~ Are Unicorns real?

Ciao everyone!

As a unicorn fan, I'm wondering if also you have ever pondered the existence of unicorns. I've always been fascinated by their beauty and graceful look as it's shown in medieval pictures. I was reading about how they liked to rest on the lap of virgin maidens, and when they would fall asleep that's when the hunters would catch them! Also, there's a song I knew when I was little that was speaking about how Noah was gathering all the animals on his ark and the unicorns didn't make it and died in the flood... kind of sad, but who knows....

I recently embroidered a pretty unicorn in a small oval hoop. It would be perfect as a wall decoration in a baby nursery or a girl's room. I'm happy with how it turned out.

Hand-embroidered Unicorn

You can find all kinds of things about unicorns on the internet. These are some of my favorite:

Adorable Candle Holder

l 33" Rainbow Unicorn Shape Mylar / Foil Balloon

Birthday Card

R&M Unicorn 4.5" Cookie Cutter in Durable, Economical, Tinplated Stee

33" Rainbow Unicorn Shape Mylar / Foil Balloon

Too Faced La Creme Lipstick 'Unicorn Tears' 0.11oz/3.0g New In Box

I think I could go on and on and on, but I'll stop here!!! Now I'll go dream about this beautiful, colorful, glittery and magnificent horse! ;)

Love to all.

xoxo,

~National Teach Embroidery Month~

Good Morning to all of you!!

yes, it's early morning here in California and with a little peace and quiet I finally decided to start writing this post. As you can see from the title, February is the "National Teach Embroidery Month"!!! Who knew? I would have had no idea if I wasn't following Sublime Stitching on instagram {if you are somewhat interested in embroidering, you should check out this website! It's full of tutorials, patterns...everything you need to know to start this beautiful art}. Jenny Hart is the artist behind all this. Check her amazing work HERE . I read her post about teaching embroidery and I knew right away that it was something I had to do... teaching my daughters how to embroider. I signed-up and I received some patterns in the mail. I gathered all we needed and I started teaching them. They loved it! Here is some pictures of their work:

The patterns they chose were easily transferred on fabric

Maddalena, 14 years old

Francesca, 10 years old



Their final work

Not bad for first time stitchers!! Right? All I know is that we will keep working, they are ready to start with their next project and I'm ready to start teaching them different stitches. I just want to thank Jenny Hart for the encouragement and ideas. 

Much love to you all.

xoxo,

~Hoop Love~

Ciao Everyone!

in this post I just want to say thank you to all the people that are supporting my little shop. You have no idea how happy my heart is when I see a "like", even just a "view"...and every time someone buys one of my creations I'm just amazed. The thought of something that I make is displayed in your house or used by you makes me incredibly happy!!!

I have recently sold a few of my embroidered hoops, especially during Christmas time. I am right now finishing up an order of one of my favorite hoops... "HOME SWEET HOME". I created it originally for my sister, when she finally found a beautiful home for her little family. I don't follow patterns, I've always like to draw, so I make my own designs and then stitch them. I feel like embroidering is like coloring with thread! I really love what I do.

Here's a few pictures of my favorite hoops, and their links:

HOME SWEET HOME

BLESSED

DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE

BE STILL MY SOUL

xoxo,

Mini~hoops

Good morning!
it looks like it's going to be a beautiful day here in California. This is the first time I write a post with my phone... the problem is that our computer is amost completely broken. That's what happens when you leave it with a bunch of little kids! :) I know God will provide a new one, but for now I have to use what I have.

I want to share with you a new item from my etsy shop . I recently started to embroider on mini-hoops. They are the most adorable things!!! You don't need to know how to embroider to be able to use them...and I'll show you different examples. They are often used for necklaces, but I make key-chains out of them. I picked a few pictures, including my "Belle keychain", to show you  different ideas. The most important thing is to be creative and use your imagination! Go visit the original website to meet the creator of these mini-hoops: the sweet dandelyne will inspire you and show you all the tricks!

Go to: www.dandelyne.com 

xoxo,

ShopSmall ~ Handmade Goodness

Here I am back at it!!!! Who would have thought? 

Well, it's true that I often disappear, but I'm always back. I still like to go back and look at my old posts, pictures and recipes, where a tiny slice of time stopped. 

Christmas time is already here, lights are everywhere, trees and ornaments are twinkling in the homes, people are already shopping for gifts... and this is exactly what I want to speak about. You all know that I own a little online shop of handmade goodies and I know many other shops that I would like to promote here. This Christmas it would be very nice if you could #ShopSmall . What does this mean? It's simply a way to encourage and appreciate people who use their hands to create beautiful things. I was inspired by Fundera, a small business loans marketplace, to show my support. You can read more about the importance about small businesses HERE .

