Bring on 2012!

After a few weeks of socializing, cooking with my new best friend in the kitchen - Thermomix, having a huge clean up and destash..... I am now ready to start another fabulous year with Plushka! 

Yeah, I still crafted and created while on holidays but it's a different sort of creating. It's a "whatever I feel like" making and letting my inspiration guide the way. It's relaxing and uplifting, just what I needed after a busy Christmas. 

The main new collection will be released in the end of the month but I promise a few sneak previews as I am very excited to show you what I've been up to! For now, here are a few new items from last year's collection, made just on time for the shop reopening. 





There is a new addition to the key rings collection - cross-stitched elephant with a love heart! 



I am also exploring some new ways to get my creations out there with Big Cartel shop. There were a few things that made me take on another shop on that needs my  attention. It connects to the Facebook page so it's easier to find my shop from there which is such a great thing! I can save space by combining similar items in one listing and my customers do not need to register in order to purchase:) So, I couldn't resist to have a go and, hopefully, it will work for me. 


I will be in my studio today, stitching a few more items together....


Happy Monday! 

My creative space...

In my creative space, I can be found "chained" to my chair making customer orders! I love when I receive orders and get to make variations of items in the shop or trying new color combinations. 
So far I've got a few items ticked off my list...

*pincushions. I am addicted to them! They are so enjoyable to make that, if not stopped at the right time, I can make 10 in one go:)


*Matching owls in lime and pink. I got to use this cute Love Heart Fairies by Saffron Craig print and, although it was hard to cut fabric from my precious stash, I just love the owls with it so I might make another one in pink...or, maybe, red? 

However, beside being slightly too busy this week, I did sneak a few other bits and bobs that I added to my little shop:

*Large brown penguin with Red Ridding Hood linen

*Remember this basket I wasn't sure about? I finally made it and very happy with it indeed. Thank you for all your encouraging comments, they were very helpful! 

I am also going through my unfinished buntings and getting them ready for my Facebook sale! It might take some time for Plushka to reach 1,500 likers but I am going to be ready to celebrate;) 

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

My creative space...

My creative space this week, is filled with projects and excitement of the new creations on the way.....

 Although, I am finishing customer orders, I still haven't found time to make a new toy. The pattern, fabric and felt that I collected for it are patiently waiting for me. I think it easy to guess which toy I am making;) 

Yesterday, I found a perfect Liberty fabric for the last new color of crochet baskets this year - Green Apple. It's just perfect and here is another project on the list. Thank you everyone for your comments on my last basket project! I am more confident now about the colors I've picked and will make it this weekend! 

However, I did sneak in a little owl in blue just because it was already half made and only needed fabric. I picked, the most popular last year, Japanese fabric with little sailors. 

Last but not least, Dianne - the penguin was finished and posted. 

I like the new felt that I've used which turned out to be a beautiful color for a more "grown-up" penguin. She looks like a sweet lady, doesn't she?

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Make or not to make?

It's great when the colors just fall together and I can move straight to deocrating a basket. However, there are moments when I have doubts. Should I use this fabric for an applique? Will it look right?

Normally it's because of a new fabric I decided to introduce, like this one by Green Olive Design. I am new to this screen printed fabric and I should say that the print and quality of linen is just lovely! 

Now, I just need to overcome my feeling of uncertainty and go for it!

Do you think this combination of pink and deep blue will work?

My creative space...

In my creative space, I had an idea to make little changes in my owl pincushions and make them less, how to say, not owls related.... I had scraps of the fabric and felt that my Miss Lollipop was made from....

The idea started growing and resulted in turquoise pincushion and matching crochet basket! I finally found a use for this fabric purchased in May.

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Hello Monday!

There is nothing better then spending a Monday morning styling and taking a few pictures of the new creations. Then again, not every Monday is a day off for me and after the weekend at work, I was called back in for a day to help out:)
I took a picture of this basket last week. As all baskets by Plushka, it was  crocheted from cotton and decorated with beautiful fabrics in hues of blue, green and purple, this basket is inspired by winter's slightly darker and cooler colors. Hydrangea hand-printed on hemp/cotton fabric by Thea went perfectly with a boarder. I has a matching coaster (the one on the left) to make a "gift set". 

More pictures on my Facebook page or in the shop.

Happy Monday! 

My creative space...

In my creative space, as usual, a lot happening at ones. That's not new;) but what's new is a color of the crochet baskets - lovely rich peach color! I've picked a bright and floral Liberty of London fabric for the boarder that has the same hues of peach throughout the pattern which makes it look very cohesive.

I am also making a bunny in dark purple that I haven't done before. I like picking up felt and fabric in the store at the same time, this way matching them is so much easier! So far it looks promising so stay tuned for tomorrow's post about her, the bunny,  and the creative process behind. 

Visit more creative spaces here. 

Have a creative Thursday!

Happy weekend!

Today, I am...

*making three more baskets for the shop in hues of pink. Stack of Liberty fabric is tempting me to experiment and match pink with unexpected prints.

*going through (again) my stash, cleaning the table for more bias tape cutting and getting all my little collections out to fill my new wooden storage box. 
After living and creating in my previous set up, I realized it takes too much space. I wonder how long this one will last?! 

I do like changing my surroundings to suit my mood:) 

*reading two new blogs I found: Recipe for cute by Emily Burnette and Smile and Wave by Rachel Denbow.

Have a sunny Saturday!

Hessian in a decor

                

I love hessian and have been trying to introduce it into my creations for some time now. I thought that Plushka's basket collection can do with some rustic chic piece which will be great as a part of a cottage decor. I am not sure whether it's a rough texture or a beautiful colour that gets me every time when I look at the hessian or twine...

 I went looking for inspirations and found so many wonderful ideas over at A Beach cottage website.

{picture found here}

For more hessian ideas click here and for the Hessian Bucket bag tutorial go here.

Do you have anything made from hessian in your house? 

Or maybe you know a great link? 

I would love to see it:)

Hope you're  having a lovely Saturday!

Crochet and fabric duo

Last night, I finally got some time for my crochet baskets. These new arrivals are long overdue but it's better to make it right and I never start on the baskets in a rush. They need time and, sometimes, a broken needle but I am so happy with the result! 

One is "Plushka's classic":  linen with agapantus fabric by Yardage design.

This light pink one is a new colour in this collection, decorated with Japanese sewing goat fabric that I just love. 





Have a safe and happy Easter! 

Sunday Stash....PINK!

My stash get more and more different colours with every fabric delivery... I should say, red is totally my colour! Pink? It's growing on me....slowly...

This my last purchase of Flower Sugar 2 in 2010. As soon as it was delivered, it was hard not to take a picture. So colourful and bright, this fabric is perfect for the summer projects.

On the pink note, I thought why not make my crochet baskets colourful?! I do try to be brave with the colour and this time I went for the hot pink!

I should say, making one with linen was easy but then I attempted to use linen with Russian dolls.....

Do you like pink?

Have a happy Sunday!

Present wrapping and new baskets

Inspired by the Nic's gift wrapping idea, I've used her tea towel to decorate a Christmas gift for our friends.

I didn't want to leave the lovely packaging behind so I cut a little tags out, this way the packaging gets recycled and washing instructions are easy to keep in the draw for the reference!

I also made a few new baskets with handprinted linen from Yardage design.