Tribute to the Grimm Brothers

Today Google takes us back to our childhood with an interactive doodle celebrating 200 years of Grimm’s Fairy Tales. Have you seen it?
Along with Andersen, the  Grimms have been my favourite storytellers since I was a little girl and I passed the love of their fairy tales onto my children. 

Last year I bought this book to add to my collection and it does hold a special place.

And now, if you missed it - Google's tribute to the anniversary!

The Red Riding Hood

 I gathered the kids around to see this cartoon and we all loved it! Everyone participated in retelling it and the trashing of the wolf  cracked us up!

Shop Notification: PDF Tute for the Vintage Inspired Necklace and Ring

There is a photo - tutorial for this necklace and ring if you want to try it.

Here

Magenta love

 

I cannot stress enough how much I love this color. Really love it! I had bought the same color of beads but couldn't decide how to combine them both. The necklace evolved slowly; it varies a lot from my original idea and I am glad it does. I combined my favourites: crocheted tubes, beads and a flower.

 

 

The base of the flower is an actual African flower onto which I sewed a lace trim (coiled into a flowery shape and added a crocheted bead on top). 

 

12.12.12

So, while browsing my daily blog roll I couldn't skip Katy's (of No Big Dill) interesting idea to capture the day in pictures, and decided to snap several photos to mark the date! I didn't manage to make 12 photos though I believe the ones I took are enough to remember the day.

 At 2:12 I was finishing an order.

At 4:12 I was helping Jacob with Maths.

 

I had my afternoon coffee checking my blog, shop and pinterest page.

A little after 6 we practiced reading. His favourite Pixie book.

 

We made some chocolate pudding and after dinner we are going to watch the Rise of the Planet of the Apes with a bowl of popcorn.

What about you! What did you do today?

Ecru vintage inspired necklace and ring

The latest set I've been making a tutorial for. Thanks to the snow the light beautifully washed my room and I was able to work freely not worrying that darkness will ruin everything.

 

 Crocheted in ecru for  a real vintage feel.

Hello again with some new warmers!

A fine layer of dust has gathered on my blog and I plan to do a little dusting this weekend. To be honest I didn't have much time to do anything because since we returned piled obligations had to be dealt with and I got completely ground by life. 

I know I have promised pictures  from the cruise, but believe it or not that still has to be sorted out. Instead here are some pictures of the warmers I crocheted recently.

For these I used an extremely chunky yarn and I love using such because the crocheting is done with the speed of light and a project can be finished in no time.

They are in the shop.  

Due home

Yesterday our cruise ended and we got back to Rome again!
 I must say this was an incredible experience and we were a bit sad it ended. 

That's me striking a victorious pose returning from an unforgettable tour around Valletta (Malta). Both me and my husband fell in love with it .

And this is the beautiful Splendida that was our home for a week and which pampered us to extremes!

Tomorrow we return home and next week I'd love to share some interesting photos here.

Rome - the city that captured my heart

I fell in love with Rome when I first watched the Roman Holiday as a child. It had my heart then and there;but finally, my long time wish to see it in person, has come true. 
And today I concluded that a person needs to grow another pair of eyes so as not to miss anything. 

The highlights today: on our way to the Colosseum we stopped to see the Trojan's bath. 
  

Soaking up the city on foot meant we were late for the Colosseum because when we got there, there  was a mile long line which we decided not to join because with our children that would mean that we have completely lost our minds.Decided to go earlier when we return from the cruise. We took some pictures though. . .

The Monument of the Unknown Soldier at Piazza Venezia 

 At the Fontana Di Trevi

 Tossed a coin as the tradition has it... I could just sit there and look at this grandiose work of art...

The Spanish steps 

Quite a tour for one day I'd say. Tomorrow, we board in the afternoon, but before that we will head to see the Vatican. 

Rome from above

Aerial view of the outskirts of Rome! 
More tomorrow. Although excited I'm sleep deprived.over and out.

Readying for the winter

Amidst the heavily burdened schedule of journey preparation,  some things are not to be neglected such as making winter supplies. We did the most delicious and favourite salads in an evening - "we" meaning  husband lent a hand. Unfortunately, this year we did not make any jam simply because we have left a couple of jars from last year. The children tend to change likes to particular foods so we try to suffice the current demand. Any good tips to share? Check out my boards here andhere.

Last Minute Gifts Series - Crocheted Necklace PDF Tutorial

Phew!
I've just finished my newest tutorial for a crocheted necklace. 

It was inspired by the Last Minute Gifts series I had here on my blog a year ago, although it seems as if it was yesterday. The series of PDF photo tutorials will include a variety of crochet, sewing and embroidery projects for making jewelry and accessories.

The whole process takes a lot of time, there is picture taking,  finding out a step is missing, re-writing, editing and much more...
But I am satisfied how it turned out and here are some more pictures for you to see it.

The pattern is available here

Crocheted ornament

 

This ridiculously easy to make ornament is the new addition to our crocheted Christmas decorations. While making a nice finish by adding felt at the back I had an epiphany! It was a perfect brooch. And now {as you might have guessed} I am hooked! I can't wait to make some more!!