Dulcinea? La Bonita Doncella?

Finished previous week. This seemingly simple design took me faar too long - just because 2 small tiny tricky things: 1) black yarn on winter evenings requires good light 2) circular needles are not for me. Bonus reason: 3) the routine of MY size! Now waiting for a proper photo session. My face looks horrible on the photos - I can only hope it is different in the normal light (I used flash). And there is also my crocheted dress getting dry with a cat on top, e-khem. OK, he did try but I would not let him. Not because of the dress (it is for me so it is my choice; I secure things ordered or for etsy - I pin to the mat to block it and peg to a simple cloth hanger; in the past I would need to close the room - but try to stop him from scratching the door!) - but it was dump so I did not want to him to catch a cold :) Still not sure about the name. I like naming each of them.

Mother Hen & 4 chicken Co.

A set of four coasters with a teapot doily - crocheted, handembroidered, a bit kitch, a bit folk, a bit of fun! :) Get inspired and make your own! Or choose the lazy option here: http://www.etsy.com/ie/listing/186100216/hen-chicken-co-4-coaster-set-teapot

Heart Tide

I made something last night, too. In January, I got a heart of glass made by Mariaela. It waited for a proper moment and it came... The heart got a crocheted string with some beads like blood drops.... De gustibus not disputandum - I like it very much. It is made for myself and not for sale - because the heart was a gift :)
Check Mariaela for her stunning handmade jewellery!

Silver Siren's Scallop Necklace

This necklace made of a true scallop and soft linen+viscose thread and a fistfull of glass and syntetic beads will be available on in my little shop koticzka's Cottage later on :) I really like it with its imperfect perfection and harsh beauty, the contrast of the thread and glass and the ribbed scallop...



By the way, scallop is different than a cockle (pardon me if I am using too common English terms here) - scallops are flatter, more delicate and seem to be made of porcelaine, they are quite fragile. They were used commonly as a decorative motiff, particularly in art nouveau. Black ones are my favourite (to be honest they have many shades of gray when dry), pink are less frequent, white are - for me - unique; spotty ones are also charming. I feel like finding a treasure each time I get a scallop, which is not damaged. Cockles instead, are deeper (which makes them also so much better for little tea-lights), harder and heavier, their ribs are also deeper. The colloring takes frequently a shape of stripes but it is quite easy to find plain white, brown, pinkish or black on the Eastern beaches of Dublin Bay. Cockles are piling over there and give me this overwhelming joy of a child out of sudden thrown in - choose, whatever you craved most for as a kid - in a big chest of toys, dolls with pretty clothes, colourful crayons and paints, marbles in bright colours and various textures? Or just a magical beach full of treasures and mysterious never ending fairy-tales... Oh, the season of beach wondering is coming! :) (beachnig would not be the perfect word here, but whatever you choose! ;))

Blocking - a revelation about knitting / crocheting

I had a revelation. Instead of spending money for a blocking matt, I am going to upcycle a cheap sleeping matt purchased for pilates. I knew not to invest in a proper matt as I was not convinced I would continue. I will let you know how it worked!

On Fire For Handmade - artists exposed

Look who's there! Crafters and artists of etsy.com! This fantastic idea is to bring people who create all beautiful jewellery, décor, accessories, clothes, furniture and so much more closer to you. See the person caught in the act of creation - or relaxing - or posing.... And I am there too this week! The faces change - nearly each time you can see someone new! And all the idea of always so creative and full of energy Vicky Diane - remember to have a look at her jewellery! So, I am back to my knitting or I will never finish! bye now!

Long time not write... (but loads of knitting and crafting behind the scene)

There is no neglecting as such here, on this blog. I just keep myself slightly too busy last months. But I will adjust slightly my routine to do more blogging. I needed a bit of a break from internet. Breaks do not apply to knitting - unless it is a break in something important to get more stitches pulled!