Candlelight

As I was practising with my crochet I hit on a shell edging tutorial and  decided to give it a try.

I also had a couple of glass jam jars that I was reluctant to throw away (read “recycle”), so it came to my mind that I could upcycle them adding a nice edging and transforming them into candle-holders.

Using some cotton yarn that I already had I first made the red edging and then, when I felt more confident and adventurous, I crocheted the white/red one. 🙂

Shell edgings for the jars

Little Red Riding Hat

Just before Christmas I bought myself a red and beige scarf, but I didn’t have a matching hat. So, at my Saturday local market I bought two yarns of this red/pink/beige mixed tones wool and crocheted myself a hat. Once again I used a pattern from DROPS Design with minor personal changes, and I was even able to crochet the rose… The result is quite nice and it looks better on you.

Crocheted red hat

A necklace for my pocket

Here is another outcome of my shopping spree: a long necklace with matching earings. I’m particularly happy with the result because it is bright and coloured. I actually made my own version of a necklace that I saw in a shop window and that was far too expensive for my pocket. It is made with blue crystals, red agate, amethyst, peridot, smoked crystal and red crystal.

Necklace

Necklace and earings

Necklace

Korean jade

Last Friday me and my craft pal Paola  went to this new gems shop in her town. They were making sales and we took full advantage of it. 🙂

I basically bought stones and some crystals along with some findings. Here is the first outcome of my wild shopping: a necklace and matching earings made with Korean yellow jade and black crystals. 🙂

Yellow Korean jade and black crystals necklace and earings

A neckwarmer for the cold

My friend Paola –  yes, the very same Paola from my previous posts –  is not shy at expressing what she likes that’s why she gets many handmade presents from me! 😉  So, since she liked a scarf and hat that I crocheted last month for myself (and that I haven’t posted yet), I thought that I might make good use of the yarn leftovers and make her a neck-warmer for the cold Winter.

I got the pattern from this amazing website called Garnstudio-DROPS Design, and I added a little shell edging that I learnt from a tutorial on Crochet Spot. I think the result is nice enough to be handed to my friend with no shame on my side. 🙂

Neck warmer

Neck warmer

Bathroom mat

During these Christmas holidays I’ve been particularly active… I had some time off  and felt a bit inspired, so I’ve been working a lot both with beads and crochet. I even made a mat for my bathroom.

My mother had this bulky weight cotton yarn left unused in a closet and I decided to confiscate it and give it some “life”. I made a mat out of it, without following a pattern, that’s why it’s not exactly perfect but I’m very proud of it anyway. 🙂

My crocheted bathroom mat

Christmas collection 4

Here is another gift I made for a colleague and friend for Christmas. Apparently she enjoyed it very much and she was already wearing it. I must say that I liked it too and I actually made one for myself as well. 😉

It is made with upcycled parts of a necklace that was pretty awful. I think that as a bracelet they definitely look better and the pearl gives it an extra final touch. 🙂

Christmas collection 3: the father’s gift

My friend Paola’s husband also had his share of my craftsmanship… I really couldn’t neglect him! 😉

So I made this Shamballa bracelet especially for him, with grey shimmering ceramic beads and black cotton waxed string. Each bead represents a member of his family. I think he appreciated it.

Anyway, it looks better on his wrist than in this photo…

Xmas collection: a shamballa for Vince

Christmas collection 2: mother and daughter

Here are some other Xmas gifts I made for my friend Paola and her 10 years old daughter Marta. The mother’s gift is a parure of bracelet and earings. The bracelet is made with the same technic as those in my previous post, with golden wire, half-crystals pale pink beads and an oval jade stone. The earings are made with green jade stone and pink beads too.

The daughter’s gift is also a parure of bracelet and earings, but in this one we have a combination of a black plastic rose with fuchsia pearls and pink glass beads on a elastic string and a little chain with charms. The earings are also made with the same materials.

Xmas Collection: the mother’s gift

Xmas Collection: the daughter’s gift