Stitches and Thrills

More mittens to make! You just got to love these Meow Mitts by TinyOwlKnitsPatterns . I know I do =^x^= Pattern available in her Etsy shop. Pattern: Meow Mitts by TinyOwlKnitsPatterns And if you don't like cats - hey wait, what are you doing on this blog then? -  she also sells patterns with bunnies, birds and butterflies, among others.

Papieren diamantjes hanger. Hier is de eerste beschrijving van de Etsy #CraftParty 2015 in Leiden. Materiaal:  Papieren stroken . Voor een diamantje heb je een strook nodig waarvan de lengte 8x de breedte is. Dus bv als de strook 2.5 cm breed is, dan is de lengte minstens 20 cm. Of als de lengte 32 cm is (bv een atlas pagina), dan knip je hem op 1/8 dus 4 cm breed. Dun touw en een lange naald . Stokje / takje / grote sateprikker. Je kan ook een mobile maken door bv een oude borduurring te gebruiken. Paper diamond hanging decoration. Here's the first tutorial from the Etsy #Craftparty 2015 workshop Leiden! Material:  Paper strips : For 1 diamond  you need a paper strip of which the length 8 times the width. So if your width is 1 inch, than the length is at least 8 inch. Thin thread and a long needle. A stick or little branch. Or you can go circular with an old embroiderie ring. Draai de strook om en vouw een hoekje van 45 g...

It is Etsy #CraftParty time again! For the first time this year we are hosting a Craft Party in our very own home town of Leiden! Two years ago I had attended a party in Amsterdam hosted by the Ka-Ching Collectief and had enjoyed myself very much. With our growing and active Leiden team we decided to join in with this annual event. During the Etsy Craft Party people are organizing creative events worldwide! Find out if there is a party in your neighbourhood here . The theme for 2015 is: " Kaleidoscope: Paper Taking Shape ". We have translated the theme in 3 small workshops which we are currently preparing. 1: Making a landscape booklet 2: Using discarded books as material 3: 3D folding Go and check our inspiration board on Pinterest . We found some great projects, albeit some way too ambitious for one afternoon. We are taking into account that a lot of non-Dutch speaking people are also very fond of crafting so we are prepared on giving instructions in E...

As European enamelware goes the Cathrineholm factory in Norway is very famous. But The Netherlands has it's own legendary enamel and cast iron producers : DRU (Diepenbrock en Reigers te Ulft). You might know them from the DRU Holland pastel coloured enamelware with the tulip logo, but my favourite series is this one:   When I started going to flee markets about 25 years ago it must have been one of the first items I picked up: a battered black enamel bowl with tiny yellow and red dots. There just was something so adorable about it. In the years following more of these bowls did pop up on my thrift store trips every now and then, and I was always drawn to them. Mostly they were as battered as the first one I picked up, but I started to be more selective: occasionally there was a bowl and lid in very good condition! Research learned that these enamel bowls were actually a Dutch design classic. The Confetti series was designed by Willem Gilles in 1953/1954 for DRU (Diepe...

Friday November 22nd the  Etsy Pop-Up Winter Pop Up Shop (organized bythe Ka-Ching Collective) was officially opened with a small party. My compliments for Babette , Margriet , Annabel and Barbara : they created a wonderful shop. There is a lot of variation in the items they selected, yet it all works together perfectly. From both my shops items are available in the pop Up Shop ( MissMinoes and AllFairness ): Apart from the familiar Etsian faces I also met some nice new shop owners. I talked to Nelleke of RedCheeksFactory , the girls from the bows at StrictlyAmsterdam , and to Beau from TheHelloShop . Beau is both designer and soap maker. But THE gift idea for this years holiday season is her home made beard oil . It softens the beard and nourishes the skin. Apart from the socializing we also had first choice in doing our shopping. This even created a line at the cash register! A great success on the first day already. I couldn't leave without Muscle Man Paper ...

In my revamped Etsy shop AllFairness (previously called BonnetsByMissMinoes) I've added a fun new product: Wire Headbands. Although these headbands are already very popular in the US and Britain, they are still fairly new to the Netherlands.They are a prefect accessory for the trendy 1940s 1950s retro fashion of this season. The wire headbands that I sell are handmade by me, from either GOTS certified organic cotton, or vintage fabric from the 60s/70s/80s. What makes the wire headband so fabulous is you can wear it in so many different ways. I know there are already English YouTube videos around, but I thought it be nice to make one in Dutch, to show the different styling options.The sound is very soft though, as I filmed it with my compact camera. So you might have to switch the volume to 11. This is the first video I ever made... (For Big Bang Theory fans: I had to think about Sheldon and Amy's flag instruction video.) ;-)  Bunny Twist  Hairband ...

June 20th 2013. Worldwide there were Etsy Craft Parties happening that day. I attended the one in Amsterdam. It was an excellent festive event and networking opportunity, organized by Ka-Ching Collectief , a collective of 5 Etsy sellers at Storm Gallery in Amsterdam. We crocheted, made booklets or cards, but most of all had a lot of fun. The Ka-Ching Collectief also have a cool pop-up store there, with handmade and vintage items, worth checking out. Thank you, Ka-Ching girls: Babette Annabel Maggie Barbara Karin

Most of you will be familiar with the internet meme Grumpy Cat . I couldn't resist making my signature look-a-like "Boink The Cat" door draft stoppers to look like her. I bet she would be right grumpy if you used her as a sausage cat draught dodger . The first original door draft stopper was designed to resemble the cat Bonke (hence the name Boink The Cat): Bonke found new owners after being in Stevenshage animal shelter. 5 euro of every sold door draft stopper goes to this animal shelter in Leiden.

