Crumpets!

The other day I tried my hand at making homemade crumpets for the very first time. It was incredibly exciting. Would they taste like the authentic ones you find in England or even store bought good enough? Though I of course didn't use a round mould to make them perfect and though they didn't become as hole-y as the real deal, I was pretty dang pleased! They had the same fun texture and tasted delicious... now my freezer is packed with a dozen of them for future tea times.

I'm going to have to invest in some round forms because I love crumpets!

I used this recipe by the way...

Happy Halloween! & sneak peek!

Halloween was quiet for me this year... no costumes no pumpkins no candy. Kind of sad, but Halloween isn't really one of my favorite holidays anyhow.

But to not be completely un-festive and lame I dressed up my nails for a date with boyfriend last night.

Pretty huh?!

















I've started work on collection two. Already! Here you have a sneak peek at one of my new square scarf designs under my new glittery manicure, can you tell which historical figure it is suppose to depict? I am also working on one of my largest designs to date, a long big, cozy winter scarf with intricate swirling ribbons, pearls and chains motiv.

BTW SCARF UPDATE: unfortunately the scarves are still not completed, blah, so I will not be able to have them in store tomorrow Nov. 1st! but soon... I'll keep you posted.

Revamped Etsy

I am super dee duper excited over all the new wonderful changes happening over at Etsy.com! (As compared to other sites that are constantly updated for no reason... ah hum Facebook. )

Why do you say I adore the new Etsy?  Well oh my goshness not only can you now Like my EmmaKisstina page on Facebook directly from my store (which is awesome!) but as a seller I now have all kinds of amazing stats to help me figure out what prints are favorites, and when and why people find my shop etc. It is just great!

Can you tell I'm excited? hehe

Nigella and Drawing

I can't think of anything more wonderfully pleasurable than drawing and watching cooking shows. At the moment I'm having a bit of a Nigella kick. I've watched countless hours of Nigella's different 'cookery' shows, as one says in British English, while working on a few different projects and my first design for my future second scarf collection this weekend. I love her un-snobby all in fashion of cooking and her literary adjective rich descriptions... I think she's been improving my vocabulary!

Though I can also just sit in silence while drawing, I prefer watching something, to keep me company I suppose. I don't even usually pay attention fully... it doesn't matter.


Here are a few Nigella recipes I've been tempted to try...

Pepper-Seared Tuna

Chilled caramelized oranges with greek yoghurt

Cambodian hot and sour beef salad

via Nigella.com

I'm not sure if I've made my obsession with food apparent as of yet, but I seriously am obsessed.

Hello Friday!

What happened to this week? No idea where all the time went. (I'm seriously sitting here trying to remember what I did tuesday-thursday... am I getting old? haha)

I got a little scarf update! They have gone out of printing production, hipp hipp, and now are getting gorgeously finished with pretty narrow sewn hems. So excited to see them all again! Not too much more time to wait...

And while I'm waiting I've already been dreaming up new scarf designs, and even started drawing one of them. This one is huge, very fun! I've already spent several hours mapping out the new design. Yippie!


I'd love to show you some of my inspiration if you'd like to see it... via new favorite Pinterest of course.

Source: google.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: Uploaded by user via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: anthropologie.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: curatedstyle.tumblr.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: beachvintage.bigcartel.com via Kristina on Pinterest

Source: anthropologie.com via Kristina on Pinterest

A new week, and new work

It really is fall now. Blah, it's 6 degrees celsius outside, burr. Thank goodness I am inside drawing pretty pictures, and looking at lots of blogs, and watching far too many episodes of Bones. I'm having the most productive Monday in weeks, strange, usually I am pretty bad at Mondays.

Anywho, I had a lovely working weekend... got so many of my projects started and finished and even had time for a lovely long fall walk in the chilly air.

Want to see my recent custom projects...

A custom 'What's in my bag' illustration for a lovely stylish lady.

A custom portrait for blogger Being Dena.

and then a kid filled blog header for BloggMamman.

It was equally fun working on all of these projects... funny they all have a similar color palette.


Happy Monday!

Saturday Favorite

One of my favorite Saturday pastimes is flipping through the newspaper's large section of real estate for sale.... for fun only of course. (We won't be able to buy a house of our own for a while, sigh)

Look at this gem I found. If only I had 10 million Swedish Crowns to spare.

So gorgeously white and modern and clean with high ceilings, oh and a huge roof terass. I wish!


Have a lovely weekend!

Hermes Silk Scarves

Back to scarves! Can't help myself. I truly believe there is a scarf revival going on. Don't you?

When designing my own collection I of course did a little research first. Research into the King of scarf making, Hermes of course. I in by no means can compete or reach the same level of craftsmanship but at least I can try.

As apposed to my scarves which are digitally printed allowing any and all colors printed for a digital file, Hermes scarves are screen printed with natural dies, up to 8 colors on each scarf. Each color layer has to set for 40 hours before the next layer of color can be applied. (Now you know why their scarfs cost a small fortune) All the designs are drawn for hand as well. Amazing! I know myself how long it takes, and their designs are even more intricate.

I would just die of happiness if I could one day visit their studio but living vicariously through pictures works for now.

via Emma's Vintage

The Amazing Rob Ryan

I hope you'll take the time to watch this amazingly inspiring peek into the paper cutting world of the Amazing Rob Ryan.




He is soooo talented. I can't even imagine the patience needed to cut out all the little details.

Shrugs...

Got to take a mini little break from all the scarf stuff, otherwise you'll get tired of me. (Hopefully not though!)

I'm in love with these hand knitted shrugs by New York based VitalTemptation on Etsy... major want!

So much talent on Etsy!

Pretty Puppy

Can I keep it? Please!

Source: cassiesclosetinc.com via Maryann on Pinterest

Meet the Scarves!

Here they are... Available in my shop November 1st!


Marie Antoinette

Red Coral

Navy Pearls and Chains

Fuschia Floral

and last but not least, Glamour

A few important specs...
Size: 93cm x 93cm (36"x36")
Digitally printed on 100% Habutai silk
Printed in the United Kingdom
Machine sewn narrow hems, made in England

Do you like them? Tell me tell me tell me! Which is your favorite?

I'm already dreaming up the next collection. I am thinking of including silk kimonos and pocket squares for the gentlemen in our lives... as well as scarves in a few different sizes. But this time you'll be able to follow along. No more secrets. yay!