3 Blogs to Read in August

1. Crafts: Textile Works by Viki (Hungarian)

We all need some support at the first steps (me too!) when a little attention can boost our motivation and confidence. Before we make this first step we are really not sure if we can do it or we are just dreamers but once you start your dream you must never stop believing.
This is what Viki is doing right now. She is working with textile, creating all these little lovely stuff that you can also buy in her webshop. Follow her blog and you will see the way she develops and gets better at what she is doing, each day.

2. Ideas: El Mundo de Reciclaje (Spanish)

Are you already recycling or do you just think you are? Take a look at this blog (even if you don't speak Spanish) to see how far recycling can go. Think twice!

3. The district we live in: Napi Illés Utca (Hungarian)

For me, I love the colorful and never boring district of Budapest called "Nyócker" by the locals. It is not a posh district, I know, but the funniest for sure. I chose it because it is close to the company I work at and because it is at the same time almost in the city center. But there are also less funny things happening here which require us to look at them through a different glass in order not to get too disturbed.
The author of this almost newborn blog is my friend who as a social worker by original profession is just perfect at looking through this glass. She goes to work to the very deepest streets of this district and shares her stories with us. Funny... or not?

3 Blogs to Read in July

1. (Still in love with tribal) Jewelry: Jewellery India

Again I will start the monthly collection with a jewelry-theme blog. After the African jewelry I recommended for June this time you can dive into the rich Indian treasury which many of us admire from a distance but know very little about it, so here is the chance to learn and discover. Unfortunately this is also a less frequently updated blog but still worth visiting once in a while.

2. For all the wonderful creatures: Animal Science Blog

You may have noticed so far that I am a big fan of nature, especially of animals. I was looking for a website which is for people like me. I mean, there are loads of blogs and sites where you can smile over cute photos of puppies and such and this is also a lovely thing but it does not satisfy my need for knowing and understanding more of the animal world. At the same time, I am no biologist. So I needed a site that explains precisely and deeply in a way that even ordinary fans understand.
This blog is just what I was looking for. I have been following for a while and it always contains articles that are interesting – hopefully for my dear readers too.

3. The odd one out: A Blog that Doesn’t Exist – Yet!

It is summer holiday season so I was about to recommend you something on the topic. I have been trying to search for a blog that is for people who love to travel and see the world. So far, easy. But by traveling I mean something more than going to the closest Croatian beach and be on your back for seven days or to pay for a luxury vacation in a Spanish wellness hotel. I wanted to read about authentic spots, wildlife tours, hiking, discovering places and things like the mountains of Romania, the people of Laos or the history of Uruguay. No such blog exists as I had to learn. I found a couple which are sponsored by travel agencies (veeery independent, yes), some that are updated once a year, or others that offer content that could as well be written by school kids, all of them very nicely designed but that was the last aspect that mattered to me.
Bottom line: La Kukac is now considering opening a new blog for this niche topic. Well, until just recently I did not think it was niche at all.

Lazy Kukac... or not?

I know I haven't posted anything since last Thursday and it's a shame and all of that I know. But it's not because I am lazy.

I just have been focusing on different things during these days: our friend's hen party (it was grrrreat!), my friend's after-hen party, and a lot of sports. Last Friday was the first time I have ever tried yoga - hm, I guess I will stay with Pilates and Callanetics... I feel like I could work out every day and I do it as much as I can now, I am fed up with sitting all day in my office chair and becoming a muffin!

So I promise I will soon update the blog again with some jewelry, all I need to do is uploading the photos and have a rainy weekend just as it looks like it will be again.

But if you feel like reading a blog featuring some hand-made stuff, check out Viki's blog here. She is more diligent than me these days :)

3 Blogs to Read in June

Click on the blog titles to get to the blogs.

1. Jewelry: Variant Soul Jewelry (English)

Only in case the owner of this blog posts anything in June (I strongly hope for that). Dive into the colorful and fantastic African and tribal jewelry with Afua, who has been designing for 30 years and learnt the basics from her Mom. Finally something really authentic. Afua, now it is us who have a lot to learn from you.

2. Passion for...: La Mia Passione (Hungarian)

Written by a passionate, out-of-the-ordinary car-dealer in a funny and sometimes painfully honest style. Anything about cars and not only cars. Entertaining even for women as the author is not simply listing up technical features but captures the soul of the cars he talks about. And another blogger who I would like to strongly encourage to write more often!

3. Ladies welcome: Csinicsomag (Hungarian)

This blog is written by a couple of accessories-fan friends who not only recommend stuff but also sell them at a very reasonable price. They pair bracelets with handbags to make sure you don't have to. Are you "csini" today?

