Artistic Life

Knitted BunniesAmigurimi Toys

2019-12-18T17:24:00.003-07:00

This knitted stuffed gray bunny girl in a pink sweater is a wonderful doll for children and not only children.

This bunny is almost 6" tall

You can buy her here

Cat Claw Knot for Donut Pendants

2018-08-05T15:55:00.001-07:00

You have a nice donut bead/stone and want to wear it as a pendant but do not know how to present it better?
Today I will show how to make a Cat Claw Knot .

The lenght of the cord you will need to cut depends of the size of the donut/bead you have and the thickness of the cord you use. This knot can be made with any type of cord or thread that is flexible enough to be folded - leather, hemp or other fiber cords.

If the object you are tying the knot on has a front or back, decide which side you like best.
Turn the donut so the back side is facing you.
1) Fold the cord in half. Pull the folded loop through the donut hole as shown.

Turn over the stone so the top of the loop is facing you now, like on the photo below. Now, you will hold your donut this way, front side facing you:

3) Take one cord end (right on the picture) and pass it to the right, back through the loop. Leave a small loop on top, big enough to fit a cord. Make sure all cords are parallel as shown:

4) Repeat the same step with the left cord end. You knot has to look like this:

5) Pick up the right cord end and pass it through the left loop as shown:

6) Pull the cord. Notice, the cord is crossing the horizontal cord on the top of the stone:

7) Pick up the left cord end and pass it through the right loop as shown:

8) Tighten the cords:

The result will look different with different cords. I like the leather cord better, but this is my personal choice :)

Cranberry-hazelnut Upside-down Pie

2017-07-08T18:57:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite upside-down pie. I made it today with my daughter (so, next time she can make it all by herself :) )

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
Spread 1/3oz of butter on the bottom of the 9" baking pan (I used a round silicone form).
Combine 1 1/2 cup of fresh cranberries, 1/4 cup of sugar, and 1 cup of nuts (hazelnuts are the best :) ) Spread these ingredients into a single layer.

For batter:
Mix 3 eggs, 1/2 cup of sugar, 2/3 cups of flour, 1 1/2 tsp of baking powder, 4 Tbsp of sour cream, 1 tsp of vanilla.
Pour the batter onto the baking pan covering the berries with nuts.
Bake for 30-35 minutes or until it is golden brown.

Cool pie in pan for 5 minutes. Place serving plate over pie, and carefully flip to invert.
Allow to cool for 1 hour.

Knit Lace Boot Toppers

2016-12-14T20:19:00.001-07:00

Today's must-have accessory lets you create layered looks that showcase your favorite boots. Knit boot toppers look like socks but without the bulk inside your boot. You can wear them over jeans, tights or thin socks for dimensional style.
Knit these unique Boot Toppers, that you'll love.
Make several and give them as gifts!

These toppers fit almost all because the stretching capability of the yarn and the pattern.

Skill Level: Advanced Beginner
Materials:
Yarn worsted - 1 ball
One pair of needle size 4.5 mm/US7
Tapestry needle

Pattern

Christmas Santa Cat Stocking Ornament

2016-11-24T17:48:00.001-07:00

It's almost Christmas time :)
Time to take out the stockings too:)
I got a Custom order the other day to make a stocking similar to this one.
So, this was Mama Kitty, 21" long...

My customer wanted an ornament to hang on the Christmas Tree.
Well, see what I made :)
This kitten "Cat" is 8" long

But wait! I also have baby kitten, 5.5"

Russian "Korean carrot" salad

2016-08-02T16:51:00.004-07:00

Russian "Korean carrot" salad is a marinated salad with fresh carrot as the main ingredient. The dressing is a simple vinaigrette spiked with the mandatory fresh garlic and paprika.

You will need about 1 pound of carrots, cleaned and peeled, the longer the better. Use a mandoline to slice them into thin, spaghetti-like strands. Place in a large bowl. Add 2-3 Tbs of salt, mix and leave the carrots alone for 10-15 minutes... Rinse the carrots very well and squeeze the liquid.

Add 3 minced garlic cloves and 3 Tbs of vinegar to the carrots, mix well.

Heat the pan and add 4-5 Tbs of olive oil. Add 1 Tbs of paprika and cook for 1 minute. Add half of onion and cook until the onion is soft and translucent (4-5 minutes). When the onion is done, pour the oil through the strainer into the carrots and mix well. You can also add some coriander seeds.
Refrigerate 4-5 hours; preferably overnight.

