I'm back !

Hello ! 

I'm back or I think I'm back to this little space and I've missed it. 

I know I've said that in the past. . . but life gets in the middle, doesn't it ? 

Or 2020 gets in the middle . . . let's not talk about 2020, right ? 

Let's talk about our creative life and how grateful I am to have the hobbies I have. 

Since I wrote here last time I have evolved as a maker, a lot. . . 

I now have discover also the love for embroidery, and increase my passion for patchwork. 

but what I love the most is that I have so many crafts to fall into depending on my time availability,

depending on my mood and depending on where I am also. 

Like knitting is very portable, but sewing isnt, but then patchwork can be portable too, right ? 

Today I wanted to pop in to show you my latest creations which combine all of my passions at the moment, 

I love Christmas, is that a secret ? 

I know some people dont love it and to be honest I think what I love most is the run up to Christmas, 

more than the week where all is concentrated. 

I love October, November and December . . . I love the coziness of those months, I love it when is cold. 

Then, I know, I live in Madrid where we have gorgeous winters . . . I just love winter in Madrid. 

It is cold but we have blue skies and it is sunny for the most part. 

But I love rainy days too. .. there is something very romantic about rain that I love. 

I'm babbling . . .

Back to my creations. 

I was saying they combine all my passions. 

Xmas, embroidery, sewing, patchwork and knitting. . . 

The knitting part is because the bags are made to be project bags for knitting projects. 

But that is what I had in mind and what my moment of RELAX is. . . knitting. 

These are now up on my Etsy shop. 

Aren't they cute ? 

I think they are adorable ! 

I'm working on more but this all the Xmas fabric I had left at the moment. . . 

It was my dream to make my little Etsy shop and that dream stands now more than ever before. 

My main job is in the tourism industry . . . so that is now . . . well, let's leave at quite quiet. . . 

So back to my happy place. 

I have enjoyed so much making these bags, 

and 

I hope someone loves them too and makes someone as happy as I have felt while making them. 

By the way. . . while I was making them I was listening to Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong . . . .oh ! 

and dreaming of a better world, or a better future for all. 

Well now, I better go pick up my son from soccer training. . . 

I do hope you are all well and safe 

and that you find solace in your crafting. . . 

What has been your favourite thing to make this year ? 

Take Care and Stay Safe, 

xEva 

 

Project Bag - a quick hello !

Hello all !! 

It has been a long time but I miss my little blog but summer seems to be always really busy for me. . . shouldn't summers be long lazy days ?? - not for me. . . but I do dream about those days. 

I was telling my husband today that I miss reading Country Homes and Interios (I had a subscription to it for years. . . :-)) What do I miss from it ??

Looking at lovely houses, relaxed settings and lots of lovely things, recipes, and what not. 

And more than anything because it made me dream. . . dream that one day I will be able to relax a little bit in a house like those of magazines, in a garden like the ones I see in there. . . 

Maybe I am a fool but what I know is I am a DREAMER and I will never stop dreaming. 

Ok, enough babbling now. 

See that little bag in the above picture ?? Cute isn't it ?

It is actually a project bag I made myself. For my knitting. For my current sock WIP. 

I needed a bag to carry my kitting and I wanted to make it myself, out of my favourite fabrics (or at least some of my favourite fabrics. . .)

And I love the expose zip. I wanted to make a different project bag and I had not seen any with exposed zips. It adds a very romantic touch to it. . . I feel !

I have even toyed with the idea of making some for my Easy Shop. . . but the idea vanishes in my mind as it fills up with my busy work life and the crazy months ahead of me. 

And so we will see. . . do you think people would buy it ? - I'm always insecure about things like this. 

This bag started when I was playing with my fabric stash. . . 

And I'm making socks and shawls. . . shawls ??? me ?? A beginner knitter ?? 

Yes !! and I want to learn more and more, knitting is so addictive that I have neglected quite a bit my crochet. . . :-(

I bought these sock yarns in Barcelona back in June . . . lovely, aren't they ??

and I'm making socks for my daughter . . .  

and I'm doing the Fish Kiss Heels for the first time. . . the pattern is only $1 in Raverly. 

The sock pattern I'm using is the Everyday Socks by Erica Luder (a free pattern in Raverly)

 And that is all I have to show you for today. . . I hope to be back soon to show you my shawls and other lovely things. .  .

