Trompe-l'oeil an illusion of reality

Years ago I found a book about trompe-l'oeil in the library. I fell in love with the illusion of an open sky. I photocopyed some pages and kept them in my folder of decorations, thinking that some day when I had a house, I would paint those murals. 5 years later we bought a little house and as soon as we moved in I started painting all the walls of the house in Amber wave, with the exception of my future baby's room. (In that time I was not pregnant but I was preparing his or her room.) I chose the Peter Rabbit and his friends theme from the " Great big treasury of Beatrix Potter Book". The baby's  room is really small so it did not take me too much time to finish it.

The photo above is my bathroom ceiling.

My dining room ceiling. I would like a chandelier in this room.

My baby's room. " The tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck"

"The tale of Mr. Jeremy fisher"

"The tale of the Flopsy Bunnies"

"The tale of Squirrel Nutkin"

My bedroom Ceiling.

My kitchen. I would love a Chandelier instead of that ceiling fan.

People say that I am an artist but I don't think that about myself. I just paint for a hobby. For me an artist is a person who goes to school and studies art. I have not done that, but I really find joy creating and painting things that I really like. I take the time to smell the roses, enjoy life and love my little family, listening to reggae, latin music, and music from the 40s and 50s. I really love shopping at vintage shops, flea markets and thrift stores. My heart jumps when I find a good deal.

I hope that you have a wonderful day and come back soon.

Setting the table for tea "decaffeinated"

My passion for roses  has no end. I love everything that has roses on it, I wanted to share with you my tea setting. We don't drink tea but chocolate instead and my little boy loves it. In these photos I didn't want to serve the crumpets on the plates because I wanted to show the pretty roses.

I made this bird house from left over wood, another idea, my little boy broke one of my tea cups, so I decided to make a mosaic and used the cup.

Come, let us have some tea or chocolate and talk about happy things.

Tea is drunk to forget the din of the world. ~T'ien Yiheng

"In Jane Austen's day, it was dinner that was served at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, not tea. That lighter refreshment was taken in the drawing room about 8 in the evening, after music or cards. Tea as we think of it now, an afternoon pause for confections and sociability, was actually the invention of leisured Edwardians. But whatever the hour, nothing enhances the beauty of... spreading a lovely cloth, showing off silver, china, and flowers." Taken from Victoria Magazine March 1998.

There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.~ Emerson.

~Have a beautiful day and come back soon.~

How to make a short sleeve sweater

I wanted to share with you how I made this beautiful sweater with ruffles. I usually don't follow patterns to make sweaters because I don't like counting stitches. So, instead I use my own measurements or the measurements of an all ready made sweater. I hope that with the help of photos you can follow my instructions.

For this sweater I used the Crochet Woven Stitch: Single crochet stitches worked in single chain spaces. Row 1: Sk 2 ch, 1 sc, ch1,1sc, ch 2, turn. Row 2: 1 sc in ch sp of previous row,ch 1, 1 sc in the turning ch sp, ch 2, turn. Rep from row 2.

To make the Crochet Ridge Stitch Ribbing: Ridges are formed horizontally, then turned sideways for ribbing. Row 1: Sk 1 ch, 1 sc in each ch, ch1, turn. Row 2: 1sc in back loop of each st, ch1, turn. Repeat row 2 for the pattern. When ribbing is long enough for the garment edge on which it is to be used, fasten off yarn.

For this sweater I used 16 ounces of yarn, sizes G/6-4.25MM and E/4-3.50MM hooks.

The directions given here are for size (M) 

 

To make the Back Ribbing: Work a chain stitch (ch st) long enough that measures 4"

Follow the Ridge stitch ribbing pattern, 1sc in back loop of each st, ch1 turn.

Keep working in established pattern across. When ribbing is 16" long, don't fasten off, insert the hook into the edge and work 1sc, ch, 1sc, continue across, ch2, turn. Row2: 1sc in ch sp of previous row, work in established pattern across.

