Keep calm and ride on

The snow is completely melting, with shy periods of sun here and there....bringing so much hope that spring might be just around the corner...
Usually between work and family, I am trying to balance and be productive and efficient as much as I can in many different fields. Here are some of my recent designs, available @ Spoonflower.











They are part of my "Take a ride" collection, and the first print above is entered in this week's 3 color (limited palette) bicycle theme contest on Spoonflower.

xx, Katarina

Playground collection

I made these 3 design collages, including some of the prints of my Playground collection divided in 3 colourways, available @ Spoonflower. And I've added the Pin it button under posts, to quick share some pics:)
Hope you'll have some fun:)

xx, Katarina

Under the 0

A big excuse for my lack of posting lately...I've been so busy with several things and just couldn't find enough time to blog.....I have 2 tutorial posts half finished and hope to post at least one of them during this week. One will be for the boys tie and bonus project-softie ball and the other for this lovely baby cloth book.



Anyway, as you may notice from the first picture, the winter finally hit us here and the temperatures are deeply under the 0....so freezing and not very inviting, but homemade stuff is keeping us busy and warm:)

You can see some more handmade stuff @ our shop related blog
xx
Katarina

Girly softie dolls

Last summer I made a few illustrations in aquarelle technique. I needed some images to use for the girls and boys tee shirts for the shop. So, I had to convert those aquarelles into the vector files to be screen printed on the shirts and my final result was the simple drawing of the girl (later to become 2 girls, as on the following picture) and a simple dinosaur for the boys.

I've also uploaded the drawings into my Spoonflower account and turned them into a fabric. Here are the girls and here are the dinos (not yet available for purchase). So the girls on fabric arrived while we were away and it was the first thing I had to sew in this new Year. The dolls for my girls;)
Of course, the fabric can be used for other purposes, but after the lovely teddy bears softies, they wanted the softie dolls;)

There are 8 dolls fitting one fat quarter, so if you are sewing them as dolls, you may choose to create 4 reversible dolls(using all 8 dolls) or 8 if using one doll for one side and some other fabric as the back, other side of the doll.



If choosing the option of creating the reversible doll, here is how I did it, you may call it tutorial, as well;)
First of all, wash the fabric(or fabrics) and iron it.
Using the window and day light, and folding the fabric, right sides together, in way that you can see 2 dolls through - one over another, pin the fabrics.



Cut the doll shapes, here are 2 ways you may cut, getting more or less of the white space



Sew the dolls using 1 cm (1/2") seam allowances, leaving the bottom gap open that will allow turning the doll inside out



Fill the dolls with stuffing





Hand stitch the opening gap closed, and you are done;)



xo, Katarina

Home, sweet home

As this is the first post in the 2012 I am wishing you a Happy New Year everyone!!!!I hope this one brings many beautiful things, joy and happiness to all!
So, the Holidays are over and we are happily nested in our house after being away for more than 2 weeks. Here are some pics from our Xmas and New Year's eve.



xo,
Katarina

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!

First of all, I wanted to THANK you all for participating in my Giveaway organized by Sew mama sew. I wish I could send something to each of you, but you can see the names of 4 lucky ones, chosen by Random, in my previous post. The parcels are already on theirs way to the winners, so I am all set;) I've enjoyed reading your comments and I will certainly do this again, I think that the next one is in May.











I think that the boys ties were the most wanted item and I think that many of you will love my upcoming tutorial for them:) I hope it can be a present from me to you as well:)
I made so many ties last week and the SHOP is loaded.
For the girls, I made many hair clips and other Xmasy items and now I can think about packing, as we are going to Italy to spend the Holidays with my husband's family.



So, I wish you all a wonderful Christmas and the best 2012. year to come!!!:)
Merry★* 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★Christmas★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門｜ ˚And a Happy New Year!

Katarina

Giveaway!!!!

UPDATE
--------The giveaway is now closed, here is the screen shoot of the winners chosen by Random, now I'll need to go and count the numbers;)-------
Thanks everyone for participating!!!!

So, here are the winners:

Number 25- Jess and Bess who said:
the snowflakes would be my second choice - they're lovely!
bess :)
So the snowflakes go to Jess!Congrats Jess!

Number 62- Carol who said:
Those bibs would be perfect for my grandkids!
Carol (NJ)
So the bibs go to Carol!Congrats Carol!

Number 105- Susan who said:
so hard to decide!
I would love to have the poncho or the ties!
So the poncho goes to Susan!Congrats Susan!

Number 178- the Thompsons who said:
I think I'd have to go with the ties! You have some beautiful things!
So the ties goes to the Thompsons!Congrats!!
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Finally, it's time for the giveaway. This time, for the first time, I've decided to take part in Sew mama, sew Giveaway Day and can't wait to see the reactions. I wasn't sure what would be the best thing to give away that falls within one of the following categories:

Handmade for the Home (quilts, hot pads, pillows, etc.)
Handmade Bags
Handmade Baby + Kid Items
Sewing Supplies (fabric, patterns, buttons, trims)
Other Craft Supplies
Handmade Accessories (hats, scarves, belts, adult clothes, etc.)


So, I decided to go with the Handmade Baby + Kid Items category. I am giving away a few items:

1 ITEM - baby item

2 baby bibs, made with my original Spoonflower cut and sew template fabric



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2 ITEM - toddler boy item

2 boys cotton ties, made in 100% cotton with Velcro closure, to fit best 2-7 years

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3 ITEM - toddler girl item

Poncho set for girls, including 1 orange poncho with leg warmers and hair clips that will fit best 4-7 years (it is tagged as 5-6, but is very comfy)





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4 ITEM - "fits all" item

Yet, if you are without kids or with grown kids and are not very attracted to the above listed gifts, you may be thrilled with this beautiful snowflake garland from my IwannaBe etsy shop, (including 5 pieces of 3x3" snowflakes in white acrylic) that can be used in many ways, as single snowflake ornament, garland when grouped or as coasters. Great also as a gift giving wrap detail.




All you need to do is to leave a comment under this blog post until December 16 at 5 p.m. PST including your choice regarding the item you wish to win and your contact(e-mail) info (you can even leave two comments if you wish different items, but no more than 2 comments per person). I will draw a random winners using RANDOM Generator. Winners will be announced by e-mail on Sunday, December 18 (I will update my Giveaway Day post to include the winner’s name).
The items will ship internationally on Monday, December 19. (so be sure to leave your e-mail in comment in way that I can contact you immediately and get the shipping details)
Be sure to check all the wonderful giveaways linked to Sew mama sew Giveaway day,
Katarina