Mushrooms

Holidays at mum's home are going on.

A thing I'm doing these days is drawing+painting.

I decided to bring with me in my suitcase the moleskine journal where I make my experiments with watercolors, because mum has a very big amount of watercolor pencils to test.

 

I started with a whole page dedicated to mushrooms.

 

I like mushrooms. They tell me something about the woods, about nature in autumn, about my lands of origin (the very wet Po Valley in Italy) and about my dad, an expert mushroooms' picker.

 

This is the finished page sorrounded by all my tools:

 

 



Look closer:

 

 

My intentions were to be realistic, so I copied my mushrooms from some books we have here.

I tried to include different kinds and species, with different colors and shapes, for more variety.

 

Quite satisfied by the finished page. I'm very happy to notice that my skilness with watercolor pencils are growing page after page.

 

Now I want to find another subject to challenge myself with. Any suggestions?

Summer essentials: a white t-shirt (+ lace)

Hi! I'm on holiday at mum's home with S.

I'm taking a lot of photos of our life here, but before sharing them with you I want to write a post about my last work at the sewing machine (finished around 2 weeks ago).

It's a white t-shirt, something every girl needs for summer:

 



I couldn't take very good photos of it on me, so I decided for this collage of the most interesting details of the t-shirt.

 

It is made of a very fresh cotton jersey, has raglan sleeves (my favourite!), borders around the neckline and at the end of the sleeves and lace underlining the shoulders line.

Oh, you probably don't know how much I love lace!

This one is recycled: I've saved it from an old shirt I had to throw in the trash last summer.

 

The pattern for this shirt is the same I've used last year for other two t-shirts, with some adjustements.

 

Now it's time to go to bed.

With a good book to read, because, hey, I'm on holiday and I can indulge in what I love to do :)

Good night!

Yes, another striped t-shirt

I love stripes!

I love them like polka dots.

You've probably noticed it before, because, since I've started sewing clothes for myself, I've made striped t-shirts everytime I had the right fabric for.

And again, I've just finished another striped t-shirt, the second one this year (here the first).

You've seen it (unfinished) in my last post.

It has striped in different colours. Although I'm not 100% happy about the colours scheme of the fabric, there is something I really like in it, probably it's to mix of blues and greens.

The things I like most of this t-shirt are that I had enough fabric to make 3/4 sleeves and that the quality of the knitted jersey is very good (so fresh to wear!).

To make it I've altered the pattern of this cardigan.

I've already worn this t-shirt for a very hard morning of work at school. And it was so confy and fresh!

And 3/4 sleeves are perfect for school in this period of the year, because they are fresh but more elegant than short sleeves.

The only thing that makes me sad about my new striped t-shirt is that I haven't finished it in time for "Spring top sewalong 2014" -___-

Oh, well, it's not so important! :)

Nautical colours

Did I write I'm currently reading Moby Dick? 

Uhm, probably I didn't.

I know that this novel is a classic for USA and of course it is very well known here in Italy, too, but it's not one of those novels you read at school or similar things. So I haven't read this novel before.

It is so different from how I've imagined it! 

Instead of adventures and dirt life on the sea, I found biblical quotes and philosophy. What a surprise! 

But I'm really enjoying it the same!

Whales and anchors are the protagonists of the evening drawings in my moleskine, because this novel is really inspiring me.

There are some creative projects in my mind and they all are around sea, big fishes and waves. 

So I decided it was the right time to finish a t-shirt with nautical colours (white, red, blue) I've abandoned two years ago.

I was in love with that knitted fabric, but something went wrong while I was making it and I was so scared about wasting it that I left the project unfinished.

But now, after some adjustements (I've added the sleeves and a white band to the neck and the sleeves) it's finished.

And I like it!!!

It's still to cold to wear it alone, even here in Sicily. But it will be perfect this summer, with a pair of dark blue jeans or a light blue capri pants.

Very happy about this tee.

I love nautical colors. They are simple and classic, but not boring.

