Autumn Chubby Case

My autumn adventure continues in a more settled way. After the crazy stitching of the incredible beauties of the forest (some story in images I have already told you in my post The fire-fur companions of the woods) and constant changing embroidery floss, I am back to my sewing machine, trying to make it up to myself, since I abandoned my sewing place completely. It is nice to see how fast my project is growing and turning into a beautiful voluminous pouch. So many treasures are going to find their home in it :)

I used Henry Glass fall cotton collection, that are perfectly matching the colours on my cross-stitched design. I chose to introduce two colours for the face of the pouch and a third colour for the lining, but the pattern could be applied to one colour fabric.

size of the pouch:

lengt: 20/22 cm (top/bottom)
depth: 8/9.5 cm (top/bottom)
height: 12 cm

I improved my zipper pull with a little acorn charm.

The pattern is absolutely easy to follow: just make sure that the flats and sharps (marked on the pattern) connect when you folding the cut piece. Please, find the pattern here: pouch

I am sure you will have a great time creating a pouch like this - it is not a difficult make and it proofs to be absolutely useful.

My other foxy was framed and is about to be sent to its new home. I know she will be happy there.

Happy sewing, dear friends!
Thank you for visiting!

♥, Ivelina

My Lavender Laboratory

The transformation of lavender plant in its beauty ... - I love to admire how this happens through the seasons. This is my last harvest of lavender (I know - this late in the season, it is truly rich in flowers). The frost is announcing its arrival already, but I still keep few fresh buds on the plant with the sincere hope that they will grow, maybe even bloom?! 

Lavender is a plant of new memories to me. I know it is considered a flower of grandma's attic, but not for me. I started growing lavender less than ten years ago - when I first owned a house myself, when I had a place to grow herbs. Lavender was the first one I planted. It doesn't connect me with my past, but it is creating memories of the present. So to me, the aroma of lavender is fresh and clean. 

The colour of English lavender is truly unknown - is it lavender blue or purple lavender?! I can declare with absolute certainty that on the plant, the lavender is purple, very deep purple, with cold bluish green sharp-edged leaves. Once cut and dried, it gracefully sets its colour in dark sad blue. I love the purple happy version. I have one plant of Irish lavender that has more airy and delicate purple colour. It did not produce any flowers this year.

Every year I make different sachets for my wardrobe. This year, I created a mini-laboratory - sorting and preserving the extra seeds. My baby girl is mad about science, and she was thrilled to give me a hand in this. 

Tilda 'Bird Pond' came out with a magnificent pair of purple - these two fabric pieces clearly explain my lavender-colour dilemma. Combined with the Tilda solid 'Thristle', these help me create beautiful lavender accents. 

I chose to make the hand-embroidered lavender designs with a continental tent stitch. This was the first stitch I had ever learnt from my mother-in-law. It is very often confused with the half cross-stitch, but it creates a completely different look and texture. For the tiny lavender buds and flowers, I thought that the continental tent stitch would be perfect. 

For the draw-string pouch, I applied the design with reversed appliqué to keep the clean look and accent on the stitching. 

I layered the fabrics for the tag with a light weight batting in between, for some volume. I will bundle white shirts and blouses with it, before I put them all away till next summer.

The lavender basket I created by crocheting a jute case for one plastic box (from Mozart marzipan chocolates ... yammm). A few little silk summer scarfs will go in there. 

I think I have it all set for this coming winter. I have some few more fresh flowers to dry and place in flat sachets in between some very precious woollen blankets. It is always so nice, when I take the blankets out and spread the lavender aroma all over the room... 

When the lavender memories overpower my girls one day, I will be the creator of this annoying smell of lavender - from grandma's attic :))) And I don't mind... Everyone is entitled to creating their own overwhelming memory. 

I better put my Tablier taché and face the kitchen challenge of making Lavender and Lemon cakes - some recipe I experimented with in the fall of 2012. 

Lavender is definitely a plat of the present for me :) 

Thank you for visiting my aromatic corner today!

♥ Ivelina

Monogrammed macaron and sweets cases

... in images and stitches

Chocolate macarons with chocolate praline ganache and cacao nibs.

I am not sure which ones were more challenging to make - the macarons or the cases :)

The fire-fur companions of the woods

First signs of autumn do not fancy to be bold - it is almost as if they are fearful to start decorating the earth for the grand welcoming of the fire-starter season. As if someone is holding on the big explosion of hot and burning colours. Or maybe it is the green that is so stubborn - holding on to the last breath of the trees, tying tightly the loose straws of the nests - homes to the recently departed cheerful singing residents, protecting the fruits for the little climbing creatures, who are in a rush to fill their hollows with food. 

Only the sky touchers, high tops of the biggest maples started to give up on the temptation to put their robes on - bright in gold and ruby, they prepare for the last ball of the forest. Most of the times, I could only imagine what is life looking like in the deepest ends of the woods. It probably feels like one crazy megapolis, all strapped with busy noisy highways, where everyone is honking, yelling and fighting for their right to cross first and prepare for the quietest season of all, when the peace is painted in pure burning white. But first, let me enjoy the colours of one very intriguing, playful season, that changes her dresses with an inflated pride almost daily. I won't boost her vanity by admiring her presence, but by acknowledging her Castilians.

Foxes have been an amazing creatures - subject to fables, they cary the wisdom of the common people. 

I couldn't resist this year - I had to stitch a collection by Hélène Le Berre. I changed the design a little bit, making different pages of foxes, instead of one full paneaux as the designer created it. These adorable creatures (and many more) could be found in the book Agenda point de croix 2018 "Adorable animaux".

This little guy is planning on something. I have a special project for him :)

Apparently, there is a very unique hearing power to the foxy ears. I have a friend, who finds the ability to hear as a fox a blessing and a curse. She is an incredible musician and a very demanding teacher. Her students can not get away with pitchy notes :). That is how this guy finds a new home soon :).

This, probably, is my favourite of all designs. I see my babies being calm and protected in their sleep. It brings back so precious memories from their first days. My girl has an eye for this design, and I will make her something pretty, although, do not know what yet...

The days are becoming gloomy and sad. It is only a matter of time before the green give up fighting the new-colour fashion. I am holding on to the warmth of the season - aroma of orange and chocolate brown. Another beautiful day after another to be thankful for the gifts of Nature.

Hope you find peace in the rainy days!

♥ Ivelina