Art gratia Artis

gōng hè xīn xǐ

2012-01-23T05:10:00.002-04:00

Before and after:man's shirt-->woman shirt

2011-08-29T09:45:00.004-04:00

This summer I've made another "before and after", this time with a man's shirt, turned into a woman shirt!!!Starting from a size quite big for me...

...I made several cuts (neck, to get a V-neck shape, arms and waist line)
To reach my size I had to make a lot of plaits (upper part of shirt on the shoulders, front and back and around waist line)
..and this is the result (before ironing, as usual..).I also made two "strings" for the back ..in case I wanted the shirt more or less stretch on waist line..)
...so much fun!!!!

My creative space

2011-02-23T17:57:00.003-04:00

Sometimes when I'm studying, (actually, when I have to repeat to remember) and perhaps I'm a little tired, my eyes tend to wander around in search of something to "absolutely do it now",breaking the rithms of studying, as I have to start all over again..

So, I found that crocheting simple items like this necklace,(my first crochet necklace!) keeps my attention.

The crochet movement is repetitive and I don't need to "think or count"to do it, but keeps my attenction focused, so I can concentrate on what I'm studying without delays, and I can say that the punctuaction I've received on exams so far were very good, so that's working for me!

Thanks crochet!

I'm currently doing other two necklaces, but I still don't have any pictures...

..anyway..check out more creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

My creative space

2011-02-10T05:43:00.004-04:00

I almost finish a pair of cotton fabric "bunnies" to place around the neck of my daughter during long trips in the car...she usually fall asleep, and her head is falling down on the side..
I've seen head pillow around but they are usually slimmer than mine, so I assume that the head still fall on sides. So far it she said it's comfy, so I have to finish to fill it and then sew it close.

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo

My creative space:Happy new (chinese) Year!

2011-02-02T05:15:00.008-04:00

Today is the new chinese year, or springtime! The gregorian calendar changed this date later on so what we call springtime isn't the real thing. It will be the year of the Rabbit, and it should be calmer than last year, but underneath, should carry on silently whatever started last year..
So I made this fast springtime mobile for my daughter bedroom!

We will then draw different items to hang, depending on the season..or whenever we feel!

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo's!

Cuteki postales

My creative space:Before and after

2011-01-26T07:26:00.009-04:00

I hate to throw away clothes, so I usually store them, waiting for inspiration. I also love the "Desigual" style of clothes, but I don't like the fact that you find so many people wearing the same exact item as you do!So I decided to create something for myself with their "style"! This is an example of it. Starting from an old(more then 10 years old) linen shirt, I create a completely different look !

I cut in two pieces the shirt, the waist it was too large for me, so I made some pleats to stretch it. Then I sew some fabric (recicled from another shirt) a belt line with a fabric starting from the front. Two pieces that meet on the back line and continue (I then decided not to cut it, but to make a bow... sometime inspiration comes suddenly! ;D)
..then I sewed the "below the wrist" old sleeves two different pieces of fabric, in each sleeve, so that I can turn it and it still look nice, or leave it as it is. (you can see the 2 version in the last picture)
I sewed the bottom piece of the shirt, pleating once again to get the new waist line..
And sewed some more decorating fabric to the bottom. (I wanted to alternate sleeve/bottom, but the shape of the flowers didn't look nice, in the other way around!)
..this is the back "bow"..(and linen before ironing...owful!)
And then I hand sewed with a cotton thread around the neck, wrist and bottom, along the fabric and changed the buttons.
And this is the finished new shirt (ironed!). I'm looking forward to make some more! It was really a pleasure to do it!

See more creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

Merry 'Xmas

2010-12-26T05:08:00.001-04:00

MERRY 'XMAS TO EVERYBODY!!!

My creative space

2010-12-16T10:13:00.008-04:00

Every year I love to make the nativity from recicled items...this year, I've started from cereal and shoes boxes, and some toys from my daughter (trees and animals)....
..then I modelled some items with white clay...
..covered the cardboard with some paper and sealed with cello tape some pasta stars into the sky..(they reflect the light just light real stars!!) ;D
..made a little tridimensional "far away,behind the mountain" little village (with the base of a cereal box)..
..and for the animals to drink, I made a "fountain" with a cookie box ....

That was such a fun to make...in the next days I will carry on with more items...my daughter loves to be able to play with a little village...

My creative space

2010-12-02T04:55:00.002-04:00

This week we started slowly to make some Xmas decorations ("snowflakes" chain on the window) and a recicled cereal boxes nativity. Then I also share my studying time with the braided rug I started last week and keep practicing with the crochet needle!

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

My creative space

2010-11-25T05:50:00.005-04:00

This week I have my daughter at home with flu, so I cannot study. We spend time doing various craft, and I have started to make a rug weaving some old tshirt I've decided to recicle instead of throwing it away.

