Weddings and Wedding Gifts

This past Saturday was quite a day. Two of my friends got married! Woohooo! Well you have to admit that doesn't happen a lot of times. And luckily the ceremonies were one hour apart so I kinda managed to get to them both, kinda. ;)
The brides were both so beautiful and of course matching their new husbands somehow and to keep that going in their lives I made them these gifts. (Which they'll hopefully like.)

For Manca and Tilen this scarf and a bowtie in red colours. I figured Manca is a fan of bright colours (and the wedding proved that) and red is really the colour of love so that couldn't be the wrong choice.

(I also tried to make a nice card but the time was running out and it didn't really come out the way I planned it at first.)

And the newlyweds.

And for the second wedding I knew my friend Jerca is more into light brown colours and not bright ones. So I decided for this heart shaped (kinda) pattern of blue and light brown. Which I hope they'll like. :)

(Tried again with the card, half-failed again.)

 And the newlyweds (pt. 2).

So they can walk through life in style TOGETHER! :)
Congratulations again.

#100happydays Project

Yesterday I joined this challenge called 100 happy days that tries to make people acknowledge the small things in life and realise that everyday something can make you happy.

It's told that 71% of everyone that started did not finish through, usualy stating that life is too busy for this. But I don't think so, we can take time, we can make time like we do for our favourite tv show, facebook, etc.

You can check my pictures and thoughts on my blog, new page called simply #100happydays right here.

Hope you like it and join in as well.

Merry (belated) Christmas

In translation: Merry Christmas

But the holidays didn't go without preparations. This past Sunday I went to bed at 6am only to finish the decorations for the tree, almost 2 kilos of cookies, a handbag - gift for my sister, decorated our place a bit and sewed the late St. Nicholas' gift for my sister's family.

But.. I love being a great elf. :)

Hope your holidays are as wonderful and eventful as they can be.
Merry Christmas everyone! God bless you.

Christmas Decorations at my place

Nothing new that I love December and Christmas, right? Well if it is new to you check some of the previous entries, otherwise just keep on reading. :)
It wouldn't be a proper post if I wouldn't mention my fabric store. Yes, I was there a few times again and bought all these cute Christmas themed fabrics. If you have time go check them out as they are 15% off this week.

So they all have a purpose and I've actually already used some of them.

From the left the first one is now a table cloth that I absolutely love.

Second one, super cute hearts, are a part of another table cloth and also Christmas tree ornaments.

The next one is my favourite because of the reindeers and the print that is actually soft, sort of velvety, and used it to make gift pouches. (Picture of that coming as soon as I make another one.)

Then Christmas trees for Christmas tree ornaments. Tree-ception. ;)

The red with golden print will serve for out home decoration that is not yet done and also you can check it out on a Christmas bag I made.

Last but not least and the only one that doesn't have a purpose yet is the one with the loveliest hearts. I might just use these for some more ornaments for the windows or something. Or if you have any ideas, please do share. :)

I'll try to put a tutorial of this ornaments up tomorrow but maybe on Thursday or Maybe even Friday. Bear with me. :)

Then yesterday I got this Christmas sock from my dear Hilary and is now already up on the wall. :)

Oh and thought I'd try how to scene my table for Christmas. It's too early though so I put the cribs away for a few more days but I like it a lot so here it is.

Oh, plus, I tried this on my nails and it kinda worked. I was going for Christmas holly on my nails and well it's pretty good, OK at least, especially if you consider the fact that I don't have any special thin brushes. Anyway I like it because it's Christmaaas. :)

Hope you're enjoying your December. :)

DIY Christmas Tree Nails Decoration and St. Nicholas

Saint Nicholas stopped by tonight! We went to see him yesterday already with my nephews and then at home he was super great this year and brought me a gift card for (yeah you guessed it) Svet metraže. And some other treats and I even got some presents from my sister. But that will be another post on Sunday about that because we'll have a family meeting and well, I think I might get some more. :D (I'm very humble, I know.)
Also yesterday we had a party with some friends from Academy and my gift partner brought me an amazing tea set. Thank you, Jernej, so much. It's already in good use.

But today's post is not about Nicholas but about my Christmas tree nails I did two days ago. I don't have much equipment so it could be better but I tried my best and here is sort of a tutorial to see how to make your own. Of course the choice of colours is yours. Plus I was in a bit of a rush so there's no base coat, only top one.

