DIY - crocheted rose flower

When I made this mohair lace scarf, I did not want to knot it when wearing. I got a great idea to make a flower cuff with a couple of buttons so I would not have to knot it. Lace and a rose... very girly look :) but I do not mind that sometimes :)

Here is a close up picture (you may click both of them to open even bigger)

 

Video DIY on the crocheted flower for those who crochet

Zebrawood jewelry box by Paul Szewc

Just recently I asked myself: "I wonder, where people keep their jewelry?" This is when I started my virtual collection of jewelry boxes. I could not pass by these fancy boxes! Everything is wonderful about them: the shape and the wood. I could see them on the "Antique Road" show 50 years from now :) 

(If I win a lottery, I will get a pair!)

What gifts to give to men (father, husband or boyfriend)?

I never knew what gifts to give to a man. They seem always to be happy with something like new socks or a shirt. I personally think that it is not a man's nature to think of gifts at all. However, if you come up with a right thing he did not think about, he will certainly be happy! 

I have an example from my own experience. My husband always needs flashlights and often looses them. When his parents asked for my opinion what to give him, I mentioned a flashlight. They gave him a very fancy flashlight! And very powerful too. He was confused why would I say that he needed a flashlight, because he could not stop losing them. Guess what! This one he did not lose! :) 6 month later I asked him if he still had it. Yes, he did. "It was a good gift then?" - I said.

Recently I have found an article written by a man (in Russian) about gifts for men. I thought of just translating it, but then I have gotten a better idea. I used it as a guide for my Etsy search for the things that could be good gifts for men. This is what I have found:

1) Some men like to cook, some of them have to. Something for kitchen is a great gift to man who does cook!

These fun gifts are available through Etsy:

Apron is by bobsiDi

Rolling pin is by ValekRollingPins

Spoon is by DazzlingDezigns4U

Knives are by PoiDogsFarm

2) Socks and shirts are still good! Men never say "no" to new socks (you know why, right? ;)

These items I have found here:

Tie clip at CarnivalDesign

Socks at SockprintsOnEtsy

Ties at Cyberoptyx

Cufflinks at LoveItMadlyJewellery

3) If he likes camping, there are many things you could give him as a gift!

To name just a few:

Tent by StoutTent

Flashlight by ThirdShift

Flask by RockyArt

Knives by Thingscustomized

4) BBQ is another good theme for the gifts!

Something that you knew that you needed for BBQ and something that you had no idea that you needed:

BBQ set by MemorableGift

Wine rack by JNMRusticDesigns

Leather knife roll by fullgive

Gourmet spice kit by CraigsMarket

5) Towels, slippers or even a book (if you know man's preferences in books) can make a decent gift!

Slippers by kilims

Towels by PESHTEMALIA

Shaving soap by SmithFamily

Book by LucianaFrigerio

6) Cool things gadget related will also work!

iPhone dock by valliswood

Einstein watch by FreeForme

iPhone case by susancasephotography

Personalized pen case by EngraveMeThis

7) Speaking of "personalized" things... There are many things that can become a good gift if personalized: 

Custom map clock by 1byliz
Latter mug by theprintedsurface
Chalkboard print by LadybirdPress
Guitar pick by SnappinPicks

8) Things that are not even close to be called "women's" :)

Leather mobile accessory by AccessoriesLeather

Vintage industrial gadget by Nachokitty

Leather key chain by leatherline

Set of diffusers for flashlight by RakeTheLight

9) Jewellery for men. Why not! :)

Basket silver ring
Reticulated wide band
Maltese cross
Initial pendant
Dogtag
Quartz crystal point

Visit my pinterest board to see more ideas for the gifts for men.

Ideas for home decoration

As always,  Anna has found great ideas for the home decoration and created a beautiful Guide for us!

If you just want to have a closer look, click on the picture and make it bigger.

If you would like to have a close look at all the items, please, visit the guide's interactive page

Friday Gift Guide

It is still Spring on the calendar, but it is definitely Summer outside! Can you feel fresh summer mornings? I certainly can. Especially with new Irina's collection of Summer Gift Ideas!

You may click on the picture to open it bigger. Otherwise go to the original treasury's page and visit all the included products >>>

Black Glam. What jewelry to wear with a black dress

Proms are coming and I got inspired to create a glam look for a prom. I have this fantastic necklace that I love myself. It is made with Swarovski crystals, copper and Japanese seed beads. I am not even sure that I want to sell this :) However, it is in a jewellery gallery right now... and if it sells... it sells. Maybe one day I will make another one... maybe...

