Paper fashions by Isabelle de Borchgrave

Aren't these just beautiful? The best part is, they're made of paper! Can you believe that? I came upon them awhile ago and just decided to revisit and share. Hope you find them as inspiring as I did. Click through to the Burdastyle article for many more stunning pictures!

Circle-skirted dress tutorial

Been really busy for the past couple months, so sorry for vanishing. Here's a lovely circle-skirted dress tutorial from Annika from The Pineneedle Collective to make up for it!

 
I love each variation of the dress that she's made. I think my favourites would have to be the first 2 (on the left) on this montage - the lovely green polka dot print fabric with the lovely brown skirt, and the one with that sweet bow and the mint green skirt, they're just so adorable!

It's really inspiring me to start on the dress/dresses I've been wanting to put together. I've still got a whole lot of work to do before I can start sewing up some sweet new outfits though. >_<

Anyhow, do check out the tutorial and the rest of her fabulous blog. Enjoy!

Handmade Feathers

I love this DIY feather tutorial courtesy of Blue Sky Confections, and the cute story behind it. Don't we all love when something we thought was a failure produces a "happy accident" instead? :D

Made in the right colours, these babies would brighten and add character to any decorating/jewellery/craft project you can think of to add it to! I personally prefer the the ones made with embroidery floss or a fine yarn.They look so very delicate, almost like the real thing! Happy crafting everyone! And a Happy Mothers' Day to all mums!

Burdastyle Inspiration - 01 May 2012

Wow. Look at this fabulously colourful selection of some the latest patterns from Burda Style magazine! These are also now available on Burdastyle.com. They're inspired by Brazil and I'm just loving those bright prints and especially want that butterfly print fabric! I thought it was a dress initially but that's actually a maxi skirt and top combination. Boy, I'd love to make that outfit from that exact fabric in the image. :D

Mochimochi cute

Found this post about the game Katamari Damacy by Anna of Mochimochiland via the Hilltop Cloud blog and I had to click through and take a look! It got me excited because I really enjoyed Katamari Damacy! Rolling up that quirky Japanese fantasy world is so much fun! :D

I first played it a few years back on a close friend's PSP (Playstation Portable) while on a trip together and just thoroughly enjoyed it! (The rest of the non-gaming parts of the vacation were fun too, of course. Great memories. <3)

So anyway, here's an image and a quote from the "About" section of Mochimochiland:

"Mochimochi Land was launched in 2007 as a place where knitted toys and 

 people can live together in a spirit of tolerance. You too can advance 

human-toy understanding by knitting a new friend!"

It looks like loads of fun. Knitting, adorable quirkiness and video games - I love it! Check out this wonderfully fantastical animation of sledding yetis from Anna! She also has a wonderful shop on the site that is full of adorable, whimsical patterns, and some kits too!

I think I actually came across (-and fell in love with, just look at them!) the images of her Rainy Cloud and Stackable Cats patterns a few years ago, but somehow never found her blog until now! I have got to try some of these adorable tiny (and not so tiny) toys. Wonderful, quick, tiny knits are always great for adding to the list of completed projects. :p

Rainy Cloud

Stackable Cats

In other news, I've been feeling a little bit overwhelmed lately because I've discovered so many incredible blogs by amazingly crafty, creative, artistic people! It's all so wonderfully inspiring but also reminds me of all my various interests and all the things I want to get into and play around with and there just doesn't seem to be enough time for all of it!


(All images in this post from Mochimochiland.)

Cool bookends

Check out these wonderful bookends from Knob Creek Metal Arts! I love that they double up as decor elements. There are so many great designs up on their Etsy shop, I really had to resist putting up too many pictures. :p They also do racks, garden signs and custom orders. I'm definitely keeping them in mind for when I next want some new bookends.

Foray into knitting cables - Merletto mitts

Hope everyone had a wonderful, restful weekend! So anyway, here's what I've been working on - these Merletto fingerless mitts! (click link for pattern on Ravelry)

Like the title says, this is the first time I'm knitting cables. I was a little unsure on my first cable but after a couple tentative cable rows and upon seeing the piece grow and the pattern take shape, I've gotten the hang of it It's really quite easy and I think it's going pretty well!

I'm knitting it on 1 circular needle and with the wrong way out but I just need to flip it inside out and it's all good. :p These are images of the patterned half of it which corresponds to the back of the hand when worn. The palm-side half is just worked in regular stockinette stitch and I didn't take any pictures of it. I'll post more when I finish them!

Here it is on the WS (wrong-side).

And this is flipped over to the RS (right side) so that the pattern appears as it should!