Use tape to create a triangle for the tree. If you're putting a base coat make sure you use a tape that won't peel off that layer.

Colour and let it dry.

Take the tape off and then decide what colour you'll use for the decorations and what pattern you'll make.

I did the strips and a dot on the top, supposedly a star.

Add a clear top layer and voila.

And now you're ready to show off these nails in your fingerless gloves while sipping mulled wine in a decorated city center.
Enjoy your weekend. :)
PS: These guys are amazing!

DIY Advent Garland from Toilet Paper Rolls

This past two months I've constantly been seeing this idea on facebook sites and pinterest and everywhere and it seemed really easy. And it is. :)

I know it's a little late to put this idea on since advent already started this Sunday but you can always decorate your house a bit more. And you can do this with your kids because it's really super super easy.

Happy December is ON! :)

Started on time this year! And the fact that start of the advent colides with the date is absolutely perfect as well. :)
So even though the lights of Ljubljana are not yet lit (Tuesday, Dec 3 if you want to go check it out) I am in the mood for decorations and outfits and nails and songs, oh especially songs. And especially my favourite Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams.
Here's now what I came up with already and I'll put on more detailed collages soon, as usual.

Our 'December' Table Cloth in the making

New 'Happy December' Bag

Advent Garland from toilet paper roll

Biscuits, of course, like last year

New skirt and shawl, fabric from Svet metraže, thanks to Eva for the pic

As you know, I LOVE December. And spread this love even if just by giving a smile to someone, because this month is especially good for doing so, and it might, no, it WILL make someone's day. :)

Hope you like the pics and enjoy December. :)

Something better

Easy DIY: a necklace and a ring

Tomorrow is the day! One of my closest friends from scouts, Nina, is getting married. I can't wait! She is a friend who deserves happiness even more than others. Her kindness is beyond words and she shines like a Sun. Whenever we spend some time together it is fulfilling and inspiring and her words always make me feel better. God couldn't have granted us all with a better and wiser friend. I love you girl and may God bless you  with all the best in marriage with your best friend and a wonderful boyfriend, soon to be husband, Žiga.

And since we all care for you so much we had to prepare ourselves to be the best bridesmaids ever. So since I didn't find some nice jewellery that would match our clothes in the stores I figured I could make my own. And I went to spend some time on pinterest, too much time, and found this picture of a fabric necklace and decided it'll be the one.

Trying to find a nice ribbon or string or rope was actually the most difficult part. In the end I bought some satin ribbon and knit it together into what is now my base for the necklace.

Then all you have to do is cut the fabric in circles, rounds, fold them twice and saw the pointy part to this satin rope. This necklace has around 15 rounds sewn on, each one has approximately 8cm in radius but it varies as I wasn't being super precise because I thought it'll look better like that.

Another thing I did, though not necessary, I slightly burned the edges of the circles. It keeps the threads in place plus somehow gives sort of a more finished look.

Buuut of course I wouldn't be me if I'd be satisfied with only a necklace. So and idea occured to make a bracelet. But that would be too much. So what's left is a ring.

The circles for this have probably only like 2 or 3cm diameter and they work great. Here this chiffon is sewn on the most basic elastic that you can imagine. And it works great. For the ring I used only 6 or 7 circles and burned the edges as well.

Hope you like it and that you'll try it yourself, it really is super easy.

Love my silly Americans :)

As you probably know I have been spending much time with my new American friends this year. They are working with the student christian organisation called Vsak študent and doing a really amazing job finding students all around Ljubljana on different faculties and inviting them to get to know our Saviour.

Then every week there are a few possible meetings to attend, either more basic Bible discussion or a bit more advance Bible study. Every now and then we do Together 4 Christ and also awesome Story of the soul. What I most like is discipleship, which means meeting with one or two of these Godly people on your own every week and growing in your personal relationship with Jesus, discussing your concerns and issues and trying to overcome them.

In the last couple of months I've spent more time with these amazing people than with anyone else. And in the middle of May there came Summer project. Another 35 Americans, eager to share their faith and explore our wonderful Slovenia. Those 6 weeks were priceless. Got to spend even more time with all of them on some more meetings and dinners four times a week. And through growing in faith and worshipping we got to have fun singing, bowling, eating and mush more.

