Want to help me to pick up the colors? :)

I have 3 new designs for my collection in the work... still in a sketch black and white variation. Want to help me to pick up the colors? :) Which one is your favorite?

New items in the shop

If you didnt had a chance yet to visit my Etsy shop this week, thank you may be should ;) I have just added several new clothing designs there including fashion design sketches....

http://MashenkaFashion.etsy.com

What is there new you may ask?

First of all...CUSTOMISE YOUR COAT...the wonderful warm vest that you can customise yourself by your request...buttons, lenght, application :) just go wild! LOL



Retro big collar pullover....such a great trico fabric!



And open shoulders dress....it sits completely different on a human body LOL but on this "doll" it really doesnt show...

Happy Housewife collection SUMMER 2009

When I was searching for inspiration for my new summer collection 2009 I knew what direction it was going to take. I feel such a nostalgical feeling when I think about 1940's, it is almost like I was living than once before. I was scrolling through 40's fashion and house commercials and I could finally see a "red thread" of designs coming through...

So I hope you like the result :), this is only two sketches of the many coming...

Inspiration:



And two designs:





If you would like to have one of the collection designs made exactly by your size - please contact me to info@elfies-world.com.

Both of the sketches are availiable here in my Etsy shop:

http://MashenkaFashion.etsy.com

Featuring Etsy creative people - part 2

And of course here is a second part about wonderful creative Etsy folks....

Lets talk a walk...

YONPLI

http://yonpli.etsy.com

I love mosaics, they always seems to be as a big cloud of colorful butterflies creating something amazing. And if you would like to see some wonderful examples of this colorful perfection of mosaic you definately should visit Beth's shop.





Beth writes about herself:

"Yonpli Mosaics is a one woman mosaic shop. I started mosaics several years ago because of a wine bottle problem. I have always loved glass and just couldn't bring myself to toss a bunch of wine bottles in different colors. Hoping to make something with them, I started researching what I could do and discovered mosaics. I then quickly discovered much better glass for mosaics, high quality Italian vitreous glass, so those wine bottles never got used - but I did manage to recycle them finally. Now I enjoy exploring the many aspects of glass in my work, from the different sheens and finishes to shapes I can break it into and lay it out in to, of course, the many beautiful colors it comes in."

LONDICREATIONS

http://londicreations.etsy.com

When I first time visited Londi's shop I was amazed how unique was her creations. I could never imagine that something so beautiful can be created of simple zipper and wool. Take a look and I promise you will not be dissapointed!





Londi writes about herself:

"Hi my name is Londi. I'm orginally from the U.S and I'm presently living in France.
I'm a third generation jeweler (by trade) experenced working with precious metal, stones, as well as designing, carving and finishing. For the last few years I've enjoyed felting, sewing, making jewelry, and my hand-made X-mas bulbs. I'm inspired by nature, lighting, flowers, children, anything from a rock, to a grain of sand...a piece of gold, to a piece of glitter!
I love working with color, texture, all art mediums in every way, shape and form!
I love to mix the old with the new. Precious metal, semi-precious stones, vintage, buttons, lace, wool, zippers, well you'll see, the list goes on!
So whatever your stlye, Romantic, Visionary, Adventures, Contemporary, or just fun Art Jewelry, you will find it here!"

Featured spot for Etsy creative people - part 1

And this is our second weekend of features. I enjoy it so much! Looking around at wojnderful creations, reading intersting bios and of course meeting a new people! So happy to see you here on my blog as well, welcome!

If you would like to speread the word to help the fols out - please do so! I will be so happy to see this feature mentioned on the other blogs as well.

HOT DIGITAL DOG

http://HotDigitalDog.etsy.com

Cindy has such a funky creations I end up spending a long time in her shop. Her pet portrets are adorable! I hardly could pick up a favorite because I loved them all!