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

My creative space

2010-11-04T04:51:00.003-04:00

I can't believe how relaxing is to crochet ! I currently don't have time to learn some complicate kind of crocheting, so I go on combining the simple chain, one side to another,leaving holes on purpose to break "boring" lines....I have no idea what it will be once finished..but at least it works great to relax me!

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

Woof!

2010-10-15T02:08:00.005-04:00

Woof!Arf! A dog for my daughter! She loves them! Whenever we meet one she drool over, but with a cat and living in a flat, we don't think it's the right time to have one (we love huuuge dogs!who needs big spaces)..but she is soo happy with a surrogate!

My creative space

2010-10-14T06:58:00.003-04:00

Recicling a shoes box to make something for my daughter to play! ('still don't understand why we bother spending so much on "complicate" toys, if children are always ending up playing with the most inespensive stuff they find around!)

More creative spaces at Kootoyoo!

This moment..

2010-10-08T10:02:00.002-04:00

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama

My creative space

2010-10-07T03:35:00.002-04:00

An..ahem.."attempt" of crochet! Considering that last time I did it i was a child..I realize that too much time has passed by...i need to watch more explications video!

To see more creative spaces...click over to Kootoyoo!

Recicling old projects

2010-10-02T05:05:00.003-04:00

And this is the shirt finished..my daughters likes pirates (this summer we bought her a inflatable pirate's boat)..recicling a skull I made few years ago and two strings I cut from the bib, to replace it for a elastic one, so she can wear it by herself without having to tie it up. (the string are the same color than the skull)

My creative space

2010-09-30T02:05:00.002-04:00

Some times I buy plain shirts to personalize.... it's nice to have something unique..

For more creative spaces click at Kootoyoo!

Emotions

2010-09-28T07:34:00.005-04:00

Since my daughter was born I realize that she was a sort of "time machine" for my emotions.. I was afraid I wouldn' t be a good mother, of not being able to love her enough..and so on..mind you, before getting pregnant I didn't feel anything looking at a baby, while I would melt in presence of a puppy...

Then, after she was born, I discover I can love her(so much!I can't believe now how could I doubt it!), and be (I hope so, certainly I try very hard!) a good mother, and even, now when I see a baby, I feel tenderness...

So I start to think about this change...and realize my fears were a "blockage" I built as a projection of my mum's fears and of something that happened while I was a baby. And i'm sure of this, because of things that happened back then...

Then few days ago, while I was at the library with my daughter I found this book. It's written by Isabelle Filliozat and (I couldn't find the title in english)talk about children (and parents) emotions!

Exactly what I had been "discovered" about myself..and I think that is a book that everybody should read. It's one of those books that can help you to discover certain reaction that sometimes we cannot understand about ourself and just let pass by....a book that can help heal our soul!

This moment..

2010-09-24T06:28:00.007-04:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week.

A simple, special, extraordinary moment.

A moment I want to pause, savor and remember - {this moment}.

More of this Moments in Soulemama blog..

Hello there!

2010-09-16T05:36:00.003-04:00

Hi everybody! After almost one year from the last entry (really? I can't believe how fast has passed!) I found a picture with the frame I made with my daughter with the shells we collect last year on the beach...and just reconnect with the last post...here are the picture!! Better late then never ;D

During the last year I have swapped the sewing needle for the acupunture needle! And now I'm starting the second year! I really love it and I can't believe why the so-called "Occidental Medicine" doesn't want to merge his knowledge with the MTC....all in favour of the farmaceutical benefits...as usual, money rules..

My creative space

2009-10-09T04:28:00.002-04:00

A bit late, but I have managed to find a spot for creativity this week...

I have a pot full of shells and whenever I go to the beach I collect loads of them, and because my "nature pot" it's already full( of shells, sea glass, wood and feathers).. it's time to use them for something!

And then I have to finish this acrylic on canvas painting (I painted the same with watercolors on paper)..

More then 100 other "Creative spaces" at Kootoyoo's blog!

Swimming pool bag

2009-10-04T02:23:00.005-04:00

My daughter started to go to swimming pool classes and I needed a bag she could carry . I couldn't find a proper size in the shop: too big, too small, too edgy, too difficult to open, etc

So at home I found a cotton bag, (one of those that now replace the plastic bags in supermarket), cut the bottom and made two strips , so she could hung it on her shoulders..

I cutted an old plastic apron and I sewed it in the inside, so if she put something wet inside it won't drip.

At last I attached a owl and flower I made long time ago, so I could cover the printed name on the front.
And voilá!The bag is ready! It's very light and she could carry it around easily!

(Although it still look huge! I think I will make it smaller! You see... I couldn't do that with a bought one!.. )

Watercolor: The rain collector

2009-09-27T02:52:00.001-04:00

My creative space

2009-09-24T02:17:00.003-04:00

In this week creative space, I enroled myself to an acupunture course (3 or 4 years!). I found it terribly interesting, and knowledge is always welcome!