3 Blogs to Read in May

1. Personal: Egy csepp falusi élet (Hungarian)

Life in the Hungarian countryside (about two steps from where I spend all my weekends) with all its ups and downs. Zsuzsa, the blogger posts frequently and in a lively manner just about everything from their animals to the fresh homemade cow- or goat-cheese she produces.

2. Crafts: Gata Valquira (Portuguese)

Never mind this blog is in Portuguese, just take a look at these wonderfully unique crochet jewelry pieces. Surely you have never seen anything such before. Could just be Alice in Wonderland!

3. Arts: Viajero y sevillista (Spanish)

Why not travel around the world? Or if you can't do that, why not travel around the world with the photos of Martin?

Photo by Martin Coché

La Kukac on Etsy

Today finally I had the chance to update my brand new shop at Etsy.

As you know, I am not doing this thing in search of money or fame, I just feel like I can create something in the field of jewelry that might be new to many people while I feel good when making these things. I am trying to incorporate my passion and love for nature into everything that I make with my own two hands and sometimes it takes time, sometimes it takes more money than would if I mainly used plastic components.

I truly believe that the most beautiful things on Earth are natural. We, humans are flooding our world with more and more plastic and artificial stuff every day, with things we don't use, we waste energy and cut trees when all we should do is just switch off the lights and open the window.

If you like any of the pieces I make, just click on the link above to visit my shop. If you have opinion about this or any other topic, let me know by sending me comments - positive or negative can both come. Or if you just want to tell me you liked any of the posts or pieces of jewelry, just continue clicking on the "Like" button and you will make me plain happy!

SOLD

3 Blogs to Read in April

1. Cause: Vizsla Napló (Hungarian)

This is the blog of a Hungarian humane society working mainly with one dog breed: vizsla. They save the dogs and try to find new homes for them. Please help these wonderful vizslas to discover peace and happiness in life.

2. Crafts: Bozsomati (Hungarian)

Soemone applying her sewing skills in every walk of life, in many fields, but always with her own unique style. She does not sell (yet, hopefully) at Etsy or any other marketplace but I am sure that she will be happy to work hard on any order you give her. Take a look and see how many colors and motifs a make-up pouch can have!

3. Arts: Llywarch (English)

No words - pure visual art. (Photo from Llywarch)

3 Blogs to read in March

1. Cause: Fogadj örökbe! (Hungarian)

Dejke is an abandoned and mistreated dog - nothing unusual so far. But some people found her and decided to give her another chance, her big chance in life and heal her physical and mental scars. The story is beautiful, the road is long, the blog is a must-read. Come and support this family in their daily tasks around a dog that needs to learn how to trust people again.

2. Film: The Film Sufi (English)
I would love to write another post on movies every day but this is not my main focus and there are people who can do it much better than me. Fortunate as it is, they also watch good films. The Film Sufi is one of them.

3. Arts: Artista Blog (English/Hungarian)
Are you still a kid deep inside? (I think I am...) Do you have children in the house who love teddy bears and dragons? Then this blog is worth visiting once in a while. Írisz Agócs, the Hungarian illustrator posts her drawings here - and I am proud to tell you that she illustrated the Christmas gift cards I gave to my family in 2010!


© Agócs Írisz

Browsers

It hasn't got much to do with jewelry, but it has a lot to do with the blog so let me share an impression with you. I was checking my statistics and I was so happy to see that Firefox and Chrome have won over IE among the browsers that my visitors use! Of course we have some users on Safari and other mobile browsers as well, but these two browsers are the winners and IE is just the third. I have been a Chrome fan ever since I first used it at my friend, Gréti. Before that I browsed with Firefox, not bad either, but Chrome is a huge step ahead. Thanks Gréti!

From Bozsomati

When celebrating Christmas 2010 I received a very special present from one of my friends (the one of the three who got the bracelets from me). It was hand-made by her sister, the blogger Bozsomati. I would like to show it to you on this blog as it is very closely related to my jewelry-making hobby.

It is a medium sized pouch for my beadworking. As you see below, when you open it up it has little pockets inside, each of which contains a little bottle to be used for beadworking supplies. I keep my stoppers, hooks, and other supplies and accessories here. As you see it has also some space for a small box with all the smallest wooden beads I use. It comes really handy as I travel every weekend so I can just throw it into my luggage with some other small bags containing all the beads and accessories.

This was one of the best gifts I have ever been given and I was so lucky to get something truly hand-made especially for me.

I hope you like it too. In case you would like to see more of Bozsomati's works, you can always check out her (Hungarian) blog under the links on the left side of this page. She is working mainly with textile but if you think this means only bags and blankets, you will be surprised just for how many different purposes this material can be used!

Csipkebogyó

The first thing that made me smile today is this bear in the blog of Esthi. She has announced a game, anyone can participate just by leaving a comment until 20 January. Check it out by following the link above and win this cute bear!