DIY Paper Gift Bags - tutorial

 

With Christmas being around the corner, I want to share a DIY Gift Paper Bag idea, something I have been using for more than a year now to make my own bags.

It's pretty inexpensive, contains the ecological element in itself (if you use recycled paper) and is as cute as a candy.

     

What you need:

1. Gift wrapping paper or if it is a small project you can print your own designs on A4 paper or use some free printables.

2.  Paper doilies

3. Clear glue

4. A puncher and scissors

5. Not shown (but necessary): thread, ribbons, decorations, cards 

               

 Measure how much of the paper you are going to need. Put your gift on the paper and fold the ends over it to see how big your bag is going to be. Cut it out and fold to see if all edges are equal.

Fold the edges (2 mm / 0.8") all around.

Apply the glue but only on one of the sides and bottom (marked). 

 Fold and press going over the edges with your finger so that it is well glued. 

Next, I love to add a simple but effective and attractive touch in a form of a paper doily.

 Fold the doily over the bag and punch holes through both the doily and the bag.

  
Remove the doily, place your gift inside. Put the doily on back again, tie it with a decorative ribbon, thread or whatever you have at hand. You can attach your card on it or some small decoration. And that's it.

I love this project because I can make the bags in any size I need at the moment, in as many designs I want and it can be done in a matter  of minutes!

11 Free Vintage Patterns (an e-book)

Hello everyone,
Today I have some great news for all of you who like sewing vintage clothes.

The editor of  All Free Sewing, Anne Rosean contacted me with a wonderful proposal to contribute my Scarf -tee tutorial for their e-book project. I am very thankful for being honored and included in their e-book which you may find for free download here.

From this perspective I would have made the tutorial totally different. But I can always re-do it in the future, can't I?

If you like to see my scarf-tee, the tutorial is here
 
Enjoy the book!

Crocheted Bib Necklace Pattern

I have a new pattern (photo tutorial) made for these lovely bib necklaces.

Information about the tutorial in more elaborate detail given here.

1920 Inspired Headband

Last weekend my sister and BIL attended a Gatsby inspired party and all the attendees were required to be adequately attired. Sis asked for a headband knowing I'd love to indulge  and I really did. 

 

For this one I used a plain, elastic headband to which I added some beads and sequins, a pearl-centered button also decorated with sequins and some feathers.

Originally I had an idea of making it from lace and I wanted it to be wide, but no lace I had at hand was elastic and matched well with feathers, nor I could find the right one to buy. However, she liked it, they had the best of times and that's the most important thing.

 

A gift for a friend

A girl from  Jacob's class is having a birthday today so when we talked about what to buy for her, he said "Why don't I take her one of your necklaces". Those sweet words gave me warm fuzzies. Truth be told he's already given some of my kid's accessories to friends and their reactions have been overwhelming. I created this one by using the pattern for the Bohemian necklaces and one of the flowers from the famous storage box.

Blogoversary!

It was November 2008 when after a lot of thinking, cogitating and hesitating I pressed the "create" button and my blog was born! Although I started posting six months later I still consider November the birthday of my blog. 

This place is my creative nook, my online diary where  my fantasy world is unleashed and the imagination is rein free. I have enjoyed sharing my ideas, thoughts and whims, my creations and those of my children. From the beginning this blog was conceived, I hoped to make it a treasure chest where all the truly important things we make and do will be kept and preserved as heirloom. 

For me, it has been a unique and rewarding experience. But I couldn't have made it without you, my readers. Thank you for your comments and e-mails. Thank you for being kind, continuously encouraging  and supportive of my work! 

I appreciate it immensely! 

Crocheted Vine Bracelet and Necklace PDF Pattern

 

Hello guys!

I just released my newest PDF pattern.

 With this photo tutorial you will learn how to make crocheted vines and how to use them to create lovely accessories. 

I have included designs for two necklaces and two bracelets. With a little imagination these can turn into well of inspiration for other attractive pieces.

The photo - tutorial consists of more than 80 pictures on 26 pages.

Blogger distorted the colors of my pictures here, so visit my shop for the original photos if you are interested in this. 

Thank you!

Ribbon flowers

I bought a bunch of attractive ribbons and I decided to match them with my mini doilies. Originally I was to use them as an addition to some other flowers for girlie headbands, but now I am having second thoughts. However, inspiration never ceases.

In the world of tube necklaces

 

 

 

 

I finished my third batch of tube necklaces today and cannot describe the wonderful selection of colors my customers come up with. Unfortunately I cannot always snap a picture of all of them because it is either already dark when I finish, if not- then probably overcast or I am rushing to the post office to send them to their homes. But today, I finished while there was good, natural light to capture the last batch. 

 

The color palette is almost the same as for my Irish roses I wrote before, but the customer let me choose and I was in a romantic mood (is there a period when I am not romantic you may ask - there certainly is!) so... I just love how they turned out.

These make phenomenal last minute gifts and stocking fillers, so if you are interested I have an interesting offer. 
You can make them yourself, or I can make them for you.

Kids fashion: Inspiration board

Sometimes I wish the day would last for more than just 24 hours. 
I had fabric cut out to make some baby shirts and that's it. No sound of a sewing machine at work... sadly. I am still heavily immersed in creating crocheted art.

However, I ease my soul by (daily) checking my inspirational kids fashion board, filling my eyes with beautiful clothes, and wishing I own some of the pieces.

Here are my recent picks for girls: 

 

And picks for boys:

Check out  my kids fashion board. 

You.will.be.stunned. I promise!

For a purple fall

 

  

Lately, I've been crocheting a lot in purples. I must say I am a bit disappointed at the purple palette I see in yarn stores - there are just not enough hues and shades I'd like to see and buy. But since ordering from abroad seems a little too over the edge (price related) for the time being I have to do with what I've got.  For the magenta bead in the last photo I used a fuzzy yarn that has been in my stash for way too long, and although reluctant to what it might look like used on a bead  I am pretty satisfied it turned out great. I think I just found out about this yarn's niche :)

Until my next post, have a lovely weekend!

Crocheting baby gifts - a shrug and a beret

I   made these yesterday for a friend's baby. 
For the shrug I used a lovely puff stitch crocheted motif which I must admit looks more adorable in cotton yarn than wool. The beret was a breeze making it. However I am a bit uneasy if it will fit the baby (which is by the way 6 months old) since I didn't use any pattern but rather increased the stitches of a pattern for a 3-months old baby. I need to make a flower for it - I don't like to leave it bare, on the other hand whatever flower I put on it looks inappropriate. Hope to get my dilemmas resolved soon.

Irish Rose Necklace - a Photo Tutorial

 Just a quick notification.
The Irish rose necklace photo-tutorial is available in the shop now. It includes 2 variations of the rose pattern. 
You can buy it here.

Wooden Beads and Cotton crochet

When it comes to making jewelry - I only need a handful of wooden beads and a skein of brightly colored yarn and I am in heaven. Not hard to please -  do you agree?
This is a color combination I have made repeatedly this summer, both for me and my customers and it has proven to be a total hit.

As I mentioned in one of my previous posts there are embroidered beads being made in the crochet kiln and I can't wait to match them with my new batch of lovely woodies. 

Bye!