"Martzischwaray" :))



A bit late, let me tell you the story of an old tradition in this East European part of the world: every 1st of March we celebrate the beginning of spring. This celebration is a remnant of old paganic traditions, but nevertheless is carried out to this day forward.

This celebration involves, usually, the giving, by the men, boys and children, of small tokens of luck, or charms, or maybe a small jewelry, all accompanied, with no exception, by the red/white string.

The legend of the red/white string goes like this (short version :)): a young boy loved a young girl. Girls father didn't approve. Boy take girl from home and they run away. Girl father sees and tries to stop the stealing of his daughter by shooting an arrow at the boy. The girl knows her father is a good archer, therefore she takes the arrow in her chest, protecting her loved one. Her blood falls on the first flowers of the spring, the snow-drops. To remember their love and her sacrifice, we always give the red/white string.

There are variations in the story, depending on the region, even the habit maybe completely reversed (women give to men), but the essence the same, all over the country, and even in some neighbouring regions of other countries.

I think is a cute tradition which reminds us that we should love each other, that we should care about our loved ones, protect them, care for them, and I also think is a good time to have some activities with the kids.

This year we took a quilling class, so we decided we will only give hand-home-made "martzischwaray" (this is the name of the things given on that day) made using this technique.

The fotos below show only my share of the bunch... I made a pile for hubby to give to all his feminine encounters over the day. At the end, he was a success and was back home happy that he passed through the day without worries :). I still have leftovers for next year, so no work to do :))).

The kids also gave to teachers and female family, and every little hand-made-by-them piece was very much appreciated and loved.

I leave you now in the company of some fotos, showing the result of 1-2 days of work (shall I say fun? :)))) )

Easter eggs - pineapple technique tutorial

Hello my friends!
Spring is coming, and in close view is Easter. As usual, I'm doing something seasonal, and I've decided it will be nice to make a small tutorial about how to make these beautiful Easter decorations: Easter eggs in pineapple technique.
Let me tell you first a word or two about this happening: it's a derivation from the patchwork Christmas balls, and it uses ribbon instead of fabric squares.
All you need is some Styrofoam forms, in this case egg form, some ribbons about 3 cm width, a lot of pins and patience. Also, for decoration I use some artificial flowers, as you can see in photos further, and some other ribbons of smaller width.

So, let's start working!

First you take your egg and try to find a base for it (you work better if it's not rolling around every time you put it down) ;-) .

Then, I draw quarters on it, just as a guide for my work. Some folks out there (check you tube) recommend drawing eights, but I'm working just fine with quarters.

Then I cut all my ribbon pieces: for a 10 cm egg, between 80-92 pieces, 5 cm long, depending on how far apart I place the rows.

Then I cut anther smaller piece, in the most neutral tone of all the colors chosen for my egg.

Fix the smaller piece with one pin, as you see, a bit skew.

... the rest of the story is available on my website, http://quibi.ro/easter-egg-in-pinneaple-technique/
For the time being, it is only in Romanian language, but the photo's are quite self explanatory. Should the need arise (i.e. you as for it in a comment or something) I will make it in English too.

Have fun crafting!

Long time, no see, right?

Well, my friends, I admit I haven't been around lately. I mean, around this blog. Or the other one :). 

I've been active mainly on FB, cause it's soooooo easy to just shoot up some photo's with some bits of comment, and get immediate response...

It's so rewarding to get approval as quick as you post something, you might forget that the whole thing is not about bragging, but about keeping a record of what u're doing, thinking, dreaming....

It's been a while, but yet I'm back, and I'll give you a series of stories about what I've been cooking in my workshop and embroidering in my kitchen :)).

Some preview shots:

Stay tuned, I'll keep you posted!

presents... part 1

Sometimes, looking at a pattern makes it get stuck in my head. Like it wants to become, but not just yet.

Then, a certain fabric strikes. And, from the clash of pattern and fabric, new ideas emerge.

This was the case of these beauties, that were born last Saturday.

These are going to be presents. The people who will receive them do not know yet ;). Please, don't spoil the secret!

Visiting foreign countries

Today I have been visiting a foreign country. Let's see, do you recognize it by some of its inhabitants?

(Noreen the keen is mean to demean - rumors go that she's having a bad tongue)

(Raphaella, a fallen angel, that picked up human habits, started smocking, drinking beer, sometimes even she doesn't believe she once was an angel, because nobody believes her)

(a ghotic missie that was happening there with her rainbow friend)

(a thing)

(another Halloween thing)

(Chilperic, another thing :)))

a W.I.P.

(exhibition pannel)

(the mother of them all ;)

Ooooh! I almost forgot! She is Agatha, and she came home with us, very determined about where she is going to live from now on.

All in all, I was visiting Falushtain, the land of dreamed stories, a mysterious, curious and wondrous realm. Go visit too!

p.s. This means I went to the hand made event that is taking place these days in Bucharest :))) and I met Anca, and her puppets.

Seasonal crafting

After a short question, a week of wandering all over the internet and a brainstorming session with the kids, my felting tools have been put at work. This is the result.

And I've been caught in action :))))), during the photo session.

Haloween....

Speaking about crafts, these days we've been busy. Here's a sample. (more)

The busy crowd....

And beside that, I've had special orders:

So.... Happy Haloween!!!