5 thoughtful Mother's Day gifts for the forgetful

Here's the thing - I'm very bad at remembering important dates. I often forget someone's Birthday or a holiday. I always mean to be very prepared, and I love giving meaningful gifts, but it always sort of happens that I just forget to prepare. So, usually, I end up getting my gifts last minute. It's an awful habit, I know. And, I'm doing my best to change it, but if you're a little bit like me, here are a few ides to help you out of that pickle and still give a thoughtful gift this Mother's Day.

1. Give your time! I'm sure that all our Moms would appreciate some more time with us. Everyone's lives are so busy these days. There hardly seams to be time to even visit family. Go and hang out with your Mom! Take her to a cafe or spa, or to see a play. I'm sure she would greatly appreciate that.

2. Donate on her behalf. I know Mother's are givers, and everyone keeps saying to give to Mother's on that day, but in the light of recent events in the world, it might not be a bad idea to take the opportunity to help our Mother's give even more to the world.

3. Make a family photo. When was the last time you had a family photo taken? I know that doesn't happen all too often in our family. Or, maybe take a photo with your siblings. It would be a nice addition to the ones of you when you were little. We've tried to do it every couple of years, and my Mom has them beside each other. It's fun to see how we've grown.
Why not have a photographer pay a quick visit to you on Mother's Day? Or, take a trip to a studio near by.

4. Plant a tree. A tree has a special meaning. It's a symbol of life, and I'm sure your Mother would love a reminder of the life she helped create into this world every time she looks at the your tree.

5. Give her an experience. I think things are over-valued. Most of us don't need more things. Yes, those scented candles are a nice touch, but our experiences are what build us. So, enrich her life with a new experience. Whether it's a gift card to her first Yoga lesson, a ticket to the opera, or a crafting course (wink wink!), she'll love experiencing something new.

I hope you'll remember to (at least) call your Mom on Sunday, and let her know how appreciated and loved she is.

xo. Hanna

15 quick and easy lace fixes for old garments

I'm sure my love for lace doesn't come as a surprise to anyone. I've sung my love song to lace ever since I started this blog, and really, I've been in love with it forever. Lace and I are super tight! 

So, for me, it comes naturally that whenever I need to refashion or mend a garment, I think of lace first. Like "Hey, how about adding some lace?" or "I wonder if I have any lace in my stash that matches this fabric?" This also means that I do a ton of refashions using lace. I've actually had to consciously stop myself numerous times because I bet you'd get super bored of seeing only lace added here and lace squeezed in there every week.

That being said, I still find lace amazing, and so I wanted to highlight 15 projects and 5 easy ways you can utilize lace in your refashioning projects. 

1) Use lace to add length. There's been many times that lace has literally saved my ass, as in covered it when the garment couldn't. Like the red minidress in the top photo - I wouldn't be able to wear it if i hadn't added a wide panel of lace to make it longer. And, just out of curiosity, who wear a dress that short? I mean, I'm 162cm and it's way too short on me. Maybe it's meant to be a shirt??
I've also used lace to add length to a blouse, and to make up for my mistake of cutting this skirt too short.

2) Use lace collars to add a fresh layer of texture. Ready-made lace collars are a great way to add some functionality or texture to an old garment. Adding a lace collar can really elevate a simple blouse, and give a whole new look to an out-dated vest. The last one is by far my favorite 10-minute project.

3) Use lace to cover up and/or cut out stains. Adding some lace on top of a stain is a great way to visually lose the stain. I love cutting out the original layer of fabric away from underneath the lace and bringing some see-through action to garments. It add so much more interest and sophistication to a garment.
Here are a few ways to get started: the heart cut-out tee, the lace neckline tee, the bubble tee, and of course the sheer back tee.

4) Use lace to add visual interest. Sometimes a garment just lacks oomph, and lace is a quick way to add some "vavavoom". I love adding a lace panel to the hem of a skirt (like HERE and HERE). It's also a great way to update a granny jacket, or spice up a pair of simple cut-off jeans.