Cindy writes about herself:

"I'm a photographer/graphic artist who is delighted to have figured out how to combine two of my passions - collecting old photos and (seemingly) collecting pets. I have been a photographer/graphic designer for 20 years, and Photoshop user oh, er - I mean costume maker, for about 14 years. I've also been an animal lover all my life and I go to the animal shelters once a week to take photos of adoptable animals for the newspaper. Some of those animals are seen here, but only the ones that were eventually adopted.

I live in the Deep South, USA not far from where Flannery O'Connor fed her peacocks. I have eight cats, three dogs, two fish and one husband."

PRIMITIVE PAINTER

http://primitivepainter.etsy.com


If you love cozy, warm colored and country feel home decor than you should definately visit a Terry's shop. All the things are lovingly hand painted and look wonderful.





Terry writes:

"I was born in Boston Mass. I now live in New Hampshire but have lived all over, including Colorado(my true home at heart) and Maine. I have raised three successful contributing children all of whom I am extremely proud of.
I love to design and paint functional home decor. If it does not have a function I am not interested. I believe very strongly in purchasing Made in the USA whenever possible."

HOLLYROCKS

http://Hollyrocks.etsy.com

Holly's shop gives me such a funky and fresh feel. I like bold colors and very happy jewelry creations she has there. Are you all about fresh, young and strong? Than you definately need to visit because Holly is definately rocks ;).





She writes about herself:

"I am going to school to be a teacher, I am planning to teach middle school because I have a passion for working with adolescents. My etsy shop is something I do on the side to keep me busy when I get a free minute away from my school work. I've been crafting since I was a little girl, and it became a hobby that just stuck with me into adulthood. "

Busy creating new collection

While waiting for the reply from the buisness organisation about the loan I requested for opening a shop/atelier (please keep your fingers crossed for me!) I am busy with creating a line for a new collection. I guess I would like to concentrate on Spring/Summer 2009 and Autumn/Winter 2009-2010.

Loads of ideas, loads of sketches. Trying to fit and to follow the brands, colors and lines and to remember the most important - "what you like mostly dont sells" LOL...crazy but very true.

So fitting the line in the Belgium/Europe standarts will be the most important task....

And for now just sharing some sketches from in between....very rough sketches...





And just to remind you that I have a great feature for the most creative Etsy members this weekend as usual, so dont forget to come by!

Valentin Judashkin

Just a small portion of fashion for you from the wonderful russian designer Valentin Judashkin....new spring-autumn collection...







Photos from: http://www.osinka.ru

Sewing day....

It is finally stay at home time when I can go ahead with my sewing projects. Busy with several things at the same time as usual - small leather type keychain bags which will be availiable this weekend on the Etsy, several summer dresses, yep, summer is coming closer and closer :) and of course new patterns.

Weather is still grey and rainy and our car decided to break down in the middle of the road yesterday...fun fun fun....especially when it is the end of the month....and especially when money comes in only after 1 of the next one...LOL and even more especially when you also need to buy a food HAHAHA....talking about things in the right timing ;) is Mercury retrograde again? LOL

Was looking yesterday at my cats and kids and had to make this photo...our cats are always trying to participate in EVERYTHING, even when kids are playing Nintendo :)

Pillows, jumpers, sun and rain

Weekend was wonderful. Its like summer showed for a second with almot 18 degrees and non stop sun and than it was gone and we have a rainy and gloomy day today.

But while being most of the time outside in the weekend (replanting loads of plants and flowers to the new place) I still managed to make something and even to put it in my Etsy.

You know, when I was a little kid I always thought it could be so cool to have a room with loads of pillows...well, I guess its what playing a big part of the inspiration at the moment haha...So yeah, here we go with a pillows again.







There are much more and they are all added to my Etsy...

And here is two jumpers that I liked so much to make :) Melody is playing a little model for me...

Featured spot for Etsy creative people - 2 part

I hope you had a chance yesterday to come over and to visit 3 wonderful Etsy members and their creations. If you did - please let them know what you liked the most because isnt it the best to share something nice and to cheer somebody up?

