Magic with hook and needles

Follow your dream in a new year too! :)

2026-01-02T23:03:00.000+01:00

My Christmas was completely different from what I had imagined.

On the first day off, I woke up with a fever and two cold sores, as if it were a harbinger of things to come. And in the afternoon, I watched as the ambulance took my mom to the hospital with a heart attack. She died, but she's a fighter, and after 15 minutes and nine electric shocks, she came back to life.

That day, I realized how proud I am of our family—each of us has been through things that would make for a pretty decent dark novel. Things that other people are afraid to even read about, but we're still here, and even though we may seem fragile and seemingly incapable, we're still fighting. We keep rising from the ground like mythical phoenixes and trying to make amends for everything.

The Year of the Snake is behind us and the Year of the Horse is beginning. Well, I don't know exactly what that means, but I know that I am entering it a little more humble, grateful, and stronger. And I remind myself of André Dé Shields' principles for life:

💫 1. Surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when they see you.

It is a great blessing to live in a supportive and safe environment, surrounded by people who want to see you shine. Because only those who have experienced otherwise know how exceptional and precious it is.

💫 2. Slowly - that's the fastest way to get where you want to be.

I call it - gradual small steps. Don't expect miracles overnight. Be patient and persistent. It doesn't matter how big the steps are. The important thing is that they are there!

💫 3. The top of one mountain is the bottom of another.

Never stop dreaming and believing that everything will turn out well in the end. Just keep going on your path and remember that a goal without a plan is just a dream.

With that, I would like to wish you that your 2026 will be exactly what you want it to be.

With love,
Vendulka

Autumn in Every Stitch: Crochet Whispers from the Woods

2025-09-27T19:54:00.079+02:00

When autumn tiptoes in with golden leaves and cinnamon-scented air, something soft begins to stir in the hands of makers. Yarn becomes warmer. Colors turn into stories. And the simple rhythm of the hook brings to life tiny creatures, enchanted witches, and pumpkins glowing with quiet charm.

This season, every stitch is a whisper from the forest.

🧙‍♀️ The Witch of Moss and Tales

Once upon a time, she lived in the woods.
With hair made of forest yarn and a hat full of secrets.
This tall crochet witch is bold and whimsical, but never scary.
She’s a little reminder of old folktales – standing quietly on a shelf, ready to tell you stories when the wind howls through the trees.

🦔 A Hedgehog on a Leafy Journey

When the first chestnut falls, he wakes up.
This hedgehog has button eyes and a tiny apple tucked behind his ear.
He’s an appliqué, a decoration, a cozy companion that loves backpacks, cushions, and children’s smiles.
And don’t forget those ribbons – each one is a tiny piece of autumn magic.

🦉 The Owl Who Watched Over Autumn

She doesn’t speak, but she sees everything.
She’s not just a decoration – she’s a keeper of quiet corners, of children’s laughter, of warm tea sipped slowly.

With eyes like spinning sunflowers and feathers stitched in the colors of fallen leaves, this little owl holds the spirit of autumn in every loop.

Hang her by the window, on your wall, or above your favorite reading nook – and she’ll bring with her a gentle kind of joy.

The kind that only yarn, time, and a little magic can create.

✨ The pattern is ready if you feel the call to bring her to life.

These gentle projects are more than just crochet patterns – they are little pauses in your day, moments to breathe, to create, to smile. Whether you're making a gift or keeping a tiny woodland friend for yourself, the magic is stitched into every loop.

Let your yarn tell stories this autumn – soft ones, sweet ones, and your own.

XOXO

Vendulka

-----

Written by Vendulka Maderska by Magic with hook and needles

When Autumn Crochets with Sunlight, Wind, and Yarn

2025-09-20T19:52:00.005+02:00

When the mornings turn misty and the air starts smelling like leaves and woodsmoke, I know it's time to reach for yarn in shades of pumpkin, cinnamon, and honey.

Autumn doesn’t just arrive with colors.

It arrives with stories.

And some of them can be told with a hook.