5) Use lace to fix a fit issue. Lace is pretty and compliments a lot of different garments, which makes it the perfect material to use when you need to fix a fit issue, but don't have extra fabric to work with. I've used it to add straps to a strapless dress, and to add width to a garment (like in the bottom photo).

I hope this sparked some ideas in you how you could use lace to refashion or even mend old garments. If you're not that into lace, it's cool too (but really, I don't think we can be friends anymore). But, I challenge you to try it out before you discard it. Lace doesn't have to be "pink" and overly girly. It can also be sophisticated and classy. It all comes down to the way you use it.

xo. Hanna

Ideas for DIY wrist watches

I don't know about you, but whenever I make something, I get a flood of ideas for new versions of the same idea. Are you like that as well? (No, just me?) So, I thought it would be fun to share the predecessors to the DIY watch I shared yesterday. Yep, it was not my first watch-rodeo. So, here are a few of my earlier makes in the watch department.

I made this one for Rein about a year ago. He wanted a sort of rustic watch with a wide band and a big buckle. I used an old watch of his for the head, and some studs to attach it to the wrist band. He was very happy with the result. After I had all the bits together, it was a rather simple make.

This is the watch that started the embroidered watch mania for me. For a while I was seriously contemplating doing a whole series of these for sale. But, given your massive (lol) interest in the watch auction, I guess it was the right decision not to. Seriously, though, no-one interested in an embroidered leather wrist watch? Anyone?

Last, but not least, the leather wrap watch I made for Mari Krõõt. Not a very successful make, I must admit, as the watch-head turned out to be broken, and had to be replaced. And then that one turned out to be flawed as well. I guess it simply wasn't meant to be, hah? Luckily, Mari Krõõt is a DIY queen herself now, and made herself a new one.

And, if all of this got you wanting more, you can check out my first watch DIY I did as a guest post, and take a look at yesterday's post as well.

Just in case you missed all the crumbs I've been spreading, there's still time to get that auction going and get yourself this leather watch right here!

Thanks for stopping by!

xo. Hanna

5 Thoughtful Gift Ideas

Giving meaningful gifts is not always easy, and the stress of finding just the right one for your loved one can sometimes bring down your holiday spirit. But, what we forget sometimes, is that giving is more about the emotion than about the monetary value of the gift itself. The thought you put into the gift is what really matters. So, here are 10 ideas for a meaningful, thought-filled gift.

1. Make something. That's obvious, right. I mean, Pearls & Scissors is a craft blog, so of course my first suggestion is to make a handmade gift. And, it doesn't have to be something big that takes you hours and hours to make. Who has time for that, right? Nevertheless, you could still create something unique and personal with only a couple of hours. I'll post loads of ideas tomorrow, so stay tuned.

2. Give something you already have. I remember when one of my friends got a used book for Christmas one year. The book was given to her by a friend who had already read that book. So, he gave away the very book that he enjoyed reading, and thought she would enjoy, too. I know we are taught that you shouldn't give someone your old stuff as a gift, but I say that's just stupid. If it's something I'm not using, and I know it would be something they would love, why not give it to them as a gift. Also, do we really need to generate more stuff into this world? This way the gift is both meaningful and sustainable. Plus, Christmas can be financially draining, and that's more stress we don't need, especially during the holidays. So, it's a win-win-win.
You could give away a CD you enjoyed listening to, a book you read that you'd love to share, or that set of coffee mugs that's been sitting unused (to a college graduate with a new apartment). You could even personalize the mugs and combine #1 with #2.

3. Give your time. Ah, time is the real gold these days, isn't it? It feels that we have less and less of it, so it's become one of our most valued possessions. I think we don't spend enough time with our loved ones, so why not give them tickets to a concert you could see together, a date-package full of dates to go on together over the course of the year, or your expertise (for example, I could give crafting time, or blog design time). Or, when you live far away, a ticket to see you could be the perfect gift.

4. Donate on their behalf. Some people are especially hard to give presents to. They seem to have everything already. Why not donate to charity on their behalf, or go and plant some trees in their name. That's the real holiday spirit, now isn't it?

