Cats and Dogs

While organizing my little studio I recovered some lovely fabrics. Like this cats and dogs one. Unfortunately, only little pieces … Think I have to do some fabric shopping soon. What a pity …

By Renate on January 31st, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 6 Comments »

Can I have your vote please?

Joanne was so nice to nominate me for the Favourite Papergoods on Poppytalk! Now… I don’t expect to win, but I’d love to at least have some votes so I don’t look so unloved. If you have a second, I’d be happy about your vote here. No need to register or anything, just choose “Kreativlink” and click “Vote”, thanks! :)

By Renate on January 26th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 5 Comments »

Feels good!

Took me some time, but now my studio is better organized. Yep, that does not really show on the photos, it only looks more tidy. But I re-arranged a lot of stuff and things should work more smooth now. Hopefully!
And seeing the photos now I realise that I still need to find some nice prints or paintings for the emtpy walls …

By Renate on January 23rd, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 8 Comments »

Tiny Letters and Big Buttons

For some time now I wanted a stamp where I can change the letters by myself. Sometimes I just want to print my URL on some things. Or it would be handy to have my address on some things. You get the picture …
Well, I found this one and yes, it works. But fiddling around with this tiny rubber letter is no fun! Or my sausage fingers are just to clumsy for that. It will probably only have my URL on it forever… :)

Sewing on buttons is another thing I’m not very good at. But with this beauties, I don’t mind. Just got them and can’t wait to use them!

UPDATE: Used one of my new buttons already for my challenge entry. The theme is “Petite and cute”. As you maybe know, cute is not really my thing … So, I made this “Petite Ladybugs” journal. There are hundreds of supercute ladybugs on it! Of course, most of them are so petite, you can’t see them without a microscope …

By Renate on January 21st, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 12 Comments »

And the Winner is …

Well, first let me say that I enjoyed hosting this challenge very much! I did not expect to get so many entries for this rather “hard to do” challenge. But of course, you all surprised me and made me very happy and proud!
I also heard from some people who where to shy to show their results, but still have much fun experimenting with new crafts. That’s perfectly fine for me too! :)

Thanks to all participants! I can’t choose a “winner” as all entries are winners for me. Therefore, I simply made a random drawing and - drumroll please -congrats, the winner is number 20, that’s:

SABAHNUR!!!

By Renate on January 18th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 9 Comments »

Entries for the “Make something NEW” challenge!

Deadline for entries: Monday 18th, evening

Dawn, famous for her wonderful bags is the first one. She made a “Like a Maasai” choker-collar:

Giusy is usally sewing beautiful accessoires,  for the challenge she made beaded stitchmarkers:

Damjana, also known for her sewing abilites suprises us with her first graphic design work:

Pinar, an architect and  metalsmith jewelry designer tried felting with amazing results:

Maria was very brave too and instead of making jewelry she has sewn her first ever clutch/pouch!

Swee, one of our  queens of cuteness crocheted a hat! And of course, she looks great with it! :)

Heli we know for her cute animals and the beautiful bags she makes. For the challenge she made  home/indoor slippers. Amazing!

Kim usually does beautiful felt work, she was brave too and made a fantastic garland:

and the challenge inspired Kim to finally finish this candelier! I love it, all the swirls!!

Marica made me very happy too! She said the challenge gave her that little “push” to finally paint furniture! Fantastic job! :)

Zita is known for her fantastic silk paintings.  For the challenge she made a beautiful belt broach:

Judit took the challenge very serious too. She did something she thought she couldn’t do! Very well done! :)

Inge suprises us with a fabulous Summer Cap! Isn’t it amazing, what hidden talents you all have? :)

Rita made her first pattern with a new computer tool:

Roro made her first ever necklace. Without felt! :)

Ina, known for her jewelry, re-discovered crocheting:

Alecia made wire wrapped rings for the first time! Looks like she’s very talented for that :)

Luzia made her first collage after third grade. She’s not really satisfied with the result but I think it’s very charming! And she had fun doing it, that’s the most important thing :)

Annemiek usually works with porcelain, clay, silver and glas. For the challenge she made fantastic celtic knots! Wow! I think I want to try that too!

