Words for the Week // No.17

I was browsing through Pinterest the other day when I came across the good old "you are exactly where you're supposed to be" quote and something inside me snapped. I just thought to myself: "What a load of crap". Of course, this is not to say that the saying has no meaning, or that believeing that you are here for a reason is wrong. But, at that moment it reminded me of my own struggles. The struggle to take responsibility for my own life, and make hard choices. And, that it really doesn't matter whether I believe I'm supposed to be here or not. The fact is, I am here.

The real question is, what am I going to do about it? How am I going to deal with the here and now. And that's what I'm having a hard time finding answers to. Or rather, I have a fear of answering them, because, what if I get it wrong? What if I make the wrong turn?

Yes, I know, what if I make it right. What if what's waiting is all bliss and happiness. I know that's a possibility. I've said it a hundred times to myself. And yet, there's this fear. It's not constant, but it's there.

And then I realize I've been forgetting about my favorite quote - "If your dreams don't scare you, they're just not big enough." And it hits me. I'm supposed to be scared. It's ok to be paralyzed with fear, because those dreams I'm working towards are so big, and so important to me.

Now, all I have to do is start believing. In me. My abilities. And my dreams.

xo. Hanna

Around Nordrhein-Westfalen // A day in Bonn

It's my last day in Leverkusen, before my final 4 weeks in Tallinn. We've made lots of progress setting up our apartment. Basically, we spent all week unpacking things, cleaning, getting stuff aka spending money, and painting. But, to make this week a little bit less work and more fun, we decided to start a new tradition.

Rein has a semester ticket from school which allows him to use all public transportation in the region for free, and with that ticket he can also take one person with him after 7pm and on weekends. Amazing deal, right? So, I had the idea that we should take advantage of this opportunity and visit every city/town in the region during our 4-year period here. I'd love to get to know Germany more, and also the region we live it. Also, it's a good motivator to get our asses off the couch on weekends.

So, yesterday we visited Bonn, the birth town of Beethoven, one of my very favorite composers. We walked in his footsteps visiting his birth house, and church where he worked as an organist, and the Beethoven family's house where he grew up in. It's funny to think how the times change. As we wondered the streets I kept on imagining what it must've been like almost 250 years ago.

And, of course, we also saw the opera house, where, in fact, the Estonian baritone Priit Volmer is working right now. Who knows, living and working in Bonn might be in our future as well.

Our last stop was Starbucks. If you didn't know, then Estonia doesn't have Starbucks. So, this was my first taste of the famous Pumpkin Spice Latte. Oh my, was it delicious! Even Rein, who doesn't drink coffee, said he'd drink that.

I loved our day in Bonn, and I'm sure we'll be back.

In other news, I've been on a search for good German blogs (written in German that is). If you happen to know any, please leave your suggestions in the comments!

Have a wonderful evening!
xo. Hanna

Sneak peek into the studio

So, you remember how I told you about having a million ideas I wanted to make happen. Well, here's a sneak peek at one of them.

I've been missing my shop. I really loved the creative side of creating products. Designing, making, dreaming up new photo concepts, photographing, making a lookbook...well, everything really.

Which is why I've decided to release a small accessories line this year, just in time for the holidays. It will include fabric flower brooches in pretty colors made from upcycled fabric, and a selection of clutches from recycled leather and vintage fabrics. All handmade in my little studio space.

The products will be available some time at the end of November. I can only make a limited number of products due to the nature of the materials, so this is going to be a very special limited edition collection.

I'm going to be posting more updates as we get nearer to the launch date, but I'm so excited about this venture. So far, I've loved the process of designing and making these pretty things. I'm equal times inspired and scared right now, but I feel I need to get these babies out of my head and into real products.

I put off doing this for months now, arguing that I was too busy with graduation, and wedding planning, and then my job, and then moving... But, as life has taught me in the last few years, there's never really a perfect time to do things. There's only today. And so I decided that today is as good a day as any to make those little dreams a reality.

Thanks so much for stopping by and stay tuned for more updates in the coming weeks!

xo. Hanna

DIY Felt butterfly brooch

I know some people think that butterflies are kind of cheesy. Things that pink-loving little girls have in their room, but I really can't help but love them. Maybe there's still a pink-loving little girl somewhere inside me. Anyways, when I was dreaming up a new DIY project for MOOD magazine, this butterlfy brooch flew in to my mind.

Now I'm finally able to share this sweet little project with you. These pictures where actually taken back in March which is why they have sort of a wintery feel. But, hey, it's almost winter again, so it doesn't really matter.