5. Give knowledge and experiences. I don't know about you, but I'm a total nerd when it comes to learning. I love to learn new stuff, and experience something I haven't before. Knowledge is so much more valuable than having a lot of stuff. You could give (e-)courses, (e-)books, classes, or private lessons. And, who knows, you might help them find their passion, take their business on a new level, or help them on their path to a more fulfilling life. It's the gift that keeps on giving!

BONUS:
6. If none of the above are applicable, you can always find something pretty, unique, eco-friendly and handmade on Etsy. Stuff is nice sometimes, and it's even nicer when you get to support a small business in the process :).

These are my ideas for giving something truly valuable this holiday season. I'll share a lot of quick handmade gift ideas tomorrow, and If you have more ideas, please share them in the comments!

xo. Hanna

My wedding moodboard

You can find all the images here

Now that our wedding is just a few weeks away (insert excited clapping and jumping up and down here), I thought I'd share some of my wedding inspiration with you. We're on a tight budget, so we've had to figure out ways to save yet still make it our dream wedding. And as you probably guessed by now, there are going to be a lot of DIY elements at our wedding. There are still a million details to figure out and make, so these 5 weeks will fly by in wedding mode. If you know any good wedding ideas or tutorials I could use, share them in the comments below.

xo Hanna

Summer sewing inspiration

Images: 1 // 2 // 3 // 4 // 5

Despite the rain and cold outside, I'm getting excited about planning my summer sewing. It's sort of my end of term tradition to drool over pretty summer clothing and dream about all the pretty clothing I'll be sewing for myself once the finals madness is behind me.

My main goal this summer is to sew through as much of my existing fabric stash as humanly possible. With the prospect of maybe moving to another country and having to part with my sewing machines and fabrics for an unimaginably long time, I need to make the most of the time that's left.

Here's a list of my sewing plans for the summer:

1. Tops and Tees - I have some vintage lace curtain fabric that I want to make into a loose lace blouse. I'm loving the lace top trend this season, so I'm definitely going to make some for myself. I'd also like to add some more casual t-shirts and blouses to my wardrobe and use up the jersey in my stash. Plus, I have a couple of fancy blouse design ideas I'd love to bring to life. We'll see...

2. Dresses - I'd love to have a cute chambray number in my wardrobe, although I don't have the fabric for it yet (buying new fabric isn't exactly stash busting, I know). I'd also like to make some cute floral dresses and experiment with cut outs and low back necklines. There are definitely a couple of maxi dresses in my near sewing future. They're perfect for our summer weather - all my maxis get a ton of wear. Must make more. Oh, and then a couple of fancy dresses for performances.

3. Bottoms - I'm thinking of making a pair of short culottes in a pretty pattern. I have a super pretty mint polka dot fabric in my stash that would be perfect for it. I'd also like to add a pair of colorful trousers, and versatile skirts to my wardrobe. And, at least one pretty maxi skirt.

I'm so excited about getting started!

What are you planning to sew for this summer? Is there something you'd like to see a tutorial on?

Weekend DIY Inspiration for Nesters

I don't know what it is about spring, but like birds, every year I start nesting. My head is filled with ideas for our humble abode and all I seem to see in the interweb are beautiful home decor DIYs. 

Remember the tulips I planted a while back? Well, they are growing and I can't wait for them to bloom. It got me thinking about adding even more plants to our home. And what about these adorable succulents in they're cute DIY cups.

I'd love to have more fresh flowers around. Partly because they are pretty, and partly because I just want to make these glitter vases and display them.

...or these adorable painted vases. I like colorful vases, can you tell?

Our apartment is seriously lacking wall art, and it's something I've been meaning to get around to for almost 2 years, but no improvement so far. The idea of a cross-stitched canvas has been haunting me forever. So when I saw these amazing cross-stitched wall art DIYs starting to pop up, I almost squealed. I love love love the huge cross-stitched peg board from Dream a little bigger (pictured above) and this floral mural (pictured below).

I also love this abstract piece from Ink & Adventure. I'm terribly bad at drawing, but this seems like something I could handle.