There are some other unfinished projects (crochet!) on my desk which are in the same colours right now:

I like to explore new themes in my creative journey.

And you?

Simple happy things: yellow flowers

Little things which make me happy: the coulors and the elegant smell of these yellow flowers. 

S. and I are growing them in three different pots situated in differents corners of our home. They look like little stars at night :)

I call them "narcisi" in italian. I used to translate this word as "daffodils", but after a quick reaserch into my english dictionary I noticed that there is also the word "narcissus". Now I'm a bit confused about their real name, can someone help me?

They are so delicate and beautiful!

I like to have nature outside and inside my home, I need to stay connected with nature!

Share with me what you like into your home and if you have some little happy things with you in these days! Write a comment!

Other editions of "simple happy things" serie: October 2013, March 2013, February 2013.

Clothespins wire and cornstarch clay: a recycling project

In my November craft plans I mentioned my intention to realize some projects I've pinned into my Pinterest boards.

This brilliant idea has been the firts one that captured my attention: jewelry made with clothespins wire! Uh, uh, a recycling project, perfect for me, also because, for some reasons, my clothespins tend to crack and I have so many wires saved!

I decided to couple the wires with some cornstarch beads I've made this summer and never used.

They are flat beads, donut shaped, in different bright colours. I used them to make three pendants:

 

 

 

 

The avio blue one and the green are for me, because they are perfect colors for me. I want to give the rainbow pendant to my niece, who recently turned six. I think it's a funny gift for a little girl.

 

Hope you like this project!

And hope you are having a full-of-craft-joy november like me!

Shop update: fuchsia and little birds!

You probably know that I'm on new routes right now, that I'm trying to work on new things that are out of my confort zone.

I' ve experimented with new bag's models and I made some bags bigger than (my) usual.

Autumn suggested me to try something in a color I'm not used to: fuchsia.

 

It's a strange colour for me.

I don't wear it, because it looks too much on me, too strong and shocking (in Italy we call it "rosa shocking" = "shocking pink"), but I'm attracted the same! It's so joyfull and feminine!

 

So I've pick up a very soft fuchsia canvas received by Francesca and started to work for the shop.

 

Fuchsia bags!

 

The first bag I made is a Tulip Bag (pattern by me):

 

 

100% fuchsia canvas for the exterior parts and a romantic fabric for the lining:

 

Yes, they are angels playing trumpets! Lovely fabric!

As the previous Tulip Bag, it has two wide pocktes inside and it closes thanks to a magnetic snap.

It's in my shop here.

 

Quite satisfied by this first fuchsia bag and supported by the lovely and enthusiastic comments I received about it, I went on.

I decided to couple this new thing (fuchsia) with another strange-to-me thing: colour block!

And this is the final tote bag:

 

 

Fuchsia bottom, central panel in organic linen, upper panel in white with cute birds! (Love birds!)

 

The things I love most about this tote is that I've embroidered some details on the birds with the same fuchsia of the bottom:

 

 

I'm really happy about my idea to couple sewing and embroidery (not only in this bag!).

 

Insied there is a beige lining (cotton fabric) and a birdy pocket closed by a metallic snap (you can see all these details in my shop's page here).

 

About pink

Making a quick research into my shop I noticed I have 16 items in pink, and 5 are fuchsia. 

And it's so strange for me, because I use to say it's not my favourite color!

But for some (mysterious) reasons it is in my creative life much more than my favourite colors (green and brown). Interesting!

 

The fuchsia items I love best are the Felt bunny with fuchsia crocheted heart and the crocheted earrings by AuntFran.

 

Granny squares for music lovers

I've recently understood that crochet is not an "old-ladies-only" craft, but that it can be very modern.

And even granny squares, so "old style" [*], can be used not only for pillows and blankets your granny would love, but also to make something a modern girl can use in her modern life, eh eh.

And so I made a little case for my mp3 reader with four of the squares I've crocheted last august.

I walk a lot (I move in my little town mainly by my feet) and I like to listen to music when I walk. So I always have my mp3 reader in my bag and it needed a case to be saved from damages.