Painting Terra-Cotta pot

2016-05-01T11:42:00.000-07:00

In this DIY art project, I show you how to create an eye-catching painted Terra-cotta pot that even your kids can help you with.

Tape the pot with painter’s/ masking tape. We used thin 0.125" for the first pot. Trim off the excess tape with scissors.

With a paintbrush, paint over the tape to create your diamond pattern. Don’t use too much paint, cover the the first layer and apply the second after drying. My daughter even used old nail polish for some diamonds :) .

Remove the tape, touch up any imperfections and enjoy!

Rag Rug with Fabric Strips

2016-03-07T17:18:00.000-07:00

I did not stop making rag rugs :)
Now, I wanted to make an oval one.

At this time, I used fabric strips: I had three sheets and 4 pillow cases that I cut - mine are about 1 1/2" wide. You can cut them, but I found that tearing is much faster. To do this, just cut the starts to your rip lines, then rip the rest, as shown. Then wind up the strips into balls.

My cat Masha loves this rug :)

I used a big hook- size Q (15 mm). The most challenging thing was to keep the "roundings" even. My rug is not perfect, but we love it! And it is not small - 52" x 31".
And the cost of a rug is only $3 or so! I had to buy only the hook. All my sheets were free- I had them for years in my closet and never used them. Now, they have a new happy life:)

Upcycled Crochet Rag Rug

2016-02-28T09:58:00.001-07:00

Let’s make something new, that’s useful from old and unwanted.
My rug is crocheted using strips of old T-shirts. I needed something for my apartment patio, so I could walk with bare feet and not freeze (or burn) them:).

Materials you need:
- T-shirts: I recommend same materials (cotton works the best) and same thickness... The bigger rag you want to make the more T-shirts you need. I collected all old t-shirts from my closet and asked my friend for "donations" too :)
- Scissors (bid and sharp)- you will need to cut a lot :)
-Big crochet hook ( I used 10mm, but bigger will work too)
-Needle and thread to sew the ends of Tarn (T-shirt+Yarn).

I used the same technique as for making my Wash Cloth.
To finish my rug, I used black tarn to crochet two rows of border.

Important: Variations in fabric content and thickness can make your project uneven. I have places (see red arrows) where Tarn is made of thin t-shirts with some elastic, so my rug has its "character" :)

Christmas Stockings

2015-11-08T16:59:00.002-07:00

This season I have different stockings available at my shop.
The stocking is about 7 inches across and 21 inches from top to toe to hold lots of goodies on Christmas morning!

I made one for my nephew in Russia with his name.

For the cat-lovers I have special stockings too:)

See all stockings here

If you want to knit my Santa Stocking design, you can buy a pattern too!

Homemade Quick Potato Chips

2015-10-17T11:16:00.001-07:00

Check this out Quick Potato Chips

Christmas Stocking Hand Knit Santa Claus

2015-09-07T20:03:00.000-07:00

My new Santa stocking!

The stocking is about 7 inches across and 21 inches from top to toe to hold lots of goodies on Christmas morning!

If you want to knit this stocking, I have a pattern here

Crochet Wash Cloth

2015-05-04T15:18:00.001-07:00

Add charm to your kitchen or bath with these super fun crochet dishcloths!

If you ever plan to give a gift of pretty soaps, lotions, shower gels or other body care products, the handmade washcloths would be a lovely addition to the gift package.

They are a great take-along project and work up quickly.

You wil need:

size H/8-5.00 mm crochet hook

Cotton worsted yarn

Make 30 chain stitches (cs)

Yarn over. Skip first 2 cs

Insert hook in the center of the 3rd chain from the hook.

Yarn over...

Draw through 3 loops on hook
(one half double crochet complete)

Repeat across to end of foundation chain.

You need to turn your work to start Row 2.

Chain 2 (ch 2) and yarn over the hook (yo).

Skipping the first stitch of the row directly below the turning chain, insert your hook in the next stitch.

Buy these wash cloth here

Honey-Lemon-Ginger in a Jar

2015-03-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

You can make this immunity boosting, body soothing concoction ahead of time and store in the fridge. Keeps for months when refrigerated.
You will need:
3 lemons
1 ginger root
3 tb.spoons of honey

Peel the lemons. I even remove the side "skin" of the lemon segments (and seeds)

Peel ginger root, slice it. Add lemons, ginger and honey into the food processor (blender)

Keep the mixture in a jar refrigerated.

