Anne-Julie's Nebulous Kingdom

 

 

Welcome to another inspiring Monday!

 

The artist I am going to feature today is an illustrator extraordinaire, whose world is an incredible, colorful and captivating tale I am sure you are going to enjoy. I first came upon her art journals and have immediately fallen in love with her illustrations and jewelry designs.

 

 

 

A small introduction of the artist in question: 

 

Anne-Julie was born in 1980 in a small town in Eastern France. While still very young, she developed a passion for art and crafts. She kept on creating throughout her teenage years to maintain her creative desires.

 

 

In 2001, this passion is embodied by her graduation of l'École de l'Image, Fine Arts school (Beaux-Arts) of Épinal, with a specialty in illustration.

In 2005, and after a few years to find her way, Anne-Julie became a freelance illustrator. She worked on commissioned orders for various publishers and her work appeared in various catalogs, books and magazines for children in France and all over the world. At this time, her style was exclusively colorful and dedicated to toddlers.

 

In 2006, she developed a world that has both a dark side, inspired by the adult she became, and one side bright and colorful, which is a kind of reminiscence of her childhood. Her inspiration comes from her everyday life, people she meets, but also from fairytales, nature, music and movies, and her dreams.

 

I first came upon her art journals and have immediately fallen in love with her illustrations and jewelry designs.

 

 

 

 

Explore her world further through her blog, Shop and Facebook.  
 

 

9 Free Crochet Dress Patterns

 

 

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Happy Friday guys!

 

To tell you the truth, this wasn't such an exhausting week, but I couldn't wait for the weekend to come. And if you were wondering by any chance how to fill yours - don't worry, because I've got you covered.

 

Behold, your weekend project(s)!

Aren't the dresses gorgeous? Most of these are accompanied by charts and some with a written pattern too. However, if you are not in the mood to crochet a dress, just feast your eyes! I know I will :)

 

Via  Via

 

 

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Via

 

DIY Gifts: Crafter's Garland

 

 

 

Hello! This is a fine day to do some light crafting, don't you agree?

A picture I picked up on the internet stuck with me and I just had to try it for myself. It was of a garland with sewing supplies and I thought it is the perfect gift one can make for a crafter friend. And I rolled my sleeves up...

For this garland I used metallic thread spools and colorful wooden beads. It could also be made with buttons, embroidery floss (note the tiny skeins I made above), sewing thread accompanied with some whimsical pendants like a sewing machine or scissors. I believe every crafter would enjoy this kind of a gift.

 

 

Dreamer Princesses by Sofija Filigranska

 

 

One of the TLT designers, Aleksandra, has an exciting new project we were completely charmed by, so we invited her over for a chat.

 

Can you tell us about the idea behind the wooden princess pendants?

 

SF: I love illustration. I have kept to MDF with painted board surface as a material cut into various shapes for so long because it is an incredible foundation for my illustrations, while the same MDF board jewelry radiates a direct communication and exchange.

 

I have imagined the characters of the princesses for a long time… unspeakably long time. The idea may have had its origin at the time I created the collection called “Our People”. I wanted them to be real persons, each a tale of her own so that I could narrate those tales more directly. And maybe this is that original idea.

 

 

 

Who are the princesses?

 

The characters represent girls with which I have made a personal contact, socialized with them and they exist in real time. But during this process, other dimensions opened up. Some characters showed other traits which led to the idea of making princes so I have gradually come up with several stories about the interactions between them and I cannot possibly tell or know where all this would end. They are all going to be included into my new project – Coloring Jewelry Book, where people can color the jewelry they buy with their desired colors.

 

 

What materials do you use in creating this unique wooden necklace pendants?

 

SF: The princesses are drawn onto a MDF board, after which they are cut out by hand. I paint the princesses with different thickness of markers, colorful inks, watercolors and they are varnished with acrylic matte polish.

 

For more beautiful and OOAK jewelry, visit Aleksandra's shop and read more about her here.

 

 

 

InstaCrochet for Inspiration

 

Welcome to another inspiring week and today it's InstaCrochet on the table.

 

I've chosen an account I visit quite often for inspiration. necimeerciger has a wonderful eye for color and I love the combinations she comes up with. I also admire the patterns she employs to create her blankets, pillows and doilies.
 
Visit her on instagram for more eye-candies.