Just a few days till Christmas: still want to make a handmade gift? Here are some great weekend projects to make for a cat lover. All these patterns are available on Etsy.com. Helmet style chunky knit cat hat: pattern by Pixiebell on Etsy. Printable Desk Calender by EclecticNoteCards on Etsy. Amigurimi Cat crochet pattern by Lybo on Etsy. Cat Eyes Peyote bracelet pattern by MegansBeadedDesigns on Etsy. Crochet Cat Applique or Ornament pattern by SusanLinnStudio on Etsy. (I've got this one: very clear instructions).

Today more DIY patterns in my gift guide, and an exclusive online show. Crochet pattern Pop Hat by Haakt (and Roest) on Etsy Free DIY paper Starburst lampshade pattern. Gabby Young solo show on Stageit (on Sunday December 23rd) Vintage bolero knitting pattern from PatternsOfYesteryear on Etsy iPad cover sewing pattern by napkittenpattern on DaWanda

6 Days to Chrismas. it's going to be more uncertain if you want to order anything on the internet. So: do it yourself. You can get many nice online patterns as a PDF. Here are some ideas for a Doctor Who / SF fan: Knitted Dalek-inspired wristwarmers by LauraIsaac on Etsy. David Tennant (10th Doctor) Illusion knitting pattern by Woollythoughts on Etsy. Pattern for a toy rocket by DIY Fluffies on DaWanda. Crossstitch pattern for a bookmark, Doctor Who "The library" quote: CharmingCraftsRu on Etsy. For the illusion knit you probably shouldn't waste any time, if you want it ready before Christmas. It looks awesome though (maybe for a vest or sweater?). I once knitted a "Madness" illusion scarf for my BF and did the whole project right in front of him. He never noticed. ;) You'll have to keep focused though, a few times I noticed my mistakes many rows further and had to unravel part of the scarf!  The other patterns can make a fun last mi...

Just 7 days to Christmas. Still have some gifts to get? Today the theme of the Gift Guide is: deer. I found these lovely items on Gabberdashery, Etsy en DaWanda. But do keep in mind that shipping from abroad might not be delivered before Christmas. That's why, from tomorrow, I will put patterns and PDFs for handmade gifts in the spotlight. Wooden laser-cut necklace by LV Designs on DaWanda. Deer lady: A4 print by Sandra Dieckmann on Gabberdashery. DIY kit to make a animal friendly mounted deer: Planet Fur on Etsy. Cute necklace (and on sale!) by KittyDarknessDesigns on Etsy. A mini stamp with a deer by MissHoneyBird on Etsy.

Together we are counting down to Christmas on my Miss Minoes blog. Every day nice gift ideas i found on Etsy, Dawanda en Gabberdashery. Today that typical holiday theme: Food and Drink. Delicious does not have to be unhealthy: Raw vegan cookies by Happy Herbi on Etsy Giant "Drink Me" necklace from Love From Hetty And Dave on Gabberdashery Who would not want to be invited to pancakes? Card by Nicola Rowlands on Etsy Huggable Sushi: Pillow by My Pillow Factory on DaWanda

I am counting down to Christmas with a daily gift guide on my blog. Here are some of my recommendations from Etsy, DaWanda and Gabberdashery. Today's theme: gold. Prepare to sparkle on Christmas or New Years Eve: Sequin cape by Rosa Bloom on Gabberdashery. Burlesque crown by Janine Basil on DaWanda. To The Moon necklace by Drops Of Art on Etsy Vintage bow belt buckle by MooiVintage on Etsy

I couldn't attend Hello Etsy this year. But thanks to the livestream on Etsy I could watch the speakers today. Take a look at this inspiring talk by designer Piet Hein Eek: If you want to function well, be like a fish in the water. Watch live streaming video from etsy at livestream.com

Now that winter is approaching , it is time again for ( fingerless ) gloves . At the moment I 'm working with Silk Blend Yarn by Manos del Uruguay . Not only is the material very soft to work with (30 % Silk / 70 % Merino Extra f ine Wool ). The story behind the Silk Blend makes it extra worthwhile . Manos del Uruguay ( Hands of Uruguay ) is a cooperative of 400 women throughout the countryside of Uruguay . They are spinning and dyeing wool from Uruguay . The wool is hand dyed in large kettles ( Kettle Dyed ). Manos del Uruguay is a Fair Trade organization : they focus on the eradication of poverty through sustainable development . The project also consists of hand knitted and woven products , as ponchos . The Silk Blend lends itself well for fingerless gloves because the material is warm , soft and breathes well . Perfect for t his kind of gloves that you wear during  activities like typing on the computer , texting , kni...

The first 2 of my new summer hats are ready. They are made from organic cotton (Daisy Janie's Tilly collection) which I purchased at PureCoverz a few months ago. Olive The asymmetric model was already on my mind since my mum asked for a hat with a wider brim at the front (to wear when playing tennis).  Maroon They are different from last years sun hats because I decided to make these hats fully interfaced, so they will keep their shape better. The ceramic buttons from MuddyMuse give it just the finishing touch I was looking for. By the way: notice the hat stand? I made it from an old lamp , a polystyrene egg and 2 pair of nylons :)