Lake of Constance, Germany

Last weekend we went around the Lake of Constance, by bike. This Lake in the south of Germany is surrounded by three countries: Switzerland, Austria and Germany. We managed to do the biggest lake in 3 days, averaging 50Km per day. It's a really easy ride as it is flat all the way..it was however very hot!!! Here are some of the pictures:



more pictures to follow...soon...xx

a dress...for ME!!!

Here's my latest work, a dress I made for myself to go to a wedding in Germany. I got the fabrics from an Asian shop. I love the fabrics at these shops! They usually come in a combination of three fabrics so you could make a typical asian outfit with: trousers, tunic and scarf. Here's the result...

And here's a detail of the bow..it is actually just tied with a pin I had and thought it matched perfectly...This has got to be my favoutite piece..the bag. The outside is made with the blue fabric (the same as the ribbon) and the inside is made with the same flowery fabric as the dress. There's also a small trim on the outside with the dress' fabric. I am so happy with the result! I got these frames a few weeks ago and this was the right opportunity to try them. Isn't it so cute... I have got a few more frames so now I can make some bags if anyone is interested....

more business card wallets

These are the new ones specially designed and handcrafted for four special ladies:
I will show more pictures in a couple of weeks when they receive them.... This is my new label....I thought I would make them myself...
And these are my homemade tags....I am deeply inlove with my sewing machine stamp. I had bought it ages ago and hadn't had the opportunity to use it. Here it is...
xxx

Where have you been Ms????

GUESS?????







Here's a couple of clues:

And finally..

The question is NOT 'How did I get it out?' ...

The real question is ' Why did I drive it in the first place???'

Duh..... :p

I've done it again

Following G's business card wallet...here's mine..

I'm so happy with the result!!



And now, I have four orders!!!
These will be for Marie Louise who wants one like mine..and then Sam and Mags want something more like G's and another one for their friend Tina. These ladies were at the conference and have seen our business card holders..they immediately asked if I would make them one...Of Course !!!!!

Got to get this creative waves flowing...

keep watching this space.....

xxx

amigurumi

I've had my first attempt at 'amigurumi', a Japanese art to make crocheted dolls.
I got the dude pattern off crochet me.
The doll idea is from Rebecca Velasquez' amigurumi baby; only because pink yarn was all I had available :p
Of course hers is so much cuter! I love that tattoo.

The best part of my doll was making the diaper and I love how it looks...the worst was the yarn. I don't know what kind of yarn it is exactly but it kept twisting.



NOTE to self and others: try with a thicker yarn next time. It was really difficult to keep hold of that yarn.
Overall I'm quite pleased with it!!

sew does ... she

I don't remember how I came across sewing and crafting blogs...probably some Google searching on a pattern or whatever.
The point is, it got me started with sewing again.

And I'm quite happy that my blog has got someone started with sewing again as well, my sister Nita. She's living in another country and my blog is sort of a way for her to see what I've been up to.

She's a fine seamstress... I have to say that, we've been to the same schools :)

She's learning how to knit socks ... and in the meantime she's been doing some re-fashion and has even sewn a little emsemble for some friends' baby.

Isn't this soooooo cute?

xxx

we're in business

Here it is...
The business card holder for my friend and colleague G. I got the eye fabric from her some time ago and I know she really likes it. I hope she will like this wallet too.

It has been done with her taste in mind; I know she will like the eye, the embroidery around the iris, and the use of natural linen on the outside.

I don't think she will be too keen on the silver zigzag and probably the initials ...but I wanted to make it look a little bit professional..in case she wants to use it for the conference next week..

What do you think???

xxx

looking for inspiration...

... for a business card holder/wallet.

We're holding and participating in an international conference in less than two weeks time and desperately need a business card wallet.
My colleague G. already has her business cards and mine were only oredered this week; they should be on the way.
This might be my last conference and I have to make the best of it...including networking...

I was looking for some inspiration on the internet and found some very interesting examples:

• from Lana Stewart, a bookcloth business card holder;

• from Freelance Monster, some cute stuff in felt;

• from GlassBeach, a polka dot number;

• and my favourite, this crazy quilt business card holder from Shunklies.

Looking forward to a crafting weekend ...

xxx

all revealed

I can finally show you the apron I made for Mia, my swap partner and swap hostess at One Hour Craft. I am so happy she liked it. Here it is for you guys:





The pocket is an oven mitt which is attached by a hook to the apron. I embroidered the apple on the mitt to match the apron fabric and the little heart makes space for the thumb.

There's also the surprise I prepared for Mia's daughter...a matching apron based on a traditional Portuguese design blogged before

Mia's apron has been submitted for the Tie One On's June theme 'The pocket'...actually this is where it all started...
and I hope the other apron can be submited for next month's theme ' Local Pride'....

'boy, am I proud??

xxxxxxxxx

S. João

Hey, I'm back...
Been home for a few days...and look what I've been up to...

Yep, I've been home for our most popular event (in Porto), S. Joao. For those of you who don't know about it, it's a bit like St. Patrick's day. The similarities are that they close the city for the party, people head off for downtown to celebrate it and it's all about having fun. This party is not celebrated or known worldwide like St. Patrick's but my opinion is that it is much more celebrated, i.e., I could bet the numbers are much bigger in Porto than in Dublin ( I might be biased but I've been to both).


S. Joao (St. John) is the patron saint of Porto and it's celebrated on the 24th of June, and it's a bank holiday in Porto's Metropolitan area. On the 23rd evening they close the streets in the city and everybody heads off towards the river. The picture above shows my crowd, Herr C., Mike, 'moi' and The Daddy. The 'thing' you see in my hand is a traditional hammer and we hit each other on the head with that. It usually squeaks like a toy. Traditionally you would take a garlic flower and brush it on people's noses, like this one (it stinks):


At midnight, there's the fireworks....half an hour of it...simply spectacular:


You can watch this show from both sides of the river, from Gaia and Porto.
This year they had a giant metal ball hanging from a crane. I saw a very similar thing a couple of years ago in Sidney for the New Year. I remember the fireworks finished and people were still looking at the ball to see what would happen but nothing did. I was very disappointing. I kept wondering if something would come out of this ball...and it did:

Pictures aren't enough...you really need to live it.
Afterwards you just drag your group around town, drinking and dancing..there are music groups performing in each of the stages scattered around both cities. And don't forget, keep hammering:


Here's something you won't find in Dublin, a mobile bakery...not just any bakery, it has got traditional wood fire ovens made of clay and they bake bread with cured meat inside... mmmmm




Some traditional games... at 1am.... in the middle of the street...



Because I'm spoiled rotten..here's what I got from The Daddy :)


And these are my three little (one big) princesses:

(now you try to get the three of them to stay still, look at the camera and say cheese :)

xxx

'M' is for Maria

aka Mia.

Yes, I've been really fortunate to have the lovely and talented Mia as my swap partner for the May OHC Apron swap.
My parcel was sent yesterday by Airmail so I hope it doesn't take too long to cross the Planet and reach her safely. Let's see if she likes it...

Here's a sneak preview:




xxx

Outside