 

5 Beautiful and Free Mandala Square Patterns

Sophie's Garden

 Spring cleaning I came upon UFOs. Grannies in rainbow colors. The thing is that I have designed a granny square that still hasn't seen the light of  day for maybe a year now. Why? Because I wanted to make a baby blanket with it, but with all the things I want to do and try my hand at, I simply don't have time for it. So sad. But I am sure you all have piles of unfinished projects (?), so that's my comforting thought for now; knowing that I am not alone in this :)

Granny squares being my oldest and deepest love hold a special place in my creative world and today I am sharing a roundup of adorable granny / mandala squares I have found and would very much like to try. Mandalas are quite a crazy in the crochet community - have you noticed? Now you have some free to enjoy and make yourselves!

The Pondoland Square"

The De Rust Square

 Starflower Mandala Square

Spring Floral Headband - Kindred Stitches Feature

 

 

 

Hello everyone!

I am excited to take you on a short browse through the latest Kindred Stitches Special Birds Bees and Flowers Issue, because I was invited to contribute with a crochet project!

I contributed with the spring headband pattern accompanied with a photo tutorial (shown above), in a soft and appealing color theme that captures the very essence of spring.

 

 

 

 

 

This issue is packed full with amazing projects you'd be inspired to make this spring.

 

In their welcoming note, Janice and Lena say the following:

"Birds, bees and flowers are elements of nature that crafters and stitchers alike seem to have an enduring fondness for. They continually provide an array of inspiration and  as a result find their way into many of our designs and projects.

To experience the tranquil awareness of nature and to allow ourselves to surrender to its magic, can be therapeutic. Creatively, we need to allow our minds to be still, which will promote our imagination. Many studies have concluded that connecting to nature aids our immune system and restores the serenity and harmony that we find difficult to pursue in our everyday lives.

With this in mind, birds, bees and flowers have woven their
way into this issue. What better way to relax than with a project inspired by nature. Pretty little florals, the rustic charm of an owl, or the warmth of a quilt are just a few of the projects that are bound to tempt you to make and create something wonderful for you home."

 

 

 

You can download the magazine here, here and here

 

Watch the preview on issuu.

My deepest gratitude to Janice and Lenna for the invitation and the feature!  

 

My previous feature on Kindred Stitches.

Krista Raak - Bohemian Jewelry & Fashion Designer

Estonian designer Krista Raak creates amazing handmade accessories - a real world of romantic dreams - bags, brooches, ornaments, clothes.Her first works appeared  in 2001, and her  unique style of work, inspired by art, historical costumes and floral motifs, received a well-deserved recognition. Each piece she makes is created in a unique way and decorated with silk flowers, ribbons, sequins, laces.

She draws inspiration from historical costumes, dresses and accessories of the past centuries - the Victorian era and art nouveau. Upon seeing her work one must stop and wonder at these amazing pieces with the quality of antique-treasures.

Following the inner sense of harmony of color and texture, she creates her own unique masterpieces. Krista likes to mix various techniques, materials and textures in her works- like coarse linen beautifully matched and paired with delicate silk, antique lace and modern materials.

In her shop introduction, she says:
"My inspiration is carried from flow of dreams and senses,- being mostly intuitive I let the vision of colors and feelings lead me on in creative process. I love to mix techniques/textures and discover subtle color harmonies. Visions are often influenced by the colors of nature, music, poetry and grace of bygone eras.
At collages I have used photos and scans of my original embroideries and photos of people, nature and flowers taken over the years. Some altered details are from my vintage ephemera collection, vintage postcards, antique lace and antique paper/textiles."

 Krista Raak's Shop

6 Free Crochet Flower Patterns

 

 

We have a prolonged weekend in front of us and what better way to spend those free hours in the day than to crochet flowers.

 

These are free flower patterns I have made during the years - they are all easy and fast to make and quite eye-catching if I may say. Perfect for small projects like headbands, bobby pins, earrings and necklaces. Or maybe you can use to freshen up old clothes, pillows or blankets. Happy weekend!

 

 

1. Forget Me Not

2. Adenium Flower

3. Mini Flowers

4. Rosettes

5. Flower Motif

6. Six Petal Flower

6 Free Knitting & Crochet Shawl Patterns

 

Andorra Wrap

Since that unexpected severe temperature drop that shook Europe last week, my mind has been wandering over to warm, woolly stuff shaped as cardigans, shawls and wraps and I took a leisurely stroll through ravelry's street and found these beautiful and free knitting and crochet patterns.

Choose your next project please.

 Schal Quiraing

 Reyna

 

 Afetos

Lost in Time

 Secret Paths