DIY Shabby Chic Holder

 

 

 

 

I have had this project sketched in my notebook for such a long time I almost forgot about it. It is an easy, lazy afternoon project which can be done in a wink, and not to mention how adorably cute it is.

 

So what do you need to make this?

 

1. A piece of fabric (measurements depend on size of your hot pad)

2. An Ikea cork hot pad (they come in sets of three - how lovely!)

3. Wide lace piece

4. Ruffled elastic

5. Felt (as backing)

6. Filling

- stapler, needle and thread (optional: a glue gun)

 

 

 

 

 Step 1:

 

Take a plate bigger than your pad, turn it upside down and outline it. 

 

 

 

 Step 2:

 

 Place the lace pocket at the middle of the pad and pin it there as well as at the bottom. Sew the lace along the bottom part. Place the filling on top of the pad.

 

Step 3:

 

 Use a stapler to fix the fabric over the pad. I don't have any so I just used a running stitch to secure it over the pad.

 Cut a round felt piece as the back and glue it.

I don't use the glue gun often in textile projects, because it is neater to sew than glue, so to fix the felt piece I used the blanket stitch.

 

 

 

Step 4:

 

 Remember to add a string or something else at the top for holding.  Add (sew) the ruffled elastic around the pad (at the sides), along the upper line of the pocket -  and you are done!

 

 

 

 

 

This is a gift for Eva. She doesn't have a clue it's for her although she saw me working on it. I hope she likes it when she finds it on her dresser :)

 

 

 

 

On my hook: Crochet Lace Blouse

 

 

When I laid my eyes on this piece I immediately fell in love. It's a pattern by Let's Knit Series. The openwork is amazing and it works up fast. I haven't actually started yet due to too many obligations I have at my job but everything is set. I bought this Turkish yarn in beautiful shades of blue and brown and the yarn feels perfect to the touch. The only thing that I was reluctant to buy it is its size - the yarn is fingering and I will have to use a smaller hook (I am saving my eyes) than usual, but in the end I bought it.

 

You can see  what it will turn like here - this one's color- lot is 3307 

You can also follow Alize yarns on Facebook They have some fab free patterns and graphs.

Disclaimer: I was not compensated by Alize yarns or any associates to write this post. I have years' long experience with this producer and I am immensely satisfied with the quality of their yarn.



The Thumbelina Collection - crochet patterns

 

 

 

As a child I grew up with H.C. Andersen’s tales.

I was deeply enamored and enchanted by the magical and bewitchingly captivating world he created in his tales. Throughout my creative career, I have repeatedly sought inspiration in his works, trying to extract that ethereal, wondrous feeling his world creates and transfer it onto my creations.

The Thumbelina Collection is composed of 12 crochet pendant patterns, each featuring a different design and carrying its own story.

 

 

 

This tutorial is composed of the first three necklace designs/ patterns:

The Key to My Heart

 

 

The Pearl Garden

 

 

The Tulip House

 

Etsy     Ravelry

Spring Mori Mood Boards Inspiration

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can smell the wakening of nature everywhere around me. It's that particular smell of fresh earth, sprouting grass, early flowers. The trees are crowned with white and pink blooms.  Somewhere in the trees under my window there is a nightingale singing to its heart content. On my window sill my potted flowers seem to be evoked by the force of spring - they seem to gain a darker color and fresher looks. Wherever I look everything sprouts, buds, shoots and springs up.

 

I am ready to plunge into this new life being reborn once more. 

Shabby Chic Flower Bracelet Pattern

 

 

 

Hello, hello.

 

Let me wish you a lovely week ahead with this spring like flowery bracelet. I used some new flowers and my favourite taffeta rosettes, this time accompanied by lace rosettes and scattered pearls to make this appealing, vintage resembling bracelet.

 

Learn more about the pattern on etsy and ravelry.

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Crocheting gifts: Baby Cardigan and Pants

 

 

 

 

I just love working on baby things so when a colleague of mine became a gran to a preemie I wanted to make a personal gift and made the waves and pebbles blanket and this little set.

 

This was the first time I made clothes for a preemie and wasn't really sure how it'll turn out. For the cardigan I used this pattern by Lion Brand. I actually used it as a stepping stone and made it my way with several (small) changes. As for the pants - well I have mentioned several times that I am trying to make a baby pants pattern so this is my makeshift design. All in all, I like how everything came together well at the end and hope the little darling keeps getting stronger.  

