FIMO Inspiration

I decided to make some cute FIMO designs that I've found on one of Crafts Beautiful videos. You can see it here. And after making them I thought it would be good idea to make it into earrings :) I think they turned out cute :)

And then I decided to make myself cell phone charm that I was inspired also by video I found on the youtube. You can see it here. 

I think it looks very cute :)

T-Shirt Makeover

I am excited to present you my first T-shirt makeover project!!! I had an old T-shirt that I hardly ever wore anymore... it was too long and it would be pretty hot in it. So I decided to do something with it and create something that I would wear. Additional fabric I used was from my old thin jeans. 

I wanted to do shirt makeover long time ago but what encouraged me was one of the comments on my previous post from STAEDTLER. I was invited to join their facebook page and was encouraged by their warm welcome and interest in my work. 


If you ever wondered what STAEDTLER was, I can tell you that it is one of the world's leading manufacturers of writing, colouring and drawing instruments as well as modelling/polymer clays. 

I don't think that I ever had a one shoulder shirt in my life and I really wanted one. Its exciting that the first one I wear is the one that I made myself :)

It would be cool if this would inspire you to do your own T-shirt makeover :) It's fun :)

I think mine turned out to be pretty cool :) What do you think?

FIMO buttons

I've made FIMO buttons! :)

That was me being creative without any goal or purpose in advance. At the moment I have no idea what I am going to use these buttons for but I know I will use them :) Maybe you could give me some idea?

Gardening With My Boss

My wonderful boss Gill Rowell came all the way from England, and between some important meetings she decided to help making our garden look pretty. Together with my coworker Senada we spent almost 5 hours working on it yesterday. 

Since we are a youth organization (Novi Most International) we cannot say that gardening is really something that we usually do. Both my boss and I are the ones who mostly work in the office and Senada works directly with young people. But yesterday, we were gardeners. :) We've taken out most of the weed, cut the grass, planted some flowers around the trees and surrounded it with rocks. It looks wonderful and we are very pleased. We were especially pleased because we managed to finish all up before Klub opening and youth coming in. 

There is still some work left, more weeds to take out, more seeds of grass to put in the places where needed, obviously watering it... but what we did so far is great and it was great that three of us could work on it together. 

My boss is the best boss, she is humble, loves people and enjoys investing in them with love and patience. So it was really nice to spend time with her. Not many people can say that about their bosses, I think. I am blessed :)

This is me after finishing the work. All dirty and tired, but happy!

There are few things I learned yesterday about gardening: It requires a lot of patience, weeds need to be kept under control otherwise they could take over the whole garden and make it ugly and smelly and not really nice to see or come near. 

Our soul is a garden that, together with God we work in. It is a process, but we must never stop working with our Boss (God is our ultimate boss, besides being our father, best friend...)

That reminds me on the conversation between Sarayu and Mack in the Shack:

"Mackenzie, you are such a delight! Thank you for all your had work!"

"I didn't do that much, really", he apologized. "I mean, look at this mess." His gaze moved over the garden that surrounded them. "But it really is beautiful, and full of you, Sarayu. Even though it seams like lots of work still needs to be done, I feel strangely at home and comfortable here."

....

Sarayu stepped toward him untill she had invaded his personal space. "And well you should, Mackenzie, because this garden is your soul. This mess is you! Together, you and I, we have been working with a purpose in your heart. And it is wild and beautiful and perfectly in process. To you it seams like a mess, but to me, I see a perfect pattern emerging and growing and alive - a living fractal."

Over the Rainbow

I love that song! I call it "my song". I sing it often and love to hear it often. So much that my friends at work are sick of it. Once I had all different versions of this song and was playing it OVER AND OVER again, which of course drove all crazy. 

So, even though she is probably sick of this song (by me singing it often) my friend from work and team leader Rowan decided to buy me this awesome single now when she was in UK. Thank you Rowan! :)

Rowan makes some really cute and unique Amigurumi dolls which she sells in her Etsy shop called outoftheframe. She is very talented. She makes a story about each doll she makes so you are not buying just a doll, but a doll with a character. Its awesome!

Now, let me tell you a little bit of what this song really means to me.

 

"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby..."

To me, this song is a song of hope. It reminds me on the hope I have in Jesus and the Kingdom of Heaven. "There's a land that I heard of once in a lullaby." And there truly is a land that I heard of. It is the best land that anyone would wish to live in. It's a land where all your dreams come true. It is a land full of joy and peace. No worries, no problems of the world, no war, nothing that harms us. It is a land where my king Jesus lives and where we can fully experience all the good gifts he has for us. It is a promise land that God intended me to live in. Not just me, but all my brothers and sisters who believe and trust Jesus as their Savior and the Lord of their lives. All who intentionally turn from their ways towards God and believe the good news - that Jesus Christ, son of God, came and died on the cross and resurrected and with that sacrifice He redeemed us from the sin that we were born into. He came to give us life - life in abundance. After we receive it, we do no longer belong to this world, but to His Kingdom... and until it comes, we are being ready for it.