Today we have two more wonderful folks....

SHASTADOLPHIN

http://shastadolphin.etsy.com

The most adorable and so cozy looking hats! Each of them is special and I am sure they are incredibly comfortable to wear. Please notice that Jennifer is offering a FREE shipping!





Jennifer writes about herself:

"I am a mother to a wonderful little girl, Amelia who just turned two. I work outside the home but just for another month then I will be home again with her as I am missing her dearly. I am trying to get this etsy thing going to bring in a little money. My husband was layed off and is going back to school in September, so every little bit will help. I enjoy crocheting, sewing and making hairbows"

BRIGABAUBLE

http://brigabauble.etsy.com

I am completely in love with Brig's jewelry creations. Combination of colors and wonderful vintage feel to each peace make me want to buy them all LOL





Brig writing about herself:

"MY SHOP, BrigaBauble http://www.BrigaBauble.etsy.com
I sell my handmade jewelry and rosaries (Catholic and Anglican) in my Etsy shop BrigaBauble (http://www.BrigaBauble.etsy.com). My jewelry style ranges from the funky to the sublime. My customers range in age from their mid-20s to their early 60s (at least the ones I meet face-to-face do). I love bright colors and neutral colors and I hunt down sales on materials so I can turn the savings over to my customers.

ME
My parents met at a ball in Vienna when my mom was getting in touch with her Austrian roots and my Austrian dad was getting in touch with his future American roots. ha ha. I lived and worked in Prague for two years (my dad's family is Czech and Austrian) and my dream is to be a full-time jewelry designer and crafter, living just about anywhere in Austria. I'm an introvert with extrovert tendencies who works full-time as an editor/writer for a national philanthropic collaborative. "

Featured spot for Etsy creative people - 1 part

When I decided to open a blog I knew I would like to help out to other creative folks. After being in art buisness so long I knew how tough it can be to get through and how important it is for us...So I will be featuring fellow Etsy members every weekend..

You know what I enjoyed the most? Reading the short bios that members are sent me. It is so wonderful to know the real person behind the beautiful creation.

Please dont forget to post about this feature in your blogs. Lets help each other and share the invitation to special shops of very creative people.

.....cutting the red ribbon....

SIMPLE WHIMSEY

http://simplewhimsey.etsy.com

Wonderful custom fabric banners that gave me such a cozy feeling!





Kristen writes about herself:

"I grew up in San Francisco, CA and now live in the Sierra Foothills with my husband and two boys (ages 9 and 11) who keep me incredibly busy.

I've always liked crafting and grew up in a home with sewers. Oddly I never learned to sew until after my son was born. My sister who has taught pattern making and worked for Nike and Addidas said, "I'm teaching you how to sew, we'll make a pillow." Then it went to quilting and now I'm making fun little fabric banners with sayings. I have got several requests for personalized banners and even fun events.

I bet my sister never guessed 10 years later I would have a collections of fabric that is billowing out of the closet were it is all color coded in piles. I love looking at my fabric it makes me smile and inspires me. Fabric stores are a dangerous place for me ~ to many choices I want it all ♥

Now I just need to find more time in the day for everything."

DANALAYMON

http://DanaLaymon.etsy.com

Dana has a gorgeous photography. I was wondering through her shop and feeling such a range of emotions...each of them was speacing a special story...





Dana writes about herself:

"Well I live in Wilmington, NC with my husband. I have a full time job at a pharmaceutical company but do weddings and portraits on the side. I really want to do photography full time- that is my dream! I'm hoping Etsy will give me some exposure and extra money but we'll see :) I have taken some photo classes mostly for darkroom development and everthing else i learned on my own. I'm working on my own website at the moment and can't wait to get the word out that it's done! It will hopefully drive a lot of people to etsy too. I have a lot of different photographic styles. I like to use digital and film and love abstracts and landscapes and people! I hope people feel like my shop is cohessive because I just post the things i love :)

I'm on twitter: and my website is thanks!"

