Milk Thistle mini-ShoulderPack

This post is with the generous cooperation of Zakka Workshop

The need of miniature bags with specious compartments is urgent :). My yearly trips to Disney prove it. My wanderings are so much more care-free with a bag that doesn't obstruct my way through the crowd, is always on my shoulder for easy access (I do not need to perform a chiropractic exercise in order to access my wallet or a water bottle), and a one that could be warn on the back or on the chest. 

I love structured bags - not heavily lined and bulky, but light and natural-looking. The metal frame, from Zakka Workshop magically turns my wishes into a real thing. It provides a very delicate way of stabilizing the top of the bag, that creates a distinctive look and incredibly easy access to the inside of it. Ladies purses are known for the messy content, but with this frame, I am able to see everything inside at a glance - no need for digging and shovelling things around :) 

The frame could be found here. It is a beautiful pattern with all the hardware included: a frame and a zipper. I created my own pattern, based on the original one, and used a matching zipper. I really needed to enjoy my bag through all my travels, to have it with me all the time. The possibilities with the use of this frame are so many - it is just a matter of imagination and ... hard work to make your pattern work. I have to admit, it took me quite some time to figure out what I really want, and the pattern needed to be changed few times, in the process of making. My initial idea was for a backpack, it felt so unnatural with too many straps for this design, so I had to start over. The result is worth every single effort. I am really happy with my truly feminine style ShoulderPack :))

All the fabric materials, including the webbing strap and the back zipper are from my dear friends at DailyLike Canada. 

I have used Bio-Washing Cotton Linen 'Moss Grey' for the basic part of the bag, embroidered my Milk Thistle on the 'Misty Grey' Ramie Bio-Washing Linen, and lined my bag with 'Foot Path' cotton.  

I did use the 'Khaki' webbing for the accents along the seams and for the bag-strap, and the 'Mint' simple zipper for the back hidden pocket. 

All other metal hardware is from Inazuma, Japan.

Happy summer travels to all! I hope your bag gives you joy!

♥ Ivelina

Little Red Riding Hood 🍄

Some fabric just call for preservation. I can keep them in my drawer for years, hoping that the day will come and I will have an inspiration to make something extraordinary with it.

"The Little Red Riding Hood" by Tasha Noel is one of the very few that lay in my drawer which I only open from time to time to admire the content and then put them beck o safe existence. Until one day I opened my drawer and took the little mushrooms out for a beautiful toddler dress ... to my precious niece with ♥

I chose an old pattern from my Burda collection of patterns. the paper was really faded but the yoke is what attracted me the most - some things are irresistible and never out of date.

How attractive is this little pocket, that hangs on the buttons?!

I wish I was there to give my baby niece a hug, while she was dancing happily in the dress...

What is an elegant toddler without her purse? :)) ... or should I say - purseS :) 🍄

Everyone, who knows the story of Charles Pierrot would expect the big scary wolf to deliver more frightening presence, but this cutie deserves acknowledgement. I placed him on the back of the dress pocket too :)

The beautiful pattern of this quilted notions pouch is by Kim from Retro Mama. With her pattern, one  pouch is never enough. She knew that very well and that is why, she made the pattern for small and medium size pouches.

Try your hands on something beautiful today, and remember, that you are limited only by the limits of your imagination. So set it free, unleash your dreaming mode and savour some inspiration. I can only hope I help a little bit with it.

Happy stitching, dear friends!

♥, Ivelina

European Country Delight

One of the things that takes a special place in our life is most certainly the need for food. Food has been a big part of the evolution and evolved with the progress of life. It jumped from a necessity to an exquisite art, displayed in a plate. I am in awe with the food and with the limitless variations of taste and flavour that exist on Earth.

One sweet little dome can bring additional attractive presentation, especially with the upcoming outdoor life.

Here is how to make it:

It will only take few hours of your day but will serve your table setting very well.

materials needed:

cotton fabric for the face
cotton fabric for lining
fusible batting for stability and cosiness
cotton bias binding (either ready made, or self-made)

The design on my tea-cosy ... or in this case - the cookie protector, is from Les Brodeuses Parisiennes.

tools needed:

sharp scissors
sharp small size quilting needle for hand-stitching
quilting pins

Note: You can free your imagination for the face of the tea-cosy. It could be a display of a beautiful patchwork, appliqué work, embroidery or any designed desired. If the choice of fabric is too intriguing, you can just display the fabric.

recipe:

1. Have the pattern printed and cut (or just transferred from the screen of your computer). Make sure to either use the middle line placed on the fold of the fabric/batting, or to complete the pattern symmetrically to the middle line.