 

 

African Flower Franzy - How to read crochet charts

 

Hello everyone and happy start of the week.

The African flowers greeting you today were made (believe it or not) about 3 years ago when I had it stuck in my head to make an African flower bag and went on a flower crocheting  frenzy. And after I had made them, I didn't like the idea any more so they've been staying locked up in a box.

 

Now I have another idea how to use them and if it turns out doable I'll share here. But now, let's make some flowers.

 

 

 

Ch 5 and join to make a ring.

Work round 1 in the ring: with color A ch3 (counts as the 1st dc), make another dc, ch 1, dc2. Repeat this pattern 4 more times, ch 1 and sl st into the beginning chain.

 

Round 2: insert color B into the first ch (of rnd 1)and in that ch space, ch 3, dc1, ch 1, dc2. Repeat this pattern (dc2,ch1, dc2) in all the chain spaces of the previous round (6 small petals will be made). When you come to the end, sl st in the beginning ch. Sl st again to bring yarn into the first ch space of rnd 2.

 

Round 3: In that ch space, ch 3 dc 6. Repeat this pattern (dc7) in all the chain spaces of the previous round. When you come to the end, sl st in the beginning ch.

 

Round 4: Insert color C in first chain of previous row, and sc 7, dc 1 in between petals. Repeat. Sl st to end. 

 

There are many other variations of this beautiful flowers for you to try here

 

Happy Easter!

 

 

 

Pysanki - Easter Eggs as Masterpieces

 

 

A pysanka is a traditional Ukrainian Easter Egg decorated with folk motifs and designs using a wax resist - batik method.

 

It is said that pysanky date back from pre-Christian era, and sadly there are not much intact ancient evidence for this because the eggshell is fragile, yet archeologists unearthed fragments of eggshells with wax-resist decoration to support that hypothesis.

 

 

 

Every family in Ukraine had its own special ritual, its own symbols, meanings and secret formulas for dyeing eggs. These customs were preserved faithfully and passed down from mother to daughter through generations. The custom of decorating pysanky was performed with the greatest care, and a pysanka, after receiving the Easter blessing, was held to have great powers as a talisman.

 

 

The dyes were prepared from dried plants, roots, bark, berries and insects and the egg was "written on" with a stylus.

Heated beeswax was applied to the egg with a writing motion and the dye sequence was always from light to dark.

Pysanki are heavy with symbolism. Starting from old superstitions and beliefs that it could ward off evil spirits, catastrophe, fire and bring good luck, harvest, health and prosperity.

There is an interesting reading on history and symbols of pysanki here and  meaning of pysanki colors here.

 

 

 

Natural Easter Ideas!

 

 

 

 

Continuing our Easter traditions on the blog here, I compiled some fabulous ideas regarding Easter egg dying, sweets and décor.

 

With the internet being flooded with tons of fabulous ideas, it was really hard to choose just a few - but these were chosen with my current mood being the main drive for action and this time I concentrated on a (more) natural way of dying eggs and decorating the place. Enjoy the selection! 

 

Easter eggs

 

Natural dyes/a>

 

 

Natural dyes

 

Moss eggs

 

 

 

Cottage Home Eggs



Easter décor

 

Easter Wreath



 

Rustic Easter

 

 

 

Easter Egg Shell Décor

 

 

 Natural Easter

 

Easter Pops

 

 

 

Easter strawberries

 

 

 

Flower Pot Cookies

 

✿Happy Spring!✿

 

 

 

photo by TheDizzyBee

Easter Gift Baskets - A crochet pattern

 

 

 

 

I love Easter. I have so many fond memories of celebrating Easter in my home as a child.  The preparations and the anticipation of Maundy Thursday was as exciting as Easter day itself for on that day my grandma dyed the eggs at the break of dawn. We always got to bed excited, unable to get to sleep, wondering what gorgeousness of dyed eggs we were to witness the next morning. For in my country it is a tradition the first eggs to be dyed at dawn when it is said they collect the power from heavens above and bring good health and prosperity. The first three eggs should be red - denoting blood - giver of life. The dyed eggs are left in a basket to be touched by the first rays of the sun.

 

 

 

 

I wholeheartedly and enthusiastically hold on to tradition and try to make Easter as exciting for my children as it was for me.

And it has become a tradition for me to make egg baskets out of crochet yarn. This year was no exception. I made simple, gift baskets for a memorable Easter time.

 

The pattern is on etsy, ravelry, Little Treasures.