Ready for Easter

I am trying to get into a spring mood inspite of constant snow showers we've been having (at least the weather keeps my snow shoveling muscles nicely toned).

Spring might be far away but the first buds are starting to show - tulips already left for a new home but the water lily shoulder bag is still available in my Etsy shop.

These three bunny plushies were made as a gift for three siblings who don't care much for cats, my usual stuffed animal of choice. So I redesigned my kitten plushie a bit and, what do you know, it's Easter!

Learn a new craft

A new year, a new craft, that is what Etsy blog suggested the other day. So I decided it was as good time as any to finally try to learn to crochet small flowers I have been wanting to add to my designs for a long time. My mother taught me crochet basics when I was a little girl but I haven't touched the hooks and yarn since...

However, with a little help from YouTube tutorials for beginners I learned to crochet several diffenent flowers in no time! First attempts were a bit awkward but after one week of crocheting I have over 40 flowers ready to be appliqued to my bags.

 trial and error

Tiny and small 5 petal flowers (6 petals are a result of a welcome mistake in counting)

You can find the tutorials HERE and HERE.

I also llike these ruffled flowers, perfect for adding pearls in the middle or plain and simple, resembling a chrysanthemum. Find the tutorial HERE.

Do you have and interesting crocheting tutorial? Please share!

Nauči se novo spretnost

Čas je že bil, da se končno naučim kvačkati rožice, s katerimi si že dolgo časa želim okrasiti moje torbice. Mama me je sicer že davno tega naučila osnov kvačkanja, pa sem do danes vse pozabila in tako   spet prvič prijela za kvačko. K sreči je na YouTube-u polno navodil za začetnike in tako sem se v enem tednu naučila kvačkati tri različne rožice in jih do zdaj naredila že čez 40. 
Zgornje, s petimi lističi (ali šestimi, kar se je zgodilo kot dobrodošla napaka pri štetju zank) sem naredila v dveh velikostih, spodnja, skuštrana, pa je še posebej zanimiva, ker jo lahko naredimo poljubno gosto, dodamo perlice, brez pa še najbolj spominja na krizantemo. 
Povezave so pod slikami, če imate tudi ve kakšno zanimivo kvačkarijo, jo prosim delite!

New in the shop

I just listed a new bag in my shop, a medium to large messenger shoulder bag in dark chocolate corduroy, decorated with tulip applique and embroidery in pink, red and purple. Bag is fully lined with red canvas and has a large pocket in the back that closes with a magnetic snap.

Adjustable shoulder strap is made from cherry red canvas and a patch of striped canvas and the bag has five interior pockets for all your essentials, like phone, pencils, sunglasses and tissues + a swivel hook for your keys.

I made another bag very similar to this one for myself and have been happily carrying it around for a few days - I use my swivel hook to attach a reusable canvas shopping bag and I slip my keys in the back pocket which can also hold a newspaper or a small package I need to take to the post office. Other pockets hold my mobile phone, my iPod, a bag of paper tissues, my wallet and pens. Plus there is plenty of room for a small sketch book, sunglasses, a small scarf for sudden chilly wind (very common on this high altitude) and a makeup pouch. What else does a girl need?

Work in progress

Very slow progress, but still...

In between nursing my son's broken elbow (hopefully it is not really broken but it has to rest in a cast for a whole week) and entertaining Gaston, who can't ride a bike, draw, climb outside in the playground, or sleep very well at night (due to the same annoying cast, stretching from shoulder to thumb), I am working on a custom order. It is a larger version of my Pippa blue corduroy bag and so far I have finished the front embroidery, all I have left is deciding where to sew the buttons.

I should have more news from my studio next week; if you want a closer update, follow me on Twitter - I have finally opened my account, find me HERE or click on the little blue bird in the sidebar...

Tweet you soon!

My workspace

I am enjoying a sewing day (thanks to my darling husband who took the children to grandma's), working on some new designs. My shop needs more shoulder bags so I have a couple of Pupa bags in mind and a smaller version, Pippa, that is almost finished.