🎃 A Little Pumpkin for Quiet Moments

It’s just a circle, you might say.

But with every turn of the yarn, a tiny autumn joy takes shape.

This crocheted pumpkin is not meant for pies – it’s for your table, your cup of tea, or a sweet seasonal gift.

It works up quickly – and whispers comfort.

🦊 The Fox - Mr. Handsome with a Button Soul

This little fox snuck in from the yarn forest.

He’s curious, mischievous, and full of tiny details that warm the heart.

Every ear, button, and stitched flower has a story.

He's more than a toy – he’s a soft autumn friend. And with the pattern, you can bring your own version to life.

Each of these Autumn projects is a small tale.

And that’s what makes crochet so magical – that between the loops, we leave traces of our mood, our season, and our quiet wonder. I hope, you found some inspiration for long autumn evenings 🍂🍵🧶.

🍁 Would you like to make your own woodland companion or pumpkin friend?

All the patterns are available – with photo guides, clear steps, and just enough poetry to make your stitches smile in my pattern store.

XOXO

Vendulka

---

Written by Vendulka Maderska – Magic with hook and needles

Crochet Owls You’ll Fall In Love With

2025-08-18T14:50:00.003+02:00

Hi my dears,

at the end of the summer, I always crochet some owls. I don't know why, I just have to :-). So please meet the whimsical crochet owls you’ll fall in love with.

There’s something truly magical about handmade toys. They carry warmth, personality, and a story woven into every stitch. And if you’re looking for your next crochet project that’s equal parts fun, cute, and heart-meltingly adorable – let me introduce you to these charming crochet owls!

These owls aren’t just toys; they’re little characters full of personality. With their big button eyes. You know, I love using buttons. Colorful feathers, and sweet details like flowers and heart-shaped beaks, each owl becomes a unique companion. Whether you crochet them for yourself, as a gift for a child, or as a cheerful decoration, they’re bound to bring smiles wherever they go.

Why You’ll Love Making These Owls

Beginner-friendly yet creative

The pattern is designed with clear step-by-step instructions, making it accessible

even if you’re new to amigurumi.

Endless color combinations

From soft pastels to earthy browns or bold brights, you can let your imagination fly

and give your owls their own personalities.

Perfect gift idea

Handmade toys are treasured keepsakes.

Imagine gifting one of these owls for a baby shower, birthday, or just because.

Quick and satisfying

You don’t need weeks to finish them!

These owls work up quickly and make a rewarding project for a weekend.

Every owl seems to have its own character. Maybe you’ll crochet a wise, thoughtful owl in warm browns who loves books. Or a playful pink owl with a flower on its belly who’s always ready for adventures. You might even create a whole family of owls – each with their own quirks and charm.

Crochet isn’t just about yarn and hooks – it’s about creating stories you can hold in your hands.

Ready to Crochet Your Owl?

If you’re feeling inspired, grab your yarn and hook and start your owl adventure today! The full pattern is available here: Crochet Owl Pattern on Etsy Let these little owls bring joy to your crochet basket – and to the hearts of everyone who meets them.

Tip for Makers

Don’t forget to share your finished owls on my social media! Tag your creations with me and watch how fast these little cuties gather fans.

I will look forward to seeing your owls :-)

XOXO,

Vendulka

Hen on the hook

2025-08-04T08:47:00.006+02:00

Hello my dears,

after quite a long time I took a hook in my hand and made an hen.

And another two are waiting.

I totally forget, how much fun it is - to crochet one.

Would you like it crochet too? Here you will find the pattern.

And what is on your hooks? I am curious :-)

XOXO

Vendulka

Roadside poppies

2025-07-07T20:29:00.003+02:00

Hi my dears,

yes, summer is in the air. And still love this part of this period of the year so much. Do you also have the same feeling as me, that you can make so much more things than in the winter?

And yes, it is here again... Red popies and she always had to stop for roadside poppies.

I love it!!! I could stare at this beautiful flowers for hours...

So fragile, so powerful!

So would you like to crochet the red poppy bag with me? If yes, here you can find the crochet pattern.