I really like it! I'm proud of myself for this little thing I made for me.

One side of the case is camel +white + dusty blue; the other side is camel + white + fuchsia:

I joined the squares by hand with some camel thread and then I added a zipper lining I made with my sewing machine.
For this kind of cases I always join the crocheted parts to the fabric lining with invisible stitches by hands, because the result is more clean, and this is what I've done this time, too.

Making granny squares is addictive (speaking about me). I've learned to crochet them last June and now I can't stop.
In August I made other squares with a similar color scheme, but with green and red instead of fuchsia and dusty blue. I hadn't precise projects in mind while I was making them, so now I'm looking for other clever ideas to use them for something I feel more modern than blankets or pillows.
Any suggestions?

But, of course, I also want high quality yarn to make a special pillow for me. In the future :)

[*] In italian they are often called "Quadrati Vecchia America" (= old America squares).

Stars and snow in July

Vacations  close to mum = cornstarch clay! :D

She makes for me the clay everytime I ask for it. I shape hexagons and stars in blue, red, white and green, because I decided it's not too early for working around Christmas decorations.

 

 

Then,when dried, I have fun fun fun painting on them with a tiny brush.

And voilà... stars and snowflakes come to life... in July, eh eh.

 

 

 

I worked a lot these days, can you see it?

 

 

Too early for snowflakes?

It's June, weather is hot hot hot here in Sicily and people are thinking about sea, beach, swimming suits and iced tea :)

I'm working on snowflakes.

Too early? Too odd? Yes, probably. But who can resist to hexagons and snowflakes? Not me, for sure!

 

 



I made some hexagons of cornstarch clay some weeks ago, with a little hole to hang them as Christmas decorations.

Now it's time to paint on them some snowflakes in white with a tiny paintbrush!

 

 

They are probably my favourite project with cornstarch clay. Since I'm not very fond of jewelry making I was a bit tired to make pendants and beads.

Now I found my way with this amazing material: Christmas ornaments :)

 

I've shaped a little star, too. Not sure about how I want to decorate it, but I like the white paint on red.

 

Not only embroidered stars and snowflakes in MadameRenard's world. Now they are painted, too!!! :)

Just for fun...

... I covered a bottle with crochet!

Sometimes we offer to our friends some drinks sold into little bottles, very common here in Italy (and in other parts of the world, I suppose).

They usually finish their life into the trash can, together with other glass objects waiting to be recycled.

 

But last week I saw on Pinterest [*] some covered bottles and I thought it was the time to recycle mine and make a tiny vase for flowers.

Although I'm surrounded by flowers and plants, I haven't a proper vase to put them, so I made one, instead of buying it! Craft power!

I haven't spent money for my vase and I had fun :)

 

I've simply covered my bottle with rows and rows of some green cotton thread AuntFran gave me years ago (previously used for this mouse).

I picked up this cotton because I want to add green to my life, do you remember?

Since green cotton finished too early, I went on with light cream (recycled).

You probably know that color block is super trendy, uh?

 

Now the new vase is in my bedroom. It is hosting two lilac flowers, near Zarina, the painted gourd Pam sent me this winter.

A lovely sight I can enjoy from my bed! :)

 

 

[*] I can't find the original pin that inspired me to make this bottle.

But in Pinterest you can find many projects around the them "covered bottle", like these covered with yarn, or cord, fabric, and even stones! 

Evergreens: white+blue

White+blue is a lovely color combo, a sort of evergreen used in a lot of products, from clothes to home accessories.

 

But my favourite use of this combo is in ceramic art.

I've always been fond of white and blue dutch pottery, that inspired Pam to make this lovely embroidery pattern (and look here for white&blue dutch houses made of ceramic... aren't they super cute?).

I recently discovered that this color combo is a tradition also for sicilian ceramic (here a piece realized in the city of Caltagirone), but here in Italy white and blue are often mixed with other colors, like yellow and coral red.

 

So, with all these amazing inspirations around white&blue pottery, I couldn't resist in making something for me with corn starch clay in these tones.