What have you all been up to lately ?

xEva 

YEAR END REVIEW - Crochet & Sewing 2013

This is the first time I make a year end review and one of the reasons is because I have new followers who might have seen a picture or something I made but have not read the post. It is also a all-in-one place to go if you are ever looking for  something and also a good way for me to put my ideas in order. 

Let's start with what I made in crochet.

It seems number 1 (number 8 is the same blanket) was the star of the year, along with number 9 and lately number 11 has got very popular. 

Let's start: 

Esta es la primera vez que hago un resumen del año y una de las razones es porque tengo nuevos seguidoras que quizás hayan visto algo que haya hecho pero no han leído la entrada. También hace una entrada donde poder ver todo en un mismo sitio y una forma de poner mis ideas en orden. 

Veamos que he hecho en Crochet. 

Parece que el numero uno ha sido la estrella del año, junto al numero 9 y últimamente el numero 11 ha sido muy popular. 

Comenzemos:

My Crochet 2013

1. Sofia's Blanket - Manta de Sofia

2. Doll's Hat - Gorro para Nancy

3. Little Hearts - Corazones Pequeños

4. Sandra's Pincushions - Alfileteros de Sandra (de Cherryheart)

5. Marc's Blanket (border is still pending to make) - Manta de Marc (el borde esta aun pendiente)

6. Phone Case and a tutorial for the Sweet Little Flower - Funda Movil y Tutorial de Flor

7. All Shawl - Chal

8. Same as number 1- igual que numero 1

9. Marc's Blanket Number 2 - Manta de Marc numero 2

10. Scarf for my daughter - Bufanda para mi hija

11. Cable Mittens - Mitones a punto Cable 

12. Swishy Scarf by Nicki Trench - Bufanda Swishy de Nicki Trench

Good news are as I mentioned in my previous post I'm now writing the Cable Mittens Pattern so I will have it soon available for all of you !!

Las buenas noticias son como mencione en mi entrada de ayer , que estoy ya escribiendo el patrón de los Mitones a punto de Cable, así que lo tendré pronto disponible para todas vosotras !!

My Sewing in 2013

Now turn for My Sewing:

The starts of this year from my sewing were number 1 and number 6, but number one got more attention and so I gave it the place of honour !

Ahora es el turno de Mi Costura:

Las estrellas de mi costura han sido el numero 1 y 6, pero el numero 1 tuvo mas atención así que le he concedido un lugar de honor !!

1. Forest Bunting and Cushion - Cojin y Banderin del Bosque

2. Bunting for Gabriela - Banderin para Gabriela

3. Bunting for Candela - Banderin para Candela

4. Laptop Case - Funda para Ordenador Portatil

5. Mini-hexagons - Hexagonos mini 

6. Memories Mini-Quilt - Mini Colcha Recuerdos

7. Mended Jeans - Vaqueros Remendados

8. Fabric Pincushion - Alfiletero de Tela (Tutorial)

9. Ikea Mini-chair Pad - Cojín para mini silla de Ikea

So this was my Sewing in 2013. My sewing machine has been unused since September and my hands are very much itching to get into more sewing. Each time I look at the fabric stash (lots of Tilda Fabric in it) I want to start my daughter's quilt, but sewing takes so much preparation time and space that I have not found much time lately for it and dedicated much more to crochet. 

Crochet is something I always keep on the sofa and does not need much preparation, space, it is much more spontaneous I think !

But I'm happy with my sewing so far, if I take into account that I only bought my sewing machine in November 2012, and have everything to learn yet, which is pretty exciting !!

Esta fue mi costura en 2013. Mi maquina de coser ha estado sin usar desde Septiembre y la verdad es que estoy deseando cogerla y coser mas. Cada vez que miro las telas que compre este año para hacer una colcha para mi hija (sobre todo telas Tilda) quiero empezar la quilt (o colcha) para mi hija, pero la costura lleva tanta preparación y no he encontrado el tiempo últimamente así que he dedicado mucho mas tiempo al ganchillo.

El ganchillo es algo que siempre tengo a mano en el sofa, y lo puedo coger en cualquier momento, no necesita mucha preparación. 
Pero estoy contenta con mi costura también, sobre todo teniendo en cuenta que compre mi maquina en noviembre 2012, y aun me queda todo por aprender, lo que es muy emocionante !!

Now I wish you a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2014 full of health as I believe with health around us we can drive the rest !!