First post in 2025

2025-01-09T15:15:00.003+01:00

First post in this year. Yes, it was a hard one. But...

***

She was watching the colours of the sky.

She was saying goodbye to the old year.

She didn't know if the drops falling on the floor was water or tears.

She replayed all the moments of happiness she had experienced this year.

She nursed the wounds she had received and felt that they were slowly healing.

She was often underestimated.

Her kindness is mistaken for weakness.

Her idealism with stupidity. What they don't know is that she's smarter than she looks. She has been strengthened by circumstances beyond her control and falls that could not be prevented.

And after each fall, she became stronger than ever. But they don't see that. Too blinded by their own “truth” and pride.

Her whispers carried through the night.

She thanked her angels.

They watch over her and she knows it.

She almost gave up once.

But in the end, the Viking blood in her veins wouldn't let her.

She knows there will be new challenges and new obstacles to overcome.

She knows there will be the hard days.

She is prepared for them.

Tirelessly, step by step, she goes on.

She celebrates, with a childlike joy all her own, every little success. Because she knows that even seemingly small and insignificant victories count.

She will not give up.

She fights for herself.

She fights for them too.

Only they don't know it yet.

But one day - they will.

She still believe in it.

***

Yes, she is still here.

And she is still thankfull for your support and love, dears.

Always yours,

Vendulka XOXO

Different kind of Christmas

2024-12-30T21:55:00.009+01:00

Hi, my dears,

I hope you spent Christmas with your loved ones, and in peace.

With the coming year, I naturally begin to close the current one. I don't do it on purpose, but it's natural. For me, this year has been full of changes, twists and turns, so many tears, breakdowns, laughter, and new situations.

What was different - it was Christmas. Never has a year like this one made me realize how important it is to have a home where it's warm, and love and how important it is to have someone beside you who cares about who you are and how you feel. And that it's not a given.

My Christmas wasn't exactly about a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner, or a perfectly decorated table, but it was about giving someone else humanity. This year, I participated in a cookout for the homeless along with other people and the Food Not Bombs organization. It was the first time I had heard about this organization. It was my first time cooking a purely vegan meal, and for the first time, I served it to homeless people, and at Christmas. It wasn't really about the food, although it was about that too, but it was about the fact that these people could experience the feeling of being treated with kindness and humanity. When they began to eat, the lights came on in the gazebo, where seating had been set up. That may not have been the intention, but it was magical—as they would say in the Harry Potter story, "something like magic."

This year, I participated in it by complete accident. Next year it will be completely on purpose. I realized that doing something selflessly for someone else gives Christmas a different dimension. We live in a time when we want more and more, and nothing is enough. But we forget, that sometimes just little is enough. As I stood outside looking at the lighted gazebo, I felt so grateful to be there. I don't know these people, their lives, and their stories. But I know what it feels like you don't deserve to live in this world for one more minute. I know what it's like to feel broken. And I know it can happen to any of us someday, and I'm grateful that I could make someone feel like they matter too.

So my dears, I wish you to have around you the people, whose hearts are filled with love, kindness, and humility.

Always yours,

Vendulka XOXO

It is winter, after all..

2024-12-18T22:56:00.001+01:00

Sometimes I have the feeling that everything is fast somehow.

Days when I don't even notice the daylight.

Meetings and phone calls that I missed again.

Moments I've mistakenly taken as priorities.

The calendar sheet I didn't turn again.

Or the winter, which hasn't started yet and is already ending?

Or are these delicate flowers just a little reminder that you can bloom even when others tell you that you shouldn't?

It is winter, after all.. 🌸

|Photographed at the Art House in Ostrava, Czech Republic, Europe

6 days before Christmas|

You need a hug!

2024-05-06T00:42:00.007+02:00

Hi, my dears,

the hug. Sometimes the hug is the only thing you really need. Did you know it?

This sloth knows it very well too. ♥

Did you know why sloths are so slow? What do they have in common with avocados, and that they are great swimmers? For the curious ones like me... read this article TOP 10 incredible facts about sloths written by The Sloth Conservation Foundation.