 Here's what you need:

• 10 cm of thick felt in your color of choice
• Embellishments for the wings (rhinestones, embroidery thread, etc.)
• Craft wire and two 3mm beads
• 2 rhinestones: one 3cm-long oval and one 2cm-wide round stone
• Brooch pin
• Paper and pencil
• Scissors
• Strong adhesive or a glue gun

 Step 1
You can see all the important measurements in the photo above.
First, draft a template for the wings onto paper using the measurements given. Cut the template out and use it to cut out 4 wings.
Second, cut out 1 oval piece of felt with the measurements given. I know the photo shows 2, but I later discovered you only need one.

 Step 2
Time to embellish those wings. As you can see, I used embroidery thread to sew some colorful lines to the outer edge of the wings, and then added some iron-on rhinestones. You can let your imagination run wild and create the butterfly of your dreams here, so get creative!

 Step 3
Cut two 10cm-long strips of craft wire. Put the wire through the small 3mm bead and fold the wire in half. Holding the wire ends in one hand start twisting the bead until you get an evenly and strongly twisted antler/antennae for the butterfly. Repeat with the other strip of wire and bead.

 Step 4
Now you can put it all together. First, glue the antlers to one end of the oval felt piece. Then, start glueing the wings to the backing. Glue the upper wings first, and then add the lower ones so that they overlap the upper wings by about 1-1.5cm.

 Step 5
Once the wings are glued, glue the big rhinestones on top. Let dry before moving on to the next step.

 Step 6
Glue the brooch pin to the back of the butterfly. If you want a completely flat brooch, then you're done. If you'd like a more 3D wings effect, check out the last step.

 Step 7
To add a 3D effect to the wings, bend them and then steam from the backside of the wings with an iron. The wings are easily molded with steam, so you can determine how much you want the wings to stay up.

I love this fun little felt insect. She's cute! I think this would make a great gift for anyone who's into brooches, or insects for that matter. Also, easily customizable with different embellishments and colors. An easy DIY gift idea right there (hmmkhmm, Christmas is really not that far off).

Happy creating!

xo. Hanna

This tutorial first appeared in the April 2014 issue of MOOD magazine. Finished project photos by Rein Saar.

The way things are

Hi, guys! How have you been? I've been absent, I know. I'm currently here in Leverkusen, Germany, cleaning and organizing, just trying to get our apartment to feel more like home. But, to be honest, that's not the only reason I haven't blogged.

You see, I've felt disconnected lately. From the blog. And I've been thinking a lot. I've always tried to be as open and honest with you as possible. I don't just blog because it's fun, I blog to connect with you. To share my thoughts, my inspiration, my creativity. And, I've always loved it. Whenever I've had to take a break and put other things first, I've missed it.

But, for the last few weeks, I've felt disconnected. My life is a constant rush, and it's exhausting. I have my job as a teacher, then my data entry job, then moving stuff, then this blog, a to-do list a mile long, and a million ideas I'd like to make happen. Some days I just feel I can't do it anymore. I've been spreading myself too thin, but for what? And, this is not just a question of my work-load and what I get in return. It's one of those hard life questions I've been faced with lately.

But, let's take a step back for a second. As you might have noticed, I've been experimenting with the idea of monetizing my blog for the last couple of months. Since I don't have a job lined up here in Germany, I've been thinking about turning my blog and Etsy shop into a part-time job. I've dreamed up new products, e-courses and blog series. It looks great... In my head.

But, the truth is, I don't know if I have it in me to make it happen. I don't know if I'm the blogger-for-business type. Or, if I'm the make-stuff-for-living type. And, it would be a huge financial risk for our family. What if I put all our money and time into it and fail?

I'm sure everyone starting out has the same fears, but for me, my past ventures in business have only confirmed these fears. So, should I really be giving this another go?

I'm not saying this to get you to reassure me, or to fish for compliments. It's one of those things that I need to figure out for myself. I just wanted to be honest and speak my mind. Because, I feel that you are a big part of this blog. At the end of the day, you are the reason I blog. As long as you keep coming back, I'll keep posting.

I'm sure I'll figure this out. And, getting this out of my mind and into words is definitely the first step.
I have a question for you as well. What types of posts to you love most on Pearls&Scissors? What would you like to see more of? I would greatly appreciate your feedback.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! And, thank you for hanging around! It means so much to me.

xo. Hanna

10 Pretty DIY Lace Projects

It' no secret that lace is my material of choice. If I could, I'd add a lace detail to everything. Every time I'm telling Mari Krõõt about a new project, her first question is "Are you going to add lace to it?". And, yes, I'd that predictable. But, I do make an effort to include other materials as well.

