lauantai 13. helmikuuta 2010

Fabrico

I've had an inspiration of combining fabric into my jewelry since I came across this black lace bow necklace in Ireland. In the absence of suitable lace I picked up some see through ribbon yesterday in  an attempt to combine it with glass pearls. The idea behind the necklace is to double up the ribbon and sew it into a tube. Pearls are inserted into the tube and are held in place by knotting the ribbon tube after each pearl. Relatively simple technique except I still need to figure out what type end findings to use. My fingers are itching to get going already. However, I do not own a sewing machine. I guess I could sew this by hand, but it will be extremely time consuming not to talk perhaps little unreliable. 

Olen halunnut toteuttaa kaulakorun, jossa yhdistelen kangasta ja helmiä. Inspiraation koruun sain aikoinaan Irlannista hankkimastani pitsi rusetti kaulakorusta. Koska en ole vieläkään löytänyt sopivaa pitsiä, nappasin eilen Askarellista läpikuultavaa lahjanauhaa. Ideana olisi puolittaa nauha ja ommella siitä pitkulainen tuubi. Helmet pujotellaan yksitellen tuubin sisään, joka solmutetaan kunkin helmen jälkeen. Tämä erottelee helmet toisistaan ja pitää ne omalla paikallaan.  Vielä pitäisi keksiä minkälainen korunosa toimisi parhaiten luultavasti melko paksuhkon nauhatuubin päässä. En millään malttaisi enää hillota helmiä kaapissa, mutta en omista ompelukonetta ja ajatus käsinompelusta ei juuri innosta. Luulen, että tarpeeksi tiivin tikkauksen aikaansaamiseksi menisi ikuisuus.


Should the text also appear in Finnish / Tulisiko tekstin olla myös suomeksi?

keskiviikko 3. helmikuuta 2010

Tiger

These lampwork glass beads have been haunting my bead supply boxes forever. I ordered them ages ago expecting them to be much smaller and different colour. Since they didn't quite fit the bill of what I was planning they have laid abandoned at the back of the cupboard. I also used swarovski crystals and old orange wooden beads inherited from my mum. I first struggled to attach the beads in place on the 2 mm thick cotton cord until I remembered some black coloured metal wire leftovers I had. 

Bold colour combination reminds me of a tiger ....rraarrr!!! - hence the name

tiistai 2. helmikuuta 2010

Birthday bliss in Tallinn

Last week I travelled to Tallinn, Estonia for two days of great company, relaxation, pampering and bubbly. This trip was birthday gift including travel, luxurious accommodation and a choice of spa treatment. Since the freezing temperatures and frosty wind didn't encourage for timely outdoor activities we decided to take the full benefit of the luxurious courtyard suite at Merchant House Hotel situated in the heart of Tallinn's old town. 


I had heard lot of good things about this small boutique hotel and had wanted to stay here for the longesttime. It was well worth it - the hotel has a rustic old time charm (as you can see), service is great and the suite is well worth the money. 57m2 of beautifully designed space with a sitting room area, sauna and a log fire., all for €155 for a night.  I cannot describe how amazing it was to warm frostbitten fingers and toes in front of the fire whilst sipping some champagne.

Next morning I enjoyed a sea salt full body scrub and massage to smooth that dried up winter skin. After 90 minutes of relaxing bliss my skin felt like baby's bottom and mine and body rejuvenated. Besides some nice red wine I did no shopping at all. I did found though a lovely black leather handbag in -30% sale which I eventually received as a birthday gift.

tiistai 26. tammikuuta 2010

Zara Home

 What was I thinking browsing the Zara Home store with an intention of just buying a jewelry box? Fat chance. I found so many cute things I need...uhm want.

For bedroom and living room couple of cushions another table lamp.







For kitchen and dining room....Glass candlesticks and sugarbowl have been on my shopping list since the move. 
 


I wonder if Ellos is going to expand on their Zara Home selection in near future or should I just try to the Swedish online store..? Btw...why do all the cool things always go to Sweden first?

maanantai 25. tammikuuta 2010

Neatly boxed

One of benefits of this hobby is that I have jewelry for all occasions and some extra. Downside of it is that I am struggling to find neat, functionable and pretty ways to store my jewerly. I have two stands on my dressing table, one for earrings, another for necklaces. However, most of my jewerly is stored in boxes and drawers where they get tangled up.

My bedroom is decorated in classic white with a hint of colour. I would like to maintain light and airy feel of the bedroom and thus have been looking for ways to store my jewelry that fits this criteria. Mostly I've come across rather ornate and colourful jewelry boxes, but luckily Zara Home had some amazing boxes which could work as jewelry storage and they are so cute!


I was hoping my internet searched would have turned up modern white or black leather boxes with neat compartments. No such luck. If you know where I can find some please let me know. Also....I wish I could present much prettier layouts, but my laptop is still out of picture and with it all possibilities of image manipultion.

maanantai 18. tammikuuta 2010

Down time

On return from New Year's celebrations I arrived home to find my laptop in a sorry state. Somehow its screen had been damaged and was newly decorated with horizontal and vertical stripes! Luckily I have a comprehensive home insurance to carry on the financial burden of such mysterious failures in technology, but the outlook of not having a computer for couple of weeks was pretty upsetting.

Imagine my horror now 18 days later of the incident, 15 days in the computer repair shop, zillion query phone calls and emails later and they haven't even ordered the parts. They were supposed to get an repair estimate for the insurance company in 3 days, it has now been two weeks. How bloody difficult it is to send the stupid estimate? Needles to say that I'm frustrated. Once I get the estimate it still needs to go through my insurance company and once the repair shop has received the money they can only start ordering spare parts. Any guesses how long this is gonna take? Judging by their performance so far - f****g forever.

I miss you Vaio.... come home soon



torstai 31. joulukuuta 2009

Last of Christmas presents

Now that all the wrapping papers have been removed and I can reveal the last of the Christmas presents. A necklace with a recycled pendant (from dismantled earrings bought from Barcelona) teamed up with brass chain and findings, glass pearls, svarowski crystals and Vintaj Natural Brass charm.


Welcome 2010

maanantai 21. joulukuuta 2009

Once more with the feeling

Has it ever happened to you...? Realising that even best laid plans don't always execute quite like you wished for.

Yesterday I had it all laid out. All my tools and (finally) well stocked beading pantry neatly arranged in front of me - but no inspiration. Somewhere between the US postal sorting office and my mail box I had lost my design. Hours of nervous twiddling later I gave up and and rummaged through the little less used section of my supplies. I was frustrated and itching to get on beading so I picked up something forgetten which I didn't mind messing.

I can't be sure if it was my favourite book (Shantaram) or the incense sticks I was burning (or both) what inspired me to create something quite unsual for me- India. Necklace made of Christmas tree green freshwater pearls and antique gold plated metals beads and findings.




First I was quite unsure of this colour combination, but more I see it, more I am convinced that I managed to take this away from frumpy old lady towards ethnic and hip.