But let me show you some of the cutest gifts you could make this Christmas!

Vintage Doll Pencil Pouch

Silk Wrap Bracelet

Camper Stickers

Hands Full Heart Full Tote

Bracelet for the Baker

Hand-embroidered Inspirational Hoop

You can follow all these amazing makers also on Instagram, which is what I do and get a lot of inspiration from them. Just click on their names and it will take you to their IG profiles:

SilentPoetryArts

pebbleandore

eight28designs

athomewithnatalie

raisinguprubies

labellemadeleine

Well, I hope you can show some love during this Christmas Season and buy at leeeeeast one {or two} handmade presents from your list of gifts to give. You are going to make someone's day. 

Love as always. Enjoy the Season!

xoxo,

Cinderella Hoop

Have you watched the new Cinderella movie? I simply loved it!! So much so that I was inspired to embroider a new hoop... which is available now in my SHOP. What do you think?

Hugs to all!

xoxo,

My Decorative Pillows.

Hello everyone!!

Like I have said other times, I can never stay still.. I always have to be doing something and, of course, in a house with 5 little kids there's always a mountain of things to do.

I spend most of the day doing chores: cleaning, picking up toys, cooking, standing at the sink washing dishes...especially cups of every kind...{no dishwasher here}, "wash-hang-ironing" clothes and now also changing diapers and rocking my adorable baby girl. I bless God for all of this! He gives me everyday the opportunity to give my life for my family and others...

Among all these daily activities I try to squeeze-in also my hobbies... sewing, crocheting, making pretty things... it reminds me so much of my grandma, always busy with work in her hands. She could embroider really well... I never really learned how to embroider and it's too late to ask her to teach me. Nonetheless I'm starting to teach myself! I have been following different you-tube videos to learn the basic stitches, to be able to create cute stuff. I have many ideas but not much time to put them into practice.

I have been recently working on decorative pillows for my daughters. I had bought the plain pillows at Hobby Lobby more than 2 years ago! I recently bought a super adorable "Rapunzel" fabric from Japan {pretty Rapunzel pouches will be soon in my Shop!!} and started to practice my embroidery. 

Here's a few pictures of my work...

I tried to leave it simple. The important thing is that my daughters love their new pillows.. especially their initials and embroidered portrait! :))

xoxo to you all,

A scent of Italy.

Hello Friends!!!

what a beautiful hot day we had here in California today!! After a few days of rain, the sun is back again! It really felt like summer... and when I feel that type of warmth I can only think of my South of Italy {where I come from}. I recently had the opportunity to purchase something I had on my "I-really-want" List for a long time and it arrived two days ago all the way from the beautiful Calabria (Italy)!!! 

I purchased a pretty locket with a deliciously homemade solid perfume called Scirocco. I first fell in love with the name as it takes me back to the South of Italy... for those who don't know, it's the name of a wind that originates in Africa (in the Sahara desert) and blows through the Mediterranean sea. It brings with it the scent of summer, of the jasmine, the oranges and other citruses.. well, that perfume contains it all! I can close my eyes and smell the countryside where I grew up.

I want to thank so much Mariu', the owner of the beautiful Etsy SHOP called LaMiaCasaNelVento, meaning My House In the Wind {she makes also organic soaps and candles}. She also writes a BLOG where she shares the most amazing pictures! You should check it out!!

Her talent is great and the care she takes in bringing every little detail to perfection is what touches me.

I feel honored to have one of her pieces and to be able to smell Italy. If you are curious... you should go order one of her perfumes as well and let me know what you think!! :)

this is what I received.... 

Here is something you can find in her shop:

Natural Solid Perfume

Organic Chamomile

Hugs to you all!!

..and tanti baci...

the cutest fabric...

Happy Tuesday everyone!!!!

I had a pretty quiet morning so far... I'm glad I had the time to sew. I used the last little piece of one the cutest fabric I've ever bought. Disney Princesses! I found it online, it came all the way from Japan! I wish I could buy more... I could only find a small sample that I cut in pieces to be able to create more with it.

I don't know if you had a chance to see the newest pouches in my shop... they are one of a kind!.. unless I find more of that gorgeous fabric!!.... he he... :)

 

What do you think??

Which one is your favorite Disney Princess? I can't decide!!! Even if I know I'm never tired to watch Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella.......

Hugs to you..
and may all your dreams come true!!!!

xoxo,