Today, I thought I'd list some of my favorite lace projects.

The lace heart tee is one of the most popular projects of all time on Pearls & Scissors, and I'm still using it to date, so it's safe to say it's one of my personal favorites as well.

I've added lace to more than one skirt (like here and here), so this is still my go to method for embellishing a simple pencil skirt.

Sometimes, lace can give an old item a whole new life. This vintage curdoroy vest got a totally new image.

I wore this tee to shreds! For the longest time, it was my very favorite piece of clothing, and all it took to transform a simple t-shirt was a piece of lace fabric.

Lace is also very useful when you want to add length to a garment that's just a tad too short. It's how I fixed this blouse and my summer skirt as well.

The big sister of the lace heart tee is also one of my wardrobe staples. Can't wash it fast enough during the winter months.

One of the simplest lace projects I've ever done, but such a big impact. When in doubt, just add a lace collar.

This romantic lace tee is more of a commitment and needs some sewing skills, but it's so pretty it's worth the time and input.

Then again, if you're not big on refashions or sewing your own clothing, lace can still come in handy. Like when making custom shoelaces...

... or transforming a Pringles package into a pencil holder.

Hope this inspired you to bust out some lace and get creative.

xo. Hanna

Sewn // Men's v-neck pullover for Rein

It seems I've been a pretty selfless seamstress lately. Well, actually, this pullover was finished in the spring already, I just hadn't gotten round to sharing it here on the blog. And, since I love documenting my sewing ventures for future reference, I thought it was high time to share the deets.

I've discovered I love sewing for men. Correction. I love making things for my husband. For one, it means I can make him something pretty, but it also means I can play his stylist (which I totally am anyway, haha). I actually have a stash of fabric with his name on it. I'd love to get a few more sewing projects done before the move, but we'll see about that.

Now, onto this pullover. I used a heavy knit I scored from a thrift store a while back. I think it might be a wool blend, but I can't be sure. I love the color of it. A really deep bright blue, almost electric, but not quite. It's hard to name exactly, but it looks so pretty in real life.

As for the pattern, I used a Burda magazine pattern - Burda 4/2007, mod. 130, which is actually a polo shirt pattern, but I widened and lengthened the sleeves and created a new neckline. I didn't have enough fabric to cut the neckband in one piece, so I had to break it up into 3 parts. I got the neckline inspiration from this pin. The metal buttons are from my vintage button collection. (Which is huge. I think I need some professional help.)

I love finishing sleeves and the hem with a fabric band instead of just a regular folded hem. I think it gives it a more durable, cleaner, and professional look.
The only thing I would change in retrospect is the sizing. I think, given the fabric I could've gone with a more snug fit, and I definitely should've done a narrower shoulder. But, you sew and learn, isn't it?

Even the most patient husband gets tired of posing for "just one more shot"

It's so hard to find decent men's patterns, so I'm definitely going to be using this pattern more than once again. I've actually made a simple v-neck t-shirt using it already, and I'm planning on a short-sleeved henley next.

My word of advice for anyone using a Burda magazine pattern would be to go at least one size down. I cut the smallest size for Rein, although most of his measurements were a size up. And my saga with Mari Krõõt's t-shirt showed the same tendency. Also, I made a muslin of a men's suit-pants pattern and it came out way too big for Rein. So, that's my 2 cents.
The reason I love Burda magazine patterns is that they're so cheap. And, after a couple of years worth of magazines, you'll probably have all the basic pattern you'll need. Also, when you're working with patterns from one company you'll soon know exactly which alterations to make.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo. Hanna

Words for the Week // No.16 // Change of seasons, a season of change

This is the tree we got married under. I love capturing how certain places change through the seasons.

The change in seasons reflects well on what's going on in my life lately. A lot of change. It's funny how life teaches you lessons. I used to feel overwhelmed by change. I didn't like, I didn't want it. I thought I was set.

I couldn't have been more wrong.

Only a few years ago, the change of seasons was exactly that, simply summer turning into fall, then into winter, then to spring, and back to summer. I new where I was going to be in a year's time. I thought I knew how my life would turn out.

Now, every season is a season of change, and I have no idea what will be next. The last year has been full of changes - getting together with Rein, getting engaged, graduation, our wedding, and now, moving to Cologne. And the more I experience change, the more I embrace it. Every change so far has led me to a better place, a more truthful, more fulfilling life, which I'm so grateful for.

Change is good. Life is good. It's not easy, but it's good. And I'm ok with the hard bits. Because I know it's how I get to the even better bits of life.

Is it just a change of seasons for you, or a season of change?

Thanks for letting me ramble!
xo. Hanna