Sometimes I feel that I am slowly the same as a sloth. 17 months! This is how long it took me to publish a new pattern. Instead of being angry at myself, that it took me so long, I am happy, that I finally finished it. Do you know that for all this time I was just one little step closer to finishing it? I am delighted, that I broke my designer/publisher block. I am as happy as this sloth. Thank you very much for still being with me. ♥

Would you like to crochet this friendly little hugger?

Buy the pattern from my Etsy pattern store HERE.

Use the sale code: HugTime to get 20% off your entire order. This sale code is valid until the end of May. Let's spread some hugs and love to the spring fresh air with me. ♥

XOXO

Vendulka

Voice of the soul

2024-01-01T00:00:00.145+01:00

Your soul already knows the answer.

You just have to be quiet enough to hear it,

and brave enough to listen.

- Stacie Martin -

Tell me, darling, are you ready to listen?
Are you ready to follow your soul?
Are you brave enough to face your fears?

Do you want to live in truth with yourself?
Do you want to laugh again?
Do you want them to see you for who you truly are? Strong, smart, funny, happy, inspiring...

Let them see your worth?
And will you do something with it?
Or are you just going to wait and tell yourself you can't change it?
And let them drift apart day by day from you?
Will you let your fear win?
Or will you muster the courage to become the CEO of your life?
You know it won't be easy.
You know there will be doubts and obstacles.
But look back at how many obstacles and hardships you've already overcome.
Realize that you have the strength to handle that and more!
But this time, you'll be fighting not only for yourself, but you'll be fighting for them too.
Even if they don't get it yet.
But one day, they will understand.

I believe in it.

I believe in you.

And I believe in them!
Imagine, my sweet little girl, that it will work.

And you will live in truth with yourself and with them too.
In love.

Maybe these words written by my heart to me will speak to you too if you need that, my dears.

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for always being with me... even though I have been lost for a while. But I'm coming back little by little. Wiser, stronger, more understanding, and more humble...

May the year 2024 be the year of following the voice of our souls.

Always yours,
Vendulka

It is almost here

2023-04-29T20:22:00.004+02:00

Hi, my dears,

it is almost here. The May. ♥ One of my favorite months. In our country, May is called the month of love. There I a tradition, that lovers kiss under the cherry tree in blossom, so that their love will last another year again. What a lovely tradition, isn't it?

I like May for other reasons too. One of them is the fact that my younger fairy was born this month. ♥

My lovely forest is starting to come to life.

Another reason could be that my favorite Instagram challenge called #amigurumay, invented by Ilaria from Airali design, is starting. Yes. :-) What's the point? Every day post some pictures, reel, or story on the topic of this funny challenge according to amigurumi on your Instagram with hashtag #Amigurumay. What is most important about this challenge? Fun! :-)

Amigurumay challenge by Airali design

So I am gonna prepare my hooks and yarn and this year, I wouldn't want to miss a day of this awesome challenge and I am really looking forward to it. Have fun with me, my dears! And remember, May is the month of love, so show your love to each other. ♥

XOXO

Fresh air

2023-03-29T13:23:00.068+02:00

Hi, my dears,

so here it is. A Spring. I still love this time of the year so much. I am working on some changes as I wrote in my previous post. So this Spring will be like fresh air for me.

I am sorting photos on your phone and I noticed, that I didn't share with you some of the bright moments of my crocheting. How could this have happened? So here are some of them. :-)

My owls in a special edition about crocheting at Kreativ magazine in 2022

Find the pattern HERE.

Shots from my crocheting in National Broadcast Czech Television in 2021

Quick picture from my interview with Fajne klubka in 2020

about my crocheting, plans, patterns, and much more.

So this spring I am cleaning the house into the deep. Before I read some books about cleaning, of course. :-) You know me, I'm the studious type. These two I can highly recommend. The gentle art of Swedish death cleaning by Margareta Magnusson. It is not sad, don't worry :-)

Real Life Organizing by Cassandra Aarssen. Cassandra has also a great blog with tips, podcasts, and advice on how to keep your house clean and don't get crazy about it.

