Congratulation to winners of Summer Wedding Essentials team contest

Thank you to all Russian Artists team shops for taking part in our Summer Wedding Essentials team contest. The contest was a huge success! Fifty six team shops participated in the contest submitting their amazing and beautiful summer wedding themed items. All these unique and special creations hand made by Russian Artists team members are just gorgeous! Each and every item submitted will glam up any summer wedding and help make it an unforgettable and special event!

Although all the items submitted by Russian Artists team shops were outstanding a few of them received the biggest number of votes. The voting took place on Russian Artists team Facebook page. Everyone is welcome to check out beautiful handmade creations by Russian Artists team shops!

The winners of the Summer Wedding Essentials team contest are:

1. White Wedding Wool-felt coat by marinaasta


2. Wedding White Crochet Flower Barefoot Sandals by
Lasunka


3. Nuno felting white ivory baby dress by Baymut


4. Event Decor for the Wine Glass by MamaTita


5. Nuno felted wrap shawl for wedding and special occasions by JaneBoFelt


6. CUSTOM MONOGRAM for Weddings, Proms and Celebrations by BelleCoccinelle


7. Sterling Silver Earrings with Swarovski Crystal Beads by AroundBeads


Congratulations to our wonderful winners!
Thank you to all our amazing Russian Artists team shops that took part in the contest!!!

Count of votes by TonyaUtkina

Macramé by Tatyana (TFedorik)

Welcome to meh-crame! The shop’s name is wordplay using the sound a cat makes (meh) and the name of the technique (macramé). When a cat is content, she says “meh,” or so I think. I am like that cat when I get to work with beads, I am so content.


Micro-macramé is an art form akin sculpture because it is three-dimensional. The work plane evolves under my fingers from the cords, netting, and the knots, which are formed into a desired shape. I use silk, nylon, hemp, and cotton thread combined with a variety of semi-precious stones and beads. Beading and micro-macramé provide an opportunity for me to explore my creativity and visit an alternate reality where there is not stress, no boss, and no boring chores. I love the feeling of looking at a completed project and thinking, "Did I make this?" The project comes together subconsciously.



All of a sudden I have an idea, and I do not know where it came from. I know what influences me, the work of other beaders and macramé artists, such as Tatiana Van Iten, Joan Michaels Paque, Fran Stone, flowers that I grow and admire, and the desire to feel like a princess. Yes, it sounds childish, but when I hear complements from the friends about my necklaces, I feel special and this is probably what drives my desire to create yet another piece. It is similar to creating an alternate reality filled with beauty and perfection.



Sometimes, the ideas come to mind when I am reading an article for work, and I start drawing on the article itself. Then, a few months later, when I return to the article, I discover my drawing and think, "Wow, that's a great idea, I should really make this." It's a great feeling, when I have more ideas than I can possibly implement. I hope this feeling never goes away.


You can read more about my creative process and current projects at my blog.


Here is what Annika de Groot says about my art: “Look how vibrant and lacy this sunflower is: She has such a flair for combining what looks like bobbin lacework with double half hatch sequences to create a wonderful interplay of delicate and sturdy sections. I love how she intersperses seed beads within the rows of double half hitches. This adds a pleasing (well, at least to my eyes) texture that adds dainty points of sparkle.”

Girly and Romantic Style Is "In" for Spring/Summer 2011

Taking a look at all the trends for the upcoming season, there is no doubt that spring/summer 2011 will be full of bright colors and romantic style where a minimalist, tailored look is combined with romantic lace, ruffles, frills and draping. Floral prints are everywhere

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

It is all about flirty and playful mood, romantic dresses and appropriate hairstyles. Romantic mood in such a tough time is good for everyone.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Lace tunic is appealing as it is cool and comfortable for summer. it has an easy-to-wear shape and once you find the right backdrop you can team them with flats (for a cute little-girl-next-door-look) or hefty heels to give you height and sophistication.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Shrugs make a great choice too - they are lovely and snuggly and also glamorous enough to not spoil the look of your carefully chosen dress.

And, yes, corsets have made a huge comeback this season being shown by many designers.

Photo sources from top, then left to right: 1, 2, 3, 4

Accessories are always a perfect accent to your style and your dress. Don't forget to wear a beautiful and elegant neck flower chokers and put a flower in your hair.

Story by Lyudmila (Woolsolution)
Photo collages by Irina (IrinaPhotography)

Victorian women’s fashion

Let’s talk a little about Victorian women’s fashion and review some contemporary terms related to the subject. Attempting not go deeply into historical uses, in this brief article I intent to give an introduction to the terms “Victoriana,” “Neo-Victorianism,” “Steampunk”, “Gothic fashion,” and “Lolita fashion” and provide some illustrations.

I personally look back on the Victorian era with wistful nostalgia. While dreaming of that time, I imagine a romantic world of rich balls, ladies in lacy ruffled dresses and swell hats, and cottages with old-fashioned flowers. But this is all lyrics. Let’s get closer to a brief study of the subject itself. The source I primarily used was Wikipedia.


Victorian fashion comprises the various fashions and trends in British culture throughout the Victorian era (the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901).


When I think about the garments worn in those times, the first to come to my mind are long gowns, corsets, crinoline, sheer shawls, capes, fancy hats, and opera-length gloves.



Corsets highlighted a woman's tiny waist, exaggerating bust, and amplifying hips. Day dresses had wide pagoda sleeves and high necklines with lace or tattered collars. Evening dresses had low necklines and short sleeves, and were worn with short gloves or fingerless lace or crocheted mitts. Tea gowns, characterized by unstructured lines, light fabrics, and frothy or feminine detail were introduced for informal entertainment at home.


In the 1880s, riding costumes had a very special place in the Victorian fashion. They consisted of matching jacket and skirt without a bustle, a high-collared shirt or chemisette, and a top hat with a veil.


In the 1890s, women's fashion became simpler and less extravagant. Crinoline, replaced by bustles later, as well as bustles, disappeared. Corsets were still used, but dresses were not as tight as before. Trumpet shape skirts, fitting closely over the hip and flaring just above the knee, high necks and puffed sleeves became popular.


Neo-Victorian is “an aesthetic movement, which amalgamates Victorian and Edwardian aesthetic sensibilities with modern principles and technologies.”


Steampunk is a contemporary cultural trend during the 1980s and early 1990s. This may be described as Neo-Victorianism. Steampunk borrows fashion trends from the Victorian, Wilhelminean and Edwardean Aeras. Typically, this may include gowns, corsets, petticoats and bustles, and also suits with vests, coats and spats. Peculiar are military-inspired garments, accented with a mixture of technological accessories, such as: timepieces, parasols, goggles and ray guns. Steampunk characteristic in fashion is also Victorian-style clothing that has tattered, distorted edges.


Another example of Victorian fashion incorporated into contemporary style is the Gothic and Lolita Fashion.

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