Jesus said in Mark 1:15: 

"The time has come," he said. "The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!"

He also said in Luke 17:20-21: 

"Once, having been asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, "The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, 'Here it is,' or 'There it is,' because the kingdom of God is within you."

 "Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true..."

And yes, dreams that we dare to dream really do come true. It is a promise which God promised in Psalm 37:4 "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." and in Mark 6:33 after saying how we shouldn't worry about what we will eat or wear "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

I could go on and on about what God's word says about His kingdom and wonderful things He has for us, but for the sake of not making this a HUGE post, I am letting you to find that out for yourself by reading and searching the treasure book - the Bible.

Hair Bow

Today was my cousin's 17th birthday and I thought to make her something. I figured out that cool hair bow would be a nice gift. So I made it. 

To make this bow I've used dark blue denim and pink sewing thread. I wrapped around the middle sewing thread (ideally would be if I had ribbon or something else in that color). 

As I was wrapping it in the middle of the bow I also wrapped it around hair clip. I've also made little 'stars' with the same thread.

After doing that I secured it to hair clip using glue gun and tried it on to see how it looks :) Its a bit blurry picture, I know, but I think it looks cool :)

I just hope that my cousin likes it as much as I did and that she will have opportunity to use it as I would :)

The Fear of Failure

Perfectionist? Yeah, that's me. All the time and in everything? No, not really.

This is the pin cushion that I made today. Honestly, didn't put much thought into it and this is how it turned out - unperfect. It almost makes me feel bad (silly isn't it) that I made something like this, as if I disapointed myself.. well, I actually did. And yeah, I am going to destroy it since I cannot undo it. 

So now this experience produced fear inside of me - fear of failure - which, by the way, kills all creativity.

I have bought a lot of very nice fabric for making bags and I planned to make a tote bag today. But now, cause of this this failed project, I am afraid to even start... my mind is blank, providing no ideas whatsoever. 

So as the result, I am calling it off for today... until next time - after I get back my creativity. 

It's On My Mind

I have a lot on my mind lately, really.

• I am working on my bag - embroidery. 

• I am thinking about my next project - or to be honest, few. 

• I am planning to rearrange my room and getting ready for a big painting at home.

• I am thinking about writing my first tutorial.

• I am designing my blog background and trying to put it up - having some troubles with it.

• Thinking about the best way to take picture of my works. Heard about the lightbox but not sure its big enough for bags, so thinking/investigating the best way to take pictures of bags for my future shop in Etsy that I'm working on opening.

• Thinking about Jesus as a high priest who intercedes for us. In Romans 8:34-35 it says: "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"

What has been on your mind?

Stylish Pincushion

For a couple of days now I've been thinking/dreaming about making pincushion for my pins. I thought about making two - one for my wrist and one for the table.

This morning as I went through some new posts from those that I follow I've found tutorial that Tea Rose Home posted. It was about making stylish wrist pincushion. You can find her tutorial here.

I was inspired and I made it! Ta daaaaaa!

I think it looks pretty cool! :)

What do you think?

Mobile Phone Pouch "Cakum pakum"

Two days ago I made a mobile (cell) phone pouch for my cousin. He has a Samsung SGH i789 model and couldn't find the pouch he was looking for so I promised to make him one.

I started making it without much thought or planning from the beginning, thinking really that it will be a peace of cake. But it turned out to be harder then I thought. 

He bought a peace of black eco leather and wanted a simple pouch which will enable him to answer his phone quickly, unlike he could with his mobile/cell phone bag he had.

I've used the bag he had to make lining so that his phone could go in and out smoothly. 

After sewing all together I had a problem with ending bit. The problem was that my cousin was insisting on simplicity, and me being the way I am I wanted it to be creative, with some possible contrast etc.

So after much thinking and trying out, I decided to finish his mobile phone pouch with adding a string (from his previous bag) on the top of it.

I am very pleased how it turned out to look. It is simple as he wanted, but it is "cakum pakum".

You probably might be wondering what "cakum pakum" means so let me give you a short explanation. I heard that saying yesterday, after who knows how much time. It basically means perfect. I heard it a lot through my growing up. My mom used it when she would tell me to clean my room. She would say: "I want this to be 'cakum pakum' when I come back!". I never saw that phrase to be written down, so I had to do use it in my blog... and plus to make you richer of one more phrase in your life (even though not in your speaking language, but I am not sure which language this really is).

Inspiring My Best Friend

I am visiting my best friend who lives in a town nearby. I love her. I don't see her that often since she moved to another town, but I enjoy every time I do. 

This time I was on a mission to teach her how to sew. She got a sewing machine as a gift and she wanted to learn how to use it.

After practicing basics on the old fabric I decided to teach her how to make a flower. 

I can say that she caught it pretty fast. Of course, she is a very smart woman (soon to be married - how exciting!)

You see how she is making a straight stitch? What can I say? She is natural! :)

Ta daaaa! Flower is done and she is proudly showing it :) Exciting!

