Back to school

Yep! Kids went back to school today here. I wish I could have seen my nieces and nephews going to their new classes but I had to go to work.

This day can be two things...depending on which side you're in:

• a nightmare if you have no kids because it means the end of the summer holidays and the start of traffic jams again on your way to work
• freedom if you have kids because you get rid off them for 5 days a week (sometimes less though) and don't have to struggle with how to entertain them during the day and having childcare issues lol

I'm part of the first group for now :-)

Here is a "back to school" mani for this week. It is a mix of different pictures I have seen on the internet and things I wanted to do.

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Bracelets

Here are two bracelets made for two custom orders.



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New pocket mirror

Hello everyone,

let's start the week with a new pocket mirror. Covered in resin to have a nicer finish to it.

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Click on image to enlarge

Have a great week and thanks for reading!

Something new

One thing I am asked regularly when I talk about my hobbies is my blog's address. And I must admit that I have never been the greatest at remembering it. I normally reply that if they typed my name in Google, they would find it.

But now it's time to be serious: I have made some business cards. That way, I will never get into that situation again.

Of course, you cannot have business cards without a decent card holder!

And voila! Simple but nice. I did not think it needed more than that.

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Click on image to enlarge

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A little order...

Here are three pieces I have done last week for someone who wanted copies of jewellery I had made for myself a long time ago.
First, a (much) bigger version of these earrings. I had to to them twice as first I decided to cover them with resin but it didn't turn out great so just used my normal varnish and baked them.

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Then I made some cherry earrings.


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Finally, a mini bottle necklace. I filled the bottle with macarons. The only thing I have changed compared to the original one is the place of the bow: on the bottle rather than on the chain.

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It was fun making them again. I enjoyed making canes with my extruder gun for the Disc Earrings. I have some left actually so...more fun to come ahead!



Wedding

Not mine no! A friend's wedding for which I was asked to make this piece as a present a while ago.

This piece took me a while to do as it was my first time trying to make characters. Plus, using white fimo is not my thing: I have problems keeping it white.

Still a huge work to do on proportions and sculpting which I am not good at, at all!

Anywho, I hope they liked it!

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Sewing project: reusable paper towels

One thing about taking sewing classes is that you tend to think that after one class (and especially once you have purchased your first sewing machine), you are capable of sewing everything. Yes, each time you look at something, this little voice in your head goes "easy! just get some fabric and you'll do that in one afternoon for half the cost and the colours you want!"

In real life, outside of your head, it's not that simple though. So everything takes much longer to do and doesn't look like the picture :-)

Now with today's project.

My other half is lovely but there's one thing he loves as much as me...or maybe more, and it is kitchen paper towels. He uses them all the time and for everything.

I was thinking about how to make him reduce the amount he uses when I came across some left overs from the fabric used for the bib I made for my nephew last year. That's when my voice inside decided to talk: "if it can work for bibs, I'm sure you can do the same for kitchen towels!".

There I was on the Internet looking at ways to do this: I quickly realise that my inner voice wasn't that original as I saw hundreds of pictures for reusable paper towels.

Anyway, a trip to the fabric shop, some cutting, sewing and tadaaa! The first set of reusable kitchen towels. I still have another set to make and it will give me room for improvement actually.

Plus, I'm doing my share for the environment...and my purse ;-)

Now! Time for me to go enjoy the rest of my long weekend. The fourth and last one of the month. I'm going to miss this month of May...

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Click on image to enlarge

Pocket mirrors

New projects over the weekend: pocket mirrors.

I have used my purple rose cane which I had not touched for a very long time but which was still OK. I do not usually use bright colours but I think the contrast between the purple and orange is pretty cool on that one.

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Click on image to enlarge

The second mirror looks simpler but I really like the effect of the black fimo mixed with some mica powder.

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Another new thing: I have overcome the fear of using resin. Yeah! Those pieces can have a better finish.

Both mirrors are available :-)

Bow necklace

My sister saw a bow necklace in a shop a while ago: my challenge was to make something similar for less money ;-)

Here it is!

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Brazilian Bracelet

We celebrated my twin and I's birthday over the weekend. I made her a little piece of jewellery for the occasion: a Brazilian bracelet (and another first for me!).

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Think she liked it. What about you?

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I did not have time to make one for myself but will do. And probably some extras actually!

Socks!

I have finally done it! My first pair of socks!

I have been dreading this for years I must say: always thinking it would be way too difficult. The idea of using several double pointed needles and most of all....the heel part!

A couple of weeks ago I found a pattern I thought would be good enough to get started and went for it. It went pretty fast and in a few days I was done.

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 Making the heels was a bit tricky, mainly understanding how to read the instructions for it. The heel on the left sock is different than the right one: I must have done something wrong while reading the pattern. I will need to practise that shortly.

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The hardest part is actually when you are done with the first one and you realise you have to do exactly the same thing again :-)

What do you think? Not bad for a first, huh?

Sewing project: needle case

During winter time, I do not usually do any fimo. It is too cold (especially in my flat!) and the fimo is harder to manipulate.

So I have...or find other activities. Apart from beading and knitting, I have been trying sewing since last year. But I have mainly done projects during my sewing classes, nothing too challenging on my own.

Last month, I tried to sew something again on my own and that I would use for sure. my old needle case getting too small, I took to make a nice one.

And here is the result

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Click on image to enlarge

I found the pattern on Les Chiffonneries du chat (the blog is in French but she's made the tutorial in English too).

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There are a lot of flaws and I think I will try to make another one at some point. Sewing several layers for the first time is not easy when you don't really know how to use a sewing machine :-)

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I also need to work on straight lines too! But I find it cute and I'm pleased with how it turned out with this fabric combination. Oh! and my needles are (almost) all in place now.

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Snowflakes mani

A wintry one this week. I can add it to the list of my favourites!

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More changes

Hello everyone!

Hope you are all having a fabulous weekend. For my part, it has been a good one: spent yesterday shopping with my twin, which wasn't planned. It was a good thing as I had planned on staying home and sort out the place for my boyfriend's arrival next week. So going out was nice...but I didn't do anything in the flat ;-)

Today though, I tried to sort out more things.

I took the time to make some changes on my blog as well as part of my project: phase 2 today.

You will have noticed this time the banner: all the credit of this banner goes again to Kris aka Runawaywithyou.

On the other hand, I have also changed the blog's colours and added and brand new signature which I have made.

It is still all work in progress, but what do you think?

Manicure for the week

A simple but yet elegant manicure this week. Starting again slowly as my nails have been on holiday for the last couple of weeks but as work has started again, I could not let them bare :-)

 

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Some changes!

Hello everyone!

 

Got back today from a few days away in London to see the boyfriend and spend some quality time during my holidays.

 

I have been thinking about changing my blog for a little while but could not find a way to do what I had in mind myself.

 

Well, I am glad to say that "phase 1" of this change is now done! You will notice that my banner has changed a bit: there is a cute little character on it.

 

Of course, I have not drawn this: all the credit goes to Kris aka Runawaywithyou (check out her page on Deviant Art, her drawings are awesome!). I could not thank her enough for her work and help.

 

So for now, consider this blog as being "under construction" and do not be surprised if it changes again by your next visit :-)



Velvet cake

I am still into miniature food. Today I give you my Velvet cake.

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Ikea hack

I wanted a chest of drawers for the front room but could not find what I wanted when it comes to size and colour. So I bought an Ikea's Rast and painted it. Finished the handles last week.

 

Come on! There had to be some UK influence in the flat: a big chunk of my heart is still there and will always be :-)

 

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