Well, to be honest, mum made the "ceramic" part of the work (two beads) and I put together a pair of earrings with the beads and some supplies we bought together during her last visit here.

 

 

A classic but fresh look I really like. I'm wearing my new earrings right now and I love them. They will be with me all the summer, I'm sure! :)

Accepting the unexpected

Some unexpected things happened in the making of my pendants.

 

I knew that corn starch clay becomes a bit darken during the drying process.

I saw it when I made all that pendants with mum last Christmas holidays.

 

But, hey, I couldn't imagine that my mint pendants...

 

 

... could became "caledon green":

 

 

No words for this! °___°

I think it's a problem of my tempera colors, because I haven't seen a strong transformation like this before!

 

Aniway, these pendants haven't the color I was looking for, but I like them the same. Pam said that "caledon green" gives them a vintage look and I like it! :)

 

Another unexpected thing happened to my pendants when I was vernishing them. The supersoft vintage paintbrush mum gave me for this purpose... uhm, it's probably "too vintage"... it started to leave the color of its bristles (brown) on the pendants' surface!

I was so disappointed!

But I changed my mind soon, because I noticed that the brown patina draws attention to the stamped flowers: now their petals are more visible, thanks to this "brown incident" :)

 

Sometime accidents give you beautiful gifts!

Spring tops by me

I'm very late, I know, but a lot of things prevented me from uploading my new handmade t-shirts in Spring top sew along photo pool till today!

It went wrong this year, but I'm happy the same, because I have three new me-made clothes to wear and also because I've learned new things making them and I can say that my sewing skills really improved! :)

 

The first top I made is this one in blue:

 

I've cut the fabric (a very fresh and confortable cotton jersey) using a pattern into an old issue of "La mia boutique" (an italian sewing magazine) and altering it a bit. I like the color, but I'm expecially in love with raglan sleeves.

 

Making it, I used for the first time twin needles:

 

 

They give to your sewing a professional look. You have to try to understand how they work good!!!

I finished the neckline following this Megan Nielsen's tutorial and I'm really glad about the result :)

 

Then I started a more simple project: this sleeveless top in black+green jersey. I selfdrafted it, helped by a top I refashioned last year and perfectly fits on me:

 

 

The fabric is so fresh, elastic and lightweight... I can't stop to wear this top! Also because I like the mix of black and green very much!

 



The last one is another raglan sleeves t-shirt (I really like how the first one came out, so I decided to make another one):

 

 

This cotton jersey is my favourite. I used a part of it last year, to make a (so tiny!!!) t-shirt for my niece C.

I like stripes and colors, perfect for casual look days! :)

 

That' all!

Now I'm working on a skirt and some handmade jewels. See you soon!!!

Adding green to my life

After a very long time, I finally had some time for creativity! A couple of happy hours I spent playing like a kid with all was capturing my brain.

Reinvigoraiting! :)

A lot of minutes passed with corn starch clay (I recently knew it's also called "cold porcelain").

Mum gave me a small ready block in april and it's still fresh and soft.

I coloured part of it in green, using a drop (of blue tempera color) and a drop of green.

 

Green is my favourite color, but I haven't explored it very much in my creative life, so I decided to work around this color as much as possible, this year.

I've recently developed a passion for mint green (this little bag has a big part in this for sure!) and I think I've obtained it with my mix:

 

 

With the help of the back of a paint brush I realized some tiny rings, very similar to some candies I used to eat when I was a child, inspired by this Portia's tutorial. I don't want to make a so complex thing, but I like the idea to have mint candies in my jewelry in some ways.

 

Then I experimented with my vintage buttons to impress flowers and abstract decorations into the clay.

 

 

I've also darkened a bit the clay, making its color more similar to emerald green, another tone of green I really like.

 

Now my works are drying:

 

 

I made 7 "candies", 1 rectangular pendant, 2 small pendants with a flower (for earrings?), 1 big pendant with a flower (for a necklace?) and 3 in darker green with circles and dots.

