Bohemian Cuff Pattern

Hello guys!
I have  a new pattern in the shop. It's for a cuff I truly loved working on. Its lace body is decorated with (shiny) beads. I am working on another one in pinks! Would be just the perfect thing for spring!

Find it here.

Crochet Heart - free pattern

 

 

I had a plan to make a tutorial for the "How to read crochet charts" series and feature a heart pattern, just before Valentine's, but the chart I decided on was so unintelligible I decided to alter the pattern, and just write the pattern down.

 

Let's start:

With your hook and choice of yarn / thread (I used 1.9 mm  hook, sport yarn) Chain 8 and join to make ring

 

Round 1:

Inside the ring, chain 3 (counts as the 1st dc) and dc 3 more. "Chain 2 and dc 4". Repeat from "to" 2 times. You end the round by chaining 2 and sl st into the 1st chain of the round.  



 

 

Round 2:

This is a bit tricky - in that 2-chain you just made, chain 3 and dc 3. "Chain 3, skip the crochet part (the 4dcs below) and in the chain space dc4, chain 2 and dc4 more" (all in that chain space).  Repeat the "pattern" to make a full round. To end the round dc 4, ch2 and join with the beginning dcs with a sl st.

 

 

 

 

Rows 1+2: we'll be working on making the upper sides of the heart.

 

Without cutting the yarn, chain 2 to bring the yarn closer to the 3-chain space. In the 3-chain space dc14, then chain 1, turn work and sc in all the 14 stitches across. Sc across the middle (center part) and when you come to the 3-chain (on the other side) fill it.

 



That means dc14, ch 1,turn work and sc in all the 14 stitches across.  Cut the yarn and tie / weave the end.

 



Making the border: insert new color in the center part / middle of the heart

 

Round 3: dc in every stitch around. To end, join with the 1st dc with a sl st. Cut yarn.

 

Round 4: picot round

Insert the yarn at the left upper side of the heart.

Ch 4, make a picot, skip 1, sl st in next. Repeat this pattern to fill the heart and its right upper side. And that's it.  

 I hope you enjoy making this lovely heart. You can use it as an ornament, a doily, as applique, make a bunting or whatever you can think of.

If you are curious about the unfortunate chart you can see it here.

Later tonight you can get this as a step-by-step tutorial attached as a gift pattern to this heart bunting.

 

Nora Leschinski from Leschiwelt - Reclaimed Wood Art

In my pursuit for incredible and original artists I came up upon  Nora from leschiwelt.

I was immediately captivated by her breathtaking and strikingly beautiful wood carved and painted pieces. And I am sure you would agree.



In her About page on etsy she says: "I first learnt how to handle a chisel in a rural, off the road, mountain village.
Shortly afterwards I studied woodcarving and was able to broaden my horizons beyond sculpture to develop my passion for pictures and stories - i.e. illustration. Later this lead me to assist a paper artist in the french Ardeche, from whom I learnt to love the textures and elasticity of paper.
Since 2010 I have been freelance using various materials, such as wood, paper, wire, found objects, natural materials, colors etc… the huge barn next to my house is an ideal workspace for planning, building, dreaming and being creative - here is where all the things you have just seen have been created".

Inspired by the nature she carves enchanting stories, filled with life and color. They are irresistible!

Visit her shop for more goodness!

 
*All photographs used in this post belong to   Nora Leschinski*

♥♥♥ Happy February ♥♥♥

 

 

For us, it started with a thin layer of snow which is gone by the time I am writing this and the sun is shining with all its might making it spring like outside.

This is another sneak of the Mori collection in the make - a brooch.

I wish you a happy and exciting month! 

Romantic Mori Necklace

 

Happy Friday people!

Today I have to show you my newest necklace from the "Romantic Mori" Spring Collection I am working on right now. You know I love mixed media projects, and because I cannot resist fabric especially when it comes to incorporating it in my crochet jewelries, I decided to make a collection of this mix.

Usually I am a color dependent person, but I leaned to the most practical side  of my work and that is to use pieces I already have in my stash. I have mentioned many times that there are boxes of crocheted flowers and other bits and pieces just lying around and finally I am clearing away the clutter and using them for my newest collection.

