Cupcake Love

Raspberry and strawberry cupcakes with buttercream icing and a raspberry on top and chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing and a chocolate heart on top.

© Sybille Sterk

Do not copy or publish this in any way, shape or form without my written permission.

Featured in the Treasury West: Raspberries and Blueberries Bracelet

What a Day! I just found out my Raspberries and Blueberries bracelet has been featured in the Etsy Treasury West by Cait from Barefootweaver.



Check out her Etsy shop for lovely woven cuff bracelets and shawls in the most yummy colours. :-)

Raspberry Shawl

This is the shawl I've been knitting for the past week.

It was a bit of a mixed bag as far as the knitting was concerned. I'd just knitted several lace patterns and this pattern seemed to be boring compared to knitting lace, which made it difficult for me to focus and meant I made mistakes, although none of them are obvious. However, I did make a few changes, partly because of the mistakes. My edge wasn't as clean and tidy as I'd hoped so I edged it with crochet and emphasised the ridges to get even more of a 'shibori' look, which I like better. It's also longer and I didn't include the tabs from the original pattern.

The Rowan Kidsilk in Vino I've used is absolutely stunning and the simple pattern and texture work perfectly together. My lovely flower brooch matches as well. :-)

All in all, I am very pleased with the finished result and think it was well worth it. Laura's book 'Boutique Knits' contains lots of lovely patterns that can easily be adapted to suit you. I'd highly recommend it to who wants to knit something a bit different.

Raspberries and Blueberries Scarflette

I got some delicious yarn for my birthday from Caroline. :-)

It is a mix of mohair and silk from Habu, probably my favourite yarn company. They have a huge range of unusual and high quality yarns that are lovely to work with and that make wonderful garments.

I've used Habu before in the blue Shosenshi shrug and the tiara and matching corsage I made last year and I am currently working on a lacy frost flower scarf with more Habu yarn.

This is a really versatile scarf because it's fairly 'skinny' and so soft.

You can wear it long:

Tied in a bow:

Just tied:


It is simply knit in stocking stitch with three rows of beads crocheted into the fabric at one end:


Each row of beads is different. I've used pink lined clear beads, metallic pink beads and purple velvet iris beads:

This scarf is mine, but I will make more like this as they're perfect for Spring and Summer as they're so light and a brilliant way of adding a splash of colour.

More commissions

Been busy this weekend, but especially today. Have been asked to make some earrings in red and gold/yellow and here they are.

I've used lots of red beads: red shells, red jade, coral, wood, Magatama and Miyuki drops, carnelian, cranberry crackle beads, flower beads, Swarovski crystals (Siam and Papadasha), and seed beads in different shades of red on bronze findings. The close-up below shows the beautiful beads in detail.


Here's the second pair in all it's golden shimmer:

For this pair I have used warm golden and cream shells, topaz, citrine, and amber, wood, Miyuki cubes in different shades (copper, gold and yellow), Magatama and Miyuki drops, Swarovski beads in different shades of yellow, from intense to pale lemon, little stripy heart beads and glass and seed beads in different shades of yellow/gold/amber/topaz. The whole lot has been strung on copper with two different types of chain.

Here's the third commission. A necklace with a cluster of beads hanging from a gorgeous deep red suede thong.

There are too many beads to list. The picture below shows more detail.

Ballerina, Ballerina

More treasures than I can recount her on one little bracelet. From little ballerina charms to red and golden hearts, butterflies, connectors (simple and ruby red) to golden and red beads. All vintage! Apart from most of the chain.

I wanted this bracelet to show love of ballet with all its glamour and passion. Three types of chain are strung between three connectors and the clasp in varying lengths and loops, representing in a way those step patterns you sometimes see in books trying to teach you to dance. Three little ballerinas are dancing their way around the bracelet with hearts and bows, charms and beads adding drama.

Rosie, I hope it was worth the wait! :-)

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