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 :)

How to make a Christmas paper ball ornament

I remember this kind of paper ball ornaments from my childhood :) It was fun project in kindergarten when we made them out of old post cards. :) I don't have any post cards to recycle, so I simply got in Michaels scrapbooking heavy paper with holographic finish.

This ball actually not a Christmas tree ornament, unless you have a really tall Christmas tree :). I simply used it as a home decoration. Want to try this? :)

Christmas wreath decoration

In my mother country, there is no tradition to hang up a Christmas wreath... or any other wreath at all :)  That's why this year it's the first time when we have a Christmas wreath on our door. Yes, yes, I'm absorbing :)

I didn't want to buy some artificial wreath, and they are also quite expensive for one time usage (who knows... may be next year I won't hang it up :)  ). I wanted to have one which is made of real pine. That's why, my hubby and I got one in Costco which is made of pine and decorated with some pine cones and berries.

After we hung it up, it was clear that it doesn't look like Christmas one. I had to come up with an idea how to decorate it...

Once upon in autumn day in Napa

Napa... In my understanding, it's one of the greatest places on California map. We've been to Napa many times, but it happened to be the first time when we went there on a weekday in fall. Well... I guess it's the best time. It was not crowded, it was warm but not really hot. So it was exactly as I like... calming and relaxing.

Battered Fried Fish Recipe

I've already mentioned that there were International Cuisine week at Russian team, and we had many great recipes shared from all over the world. I personally would like to thank Tanya who shared a great recipe of battered fried fish :) She reminded me about this simple yet delicious fish which is favorite in my family, but somehow I haven't cooked it for a long time. So... here it is. Delicious fried fish recipe :)

Dangle earrings with pearls

Last week, I made this beautiful chain maille sterling silver bracelet with pearls. And since I like to wear jewelries in pairs, I had to make something matching for this bracelet. Usually, I make earrings as a pair to a bracelet :) So... I came up with this sterling silver dangle earrings design. This pearl earrings are really easy to make, and I'd like to share entire process.

Chain maille bracelet with pearls

My first wire work! Not so long time ago, I was surfing the Internet, and found many interesting tutorials how to make jewelries of wire. One bracelet tutorial made in chain maille technique seemed to be easy to make even for beginners like me :)

San Mateo Gem Show

Eventually, I did it... I went to Gem Show in San Mateo. I've heard about the show long time ago, but it always were coming to my mind when it's already gone. This time, one of my friend reminded about it in right time :)

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 :)