A handmade girl in a digital world. - Thoughts from my handwriting corner.

For the past couple of weeks, I've been getting a stream of handwritten thank you notes in the mail. They've been lovely thank you's for handmade holiday gifts. They made me think about how much I love the lost personal touch of an actual 3 dimensional note, or card, in actual human hand writing. I mentioned before that I'm not into New Years Resolutions, but I plan on establishing the habit of taking time this year, to keep in 3 dimensional touch, by handwritten, postcards, greeting cards, notes and the like. I've designated this little area of my room as "My Handwriting Corner". I closed my laptop, fancied up the corner a bit with some crochet flowers, and stocked this little box that my neice gave me, with postcards, blank cards, thank you notes, and sweet little envelopes.

Hearts and Roses - A Valentines Day Pattern Pairing

From now until Valentines Day, receive a free gift copy of the Poppies Galore Pattern, when you order the Oversized Tote Pattern. Here, I used the poppies galore flowers to embellish a bag made with the oversized tote pattern. The tote was made using Red Heart Yarn in Claret.

You can find the Oversized tote Pattern at www.francinetoukou.com

I think I'm getting obsessed with pattern pairings, but I just love exploring all the different possibilites. I'm putting together a slipper pattern lookbook. If you'd like a copy, click the like box on my facebook page, and I'll post a link on your page later in the week.

Here's the link to my facebook page: www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

I HOPE YOU LIKE!!!!!

Crochet Slipper Lookbook - Complimentary Copy

I love to use my imagination when it comes to styling craft projects, so I'm putting together a lookbook to share, that features lots and lots of photos, showing different simply slippers designs and styling ideas. To get your complimentary copy, click the like button on my facebook page, and I'll post a copy on your wall when the lookbook comes out next week!!!!

Here's the link: www.facebook.com/pages/Francine-Toukou/107934249246008?sk...

P.S. These were made using the Head to Toe pattern from www.francinetoukou.com

Spectator Poppytoes

When I was a young lass, my grandmother used to wear spectator pumps. I thought that they were quite the lovely "classics", but found them a bit too serious and stuffy for my own personal tate. I made this "happy-fied" pair of spectator slippers that are just the opposite of stuffy and serious. They don't have high heels, they're soft, and they are gloriously vibrant with hot pink poppies!!!!!! I used the poppy toes pattern to make them, but instead of using just one color of yarn, I crocheted the first four rounds in onyx, and the rest of the slipper in linen.

www.francinetoukou.com.

Fleurs Galore Hair Pins

These cute little flower pins were made using the fleurs galore pattern. Instead of using the worsted weight yarn, and larger hook, I used cotton thread and a US size 2 needle. This yielded a much smaller flower. I made a little lookbook that features a number of projects that can be made using the fleurs galore pattern. You can view it at www.francinetoukou.com

Happy Crafting to You!
-Francine

I Don't believe in New Years Resolutions

I don't believe in New Years Resolutions, but I'm making a commitment to do more painting this year. I'd forgotten how much fun it actually is. I'm still pinning crochet flowers to everything that can't outrun me! I put together this little lookbook. It shows some ideas on ways that the flowers can be used.
You can view the whole lookbook HERE