My Turkish Swap-Buddy: the TOOSIS surprise!

Yesterday afternoon I received a package in the post, from my swap-buddy Toosis. This is better than being pen-pals, through this swap project we learnt that we had many things in common, professionally and also in our private lives. She sent me a pair of her beautiful dragonfly earrings, and in return I sent her one of my unique handmade pouches (read about it on Toosis' blog).



Toosis lives in Istanbul, Turkey and crafts very beautiful and refined gold and silver jewellery using precious stones like amethyst, jade, onyx, ruby and pearl in many of her creations.

"PINK DROPS OF JOY" EARRINGS BY TOOSIS

She also included a special extra-surprise for me in her package: a good luck bracelet.
Thank you so much Toosis, this was a fun experience!

PUTTING GREEN ragbag: my entry for the Etsy Italia Team challenge

This little bag was made very early in the morning before sunrise for the Etsy Italia Team monthly challenge: "Finally Spring is Here!"
I got up in the wee hours to drive my daughter to the train station and then did not dive back into bed (as planned) when I returned home. As I walked past my workspace my little Elna sewing machine winked at me somehow.

So I sat down at my chair, and looked at my pile of rags.

The greens crept out towards me and began to whisper... and that's when the magic began! I had so much fun making this, I was really surprising myself along the way. I really love not knowing where I am going to end up! It gives me a wonderful feeling of something quite special unfolding.

the BLUE BIRTHDAY DRESS: 3rd and final episode!

Here is the finished dress, on my little princess!
Read about Part I
Read about Part II

my LABoratory SPACE

This is where and how I work!

where I "lab": work/create)
and where I "orate" i.e., listen to, scold, advise, and referee the children!
In fact I am zonk right in the middle of everything and everyone, sort of there temporarily, but this "temporarily" has now grown root and well, this is the space that has become my working space. This way I do not retire to do my thing, but stay entangled in all the family action: quarrels, chidren's cartoons, cake in the oven just around the corner (with the timer on, of course!), hubby pedalling on the cyclette in front of the news, doorbell ringing, children coming home and flinging their rucksacks and shoes around on the floor.
My favouritest space!

Costy's birthday dress (cont'd)

I am nearly finished now! The birthday was on Monday, so I'm a little late, but then again Costy got to see the dress in the making...
Coming up soon: modelling photo shoot!

Celestial inspiration? so cute, what children sometimes do! - Ispirazione celeste? una perla infantile!

A few days ago I received Atelier Pompadour's magical little raincloud, and hung it up in one of the children's room... and...
Qualche giorno fa mi è arrivata la magica nuvoletta di Atelier Pompadour e l'ho appesa in una delle camere dei bambini...

... and look what I discovered last night before going to bed?!

... e guardate che cos'ho trovato ieri notte prima di andare a letto?!

My bimbi's re-elaboration of the cloud concept: bits of wet loo paper, stuck onto the bathroom mirror. Now that's when adults need to learn to laugh and be overcome by delight, instead of getting angry!

Il concetto della nuvola, rielaborato dai miei figlioletti: pezzetti di carta igienica bagnata, appiccicata allo specchio del bagno. Ecco quando noi adulti dobbiamo essere in grado di meravigliarci e lasciarci prendere dal buonumore, anzichè arrabbiarci!

to my own BIRTHDAY GIRL! Happy Birthday Costy!

Today I am very busy trying to finish the silk dress for Costy's 13th birthday. BUON COMPLEANNO, amore mio! :)

A NATURAL TALENT? I think so... Do you?

Comic strip for Valentine's day - Vignetta per San Valentino

Here are a few works by my daughter Chiara--- aged 16, and born "with a pencil in her hand" and a delightful sense of humour up her sleeve. I am thinking she deserves to have her own Etsy space, and toying with the idea of setting up shop for her. What do YOU think?

Ecco alcune opere di mia figlia Chiara. Età 16 anni, nata "con la matita in mano", ed una buona dose di ironia in zucca. Sto pensando che si merita uno spazio Etsy tutto suo, e forse allestirò uno shop tutto per lei. Voi che cosa ne pensate?


Doodle done by Chiara on the back of my diary whilst waiting for me - Scarabocchietto fatto da Chiara sul retro della mia agenda mentre mi aspettava



Notebooks drawn and designed by Chiara - Quaderni disegnati da Chiara
I built a website especially for her a couple of years ago:
http://www.kiara.is.it/

BUON COMPLEANNO BENEDETTA!

Today is my Goddaughter's birthday, I made her this birthday gift :)

what's your DREAM DESTINATION?...

Have a look at these inspiring entries for this week's EST (European Street Team) Challenge, hosted on ZsaZsaZsu's blog. Let your mind start wandering!

http://zsazsazsujuwelen.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-european-street-team-challenge.html

Reach out and... SWAP your creations!

I created this pouch as a result of ToosisDesign's swap-initiative.

More information on

http://toosis.blogspot.com/2010/03/who-loves-to-swap.html

EURO WEEK on Etsy: 22-27th March 2010

Be sure to check out Etsy during the upcoming week of 22-27th March for all the incredible promotions regarding handmade European goods: free shipping, discounts and more.
http://www.etsy.com