And do you know what? It works! My happy dancing :-)

I am learning to write my notes and tasks better, and I'm learning to work better and more efficiently with my time. Of course, with the help of the book. :-) The holy grail of personal productivity and time management. Do you know this system? I am pretty sure you do. But in the case that there is someone like me, so here it is The Bullet Journal Method by Ryder Carroll. OK, my journal is not as pretty as what I saw on the internet, and some of the tips and inspiration are amazing. But first of all, I need to learn to keep myself more organized. But I am pretty sure I will also try some doodling there soon.

Do you remember my last post, I wrote about my new word for this year. And it is a change. Today I read a very clever quote, sadly I don't know the author. Anyway, this is it:

Choice. Chance. Change.

You must make the choice,

to take the chance,

if you want anything in life to change.

This really hit me. And with this wisdom, I will end today Take care, my dears. ♥

XOXO

Change

2023-01-24T20:56:00.014+01:00

Hello, my dears,

first post of the year, ugh. But I'm still in January, so I'm doing well. :-)

How are you? Are the New Year's resolutions slowly fading away or are you working on them steadily?

This post is very long. The most honest and open I have ever written. Not common about crocheting.... so if you will continue to read it, be kind, please ...

Every year, I started by saying - the last year was hard... And that I will believe, that the next year will be better etc. This year something is different. I made a change because I was afraid I might not live to see the new year. I don't mean that metaphorically. Lying on the ground, crying, and apologizing to my girls and husband for being so weak, thinking of the last list of tasks I will ever write. Feeling so worthless, hopeless, and broken. Yes, last year was hard, not only the last but maybe the last 8 years? I felt completely down and broken so many times during that time. BUT! I don't want to complain. Last year was a game-changer. It also taught me a lot. And it's still teaching.

Recently my boss told me that when I'm well, I shine across the room, everything around me glows and people like me must never be sad. I'd expect those words from anyone else, but never from him. The white walker, this was the nickname I gave to him. So cold and heartless, everyone's scared of him.... I guess, some time with me changed him a little bit. :-)

Anyway, I realized I wanted to shine again, that I miss it, but this time, not for someone else, but for myself. And so I'm trying to find my lost light again. And psychotherapy helps me to do that, which I'm also learning because I never knew how to talk about my deepest feelings. I believed, that my role here in this world is to bring light and happiness, not tell someone about my fear, sadness, complaints, and opinions, which could upset them. I hid my feelings from others. I blamed myself for these feelings. I was scared to disappoint anyone if I did not fulfill their expectation. But do you know what? It was mission impossible. But I didn't know it.

And so I am here, in my 43, reading some clever books, realizing that the words seem to be taken out of my mouth and describing my feelings and my life. I can't breathe. My heart would like to jump from my chest. I feel naked. Fragile. But strangely calm, because I realized, that I am not crazy. That the feelings I felt, were right. That the things that happened to me were real and have a real explanation and most importantly, that there is a way out from that sh*t. Realizing, that my high sensitivity is not my weakness but that it is my strength and that I have always known it.

This is one of them. My "oh moment" book.

The Highly Sensitive Person's Guide to Dealing with Toxic People:

How to Reclaim Your Power from Narcissists and Other Manipulators

My recommendation for highly sensitive people like me: please read it slowly... and take your time to understand. Be kind to yourself.

My father, that morning before he took his own life, wrote to me: Vendulko, be strong, don't cry, don't stay on the surface, but go deep... I thought I'd been doing that all my life, but I was wrong. I feel like I've only really started doing it now, after my own burnout. I'm going under the surface of my own skin, deep down into my soul. It's not an easy journey, it's challenging and yes, it is scary, but it's necessary.

As you know, every year I choose a new word for myself.

At first, it was HOPE - and yes I was hopeful. But I've found that just hoping isn't enough.

Then it was BRAVERY - and yes I was brave. But I didn't stand firm.

And then it came. The word for this year. That word is CHANGE.