I am so excited about this project and I can literally burst with all the ideas and inspiration I have right now.

More Mori soon :)

 



Pom - Pom Headband DIY

 

 

Today we played with pom-poms again. This time we made a pom-pom headband using one of Eva's metal ordinary old ones and some mohair poms which turned out great.

 

I think it looks fabulous for a winter "snow -queen" look :)

 

 



 



Heart Bunting and a 3D Heart - crochet pattern

 

 

 Just in time for Valentine's, I am presenting my Heart Bunting and 3D Heart. It is such an easy pattern but I worked on it for a while to get it just as I imagined it and I am quite satisfied how it turned out.

 

I am making a ton of the 3Ds because, Eva was born on Valentine's so we are going to make brooches for her girlfriends as gifts for the birthday party. And the bunting will also come in handy.

 

I am happy we started off fairly early and we are almost done  with them and that I don't have to make them until the last day!

 

The pattern is in the shop.

 

Alexandra Ivanova: Dream World

 

Today I would like to introduce an amazing jewelry designer that creates under the name Sofija Filigranska and the creative force behind it is Alexandra Ivanova, whom I had the pleasure of meeting in person.

 

When I got to know her better it was as finding my own twin in the creative world. So without further ado, here's Alexandra:

Who is Alexandra Ivanova? Tell us more about yourself.

I have been living the magic of creating new worlds with my hands for more than ten years... Abracadabra!... and there you can see the tangible joy emerging from the heart. I am enchanted by the magic myself. It surfaces before me from loads of materials and techniques.
In the beginning I started making cards that told stories of people. Those were the starting point of a whole collection of jewelry composed of clay people drawn and painted by hand. After that I studied an old silver working technique.. filigree... That was a whole new world. After that I experimented with natural stones, textiles, polymer clay and everything I could find available for work.

What is your latest collection and what influenced you to make it?
My latest collection are the dream necklaces. The motifs that appear throughout are the cities that are someone's dream, for example Paris or New York, or minutia of cities I have captured and that do not belong to a specific city, like for example my necklace showing the city with a sky in its heart.  I cannot pinpoint a certain thing that influenced me do it; it just happened - it was the moment for those images to become real through the necklaces and they made so many people happy.

Where do you look for and find inspiration?
I get inspired, if I can put it this way, when the power of visualization  materializes and becomes palpable. I thoroughly enjoy when ideas spring out of my hands, in fact I live for that moment and I believe that people recognize my joy and we share it together.  

What are the motifs that often appear in your creations?
The most applied motifs are the cities in my latest collection but they result as a portrait of a certain emotion, not just structure ... those are cities with souls.

Materials to work with. What are you favourites?
I don't have a favourite material but I've come to notice that lately I love materials that give me the possibility to drew on them  and to use colors. Everything that represents foundation for drawing is alluring to me.

What are you working on at the moment?
At the moment I am working on a collection of bow ties. The motifs of cities drawn on wooden foundation. I am completely enchanted by the moment of creation.  

Is there a technique or a style that you'd like to try and experience in the future?
Porcelain is my dream and I feel it is rushing towards me.

What are your plans for the future?
My mission all these years have been not to have free time... I want to be free all the time. And you see.. it has become reality. I enjoy my life and share the joy from it.

 

I hope you enjoyed the interview and the images of her work. If you are interested in her jewelry, Alexandra takes commissions and you can make your order here.

Winter Mori Cowls and Scarves

After waiting for more than a week for fair conditions in my household for shooting these cuties, they are finally here.

These are part of my Winter Mori Collection, and I made them having the concept of the Mori girl in mind. They all feature a different pattern and to make them stand out I have added beautiful lace ribbons and pieces.

I cannot pick a favourite  - I really can't. Each has its own attractiveness, although I am most taken by the lace on the orange cowl. My Gosh! It is breathtaking! I must use it in other projects in the future!

 

 

 

What makes these cowls and scarves great is the possibility of changing wearing styles, so they never get boring.

 

If you are interested, they are listed in the shop