How I started To Crochet

I haven´t crochet much before I started. I remember doing one crochet work in the primary school and I think it was something for the Easter time, maybe little chick or something. 

Years later I was studying in Interior Designer school and hadn´t time to learn how to crochet although my internship place boss were crocheting almost anything but at the time I wasn´t so interested to learn.

After I graduated from Interior Designer school I started to spend my free time crocheting things. I wasn´t plan to learn how to crochet, it just started naturally. I searched on YouTube suitable videos for beginners and I must say I really enjoy to crochet.

My first bag handles. These are slightly
flexible and flat shape.

First I started to crochet bag handles since my friend needed them in her bags and wanted different kind handles than faux leather or fabric ones. So I started to seek right kind yarn and suitable video on YouTube. I learned pretty quickly to crochet bag handles but then my friend was looking for some decorations that she can attach in her bag creations. I remembered my grandma´s crochet butterflies but couldn´t remember how they crochet so after couple hours seeking right kind videos I found one but the butterfly wasn´t exactly same but still it was pretty.

After making things for my friend, I wanted to expand my crochet skills and now I have crocheted ear warmers, scarf, couple ballerina slippers, baskets, cat toys and my favorite thing to crochet: fingerless gloves.

I learned all on YouTube so naturally the stitch names that I know are in English. I laughed with my friend that once I didn´t know the stitch names in Finnish! 😆 So now I´m willing to learn those stitch names in Finnish and want to learn how to read different patterns.

As you can see, you can crochet pretty much anything. Here´s some of my crochet work that I´ve made during this time.
My cats just loved to play with crocheted mice but the ball wasn´t their favorite. On the right are the butterflies. pink edged butterfly is my grandma´s that she made years ago and next to is my version.

As always, I´m open to learn anything new and interesting so now I have crochet about year and half and now I´m learning how to needle tat. It´s been little challenging but at least I´m trying and most of all, I got new experience and learn constantly from my mistakes. 

This quote describe well about my creative life. Try, learn and most of all have FUN! 

~ Minna

Photographing

This week I thought to write about photographing. 

My Interior Design studies included one course of photographing and first I was so excited about it since I´m always eager to learn to take better photos but when I realize that the teacher wasn´t going to teach us to use SLR camera even some of us haven´t used it before and told us to just to take bunch of photos I consider the course vain.

I´m not professional photographer but I´ve been photographing pretty much my whole life different things  like my favorite Finnish singer which is pretty difficult to photograph since she likes to dance along with her songs. Lately I also love to take nature photos too. Usually I have my Iphone with me and the phone have good camera.

Once my Interior Designer teacher said that camera doesn´t affect the quality of the photos but I´ve testified it wrong as below photo collage show you - camera do matter the quality of the picture!

Over these years I´ve changed my camera probably three times. Above collage you can see how different camera affect the quality of the photo.

First photo on the left is with white glitter background. That time my camera was battery based and they were pretty quick out after couple photos. Also for this photo I haven´t used any natural light nor flash.

Second photo with wooden imitation background I took with my new camera that needed to charged with USB cable. For this photo I tried to use natural light but it was pretty much impossible for me at the time since my apartment were near forest and corner where the Sun didn´t shine was any time of the day.

Last photo is taken with my latest camera. I´ve been long wanted SLR camera that suited for beginners since I didn´t want any fancy one with fine features that I probably won´t learn to use. I planned the background, used natural light and bought a mannequin bust for the necklaces.

If you have Etsy shop or planning to open one, I simply recommend to buy good camera. Mine camera is Nikon D3300 which is user-friendly camera. With that camera I´ve taken all my Etsy photos and I´m so pleased with the camera. This camera is also good for any beginners who haven´t used SLR camera before.