I know some people who went to the very best hospitals for years, and after spending tons of money, got operations and take strong pills ... were always at the same point, because the doctors were just "excluding things".... then after 2 weeks of acupunture, no more pills and no more pain...!
And during small relaxing breaks, I'm going to paint. In order to keep the same border (and to keep it clean), instead of drawing a border along the design, I fold a "window" , with an A4 .

Here I draw the border I want and then I take it off, cut along the line and "dress it back".

And I'll keep using it until I change the size of the drawing or it get broken!

As usual,don't forgrt to check out more spaces at Kirsty's!

Watercolor: "Strawberry queen"

2009-09-23T13:14:00.000-04:00

My creative space

2009-09-17T01:56:00.003-04:00

This week, my creative space is filled with another necklace and the search for some inspirations for watercolor painting!

Check out more creativity at Kootoyoo's blg!

...necklace!

2009-09-16T08:07:00.004-04:00

I'm thinking of a name for this necklace...the central circle remind me of a glass church window...but I don't feel like to call it "church window necklace"...

Watercolor: Take your time to find real love

2009-09-15T07:55:00.002-04:00

My creative space

2009-09-10T02:13:00.002-04:00

Today's creative space is dedicated to a bunch of necklaces! Lately I've been making less of them, but now that I have a little more time, I will try to keep up!

More spaces at Kirsty's!

Watercolor : When a siren fall in love...

2009-09-09T04:28:00.001-04:00

Watercolor :"Day and night"

2009-09-04T03:29:00.001-04:00

My creative space

2009-09-03T01:39:00.004-04:00

After a breakfast with minced fresh tomatoes and olive oil and salt, and a glass of chocolate soy milk(since I quit drinking cow milk or eating yogurts, I start to loose a lot of weight! :D

I suddenly got milk intollerance which it was causing me stomach and head aches!) ...

..this week creative space is (right now) filled with creating something with this sort of 3D felt "creatures"...very easy to make... and quite addictive!

More creativity at Kyrsty's blog!

Last drops of summer and a necklace

2009-09-02T04:13:00.003-04:00

Yesterday my daughter started kindergarten, and I'm here at home, trying to get use again to have few hour alone. I had forgot the meaning! So, I have to start a new routine and I have to get over the fact that I miss her around, and to quit glancing at the watch to see if it's time to pick her up again! So in the meantine I'm watching at the picture of the last day of summer and organize myself to craft a bit more!

My creative space

2009-08-27T03:32:00.006-04:00

During the last month I was one day sorting out my fabrics, when I realize I have a sort of "Diogenes syndrome"!

I mean, I have tons of fabrics, that years ago I decided to store, thinking: "I'm going to keep that, I'm sure I'll use it in future".. but then the poor fabric stash got forgotten and kept growing with every clothes I was discarding from my wardrobe...(I usually keep buttons and fabric).

I decided to do something with it..and I sew few flower brooches.

Now, I have to finish the back of the brooches in order to use them.

So, this is my weekly creative space!To read more creative spaces, check out Kyrsty's blog!

Watercolor

2009-08-25T02:14:00.002-04:00

Finally I could scan one of my watercolor painting! I made it during my daughter's afternoon sleep, (the only "free crafting time" this summer!) and I enjoyed it a lot.

Summer

2009-08-24T02:11:00.002-04:00

Summer. Summer's almost gone..in a week my daughter will start kindergarten and hubby is back to work...

I can only watch the picture of the places we've been... and remember the sounds, the smell and the taste of those beautiful days...

...and the little natural treasure I collect..

..and prepare for another wonderful season!

Back to "usual" life

2009-07-02T03:59:00.014-04:00

Last week I went back from a lovely time in Italy, visiting family and friends.. and now..back to normal life, but I needed another week to get back to the usual routine!How hard it is, after a holiday!

We went to visit Juliet house, in Verona, (yes, the Romeo's lover!), which is really beautiful and well conserved. (I imagined Juliet leaning on the terrace -quite high, by the way- with Romeo sending her a silent kiss..)

Verona is a lovely city, and fast to visit. Along some very old buildings, there is the Arena, standing up from ancient roman times, actually still used during summer time for opera concerts and tv musical shows.. and Piazza delle Erbe, with the frescoes still visible on the top of the medieval buildings..
..but my daughter preferred chasing birds and screaming delighted at them..

..and this geko was the new friend my cat made, waiting for us at home! I love the shape of her/his "hands"! Reminds me a picture I made few years ago!

My creative space

2009-06-18T03:32:00.005-04:00

In this week creative space I have a watercolor to paint (I went back to my old love, painting.. sometimes it's great to have a break, when you go back, you discover you have new ideas and, in my case, new style!)

Ants fighting (I discover that they live inside the bricks, in my terrace...and I've never being so happy to be just renting this flat..) You see the little red circle?

This is one of their "door". They break the mortar in little pieces and they go inside the holes of the bricks. By one side I'm amazed at their skill, by the other, not so amused to find them around biting my legs whenever I stand still, close to them.

And for last i'm going to the beach to feel the breeze and make sandcastles. How relaxing!

