Is Winter here yet?

What better way to boost your immune system than a brisk, one-hour walk along the sea, and then a dip in the frozen Mediterranean waters?

I think Winter has forgotten us this year.

More necklaces coming up soon!

More goodies in da making and coming up soon in my shop!  Here's a sneak preview :0)

OLIVES!!!!!!

Been meaning to post this for some time, but boy..... it's been very (positively) hectic lately!  It was olive picking season here in Cyprus a couple of months ago, back in October, although we were actually a bit late with our picking.  These pictures were taken in mid-November, and we were lucky to find a tree in our friend's field that still had green olives for preparing "tsakistes" (crushed olives), the most delicious way of preparing olives!

This is my husband and me picking the olives from the tree

So, the way you prepare the olives is by first smashing open EACH one with a rock or hammer, hard enough to split the skin but not so hard that you break the pit.  This is my daughter helping me.

Next step is to fill the bucket with olives with plain water.  You need to change the water about 2-3 times a day for about 8 days.  This will get rid of the extreme bitterness that renders them inedible when not cured.

So oily!  Feels good on the skin :0)

After about 8 days you need to prepare a salt bath and let the olives soak in there for another 24 hours.  You can see that the color has changed already

Next, you pack them up into small bundles, leave a few in the refrigerator and the rest go in the freezer, to be eaten at our own (fast) pace.

Before eating you need to make one last preparation:  In a bowl put the amount of olives you want, peel a few garlic cloves and split them in half length-wise, crush some coriander seeds (as much as you like), pour some olive oil and some lemon juice!

Now you are ready to enjoy these excitingly delicious olives.  We eat them at an increadibly fast pace because they are soooooo delicious and irresistible.  They go with just about anything......  Even breakfast :0)

my first craft fair was a success!

This is me at my first craft fair which was a success in terms of sales as well as distribution of business cards!!

Here it is!!!!!!

Page 70 of Jewelry Affaire magazine (October 1st, 2010).  ONE WHOLE PAGE decicated to just my necklace!!!!!!!!!!  This is unbelievably exciting!!!!

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week

I got a message this morning from fellow Etsyan cyndilouwho2 letting know that one of my necklaces was being featured in her "Mito" treasury.  This treasury, as well as some other ones she's creating this week, are for the purpose of raising awareness of Mitochondrial Disease, something which I had never heard of before.

You can visit the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation website for more information.

To see the "Mito" treasuries, just go here.  Here's a screenshot of one of them:

And here's my necklace Mito Crochet Necklace



Jewelry Affaire Magazine

As per my previous post dtd May 25th, I had sent out a few of my necklaces to be photographed by a prestigious magazine.  That magazine is Jewelry Affaire, and out of the 4 necklaces I sent to them they have decided upon my Amber Bib Necklace.

The issue is hitting the stands on October 1st.......... I'm sooooo excited!!!!

How did having a business in Etsy change your life?

This was a question posted by aroundtheworld in Etsy forums the other day, and made me realize that Etsy did indeed change my life as well as me personally (in a positive way, may I add), as it has given me a sort of confidence which I had never experienced before.

Etsy made me realize that even though I'm able to do just about anything I put my mind into, I need to be selective and chose NOT to do what doesn't please me. I have discovered that there is, after all something in this world that I truly enjoy doing and would like to see myself continuing for many years to come. This all thanks to me discovering Etsy and committing myself to making my Etsy shop the best I can in terms of quality and customer service. I love what I do, I'm quite passionate about it, and don't really want to do anything else (including housework and dirty laundry LOL). I have no words to express my true appreciation for Etsy.

You can read the whole thread right here.  There's some really inspiring posts in there.

Here's to confidence and Etsy:

Indigo and Purple Crochet Necklace

Good Riddance August 2010

August 2010 was for me a very stressful month (hence my lack of posting anything the WHOLE month).  The heat and humidity were unbearable, making work at the restaurant even more difficult, and to top it off my iron level went down again, so low that I had to take a few days off as I didn't have energy to face the work load at the restaurant.

