HandmadebyMia

2010-07-16

Three years and counting

Today, 16th of July 2010, it has been exactly three years since I joined etsy. These three years have been full of happiness, hard work, ideas, mistakes, learning, creativeness and new friends. But most importantly by managing my little shop I have learned what I want to do for living: I want to create things that make both people and myself happy and smile. Therefore I salute next three years of happiness:

Happy 3 Year Anniversary to me!

2010-07-12

Cats vs. dogs

For me the question is easy. I like a few dogs but LOVE cats. I actually have been a cat person all my life, and we have never had dog in our family (really!) but quite some cats, and that makes all the difference, I think.

Our oldest (and latest) cat lived 16 years and was a part of the family. No, he was the king of the family, really. And after him gone we have lived pet free, partly because of work situations and moving houses, but also as it would be really hard to replace him.

I keep dreaming of a cat, though, and will probably have one in a family later on. In the meanwhile I keep crafting cats (and an odd dog, too) and admiring fellow bloggers cat-pictures. Better than nothing I´d say.

That pink cat-bag of mine made it into this pretty kitty-treasury, I hope you´ll enjoy it too. Thank you so much Paula from CottageRose Creations!

Purr-fect day to you from sunny Finland!

P.S. They did it, yippee!

2010-07-10

For the love of birdies

When you love something, more of that thing is better? Absolutely. That´s why I keep making birdie bags and hooray, I just realized that three (done two several times already) can be added on top of an another: a birdie tower, here you are! Looks so cute (biased or else again) that we are going to see them in future in various colors. That´s a promise.

We´re celebrating a birthday in a family today and I am supposed to provide everyone with delicious pie in three hours, and I haven´t even shopped the ingredients yet (not to mention I haven´t decided what sort of pie I shall be making). What does one do? Starts knitting an another bag. Naturally.

I am now off to shop (after just one more row, I promise!), happy weekend!

Yours,
Mia

2010-07-08

Red, hot and yellow

When you have all the possible colors on your stash it is only natural just to use one or two of them to create? Seems so. And when you only have very little stash (a rare situation I admit but been there though) it feels that you would love to use any other color than currently available? Check. Oh, the pain of creativeness!

I am quite happy with the blue&red together though. And to be honest, I have something in bright orange on my needles and something turquoise in drying. So I am enjoying my stash in whole. I was a bit overwhelmed for a moment though when I really took a look at all my new wools, there are quite a few. But it is lovely to have many to choose from.

It still is very, very hot in here, and I have had some strange looks when knitting outside. What, it is not normal to knit pure wool when it´s +30c? Just in case I took my work inside, and it really is not that much cooler here either. But nope, I am not complaining after last summers disastrous weather, and two previous ones and... You got the point.

My favorites made into finals (and I knew it before him). I´ll be camping in front of telly on Sunday and cheering them to the victory. Maybe I´ll knit something in yellow and red just to make sure they´ll nail it?

Hasta luego, amigos!

2010-07-07

More treasures...

... from wonderful fellow etsians again! Thank you so much

♥ http://www.etsy.com/shop/IronsideImpastos
♥ http://www.etsy.com/shop/EithneGlass
♥ http://www.etsy.com/shop/springshowers and
♥ http://www.etsy.com/shop/MadameRenard

And what made it this time?

My yellow and violet birdie cozy, gray-striped birdie cozy, Moomins pouch and white birdie family bag. That is so cool! If you´re not too busy, go and check those lists out, please, there are some wonderful things and ever so talented sellers in etsy!

***

It´s not cool here, it´s VERY hot and stormy. I am still loving it, gives me a reason to stay in, eat strawberries, read and knit. Fantastic. I wish you fantastic Wednesday too!

Yours,
Mia

2010-07-05

One man´s trash is another man´s treasure

I think I have talked about this earlier but I love the fact, that my friends know what I like and need. My house is well-know place to dump -oops- donate all fabrics, buttons, zippers and yarns others do not need. And some of my friends even shop for me "I found the fabric that is SO you" or "I bought one hundred zippers in all colors, they were dead cheap and so YOU" or like those handles above "This bag is dirty and zipper is broken but hey, look at the handles: they´re SO YOU!".

And they were indeed - look at this bag:

I have had three sets of wooden handles for quite a while already (all appeared at my doorstep as described above) and now I finally got first ones used. And I love how the bag turned out! It has needle felted flowers both sides (that´s new, too) so you can grab it in a hurry and it´s beautiful either side up. I am now off to knit some more in sun (yes, it´s sunny, HOT and beautiful here) and my head is full of new ideas - I promise to show them to you later!

Happy day!

2010-07-04

Home sweet home

Oh yes, you saw it right. There are 41 (forty and one) beautiful woolen discs? balls? on that one picture. One wonderful bunch of wool for me to knit! You may say I went over the top (and you just may be right too) but the colors were so beautiful. And I know I´ll knit them up, all of them and soon. You just wait and see.

Otherwise (thrifting-wise) the shopping was not that great, but I found some old and pretty little table clothes (can I cut them for sewing is an another matter. Probably not.) and not that much else.

We had fantastic time, the weather was beautiful too,sun and hot. We had many ice creams outside and lovely room in very nice hotel. I am one happy girl.

Sun from Finland to all of you!

2010-07-01

A roadtrip awaits

Today is the first day of my holidays. Lazily sewing some pouches, using my reused fabric scraps, a few trims and old laces. Mindless yet rewarding job. Just great for a day with thunderstorms and heavy showers (hello holiday weather!) when going outside is not necessary.

Tomorrow morning we´re beginning a little roadtrip. Not traveling that far but places I have wanted to visit a long time. I am going to see the sheep who provide my wool (!) and of course buy some (read: a lot) wool for felting, some yarn and hopefully find many thrifting treasures too. So we travel light and save all the extra space in the car for my shopping, plus stay at nice hotel: that´s just the way I like it.

You too have a wonderful weekend, I´ll talk to you soon.

Yours,
Mia

2010-06-30

I´ll be back

Tears, hugs, smiles, cards, gifts, cake, chocolate,

picnic, packing, farewells, rush, lists,
emptying a locker,
more tears, more hugs, MORE cake, sun,
poems, MORE gifts, taking off the watch,
emptiness, fullness - holidays.

Welcome new and bright(er) future.

I´ll be back in a bit when my head stops spinning.

Mia

2010-06-26

Treasury trunk full

...and I am so happy! My handmades have made it into four (yes, four!) treasures at etsy, please take a look:

♥ My ladybug pouch made it to this wonderful bug-treasury

♥ My orange bag was chosen to this lovely, spicy treasure

♥ My little bee cozy is in this buzzing treasury

♥ My birdie coasters are with these lovely couples

Those treasures are filled with wonderful items, and I would love to thank all these lovely etsians for their kindness:

http://www.etsy.com/shop/chocolatedogstudio
http://www.etsy.com/shop/Dunthor
http://www.etsy.com/shop/BerylBlue
http://www.etsy.com/shop/dudush

Happy Midsummer Day!

Yours,
Mia