the next st. Repeat this pattern around. there should be 5 ch spaces. 

Rnd 3: In the 1st ch space - sc1, dc3, sc1. Repeat this pattern for all spaces. 

Rnd 4: Ch4 and make 1 dc in between the two dcs of the petal, ch 4 more and make another dc in the same st, then ch 4 and sc between petals. Repeat this pattern for the rest of the petals. Sl st to end it. 

I made two leaves for this stem and sc across it. For the bottom I used this flower pattern

and made some French knots to decorate it.  

Hope you like it!

Tiny Studio Ideas

Kelly Rae Roberts

I don't have a real studio. I've been dreaming of such for ages.
I have a part of my living room converted into a creative spot/studio. We've been searching for some small brick and mortar places to make into a studio for me, but the expenses are so huge, no person right in the mind would undertake such a step. So into the living room I stay.  That doesn't mean that my mind is constricted - no...no.. It soars up into fantasies filled with all sorts of beautiful rooms where yours truly could flaunt all crochet supplies, beads and findings, all my beautiful fabric and trims....

I don't let my spirit fall. I always look up to this quote:

Stop waiting for the ideal art/craft studio. Find a spot, claim it as yours and make art!

Here I am showing 4 of my favourite creative spaces / studios.
The first one belongs to Kelly Rae Roberts.

This one belongs to Alisa Burke. Hers is enormous but I couldn't left it out of this post. 

Hannah has an enchanting creative corner.

And finally there is Alicia's shed transformed into this gorgeousness!

How about you? Do you have a studio? If not, where do you create?