Baby bump

A few months has already passed since I had a great chance to take a maternity photos of my sister-in-law. Now she is already a mum to a baby boy and I want to share some photos with you!

Recent swap review

Last year was first year when I took a part of different swaps. I have blogged about that a lot of times, but now, when I am sick sitting at home and drinking a lot of teas, I realized, I haven't blogged about two last ones.
December was busy month but still I signed up for a Silk Artist swap - team of Etsy's silk artists curated swap for handpainted goodies. Here are some shots what I sent out to my partner Rosemary to France:

Swap package includes handpainted necktie (probably - for Rosemary's husband)
and a letter. And a lot of best wishes as it was sent in Christmas time.

Another swap where I took a part was Creative swap hosted by Ishtar from  IshtarOlivera.com  This swap has rules for swap package - something sweet (tee, candy, chocolate, etc), something handmade, letter and wish for 2014! My package to my partner included hard boiled candies (handmade), chocolate covered cranberries (handmade) and pom-pom headband and letter, off course.

 I had to try on pom-pom headband I made and I really liked it! I need to wait for summer to wear one of these, but my partner Anna from Barcelona wrote at Christmas time that they have such a warm weather, so she probably can enjoy this warm winter with some colorful headband!

 I will post a pictures of both received goodies from swaps as soon as package from Spain will arrive (deadline for swap is 2nd of February), but for extra - I want to show you some special gift  made in beginning of January.
If you remember, I hosted my first giveaway before Christmas one of lucky winners were Molly. I decided to create something special for her, so I decided to finally make a silk scarf. I haven't painted any scarf for years,last one was a gift to my mum like 5 years ago. So I got idea to paint a stylized tree in black and white.

Work in progress

Signing

Signing

Final look

Package to Molly with some colorful confetti

As it is really hard to get some natural light when dark comes at 4pm already, I really hope that Molly will be able to take some shots with her new silk scarf!

But till that - take care of yourself and drink a lot of teas! See you soon! :)

Happy New Year

This was such a great and colorful year! Thanks for being here with me for a shorter or longer time!
When 2013 started, I made a list of things, I want to do this year. I think now it is the right time to look back and see what has happened and what was not finished this year.

• Recipe book made from old papers
• Ball made of yarn 1
• Handmade paper
• Handmade bath set of scrub and ball
• Handmade soap
• Temporary tattoo
• Garland of fabric 1 / 2
• Clay brooch
• Candle holder of wood slices
• Glass magnets with photos
• Handpicked tea is sewn tea bags 1
• Photo shootings 1
• Handmade 2014 planner
• Painted coasters
• Gift tags with watercolor paintings
• Mobile of butterflies or clouds
• Stuffed animal pillow/toy 1    does it counts?
• Leg warmers made out of sweater
• Candle in a tea cup
• Painted rocks
• Head band with flowers or stars or glitters
• Tiny clay houses
• Wood sticks painted with neon colors
• Mason jar vase
• Stamps
• Decoupaged suitcase 1 not finished yet
• Little black clutch bag 1 / 2 
• Embroidery 1
• Tea cups decorated with quotes
• Organize Pinterest / music playlist / hard drives

My resolution for the next year is to complete all those things I didn't this year.

What are your resolutions for 2014?

We have winners!

Just like I told you earlier, my 100th Like for my Facebook page giveaway has closed at Christmas time and it's time to announce the winner! I won't talk much, but a small change from previous information. I decided to pick two winners this time.

Congratulations Kristīne L. and Molly M.! You both have been picked as lucky giveaway winners!
Both winners please contact with me within a one week to specify address where to ship your gifts!

Secret Santa [decor] swap review 2 - what I received

Wow, it's Christmas so soon! This is definitely the last moment to show you the wonderful things I got from my Secret Santa [decor] swap! What I sent out is described  here. It's not a long story, here are the photos:

From Melissa I received some really cute things (what's more - this was her first swap). 

She sent me a dark emerald/green
pearl garland (?), which was transformed into my
Christmas tree in the first
evening. As we have so little
space, this is a cute way to
bring a celebration feeling inside!

"Let it snow" I probably should put this sign
somewhere outside as it's not snowing yet :( 

Little handmade gift tags

A cute Christmas bird. I still can't figure out how is it made?

Handmade greeting card (I wish I could
receive gifts that big this year :)  )

Postcards, off course! This is one of the most
important things I hope to receive from anyone! 

