More wrist warmers

Another gray Sunday. I slept until noon and spent most of the time watching movies or getting lost in the big black hole known as the world wide web. I am rather talented in bringing my browser to its virtual knees by opening multiple tabs without any mercy. However, this peculiar habit seems to reflect the state I am in most of the times - too many things to do, and the unwavering will to conquer them all at once.

Luckily I did manage to get something done last week, besides my mouthwatering pancakes for breakfast of course. I needed to take some pictures of my wrist warmers, and U. has been a wonderfully patient and pleasant model to get these done on a sunny afternoon last week. Only a few more bits and pieces and they can finally go into my shop, whose opening seems long overdue. But I wanted a few scarfs and cowls to accompany them, before it's all set and ready for your browsing eyes. Soon, soon!

Giveaway winner

Thanks to all of you who entered my giveaway. I am so glad you were fond of the wrist warmers up for grabs. Congratulations to the lucky winner, commenter number 13, the lovely lady from studio meez (which you should definitely check out, for she makes wonderful things). Please contact me with your address and I'll send your gift as soon as possible!

For all of you who didn't win this time, don't worry! I will be hosting more of these giveaways in the future. And there's always the handmade gift swap, which you could take part in. The autumn swap has been so well received, and the good thing is; everyone involved gets a present! I am eagerly planning it for this summer.

100 Posts and a Giveaway

Here it is. The long-awaited blog post number 100. Let's celebrate! If you like, the oldfashioned way, with honking horns and a good glass of selfmade fruit punch. But since that kind of excitement is rather difficult to share virtually, I prepared something you may enjoy just as much, dear reader - a giveaway!

I've always adored giveaways on other blogs, and have found many wonderful and talented bloggers via links and recommendations. I couldn't wait to hold mine. So here's what's in store for you:

A pair of selfmade wrist warmers to keep your fingers snug and swift for all those craftsy projects during chilly hours. The floral fabric is quite cozy and consists of 10% wool, whereas the lining is made up of a very soft black viscose jersey. These can be worn inside out as well. There's a small label close to the wrist on the black side. Both fabrics are very elastic and will fit your wrists perfectly.

You'd like to win these? Here is what you must do:

1. leave a comment below this post
2. cross your fingers and wait until I announce the winner!

Easy, right?

I'll be holding this giveaway until the 29th of February and announce a winner on the 1st of March, using one of those random number generator thingies.

Good luck! <3

A creative day off

I'm having a day off on short notice, and enjoying it in the sewing room. Which is most of the time a real mess. My mom says it's a creative mess, though, and I like to mention this to surprise visitors, prior to any probable eyebrow raising when entering my craft room.

Did I show you my calendar for this year? It's filled with illustrations in the naive art style, which I adore so much. I once bought a painting from a street artist in Brazil, which had a rather inconvenient size for traveling. It was quite a struggle and left a few raw edges here and there, but I'd always do it again. There's just so much to see and explore in paintings of this style.

Another pair of wrist warmers is born, for a friend of a friend. I'm so moved that my creations are already arousing attention without me presenting them personally. These are very similar to the ones I sent to coco for the autumn gift swap. Which has received so much good feedback that I am already thinking about a handmade summer gift swap. You should definitely send me a mail if you'd already like to be part of the gift circle, but I'll also mention it again on my blog as soon as I can set proper dates.

Weekend is almost here, and so is our short trip to Amsterdam! I'm still yearning for your recommendations on what to see/do/eat there!

Have a lovely Thursday!

Furry wrist warmers

I am experimenting with new fabrics, probably due to the incredibly low temperatures outside. I used a 100% cotton fur, the kind you usually find your favourite teddy bear made of. It feels wonderfully warm around the wrist and keeps my fingers warm (at least in here).

I'll test-wear them today on my way to work, to see how the fabric behaves after a while. Wearing my items or giving them to friends for good feedback is essential to me. As a customer I'd be disappointed if the fabric of a loved item wears off, bleeds out after washing, or simply leaves threads and fluffs all over the place. So I'm trying to exhaust all possibilities.

Update

Yesterday I woke up to a winter wonderland and tried to capture it for you.

