Birthday wishlist 2

There has been a little change of situation since the last time I have spoken about my birthday wishlist. I have chosen the sewing machine instead of the interior design course. I think this is the best for me at the moment. But I just can't wait to see my new Brother INNOV-IS 35! Today I'm gonna pick it up and buy a bunch of extra foots for my future projects. This way, a new wish added to my list:

7. Embridery yarn, I mean Cotton perle yarn from Puppets! I like very much this kind of yarn, it comes in so many shades and even gradient colors! And it comes in little clews, so I want a whole collection of these! I already have some shades, but there are so many others... Anyway, any kind of pearl cotton would work ultimately...

     

Birthday wishlist

My birthday is coming next month and, as I was thinking about getting me some tools and goodies to brighten up my everyday life, I came up with a wishlist quite big to fulfill at once (or at least this year). However, I can't decide for just one item. As a matter of fact, I already made up my mind for one of them - that is an interior design course that I would have wanted to follow a long time ago, but that would clarify some thoughts I am making about our future home, after we get married and I finish my studies.

Next, here they are, a few of my everydaydream wishes:

1. Moon clutch bag by Dana Rogoz. By the time I started working with her father, I had no idea who she was and just how famous she was, but now I check her blog from time to time and I just dream about the moments when I will accesorize my wedding, my trips and my everyday outfits with one of her purses. The main idea of MOON by Dana Rogoz is that you can wear over and over again the same clutch, but with different faces, which are detachable. This way, you don't have to spend more money each time you have an event or a meeting or anything by buying a new purse. I am thinking about wearing a white mirrored purse at my wedding, because that would represent such an amazing idea even for the photos. And a minimoon in my trips and outs. And maybe make my own removable faces for them (in crochet, of course). PS: remember the accessories (detachable straps and faces)!

 

 2. FIMO. In all possible colors. I can't decide yet which would suit me better, the classic or the soft version. Anyhow, I can't wait to try them. (And, first, to have them, of course). I think I would mostly use white, anyway, because it's versatile and maybe I could try dyeing it with food colors? Hmmm....

3. The same company that manufactures Fimo also makes colourful markers that are best recomended for painting on Fimo! I can't figure out yet if they are appropriate for clothes painting, because that is what I wish next...

4. Textile markers/painting. I think markers would be a better choice, as they may be more precise, but I'm still investigating this subject, too.

 5. Stabilo point fineliner marker pen. Every time I go to Diverta, a big book market, I can't help looking at the Stabilo markers sets. Although I haven't painted or sketched anything in a while, I think I would be much more inspirated if I just had those! And they come in 25 shades, too!

6. Last, but not least, a sewing machine. Although I already have one at home, it's an old one that keeps annoying me every time I use it - it tangles or cuts the thread, it blocks, it doesn't mantain a constant tension on the thread, causing incorrect sewing, it's very fast and no matter how hard I try not to push too heavy on the pedal, I never get to make it work slower. Not to mention that it is very heavy, too! That's why I didn't get too keen on sewing yet, I guess. And I would really like a sewing machine with adjustable speed...

This is, for the moment, my birthday wishlist. Hope not to make it too big by the time my birthday comes, or I'll become overbroke!

Winter crochet

I originally bought the yarn for my mom, who has also discovered recently her love for crochet (only she doesn't like patterns, but free-lancing crochet). But when I put the colors together, I just couldn't help making something out of them. I don't really get along with acrylic very well, but its quite warm and it looks good, too. Anyway, I managed to finish three different winter(?) patterns using this color mix. Hope you like it too!

Links to the patterns:

1. French berret
2. Stripes jacket 
3. Mittens

African Flower Horse - Hermione

I must confess - is way much easier to crochet procastinate than doing engineering stuff. I won't get into details (it goes without saying that I'm really supposed to do something else these days!). 

Anyway, I just finished this cute african flower horse! I used Alize Diva - silk effect yarn (and I must say I fell in love with its texture), 2.5 mm crochet hook and this free photo tutorial (african flower pattern included). It took quite a good amount of motifs in 3,4,5,6 and 7 petals. And it turned out to be quite a big horse afterwards!

I imagined a different technique to add the hair - I used long tailed skinny pom-poms, I sewed in a row several of them for the head and a few for the tail. And then I added two buttons for the eyes. I thought that the buttons looked too manly for the colours I used, so I added a eyeliner to emphasize the girly look.

