Fresh gift ideas for Her

December is right around the corner! Did you get your gifts yet?

Our picks today are Gifts For Her. Take a look and find the right one for yourself or friend! 

 

Wants to see more? Visit our Pinterest board or type in the search box on Etsy: rusteam, gift for her.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Galafilc feauture at the handmade tapestry exhibition in Bydgoszcz, Poland

Congratulations to our team member Gala (galafilc) being featured at the bi-annual non professional handmade tapestry exhibition in Bydgoszcz, Poland!

 Non professional weavers from all over the country submit their works. Only 120 tapestries from 200 sent were exhibited this year.

As always there are tapestries made in traditional Polish weaving style from Podlasie area. But most of the works are hand made gobelin tapestries. Those take a long time to produce. One gobelin sized 1 by 1.5 meters takes a year or even two to weave. Main yarn is wool or wool blend, but sisal, strips of textiles, small branches and herbs are used to embellish it as well.

One of the favorite inspirations and tapestry themes is of course nature. You can see flowers, trees, birds and whole landscapes on the gobelins. Every artist chooses their yarns and style of work. There is jury that takes into account not only quality of weaving but the art value of the pieces. This year first place was taken by lovely tapestry which used semi precious stones for embellishments.

High recognition is given to pieces woven from fine yarns with good color gradients and details in the picture.
This year some felted art (unwoven tapestry) were exhibited as well.

Here are some of the pieces:

 

 

 Story by Gala (galafilc)

Translated by Nadia (LuNaViFelt)

Felted bracelet giveaway results from galafilc

We are happy to announce the winner of our felted bracelet giveaway from galafilc. 

Comment #63 by BearyAnn was chosen as a winner, so the bracelet will be packed in a next couple of days and sent to the winner's address!

 Congratulations to the winner and thank you for participation, everyone!

Felted bracelet giveaway

Giveaways marathon - a new giveaway today!

This OOAK bracelet form Galafilc shop can be yours! Just follow our few simple rules to enter this giveaway:

1. Visit  Gala's shop, browse her collection and leave a comment here on what you like the best (1 entry)

2. Heart  Gala's shop (1 entry)

3. Follow/ subscribe our blog (1 entry)

4. Grab our button and place it on your blog (1 entry)

5. Follow / subscribe Gala's twitter / facebook / blog (1 entry each)

6. Share this giveaway on twitter / facebook / your blog (2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave us your email address so that we could contact you!

If you'd like to see more of Gala's creations please visit her shop on Etsy!

 This giveaway will run from November 1 through the 11th, and the lucky winner will be announced on November 12th, 2011.

Have fun and good luck!

Fun coat scarf

When a felt artist wants to rest they make something simple and colorful.

If you'd like to make a new felt scarf for yourself or as a gift I will show you how to do it. Best of all, it can be any color you like. You can let your fantasy go wild!



For a scarf measuring about 100x20 cm* you will need:
a piece of bubble wrap, 100x40 cm
white or undyed roving wool, about 100 gram
dye for wool
microwave safe bowl
vinegar
mild shampoo or foamy soap

* Finished size will depend on fiber you used and layout

Tear long thin strips of roving wool and position them on the bubble wrap as in picture.


Fill all the space of the scarf with such strips. Since we want to achieve the effect of holes in the scarf, fix the layout of wool as you position it and form holes with your fingers. It can also be done after the wool has been dampened.
Having placed all the wool, spray it with soapy liquid, cover with another piece of bubble wrap and massage the scarf through the wrap in order for the entire scarf to become damp.


You can use a rolling pin or a sander, however, this can be done by hand too. Roll the scarf as it is in the bubble wrap and start rolling it with your hands or feet, which ever you prefer. As first press the roll lightly, but as wool starts felting you can press it harder and harder. From time to time unroll it and roll from another side of the scarf in order for it to felt smoothly.



When you unroll it, you can also lift the bubble wrap and correct the positioning of the scarf as well as the holes in it with your fingers.

Keep felting until you see that separate wool threads cannot be separated from the scarf and when you lift it, the scarf holds it shape well. Gather the scarf into a pile and start rubbing it, making grating movements as if hand washing it


You can also delicately throw it around and rub it with bubble wrap. Continue doing this until the wool is completely felted – the scarf has to shrink both in its length and width, it has to hold its shape as a single item and it should not be possible to separate any threads or pieces.

Rinse the scarf first in hot, then in cold water, changing its temperature several times.

The next stage is to dye the scarf. First soak it in vinegar water for a couple of minutes, then press water out of it without applying to much strength.

Lay cling film on a table and put the scarf on it.


Dye can be applied either by pouring it on the scarf or by spreading it with a brush. Cover the scarf with another piece of cling film, fold it and put into a microwave safe dish with some cold water. Put the dish into the microwave and heat on medium 3 times for 3-5 minutes each. Wait till it cools down and take the scarf from cling film. Rinse it in vinegar water until water becomes clear.
Iron and dry your new scarf and it is ready!