Take 1 teaspoon in the morning and before bad. Also, you can add this honey lemon ginger mixture to your tea.

Striped Knit Hats

2014-11-24T18:47:00.000-07:00

If you love to knit, you probably, have the same problem. Well, it's not a problem I'd say:)

I had several little yarn balls that I wanted to use for something. Why not to use all of them together in one project?

So...I knitted one hat first with light green and brown yarns.

This hat is seamless for total comfort. Every row with a new yarn/color I knitted in purl stitch. With some yarn left, I made a little pom pom. It is cute, I think.

Second hat has a little different color palette (and no pom pom)

Both this hats will look good either on girls or boys, or even adults. These hats will fit teens and average adults.

Buy these hats here

Cable Fingerless Mittens Gloves

2014-10-11T00:30:00.000-07:00

These wonderful fingerless mittens hand knitted by me, they are super soft and warm.
Fingerless mitts are very practical but also make great fashion statement. These mittens will keep your hands warm all winter.

If you want to knit these fingerless mittens, I have a pattern!

Buy Pattern HERE
Buy Mittens HERE

More Hats

2014-10-10T13:26:00.001-07:00

I am on vacation now, so I am spending my time knitting.

Three hats were knitted (more to come).

This fun striped hand knit hat with cables has a pom pom. This hat is seamless for total comfort, hand knitted from acrylic yarn feels soft, warm and cozy.
The most difficult part was...to take the pictures - my model makes faces all the time:)

The similar beanie in different, oatmeal color :)

The next hat, Owlet hat, has two "versions" - with beads (so they make owl's eyes) and without them. so you will have just cabled beanie.

To buy these hat and another warm gifts, go to HERE

Knitted Sport Hat

2014-10-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

I knitted this hat...13 years ago (or so) in Russia but never used in here, in Arizona.
My daughter loves it (I love it too). So, I wrote a pattern for this cool hat with three color ornament.

The pattern contains detailed written instructions for shaping, the color work pattern is charted only.

Gauge: 23 stitches = 4 inches in stockinette
Difficulty level: Intermediate
Size: youth/adult.
Skills used: knit in the round, decrease, stranded color-work.
Yarn requirements: Any sport weight yarn in three colors
Buy this pattern HERE

Knitted Sneaker Slippers

2014-10-01T18:31:00.004-07:00

Finally, I finished them :) I started knitting these cool sneakers about 4 month ago, almost finished and "stuck" only on the laces :) Today, I crocheted theses strings, wrote a pattern/ tutorial, photographed, and posted! Yay!

Size: woman 7 1/2 - 9 (9 ½ - 10 ½)
Skill Level: Beginner
Materials needed: Double pointed needles size 4.5 mm/US7, crochet hook size E /3.5mm, yarn in two colors- medium weight/worsted
Prerequisites: Knitting in the round, increasing, decreasing
Buy this pattern HERE
If you do not want to knit but want to wear them, buy them HERE

Peacock Chandelier Earrings

2014-09-15T17:24:00.001-07:00

Make this pair of chandelier earrings using seed beads (size 8/00), head pins, eye pins, and chain.

1. Slide a 3mm metal bead and 4 seed beads on a head pin. Make a simple loop. Make 8 of these end links.

2. Using eye pins and seed beads, make short links:

8 links with 5 beads, 16 links with 6 beads, 6 links with 7 beads, 4 links with 8 beads, 2 links with 9 beads.

3. Make long links:

Link A: end link + 6 bead link + 5bead link - make 8

Link B: end link + 7bead link + 6beads link - make 4

Link C: end link + 8beads link + 6bead link - make 4

Link D: end link + 9bead link + 7 bead link - make 2

4. Assemble: on a eye pin slide 1 seed bead (SB), link A, SB, link A, SB, link B, SB , link C, SB, link D, SB, link C, SB, link B, SB, link A, SB. Make a simple loop on the end as shown below.

5. Fold a 2" (5cm) chain in half (to find a center link) and attach an ear wire to this link. Attach the chain to the loops. Attach the first and the last links of the chain to the loops.

Changing the amount of beads for the links and the lenght of the chain, you can change the size of your earrings.

You can buy these earrings here

Double Baked Potato Boats with Bacon

2014-09-01T17:04:00.002-07:00

Last night I made twice baked potato with bacon, cheese and herbs for dinner.
That was yummy!