Her flower looks so pretty :) I am a proud friend :) She is all excited about sewing now. Since she is all into indoor decor she dreams to make fun curtains, table cloths and of course flowers that could be attached pretty much on anything :) 

After seeing some fun tutorial blogs and websites it was difficult for her to actually fall asleep last night 'cause she had all those ideas running through her head. :) This morning, after I asked her what was that she made last night, she answered: "Curtains!" :) He he, its fun to be creative and to inspire others to be creative as well.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.

1 John 4:7 

1st Finished Project - 1st Lessons Learned

YES! My first finished project and NO its not the first project I started :) 

I was planning to visit my best friend in a town nearby and I wanted to make her something. I decided so for couple of reasons; 1st I wanted to give her something nice, something made by ME and 2nd I wanted to encourage her to sew. 

As you can see this is a small jewelry or gift bag and I decided to make one 'cause I had one myself - which was pattern I used to make this one. In all that process that took a bit more then 3 hours I made some mistakes from which I can, of course, learn. 

Lesson  #1: Always adjust the thickness of the fabric to a project.

Lesson #2: Make sure to cut the fabric correctly.

Lesson #3: Make wider space between two stitches that make tube for strings.

So I guess with experience comes knowledge... I just hope it stays ;)

Amazon Wish List

I've realized that it would really be a great help for me if I had some helpful (or even essential) sewing tools which are cutting mat and rotary cutter. 

Cutting mat is perfect for cutting fabrics for different projects. The way I figured so far, I can use it in two ways: I can draw a line on fabric using grids on cutting mat and then cut it with scissors OR I could use a rotary cutter to cut it right there on the spot. That is possible because it is actually self healing mat. I think both ideas look appealing to me. Cutting mat would definitely make my sewing easier and more precise. 

I've found these that I want on Amazon.co.uk

Cutting Mat, pink of course ;)

Rotary Cutter

Fell In Love With Ruffles

I fell in love with ruffles!!! I was searching for sewing projects and I found out that the most appealing are those ones with ruffles, whether its a ruffle on a bag or a skirt or something totally different.

I've found this gorgeous bag on Etsy at the MountainWomanFlavor's shop that I wish I had. 

But since I have to control myself and think wisely about spending my money I decided that it's going to stay only my "I wish" thing for now which might turn into "It's mine!" sometime in a future :)

I've also came across this blog (which I decided to follow of course) ~Ruffles And Stuff~ and saw the cutest skirt tutorials that I just have to make sometime, hopefully soon so that I can wear them this year :)

My First Bag In Making

Here it is!! I promised to post a picture of how far I've come in making the bag from my previous post. So the day has finally come. Even though the weather is not sunny at all, I hope I had enough light to make this photo as clear as possible. 

Fabrics I chose for this bags are blue denim and pink linen. As you can see what I did so far is cut the fabrics, bordered it with zigzag stitch so it wouldn't rip, made a flower and started hand embroidering my "name" on it (kinda going from the end). :) To be honest this embroidering is a slow process and I cannot wait to finish it. I hope the way it looks at the end will be worth it.

I could start sewing some parts already (zipper etc) but I am waiting to buy some interfacing. The problem with that is that it seams that its harder then it should be. The thing is that this week I was busy so were not able to go there in their working hours, and today when I am not as busy I came there 10 minutes after they closed. Blah. If I only knew their Sat working hours it would've been easier really. A bit annoying really, but on the bright side :) it definitely helps me to work on my patience ;) 

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Colossians 3:12

 

The Bag

I love this bag! I bought it in the local store some years ago. As soon as I spotted it in the shop-window I knew I had to have it. It is small and cute and PINK! :) 

It's a spring/summery looking bag for carrying basic things such as wallet, cell phone...

For these reasons I decided to make the same one... well, similar. I choose denim 'cause I had it at home and I am adding some more things to personalize it.

In my next post I will post a picture of my progress so far :) It is exciting :) I love it so far :)

Fabrics

I love fabrics... different colors, designs, textures... they are yummy :) Recently I bought some fabrics for my sewing projects and then I discovered all other fabrics that I actually had at home. It is exciting, and I am looking forward to start using it.

I especially like colorful Michal Miller cotton fabrics that I recently bought. I love it! They are so bright, fun and happy :)

But I realized that in all that excitement I need to be careful and patient. I should not rush things. I should learn carefully all I need to know before starting a project because I do want it to look perfect. I like things that I do to be perfect, so that I can say: "It is good" :) But of course, I will be merciful with myself if some don't come out to be perfect as I desired. Its just not worth the stress :)

 Thank you Jesus for creating all wonderful colors, flowers and other beautiful things. You truly are creative God and I am created on your image. Thank you! You are beautiful!! Awesome!! Amazing!! Glorious!! Mighty!! Astonishing!! Breathtaking!! Majestic!! All powerful!! Wonderful!! Splendid!! Magnificent!! Marvelous God!! I love you!!