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Circular Celtic border knot tutorial, basic braid

9/30/2023

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Circular Celtic knot on grid paper.

Hi again everyone! Are you ready for another Celtic drawing tutorial? 

This one is more complex than the border knots we’ve previously done. If you haven’t seen those tutorials, I suggest you click on the “Related blogs you may want to read” links at the end of this blog before attempting this circular Celtic knot tutorial. This tutorial is more advanced, and it will be beneficial to learn some basics first! 

Having said that, anyone can do this! I broke the process down into easy-to-digest bite-size snippets so that even a Celtic knot newbie can follow along!

There are a lot of steps, so let’s jump right in…




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Indoor Halloween Decor Inspiration

9/27/2023

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Get into the Halloween spirit with these 11 home accents from Amazon!
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Images from Amazon.com. Click the links below to view or purchase.
October is upon us, and if you haven’t started your Halloween decorating yet…well…what are you waiting for?! 

Maybe you just need a bit of inspiration…So here are some unique indoor Halloween decor items to infuse the Halloween spirit into those tables, mantles, counters, and other interior spaces. Whether you are just looking for a few simple pieces of decor or you’re one of those who go full-on Halloween in your home, this list has something for everyone! 


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Dark Academia Decor for the Fall

9/22/2023

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Surround yourself with these 12 dark and cozy items from Amazon this fall!
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Images from Amazon.com. Click the links below to view or purchase.

​What is this Dark Academia decor style that is all the rage right now? It’s certainly not a new aesthetic, having been around since Victorian times. This dark and broody decor style has now been “rediscovered” by a new generation looking for a mature design style that feels like an escape from our hectic modern world. 

The look can be achieved with dark woods, Victorian furniture, antique ornate frames, and bookshelves full of collegiate material and old books. Decorate the space with accents that harken back to the age of discovery, such as botanical prints, species of butterflies in picture frames, scientific equipment like scales, a world atlas or globe, and a few exotic items from around the world.

If you’d like to make the space look more Gothic, use black, grey, and deep red colors. Add spookier accents like skeletons, skulls, candelabras, black crows, and books by Edgar Allen Poe. Now you’re all set for Halloween!

I scoured Amazon to find a few decorative accents you could use in a Dark Academia space or serve as inspiration for recreating the style in your own home. Let me know in the comments whether you tried any of these! What do you think of this design aesthetic? Is it your cup of tea? I’d love to hear your thoughts!



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Basic border knot with horizontal breaks, step-by-step drawing tutorial

9/10/2023

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Stylized hand drawn Celtic knots on grid paper.

​This drawing tutorial is the fourth in a short series of lessons to teach you how to draw a few variations of Celtic border knots.

In the previous lesson, we added vertical breaks to a basic braid pattern to create a different knot style. In this tutorial, we will add horizontal breaks to the basic braid pattern to create yet another knot style with a different look. 

Below is a list of supplies you may want on hand (Amazon affiliate links are included), but you certainly don’t have to have all of these supplies to do this tutorial. Just find yourself a piece of paper, a pencil, and an eraser, and let’s get to drawing!




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Basic border knot with vertical breaks, step-by-step drawing tutorial

9/10/2023

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Pencil drawn Celtic knot on grid paper.

This drawing tutorial is the third in a short series of lessons to teach you how to draw a few variations of Celtic border knots.

In lesson one, we learned how to draw a simple twist. In lesson two, we used a grid system to draw a basic braid pattern. In this third tutorial, we will build on what we have learned to create a variation using vertical breaks. Breaks introduce a level of complexity to the design that adds visual interest. There are many ways to add breaks to a border pattern, but today’s lesson will show you how to add two simple vertical breaks to the braid we have previously drawn.

Below is a list of supplies you may want on hand (Amazon affiliate links are included), but you certainly don’t have to have all of these supplies to do this tutorial. Just find yourself a piece of paper, a pencil, and an eraser, and let’s get to drawing!




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Celtic braid step-by-step drawing tutorial

9/10/2023

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Hand drawn knotwork on grid paper.

​This drawing tutorial is the second in a short series of lessons to teach you how to draw a few variations of Celtic border knots.

In the first tutorial, we used a grid system to draw a simple twist. In this blog, we will build on what we have learned in that lesson to create a braid pattern. The braid forms the building block for many Celtic-style borders.

Below is a list of supplies you may want on hand (Amazon affiliate links are included), but you certainly don’t have to have all of these supplies to do this tutorial. Just find yourself a piece of paper, a pencil, and an eraser, and let’s get to drawing!




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Basic twist step-by-step drawing tutorial using grid paper

9/10/2023

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Hand drawn twist on grid paper.

​This drawing tutorial is the first in a short series of lessons to teach you how to draw a few variations of Celtic border knots.

This first tutorial will show you how to draw a simple twist. The twist is not a Celtic style, but the tutorial series will build on this simple pattern, creating more complex weave patterns as we go. Twist borders can be found in many ancient art forms, such as Roman mosaics, and are easy to draw. If you use grid paper—or draw out a grid with guidelines—you will get a perfectly symmetrical twist every time! 

Below is a list of supplies you may want on hand (Amazon affiliate links are included), but you certainly don’t have to have all of these supplies to do this tutorial. Just find yourself a piece of paper, a pencil, and an eraser, and let’s get to drawing!




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Create a cozy relaxing interior space this fall with neutral colors

9/8/2023

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Check out these 10 decor items from Amazon for inspiration!
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Images from Amazon.com. Click the links below to view or purchase.
Fall is the perfect time to bring a little hygge into your home! This decorating season can be an opportunity to create a warm, cozy interior space that lasts through the fall and winter months. Neutral earthy colors—like camel, cream, khaki, off-white, tan, taupe, beige, and white—create an interior space that is relaxed and understated for a place to unwind and retreat from the hectic rush of life.

​Check out these items from my mood board for inspiration!



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Brighten up your autumn decor with these items!

9/8/2023

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11 Rustic yet bright decor items for this fall season from Amazon!
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Images from Amazon.com. Click the links below to view or purchase.
When August rolls into September, that is the cue for most of us to pull out those fall decorations to make our homes look festive for the season. Some of us love decorating our homes with bold red, orange, and yellow hues that embody the essence of this glorious season of the year. But if that’s a bit much for you, you can still achieve the look and feel of fall with a slightly less bold—but still bright—color palette. The key is to choose muted rustic tones of the typical vibrant fall decor colors to soften the look. 

Here are a few ideas below to get you started!


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    Author


    Diane M. Lilly
    ​Owner of Di's Studio Designs
    Artist/Home Decor Designer/Writer/
    ​Photographer


    Welcome to Di's Studio Designs blog! I invite you to share my creative journey and read along as I explore art, fairy thermes, home decor, and nature...

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    ​Some of the posts on this site contain affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission.

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  • Home
  • About the Artist
  • Decorative Candleholders
  • Faux Floral Designs and Arrangements
  • Celtic Wood Burned Art
  • Fairy Houses
  • Blog
  • Di's Studio Designs Monthly News
  • Product Testimonials
  • Contact
  • Privacy and Disclosure Policies
  • FAQs
  • Useful Resource Links