great and beautiful gift ideas

as i've already bragged about i'm already done with 99% of the xmas gifts for this year but it occurred to me that maaaybe not everyone has magically got theirs done, or even yet started, and perhaps there are some of you that haven't even started to think about the holidays yet? if there is i think it's my duty to share the ideas i have, and the great tutorials and ideas i find. i don't want you to have to sit there clueless and stressed out a week before the big gift giving day, like i have every single year before this. here are some of my favourite tutorials and free downloads, from some of my favourite blogs, that they've shared recently:

* how to use a lightbox and photo editing software to make beautiful photographs from life, craftiness and everything else. why not make one for a friend with interest in photography, or make one for yourself and print the photos you make and give those away?

* the fabled needle has two lovely recipe cards for download. and what a beautiful kitchen!



* a print a day offers a cute bunny notepad download.



* prudent baby has a lot of nice tutorials and craft ideas, and i esp. love this embroidered clock tutorial.



* the storque shares a cute rose petal applique tutorial.



* when my doormat dies (which unfortunately doesn't seem to happen anytime soon) i'm definitely giving elsie's woodgrain rug tutorial a go! i love it!



* i've talked about ruffles and stuff before and i'm so amazed at all the beautiful (though a bit too romantic for me personally a lot of times, but perfect nonetheless) projects this lady shares. if you want to give your loved ones handmade gifts for xmas but don't know what exactly, go to ruffles and stuff! you'll find tutorials to everything from simple but cute pillow ideas to how to turn an old book to a clock and how to make a blair waldorf inspired capelet.



let me know if there is any specific type of crafts (knitting, crochet, sewing etc) you would like to see more projects of. i'm gonna try to make at least a few of these posts up until xmas. i have collected at least a billion patterns and ideas that are either collecting dust in maps on my shelves or on my computer, and i would love to share them with you.

online classes

i love red velvet art's craft classes and even though their autumn class hasn't ended yet i can't wait to see what elsie will come up with in her winter class. i must admit i'm slightly obsessed and just want moremoremore! another online class that looks very promising is maedchenmitherz's coming heavenly cute online class. seems like i'll continue spending all my pocket money on cute crafts, which is fine by me!

video of the week: sleep alone by bat for lashes

Sleep Alone from Bat for Lashes on Vimeo.

my favourite song at the moment!

tgif!

via i heart it

it'll be a lonely, rainy weekend but oh so lovely! i'm spending it with chocolate bars and knitting, trying to relax as much as possible because next will be hectic to say the least. i think i will announce the winner in the givaway a day earlier or so, but you'll still have until the 9th to sign up!

have a lovely weekend sweetcheeks!

today i thrifted a craft book from 1978

i went on a hunt for crochet hooks today but came home with a beautiful craft book from 1978 instead. i love craft books from the '70s, there's so much colour and so many ugly/fun projects.



sorry about the blurry photo!

i just LOVE knitted kids dresses! i hope to one day have a baby girl of my own to make tons of these for. so cute.


these little dolls are so funny. if you talk swedish and want to make some i took a photo of the pattern, which you can find here. if there is any interest i could translate it to english, just ask!

owls on my brain

when windowshopping a few weeks ago we all fell deeply in love with some owl printed cushions from lagerhaus, but i thought they were a bit pricey, esp. when i figured i could just buy a pillowcase in the same print and make my own. yesterday evening i got to it and this is the result. pretty, huh?


i'm so sad to have to leave them at my boyfriend's and not being able to pet them on a daily basis until we move in together.

BUT, there was a tiny bit fabric left that i have big plans for. one of the owls got a new home at a plain white tshirt:


what else i have in mind for these you'll have to wait and see!


and thank you so much for entering my little giveaway! if you haven't entered yet, do so!

GIVEAWAY

i'm planning to do a few giveaways during november and this first one is for one beret of your choice from my etsy. there are 7 to choose from and you'll get to pick your favourite! it'd be a nice early xmas gift to yourself, or see it as one less gift to fight for in the mall! (and may i say one less mass produced, generic gift?! handmade rules!)

here's how to enter:

- visit my shop and let me know which beret you would like to win in a comment here.


for additional entries:

- for an extra chance to win you can follow this blog and leave a comment here to tell me that you do. if you already follow this blog that's great, just let me know!

- for another extra entry you can tweet on twitter about this giveaway with a link to this page, comment to tell me you have done so with the link to your twitter.

- for yet another entry, blog about this, comment here with the link to the post. please use the giveawayphoto in your blog entry.


good luck!!!

last day to enter is november 9th, and the giveaway winner will be announced november 13th!

video of the week: birds in cages by eggstone

swedish '90s indie pop at it's best! oh how i loved this band in my teens!

things i ♥:

i'm in a bit of a bad mood today (hello lady time) so this things i ♥ list is next to non existing, but i can't help but loving these little ghosts made by some little ones i know. what makes you smile today?


i also wanted to tell you that i'm thinking about throwing a giveaway soon, possibly as soon as next week, what do you think? i've got most of my planned xmas gifts done already and i still have a billion ideas and projects i would like to make but don't know for who if not you! i'll let you know the details soon!


plans for the weekend:
- write a letter
- turn things around
- wrap all xmas gifts
- try to be lovely
- bake cinnamon rolls!!!

what are your plans?

what i borrowed at the library:

i borrowed 'softies only a mother could love' by jess redman and meg leder at the library the other day. i've never been a fan of softies but there are A LOT of adorable projects in this book that i might have to make.

here are a few of my favourites, aren't they cute?