When the Woven stitch work measures 3" long from the foundation "edge of the ribbing",In the photo it looks like it measures 2"but it is 3" start (Increase) by working *1sc,ch,1sc,ch together in last stitch, turn, work in established pattern across, increase the other end edge*.Work from here until it measures 3".

The ending measurement is 10"X 18" wide (bust) from the biginning of ribbing to top.

Now for Armholes (Decrease) 4-5 rows, by leaving unfinished or skipping the last stitch in the row. This should measure 14 1/2" wide across.

Now work in established pattern until measuring 6 1/2"up. For shoulders band: Start at  the edge, work 1 row that measures 4",turn, work row 2. fasten off. Attach yarn at the edge and work the other side of shoulder to correspond. (Measures 7 1/2" including the soulder band.)

Neck measures 6 1/2" -7"

For ruffle foundation: Attach yarn and Work sc,ch,sc,ch all in same stitch, (like increases) on each stitch across ribbing edge. Turn, work woven stitch on each stitch across, keeping the edges neat and straight. Measures 4 1/2" long

  

The shoulders width measures 14 1/2" , X 21 1/2"long

For Front : Work same as back side with the difference of measuring from the start of the armhole row, 3" up of rows. A V-neckline is usually started 6"  bellow the shoulder, or just after the start of armholes shaping. Work is divided at the center and each half is worked separately, decreasing gradually at the neck edge. For a wide V, decrease 1 stitch every row, for a narrower one, every second or third row.

Mark the center with a piece of yarn. Work rows decreasing 1 stitch every row 4-5 times only on neck edge keeping the armhole edge straight until the shoulder band measures 4" keep working up. Measures 6" from the start of center row, fasten off. Attach yarn on edge and work other neck side to correspond.

Work ruffles same as back side. Sew sides and shoulders. You don't have to worry about right or wrong sides because the woven stitch is a double face pattern. Using E hook, begin at right side seam and work slip stitch: Attach yarn, insert hook through the stitches catch yarn, draw a loop though both the stitch and the loop on the hook.

For the Sleeve: Work a ribbing band of 3"X 12" long, don't fasten off, insert hook on edge and work 6 rows of woven stitch pattern, increase every 6 rows, 3 times, work 6 more rows, until measures 5"X 16" wide.

It's a good idea to mark the increases.

For sleeve cap: Decrease the last row by skipping the last 3 stitches, leaving a space that measures 1"

Now start decreasing every 3 rows, 3 times.

Now Decrease every row 3 times. Measures from the first decrease 4 1/2"

Work 1 more row straight across and fasten off. Make ruffle on ribbing. Make 2 sleeves. Sew sleeve seams, using E hook, working slip stitch. Attach to armhole. It is a good idea to secure seams together with safety pin, attach  all around the sleeve and armhole seams. Press the seams (wrong side) lightly with the iron using a handkerchief underneath, spraying with water.

For ruffle: Attach yarn on ribbing edge, work sc,ch,sc,ch together on each stitch (like increases)Turn, work woven stitch on each stitch until it measures 1 1/2"long or desired length.

Scalloped edging: Worked along the neck and ruffles edges. Attach yarn, 1 slip stitch,* 3dc in nex st, sc, 3dc. All around the neck and ruffles edges. fasten off.

A snugger fit for the sleeve (Optional)

Is obtained by adding elastic thread to the ribbing. Thread the elastic after ribbing is completed, using tapestry needle and inserting it under the vertical ribs along each row on wrong side.

I hope that you understand these instructions. I had fun making this beautiful garment and I love the ruffles, it gives a touch of romantic charm. You may ask where  I found my inspiration to make this sweater, well, I was reading my Romantic Country magazine of summer 2010 and I saw this photo from "VintageSoul1020.typepad.com" shop. What caught my eye was the beautiful ruffles on the pillows and floral rosettes. Just looks like a dress. So I decided to design this feminine sweater, I really loved how it turned out. I hope that you have fun making one too.

Have a wonderful day and come back soon!