I realized that in order to be happy, in order to rekindle my inner light, I need and want to change. I can't JUST hope, be brave for a while, but not persist in my efforts. Because no one will come. No one will save me. I realized that if I wanted to do something with my life, I had to change inside. And I want to do not only for myself, but also for my daughters, and my other self in this world.

Once upon a time, I visited the Spiritual for channeling. Let anyone think what they want about it. But I truly believe there is something between heaven and earth... And then this old lady told me that I have a lot of trials in my life, that I have to earn everything, that nothing comes easy to me, that I have to fight for it, and that it's because I'm clearing the karma. Twenty years later I understood that and I stopped asking myself why. I accepted it. And I know that my high sensitivity, anxiety, perfectionism, workaholism, diagnosed depression, autoimmune disease, heart defect, my father's mental illness and suicide, dysfunctional family patterns, my broken heart by all important men of my life .... all have the reason. Everything that has happened in my life has happened for a reason.

To stop, to reflect, to be true and honest with me first and foremost, to be brave and change what I feel, is wrong. To listen to the whispers of my inner voice.

So now, I am here, still in my 43, but I am different. I'm learning to follow through. I'm learning not to be a victim. To break the bonds of my family patterns, to rewrite them. I'm learning to take back the power over myself that I willingly and yet gladly gave to someone else. And that's only because I didn't believe I was worth anything. I didn't love myself. I'm learning to set precise goals and be persistent and consistent and I'm learning to love myself for the small steps and to be kind to myself as I can be to others. I am learning to forgive myself for failures. I am learning to forgive others not to fulfill my expectations because it is not their responsibility and I am learning to accept their choices. I'm learning to set boundaries, build healthy relationships, and know my worth.

And that's what I want to pass on to my daughters. I want them to always know their worth. And from my point of view, the only way to pass it on is to show it to them and live by it.

Something that helped me with setting goals and making plans, seeing the vision, and believing in my way.

So my dears, thank you very much you reading to the end. Maybe you are asking, why I wrote this. Well, I needed it. For me and maybe for someone somewhere, who needed to read it right now. Maybe for someone who doesn't believe, that her/him could be loved unconditionally. And I really want them to know, that yes, they can and that there is only one person, who can do it. This person lives directly inside of you. Please be kind to yourself and be thankful for every little step you make.

And if this will not help you, please don't forget that there is still plenty of soft colorful happiness ready to help. :-)

Merry Christmas

2022-12-24T19:04:00.002+01:00

Merry Christmas, my dears. ❤️

I wish you to spend it with joy, in peace, and with your beloved ones 😍

XoXo

Always yours, Vendulka ❤️

Any progress?

2022-12-04T22:29:00.002+01:00

Hi, my dears,

any new creations on your hooks? I was swamped the last two weeks at my regular full-time job. Did I already tell you? It has been two and half years since I started to work for Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Czech. I am responsible for the company catering - 2600 boarders daily, six canteens and so much work. But you know, I like the challenges, at least that's what I said in the interview :-). It is a good job, but you know it is soooo far from my little magical world. I miss the energy, that is flowing when you are creating something with your own hands, the quiet but exciting time with my own creativity. The moments with hook and yarn in my hands are much rarer for me now. But do you know what? I finished two of my older patterns :-)

One of them is a little angel.

If you would like to make this little angel, the pattern is alive in my pattern store.

And the second one.... ? You will find it in my next post :-)

Second Advent Sunday. I wish you to spend it in peace, my dears ♥

So it is begin

2022-11-27T15:30:00.012+01:00

Advent time... The magic of Christmas time.

However, for many people, this is the season of the hustle and bustle and the hunt for Christmas presents, in which we often want to atone for not having enough time for our loved ones all year. Or perhaps they ponder the sincerity of feelings, love, and the true value of friendship and family. And maybe they're even sad because their relationships and lives aren't what they'd expected. I am sorry, that it sounds harsh, but it is true, right? All these feelings are inside me too. But do you know what? Every one of us could change it. This year, I am intensively working on it. I am trying to change my mindset, heal my old wounds, and rewrite my unhealthy patterns. If anybody needs to read it today: I know it's hard, and it seems impossible. But that doesn't mean you give up. Remember, every little step counts. Keep going and be kind to yourself.