Check out more spaces at Kootoyoo's blog!

Watercolor

2009-06-17T03:29:00.009-04:00

It was about 2 years and a half since I didn't touch a brush!

Yesterday I felt like going back and...now I can't believe how could I stay so much time without painting!

It was also my daughter first watercolor painting! I'm going to store it into her "memory box" like all her first "things" she did..

Painting is like pouring over your soul on a piece of paper.

Whatever you feel, it will show.

"I've been born" reading art books and being surronded by oil colors and paintings (my mum use to teach art), and I always loved to draw. But usually I was throwing them away.

Before my 20's I start to keep them, and so now I can see the difference between periods of my life.

For example, this is a drawing I made in my early 20's. I was not happy with my life I was looking for a change.

Here is a selection of middle 20's and beginning 30's. I was absolutely happy , enjoying myself and loving my life. I used to love painting with acrilyc, laying a lots of layers to achieve a very dense and compact full color.

And that's it my last watercolor. Still colorful but more calm and serene.

(still loving my life, but I'm now more relax!) (sorry about the bad light in the picture!)

Courgette+parmesan spanish tortilla

2009-06-15T07:51:00.003-04:00

Ingredients for two:

3 eggs

1 courgette

1 onion

2 potatoes

grated parmesan

salt and pepper

olive oil

Heat 4 spoon of olive oil, dice all vegetables and poach the onion being careful not to let it get brown.

Add the potatoes and then the courgette, salt and pepper, and let it poach on low flame until you see it done.

In the meanwhile whisk eggs, parmesan and salt and pepper and then put the vegetable from the pan to the bowl with the eggs and mix well. Pour it in the same pan you poached the vegetable (which you left heating on the flame) and leave for 5 minutes, moving the pan once in a while to avoid the egg to stick on it.

Put a flat plate on top of pan, a hand on the plate, and faster as you can turn it upside down (practice before, with empty pan, to avoid spilling the hot content).

Then gently push (with a wooden spoon, if needed) the tortilla back to the pan, to cook the other side. Usually in this moment you can find loose pieces on the uncooked side, just push them under the tortilla, they will soon stick to the rest.

Let it cool for a while and then cut in pieces!

Check out more recipes at Jemma's blog!

Blogger Award and The Wonderwall

2009-06-09T09:09:00.010-04:00

Today checking Star of the East's beautiful blog I found out that I received a Kreativ Blogger Award. Thank you so much Estella!

The rules of the Kreativ Blogger Award state that I have to list seven things I love.

1)My family (cat included) and friends

2)Creativity (painting, sewing, thinking)

3)Curiosity and openmindness

4)Nature and discovering beauty everywhere

5)Milk chocolate, ice cream and sushi

6)Sleeping (Probably before the birth of my daughter, when I could sleep, I would have written something else..)

7)All kind of music on the background, depending on the mood.

And now The Wonderwall...no, I'm not talking about the old Oasis song...

But a way to save my books from the paws of my daughter..

We have some Ikeas shelves, but too many books..and because we are renting a flat, we are not going buy "nice fornitures" until we have our own house..

I mean.. I love that she loves "reading" books, but I don't like that she strips sometimes pages of them...or that she chews the cover or try to toss it in the toilet...plus, some of them, for example the Madonna's book or Milo Manara's series (I love the way he draws) are not suitable for a child, especially because she always ask the name of things she sees.

So, I start to cover the library with cardboard and tape, so she can draw on it (and hopefully not on the walls!!). (The drawings you see are mine, I made them to show her that she can draw on them).

Then I found on a magazine an advertising of a perfume, similar to a mirror, where the closer you get, the better you can see yourself,..my daughter love to "kiss herself" on it (and it's safer then a real mirror)...then I sticked on the cardboard some of her fave character and later on I will put some nice picture of animals..

I left some rows open, for her books, and the top shelves for me (although I cannot find time to read, lately.. sigh!).. and although I have to admit it doesn't look very "normal"...it was the only way I found to save books and walls and making my daughter happy!

My creative space

2009-06-04T02:57:00.003-04:00

(There are 2 hidden heart somewhere! If you can't find them check here!)

This week creative space hosted by Kirsty is filled by:

-Sewing a phrase on a white t-shirt (left)

- Transforming a now small shirt of mine into a dress for my daughter (right) it is really easy..I just cut the sleeves and sew a sort of triangle, and along the rim I place a string of cotton, if not sewing this fabric it would be hell, because of the stretching

- Fighting ants. First they start to live in a pot in my terrace, then I start to see few of them in the living room, searching for a nice spot to start a new home... but there's no way they are going to live there...

These are the last dresses I made for my daughter (I always post the pict of the beginning and I notice that I forget to put the final..)

- The stripe dress, with a flower, to cover a little faded spot

- A "beach dress" very easy to make, just snipping out the sleeves (How slim was I? Sigh!)

- A pair of "save knees from falling and grazing on little pebbled playground " trousers with 2 red little stars (those red tiny spots) from another old t-shirt

It's dangerous...

