How to Make Shabby Chic Style Tray

It's been a while since I was blogging last time...Life is slightly changing for me, and I'm becoming more and more overwhelmed with daily routine. I'd like to share a great tutorial from Katrin from KatrinShine shop on Etsy which she shared with me pretty much long time ago. Sorry, Katrin... I really didn't have time to post it earlier.

So... today's tutorial is about how to make a shabby chic wooden tray.

I won a giveaway!

Several weeks back, Kate who is running YarnStories shop on Etsy conducted a giveaway for 3 spools of yarn. I shared the link to the giveaway on Facebook just because I wanted to help her to spread a word about it around my Facebook friends. :) And I was really surprised when I won this giveaway. YAY!

How to make polymer clay leaves

I have a friend who I've never met in person, but we chat a lot on Internet :) I really feel that we are close and know a lot about each other just because those online chats... Her name is Svetlana from NESWeddingGarden. We like to share our craft ideas, give advises to each other, and generally chat about anything in our lives :) Recently, Svetlana shared a tutorial how to make leaves of polymer clay and how to use them in craft.

Dangle beaded earrings tutorial

Recently, my team mate Svetlana from LiriGal shop on Etsy shared a great dangle beaded earrings tutorial with me. I found those earrings are easy to make, and that's why I'm sharing it on my blog :)

Free Cross Stitch Pattern of Christmas Tree

It's almost a Christmas time, but we still have couple days to do some Christmas craft :) Today, my friend Tanya from SocksAndMittens wants to share a free cross stitch patterns of Christmas tree. I found this cross stitch design very simple and easy to make. Even for me who is a very very beginner :)

Woolen felted toys by Vlada Homnyuk

Couple weeks ago, I found great VladaHom shop on Etsy which carries cute wool felted toys.
All toys in there are unique, and they look like real creatures with an attitudes. Even a pumpkin there is giving an impression that it's about to start talking to you :)

Felted decorative basket tutorial

Today, I'd like to share a simple yet great tutorial how to make a decorative basket of felt. This tutorial was shared with me by Lena who runs Baymut shop on Etsy. She made a piece of felt herself, but you don't need to struggle with it if you don't felt. :) You simply can buy a pre-made sheet of felt in a crafting store such Michaels.

Flowers inspired jewelry by Svetlana Frenkel

Do you like surprises like I do?-))

Recently, I got a gift from Svetlana from NESWeddingGarden and it was totally a surprise. I picked my maill from a mail box, and found there a package with no returning address. Hmmm... I was rushing to home to open it. And... inside I found this adorable hibiscus flower brooch made of polymer clay.

Of course, I was interested what story behind the flower, and Swetlana shared what inspired her to make it.

Artistic tea sets by Yury Tarler

Unfortunately, I haven't met Yury Tarler in person, but I know him virtually as a member of Russian team on Etsy.


Looking at Yury's art works in his Etsy shop, I always knew he is a talented artist. But I was impressed after reading this article on Russian team blog. Yury had painted many portraits of famous people like Pope John Paul II, Nelson Rockefeller, and others.

Napa trip with friends

Have you ever been in Napa? :) In this gorgeous wine country in California... I've been there several times but this time, I guess, was the special one. Why?..

Spring note cards exchange

Did you know that March 8 is an International woman day? :) Probably not... or maybe had heard about it but forgot?... :)

In Russia and other post-Soviet countries, the day is a real holiday. We don't celebrate some socialist ideas... we just celebrate a Woman's day. All woman and girls get flowers... a lot of flowers and gifts. :) For us, this is a celebration of spring.


I'm a member of Etsy Russian team on Etsy, and we had note card exchange for the holiday. So... recently I got all of the cards that I supposed to receive... What amazed me, they are mostly hand made... Well, why I'm amazed... we are crafters! That's what we do! :)

So this gorgeous photo note card from Tonya (TonyaUtkina)


This amazing hand cross stitched note card from Natasha (Skrynka)



And this great note card from Tanya (SocksAndMittens)

Also, I got extra one from Mariya (LovelyTrifles) :) Mariya missed the gift exchange, and she was upset about it. To make her happy, we just sent to each other note cards...


Girls, they are amazing! :) Thank you very much!

Jewelry product photography. Albina's creations

Albina is my fellow team mate in Russians on Etsy team. Recently, she asked me to work on good pictures of her jewelries. You know why... her article is going to be issued in a magazine! I was excited to get this challenge - to take really good looking pictures for the magazine. :)


I hope I fulfilled the order :) Also, just a little secret... I'm really proud of myself because I really improved my skills in product photography. If you'd look at my first pictures, gosh... they are really unacceptable :( I know, that I need practice more and more to get them better, but I feel that I've made pretty much big step in this field :)


Look at the gorgeous jewelries! Albina is a great wire sculpture artist. Her creations are really unique.


Honestly, I'm not a big fan of copper jewelries. I prefer silver or gold, but these one make me to think about my preferences. :)



I wish I could make something like this... *sigh*

Necklace made of wool???

I'm kinda classy girl... :) especially, if it's about jewelries. I always thought that jewelry should be made out of some firm materials: gemstones, glass beads, or plastic... But I've never thought it can be made of fabrics or wool... Well... I was wrong :)

Look at this great hand made felted necklace by Tonya Utkina.

I'm really surprised how gorgeous a felted necklace can be. Tonya, great job! ... and shame on me :) I need to be more open to new hand made ideas :)

Warm things

Spring? No... ;) In my place it's still winter. I mean, it's winter as much as it can be in California. Days are warm, but night time... it's freezing! ;) Especially, my hands got cold... they are even shivering... Maybe, I need to have something warm? :)

I love the idea of wearing mittens. Hands are covered, but fingers are open, and I still can operate with them with no troubles. I really like these red hand made mittens that I found on Tanya's SocksAndMittens blog. They look warm and cozy, and yet elegant. ;) And I know... the mittens are made by Tanya's mom with love going from her heart! :)


They are gorgeous, aren't they? :)

So... my hands are completely frozen... I'm going to ask her to make me custom mittens for my poor hands. :)

Christmas gift from Olena

Do you like gifts? :) I just love them!

Last Thursday, I opened my mail box and found there a box from Olena (SFBeads) who is a great jewelry artist. Sure I ran to open it. I was really thrilled, and I knew that the gift is hand made by Olena :) So... what I've got was beyond my expectation!

I found these small boxes, and I was surprised because I was kinda expecting just one box ;) They are cute, aren't they?



Honestly, I'm not a good at gift decoration. I believe that what's inside is more important than outside. But after Olena's gift... NO MORE non-decorated gifts from me :) I'm going to decorate all my future gifts. :)

Inside of this turquoise box, I found this gorgeous necklace which is hand made by Olena. This sparkling snowflake in combination with blue, crystal clear beads, and silver findings looks amazingly :) Tiny silver chain, sparkling beads, and heart shaped clasp make this necklace tender looking. Also, it reminds me ice and snow :) I don't know why... maybe because of the crisp color combination...



In the red small box, I got this cute cell phone charm in the shape of Christmas wreath. Moreover, this tiny bell jingles :)



Olena, I just have no words! Thank you very much. I love your gifts :)

Thank you secret Santa :)

EtsyRussianTeam played a game "Secret Santa" this holiday season :) The most exciting part that you don't know who you'll receive gift from.

I got great ruffled scarf with brooch from Galina (Galafilc). I just don't have words to say how I like it :)

So this is a brooch :)


And this is the scarf...


it's reversible..

Thank you Gala-Santa!!! :)