Valentines DIY for You to Try

 

 

The Internet has already gone mad with projects for Valentines and I felt like getting on a late night train.

 

As you know (or maybe not), the day of St.Valentine is a merry celebration in our household because my daughter Eva happens to be born on the day. We love to have a project or two made to mark the occasion but nothing spectacular, because it is mainly a birthday celebration.

 

 

This year there were many lovely projects I saw shared and this is just a small selection I chose for my and your inspiration.

 

 

 

Let us start with these absolutely adorable fabric envelopes. They are perfect stash busterers and a wonderful gift not only to give to others but keep for yourself :)

 

 

 

I also loved these cute little treat bags which, after eating the treats, the recipient could use for treasuring trinkets. I would keep my crochet rings in these; just saying.

 

 

 

 

I have always been a sucker for pop up cards and this caught up my eye immediately. Doesn't require exquisite skills, and Lisa has the templates ready, so we just have to print, cut and glue. Onto the next one.

 

 

I am actually planning to make these for Eva but as a birthday card.

She does light my fire with her tantrums; we do fit - she was a tenant in my belly for 9 months, she fitted there perfectly; we are a perfect match when it comes to crafty ideas, although we have different styles and lastly she is my firstborn and will always be the princess of my heart.

 

 

A fantastic project to make - bath bombs. You can make these just for yourself or give to your girlfriends. They will surely appreciate them. I am sure my mom would go crazy about these.

 

 

 

Although it says wedding Mason jars, these are just perfect to decorate your home for Valentines and I love that they are made out of felt with a touch of twine. Lovely, aren't they?

 

Now something for the sweet toothers here.

 

 

 

This  is a catchy idea. To fill match boxes with something sweet and make the perfect match. Too matchy-matchy for you? I don' think so ;)

 

 

 

Now, we have a box of another kind. What do you say? So sweet....

 

 

 

 

Ok. Let's get down with some serious stuff. The trifle looks mouth watering and you can satisfy your cravings - here's the recipe.

 

 

 

 

 I couldn't leave out this delicious looking Pink Lemonade Cheesecake Parfait. Especially not with a name like that I couldn't. This one has your juices going and the palate waiting to experience heaven.

 

This is all for today. Enjoy the selection!

 

 



Inspiration Monday - Zaneta Gelevska - Artist

Zani is a compatriot of mine who stole my heart with her deeply touching paintings showing her unique perception of human feelings, emotions and relationships portrayed with an explosion of colors that grab the beholder and leave a powerful imprint on him. Her paintings tell incredible stories we can all relate to effortlessly.

 Love

 

 Love

 

Zani graduated from the Faculty of Fine Art Skopje, Macedonia in 1989. She participated in numerous exhibitions in her native Macedonia, involving herself in various art related projects. Her work has reached over 15 countries worldwide and is in many private and public collections. In 1999 Zani was invited to exhibit at the prestigious Blains Fine Art Gallery in Mayfair, London and soon after that she relocated to England, where she is now operating as a full time freelance artist.

 

Zani is always experimenting and her paintings are a unique blend achieved by combining acrylic and mixed media and a range of unusual materials. These materials have become a distinguishing feature of Zani's work and in many cases the materials dictate the form, as well as give the paintings their distinctive quality. Zani's paintings have a powerful strength and refreshing spontaneity with rich variations of colour and tone. Most of her inspiration is drawn from ordinary people and everyday experiences and events.

 

The work is often based on the relationship between public and private space, memories of the past and visions of the future. Zani is fast becoming a sought after talent in the world of contemporary art and exhibits her work during the year in a number of galleries in London and throughout the UK. However, a permanent exhibition of her work is on display, and can be viewed, in the Macedonian Embassy in London.

 

 

Reunion

 

 

Hug

 

 

You and Me

 

 

Happy Family

 

 

 Collage of Zani's latest work

 

 

Zani's studio

 

Truly amazing, isn't it? If you were hooked on these, you can find more stunning paintings on her website and you can also follow her on instagram.

Crochet Flower Motif Doily - how to read crochet charts

 

 

While searching for an interesting crochet chart for our reading sessions I came upon this lovely motif that looked gorgeous made out of crochet thread and much more beautiful than my crochet motif made with sport yarn. So if you are willing to try it with a lace thread, you'd get an incredible motif for a scarf or a tablecloth if you are feeling adventurous :)

 

 

The chart

 

 

 

The pattern

With desired yarn and hook (see recommendation above):

 

Chain 6 and join to make a ring.

Rnd 1: In the ring Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc +2 chains), dc1, ch2. Repeat this pattern 6 times. There should be 8 posts (dcs) in the round.

 

Rnd 2: sc over the dc and sc3 in the chains all around (a total of 32 scs).

 

Rnd 3: ch 5 and dtr1 in the (same) first st. Dtr1 in the next st, ch 5 and sc in the next st. This is only half of the petal done - it will be complete in the end. Next, ch 5, dtr1 in next st., dtr2 in the next st, dtr1 in next st, ch 5 and sc in the next st. The second petal is done. Repeat pattern 6 more times. To end the round and finish the very first petal, ch5 and make a dtr in the next st. Sl st in first made 5-ch to end round.

 

Rnd 4: ch 1 and sc over the 1st dtr of rnd below. Ch 12 and sc between the two dtrs (you made in the same st.) in the next petal. Repeat this pattern around.

 

Rnd 5: sc 12 in each chain. sl st 1 in the first two st of the next ch to start the next round.

