Red heart fever

Love day is coming! Valentine's day in modern worl is often refered as totaly comercial. And though I agree it has some true in it, for me this special day is always really special. And not just because I have my sweetheart beside me, but also because it's a lovely pretext to show your love and apreciation to ones you love and cherish. There is one more reason why i love this day, you can waere adorable accessories and no one will question you :)

So this year I finally managed to finish all the project in time and now I can proudly share this Valentine's day collection with you :)

 

This collection combines most of my favorite techniques - polymer clay, beading, embroidery, crochet and paper arts. Some of these pieces were more spontanious and others more thought out. But I have to admit while working on this collection I was pretty inspired all the time (something that happens extremely rare).

Here are few pieces from it.

These earrings and the ring below are made from polymer clay in this very fun knit imitating technique. Takes 

a lot of time (praise the extruder) but the result is always very cute.

I tried to take the traditional postcards to another level, so that they could be also used as a piece of decor or simply a bookmark. Lets face it, after the occasion postcard tend to end up in some random box or even in the trash, coz really how many of them you can display? So it's nice then card that came from someone you love can become something more.And making these was real fun :)

For this brooch I applyed this mixed technique of embroidery and beading. Some time ago I was making these unusual bridal earring for a friend and needed some interesting texture.In the process this french knot + bead thing happened. It looked really great and I was keen to make something with it since. 

For more pieces from this collection visit my Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CupofColor

Have a great day!

Kristina

Joys of gift swap

This time around i decided to take part in this wonderful gift swap organized by the Lithuania team on Etsy. I love the idea of gifting someone you probably never have met and maybe even don't know at all. And receiving gift from people you don't know is really fun too :) It was my first time in this swap, so deciding what to gift was quite a task. But finally i managed to put together a gift and send it out with best wishes. While getting my present was not so easy as it could seem. The notice about the letter came two days before the post closed for Christmas. The first day was so busy i didn't managed to get to the post office. Next day I totally confused myself with the closing time and almost got left outside the post office in the last minute. It took my fiance a bit of persuasion to the post lady to let us in (she was clearly to eager to close early). but thankfully we managed to get in and I was very happy with my package. I decided to open it at Christmas with the other presents. And what a treat I got! Wonderful linen gift bags with adorable prints and a cute needle pillow. You just have to see it yourself, so here it is -

For all of these wonderful gifts I have to be thankful to Urtė from "Lefthandedcraftclub". She has some pretty amazing things in her shop, and I love the vibe you get in the shop, it feels very cozy and sweet. And now i can say from experience her works are not just beautiful, but high quality too. 

In the end I was very happy with my gift and I will definately take part in the next swap :)

Best wishes,
Kristina

Holidays!

First snow

This morning I got a little shock then I opened my window shutters - SNOW! It was white all over! Although yesterday it seemed like winter is still far away, grass was still a bit green and the temperature was still more like late autumn. Couple of days ago then I heard that most of the northern Europe was being covered in record amount of snow I was not looking forward to that. I don't like the cold and snow is always accompanied by it. But strangely enough I didn't felt unhappy or anything like that and that "Oh no!" felt forced. It actually felt kind of nice. I never argued the beauty of winter, but it felt more than just that, it felt - joyful. Our apartment started to feel even more cozy and warm. It seemed like finally You could feel Christmas coming. So first thing after breakfast I grabbed my camera and went out. It was still snowing and it got much more colder then a day ago, but it was fun. I took a walk around our apartment block stopping at almost every tree and plant it all looked so peaceful and beautiful. I even went into the other apartment that we are renovating and stood there for a minute looking through the window and imagining how it will feel when we finally move in that place.

So this is few pictures I took today. Pretty happy about them :)

Like my fiance said - the cozyness and warmth of your home is the best part of winter. And there is one more thing that makes this feeling even more pleasant and sweet - hot chocolate. Sweet and rich taste of chocolate is magic, and there are many ways to make it even more special. Today I want to share this wonderful idea from "Mrs. Fields" - Chocolate Candy Cane Stir Sticks 

All this winter stuff made me realize that Christmas is really not that far away and my presents are far from ready. Because I always love to give something handmade for my loved ones every year, getting ready is quite a task. But in the end the love you put in those handmade things always makes the diference.

So if You're also thinking of making something yourself here is some pretty neat and quite easy stuff you can make - "101 Simple handmade gift tutorials". 

Saldi dovana

Mintis apie blogo rašymą sukosi galvoje ne vienus metus, tačiau vis pritrūgdavo kažkokio rimtesnio postūmio. Ir štai vieną gražią dieną bibliotekoje akys užkliuvo už knygos gražiu viršeliu (turiu pripažinti man tai dažnai būna sveriamasis argumentas renkantis knygas) ant kurio puikavosi Eifelio bokštas, romantiškas bučinys ir mielu, raitytu šriftu užrašytas pavadinimas  "Mažoji anglė Paryžiūje". Knygą tiesiog "ryte suryjau", tai buvo tikra istoriją apie moterį pradėjusią rašyti blogą ir tai kaip jis įtakojo jos gyvenimą. Ši knygą ir buvo tas postūmis.
Tiesa turiu pripažinti, kad nesu itin pareiginta "blog'erė" ir nerašau taip dažnai kaip norėtusi, o ir kitus blogus skaitau rečiau nei vertėtų. Tad vieną dieną pamačiusi komentarą iš žmogaus kurio kūrybą žaviuosi jau kuris laikas, buvau begalo maloniai nustebinta. Gavau nuostabią ir labai mane atitinkančią (esu keksiukų maniakė) dovaną iš "Margi dalykai" (gėda, bet autorės tikrojo vardo nežinau, visada žinojau ją tik slapyvardžiu).