I know this is not a common Christmas post :-). Don't get me wrong. I love Christmas. I have always loved this magical time. I always tried to make it magical, even though it was really hard sometimes. And at the end of all those hectic days, to make everyone happy, my reward was this... Lying on the ground with her, listening to her heartbeat and feeling her warmth. I miss my darling honey little girl so much, especially these days. So there I am in my thoughts. With her.

In some of my latest posts, I wrote, that I would like to finish some of my frogged projects and patterns. Well, I am on the way.... but it is another story. Don´t miss my next post. :-)

Today, my dears, I only would like to wish you a wonderful advent time. I wish you with the first burning candle, that you feel peace, and a little bit of Christmas magic. And if you would like to wish to crochet some Christmas house ornament, the pattern is alive :-).

XOXO

Cyber week - whoooa

2022-11-20T19:45:00.003+01:00

Hi, my dears,

so it is here - the cyber week!

If you like my patterns, now is the right time for buying some. Today started a cyber week in my Etsy pattern store. You can choose from 130 patterns and get a 20% sale on every single one of them :-) I did not put any price limit or no code.

Happy shopping :-)

Seven weeks

2022-11-05T19:37:00.003+01:00

So my dears,

seven weeks only and it is here - the Christmas. I was going through my creations and realized that I have plenty of designs to embellish and enjoy this magical time. But do you know? It is still not enough :-)

Several years ago I frogged some of my Christmas projects. I guess, it is time to bite that sour apple, as my mother-in-law says :-), and finish them. So my goal is to finish one of them every week. What do you think, will I fulfill my goal successfully? To tell you the truth, I am really looking forward to doing it. This would be a challenge. :-)

Meanwhile, you can remember my older Christmas designs.

For some of them, I wrote the pattern, which you will find on my Etsy pattern store

Some of them are free patterns

And some of them are waiting to be written down :-)

XOXO

Needles to the scene!

2022-10-30T19:16:00.005+01:00

I sent the colorful pumpkin greetings for all fall lovers

These funny pumpkins are super easy to make. Are you curious how?

So here is a quick tutorial:

Take needles and some scrap of yarn and make just a purl stitch on both sides. You get the rectangle, (the size is totally up to you).
Then sew the last and first row together, sew the lower hole, fill it with fiberfill and then sew the upper hole.
And now, my very favorite recommendation, which you know from my patterns very well: "Shape it nicely"
Then a hook comes to the scene! Make a stem - using CHain string and 1 SlSt in every stitch from the first row. And then make some leaves (spiralsú using a CHain string with 1SC across in the next row. Shape it nicely and sew them to the pumpkin. And that's it.

Make different sizes, use different colors and different yarns, just make some fun, my dears.

Enjoy the fall

XOXO

One stitch by another

2022-10-28T22:00:00.001+02:00

Hi, my dears,

how are you? Are any of your favorite projects on your hooks? I have some. This time I used Denim washed yarn by Yarnart, it is very similar to Stone washed by Scheepjes. I crocheted using both of them, and I see no differences between them.

Do you recognize them? :-)

OK, I will help you a little bit. Stone washed by Schepjes I used by crocheting my Sweet owl and Denim washed by Yarnart I used by crocheting my Patchwork pumpkin. Jump to the patterns by clicking on links, if you wish. :-)

Do you know these yarns? And do you love to work with them? Anyway, I am going to test some of the patterns I never shared and I am looking forward to doing it :-) Little by little - stitch by stitch. I am really trying to work on improving my personal skills like bringing things to the end and setting realistic goals. I don't want to wait until New Year's Eve to settle some new resolution. I would wish to be proud of myself, that I have already made a progress. :-)

So wish me a bit of luck, my dears. Oh, and write if you have anything to say. Maybe some interesting tips that have helped you :-)

I'll be looking forward to it!