BLUE BOX STUDIO

http://BlueBoxStudio.etsy.com

I never imagined that sea glass can be so incredibly beautiful. Jewelry made by Sue is almost glowing from inside and it is so incredibly special.





Sue writes about herself:

"I’m Sue Harris and I work from my garden studio, selling my work as ‘Blue Box Studio’. I live in the beautiful Victorian seaside town of Clevedon in North Somerset, England, famous for having oldest purpose-built, continually operating cinema in the world. The Curzon’s original building opened in 1912 and films have been presented on this site ever since. We also have a wonderful Victorian pier that was, I believe, made from some spare bits of metal from one of Brunel's projects, but don't quote me on that.

I work in several disciples, working with textiles and making jewellery.

My jewellery is made predominantly from sea, or beach, glass – most of which my husband and I collect from beaches found on our travels – and sterling silver. Using the beauty of the found material, smooth and frosted by the movement of the waves and sand and unaltered except for drilling and mounting, I make necklaces and earrings, cuff links, mirrors, and bottle stoppers. I also collect far more sea glass than I can use or store, so offer this for sale to other collectors in order to fund purchase of more unusual colours that I can’t find in my part of the UK.

When I’m not working with sea glass I’m busy with textiles. I have always loved beautiful fabrics and a chance purchase of a book on Shibori dyeing at a particularly quiet craft fair led to me developing my interest further. I now use this ancient Japanese technique to make silk and velvet scarves as well as linings for the range of framed bags I am currently developing. I also make scarves and tote bags from velvet and designer fabrics, colouring and texturing these with devoré, batik, hand and screen printed techniques. I am always experimenting for ways to make something a little different.

I had so many requests from customers wanting to make their own scarves that I now sell a kit to make a Shibori dyed scarf and run workshops in Shibori dyeing from my garden studio. A kit to make a devoré scarf will be released later this year, in time for North Somerset Arts Week open studio event from 1 – 10 May.

My work is available from a few galleries around the UK and direct from me at craft fairs, my Etsy, Folksy and Misi shops. I also hope to have my own shop on my website www.blueboxstudio.co.uk in the next few months. Watch my blog, http://blue-box-studio.blogspot.com for developments.

When I’m not in my workshop, I enjoy spending time in my newly formed garden, wandering along beautiful beaches looking for sea glass (it is addictive) and exploring both in the UK and abroad."

Pillows, spring ans summer hats

It is almost weekend! Weather is gorgeous outside and our garden is full with spring flowers. It gives me such a happy feeling. I missed warm weather and sun so very much.



I had a chance finally to list two pretty pillows I made. I like how gentle and nostalgic they turned out :)





You can see them on sale here: http://MashenkaFashion.etsy.com

And after making this funky kids summer hat I thought may be you will like a tutorial and a pattern? It is so fun to make!





And dont forget - we have a wonderful features for a most creative folks this weekend!

Cats cats cats

While preparing things for the weekend sporlight I noticed one funny thing. My cats probably love sewing. Because every time I leave my sewing table for a second they try to lay on everything....new fabric, patterns, even pins and needles....LOL they steal my buttons and play with them around and they love my new soft velvet. Can you imagine how "happy" I am? Especially when trying to get all the pieces back together?

But yes, I noticed that Maine coons are always there to participate. They will watch a TV with you, read a book, cook in a kitchen and even sit with a kids to play a Nintendo :)

And yes, they are truly a "gentle giants" and the biggest sweethearts in the world...

Small treasures

Just recieved a package full with a small treasures - cuts of fabric from 2.5" till 5" size....my hands are already itching to start - which will have to wait till the end of the week. Yep, I am still busy with a sewing course which is running from 8 am till 5 pm....so when I am home I practically dont have any time left.

Here is tiny scrables of my heart/love related pieces.



What do you like to make from a small fabric leftovers?

I love small pillows, pouches and bags :)