Mum would be proud of me! :)

Can't wait to cover them with the transparent varnish and then put them together in new one-of-a-kind jewels!

 

Another thing I want to do with the clay is making tiny baskets. I'm not sure about the color to use for them. Maybe royal blue?

Black+green is for spring/summer, too!

I bought new fabrics last friday!

Knitted fabrics for dressmaking, purchased for only 1€ each piece at my favourite stand in the outdoor market.

I picked up 5 pieces and 2 of them are green+black, a recent love (to me) in colors combos. I used to think these (dark) colors are right for winter, but thanks to these fabrics I changed my mind: if used in "frisky" patterns they can be used in spring/summer, too!

 

 

The first fabric on the left is for a sleeveless top, the second one for a skirt (this is what I planned, but things can go in different directions, of course).

My new clothes will look lovely with my black+green earrings this summer!

 

I've also bought an optical black&white fabric, a very strange choice for me (I use to say that optical patterns aren't for me and that I don't like black&white, but I think this fabric is lovely, don't ask me why!).

I think is good for a top, but it is too short in height, so I decided to pair it with a black fabric to make the "shoulder zone", like in this one or this.

 

Other purchased fabrics are a lycra sheet with a multicolor pattern (mostly light blue and green) I can't properly describe and a floral lightweight one in royal blue (love it) and pink!

 

 

No projects for these. Probably mum will like them (expecially the firts one) and I'll give her them as a gift (she will be here to visit me with dad at the end of april).

 

A little note about these fabrics and their price: they are leftovers from dressmaking factories, mostly the ends of big reels, ready to go into trash cans. A man collects and sells them with the factories' permission, of course!

Ecofriendly, don't you think?

Prices are between 1 and 3 € for each piece (it depends on their dimensions), a very fair price! :)

The funny thing is that I often find clothes made of these fabrics in the shops!

Last year I found (in a Conbipel shop) a dress with the same floral fabric of my first top, I saw a woman wearing a (not handmade) t-shirt made of the fabric of my striped top (but in cream and green) and last friday I saw on the stand the same striped+floral fabric you can see in this Promod dress.

So funny! :)

 

I'm ready for some spring/summer sewing! :)

I've already started to make a t-shirt in blue (fabric bought last year) and I planned to work on tops, because it's time for "Spring top sew-a-long" again and I really want to join!

Are you with me?

 

 

Pastel bags in recycled damask

Yesterday I published two photos of two new bags I made, writing a little note about the new "country inspired" background I'm exprimenting with.

I photographed them near to an old cement wall: it is in the back of our little house (ehm, ruin!) in the country.

Some photos on some trunks under the big mulberry tree, too.

Love these new backgrounds and the clean light! :)

 

And what about the bags?

They are made of recycled damask, received by my friend-upholsterer, Vincenzo. He gave me some sheets from old pattern books, in perfect conditions, as usual. They are very small, so I decided to sew little bags... pastel colors, classic patterns... perfect for spring events, like weddings, etc.

 

The first one  (an envelope clutch) is pink:

 

 

The pattern is by Ithinksew.com (Alanis clutch), but I've altered it a bit, adding vintage plastic buttons and ribbon.

It's a simple pattern, but the first time I tested it (last June) I made a disaster: this clutch needs interfacing, of course, and I choosed rigid fusibile interfacing, because my idea was to make a rigid clutch.

Big error!

It was almost impossible to turn inside-out, after finishing it, and I ripped some seams.

Lesson learned: for this bag I used my faithful plastic net and all went right!

So, if you want to make this clutch, remember to choose the proper interfacing!

 

The second bag is green, in a lovely tone between sage green and jade:

 

 

For this bag I worked again on Josy clutch pattern by Ithinksew, one of my favourite patterns of this brand (probably you'll remember I used it a lot in the past).

I love the back of the bag: it has a pattern of roses:

 

 

Both the bags have a lining in a natural cotton+linen fabric in cream: it makes a nice contrast with the shiny and soft damask and gives a touch of "rustic".