Ahora solo me queda desearos un MUY FELIZ AÑO 2014 lleno de salud, ya que creo que teniendo salud podemos conducir nuestra vida mejor !!

New Bunting & New Look . . .

Hello all ! 

Last few weeks are being hectic over here but good too.

I have also been changing the look of my blog as I just felt like it and wanted to create my own logo and this time do it by myself, which I did.

What do you think ? Do you like it ? 

I feel a bit nervous about this change, not sure why but I do. 

I will still probably play around the whole look the next few weeks until I feel 

completely happy with it. 

I had no idea I could create my own kind of logo as I have no idea of design, technology, etc and I have used Pickmonkey for it. I quite like the result. 

Then I also have to show you the latest bunting I have made. 

It was again a custom order and this time they just told me that the 

girls room was grey and white. 

Then I went to my local craft supplies store and chose this delicate fabric by Riley Blake, it is called 

Willow Main in Pink. 

I decided to add some pink into it too and they loved the result. 

After I delivered the bunting I was told that they had actually forgotten to mention that the room was actually grey, white and pink ! 

So everyone happy ! 

Now I need to get a better camera so that I can show you better pictures next times. . . 

(all pictures are being taken with my mobile at the moment, not ideal, I know)

HAVE  A WONDERFUL WEEK !

Barcelona . . .strawberry snack and other simple things in life

Hello !! 

Last week I was in Barcelona !! and although I was there for work, the hotel were I stayed happened to be in a street were there are a few craft shops. In fact when I came back in the train and walked to the hotel I stumbled upon this dream shop, full of gorgeous fabrics, amazing yarns and they also do quilting and patchwork classes. 

I got chatting to one of the ladies, got a couple of Tilda fabrics and a couple of trims (I still have not taken pictures of them . . . sorry!) and asked if I could take pictures of the shop for my blog. They were lovely and said it was no problem.

The shop is called Oyambre and it is in Roger de Lluria,97

Hola !

La semana pasada estuve en Barcelona !! aunque el viaje era de trabajo el hotel donde me hospedaba esta vez estaba justo en una calle donde hay varias tiendas de manualidades, telas, lanas, etc. Cuando volvía al hotel desde la estación de tren encontré esta tienda de ensueño llena de telas preciosas, lanas maravillosas de importación y dos áreas para clases de patchwork. 

Me puse a hablar con una de las tenderas, compre un par de telas Tilda y unas cintas (lo siento no he tomado fotos de ellas ) y le pregunte si podía hacer fotos de la tienda para mi blog. Fueron muy amables y me dijeron que si. 

La tienda se llama Oyambre y esta en Roger de Lluria, 97

And this picture below shows the area where customers just can sit and crochet or knit . . . glorious !

Aqui la zona donde los clientes se pueden sentar a hacer crochet o tejer . . . me encanta !

Down the street from this shop a around number 7 there are also a couple more fabric shops called Ribes & Casals (which we also have in Madrid) and Textiles Dona.

Being honest I knew these 2 shops were there as I have been going to Barcelona at least once a year for the last 10 years (at least) and had seen these shops before.

For yarns there are 2 lovely shops I know in Barcelona:

Llanes Globo - located at Passeig Sant Joan crossing Carrer Aussias Marc.
Merceria Creativa - at Aussias Marc with Roger de Flor where they sell Katia yarns (a well known brand in Spain).

And the only pictures I could take of Barcelona were actually as I was crossing the Passeig de Gracia to take the Metro on the way to work.

You can admire here a few pictures from Casa Batllo by Gaudi. . .

Mas abajo en la misma calle, por le numero 7 o así hay un par de tiendas mas, aunque tienen mas telas que otras cosas, son: Ribes & Casals (que también tenemos en Madrid) y Textiles Dona.

Para decir la verdad conocía estas 2 tiendas de otros viajes a Barcelona ya que suelo ir por trabajo unas 2 veces al año desde hace al menos 10 años.

Para lanas hay dos tiendas por las que pase:

Llanes Globo - en Passeig Sant Joan con Aussias Marc
y
Merceria Cretiva- en Aussias Marc con Roger de Flot. Aqui venden lanas Katia (una marca conocida en España)

Las únicas fotos que tome de Barcelona fueron al cruzar Paseo de Gracia para coger el metro e ir a trabajar.

Podeis admirar aqui la Casa Batllo de Gaudi...

