Christmas Geneve

Finally I found a time to edit photos and write an article about Geneva, undeservedly forgotten after the article about Lausanne.

We stopped in Geneva before leaving,  after left luggage on the station we went for a walk.

Geneva is also a very beautiful city, which has a lot of special places. I must say that I liked more Lausanne, maybe because I felt Christmas there more, or because we were in Geneva on Sunday and the city seemed to be almost desert. I'm sure I will come back to Geneva and Lausanne in summer or spring )

Geneva - the third important city and the second largest city in Switzerland, although by our standards it's enough small - it has only about two hundred thousand inhabitants. The city is located on the shores of Lake Geneva, near the border with France. We were told that in good weather it is perfectly visible French coast.

As you probably know there are located the headquarters of the UN, the Red Cross and other international organizations, we certainly did not look for them, but just walked)

The main attraction of the city - Jeu d'Eau fountain (Water Jet) throws 500 liters of water per second to a height of 147 meters - it is one of the highest fountains in the world.

Vintage restored wheel steamers, built in the period from 1904 to 1928 are sailing on Lake Geneva.

Another interesting and unique attractions of Geneva - Hours of flowers in the English Garden at the Promenade du Lac with the largest second hand in the world. Its length - 2.5 m, and the overall diameter - five. Bright unusual bed - the result of the activities of a diverse team of craftsmen - watchmakers, designers, florists and gardeners. Several times a year floral arrangement is updated according to the season.

Summer photo

Near the Palace of Justice there was a wine shop, Enoteca, which is called - La Cave du Palace de Justice)) It smiled my husband-lawyer))

Well, the main amusement of Geneva is feeding swans. But even more I liked cute ducks that were hiding under a low bridge, and when someone threw bread for swans, swam as fast torpedoes and snatched the bread under the nose of sluggish swans ))

A huge number of gulls

St. Peter's Basilica in the historic center of the city.

The historic center is small, located on a hill. I liked it more street (Grand Rue) - patrimony of antique dealers and artists.

Here we leave the way it is in front of the station so many bikes.

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!!

Amazing Christmas Lausanne

By accident in December we went to Switzerland to the ball. His cousin lives there near Lausanne, and she actually invited us to this event and hosted us. We went for 3 days, so we can spent on the day for Lausanne and one for Geneva before departure.

It was cold, icy wind, when we visited Lausanne so we decided to walk only in the center and don't go down to the lake.

The city is very beautiful, especially decorated for Christmas. I think in the spring and summer it is absolutely amazing. The decorations on the streets were non-traditional, modern, not the way we usually think about them - for example, clouds made of white wire, hanging men, perhaps, they were angels, but at first glance did not seemed so.

Lausanne - the 4th largest city in Switzerland, it is remarkable that is on 2 levels. This is due to the fact that it was built on three hills, which are connected by bridges. Elevation here is from 373 to 871 meters above sea level. And Since 1994, Lausanne - the official Olympic capital of the world. Here are the headquarters of the International Olympic Committee, as well as key institutions for managing the Olympic movement and international sports.

Taking off the bus we got straight to the Church of St. Francis.

Here began and Christmas Market, where there was a lot of things: and knitwear, and soap and cosmetics, and jewelry.

Every weekend in the streets of the old city it is also a market, so the streets were filled with vendors of everything: lots of flowers, branches and all you need for Christmas decorations, as well as ready-made Christmas decorations for the house, vegetables and fruits, homemade canned goods and more.

mushrooms :)

After strolling through the streets and bought a jam, we went to another square with the Cathedral of Notre Dame - one of the most beautiful and important Gothic churches of Europe. At one time, it was a center of pilgrimage. Now there is a organ of 7,000 pipes.

On this square Fair moved into the category cheese-sausage (there were even Italian cheeses and pasta) and then became a flea market where I bought a pair of spoons/forks/knives for food photos.

By the way, I really liked the singing of the choir, which collected donations in the pot on the side of the photo:

And, of course, we haven't forgotten to buy in this shop some Swiss chocolate to bring it at home :)

One of the squares in the center called square Palud, decorated in the center with a beautiful colored fountain "Justice". On the square there is a clock that shows every hour a small musical performance. We were lucky and we just went at one o'clock on the square.

