There was a day....

There was a day when I signed for my first swap. Then was second and third swap. Now I have sweets from USA (read about that here) and deadline for sending out another gift. Last Friday was last day to ship out Little Pin cushions for swap hosted by Sweet Little Things.  So let me share what I have done...

This time I really wanted to make some special pin cushion. I have no idea how to make those amazing quilts, so I had to find something else. Pinterest was my friend again and there I found idea which was worth trying!

Sweet pouch arrived!

Good news! After a long waiting, my sweet pouch arrived yesterday! I knew that it should be here, in Latvia at this weekend, because my partner Erin contacted me earlier so I tried to be calm all this time. Since  a moment when I got my huge package at the post office, I couldn't stay calm anymore! :) Here is a photo-story what I got!

Sewing a envelope clutch

Last week I read an article in see kate sew about sew a long - Kate has prepared a envelope clutch pattern. I was a little bit late with this, but still decided to take a part of this because I planned to visit one 8 years young lady in my family and haven't got any gift yet. Click here to see how it went... 

Fresh spring breeze

I received Etsy Finds - an email about trends. There were a few really great items for Easter which reminded me of my last year's crafts. A while before Easter, when it was still snowy outside, I made an egg-diet. I made an omelet every morning to collect egg-shells. I carefully hit the top of the egg, so that most part of the shell would stay undamaged. After that I washed each shell and putted soil inside. On top of it there was a layer with different seeds. I made some eggs with Easter grass. Some where with basilica, some - parsley and so one. After a while the first sprouts came out. After a few weeks I had herbs on my windowsill in kitchen.
For adding colors to herbs, you can paint shells before planting grass. I used acrylic colors.  You can find a few more ideas in my Pinterest board Spring time. 
It would be great, if you could share your favorite spring craft before Easter. How do you decorate your home in spring time?

Click here for more photos

Create a letter!

A while ago I read in Alisa's blog that she uses watercolor pencils. I haven't tried them, but since that - I needed them so much! Finally I saw one set with watercolor pencils and as price was not high, I took them. I got some more things for crafting and after shopping I had fun at home with my 10 y.o. boy. We tested all  - pencils, star shaped paper punch and funny tapes.Look at this colorful result, which is used to be a letter for my dear penfriend. I hope she will receive her letter soon :)

Happy Birthday, akwiinas!

One day by accident I saw that my Etsy shop with name akwiinas has birthday on 7th of February. I created it on 2010. 3 years has passed. That time I had no idea that someone could really buy my neckties. In these 3 years I have learned soooo much..... Yes, I have only few sales. But I am so happy that I have had them! I am so happy for feedbacks I have received! Love them! :)

So I decided to celebrate it! I just added a new fresh necktie, which is first from my Summer 2013 collection! And plus that, I offer 20% discount to all my previous necktie' designs! For sale use cupon code BIRTHDAY3.

Cupon code is active till Valentine's day - 14th of February. Don't miss it! ;)

Getting ready for spring

At my hometown it's still pretty snowy. Even last night here was a little snowstorm. I miss spring so my mum took some flowers to home when I was still ill. We had a mini-flower-workshop. So nice, that bring a spring to home in the same moment :)

Probably I am getting old, because this winter I am collecting ideas for my own garden. I do not have it, but my parents have one and my boyfriends family have garden with house near to sea, so I have opportunities to plant something.
Off course, I have created Pinterest board about some very nice garden ideas - plants, flowers and outdoor furniture.
You are welcome to see more how I got flower garden on window sill :)

I have found something!

Probably I am not the only one who more and more time spends in Pinterest. Yes, it is pretty addictive. In the same time I usually admire a lot of Etsy seller's work and time after time I used to pin their works to Pinterest. Lately I made system (because 45% of Pinterest pins are about getting organized :)) so each favorited item in Etsy is pinned to my Etsy finds board right here: http://pinterest.com/akwiinas/etsy-finds/. I just discovered that there are already more than 350 pins.
Do you organize your Etsy finds in Pinterest? I would love to see other boards like this :)

Pouch swap

 I have signed to some very interesting project for first time - Sweet pouch swap! I heard about this kind of swaps for first time but I had no doubt that I'm in! A few days ago I received email from swap's host with my partners details so I spent wonderful weekend sewing and preparing sweets. Actually, this weekend was pretty full because on Friday I started to sew pouch, then I went to meet my friends and after a great bowling and billiard games I came back to home to sew pouch till 3:30 AM. How crazy it sounds? :)
Next morning I woke up early and saw flowers I haven't seen since I was a little kid - ice flowers!
Here are some sneaky peaky photos are here:

My 2013

Every year I made photo collage from old newsletters and journals. In this collage I put those pictures which remind me what I am waiting from new year. Till this mostly all my  collages has been connected with situations in my life.
This year I tried something new. For a while I have wanted to try out watercolors. I used to paint with them in school but not since that. So I made list with things I want to learn in 2013. As Pinterest addicted, I used pins from my boards. There I have pinned those ideas which I would like to try. Till this I haven't got time enought to try all of that, but I hope that one year should be enough :)

Here you go my favorite ideas:

from BethBee

• Recipe book - like this from Beth's shop. Or maybe kind of this beauty or this from BadBooks;

from this blog

• Ball from yarn - like these or these;

from Jessica's blog

• Handmade paper - nice tutorial how to make your own paper;

• Bath set - handmade set for gifts and myself. I wish I could ever make something so great as this. 

from The idea room

from SoapForYourSoul

• Handmade soaps - something similar like this . Here is tutorial for making soaps at home.



from Tattly

• Temporary tattoo - some little tattoos for my little brother who now is addicted to that. Here is tutorial.

from folksy

• Garland from fabric - so much way how to make one of those. Maybe with flowers, maybe with bows, there are plenty ideas for this! 

• Clay brooch - like this or this or this or this or hundreds more beuties ;

from Meia Lua

from GloryGlassMagnets

• Candle holder - from wood like this or this;
• Glass magnets - they are everywhere, but as I still haven't found good glass marbles, so this is task for 2013! 

• Tea bags - for my hand picked tea this summer I need hand sewn tea bags! Found here nice tutorial for Valentine's day tea bags!
• Photo shooting - I have photographer education, but for a while I haven't got free time for photo shootings, so 2013 should be that year when I am making shootings again! :)

from The Frosted Petticoat