Lined with love

I think most of you, my dear readers, know that I re-use fabrics a lot. My tweeds are all recycled (jackets, skirts, some pants) and I line my felted bags with reused cotton too. And how many different ones there are! Flowered ex-table clothes, plaid curtains (makes you wonder the rest of that room's deco), rosy-pillowcases...

And then there are the birdie-ones! They are a bit more rare to find than flowers, but when I see one, I'll get it for sure. There's always some room (read: a bag) for birdie fabric in this house.

Then last but not least there are the vintage-ones. I am not absolutely sure what vintage really is (maybe everyone can make their own definition?) but for me those are fabrics from 70s and 80s at least. Hard to cut sometimes, but they make the prettiest linings. And I keep telling myself it's better to use them to someone's cherished bag than keep them in my shelf. And I must confess that there might still be some fabrics left uncut in my stash too, but not too many. Can there never be?

Happy Wednesday!

Me ♥ pink

There are very few yet very pretty leaves left on trees or bushes in our yard. That means quite literally that they're all on the ground, and some urgent raking was in order when the snow disappeared.

Can you guess which rake is mine? The picture does not do justice to my pretty-in-pink one by Fiskars (and I have this set too) - the pink products are not only my favorites but they also raise money for breast-cancer research. I love my pink rake, it makes the dull job so much more fun.

"How about we shared this job by color?" I said to my fellow rake-holder and continued: "I mean you know my condition of matchy-matchy so I would love to take care of the pink leaves and you, with your ochre would go after oranges, browns, even some greens...?"

Blimey.



But still, I just love how it matches.

Happy Tuesday - and hopefully some outdoor activities, too!

November? Already?

Oh man, it's November already! Don't get me wrong, it's fantastic as there's only 50something nights until Christmas but still it feels like soon. I have been writing this blog more or less regularly since July and that was four months ago!

It was little more recent when I posted about my Christmas-calendar blogging idea and I asked if any of my wonderful readers would be interested in sharing your Christmas ideas, memories, stories, patterns, recipes or anything you like with me and the other readers. Many of you happily agreed, and now it's time to begin our project!

During this week I'll be mailing you, who already had ideas, and I will start (little by little) putting the posts together. It will be so much fun to see your ideas, thank you so much everyone already! If anyone else would be still be interested, please leave a comment or e-mail me at handmadebymia at gmail.com and I'll get back to you soon.

And yes, I know, these little foxes have very little to do with this post. Except they were made by me and I feel as happy as them about the November - Christmas here we come! Now it's officially the time!

Happy 1st of November to all of you!

Busy bee

Friday again! It's my aunting day, love love love that. I got a lot done this week after all, and this busy bee is going to enjoy doing nothing tonight (maybe some Mexican food but that's absolutely it)! Happy, sunny and bright weekend to all of you! See you next week!

Yours,
Mia

Time-machine needed

I have many things to do this week still and what!! is it Thursday again? I am absolutely certain, that time keeps going faster and faster every week. It was weekend just minutes ago, and I made so many plans for this week. Have I accomplished all? Not quite yet but hey, it's only Thursday morning.

I have been too busy to take any pictures, and it gets really dark here sooner and sooner. I think after 4P.M. it's almost pitch black. So there really are a few hours during the day when the outside pictures should be taken. Those also are the hours when I'm usually working hardest and am hesitant to go outside as it's hard to get myself back on working-track after pretty sunshine (read: some light outside). So here are some pictures from last Sunday, they must do for now.

I am off to work now (and cut the blabbering here) - happy Thursday!

Bereted bear

I really am in a mood for new hats, scarfs and mittens. I already have knit a fabulous MarioBeret by Jatta, modeled above by my beloved bear Jaques (aka Jaska, 33years of age) wearing his not-matching green dungarees (will show those later). There's a also the most beautiful (and ever so matching) corsage by Viv.

I also got patterns in hand, shown here are a Finnish knitting magazine Novita and an another magazine called Diana (A German one?) - it's a hats and scarfs only-issue, and my favorites from it - long and chunky scarfs with matching berets. So what seems to be a problem?