September comes as a breath of fresh air with the temperatures and humidity level much lower, and lots of people returning home or to work after summer vacation, and school starting soon (here in Cyprus), so I'll have time for myself again to continue with my beloved craft.

In the meantime.... here's my Colorido Crochet Necklace no. 3:

Mystic Garden

When I look at this necklace I dream of a magical place, a garden lush with green plants, a creek with a small waterfall, a walk in the forest.... no worries in the world. The color green symbolizes nature and the natural world, and it is thought to relieve stress and help heal.

Enjoy my Mystic Garden Crochet Necklace.

Use Your Sense of Creative Ownership

"Use a sense of creative ownership to give yourself permission to create something new, different, and distinctly yours".  This is what Tara, over at ScoutieGirl has to say about artists who are truly unique in their style, even though they may have started off by following some sort of instructions, or were initially taught by an instructor.  True artists will then branch off to express their own individuality thru their work.

To read the whole (but short) interview, just go to ScoutiGirl.com

In the meantime..... hope you'll enjoy my newest necklace, which I've titled "Cerise"

If it ain't broke......

You know the saying that goes "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"? What does that say about the people who are unconsciously looking to create problems all the time just so that they have something to "fix"? Could it be that they are persons who are not in harmony with their souls? That their souls are trying to tell them that they are the ones that need fixing; that they need to be in touch with the universe, nature and their surroundings?

And what about artists, architects, interior designers, musicians or creators of art forms in some way or another? Art is a form of expression that comes from the soul. When our minds can't find the right words to express what our souls are feeling, then we use art, and colors, and form, and compose music that reflect the vibrations emitted by our souls.

Anyone want to share their opinion on this? I'm interested in reading your comments!

In the meantime, hope you like my new creation from my soul, my "Melia Bib Crochet Necklace":

When Life Gives You Kumquats...... and a little imagination....

Nature inspires me in unbelievable ways, and when my Kumquat tree was begging for mercy the other day to be rid of all the fruit which was weighing it down, I decided to pick it and do caramelized kumquats with the little cuties.

But my imagination didn't just stop there.  This seemed a bit boring, so I took some hibiscus concentrate that I had made a while ago and diluted it in water and lots of ice to make "agua de jamaica", and then I tossed a few of the caramelized kumquats in there along with some of its syrup, and..... there you have it!   A surprisingly delicious and refreshing drink to quench my thirst in this (almost Summer) heat  :0)

Minima Necklace, for the minimalist in you

This necklace is a bit different to the colorful crochet necklaces I've been creating lately.  I usually follow my instincts when making a new piece and if my inner spirit calls for soothing, calming, un-cluttered colors, then I listen and obey.

The results are my Minima Necklace that adds just the right touch of detail to your outfit when you're in a de-cluttering mood, made with tiny Delica© Japanese glass beads in seaform green and ivory strung through 2 tiger tail wires.

The soothing effects of the color seafoam green is combined with the understated elegance of ivory to help you clear your mind of unwanted, cluttered thoughts, denoting new beginnings, growth and self-worth.

As the excitement builds up....

I was recently contacted by another magazine about featuring my necklaces in their Fall issue.  This magazine looks a lot more prestigious than Woman's World where a couple of my necklaces were featured in one of their March issues.

I'll reveal the name of the magazine later in the Fall, but in the meantime you can have a peek at one of the necklaces I sent out:

De Colores Statement Necklace:

Shades of Amber

Incredible treasury titled "Sweet Tea" featuring honey tasting-looking creations in shades of amber.  Almost wanna make me take that complexion bar and have it for dessert!

My necklace "Amber Bubbles" was picked among some other treasures:

Show Me Your Pinks!!!

Pink is my new favorite color!