 

Rnd 6: ch5, sk 1, dc1, ch3 and make a picot, ch 2, sk 1, dc1, ch2, dc1, ch 12, turn work and sl st on the chain next to the picot you made, next on the newly made chain, sc1, make a 3-ch picot. Repeat this 4 times (I will refer to this as the corner pattern). After the last (5th) picot, sc 2, ch1, sk 1 and dc1 in the next st, make a 3-ch picot,  ch2, sk1 and dc1 in the next st.  Start working the next chain from the 2nd st. Make a dc, ch2, sk1, dc1, 3-ch picot, ch2, sk1, dc1, 3-ch picot, dc1, 3-ch picot for the second time, ch2, sk1, dc1 +picot, ch2, sk1, dc1 (this is the side pattern). After this, repeat the corner pattern and so on until the end of the round. Sl st to the initial chain to end the round.

 

Note: I didn't make the corners in my doily and made picots over all dcs.

 

 

Enjoy this!

 

 

Monday Inspiration - mmmcrafts

There is a thing that I regret once in a while and that is not being able to indulge in felt. I use it here and there in some of my projects, but not as much as I wish.

To be honest, I would love to heavily fling myself into it - forget about crochet or any other craft for a while and wrap my whole heart in colorful felt. And whenever I have such urges overcoming my creative self, I simply search the internet for any felt news. And I pay attention not to miss Larissa's colorful felt world. I love to drop on her blog occasionally to see what magnificent creations she has come up with.

There is not much you can find about her except that she is a: "Follower of Christ, wife of my hero, mom to two crazy girlies, home school teacher, pattern designer, paper cutter, sewing junkie, and voracious reader. I'm addicted to all things artsy and craftsy. And coffee."

But I guess this says a lot  about the person she is if we read between the lines, doesn't it?

Her ornament patterns are one of a kind I am sure you'll agree. She pays great attention to the meticulously executed details on the ornaments that leave people mesmerized with their folkloric beauty.

She has an amazing shop and IG account if you want to follow her.

 My other felt inspiration:

Heather Potten
Eliza Inspiration
 Rosa's Felt Workshop
Olga Gulyaeva
 

Crochet Girls' Brooches

 

Gang, meet my girls' brooches. For starters, there are just 4 of them and I hope I'd be inspired to add more to this "girl tribe". They are for dreamers and believers because they are such and prove that we can all be whatever we want.

 

Learn a tiny bit about them:

 

 

This is Olivia.

She is a dreamer and an adventurer. She loves to explore the world and go on wild, exciting travels and adventures. Riding a camel in the African desert, turning the chimes in Bali or rafting on the Amazon, she has her journal and pen close by, carefully writing down her experiences.

 

This is Scarlett. She has a high sense of fashion. Always spruced up from head to toes, charmingly flaunting the latest fashion, one would often find her  in front of the mirror trying on new pieces or at her desk, drawing and designing clothes and accessories. She is going to be a fashion designer.

 



 

Sophie is a nature person. A bit of a tomboy really, but very kind and sweet. She loves being in the country and going on long walks through the flower strewn fields. She adores animals and wants to become a vet.

 

Lillian is a hopeless romantic.

Buried deep into books, she dreams of a better world, a world in which everyone will help and be kind  to one another. She hopes to become a writer one day.

I cannot tell you how much I enjoyed working on them, making up their characters as they were shaped by the hook, thinking about their wishes, interests, hopes....
They will be offered for sale in the kids' shop I am slowly filling up. More kids' stuff is underway.

Victorian Inspired Mixed Media Necklace

 

 

I don't know about you, but this whole week slipped away unnoticeably and smoothly and somehow I lost the thread of it all.

My full time job is keeping  me on my toes, tearing me away from my beloved hook, laughing out at my long term plans, tripping me every few steps. Hence progress in my creative world is slow but I am thankful for every single minute I can spare and create.

 

 

 

I started with the idea of a collection that would be entirely inspired by the Victorian era - you might remember my Victoriana brooches I made back in 2016. I am still hooked up on the idea for the collection and several pieces are already in progress, but this one got finished first and it was the easiest piece I have ever tackled.

 

 

 

It literally got finished in 15 minutes because I used flowers that had already been made and to top it I also added a pin given to me by a dear colleague which wasn't worn much but now I will flaunt it happily. 

 

 

 

After I took the photos I realized it could bear more bling so I am all set to adding some more of my pastel pearl beads. My motto of late has been if you think less is more, think twice. Because it has proven that the more I add the better it gets. So less is never more when it comes to my creations and that is it. Before I ramble some more, I wave you goodbye, but please come tomorrow - I have some girl brooches to show you.

 

Insta love - Inspiration Mondays

Happy Monday all! 

I've been a little lazy posting our traditional Monday instagram inspiration in the new year, trying to break the routine and keep a clean slate for a while. It did feel good to change some things around here, though not radically, because I would really like to keep the inspiration Mondays in our schedule and focus on sharing some interesting artists and craftsmen. 

Today I am showing off a board I made with my "liked" posts on instagram in an eye-pleasing color palette. 

hubs_united, abeautifulmess,  bohemiandecor, lesley_lau, dottieangel,bobbimac, boka_smoka, alley_real, mobiusgirl, misha_and_puff, arnhem_clothing, keepingwiththetimes

.

Repurposed Wooden Boxes Idea

 

 

For Christmas I bought some stars and Santas that were packed in these small and cute plywood boxes. The minute I saw them I knew they were up to a change.

 

What I did. I chose beautiful fabric and a decorative velvet ribbon.

 

I measured the little squares and cut the fabric accordingly.

 

 

Glued the bottoms with white glue and applied the fabric pieces.

 

 

 

Applied glue on the sides of the box and glued the ribbon too.

 

 \

 

When it was finished drying I added the birdies.

 

 

I could think of tons of ways to use these: trinket, jewelry / office supplies holders, fun to keep sewing supplies in; especially cute if you are a miniature fan so you can add some toys here.