2009-06-03T08:55:00.003-04:00

...to peacefully sleep in my house!

Then our cat, thought it was better to go to sleep under the arm and cover of daddy...(she is not visible in the next shaked pict...but she is there somewhere)

So, because Alba promised the kitty to give some of her favorite food...she had to cover up her sleeping daddy with cat food (at least she doesn't know how to open them!)

Recipe monday: Surprise fish

2009-06-01T03:23:00.006-04:00

Ingredients: (x 2 )

2 salmon fillets

1 can green asparagus
1 spoon white flour

2 spoon of milk

4 spoon of double cream

1 egg yolk

1 box of pastry sheet

lemon juice

15 g of butter (a spoon)

salt and pepper

Cut the asparagus in little pieces, if they are fresh, cook them.

Melt the butter and add the flour, stirring until we get a smooth paste, then we add the milk and the cream. Bring to boil while stirring, add some salt and pepper and lemon juice.

Add the asparagus and stir to form a paste. Reserve.

Cut pastry into 4 rectangular pieces. Place a salmon in the middle

Cut the shape of the pastry into a fish shape, li ving 2 cm around the fillet. Put some asparagus filling on top of the salmon and then the pastry to embrace the salmon and the filing.

Brush pastry with egg to give a glossy finish.

Repeat with the other "fish".

Bake in hot oven (220) for 20 minutes.

Check out more recipes in Jemma's blog!

My creative space

2009-05-28T02:16:00.005-04:00

This week I'm on "customing T-shirts" once again! I started to transform this old and large t-shirt in a dress for my daughter..

Stripes (like flowers) are always coming back in fashion, so I advice you to never throw them away..

In this other shirt, I so far covered a stain that would not go away..(brown on white stripe.. couldn't have been on a black one?Grunf!) so for now I just placed a brooch on it..and voilà!

This year I've seen a lot of red+ dark stripes...

And last on my list.. I 'm going to make more of those superyummy hazelnut and Nutella bisquits! (And then I complain about baby fat ;D)

Recipe:

1 egg yolk

180 gr white flour

100 gr. sugar cane

100 gr. soft butter

1 teaspoon yeast

fresh lemon peel

ground hazelnut

Mix the flour and sugar, then add the egg, lemon peel, yeast, soft butter in pieces, and ground hazelnuts.

Knead well with hands until you have a ball, cover it with cling film and put it in the fridge for half an hour.

While you wait, switch on the oven at 180· and then take the dough and roll it 1 cm. thick with a rolling pin and cut it in shapes.

Put it in the oven for 15 minutes, and when they are cool, spread some nutella on one of them, top with another bisquit and then sprinkle with powdered sugar.

To see more creative spaces...check out Kirsty!

Relax!

2009-05-27T11:35:00.004-04:00

Today is one of those days where I really need to look at my bonsai and relaaaaax!

Customized t-shirt

2009-05-25T06:02:00.003-04:00

This is the (once completely white) t-shirt after I add some pieces of beautiful paisley fabric,

and other cut in the same shape. Some cotton threads, beads, and plain stitching.

The picture are not so good...because the sky is quite dark today..looks like is going to rain..but is still very hot and damp...not exactly "park or walk time"... (but at least is ... sewing time!)

My creative space

2009-05-21T04:12:00.004-04:00

Today's creative space is filled with:

- Another ("vintage"and plain white) t-shirt to customize. At first I followed the shape of the collar to stitch some violet thread, then I put some green beads, but at the end I realize I prefer to have more color to play with, so I'm going to "unstitch" some of the green beads to add some turquoise ... and then I will add some paisley shaped cut fabric, with more beads and stitching....

-I 'm hoping I will finally finish this necklace (I must have started to make it about one month ago...*bowing head in shame*)

- Long walks into the hot weather with friends and our toddlers ... to try to eliminate some of the (still there) after pregnancy (21 month ago!!) fat who doesn't want to go away...

Anyway...for more creative spaces...click Kirsty!

"Pointing fingers" weekend

2009-05-18T02:35:00.008-04:00

The habit of pointing fingers to ask "what's that" is going on everyday, but during the weekend it's been like ... multiplied! Here, just some of the moments..

A walk, that usually last 10/15 minutes, suddenly turned into 40 minutes!Grass, plants , trees , flowers , ants , a shiny Harley Davidson...

..and then we discovered that some clever duck had 8 little yellow fluffy ducklings!(this happened in another pond, not the "last weekend pond", in this one, one day I spotted a couple sneaking off eggs...and there have not been ducklings in 2 years time) we knew they were about to be born, because we sow her sitting for a lot of days, half a mile far from the pond..
...and then we met some nice friendly ponies..Alba was looking at them with an expression that perhaps "was wondering why they were not 20 cm long" , like on tv...but after a while she was screaming in delight (not so much the poor ponies..she can make deafings ultrasounds!)

