Zarkadia

Coming to life

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 18:33:00 +0000

It's been a while since my last entry, but it was worth it. I have started so many things, and so little time to write something about them....the Pure Elements project is about to finish. I am only waiting for the backing fabric to arrive (order coming from the US). I think the arrangement of the colors is really satisfactory. I'll keep you updated...
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+My cute little golden sleeping in the background....

Saturday is never a resting day

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 10:54:00 +0000

Unfortunately I have to spend the day cleaning and I really don't know if I will have the time to make some progress in any of my quilt projects. And I really miss them!
My progress this week: I spent the past week preparing some new orders, and one client made a custom order choosing a great set of fabrics for her tobacco pouch. And the result:
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+ inside view

+closed pouch view

Kisses to all, and have a nice weekend.

Wednesday WIP

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:30:00 +0000

A few months back I bought some incredible solid fabrics. The colors of the fabrics seemed amazingly wonderful in the photos. Well the surprise when they arrived was unspeakable! The feel and touch of them was just heaven!
I totally recommend the Pure Elements by Art Gallery. You will definetely think that Kona solids are trash compared to those.
I came upon a beautiful quilt on the web using those fabrics, so I thought I am definetely making this one! I am currently in the cutting process.
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The original quilt uses the "Disappearing Nine Patch" block as its main block, that I find it very easy to make. I found this great tutorial in the tube that explains how to make this super-easy block, and I thought I should share it.

I am sure you will all have a very wip-py Wednesday! Head over to Freshly Pieced to see how is everybody wip-ping today!!!

A small sneak pick

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:48:00 +0000

The current state of my sewing room, as I've started many new projects, and in the same time I have to complete many new orders!
It is like a dream come true and I just have to manage my stress as my real job demands much more from me.
I've made a promise to myself for the new year. Sew a quilt for each month of the year...but where are the quilts?
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Sunday WIP

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 18:24:00 +0000

A few months ago I bought a great quilting book, that I am so in love with, the "Material Obsession", and started stydying.
At about the same time in a village nearby, I discovered free quilting and patchwork classes! Our teacher has just showed as how to make the dresden plate block. One of my favorite quilts in the book is one involving dresden plates, that I considered them really difficult to sew. But I thought I should give it a try.
I spend a whole day searching through my stack of fabrics, and I decided to go with two lines: Annie's Farm Stand and Riley Blake's Sew Cherry, and the results so far:

+First cutting

+Assembling

My main problem is that I have to buy some fabric for the backing and also for the middle circles, since the one I have is clearly not enough.
To be continued...

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Tobacco pouches #11

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The production never stops. I so love combining fabrics....so more pouches available in the shop.

+Blast

+Garden in blue

+Strippy

+Scissors

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Tobacco pouches #10

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 07:08:00 +0000

More pouches to come.
You can order them in the shop.

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Tobacco pouches #9

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 09:30:00 +0000

More pouches that were finished and sold during the christmas holidays.

You can order them NOW in the shop.

Star quilt mats

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 08:00:00 +0000

During christmas I finished a gift for my mother. Two handsewn, totally handmade with no machine sewing, square mats. I started them as a project for the quilting lessons that I am taking this year, and I realised how much I enjoy hand sewing.
I am definetely going to try hand sewing a bigger project!

Back to reality...

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 17:25:00 +0000

Christmas is officially over...and we are back in our house with our spirit filled with images and words. We had a great time visiting our hometowns, and I thought that I should share some of it.
We visited a beautiful bio-farm in a village near Serres, that hosts ducks, chickens, fruit trees, vegetables...everything grewn by the hands of a very courageous woman. You can find more info (only in greek) on how to buy the farm products here.

The duck lagoon

Our next stop was the calm and friendly lake of Kerkini. We did a little of birdwatching, walking and of course tried to mingle among the buffalos.

Kerkini lake

Buffalos

Hope you all had a great time!

Tobacco pouches #8

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 12:48:00 +0000

I've been working like crazy the past weeks, but I've managed to prepare some pouches for christmas. I'll be visiting my hometown for the next two weeks, so I had to prepare something for the people up there. Have a lovely and creative Christmas... See you after the holidays!
Remember to pass by my shop for more new tobacco pouches, even through some have already been sold.
Due to the holidays the shop will be closed. I will be able to take new orders after the 8th of January.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Kokka series

+closed pouch view


+inside view

Men's series

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

Tobacco pouches #7

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Already sold!
Men's series

+inside view

+closed pouch view

Play series

+inside view

+closed pouch view

"Wake up" Wall Quilt

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 09:47:00 +0000

Finally I was able to bind it...and its done! My brand new Wall Quilt. It is ideal for a child's bedroom.
I used some vintage style fabrics from the Cosmo Cricket line "Early bird", that is one of my favorites, and a red retro fabric.
Inspiration came from the Farmer's Wife book, for the main blocks, and the rest was an easy decision.
I decided to hand quilt it and I really enjoyed the whole process. You read about it here.