Dovana keliauja po blogus, džiugina jų kūrėjus ir skatina dalintis šiuo džiaugsmu bei sužinoti daugiau apie blogo autorių. Su dovana keliauja ir kelios užduotys:

1.  Padėkoti  apdovanojimą skyrusiam asmeniui.
2. Savo blog'e įdėti nuorodą į apdovanojimą skyrusio tinklaraštininko dienoraštį.
3. Patalpinti apdovanojimo logotipą savo blog'e.
4. Paskirti apdovanojimą 10- čiai tinklaraščių su nuorodomis į juos. (nesinori šios uždoties daryti paskubomis ir atmestinai, tad manau posakis "svarbu ne kiekybė, o kokybė" pateisins mano trumpesnį sąrašiuką)
5. Išsiųsti komentarus apdovanotiesiems.
6. Parašyti 7 faktus apie save

Kaip jau minėjau nesu itin stropi blogų skaitytoja, tad išrinti kam padovanoti šią dovaną nebuvo itin lengva. Tačiau pavyko išrinkti 5 blogus, kuriuose visgi lankausi ir kurie visada nuteikia pozytiviai ir įkvėpiančiai. Tad keksiukai keliauja pas:

Miusla už nuostabius kadrus ir galimybe pasigrožėti kitų laimės akimirkomis.
Savaitgalio rendez-vous už visus tuos kartus kai vos užsukus į šį nuostabų puslapį pradeda tysti seilė :)
Kristina Sabaite už nuostabius fantazijų pasaulius gimstančius jos iliustracijose. 
Greta Nieko sudėtingo už madingą inspiraciją.
Laura Cook On Strike už nepailgstantį kūribingumą. 

Visiems šiems blogams noriu palinkėti ir toliau džiuginti mus visus nuostabiais vaizdais, žodžiais ir, kad niekada nepristygtu įkvėpimo.  

Toliau pildant nurodymus reiktu dar pakalbėti apie save. Pripažinsiu šiuo atžvilgiu kalbos niekada nepristingu :) bet šįkart būsiu santūresnė ir bandysiu neišsiplėsti.

1. Kūryba yra mano gyvenimo variklis. Kasdien bandau sukurti kažką naujo, nesvarbu ar tai bus eksperimentas virtuvėje ar naujas modelino projektas.
2. Pagal specialybę esu reklamos (grafikos) dizainerė. Kažkada maniau, kad tai mano svajonių profesija, dėja atsidūrus šio verslo "virtuvėje" supratau, jog taip nėra.
3. Esu kontrastų žmogus. Begalo mėgstu švelniai rožinę spalvą ir mažus mielus padarėlius, bet taip pat žaviuosi šaunamasiais ginklais (esu visiškai prieš medžioklę ir smurtą) ir automobiliais.
4. Labai mėgstu gaminti maistą. Virtuvėje dažnai eksperimentuoju.
5. Mėgstu skaityti knygas. Turiu svajonę pati parašyti knygą.
6. Esu kino filmų maniakė. Dievinu spragintų kukurūzų kvapą kino teatre.
7. Svajoju išmokti japonų kalbą ir nuvykti į Japoniją.

Taigi bėgu rašyti savo apdovanotiems blogeriams apie dovaną. 
Širdingai dėkuju "Margi dalykai" už keksiukus ir prižadu, kad jei kada susitiksime realiai, pavaišinsiu realiais savo gamybos keksiukais ;)

Kurybingumo ir geros nuotaikos visiems blogeriams!

Crochet pincushion, pentagon

Some time ago I got tired of getting my needles in and out of that special sorting box. And noticed I keep on pinning those needles in some random thread ball lying on the desk. It was clearly time for a pincushion (no idea why I didn't made it even earlier). At first, while browsing the net I found these cute flower like pincushions sawn from beautiful colorful fabric. But it took me a bunch of time to find the right fabric (I’m very particular about these kind of things), and I almost forgot why I needed it (while keeping on pinning my tread balls). And then my new found love for crocheting came. While looking for inspiration on patterns I stumbled upon this gorgeous crochet pentagon pincushion. "I have to make this!" - loud inner voice screamed.
I adapted the simple granny pentagon and it came out perfect! First one was for my mom (she‘s a seamstress so new pincushion is always welcome) and the second one for myself (of course the bright colorful one :)). They both came out very cute and fun looking. So now my needles have a respectable place to hang out :)

Now I‘m making another one, and this one will go into my shop.

Birthday wishes

This year my birthday started early. As soon as the clock struck midnight my sweethear rushed out to our other apartment (we are renovating and living at my parents, wich is in the same apartment block). I was left wondering... He came back with this gorgeous huge blue flower, a bottle of shampagne and my first gift. That just makes my love him more <3 THE morning was even more suprising as he broght cake stright in to the bed. More flowers and another gift! 

A big beautiful sunflower from my parents is still standing strong on my desk, it's like a small sun right in my room :)

This year to make easyer for everyone, i made a list of desired items. It's always nice to get the things you really need and you will actually use ( i gues practicality comes with age too :) ). So no wonder my list was as crafts orientated as posible :) I just couldn't wait to try everything out! My honey even MADE me a bead weaving loom!

Since it's very warm in here now, working with polymer clay is not very fun, so the bead maker has to wait. But there was no stoping my from taking out all of my beads and trying out the weaving loom. Oh dear, I feel some serious adiction coming! Second day - second bracelet. I literaly can't stop! You just don't feel the time passing, hours are just flying by. For now I'm planing on sticking on self made geometric patterns. But who knows there it will take me :)

 

Best wishes for all!