Sabahnur came up with something new too! A wallhanging! Clever! :)

Andreanna started handsewing and made this cute Cupcake. Great job! :)

Laura I mostly know for her beautiful bird ornaments. She weaved a cuff with yarn and fibers and of course - shows great talent here too!

Aldona usually sewing, felting and knitting, surprises us with great results as a photographer!

Minna also made something new that’s clever AND beautiful. You can write on it!

Petronella took it very serious too! She made her own buttons! WOW! :)

Ayse made this beautiful silk gift bags. Not the last ones I think:

Anke has great results experimenting with yarn on card:

Mette made her first ever ring and it’s a special yummy one:

Eve  re-discovered embroidery and made this beautiful sachets:

Ayca made a fantastic crocheted Drawstring Bag:

Estella surpises us with her first crocheted ring:

Hande made sweet little vases:

Nathalia is knitting a beautiful scarf:

Krisztina did bead embroidery for the first time, yay:

Evelyn crocheted a wonderful neckwarmer:

Jeanette (maybe better known as Maisy :) assembled this sweet wallhanging:

Michele made this wonderful Magic Stick:

Maria decorated a candle for the challenge:

Baahar made Arabic calligraphy on a Notebook:

Eva-Dewi and Johanna made this lovely album with handstitching:

Priscilla did successfully work with markers:

Joanne made her first pendants with polymer clay:

Inger made her first ever work acording to a pattern:

Susanne started sewing and did great:

Kuu made a gorgeous needlefelted necklace

Greet made this adorable journal:

Usually, the EST challenges are only open for members of the European Street Team on Etsy. But I just got an entry from  someone, and I think it’s great that this challenge really inspires people to try something new! So, if you also are reading this and would love to join in, don’t hold anything back! :D

Non-competitve entries:

Erin, who never did any art of fiber crafts, learned to crochet and made this amiguru mouse! :)

By Renate on January 12th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 16 Comments »

New EST Challenge: Make something you never did before

I won the “The Inner Child” challenge with my  journal, that means -this week I’m the BOSS!

And I don’t want to make it easy for you. No way! It’s a challenge, you know. So I want to really challenge you this time to - make something you never did before!
I want you to come out of your comfort zone and experiment. Try something new! Something you never really did before!

You are a painter? Then knit something! A jeweler - try painting! A bookbinder - crochet something. Whatever you usually do - do something else! Grab some paper and make a card.  Buy a pack of Fimo and make a little sculpture.  Try jewelry if you never did that. Make origami. A mosaic maybe? Have you ever tried sewing? Made a plushie? Done embroidery?

If that’s to hard, stay with your craft, but try something new there. Say you always sew childrens clothing - sew something you never did so far. It should really be new for you.  Be brave!  :)

There should be something in for everybody. The “do it” part is what counts. Not the result. You don’t have to list it in your Etsy shop if you think it doesn’t fit. Just send me a photo and I’ll post it here.
And don’t try to fool me, I know what you usually do! No chance! I’ll come after you and you’ll wish you’d never even tried ….

I look forward to see your wonderful entries! :)

By Renate on January 11th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 25 Comments »

THANKS! :)

By Renate on January 9th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 13 Comments »

Morning Impressions

It’s a public holiday here in Austria today and we woke up to a bit of Winterwonderland.
Crazy dog is not so super amused about snow, but I think hubby does dislike having to shovel it away even more :)
I’ll enjoy the day inside mostly. Opened my long neglected fabric boxes and plan to play around with it some more. The “Strandkorb” book just sold to one of my favorite photographers when I came in from the snow. And the orange one (it’s orange in real) is probably the next one I’ll finish.Fun! Wish you all a happy day too!

By Renate on January 6th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 12 Comments »

Hello 2010!

I felt the urge to blog. But have nothing to say in real. Other than … well, it’s 2010 now. Just so you know. Maybe you missed it …

By Renate on January 4th, 2010 | Posted in Diverses | 2 Comments »