Here´s my few photograph tips to take better photos:

1. Buy good camera

As I´ve shown you, nothing beats good camera that takes clear photos and the quality of your photos will bring you many sales

2. Plan your photos

Many seller favorites clean white background, usually PhotoFuzed one but I personally think that it may be clean but also makes items little floating in the air. I highly recommend to use clean background and I bet it can be found in your home. You can use your kitchen table or counter to photograph your items or any other table you may have in your home that suited your item style

3. Use natural light

I´m not talking about direct sunlight but good day light which won´t bring much shadow around your item. This may require to observe little while how the natural light come in your home and which time of the day is the best time to take photos

As you may know, you can´t learn photographing unless you just photograph. Try different settings of your camera and transfer the photos in your laptop to see the differences between photos. That way you can find the settings that suited best your items.

~ Minna

Spring 2020 Jewelry Trends

I´ve been little busy in my personal life and I have coming to a point when I needed to think my limited time so I have decided that starting April I´m going to write my blog every other week. I´m also out of blog writing ideas so this looser schedule gives me chance to search and write more interesting things.

Today, I´m going to write little Spring jewelry trends. Warming weather and Sunny days are finally brighten up my mood. Soon we can dress little more lighter and that´s best time to start wearing jewelry if you haven´t wear them yet.

This Spring jewelry designers have thought about beach vibes so it shouldn´t be surprise that this season hot jewelry are made of seashells and different metals.

This season designers mixing different shapes, sizes and metals to create the most eye-catching pieces!

Earrings are this season big, bold and statement looking mixed with shells, different metals and classic pearls.

Look for following earrings in this Spring: 

Gold plated wire asymmetrical earrings are hot in this Spring.
Shop these earrings: FjeldDesign

• Multi-layered hoops
• Statement earrings
• Mixed shape earrings
• Pearl earrings
• Seashell earrings
• Sphere earrings
• Big sphere earrings
• Hoop earrings (all sizes and shapes)
• Mismatch earrings
• Single earrings
• Pin drop threader earrings
• Clip-on earrings

Necklaces seems to have interesting textures in this Spring.

Lariat and layer necklaces are once again hot this season and also chunky chains but not classic heavy chunky chain necklace like some rap artist might have.

This Spring chain necklace needs to have texture or enameled and details are the thing.

Following necklaces are IN this Spring:

• Lariat necklaces
• Layer necklaces
• Textured chain necklaces
• Pearl necklaces
• Sphere necklaces
• Choker necklaces

Bold bracelets and cuffs are going to adorn the wrist in this Spring.

This Spring following bracelets are IN:

• Shell bracelets

• Friendship bracelets

• Pearl bracelets

• Bead bracelets

• Cuff bracelets

Everything from necklaces to earrings to bracelets will feature the strong and spherical shape. In this Spring all jewelry are playful with different shapes and sizes with a lot of colors. Jewelry materials seems to be very beach vibes and natural. So go and have fun with jewelry!

~ Minna

... and finally here is idea where to get this Spring hot jewelry:

Bridal Bangle Bracelet

GlamorousSparkle is handmade jewelry shop and friendly shop owner is happy to fulfill any custom order you might have.

In her shop you can find jewelry for your special day but also jewelry that you can wear everyday!

Unlucky Day

Yesterday was unlucky day for me. I was going to work and I was carrying heavy bag of newspapers and ads that I usually distribute once a week. Somehow I almost fall in the stairs and twisted my ankle 😓

I sat little while on the stairs and just holding my foot. It was so sore at first and when pain eased, I continue my work. I needed to lift up the heavy bag on my bicycle and head to distribute the newspapers. I couldn’t go anywhere since the chain from my bicycle went off and the weather was worst possible — rain and windy day. I needed to put the chain back in my bike as my brother has once advised me to do that and I was ready to go.

I drove little while bicycle and walk road when I saw that road is blocked by tree cutters. Their big truck blocked the whole road so I had to move beside the motor road which wasn’t easy since I had to go through muddy grass. Finally I closing the place where I need to distribute the papers but chain from my bicycle went off again. My ankle was hurted and I was thinking that this wasn’t real, how unlucky I’m today... Once again chain back in place and I finally reached to the mailboxes where I put the newspaper and ads. I literally managed to go through two mailboxes that I missed first time and suddenly my bikes chain went off again. 

I thought it was better for me to walk than tried to cycle and managed to distribute all the rest of the newspapers and ads.

