Tutorial: DIY satin chrysanthemum for handmade brooches and hair clips

January 23, 2017March 7, 2016 by Andrea

Do you want to create a large and beautiful chrysanthemum, but you don’t know all the steps? I created this tutorial for you. Follow the steps from each photo to end up with a gorgeous flower that you can wear anywhere. Skip to the steps. Two summers ago I created a new flower for a … Read more

Tutorial: complex petals for handmade fabric flowers

July 19, 2018May 15, 2015 by Andrea

Learn how to create complex petals to use in innovative, lovely designs. Use your new skills to create your own flowers and insects. This tutorial is for you if: You recently started learning the tsumami kanzashi technique and like making fabric flowers or insects. You would like to know how to make the more complex … Read more

Tutorial: DIY silk peony flower for handmade headbands, brooches and hair clips

March 1, 2017May 15, 2015 by Andrea

The spring has arrived quite a few weeks ago, but the peonies are just beginning to bloom. Make one and wear it in your hair with this easy tutorial. Peonies are gorgeous flowers and I’ve made quite a few over the years. They are colorful and easy to make and to wear in a hair … Read more

Tutorial: silk and organza iris

March 12, 2020May 12, 2015 by Andrea

In this photo tutorial, I will teach you how to create this beautiful iris flower out of upcycled (or new) fabrics. Enjoy and share! Skip to the steps. It’s spring, the sun shines warmly and the bees are buzzing around, happily gathering nectar. The gardens have come back to life and the iris is a … Read more

Tutorial: upcycled fabric cherry blossoms

March 20, 2017May 2, 2015 by Andrea

The cherry blossom, that elegant symbol of spring, will surely become your best friend after you learn how to make one to your own liking. Try different fabrics, make more or less petals, play around with the design and experience the joy of making one (or many) of these lovely flowers, for yourself or a … Read more

Quick white balance in GIMP 2.8

March 12, 2020March 2, 2015 by Andrea

Do you create stuff and take photos of it, but don’t really know or care how photography works? Do you want to improve your photos really easily and can’t afford to buy proprietary software (or wouldn’t be able to use it anyway)? Or maybe you’re angry at all those people wanting your money when all … Read more

Photo tutorial: satin dahlia – handmade fabric flower

March 12, 2020February 19, 2015 by Andrea

DIY satin dahlia tutorial - fabric flower, hair clip, brooch

Follow this tutorial to create cute tiny dahlias that you can wear in your hair, as a brooch or give as presents to your loved ones. The dahlia is a generous flower, enveloping you in its perfume, charming you with its numerous soft petals. No wonder it’s the official flower of Mexico, it symbolizes the … Read more

Tutorial: cardboard necklace display stand

May 24, 2020January 31, 2015 by Andrea

Today I want to help you solve an important problem. Where do you get affordable and beautiful necklace displays for your handmade creations? You make them, of course. Here’s the tutorial. Skip to the steps. You make jewelry. Sometimes very pretty necklaces. You need a way to display them, but don’t have the hundreds of … Read more

Photo and video tutorial – Pointy kanzashi petals

March 12, 2020January 22, 2015 by Andrea

The pointy petals are the easiest ones to make. They also require less precision, although they look great in chrysanthemums, gerberas and in more complex combinations, such as the lotus flowers. This tutorial will teach you the basic moves that you’ll get in no time. In a few minutes you’ll be able to make a … Read more

Tutorial: silk, satin or organza butterflies

March 12, 2020January 7, 2015 by Andrea

Silk satin and organza butterfly tutorial

This photo tutorial will teach you, step by step, how to upcycle natural or synthetic fabrics and transform them into pretty butterflies by using the tsumami kanzashi technique. If you are new to this technique, I recommend that you first learn how to make the simple petals, then the multi-layered petals for the prettiest handmade … Read more

Photo & video tutorial – kanzashi rounded petals

November 28, 2016January 3, 2015 by Andrea

In this tutorial I’ll teach you my own method of creating beautiful rounded tsumami kanzashi petals. Not the traditional technique, but one that will make your flowers stand out for sure. You’re new to the world of tsumami kanzashi and would love to learn how to make the petals out of silk or other fabrics, … Read more

The Garden and the Workshops

August 15, 2013 by Andrea

See what I learned from the workshops held in the last few months and apply these lessons to your own workshop. It’s all right to make mistakes, but isn’t it easier when you can learn from someone else’s mistakes?

What do you do best? Would you like to teach others? Have you ever thought about holding a workshop? You know that it’s a great way for you to help your community grow, as well as your career. You never know what wonderful people you can meet, and a workshop is the great place to interact with new people, get to know them a bit, learn about what they do best and get to keep in touch.

Workshop tent in the park — Tent ready for the workshop. The table is full of fabrics, paper and scissors, waiting for the participants.

Product photography – tips for creatives

March 12, 2020March 12, 2013 by Andrea

You work all day long creating jewelry or toys or any other thing and you have an online business. You would like your items to look in your pictures just like in those big online stores. What’s their secret? For a few years now, the Internet has allowed us access to unimaginable resources. We are … Read more