You will need: 3 large potatoes, 6 slices of bacon, 1/4 cup of warm milk, 3/4 cups of shredded cheddar cheese, green onion chopped, 2 tbs. of fresh chopped parsley, 1/2 tsp. salt, and pepper.

* Preheat the oven to 375 F
* Place washed potatoes in microwave and bake for about 12 minutes. Set aside to cool enough to handle.
* While cooking potatoes, cook the bacon until crisp. Chop 4 1/2 slices, leave 1 1/2 slices aside.
* Cut off the top 1/2" of the potatoes lengthwise, scoop the flesh leaving the 1/4" thick "boat".

* Mash the potato flesh. add cheese, green onion, parsley, chopped bacon, salt, pepper.

* Fill the skins with the filling
* Brush the outside of the skins with the bacon drippings. Place the potato "boats" onto the baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes.

* Season the salt and pepper, top with onion and the halved bacon strips.

See another good potato recipe at my daughter's blog here

Beaded Choker Necklace Tutorial

2014-07-22T18:15:00.000-07:00

This choker is appropriate for nearly all levels of beaders; beginners may find it a little challenging. This tutorial has 11 pages with 33 steps and step-by step photos.

Materials you will need:

Rondelle beads 6x4mm, rondelle beads 4x3 mm, seed beads 11/0, seed beads 6/0, clasp, beading thread and 2 beading needles, extension chain 2" (optional).

Click photos to buy this tutorial.

See more tutorials here

Cabbage Salad

2014-07-04T17:15:00.000-07:00

I just love this cabbage salad. It's so fresh, crunchy and has about 20 kcal in 100g!

You will need:
1 green cabbage
2 carrots
1 tsp of dill seeds
15-20 peppercorns
2-3 bay leaves
2 Tbsp of salt
3 Tbsp of vinegar (I use white rice vinegar, but regular vinegar will work too)

Prepare a pickle. Boil 1 liter of water, add bay leaves, peppercorns, and salt. Boil for 5 minutes. Turn off the heat and let it cool. When the liquid is cool (or at least warm), add 3 Tbsp of vinegar.

While the pickle is cooling, grate the carrots, or you can also cut it very finely with a knife.

Cut the cabbage in 6 pieces (do not use a heart of cabbage) and using a knife or a mandoline slicer cut the cabbage.

Place cut cabbage and carrots in a large bowl, add 1 teaspoon of dill seeds.

Carefully mix all ingredients, slightly squeezing. Anya loves this process, so I let her do it :)

When it is mixed, place the salad in clean glass jars. While filling the jar, ram the cabbage with fist.

The jar(s) has to be full. Fill up with cooled pickle, place a lid. Put the cabbage salad in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.

P.S. I like to add 1 tsp of vegetable oil to my salad bowl.
P.P.S. I call this salad in Russian "капустка", but my daughter Anya who loves this salad too, calls it "карпустка" (CARrot +каПУСТКА)

Green Beaded Necklace with Tassel

2014-06-29T13:55:00.002-07:00

Last time when I was crocheting with beads was long ago. Looking at small boxes with Matsuno Japanese seed beads, I took leftover green beads and a small amount of brown beads - just enough to make a necklace. Checking for some matching beads to make a focal piece, I found 4 leaf-shaped Czech beads.
So, sitting in front of my computer, I watched a movie and crocheted :)

I used all the beads. I was surprised that I had exactly enough beads to make this neckalce, no more no less, not even a tiny pinch of beads left :)

Tassel is made of a large dragon jasper bead, unakite and Czech faceted and leaf-shaped glass beads. S-hook clasp that attached to the large jump-ring by the tassel.

You can buy this truly one-of-a-kind necklace here

Okroshka - Russian Summer Soup

2014-06-21T19:10:00.000-07:00

Okróshka (Russian: окрошка) is a Russian cold soup. The name probably originates from "kroshit'" (крошить), which means to crumble into small pieces.
It’s very refreshing to have chilled soup on a hot summer day.
Okroshka is always served cold.

I used 3 cooked potatoes, 3 hard boiled eggs, 1 cucumber, radishes, finely chopped green onions, Italian parsley, dill, celery, cilantro, and a cooked meat ( you can use beef or ham.)
Cut all the ingredients into small pieces. Add salt. Okroshka is usually garnished with sour cream.

This classic Russian cold soup is traditionally made with kvass, a fermented wheat drink, but can also be made with diluted kefir, vinegar, or mineral water.