Tutorial by Gala (Galafilc)
Translation by Anastasia (Lightkeeping)

Calla brooch giveaway results

Good morning to all,

Are you excited to find out who won a Gala's giveaway? We thought so :)

RizalaYa did! Her comment # 44 was chosen as the lucky winner by Gala (galafilc) and random.org.

Now this beautiful calla lily in a couple of days will be carefully packed and sent to RizalaYa address!

Congratulations on your win, rizalaYa!

Thank you for participation, everyone!

New giveaway, a felted calla lilly brooch!

A new giveaway today - yey! Gala (galafilc) is hosting it today.

Her charming felted flower brooch just found her new owner in December and here is another gift for you today:

This gorgeous calla lily can be yours! Just follow our few simple rules to enter this giveaway:

1. Visit her shop, browse her collection and leave a comment here on what you like the best (1 entry)

2. Heart Gala's shop (1 entry)

3. Follow/ subscribe our blog (1 entry)

4. Grab our button and place it on your blog (1 entry)

5. Follow / subscribe Gala's twitter / facebook / blog / flickr (1 entry each)

6. Share this giveaway on your twitter / facebook / blog (2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to leave us your email address so that we could contact you!

If you'd like to see (or maybe, even purchase) more of Gala's creations please visit her shop on Etsy!

This giveaway will run from February 1 through the 11th, and the lucky winner will be announced on February 12th, 2011.

Have fun and good luck!

Stylish Things: OOAK felted goods at Galafilc

Today, we share a story about Gala who runs great Galafilc shop on Etsy
A fairy called Gala lives in a small town in Poland on the coast of the Baltic sea.

She walks in beautiful surroundings, takes photos of white chamomiles and flamboyant poppies, delicate daffodils and royal sunflowers, autumn leaves and ripe ash berries.

And then Gala creates her magic items.
Gala does not need a magic wand to transform a shapeless piece of wool into a delicate flower, poppy field on a bag or a flexible reptile. Galina’s hands can create anything – seamless clothes, scarves, mittens, slippers, hats, brooches, lamps and amazing panels.


This is what Gala says about her handmade creations herself:

"I have liked creating things with my hands since childhood. In my school and university years I knitted a lot, everything from sweaters and hats to socks and mittens. A new unique item of clothing was gradually evolving from balls of yarn.


In 2007, I discovered a medium new for me - felting.

By pure accident I saw creations made by my university friend Lena online. They were felted scarves. I became interested how amazing woolen flowers were painted on thin chiffon and decided to try making something similar. Having read all instructions and recommendations available online and bought some wool, I felted my first scarf and flower. I really enjoyed the process of creating these simple things and started looking for materials, techniques and explanations.

Lately I became interested in dying wool and made felted items. This allows to make items even more unique".

Gala often participates in regional craft fairs and communicates with other felt artists. These fairs enable her to meet her clients and learn their tastes and likes, hear their wishes. This way she can make creations to order.

Exhibitions-competitions for amateur artists and craftspeople take place in the local chamber of culture on yearly basis. Gala’s creations have won awards in the category "Artistic fabric" in town and council competitions for three years in a row. This year Gala exhibited her felt painting "Birchwood" at the competition.

Today is the 7th of January – Orthodox Christmas. It is accustomed to give presents to relatives and friends on this day. Galina’s creations could be a perfect gift for this occasion – they are bright, optimistic and will bring a lot of joy to you and your beloved ones.


Story by Lana (FineEmbroidery)
Translated by Anastasia (Lightkeeping)

This story also available in Russian there

Christmas Giveaway results!

... and the winner of our Christmas giveaway is Salleefur/Jesslyn/Jesster !

Her comment #81 was chosen as a winner by random.org generator:






Congrats to the winner and thank you for participation, everyone!

Christmas giveaway - felt brooch

Christmas is in the air and it is time to share! That’s why some members of our team kindly agreed to offer you a giveaway right before the Holidays!

Gala, owner of Galafilc shop on Etsy, is a wonderful felt maker from Poland. She created many wonderful pieces for every day wear and for the holidays. Here is just a few:

It is Gala’s Birthday tomorrow and she has offered this lovely felted brooch as a giveaway today. Wouldn’t it be nice to wear during the Holidays? It is made of wool, decorated with glass beads, shell pieces and has a pin on back for easy wear. Stunningly beautiful!

Thank you, Gala and happy Birthday to you!

To enter this giveaway and win this wonderful brooch:

1. Visit her shop, browse her collection and leave a comment here on what you like the best (1 entry)

2. Heart Gala's shop (1 entry)

3. Follow/ subscribe our blog (1 entry)

4. Grab our button and place it on your blog (1 entry)

5. Follow/ subscribe Gala’s twitter/ facebook/ blog / flickr (1 entry each)

6. Share this giveaway on twitter/ facebook/ your blog (2 entries)

Please leave a separate comment on each entry and don't forget to LEAVE US YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS so that we could contact you!

This giveaway will run until next Friday, November 26^th, 2010, the winner will be chosen through Random.org and announced on Saturday, November 27^th!

Have fun and good luck!