A rainbow called batik
Talking of batik fabrics A technique to print and dye fabrics, by covering the zones that don’t have to be dyed with waterproofing materials such as clay, resins, vegetal pulps and starch; this is, in short, what the word “batik” refers to. It comes from the Indonesian words “amba” (to write) and titik (dot, drop), meaning what you’re drawing. Even though we don’t know exactly when this technique was started, we know for sure that it was already used in the 7th century, in several Asian countries. So, we can definitely state the batik is a quite ancient fabric printing technique, though it became famous in Europe not earlier than…
Keen crafters on the Earth, let’s party!
Creative flair and planet Earth: a winning combination! Here at Casa Cenina, we joined the celebration of the Earth Day last year. This event was created in 1970 and scheduled every year exactly one month and one day after the beginning of Spring (i.e. on April 22nd). This year we’ve just discovered that April 21st is also the World Creativity & Innovation Day and since creativity is our “natural habitat”, it was impossible not to join the two celbrations together . After all, these two special days are connected in terms of inspiration: as a matter of fact, the Earth Day is meant to highlight the necessity to preserve the planet’s natural resources,…
Flax, cotton and natural fibers: they’re better after mercerization!
The word sounds almost frightening, we know… However, we often read it on our clothes: “pure, mercerized cotton”. What does it mean exactly? And why keen stitchers should also be interested in it? The reason is very simple: because mercerization is a process giving the natural fibers composed by cellulose, such as those of cotton and flax, increased shine, hydroscopic capability (i.e. the ability to absorb humidity and disperse it, in short), as well as more dye affinity, that means the capability of a fabric of getting a certain color. On the whole, mercerization ensures better resistance to the final fabric. Developed in the mid 1800s by the English chemist…
Happy Easter!
It’s going to be another “Easter at home”, this year… but this doesn’t mean it also has to be less joyful, above all if you fancy doing some crafty shopping, with our surprise for you: until 09:00 of Tuesday, April 6th, enter the coupon G-PA2021 in your order on Casa Cenina and get an immediate 15% off on its total amount! ** (**) This coupon expires at 09:00am, April 6th, 2021. The discount does not include items that are already on special offer or discounted and Digital Delivery products. Offer cannot be combined with other offers / promotions / discounts.
A free rose for the all of us, from Luca’s
There’s a whole lot of us choosing and appreciating their cross-stitch and tapestry kits, so full of details and well refined, where flowers often play the leading role… and now, from Luca’s, here’s a lovely gift for us all: a wonderful freebie, with a delicate rose in off-white shades and without thorns! The queen of flowers, with so many meanings and, according to popular tradition, the favorite corolla of fairies and mythical figures, has always been selected to represent rebirth and therefore to depict Spring, too. Stitching it is going to be a pleasure, not only because it’s free, of course, but even for the agreeable, ivory color shades used…
The Madeira tradition
There’s a family run company, right at the heart of the fabulous Black Forest in Germany, that has been manufacturing threads since 1919 and it’s now led by the third generation of the above-mentioned family. Their name has been Madeira since 1975 and many of us know them mainly for their stranded-cotton skeins, rigorously made with Egyptian Giza cotton (world-renowned as the best cotton for weaving and threads), packaged in a handy 10-meter “spiral pack”, keeping the floss clean, new and tangle-free. Try them and let us know what you think! We have already tested them and found them very good: glossy, but not too glossy, and definitely resistant. Casa…
Bead embroidery: that’s how it works!
We had already anticipated this, just before Christmas 2020… we had bet, you would love bead embroidery kits and you actually do! That’s why we have decided to carry many more models, widening our selection, that you can see here: Among the best sellers (yes, many of you have already bought up), there are the lovely brooches: kits including all the materials needed to craft unusual and elegant brooches, not only to pin on your coats and jackets, but also to make a beanie more colorful and charming. However, as it often happens when new products are to be discovered and tried, many of you might have doubts: “Can I do…
Open letter to all Casa Cenina friends
Dear all, the whole Western world has been facing the most serious pandemy of the last two generations for almost one year now. In this long – when not too long – 12 months, here at Casa Cenina we’ve always been trying to work at full capacity, always in strict compliance with the anti-Covid regulations issued by our government, to go on enjoying with you the pleasure of crafting, finding in our favorite hobbies a way to divert our minds from unpleasant thoughts and to smile, even in times that have proved us both physically and mentally. If, from the one side, we do hope that these times are now…
The brand new Lanarte Secret Stitch Along is coming soon!
The very first Lanarte SSA of the year 2021 is coming soon! The announcement is official: Lanarte introduce their first “Mystery” in 2021 and, with it, they’re launching once again the thrilling “challenge” of cross stitching something and discover exactly “what” at the end, piece after piece of the pattern. The start is scheduled on March 19th, 2021 and the mystery will last for 10 weeks, with the 10 parts of the pattern emailed directly, every week and every Friday, following the “magic formula” that Lanarte has got us used to! Would you like to join the Secret Stitch Along? it’s easy! • Reserve the necessary kit immediately on Casa…
Free pattern cross stitich for you!
Thanks a lot, UB Design! Ulrike, the founder and designer of the UB Design brand, has conquered us all “cross-stitch addicted” in very few years, with her delicate and essential – though never banal – lines, always so sweet! This is why we’re delighted (and proud, we must admit!) to share a freebie that she designed expressly and exclusively for her fans and friends of Casa Cenina. Little roses talking of Spring already, in an extremely versatile pattern: you can stitch them together on a placemat for the first pic-nics in the open air, which we’ll soon enjoy again; or you can stitch them individually, on perfumed drawer sachets; or…