PS: I named her Hermione because I thought it would be a nice name for a horse! :D

Sketches for future crochet dresses

First of all, happy new year to you all!

I've been wanting a Moleskine notebook for a long time, so last Christmas (that is the Christmas of 2012) I finally got one from my boyfriend.

I didn't have any inspiration to start it, though, until yesterday. When I procastinated by drawing 2 sketches for 2 crochet dresses that I have in mind for this summer. They are both inspired from photos on web, related to crochet dresses. But, as it can be  easily figured out from the names I gave them, I intend to use granny squares, extended to the desired length of the dress. I am still thinking about the type off collar I'm gonna use.

The drawings are quite rough, as I didn't put any special attention to details, and did them in very short amount of time.

Anyway, I decided this year I won't put any of my energy in making items for sell, as this will be my wedding year (the wedding will be sometime in spring of 2015). And, further more, this will be MY YEAR, I really hope I'll discover my style, my pleasures and also, I'll learn how to better manage my time.

Thanks for you visits!

Cristina

Crochet Granny Christmas Tree

This original idea seems to be a very old one already. Anyway, thanks to Laura from Sew Ritzy Tizy who spied this granny Christmas Tree in an old woman's house, I was also able to replicate such a sweet ornament. As the name has already given you a hint, it is realised from simple green granny squares with white borders.   The baubles are simple sc or dc circles, and I also added a star (I used this free pattern) and a small string of sparkly yarn as a garland, to give it shine. I used a very small hook (1.1 mm) so my Christmas tree is only about 20 cm high.

PS: I just wanted to show you some goodies I just can't help adoring:

...and a little preview of the glittens I have made this weekend using this pattern - aren't they just lovely? :)

2 crochet cushions

I worked this cushions last summer, the rainbow one even did some trips in the car, but I only managed to finish the daisy one yesterday. They both seem to be very happy cushions, that's why I share their free patterns with you. Enjoy crocheting them!

1. Link to rainbow cushion free pattern: http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/blooming-flower-cushion.html

2. I made the daisy pillow using this photo tutorial on facebook, but I just found another blog that treats the same pattern, so it's up to you to choose which one you use.

Iv cel Naiv - Book launch

It's hard to translate Iv in english, but maybe eventually he would find someone to translate his poetry into a foreign language. Iv is a contemporary poetry writer who doesn't want to reveal his identity for over 3 years now. He calls himself "the Naive". He launched 3 books by far and has a nice blog, but I prefer reading his poems one (or two, or three) at a time, before going to sleep, instead of following his blog... 

Last night he launched his 3rd book, Nesfarsesc, that would translate something like "Unending". Andie prepared with this occasions a lot of french macarons and a little surprise for five volunteers in creating unique flavoured and colourful macarons, based on a poem in Iv's book. I chose a poem about happiness, "Happiness is for the happy people", Iv sais. I used almond, roses and a bit of red pepper to flavour my poem, brown, vanilla and pink macarons for mixing together and red colour for the filling. I even drew a yellow heart on one of my macarons - my boyfriend got the message and ate it in a second. And the surprise was that the volunteers could keep the books they found their poems in!!!

Here are a few photos taken by me and my boyfriend during the event. Thank you, Iv and Andie! :)

Christmas ornaments: take one

I started doing Christmas ornaments from the very first times I did something crocheted, but I realised I don't have enough patience to finish up most of the projects. For instance, the light bulbs in this tiny Christmas tree that I just bought yesterday were supposed to be part of a garland that, eventually, would have represented an advent calendar, but I managed to finish only 8 bulbs out of 25...

The star looks amazing, but I found it so hard to make, that I don't know if I could do another one.

The little owl was just a test for a pretty square, that I also found difficult and meticulous to make.

I have other Christmas themed ongoing projects, but I will show you when I manage to finally decorate the Christmas tree I have displayed at home for over a month already...

This is how it looks like in my office now:

Links to free patterns:
1. Light bulbs advent calendar: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/christmas-light-advent-calendar
2. Star: http://www.sascha-lovetoknit.blogspot.nl/2012/12/de-kerstster-christmas-cal-4_11.html
3. Owl applique: http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2012/11/owl-granny-square-crochet-pattern.html

4. To make the skates, I only looked at a photo, so I don't have a pattern for it. If you want to try something a little different from what I made, apparently there is a free pattern here: http://blogalacart.com/2011/12/ice-skate-ornament/http://blogalacart.com/2011/12/ice-skate-ornament/