Anyone else finding it hard to get anything done for you? I mean finding time and energy for knitting or crocheting for yourself? Maybe it's because I work with my hands all day (and knit a lot) it doesn't feel as happy hobby when I pick up the needles in the evening for me-knitting. It feels like I rather would read or watch a DVD - and like the knitting was for working only. I knew this might happen when I decided to start trying to make a living with my handmades, and I know there's a difference between a bag-business-knitting and happy-knitting but still...

...look at his face! I think he (read: me) needs a matching scarf - I must be off to knit! J sends his love!

See you tomorrow!

Seasonal ramblings

I know I talk about the weather too much, but it just seems to be in so big part in our lives nowadays. We have snow, then rain, then little sunshine, then some snow again followed by some more rain. It's definitely autumn but when is it really winter?

I think winter needs and means at least some snow, so that said it's definitely not here yet. But I am happily using my new winter coat already and planning some new accessories to go with it. How come all my mittens and hats seem so last season (some even have holes, how do you miss that in spring?) and oh, pairs are a rare find. I have a distant memory of tossing them into a washer in a hot June morning and I may not have checked them too carefully...

I have wanted a tweed bag of my own since I started making them. Oh-oh, so I haven't got one yet, and these already are on their way to make someone else happy. I wouldn't mind keeping that set though, the little tweets look quite cheerful! Maybe next ones will stay here with me...

Happy Tuesday come rain or shine!

Wooling good

Oh, I had the greatest weekend! It all began on Friday morning already, when we started our journey to get some new wool. And some I did get, I'll show them to you better a bit later. Just a hint that there are more than 100 skeins of it and we need a new shelving system to them. Ahem, I also visited a craft show (exhibition? fair?) and it was so great. So much better than last year (when everyone was worried about the recession) and all the selling spots were full of beautiful things and smiling people.

I spent a significant amount on wool the day before, so I couldn't be lavishing but I found pretty little things that didn't break the bank. I had some pretty ribbons and some vintage buttons (love, love, love the pink ones!) and also the most beautiful papers, ribbons and stickers for Christmas cards. Those are at my sisters so no picture yet, but later for sure. Loved every minute of that fair!

I also finished a custom order that I had to postpone due to my illness, and that made me happy too. I'll be shipping it out tomorrow and hey-ho, now I am starting the other orders I had pending. How great is that?

The most wonderful Monday and week beginning to you all!

Yours,
Mia

Next week here I come

This week has not been the greatest. That said I also have spent the loveliest moments with my little nephew, but that is almost only thing on my plus-sides table. So I definitely needed something to cheer me up.

When you're reading this, I have already packed my bag and we've hit the road for a little get-away. Its main purpose is to get me some new wool (oh dear, I almost have used all this) and also to see some new places and faces and as said already, to cheer me up.

I wish you a wonderful, sunny and bright weekend and also make a promise: next week will be totally moaning-free. No matter what happens - only happy little posts to come!

Yours,
Mia

P.S. The happy kitty here was made with this pattern (and many, many my own adaptations).

Sunshine

Thank you all for get well soon wishes yesterday! I am feeling much better already. I also am aunting quite a lot during next two days so most probably I'll be blogging next time on Thursday. You know, sometimes, when things do not go as planned, you just need to prioritize. So I'll leave you with these sunny and happy images. Some old, some new, all chosen to make your day brighter. And all made by me.

Happy week!

Yours,
Mia

Weekend (almost) wasted

Not much to show or see around here today, I'm afraid. I've been ill whole weekend and haven't finished the things I should have *sigh* but while spending time in bed I had time to design new stuff. Well on Sunday that was, Friday and Saturday I just slept. Great. But now to the new challenges, happy and energetic as ever (well feeling much better at least)!

My weekend was as blurry as the picture but I remember laughing (and the coughing) SO LOUD to P.G.Wodehouse at some point. Great stories, really.

Better week!