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.

How to make a brush organizer

Couple days ago, one of my team mates Lana from BelleCoccinelle shared an idea how to make a brush organizer of sushi mat. I found this idea brilliant! I was thinking to make some organizer because I have quite a few of cosmetics brushes that has to be organized So Lana's idea was given in a very right time :)

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 :)

Chocolate truffles recipe

Do you like chocolates like I do? :) I believe most of the people do. That's why I'd like to share a great chocolate truffle recipe. The initially, it was shared by one of my team mate Inessa who runs Vintageer shop on Etsy. I was trying to follow her idea, but unfortunately, it didn't work for me. So I had to adjust it.

Adorable gift from Secret Santa this year

There is a tradition in Russian team on Etsy which I belong to. Every year, we have Secret Santa gift exchange. This year, my Secret Santa was Eugenie from MulberryWhisper.

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 :)

Ukrainian borscht recipe (soup with beets)

From September 14 to September 21, we will have National Cuisine week in Russian team on Etsy. For the week, I'd like to share Ukrainian borscht recipe because I'm from Ukraine :) I wouldn't say this is really authentic borscht recipe; it's just like my mom cooks borscht soup, and how I've learned it from her :)

How to enhance pictures with online photo editor

It's not a tutorial; it's just a way to share "how I did it". All started when I was helping my Etsy teammate to enhance a little bit pictures of her items. I know that not everyone has Photoshop, and I found a convenient free tool for online photo editing http://pixlr.com/editor/ . Graphic user interface is pretty much intuitive and convenient to use. I'm going to use a picture of wedding flower from BelleBlooms shop on Etsy to show photo editing in action. Again, it's just one way to make your pictures look a little bit better. I'll show how I got the result (left picture) from the original (right picture).

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.

Free cross stitch design for Christmas

December has began, and it means that it's time to get ready for Christmas holiday season. People a rushing for Christmas gifts, decorations, and other essential for this holiday things. But not all prefer something from stores. A lot of people make all those things by their hands :) One of my friends Tatyana from AGardenCottage on Etsy is a real crafty lady. She crafts almost everything in her house :) And today, I 'd like to show a cross stitch Christmas tree ornament that she made... and share the free cross stitch pattern :)

Christmas gift exchange

Do you like to receive gifts? :) Well... who doesn't... It's third time in Russian team on Etsy when we have Secret Santa gift exchange. Initially, it was Albina's idea to play that game, and this year, it's third time we are playing the game.

Every time it's a little bit challenging for me. :) What to gift? What the person like? How my gift would suit the addressee life style? Also, I'd like to gift something hand made to share a piece of my warmth.

This year, I'm a secret Santa for one lady, and I'm not sharing her name. :) It'll be surprise for her. I made two small gifts for her: a calendar and a necklace. Well... Ladies like jewelry, and I hope that this part of the gift will fit her lifestyle :). I made it of pearls and clear crystals, that's why it should be OK with any outfit because I don't know her preferences in colors.

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 :)