And indeend, if you look closer, with "children eyes", even a normal spot of wild grass can be beautiful!

Forget about bad weather..

2009-05-15T04:05:00.009-04:00

So, yesterday afternoon the weather had a dejavù and it suddenly turned into a winter day. (mist, rain, cold air, gray sky), but thankfully in the morning I had an "illumination" and I bought those jelly stuff to stick on the (ahem, dirty) window.. and I gained 20 full mintutes of stitching with one eye...(one eye to watch the fabric, one eye to watch Alba, in case she would decide to taste them)..

And then among books reading, towers building, and peek-a-boo playing, watching Pocoyo's vidoes, cake making is an must on rainy days..

We even pick up strawberries from one of my paintings!

...while we were waiting for this cake to be ready! (Almond and apricot tart) (Sorry about the bad picture..I was drooling and couldn't focuse properly!)

And the day quickly filled up...did I say it was a dull rainy day? Oh, I forgot about it ..

My creative space

2009-05-14T04:19:00.004-04:00

With the hot season approaching..it's getting hard to find time to craft...(blame it to the time I spend in the park with my daughter), but somehow..I try to force myself to find little moments to: "customize" another t-shirt,by breaking up the all turquoise flower who were already machine sewed, with a bit of contrasting violet and cream...

... and attaching the velcro closure and the back to this almost finished necklace...

To see more (a lot more, I always post in late, due to the different meridian) check out Kootoyoo 's blog!

Weekend in the park

2009-05-11T03:34:00.014-04:00

Here in Catalunya mother's day was sunday 3rd , I have no idea why, sort of like for english people with left side drive..you know, just to be different..

The weather cast for the weekend was supposed to be rainy, but as usual it was the opposite...

So we headed for a walk and a run in this beautiful park (Alba after the birds, who were coming around to eat the breadcrumbs that people toss at them, and me after her)..
...observing ants and listening to the waterfall ipnotizing and relaxing sound..
...and admiring the little soft and fluffy ducklings, trying to fight the desire to pick up one to stroke and kiss..
Then she played in the sand with a 6 years old girl, who was there with her russian grandmother.

Suddenly we heard a horn playing (on football match day, whenever a team scores, men are making noise, with whatever they have around).

So the grandmother said "alarm, alarm"! in spanish, with a very worried expression, but her niece smiled and said it was ok.

So then she explained to me that in Russia whenever they were hearing a horn, they had to run for cover, because the attack was imminent.
I felt very sad for this woman, but happy at the same time, as she is lucky to have the chance learn to transform a hated and feared noise into a happy one.

My creative space

2009-05-07T03:09:00.004-04:00

This week space is filled with the transformation of an old soft wool "poncho" into a sleeping bag for my daughter. She "swim" around the bed during the night and usually wakes up with the head in the bottom of the bed..so she doesn't like the usual sheets and cover, because they don't let her move around nicely.

This light poncho is great for spring and autumn weather and it was very easy to cut it, I didn't even use a pattern, because as you can see, the bottom of the poncho was already cut. Now I'm going to add some colorful fabric on the edges and in the middle.
And just to stick on the same colors... I'm sewing with white thread along the silouhette of this shirt . I felt something was "missing" in the design and now I like it more, I feel like the light edge brings out the design.

The third thing is ... to check how the tree out of the window is growing fast! I can now touch the last leaves! Will it enter inside the window by summer?

For more creative spaces..check out Kirsty!

Threads

2009-05-06T03:19:00.007-04:00

Don't you just hate tangled threads? I can't stand it!

So, in an attempt to avoid them, I sticked the last end of each thread with some painter's tape, because unless the trasparent one, doesn't leave "stickiness" around, especially in warm season.

This cabinet was very cheap and I was using it to store my craft material. Each drawer use to contain some of my small craft material: beads, thread, needles and pins, buttons, etc

Now, since Alba (my daughter) is walking, I had to turn it face on to the wall, or she would have loved to put her hand (and mouth) on all those colorful beads and buttons!

But since one day she sow me turning the drawer to get something...she start to do it herself (it is a quite lightweight cabinet).

So, I had to take everything off and the only thing I left (not edible by its size) are the threads.

How can a 20 month old baby girl can resist to touch so much color?

(..if even her 36 year old mum cannot?)

Long weekend

2009-05-04T05:14:00.003-04:00

After potting and re-potting (behind my back!! and so many time that I'm not sure the garlic will survive!) the garlic and onion.. we had a long week end.The 1st of may it was a bank holiday(worker's day) and we went to a friend's birthday party.
My daughter enjoyed the "discovery" of climbing up and down the stairs (climbing up, touching the door, and climbing back down, about 20 times)
The sky was impressive, half covered by dark clouds, on the back side of the house, and sunny on the front, were there was the party (thank you sky, for not spoiling the party!)
,The sunset was incredibly gorgeous, and I couldn't keep my eyes off(and camera) from it!