I've been a busy bee (that's why it's been so quiet here), anticipating every ray of light to make product pictures for the little shop (I finally decided to go with Etsy), trying to grow an avocado (it hasn't worked so far, and I've gone through a lot of tutorials to get it right this time), and drooling over my new polaroid cam which I purchased second hand (and which was of course a lot lot cheaper than the polaroid pictures I would have to load it with).

Next weekend I'll be going to Amsterdam for a one day trip only. So if you have any recommendations on what I should definitely see/try/taste/buy, I'd be so grateful if you left me a message.

I hope you're enjoying this late winter. We're having nearly -15°C here, but as long as the sun is shining and you've got a good cup of tea waiting for you, it's bearable.

New colors and cowls

Mum came by yesterday to dye my hair. I am trying to go from brown to blonde (which could end in a disaster if you don't really know how to use hydrogen peroxide appropriately). Mum is an expert of timeless and subtle elegance, so instead of boosting my hair straight into a bright color (which I was actually preferring first, since it gives you this "I was at the hairdresser's and am a new person now" - feeling), we go step by step every few weeks and the transformation is very natural and gentle. I'm at almondish bright brown right now, with loads of flattering facets.

While highlights were left to act for an hour, I made another version of the tighter loop scarf. Mum loves turtle necks, and having a separate one is the best option for her to turn non-turtle-neck pieces into the new favourite items. She chose a black jersey to go with the beautiful floral fabric you know already from I's scarf and A's wristwarmers. I love how she smartly combines it with a classic silver necklace and that timeless tweed jacket.

I hope you're having a good Sunday!

Cowl neck and loop scarf

I knitted this scarf for D already over a year ago. And even though the wool is of such high quality and amazingly soft and warm it can't smooth out the characteristic most loop scarfs seem to have - they're just too lose around the neck to really keep you warm. I know, it's also a fashion thing, and of course you don't really need to stay toasty in spring or summer. But right now, with the first snow flakes falling in January, you'd want your neck well covered.

So I made another cowl for D, to go along with both, his knitted loop scarf and the wrist warmers I made recently. Now he can enjoy the subtle fashion statement a loop scarf might make, without having to suffer the biting cold. Combined pretty with practical - done!

A few bits of spring

Bought myself some tulips to brighten up the kitchen (which has finally been refurbished after a year living with quite a few flaws). The delicate rose color makes me long for spring, but it just started to snow today.

Mum left me some scraps of this beautiful jersey fabric, and I had to make use of it rightaway. A little collection of wrist warmers and cowl necks is growing, it's so adorable to flick through the different versions. I'll show them to you soon!

More wrist warmers and shoppe thoughts

Cozy wristwarmers (and a matching loop scarf) for my friends. Mum's friend already ordered a couple of these, and I've been hoarding more and more fabrics for future combinations.

I still have problems deciding whether I would feel more comfortable with Etsy or DaWanda to open a little shop. DaWanda is still the first choice for handmade things around here, but I haven't warmed up to its layout yet.

What's your first choice when looking for handmade treasures?

Christmas wishes

All the gifts are wrapped, my bags are packed, and Mada is (more or less) getting warm with the new company, Willy. He's my parent's cat. They are kindly providing a foster home, while I am spending a week in Denmark with my closest friends, a group of 12 people I mostly know from school times.

We've been to Sweden last year, and I'm really looking forward to cozy evenings in sweatpants, opening wine bottles at 3pm, and the most delicious culinary treats of our wonderful two (male!) chefs. I probably won't have any internet access up there. So therefor I am already wishing you a sweeping New Year's celebration, and that you may not worry too much about resolutions.

As for the autumn gift swap; thank you to all of you lovely giver's who joined this project despite of stressful times so close to Christmas. All your selfmade gifts are so inspiring, and I am really looking forward to future projects of this kind. I know, there are still a couple of presents on their way, but I'm sure they'll arrive any time soon! It's been a pleasure to watch the gifts popping up on your blogs. Here's a little summary of your handmade treasures (I'll add the last ones as soon as they've arrived);

Claudia's, Lisa's, Barbara's, Lotte's, Karolien's, Syl's, and mine.

Thanks again, and have a wonderful merry Christmas with your loved ones.
Much Love <3