I was having worse work day, I was soaking wet and my bicycle seemed to fall in parts. I decided to go nearest grocery store and buy some treats. I felt like I needed to buy Berliner doughnut with coffee  and also warmed sauna was waiting for me at home so coffee, doughnut and sauna cheered up my day and my ankle was swelled little bit so I was resting the rest of the day.

What’s your most hardest or difficult work day? How you managed get through that tough day? Was there positive things that you waited for or did your day turned somehow in more positive way?

Now I’m trying to get slower and learning to rest since my ankle is still little bit swell and its side appeared big bruise. I can luckily walk and use my leg as normally so I won’t probably need to make doctor appointment but will if it’s not getting better.

I’m planning to do jewelry to BlueBellJewelry but haven’t got the missing parts yet so for now, my jewelry project are pause mode. Hopefully I’ll get them soon in order to continue with all those brilliant ideas what I have. 

Wishing you wonderful day and I’m hoping that your week is going well 🤗

~ Minna 

Jewelry Making For Beginners, Part 2

This week I’m going to show you how to make a pair of simple earrings.

I don’t usually make a tutorial video since I’m little shy to talk in English partial reason for that is that I’ve heard critics about my pronouncing from teachers and later in my life so I usually leave English talking to my friend.

So for this simple earring project you will need following:

• Beads (any size, colors and material you like to use or have). In the video I used 8 mm beads which I actually forgot to tell you 😱
• Pair of earring hook (I used silver plated ones but you can use any earring hooks that you get)
• Seed beads, size 8/0 (I used in the video Czech glass seed beads which are good seed beads since they are usually same size and you don’t need to try and fit to see if they work for your project)
• 5 cm / 2 inch long head pins (I noticed that I was so nervous while we filmed the video that I talked of eye pins while I was meant to say head pins 😱)
• Round nose plier
• Cutter plier
• Flat nose plier

Steps:

• Take the head pin and slide firstly one seed bead
• Slide one wooden bead
• Slide one seed bead
• Slide one Czech glass bead
• Slide one seed bead
• Slide one wooden bead
• Slide one seed bead

Cut the extra head pin if needed and make the loop. I don’t actually know what is so called right way to do a loop with round nose plier so that’s why I make it in the video like I usually like to do a loop. It can be firstly be hard to estimate how much you will need to cut the head pins but your eyes will get used it after you make more of jewelry. I would recommend to cut little bit off from the head pin so you start to bend the head pin as a loop and if there seems to be extra or the loop is going to be too big for your taste, just cut off some more of the head pin until you reach the loop size you’re pleased with.

You can watch the video below, hopefully I explained everything clearly although I was so nervous 😬 

Thank you for watching, reading my blog and happy crafting!

~ Minna 

Jewelry Making For Beginners, Part 1

I got an idea to write jewelry making for beginners serie since I bet some of my readers would love to know what tools and materials they will need if they start to make own jewelry.

Many consider jewelry making as a fun hobby which can bring you some extra money too if you like to make them for sale. Otherwise, jewelry making is relaxing hobby and you only need few tools as starting. I have make my own jewelry past 37 years but not consistently all the time. When I opened my first Etsy shop in 2012 I started to make my own jewelry for sale and more consistently. Jewelry making skills will improve only by making jewelry and those people who enjoys to make something with their hand would most likely love to make their own jewelry. Jewelry making is creative and there isn’t right or wrong way to make jewelry. Best part is lots of experimenting and constant learning new techniques.

So today I will write about those few jewelry tools that you will need before starting to make your own jewelry.

Best tools are ergonomic friendly for your hand so I’m recommending to buy tools that have long grip. My first tools were mini size and they worked fine but my hand tired a lot when I made many jewelry per day or bending those eye pins for earrings.

Best tools I’ve bought are BeadSmith tools that have lasted for years now and they are good quality pliers. Plus their price isn’t so high. 

Chain nose pliers

Chain nose pliers are good plier to hold any jewelry, good pair with flat nose plier to open and close jump rings. This plier is also good help for adjusting jump rings since sometimes jump ring’s ends may not meet together and you need to adjust it little bit. Chain nose pliers are also good for bending wires and I use this plier to grip chain link if I need specific chain length. Many jewelry makers just cut chains but I don’t like to waist anything so I preferably use chains that have openable links.