My creative space

2009-04-30T03:25:00.003-04:00

I've notice that I always have a lot of project and then I barely finish one of them...so this week I just stick on finishing the necklace and potting those onion and garlic (see how many little root? I couldn't believe how fast they grow!).

..and..if...I have time...I finish:

- my daughter dress

-I'll make more undies

-another necklace

For more spaces visit Kirsty!

Period undies!

2009-04-29T04:49:00.002-04:00

This is the pair of "period undies" I was supposed to sew quite long time ago..

I made it in plain white because it's the first one I actually made, and in case of failure I didn't want to waste nice fabric!

But if you are wondering why I call them "period" undies...let me show you in the next picture the reason:
The doubled ended gussett has the same length and width of an average mentrual pad, and in pink I outlined the doubled ends where I tucked the pad.

In this way, it doesn't move from it place and cannot be "eaten" by the cheeks!(I really hate when it happens, and it's not so nice to try to put it back in place!) ;D

This is the design of the item when it's weared, the back is quite low so if you lean, it doesn't show (I find that the only nice looking "peeking out" undies are the thongs)!
And as you can see from the top they don't look so "grannie" style...I've already used them and I can assure they are really comfy!

Lover's day in Catalunya

2009-04-25T13:45:00.010-04:00

Here in Catalunya, a north-eastern region of Spain, the "lover's day" isn't the 14 of february, but the 23 of april, Saint George (sant jordi, in catalan). I should have written this post on thursday..but I wrote the "my creative space" instead..
He is the patron of the region, and it is tradition to give a present to the loved one, a red rose for women and a book for men.

The center of Barcelona is filled up with books and writers who sign them and rose sellers, but I prefer to buy it days before, with no crowd around, especially now, with a small daughter..

Sun felt necklace

2009-04-24T03:59:00.004-04:00

While I finished another "sun" necklace on a very very hot day... outside at the end of the street..

Started the very first fire of the year, and I really hope it will be the last!

Thankfully it was a really hot but windless day (really rare, here is usually really windy) , so it was immediately extinguished.

My creative space

2009-04-23T05:29:00.004-04:00

This thursday, I woke up with a migraine, so my breakfast was a paracetamol tablet (and I won't eat until I feel better otherwise I 'll throw it all up..) .

But as soon as I feel better, I plan to:

1)Make a new necklace

2)Finish an hairband

3)Finish a vest for my daughter

4) Going to the park because today is an incredibly sunny day (althought I hate it to be so sunny when I have a migraine...)

To check more spaces...go to Kirsty!

Springtime everywhere!

2009-04-17T06:59:00.007-04:00

The "bead tree" -which isn't actually his real name, but with all those little round, fruit? seeds? really looks like it covered himself during winter, with golden beads- is sprouting new leaves.

Meanwhile, in my onion bowl, I spotted one who doesn't want to be cooked!

I'm thinking about to plant it (in a pot, as I have no garden) , as I don't want to trow it away...or eventually I will plant it in a wild ground around my house...and go back for it in summer time...

My creative space

2009-04-16T02:57:00.004-04:00

This is my current creative space, after I finally finish the last necklace, I've started another one.

I temporally parked the underwear and the moonbox in favour of those heavenly granola bars. Thanks to Verena I discovered how easy and cheap (and so expensive when you buy them in shops, and they are never so fresh and so good!).

The bar in the picture is the last one (split in two), soI'm going to make some more, this time I'll try to make half mixture with orange peel and chocolate and half coconut and white chocolate...yummyyy...

(and I better start to walk a lot if I want to burn all that calories!)

To read more creative spaces, see Kirsty!

Snow White felt necklace

2009-04-15T03:14:00.007-04:00

Finally, after two weeks, I managed to finish this necklace... sometimes some other project catch my attention and I give them priority.

Anyway, one day, reading the Snow White tale to my daughter I got a "shape" inspiration.

With my daughter crayons I made a quick design of the Witch giving an apple to Snow White, and from there I shaped the necklace.

I love those moment of inspiration, it's like if a door opens up in my mind and I can enter in another world...

Moon in the box

2009-04-10T03:27:00.007-04:00

Last week I started to make this paper mache moon and although my daughter seems to like it(poking her finger into it's eyes) I don't, and I realize it's quite big, to close it in a even bigger box, (and because I don't have a lot of space), so I hung it up onto the wall..
..and made a small felt one instead.

This is just a "trial version", just to quickly translate my idea into felt and to see if it's working..later on I will make a better one...

As you can see, I sew (all by hand) a box, and on the inside I hung on transparent thread, a tridimensional moon and a flat star.
When you lift the top, the moon and star will slowly appear.

But before that..we have to say some magic words (a simple phrase that can rhyme)..to call the moon!

I got this idea, in a place organized by the council, which is a sort of closed playground.

At the end of the day, all children sit in circle and the teacher sing some songs, and then to "say goodbye" they repeat the magic words that will make the moon appear so that children knows that it's time to go home.(They were using a paper mache in a box, that's why in a first place I choose paper mache)

Because I still breastfeed my daughter (she get asleep in this way..), I'm thinking of a way to get her to sleep when I won't BF her anymore. I was thinking this "moon in the box"+ magic words and reading a book.