Then there came a day during that time when 4 of the stinters had to leave for America, Rachael, Katie, Steve and John. Even though Katie and John are coming back in September it was so much more difficult to say goodbye to Rachael, who has been and still is such an inspiration and full of encouragements, and Steve, who was always just drawing everyone near and just being so osem. ;)

Then we had only one week left and suddenly the Summer project left to Salzburg and then home. And after that it felt like nothing is going on in Ljubljana anymore. Well not exactly but it for sure hasn't been as eventful.

Only three days later my dearest Sally had to fly back to America. It wasn't that bad since she's coming back in a year and so we will get to spend more time together.
But then this week is the worst. Sunday morning the Shirkmans said goodbye, not yet to Slovenia but to me because I won't see them anymore. But they are coming back in a year as well as Sally and I'm already counting down to that day so it wasn't the worst goodbye.

Then Monday came and with that two farewells. In the morning one of the worst. To my dear lovely Becca. We spent a lot of time together these past couple of months and she is such a blessing to everyone. I am extremely glad God worked in the ways so that we got to meet. Love you always.
Goodbye with Mike was pretty easy on Monday morning as I'll see him again in two months already. :) Can't wait.
And then the time came. In the morning, only 3 hours ago, the most difficult goodbyes of them all. First Joy and a few minutes later Ashley, since she walked me down to my car. It was super sad as we will not be together anymore. We have Skype but that is far from anything like we experienced in this past year. Especially these last few days. I am so thankful for you. And hope to see you again when I come visit in a year or two or you come back here. I thank God every day for sending you here, for your strenght and encouragement, words, hugs, everything. I love you forever and for always. You are the best. <3

Love you always!!

Queen's 60th Coronation anniversary

God save the Queen!

Rule Britannia!

60 years ago, on 2nd June, over a year after her father, King George VI died, Elizabeth Alexandra Mary was crowned at the ceremony held in the Westminster Abbey.

So on 4th June this year when the celebration was held in London, UK, I held a small party myself, even though I was sick, and I also proudly presented my new British phone case.
Yes, recently it's really been all about the UK: viola case, my room, clothes, etc. And now my phone. Many of you know that my phone is not a good one, not even a 'smart' one so you can't buy a different case, different design. But luckily I have the best sisters and brothers who have the best kids and so my oldest nephew Luka made this amazing British flag out of FIMO clay. Thank you, Luka, for taking your time. And thank you, Nokia, for making the cases so strong and everything that even though one puts it in the oven and bake it so the clay sticks onto it there's nothing wrong with it now, or didn't do any damage to the oven or anything, like it can sometimes happen in a microwave you know.
So yes, here is the case and many more pieces, many more flags of different sizes to make some more fun, useful, British thingies like earrings, bracelets, necklaces and whatever else we think of.
In case you're wondering, that is a tealight holder. ;) Plus there are two heart shaped as well. Incredible. True art. :)

Happy Easter

Or Benedictus Pascha. It's what my lovely friend Eva would prefer. ;)

Hope you had an amazing time with your family and/or friends, took some time for yourselves, rest (probably not from what I know but still)

and most of all experienced and felt once more the love of God that is above all.

But as you all know we still do need earthly food to keep our bodies going and because it's Easter and because we had a big party yesterday at our place I figured I should make something.
And thanks to my friend Joy I knew just what to do. On Monday, on the most amazing pre-Easter party with Vsak študent (Every Student) organisation she made these little chocolate nests and I thank her again for the idea.

It's so easy to make. And no baking.
All you need is dark chocolate for cooking, pretzel sticks and chocolate eggs.
To melt the chocolate you might want to add some butter and/or milk.
And don't worry about the pretzel being salty and chocolate sweet. It couldn't work better together. ;)

 Now the first thing you have to do is crumble the pretzel sticks so they fit in the muffin paper cups and put them in the most random way you can so you form a sort of a nest.

Then melt the chocolate carefully so it doesn't boil and become all gummy. pour it over the sticks and make sure it connects everything so it will stick together later.

On top of it put a chocolate egg so the nest is more obvious.

Now you're pretty much done but do keep them somewhere cold before you serve them so the chocolate hardens and holds everything together.
Before you serve them try to take them out of the paper cup and place it on a tray. Et voilà. You're all set for a perfect Easter themed snack.
Bon appétit! :)