This is the 'mood-board' for the next project I will be working on. I got this lovely Riley Blake fabric at my local store here where I live. I will hopefully be able to show you what I made with it next week.

Esto de abajo es los materiales que usare en mi próximo proyecto. Compre esta bonita tela de Riley Blake en la tienda de manualidades local. Espero poder enseñaros lo que he hecho con ella la semana que viene.

Life is busy at home at the moment with work trips, school finishing 1 hour earlier during June, and finishing off for the summer break in 1 weeks and 2 days time. We have also been very busy going to children birthdays (from school) and leaves me little or no time for my blog and crafts.

But today we took a little break and went to my parents place in the country, the only place where we really switch off as there is no internet, and little to do other than potter around and when the pool is ready, go for a splash !! 

It was bliss to see my 2 and a half years old boy picking strawberries from my parents little crop. 
He was actually preparing his 'merienda' (afternoon snack) . . . 

Las cosas por casa son un poco una locura con viajes de trabajo, el cole en horario de verano, ahora salen una hora antes durante el mes de Junio, el fin del cole en una semana y dos días. . .También estamos teniendo un boom de cumpleaños de amiguitas de mi hija,  lo cual me deja muy poco o nada de tiempo para mi blog o mis manualidades.

Pero hoy nos hemos dado un respiro y fuimos a la casa que tienen mis padres en el campo, el único sitio donde podemos desconectar un poco, empezando porque no hay internet y poco que hacer mas que relajarse y cuando la piscina este lista, darse un chapuzon !!

Ha sido una delicia ver a mi peque de 2 años y medio cogiendo fresas de la pequeña huerta de mis padres. Se estaba preparando la merienda ! . . .

And his little harvest in his little basket, isn't it cute and simple but most enjoyable ??


Have a lovely week !
xEva 


Y aqui su pequeña cosecha en su cespita, no es monisimo y simple ? Pero una escena preciosa al mismo tiempo. 

Que tengais una semana fantastica !!
xEva 

Doll's Memory Quilt - Finished!

Hello everyone !! 

Hola a todas !!



Who was going to tell me when I wrote this that I was going to finish my first own quilt (although mini and only for dolls) just 4 months after I would finish my own hand quilted quilt !

The final push to make this came when I saw this wonderful quilt from Nana's Company (she inspires me sooo much). 

I hand quilted it and I have enjoyed it soo much, I loved it!

Quien me iba a decir a me cuando escribí esto que 4 meses después iba  a hacer mi propia colcha (aunque sea miniatura y para muñecas solo) acolchada a mano !!

El empuje final me lo dio el ver esta maravillosa colchita de muñecas de Nana's Company (me inspira tanto su blog . . .)

Como he dicho antes la acolche a mano y me ha encantado la experiencia !!

I want this quilt to be a treasure for my daughter and so it has little gorgeous details in it. 

Like her name embroidered or stitched in the corner. Now the beautiful part of this simple embroidery
is that is my daughter's own hand writing. She's just turned 5 and starting to write. I asked her to write her name and age onto a piece of paper and also I took a little flower drawing she had made the same day. 

Queria que esta colcha fuera algo especial y un tesoro para mi hija así que tiene preciosos detalles.

Como su nombre bordado en una esquina. La parte bonita de esto es que este simple bordado es la letra de mi hija. Acaba de hacer 5 añitos y esta empezando a escribir. La pedí que me escribiera su nombre y su edad en un trocito de papel y luego tome también una flor que ella había dibujado ese mismo día.

I transfered her writing and drawing on to plain white fabric and them stitched over it. Now, that little rectangle will be a memory forever of her handwriting at the age of 5 and that her mummy's stitching. 

Transferi su escritura y dibujo a tela blanca y repase con hilo y aguja. Ahora ese pequeño rectángulo
sera un recuerdo de su escritura con 5 años y el bordado de su mama.

Then I also went for it and labelled it with the same technique, but this time I copied my blog name from my own blog and stitched it with the date when I made the quilt. This way I will have a memory that one day I had a blog, in 30 year's time , God only knows where or what blogs will be. . . 

Tenia ilusión por poner etiqueta y lo hice con la misma técnica, esta vez copie el nombre de mi blog y los borde, incluyendo el mes en el que hice la colcha. Esto será un recuerdo de que un día tuve un blog, dentro de 30 años , quien saber donde o lo que serán los blogs ? . . .

  

  

Have a wonderful week !! 

Que tengais una fantastica semana !!