I still don't know if I will wait for her to decide when to stop or I will decide it by myself..(now she is 19 month and I wanted to carry on until 2 y. old).

Anybody out there can tell me when they decide to stop BF?Was is because the child didn't want it anymore, and at which age?

As you can see I have to improve the base of the box, to get a "harder" look, by using some more layer of felt, and adding some stitched design on the outside of the box.

My creative space..

2009-04-09T02:38:00.004-04:00

As you can see, I couldn't (or wouldn't?) finish the necklace..I got hooked on the "moon in the box" and made it in a small felt version.(I will post it tomorrow)

So this week, I must finish the necklace, and then I will try to make a pair of undies.

Just plain white, as it's the only elestic I found around, so if they will be ok, I will make them in different color. I need a special design I have in mind for those period days..

For more creative space check Kirsty's blog.

Rainy days

2009-04-08T05:12:00.006-04:00

Yesterday and today are rainy days, and lately on those "no park" days I make cakes and ice cream, to keep my daughter busy doing something different .

For the ice cream I simmer fruit (strawberries in this case) and sugar on a pan, then I mix it with greek yogurt (sweeter then the normal one, which is probably lighter, but I don't like the slightly acid taste.) and I reserve a little for my daughter.

You can see in the picture her hands trying to reach the glass. Like all toddlers I know, she is crazy about yogurt. If we want to eat one, we have to do it hidden in another room..if not she will end up eating 3 of them in a row..

When I make a cake, I get my daughter to help me to stir the ingredients, and then we like to go every ten minutes in front of the oven glass to watch how it's raising.

I have memories as a very small child, of myself playing under the kitchen table and helping them to cook, while my mum and my grandmother were making "tortellini" and "gnocchi fritti", some typical italian food from my region.

So I suppose that the "urge" I suddenly feel, to cook on rainy days, must be because of those nice memories, and my inconscious side of the brain wants to give her the same nice feeling.

I made a carrot cake following Delia Smith's recipe but I have to say that I don't like the quark cheese on top.. so next time I'll make with the butter/sugar mixture, although that won't be really low-fat..

Passion flower felt headband

2009-04-07T02:45:00.009-04:00

A passion flower bloomed in my immagination garden! So I create it (a similar one) and turned it into a headband.

I love everything of this flower, the name, the colors, the taste of the fruit over ice cream! Aww!

Chocolate aromatherapy

2009-04-03T03:21:00.004-04:00

Ingredients:

- A curious toddler

- A sewing mother unawere that her daughter can unscrew jars.

- A jar of chocolate powder

While the mother is busy sewing, let the toddler play with a jar of choc powder.

Avoid to look up at her, especially when she is so quiet. (when toddler are soo quiet, they are sleeping or up to something)

While the beautiful perfume start to make its way through the room, think it must be the chocolate cake you've just baked.

Carry on ignoring the silent daughter even when you can see with the corner of your eyes that she is moving her hands on the floor like she is drawing lines and circles.

Finally..when you discover it, after the first moment of unbelievebleness (of the fact that you didn't realize it before..) let her play, while you keep on smelling the air like a hunting dog.

When the daughter finally gets bored, and she tries to go to another room, avoid it and vacuum her clothes first..and then the floor.

My creative space...

2009-04-02T03:01:00.005-04:00

This is the necklace I 'm creating this week, and this is a little (tidy so far, will see later on..) space where I lay the current project. As well I'm planning to finish a papier mache "Moon in the box" for my daughter..

To see more creative spaces, check Kootoyoo's blog!

Butterfly kiss felt necklace

2009-03-30T10:06:00.003-04:00

During the last few years (in the mediterranean area) we felt like we just had two season, a really hot summer, and an infinite autumn..but funally this year it looks like season went back to normality.

Now it's perfect springtime, sometimes raining and still cold, sometimes sunny and deliciously warm..

So to celebrate.. I made another butterfly necklace.

Spot the difference

2009-03-28T11:58:00.002-04:00

Whenever I get a mental image of a necklace, I 'll draw it on paper and I make it in real size, in case I want to repeat it.
I usually prefer to make the design only once..but when I repeat them, I always change some color or shapes, or move things around.
I like the fact that each of them are unique, and I like to think that if two person who bought the same model would meet..they would spend time checking for differences..

Sara Lechner's book

2009-03-27T09:43:00.005-04:00

I bought this beautiful and inspiring book some times ago.

Sara's blog is one of the first felt blogs I came across, and with the hope to be able one day to make something so wonderful, I started to sew on felt.

So I have to say, thank you Sara! Sewing makes me very happy and relaxed! And watching your beautiful creations in your book, as well!

Hot sight felt necklace

2009-03-26T10:50:00.001-04:00

Sometimes even a wrinkly apple can be a great color inspiration..