2. Cut 2 pc of the face fabric, 2 ps of the fabric, used for lining and 2 pc of the batting.

3. Follow the images for completing the project:

Before you close the binding with hand-stitching, incorporate the handle. I used a ribbon from DailyLikeCanada.

Pattern for download:

There are certain other makes that could make a table setting even more attractive. I chose this design by Véronique Enginger. It is so European and reminds me of my grandma's village house, where I used to go egg-hunting with a basket, climbing piles of dried grass and feeling drunk by the aroma of fresh herbs and wild flowers. Oh, good days...!

I just copied the oval top of my basket and make a cover for it by decorating this gorgeous design with vintage crochet lace. Could I go more country than that?! I guess I could, but these are the two designs I am using for now.

Have a beautiful country style season!

♥, Ivelina

Christmas Apron

What makes Christmas unbelievably special, is the time we spend in preparation and anticipation of the moment when we will be together with loved ones.

The dressing up is purely vital - the cleanness of the house and mind is one thing that opens the heart for the blessing of Christmas. 

The night before Christmas, I remember how my grand-mom walked around her tiny house, burning incense in her little kettle dish to clear the home and land from the evil spirits and sins. She visited all the corners, well dressed and beautiful in her old-fashioned clothes, she only wore at this Holy time. She walked into the stables, giving hug and touching every one of her lambs and sheep with her fingers all curved as the branches of the old walnut, growing just outside her house, fingers already showing signs of the knowing no mercy arthritis, hands all stained and rough, from the work she had done during the day and at all her life, but with the most beautiful glare on her face - a kind reflection of the weak light from the candle she was caring in her other hand. It was a time to prepare ourselves for the Great event, a time to ask forgiveness and give one to ourselves, before the church ceremony at midnight.

This ritual, that I had always found annoying and disruptive to my comfort as a child, now fills my heart with love and sadness. I find piece in the little design from Tania Santarelli at  LilliViolette. It took me back in time with all the beautiful and unappreciated as a child memories.

It is ordinary and simple in my heart today. I have never liked the shiny Christmas, but I found for myself, that the simplicity in life keeps me grounded and strong. Whatever we make with our hands and heart is the most important - that is how we nurture our children, we create memories for them, to remember for who we were and we give them the tools to find themselves when they are ready to see through these memories. I am far from the thought that they could see through my memories with my grand-mom, but this design is what lit that memory in my heart and I think it will carry the spark for my daughter when she prepares her Christmas tradition. 

Baking for Christmas? That is the most important thing for me. I start light in November and when December hits, well, let's just say that 'I make them eat cakes' :))) I barely cook anything else, but bake for Christmas. 

In the days when I was growing up and spent time with my grandmother, it was a forty-day fasting period before Christmas day. As I said earlier - clean the house, the stables, the body and the spirit, prepare for the Holy arrival. Everything that my grandmother prepared before-hand, wasn't tasted, just well packed in air-tight containers and stored in the cold stone room. All this flavour and taste in the air was to be savoured in anticipation. What a test to my soul! 

I do not perform this "torture" to my family. I wasn't raised religious. When baking starts in my home, it becomes a struggle for the cookies to survive till Christmas.

Any concerns that anyone has with the stains on this celebratory apron, I would like to put to rest. I have a back-up and a back-up to the back-up :)

I made this little bent on the right side of the apron, so my dear girl could always wear a kitchen cloth to clean her hands. And she could only uses this apron for serving. When she cooks, I made a spare, vintage inspired apron with no stitched design. Sometimes cooking could be messy...

This apron has a very raised waist line and protects the clothing well. I think she would cook braver in it :) 

I sense it is that time of the day, that I have to put my Stained Apron and dive into the kitchen.

Thank you so much for spending time with me and my thoughts. Thank you for stopping by! I hope you dig into your beautiful memories of past Christmas time to feed your imagination. 

Happy Christmas baking!

♥ Ivelina