Pink Peruvian Opal Earrings and Crochet

Camelia - soft pouch pink wool knit with ribbon drawstring

Rose

Bolig Danish Zine

Engagement Marketing

I recently came accross a very useful podcast on the "new" way of doing marketing for your crafty business.  It's called Engagement Marketing, being an essential marketing tool for your business on this internet age.  It's 20 min. long and I recommend it to anyone who is struggling with marketing their online business:

ENGAGEMENT MARKETING FOR YOUR CRAFTY BUSINESS

I've waited so long for you to flourish.....

My Hydrangea showing her love back to me with her amazing blooms  :0)

Pyrite and Crochet Earrings

I'm adoring my new Pyrite and Crochet Earrings.... I think I'll make a pair for myself......  :0)

Etsy Front Page

Came back from work to find the great surprise that one of my necklaces was on a Treasury on Etsy, which then made it to the FRONT PAGE!!!!  (Top row, third one on the right)

Fit for a Doll

I made these really cute ballerina shoes for my soon-to-be goddaughter.  I had gone shopping around for shoes that would match the Christening gown that I got for her, and was very disappointed to see the exuberant prices on the shoes that I liked and that actually matched.  So I took matters into my hands and purchased a ballerina shoe pattern from Needle Craft Patterns and made the shoes in raw silk, in a creamy white color, and I embellished them with a little crocheted flower and a pearl button in the middle.

These are the results:

Birthday Earrings

It was my birthday yesterday, and when my dear nephew asked me the other day what I wanted as a present, I immediately knew the answer.  I had been eyeing these incredible earrings for quite a while, created by Anna of lilarubyking, and I just HAD TO HAVE THEM!

Thank you Enrique!!  I can't wait to receive them!!!

Woman's World Feature

Wooo Hooo!!!! The magazine was out a couple of days before it's scheduled date of March 22nd!!!!

I'm so excited about this!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a couple of scanned pictures of the pages where my necklaces are featured:

  

Interviewed by TryHandmade!! YAY!!

I love "Try Handmade", and now I love it even more since they published an interview with yours truly :0)

Here's the link to the interview:
http://tryhandmade.com/interview-with-victoria-of-lavenderfield/

The Big Day is Approaching!!

I've been so busy lately!  Back in Nov. I was contacted by the weekly magazine Woman's World to see if I'd be interested in having a couple of my necklaces featured on their magazine!

I'm like.... "is that a question????"  Of course I would!!!

Then by beg. Feb. I got the final confirmation that they are going ahead with the feature on their issue no. 13 which is scheduled to be on the stands March 22-29.

My necklaces are all one of a kind, but because of the feature that's coming up I decided to make multiples of the ones that will be on print.  Sooooo..... that's what I've been so busy making!  Well, that as well as making custom pouches for all my items!

I'm so tired....!  No.... I'll rephrase that.... I'm not tired...... I'm EXHAUSTED!!!!

If you'd like to see which are the necklaces that are going to be featured on the magazine, just head on down to my shop and type "womans world" on the search box  :0)

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

Green Apple of My Eye by Veronica Reis

Is this an INCREDIBLE dress or WHAT!  I'm tellin' ya, Veronica Reis knows what she's doing.  This has got to be one of the most attractive and unique dresses I've ever seen.  No accessories required!  This dress is a statement all on its own.

If only I had those looooong legs like the models wearing it...... I'd definitely smash my piggy bank against the wall and head on down to vrreis and get me one!

A Pincushion is a Pincushion is a Pincushion....right?

Well.... sure, but why get a boring one when you can have beautiful works of art to look at that inspire your innermost creativity..... right?

Here's a few pincushions that I would call "works of art"

Namolio's Shop: 

Contemporary Stitches Shop:

There is a tutorial for these cute ones on Craftzine.com

right HERE (I made me a few). 

They are made with plastic bottle caps,

so it's a good recycling idea:

I found these Miniature Patchwork Pincushions
at The Purl Bee:

I'd love to see more beautiful and unusul pincushions, if you would just leave me a link to them!