Happy New Year to everyone!

Inexpensive scarves holder idea

After I received Eugenie's gift, I had to come up with an idea how to organize all my scarves. I have quite a few of them. I know if I put them in a box or drawer, I'll forget about them, and will never wear :)

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 :)

Dahlia Flowers Show in San Francisco

Last Sunday, my husband and I almost accidentally got to dahlia show that was taken place in Golden Gate park in San Francisco :). The show is usually conducted by Dahlia Society of California once in a year if I remember correctly. Well... I'm writing a little today because there is no words to explain how beautiful these dahlias:) I'm simply sharing pictures of dahlia flowers with small comments :)

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).

Note card with quilling paper embellishments

This is my first quilling project! :) One of my friend and co-worker is expecting a baby girl. I was making the quilling note card for her. I was excited to see the result myself because it's completely new craft for me :)

Green spinach vegetarian soup recipe

Summer... It's pretty much hot outside, and it's so great to have for lunch or dinner something light and easy to cook. I found the vegetarian soup really easy and quickly to make. :)Let me share the recipe.

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 :)

Free printable digital July 4 wine glass tags

Happy coming 4-th of July to everyone! It's time to celebrate the day, and I guess we all look forward for all that fun that comes with the day. :) Let me share today printable wine glass tags for July 4th for those who are going to have parties. These printable glass tags (or paper charms :)) ) are perfect as a last minute final touch for decoration.

California Flowers in Bloom

No big story today... Just photographs of beautiful California flowers in Bloom which inspire me for love...

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.

Free printable Mother's day gift tags

Mother's day is literally around the corner. I believe all gifts are ready, but there is still time for a small final touch. :)


 

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.

Homemade sushi rolls

Do you like sushi like I do? :) No... I don't like them... I"M CRAZY about them! :) That's why I simply had to know how to make them at home, and once I found very easy recipe. Interesting?... Let me share how I do them. :)

Valentine's day gift idea

Are you still looking for ideas for Valentine's day gifts? Do you like small and cute gifts made with your hands? :) Well... if yes, grab your scissors and paper, and lets make the cute heart Valentines.

Breakfast idea for Valentine

It's just a little bit more than 2 weeks before Valentine's day, and almost everything is running around this holiday. We are preparing gifts, making decorations, probably, getting ready some special outfit, and so on. So I also want to share some idea for Valentine's day, and show how usual ingredients can make Valentine's day (and any other day) breakfast special.

Beaded fresh water pearl bracelet tutorial

Once, I found a great tutorial how to make an adorable beaded bracelet. The DIY tutorial was published on EtsyRussianTeam blog and it inspired me to make one for myself. It took me a while to make the bracelet for myself. Honestly, I have a lot of different tutorials that I keeping, but not making anything. But this one... I simply had to make it! Why?... I don't know :) Maybe, because it's made of pearl that I like very much! Anyhow, here we go. The bracelet!