When I am not pressed for time, I like to move away from my sewing corner in the bedroom and nestle on the couch, watching some of my favourite shows on DVD while I sew on buttons or beads. So instead of showing you my messy sewing space, here is a look at the coffee table and a piece of sky blue corduroy with some embroidery, felt applique and buttons I am about to sew on.

I hope to add the new items to my shop on Monday, stay tuned!

Little houses - keychain charms

I have been toying with the idea of making some keychain ornaments, a bit like my decorative hearts but smaller, to keep the keys company and make them easier to find in the depths of a woman's handbag.

At the end I decided to make tiny houses kechain charms with little doors and windows made of felt and freehand machine embroidery. I have a lot of leftover fabric, patches too small to make anything other than very small objects and this seemed like a perfect solution. I attached a split ring to the "chimney" of each house and am quite pleased with the three I made today (once I knew what I wanted they didn't took too long to finish).

I might try some hand stitching next time or add beads and trims to make the houses more festive - they are all stuffed with plant fibre filling so can also be used as pincushions or even christmas ornaments...

A fox? Me?

Let me present a brand new member of Loddelina family - GOGA wristlet.

She (a lady, what else) is 16 cm 6.2") tall, has a roomy, 6.5 cm (2.5") wide bottom (she dines out a lot) and closes with a 18 cm (7") zipper. Detachable wrist strap has a swivel hook and there is a small interior pocket in the lining.

I chose black denim for my first wristlet and sewed a red wool felt applique in front - in the shape of a fox (I wasn't sure if it really looks like a fox but my two year old daughter recognized it as such, which is good enough for me...).

Inspiration behind this woodland creature applique comes from Elisa, the creative force behind peskycatdesigns, one of my favourite Etsy shops, filled with unique, nature inspired bags.

New bag and more to come

I have just listed my new Pupa shoulder bag called Postcard from Paris. This time I used cheerfull striped upholstery canvas in bright fuchsia, spring green and orange and decorated it with a sewn-on "postcard", featuring a small metallic Eiffel Tower charm with rows of embroidered town houses underneath.

The inspiration for the Paris postcard came after I purchased some beads and metallic charms from yukidesigns. I can't wait to use them all so keep your eye on Loddelina shop, there will be some new bags coming soon!

Red&green Treasury feature

Maykela, an experienced Etsy treasury curator, has again chosen an item from my shop for her sellection. This time she included the Ola green wooly bag with applique and embroidery in her early Christmas inspired Treasury.

Maykela runs two jewelry shops on Etsy, the Maykela shop with unique precious and semi-precious stones and lavenders, affordable wire wrapped unique jewelry.

Thank you!

A winter gray feature

Watching the splendor of golden yellow outside my window all afternoon, it was a nice change to discover this lovely silver and warm gray Treasury made by Heidi of RedChair.

She has included my wooly Malina purse with flower applique in her sellection - it is so deliciously cozy, I think the smile on the cat says it all...

Thanks, Heidi!

Heart me! New items in my shop

Today I have listed first three of my new line of designs, decorative "Messages from the heart".

I have made these fabric hearts a while ago but have only now gotten a chance to put them on Etsy. They are made of my finest materials, decorated with beads, beaded wire ornaments, applique and embroidery.

Bee mine

Chocolate love

Open your heart

Just big enough to hang on your door knob, above your desk or on the corner of the bathroom mirror (approx. 12 x 12 cm, 5 x5 inch) - so it can make you smile each time you look at it.

Beauty pouch for Maud

Staying up late sorting out some old picture files on my computer I came across this beauty pouch I've made for a friend a few years ago. She had asked me to make a very "girlie" purse for her little daughter and so I used hot pink ultrasuede, embroided it with some colourful yarns, added felt applique and a few ribbons in contrasted colours. It had a zipper in front and a flat pocket with two compartments in the back. It was a bit wider on the top (20 cm/8 inch), with 16 cm/6.2 inch at the bottom and measured about 15 cm/6 inch in height.