+I added some cute triangles at the back for an easier and more steady hanging on the wall.

Available in the shop.

New Day

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 16:22:00 +0000

On wednesday I started Patchwork Lessons in a village nearby, and I am very excited!
The teacher is great and I am definetely going to get many brand new tips, learn quilting from a professional (rather than youtube) and finally be able to talk about quilts. Very few people in Greece are quilters, so it was a great surprise for me to find out that there were FREE lessons for quilting...Finally, I'll be doing something I really enjoy, and share it with others.
More to come on that subject.

Here are some new photos I' ve taken of my tobacco pouches, that are available in the shop.

S# Theme Day (6)

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 07:21:00 +0000

Happy weekend for everyone! Today the day has started with lots of creativity, we have lit the fireplace, put the chestnuts under the fire and now I am embroidering my superheroes.
Theme Day is hosting today some of my favorite Dolls.

via: zakkaart

via: etsy/romanticwonders

via: evangelione

via: RetroMama

via: eugenia papadopoulou

via: mmmcrafts

Tobacco pouches #6

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:48:00 +0000

New pouches coming up in the shop:
Kokka series

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

Thoughts and bubbles

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 18:12:00 +0000

The week has just started and it seems a regular one.
Nevertheless, planing my next business move appeared to me as a huge mountain that has just become a hill, that is very easy to cross. So I am seriously thinking of opening a shop on etsy or dawanda or somewhere else...
But have you ever had the feel that you will not be able to manage with the "load" of doing something so new and so "strange" (to whatever you have been doing your whole life), that in the end is a great challenge to be bold and just do it!
I've been reading some great posts of advices on how to support you own crafting business, on how to advertise it, and I've spent the weekend trying to figure out if it will be profitable for my pocket to leap into the crafting business.
Sorry for the non-understandable words above, but my head is a mess lately, and I had the need to share this. I leave you with some of my questions...(more to come!) Whom ever wants to leave an answer, you are more than welcome.
QUESTIONS:
1. If I consider my creativity as "business" will it be decreased?
2. If I keep buying supplies (I admit that I am a fabric addict) when will I use them?
3. If I keep buying supplies will I be able to keep a balance between expenses and income?
4. Opening a shop isn't it a commitment?
5. Why the f...ck do I have to open a facebook account in order to sell more?

Tobacco pouches #5

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 10:45:00 +0000

I have been sewing really slowly, but now I can present something. I like tobacco pouches they are enough complicated, so that I don't get bored in the process. Here are my new ones.
Have a nice weekend.

Amy Butler series.
Available in the shop.

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

Neo-vintage series
Available in the shop!

+closed pouch view

+inside view

Romance series
Availble in the shop!

+closed pouch view

+inside view

Tobacco pouches #4

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 19:27:00 +0000

Kokka series.
Available in the shop!

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

Neo-vintage series
Available in the shop!

+inside view

+closed pouch view

+inside view

+closed pouch view

S# Theme Day (5)

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 07:30:00 +0000

It has been a very difficult week, but I guess the weekend will be very creative. I "opened" the shop here on the blog, and now work has started stacking up.

I leave you with some of my favorite handmade bags!
Have a nice weekend.

via: weepereas

via: Renske Solkesz

via: Adri

via: morelle/etsy

via: andrea creates

Wednesday WIP

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 20:37:00 +0000

I am so in love with these pixel people....I started this embroidery project that will definetely take its place in my wall.

Pixel people patterns are available at etsy.com from wee little stitches.

S# Theme Day (4)

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Sat, 29 Oct 2011 08:51:00 +0000

As you' ve already figured out, Saturdays are Theme Days, meaning I am selecting a theme and I post pictures of creations I like from other crafters.
Today is Embroidery day!
Have a nice weekend.

via: kyabe

via: flossbox

via: sewing seed/etsy

via: orsy

via: marikanola

via: nanacompany

Male apron?

noreply@blogger.com (zafeira) — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:44:00 +0000

Or not? Well it is meant as a gift for a friend, so when I chose the fabric I was thinking "masculine". But it is perfect for me also...

I used an Ikea fabric that I had on my stash for ages...and it does fit for an apron...

+my beautiful golden posing for the picture

The pattern is from the book "Linen, wool, cotton" of Akiko Mano, and it was super-easy to make and understand the instructions. The author suggests a linen fabric, that I am sure that fits this type of apron a lot more.