(Click on the picture to open it bigger)

Black Glam by nataliakhon featuring a leather purse

Amanda Wakeley long black dress
$1,675 - amandawakeley.com

Yves Saint Laurent high heels stiletto
matchesfashion.com

Jimmy Choo leather purse
jimmychoo.com

Mystic Light pave band ring
maxandchloe.com

Butter London lipstick
$54 - theiconic.com.au

Sephora Collection nail lacquer
sephora.com

2 GIVEAWAYS

Today's post is about giveaways! Everybody likes free stuff, right? :)

1) The first one is the Button Earring Giveaway! (Very cute!)

This is the artist's message:

I'm TJ aka RockaBeauty Mama. I am the owner designer and creator of RockaBeauty Boutique. In my shop I sell handcrafted retro inspired and alternative style accessories. The shop opened in March 2014 and new products are being released regularly.

The giveaway I am running is for a new line of fabric button earrings that were released this month. The Button Earring Giveaway ends Thursday May 29th at 11:59 PDT. The winner (announced Friday, May 30th) will be able to choose two of their favorite pairs from the new line.

To enter follow this link (note that it is for those who can have their gift mailed to an address in the US)

 2) INTERNATIONAL GIVEAWAY!

Italian artist Vickoria Semykina (I just wrote recently about her art) will send this personalized print to any country! Great gift for the upcoming Father's Day!

To enter visit Victoria Semykina's Facebook page

Wish List. Owl print by Heather Davis

I have found an owl print for my virtual (for now) collection! Isn't is absolutely awesome?

Then I learned something else about the artist... She has come up with an idea of hand painted wooden art prints! This is how it looks like:

To make this happen she is raising money at indiegogo.com 
This  is her message:

I'm raising $600 to make 100 hand painted wooden art prints. It's something that I haven't seen anywhere else - even though I repeat the same designs, each piece is unique because each board is a little different, and hand painting will always make little variations in color and texture. One of the really exciting things is the designs - before the campaign ends, I'll have a total of 20 designs posted, but I'll only be producing 10. Campaign supporters who give $1 or more get to vote and decide which designs are produced - I'll only make the 10 most popular designs for these 100 prints. After I send out the perks to campaign supporters, I'll offer the remaining prints for sale online in my Etsy store, however supporters get the pieces first, and with free shipping. People who support this campaign not only get a unique piece of art, they get it before it's available anywhere else, with free shipping, and they get to help a small business expand - I'm using the added exposure and inventory to expand my store. If people can't donate, but they still like the project and want to help, sharing it on facebook or twitter could actually be a really big help, too - every bit of exposure helps, because you never know who's going to see it online and support the campaign.

What you get:

• Donations of all sizes get a personal thank you on my tumblr
  
• For $1, you get to vote on which designs get produced for the final line - I'll have 20 to choose from, but for the first round I'll only use 10.
  
• $5 and you get a vote + a greeting card with the design of your choice
• $10 and you get a vote + two greeting cards in the design(s) of your choice
• $15 is one vote + 3 greeting cards in the design(s) of your choice
• $20 and up can start picking from the wood art prints, starting with unframed 2"x3" mini boards, all with free shipping
• $50 you can get a full sized 8"x10" framed board, and 2 votes for designs
• $100+ and you can get multiple boards plus 3 votes for designs
•  For any donation between $5 - $15 you can select 1 - 3 greeting cards

***

I am fascinated with the idea of the artists to have a web-site where they can ask for help in order to start creating and get it!

For those who likes Heather's art and also likes the idea of a hand painted wooden art print (the prices are great for a unique gift like this!), here is the link again

Good luck, Heather!

Interior Design Ideas

New Interior Design Guide with fantastic ideas for home decoration from Anna has arrived!

If you just want to have a closer look, click on the picture and make it bigger.

If you would like to have a close look at all the items, please, visit the guide's interactive page

Saturday Eye Candy. Antique Chinese Purse

Today is my "diet day" - day when I give up anything sweet and keep myself happy with the eye candies :) This Saturday's find is this antique embroidered Chinese Rank Badge Purse with bone and glass beads early Qing dynasty. The purse definitely could make some museum happy! However, any of us have a chance to have it ;) This is good news! I've found it for sale on Etsy. There are more pictures of it there too. Here is the link for the interested