XOXO

Spooky season in the air

2022-10-16T20:36:00.004+02:00

Hi, my dears,

are you feeling the spooky season in the air as much as I am?

I like that.
The smell of an Autumn morning.
The sun woke up between the clouds.
Pumpkins everywhere.
That feeling of All Hallows' Eve coming up.
The candles burning in the dark, the memories of the light of the souls of those who live beyond the rainbow bridge.
My magical forest, colored with all its colors.
My sad little hook that hasn't made a new creation with me in months.
So I broke the circle, picked a hook up, and created something ...

My Haunted house, every year I make a new one and every piece is unique ♥

♥ ♥ ♥

Click here or there, but end at www.vendulkam.etsy.com for the patterns :-)

Be spooky :) XOXO

Wonder over Worry

2022-09-30T23:20:00.005+02:00

Hello, my dears,

it's Friday night and I'm trying to focus on family life. But to be honest, my family life is far from what it used to be and what I dreamed of most in the past. I know it's been a while since I've written any letters, and I know this isn't the obvious beginning of a post I've written in the past. But to tell you the truth, this past year hasn't been the worst for me, but it has definitely been different and really hard. And these days, I'm reading more than writing, listening more than talking, living my own little story in my head, trying to figure out what my path is, what's right or wrong.

And in the meantime, I read books. And there's ONE that's different than the rest. I often have to stop while I'm reading because my heart feels like it's going to skip a beat and all my senses inside me are screaming that these words hit it.

The whole book is about setting or changing your mindset, setting healthy boundaries, and building healthy relationships, but first with yourself... It's about not worrying about something all over the time, but being real and genuine. And that's something that was and still is very difficult for me, especially in the relationships with my closest ones. When I was in my magic forest, I was thinking about that book when I took this photo. I thought - who had the courage to bite into that amanita :-) And I was thinking about my first post of this year (almost the only one :-), and it was about the word for this year. Do you remember? That word was the B R A V E R Y.

That book is named: Choose Wonder Over Worry by Amber Rae

I was going to share some of this book with you, but towards the end, it looked like I was going to rewrite the whole piece :-). And I totally agree with one review I read that said "... This is the only book you should read, even if you don't usually read these kinds of books". So I wholeheartedly recommend that you read it because it is worth it and because:

One of mine is to go to my magic forest ♥.

Would you like to share with me some of yours?

> > > ♥ < < <

BRAVERY

2022-02-06T21:01:00.001+01:00

Hi, my dears,

today, it is a day. I opened my blog and had the need to write something. Not just something! But my first post of this year, yes.

Every year I set a word for a new year. I was really thinking about my word for this year and I got it finally. And that word is BRAVERY.

In my first post of every year, I had the tendency to write about last year, just to make a little closing of last year. This year, I will make the change. I would like to not write about the past but about the future. Because I feel, that I need to change my mindset.

I don´t want to write about what I would like to, but what I want and I will do all my best to fulfill it. And I know that I need to be brave. All of my life I am trying to please someone, to fulfill someone's expectations and I think, that now it is time to begin to listen to my own inner voice and fulfill my needs. The time has come...

So my dears, what is your word for this year? I am really excited to read it in the comments. ♥

Third candle

2021-12-13T23:31:00.003+01:00

Hi, my dears,

the third candle at our Christmas wreath is burning and you can look forward to the third gift from me to you. ♥ You have already found the crochet bootie pattern, Frankie - the Christmas reindeer pattern in your e-mailboxes.

I was thinking about the third gift ver much and I choose a gentle and fragile Angel.

This one is my favorite one. ♥

I almost forget to post the candles. So typically me ....:-)

If you would like to have this pattern for free, please write me your e-mail at my e-mail vendula.maderska@gmail.com. Check please, if your e-mail is written right. Everyone who will write me until/during Tuesday 14th December will get the pattern of this fragile but strong Angel. There is no other condition :-)

So you can make one or two as Christmas gifts. ♥

Happy Advent time,
Vendulka ♥