You like tomato and I like tomahto - handmade mellow tomato workshop

This tomato is really easy to make - no secret techniques in this workshop! As in former carrot workshop, every step is illustrated.
Step 1.
Cut a circle. Consider that the radius of the ready tomato will be half of the radius of that circle.

Step 2.
Make a seam all over the edge. Take small, evenly spaced running stitches near the edge all the way around the circle.

Step 3.
Gently pull the thread end to gather the edge until it forms a gathered circle.

Step 4.
Fill up the tomato with the fiberfill tightly.

Step 5.
Try to close it with a string as tightly as you can.

Step 6.
Cut out the green top. It hasn't to be perfectly symmetric.

Step 7.
Place the green top on tomato. Using matching thread and small stitches, whipstitch them together.

Step 8.
To add a truly mellow look to the tomato, make a tightening from the middle of green top to the botton.

Fibonacci scarf

Here, in TLV, we don't have a real winter. At it's best we got a few rainy weeks and the temperatures below 15°C are considered "chilly weather". But the knitting itching at the fingertips is growing stronger in these months. Generally I'll do nothing and it will pass over. But this year seems to be rather fertile - two men's scarfs and a cardigan for our principessa piccola were accomplished till now.
First, I did the scarf as s gift for a friend of ours. He's somewhat conservative in style, so I tried to make it clear and simple, grey and white:


The pattern is simple: first three rows are grey 1K 1P, finish with a knit. After that (1K 1P) x 8 with a white yarn and (1K 1P) x 32 with a grey. Finish with a knit. Repeat all the rows.
Second one was for my dear hubby. He wanted stripes of black, gray and white on his scarf. I asked him for proportions. "Follow the Fibonacci" he said, "it's a sure thing". Truly, a pattern of classic aesthetics. I've divided the black yarn in two random pieces from the beginning and, magically enough, it was precisely at the needed length for both... It goes like this: 5 stitches in black, 8 stiches in gray, 13 in white and 21 in black. Three first rows and three last ones are black.

Handmade carrot - workshop

This carrot is my favorite in a veg-collection. I could say that from this little carrot it all started.
I decided to post this workshop - and who knows - may be it will urge someone to try a new craft?... It's not too easy to make, but nothing exceptional either. I've tried to take a picture of every single step, hopefully it came out clear.
Ok. Step 1.
What we will need?

In that picture I forgot one piece of a pattern - the top of the carrot. But you can see it on step 3.
And don't forget that patience is the most important part.
Step 2.
Cut two pieces of carrot from the orange felt. Allow two millimeters from the edge for the seam.

Step 3.
This is what you have for now.

Step 4.
Now sew together the two pieces of carrot.

Step 5.
When you have finished sewing the carrot cut a few centimeters off the top and turn inside out.

Step 6.
Fill up the carrot with the fiberfill tightly - it have to be pretty springy.

Step 7.
Now make a seam all over the edge:

Step 8.
Close it tightly.

Step 9.
Ok, now we are going to make the green tops.
Cut four identical pieces of green felt according to the pattern. No need to leave an indent for the seams here.

Step 10.
Now it's the hardest part - you have to stitch together each two pieces all over the edge. And it has to be neat. May be you won't get it right from the begining, but don't give up - you need just a little bit of practice. Start stitching a few millimeters above the edge - you'll need it to attach to the carrot.

Step 11.
When it's done, put the green tops and the carrot together and take a look - isn't it beautiful? I'm sure that when you get to this part you'll feel proud of youself!

Step 12.
In step 10 I've said that it's a hardest part, but actually, this is the real one. Sorry.. Your task is to stitch down the green tops to the body. Be very accurate.




Step 13.
Now give your carrot a bit of realistic look - take a brown string and make a few eyes all over the carrot's body.

Congratulations! You've made it.

Layla

Continuing my naive line here is another picture, called "Layla" - no connection to EC song.

It was born from my friends illustration:

About a year ago, I've discovered an art naïve gallery not far from where I live. Since then, it's been my frequent "safe haven", supplying me with an emotional refill. I found naïve art at it's best very inspiring and providing the simple and much-needed feeling of happiness that is kept mostly in a bright childhood memories.
Since I'm no good at drawing, I try to apply the naive mood to my felt crafts. This one is called "Sheep on a hill".

Dreaming birds - spring baby mobile

Dreaming Birds - winter baby mobile

Dreaming birds - summer baby mobile

Colours of Italy

At the end of October we've spent an amazing week in Italy at a charming Villa Inncasa near a small town of Orvieto in Umbria. The timing was rather risky but we were lucky to get all the sunshine and no rain at all. The light and the colours and the air at this time of fall in Italy are fabulous! As I keep recalling these splendid colours, I've made my "autumn dreaming birds mobile".


Continue Reading »







There was a small kitchenette at our studio, so occasionally we had some pasta and local wine for lunch.