A Christmas flower with A LOT OF glitters!
It will be placed on my family's big Christmas tree!

From Olga:
Sorry, I need to make a confession. As I put together pairs in my swap, I managed that my partner is Olga, because I am in so deep love with her lovely sewn animals (I will just recommend you to check out her shop just right away after you have seen what Olga sent me )

As Olga has a great Etsy shop, she knows what Packing means.
Everything is packed safe and sound!

No, these are not pin cushions,
those are cushion and star ornaments!
(That Christmas sock on the left is really in my Christmas tree)

One more thing which makes me think
about snow - a winter's pin button with a bear

Long, long garlands in typical Christmas colors. 

Handmade greeting card and envelope
with such a wonderful owl sticker!

And as an extra gift - vintage postcards! I remember
from my childhood that we used to have a typical form
for postal code on all envelopes and greeting cards,
just like these have! 

Thank you all who took a part of my swap, I hope you all had a great time while preparing gifts and receiving them or at least stepping by and watching what I received! Thank you Melissa and Olga for these packages!
See you soon!

Merry Christmas! 

Secret Santa [decor] swap review - what I sent out

While ago I announced my very first hosted swap - Secret Santa [decor] swap. In my Facebook page you can find pictures what participants made/received, but in this blog post I want to show you what I made and sent out!

Since the first moment I got this idea about hosting a swap, I was sure to take a part of  myself. When deadline closed, I paired people and I got a partner from Australia - Lisa from SweetLittlePretties. Little bit after deadline I was contacted by Melissa from themindofexchange and she wanted to take a part as well. I decided to be her partner as well and prepare two packages for this swap. Here are all the goodies I made myself or with help of my boyfriend!

This year I had some kind of craziness with drawing a postcards/greeting cards, so I prepared a brunch for my friends and both swap partners.

Package with handpainted cards for Mellisa
and handmade paper for wonderful letters in future

Handmade recycled sock (made it from old knitted
sweater so it was a real challenge to finish it! ) 

I believe one of the best thing in my country is chocolate - we have historic candy factory Laima (Laima is a Baltic goddess of fate) and I try to send something made in this factory to each swap partner, in each package I send abroad. This time Melissa got some Christmas mini-chocolate, traditional candies and  even a candy garland made of Laima's Christmas edition candies! (as I know how tasty they are this garland wouldn't stay up at my home for too long time :) )

Some sweets from Latvia and sweet tape with circus theme

Christmas chocolate candy garland

Christmas tree decors made of felt and beads

Melissa lives in Belgium and evening there probably are not too lighter than evenings here in Latvia, so to be safe in late evening walks (when Melissa will be able to take a great city-night shots), I made her a reflector which she can add to her bag or coat and drivers will see her earlier (In Latvia everyone needs to wear a one in dark weather- nights and evening to improve our road safety for themselves and others).

Handmade reflector for late night walks

Tassel garland in typical Christmas colors

Paper in size of  a postcard transformed to
a great letter with help of white, gold and silver pens.

I found a box in my stash which was covered with
gold color. I think, it was perfect for Christmas gifts :)

Lisa signed up in Secret Santa [decor] swap and provided her partner with some facts - her favorite color combo is blue + silver for the Christmas time. I replaced silver with light grey or white (take a look at her blog to find hundreds of ideas what to do with it!)and here is what I sent her: 

Pom-pom garland (Thanks to my boyfriend
who made these pompoms :) )

Pop-pom garland packed for safe road

Christmas tree ornament in shape of
Christmas tree - felt embroidered with sparkly flitters

Lisa is a great sewer so I had to
send here something from my fabric stash

Lisas pashion is Washi tapes  so I looked up for
tutorial how to make your own washi tape
and I made one (or at least I tried to make :D)
I used the same fabric I put in package and
I really can't wait to see if it was worth it!

In case if my handmade washi tape is useless,
in package I added some cute tapes for
upcoming Valentine's day letters

Greeting cards/postcards I sent for Lisa.
One is made specially for her - with a lot of tapes on top.

I decorated two Christmas tree balls with country style lace
and wrote on them Merry and Christmas!

A regular post shipping box I decorated with some washi tapes
and a lot of white/silver/gold snowflakes on top of it

Inside of package which left to Australia

Two packages were put together with a lot of my love. I was really glad to get back a messages that both of these girls liked my package :)

Melissa blogged about this swap here. Take a look there and stay in touch with Akwiinas to see wonderful things I received!