Crochet 'eyes'

Hello again!!! I’m so very happy to be back with yet another easy craft  to share with you.

It’s summer already and so very warm today in Greece, it makes you long for  swimming in crystal, turquoise - blue  waters and lying on the golden sand, leaving the winter cobwebs behind……

Today’s idea and craft has the colours of summer .

                                                      Look, can you guess what it is?

                            

 Of course , it’s a crochet ‘eye’ to keep evil looks at bay and ‘protect’ us against them ( hi, hi hi),
 with its lovely hand made tassels and warm summery colours.....

     ‘Evil eyes’ are one of the trends this summer and you see them everywhere: on bags , T-shirts, cushions even hats for the beach . I like them for some reason . I guess it’s the colour combination (blue, light blue, white, black) , their shape and their  ‘lucky - charm - properties’ that make them so appealing.

 For this ‘evil eye’ I followed the instructions in Greek, by the talented

KIKICROCHET but I suppose you can find lots of similar tutorials in English and slightly different shapes , if you like. This pattern was for a small bag, but I had the idea to appliqué it on a cushion. You can also use the same pattern to make a smaller ‘eye’ with less rows of beige colour, to appliqué  it on a T-shirt  , a bag even a straw hat for the beach.  

And because one cushion is never enough , you can see I didn’t resist the temptation to make another one . Two ‘eyes’ are now watching me and hopefully protect me against negative vibes!!!! :) J

I wish you all a happy, creative, bright , warm ,sunny summer with your loved ones and lots of crafty , happy moments.

                                                                         Take care.

                                                                           Tina xxx

Easter and Spring table setting

Hello dear readers from around the world!!

Today I’m back with an easy craft and some ideas to create

 a really pretty Spring /Easter table.

First, I’ll show you how to make lovely napkin rings that will cost you almost nothing.

You will need cardboard rolls (toilet rolls are just fine), which you will:

1. Cut so that their height is about 4-5 cm .

 2. Wrap the rolls up with cotton pads . Make sure that you use some glue to keep the cotton pads in place .

 3. Wrap them again up with stripes of leftover fabric of your choice. Pastel colours are perfect for a spring table. Secure the fabric with a little glue .

 4. Add tiny crochet flowers and a buttons to make them  prettier .

I’m sure they’ll look fantastic , especially if you add some tiny fresh flowers on the napkin , or on your plates.

 Another idea is to make paper butterflies and scatter them around your table.

   Tiny blackboards are a good idea, too. You can write your guests’ names on or Easter wishes. 

  Place some tiny pots with either fresh or artificial plants in the middle of your table and why not use some extra napkin rings as egg stands!

     Choose  a tablecloth with vibrant colours with matching cushions for the chairs or benches, some lanterns in pink , red or yellow,

   

                                     vases with fresh  flowers and

  your best smile and positive vibes and be sure that you will all have a great time around your festive table !!!!

Happy Easter!!

 I hope to be back soon with some crochet ideas , this time.

My love to all,

Tina xxxxxx

Welcome Spring time!!

Hello again dear friends from around this vast world!!
I hope you are well and happy to welcome the new season.
Winter has been very long and cold here in Greece , the nights long and the days hectic , but now the light of Spring has arrived bringing along hope, optimism and more daydreaming.

Today is a sunny but cold day , still  the air smells of spring and I can see almond trees with  tiny blossoms and soft pink petals, every where around my town , I can hear the birds chirping and  the intensity of sunlight is definitely a clear sign of warmer days coming soon.

I have been working hard at work  and home lately. We participated at a Model United Nations Conference with my students, which means that I've spent long hours correcting resolutions and supervising their work.

The conference took place last week and I was very proud of my team,who performed really well and made me happy. MUN is a great opportunity for students to learn about issues of public interest and concern, participate in debates, write speeches and resolutions and improve their public speaking skills and English language.

On the arts and crafts  front ,there is very little I've made, but I hope my creative mojo to come back as days grow longer and sunnier.
I wish all a lovely weekend and a sunny and bright  March . 
You can contact me also through instagram (creamlinen.gr)
Take care!!
Tina

Happy 2019!!!

Hello and season’s greetings to all of you !!!

I haven’t posted anything for ages , although I really wished I had the time to do so.

Anyway, today I will share with you some - a few actually – pictures of my days during the festive season .

You know I love decorating and Christmas  is the best  time of the year to go a bit over the top!!

These are my handmade cards !!! I love them.

I also like to bake my gingerbread men and stars  and I really make a whole army of them . I like to give them away as presents  to friends and family, along with something else. Adults seem to appreciate them , though most  children don’t   like their spicy taste. I love them and eat  more than I should,  during the holidays.

After schools closed , we spent some days in our little country house. Although our stay there was rather short, I took out this little tree and put on fairy lights and lots of red and white ornaments. 

The pictures that follow are from a day trip to an island in a lagoon which I visited for the first time. I was impressed by the abundance of birds on the water.

Coming back home , we are getting ready for welcoming the New Year , buying some presents for the family and wrapping them up before we place them under the tree. In Greece the tradition has it that Santa Claus (Agios Vassilis) comes on New Year’s Day. So, most families exchange their presents on that day and not on Christmas Day.

2019 already , then . Time seems to fly . I’m glad that among all the things that I do, I find the time to keep this little blog alive. It means a lot to me . It is a photo  album and a diary and  I am that kind of person who loves and writes  diaries.

I hope to have lots of   lovely things to share with you next year and to be  as creative and enthusiastic about  new horizons and projects , as possible.  My best wishes to all. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

                                                                         Tina xxxxxxxxxxx