Here, actually, I drinking gluehwein  :)

This is me before entering at the ball, which was held at the Beau-Rivage Palace, which is one of the most luxurious hotels not only in Switzerland but also in Europe and in the world. 

Dala Horse free cross stitch pattern

The Dala Horse or Dalecarlian horse is a popular Swedish handicraft and souvenir. The name comes from its home province, Dalarna, in central Sweden. In the old days the Dala Horse was mostly used as a toy for children. In modern times it has become a symbol of Dalarna, as well as Sweden in general. Also now the horse has become the sign of good luck and these carvings are often given as gifts for hosts, family and friends. The authentic Dala Horse is carved from wood, but the symbol is now famous and replicated is a variety of mediums.

Mariya, the owner of LaMariaCha shop is a Scandinavian folk art lover I just couldn’t resist and had to create this Christmas ornament pattern. 

 You can use any color, not necessarily to use those in the picture. They can be embroidered on plastic canvas using woolen thread, then use this pattern for Christmas decorations or just put it in a hoop. These simple stylish embroideries can be a wonderful Christmas present for your family and friends or you can simply decorate your home.

If you use linen canvas, it’s better to begin from the middle. If you use plastic one, then began from any angle.

Free printable Christmas gift tags

It's december now and Christmas is already here. Everybody is thinking about gifts for friends, parents, family. Or mayby you already bought it, like me and made a beautiful package after searching in Pinterest wrapping boards)) 
Just the last touch - print small gift tags with letter and attach to the gift bags, so everybody can known its gift: "N" for Nando, "K" for Katrin, "F" for Francesco etc. You can put also whole name of the person because of course can be persons with the names began from the same letter. In this case you can hang "NANDO" on the thread and Nando will recognize his gift immediately.
You can use these letters also in your scrapbooking project.

You can print it easily on home printer. Make right click and save the image. You can download it here in good quality: 300dpi and 8.5x11" paper size with 1" circles.

Use common 1" circle puncher and cut out letters you need. You can create in photo redactor a sheet with personalizzed letter (in case you need to letters H for exemple). Hand the tag on the nice Christmas ribbon or simple red or green ribbon.

Please, be aware that the digital collage sheet is not to be sold as digital or printed collage sheet.

Crochet snowflakes coasters for Christmas table decor DIY

Of course, the idea is simple, but to me (and I'm crocheting snowflakes for many years), it came in mind just this year, that's it)

You will need:

• scissors
• Felt
• crochet thread for number 8 or 10
• hook (pick up to the thickness of the thread)
• glue (if you want to stick snowflakes, the second option - to sew

Let's start with snowflakes. I used the following scheme:

I never made written crochet tutorials so I made a diagram. You can make other snowflake if you'd like. 

Here I made some photos so you can understans better:

Then pin the snowflake and iron. Do not need to stratch it.

Now cut out hexagons from felt, I cut out 4, but I think I will do some more later)

The last step - glue or sew snowflakes on hexagons. Then put for a couple of hours under a heavy book.

It's ready: 

Unusual touch for your Christmas tabe is ready!

DIY Christmas tree ornament from wine corks

I don't want to buy Christmas ornaments even more. So, I checked my craft supplies and came up with these: Christmas tree ornaments made from wine corks.

Yes, I love recycling) This is wonderful project to make with the kids! It happens that I live in a wine region and I don't have problems with wine corks) 

All you need is this:

- 4 wine corks 

- glue 

- a (serrated) knife to slice the corks 

- some thread or ribbon

To begin, cut wine corks horizontally with a knife into two parts (Do it yourself if you make project with kids)

Glue the tree working by rows (first 3 then 2) and next glue the rows together in a 3-2-1 triangular setting. So your Christmas tree will not come apart.

Take some thread, ribbon and work it around your tree twice. Make a tight double knot at the top. Make another knot so you have a loop to hang up your tree. 

We still have the two pieces of the wine cork. Take one of them and glue it or attach it with small nail at the bottom - so we got a trunk.

Here it's ready:

Today we are decorating our Christmas tree )

In next lession I will show how to make cute felt ornaments so you can decorate all tree with handmade ornaments!