These pliers have narrow tip, inside the pliers are smooth which doesn’t scratch jewelry parts. Beadsmith pliers have spring that returns pliers open after being pressed. Pliers stay new no matter how many times you use them. Pliers have long ergonomic grip that makes these pliers comfortable to use.

Flat nose pliers

Flat nose pliers have little wider tip than chain nose pliers and this plier is good for holding any jewelry piece, open and close jump rings. I’ve used this plier also for straightening the wire if I needed to straighten it just a little bit. Also sometimes the jump ring may not go evenly close so I have used this pliers for adjusting the jump ring ends so that they will go nicely together.

These pliers have are smooth inside so they will not scratch any jewelry parts. These pliers have spring too which returns the plier in its original position after you have pressed. Long grip makes these pliers hand friendly and comfortable to use if you make a lot of jewelry.

Round nose pliers

Round nose pliers have round tips and this plier is good for bending any loop for your jewelry. This plier have smooth surface which doesn’t scratch your jewelry piece. I’ve also used this plier to forming back jump rings that sometimes has lost their shape. 

Round nose pliers have spring too which returns the plier in its original position after press. Long grip gives good hold any jewelry or wire that you need to bend. Long grip are ergonomic and hand friendly to use.

Cutter pliers

I bought my cutter plier from hardware store where I got it reasonably price. It will not cut memory wire since it’s most hardest wire to cut. There are available memory wire cutter plier but haven’t try them since I don’t make much memory wire jewelry. Other wires this cutter cuts well and I’m happy with narrow tips which allows me cut any wire or jewelry pins exactly where I wanted.

My cutter plier actually belong electricity tools but have worked well also for jewelry making. 

With these four tools you can start to make your own jewelry. There are lots of places where you can buy the pliers. I would highly recommend long grip pliers for home and if you need to take your jewelry making supplies with you let’s say car trip or sale events, short grip tools are fine for that. 

Finnish places to buy jewelry pliers:

Helmikauppa 

Adlibris

Helmimaailma
Motonet 
Prisma
Kärkkäinen
Lekolar

Worldwide places to buy jewelry pliers:

Amazon
BeeBeeCraft
Jewelry Tools
Alexnld
eBay
RioGrange
PandaHall

I only mentioned few places since I don´t know all the places where you can buy jewelry tools. Even good grocery store may have some jewelry pliers or local bookstore. Nowadays, there are many places where you can find the pliers and I would recommend that you go to see your first pliers in person so you can see and feel it in your hand.

I hope this blog post help you get started with jewelry making and feel free to leave your favorite jewelry supply shop link in the comment box.

~ Minna

Busy Bee’s Week...

This week has been so busy for me that I forgot to write weekly blog post so sorry about that.

This week I got extra area where I distributed local ads and newspapers. This work is usually once a week and I enjoyed to doing it because the work is very independent, I get my exercise routine done when I need to carry all those newspapers and ads and I also get weekly stair train done. I’ve planned my own route and I can also decide my working hours. Paid isn’t good but still got some extra money especially when my Etsy shop haven’t got any sales this year yet but I’m remaining hopeful that things will pick up soon.

I made new jewelry for BlueBellJewelry but haven’t got yet photos since days have been very stormy. It’s probably leftovers Dennis storm that UK have. I’m excited about new choker necklaces that I made. 

I got the glitter faux suede leathers and made three different chokers that I would love to listing soon as possible in my Etsy shop.

Love these glitter faux suede cords and these four leaf clove charms
are perfect addition to bring you luck

As many of you might know, I’m enthusiastic crocheter and now I’m working ear warmers to my friend who usually wear beanies during Winter but she ordered from me now ear warmer that I started to make for her.

This pink yarn is very soft but kind of hard crochet since it’s little furry so
I can’t see the stitches that I need to so I need to feel the next stitch with my
fingers. I feel like I’m blind crocheter 😂

~ Minna