Oh, I wish I had time to do all of the above this weekend! Unfortunately, spring is always the busiest time of year for me (as you can see from the lack of posting this week), so all that good nesting energy gets pushed back. Before I know it, it's summer and the nesting phase is over. I hope this little inspiration post will remind me to start a nesting project when I have some spare time to DIY. And, I hope it inspire other nesters out there!

Easy Refashion: Lace embellished vest

I've always said that the easiest refashions are the best. So I wanted to share a super easy refashion idea with you today. There is more than one way to use store bought lace collars. You could also add them as embellishments on vests, jackets, even skirts or dresses. It just takes a little bit of imagination, and a couple of straight seams or hand stitches.

I bought this big lace collar on sale at my local fabric shop and used it to refashion an out-dated corduroy vest. It adds a little romantic flare and gave this vest a hippie feel. I love it when a simple refashion gives an old garment a new life!

Weekend DIY Inspiration: Bright colors

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6 / 7 / 8 / 9

I'm craving bright colors at the moment. Every fiber of my body is waiting for spring and sunnier weather. So, it's only natural that I'm so inspired by all the bright colored DIY project that have been popping up all over the blogosphere. I hope you have a little bit of creative time this weekend to spend on a pretty project!

Organizing Jewelry and Make-up

Time and again I promise myself that I'll get more organized and tidier. Truth be told, that rarely happens. I guess it's one of those resolutions that never gets done. But, I do have my moments. Lately I've been in a nesting phase and trying to find new ways to make our apartment a home. And I think organizing is an important part of it. If things are put away nicely, it's prettier, cozier and homier. It's still a work in progress, but the first steps are done.

I used to keep all of my make-up is several toiletry bags I'd collected over the years. They were neither pretty nor very practical, because the stuff ended up on the table within days. I just couldn't find anything and ended up emptying the bag to get what I was looking for. Now I keep my make'up in a vintage sewing box I got from my Grandma. It was brand new, just sitting in her attic, so I asked if I could have it. At first I thought I'd used it to organize my sewing supplies, but I realized they would never fit in there. So, I found it a better use.
It's super practical and so comfortable to use. I keep all my everyday make-up in the top compartments, and the fancier stuff in the bottom compartment. I love how I can just pull it open, get what I need, and put it back in a matter of seconds. It really tidied up my dresser top. And I always now where everything is. It has just enough separate compartments to keep everything organized.

It seams I've been looking for a better way to organize my jewelry for the longest time. I've seen lots of tutorials and ideas, but most of them have the jewelry out in the open, exposed to air, which could mean fading and oxidation. And I didn't want to take that risk. After making a jewelry box out of an old chocolate box (tutorial here), I turned another box into jewelry storage. I got some body lotion and other goods in a nice black simple gift box for Christmas, and it was just the perfect size to be turned into a jewelry box.

I stacked 2 containers from chocolate boxes into the black box. I simple cut the containers into the right size and layered them into the box. They tend to fall into each other a bit, so I'm thinking about glueing some cardboard under one of them to separate them better inside the box. I like that I can get a quick overview of my jewelry, find pieces easily and keep them from tangling.
I use three leather boxes as well to organize my other jewelry. I keep silver and gold jewelry separately, and I keep all my big bracelets in a round leather box.

One of these days I'm going to have to tackle my closet and my sewing supplies. Oh my!
Do you have any tips for getting organized?

Inspiration for Valentine's DIY

How adorable and trendy is this heart ring. You can learn how to make your own here.

If you're looking for a cute but simple way to incorporate a little love into your outfit on Valentine's day, you might want to check out this diy refashion.

You remember those heart necklaces that you could break in half and then you and your boyfriend both had half a heart? Well, I think this lego heart is a very cool alternative. You could attach a chain to both pieces and make them into necklaces.

I'm definitely going to makes this headphones cord wrap diy. It's so practical, yet pretty and cute. Love it!

This is such an awesome diy! It looks so adorable, and would make a cute little Valentine's decor.

And if you're looking to add more Valentine's decor to your home, this is a pretty way to do it.

I love browsing through all the Valentine's themed DIY projects that have been popping up all over the interwebs. I don't think I'm going to have time to try some of them out this weekend, but I'm gathering inspiration and planning on a DIY weekend next week.

Happy crafting!