Magazines

They have finally arrived, my copies of "Studios" and "Gifts". I was not quite sure if I should order them. To be quite franc, neither of the first publications convinced me very much. But being quite addicted to books and magazines I couldn't resist after all.
So far I only had time to take some glimpses into the "Gifts" issue. I am glad that I ordered it again. This one is really, really good! It will keep me occupied with making presents for friends and family for the next year.

Autumn market

I am lucky to live in a very interesting tiny medieval town in Germany. There are the remains of an old castle on top of the hill. Every September there is a small market showing crafts like jewelery, felting, sculpture and some delicacies, too. This weekend the weather was absolutely beautiful. It seemed like summer had returned for a view days. So my husband and me enjoyed very much our small march up the hill and visited the stands. Since the weather is said to be the same tomorrow we will go there once again - I saw a necklace I liked and hope to convince my DH to buy it for me for my birthday.

Another YouTube-Video

I found this video in Nathalie's blog and just had to post it, too. I think it really mirrors what is important. It does not matter if your art is acknowledged, published, displayed in public and makes money. What is important is your art, the fact that you create, the way you show how you see the world. Sure it would be nice to see one's work hang in a museum or be able to pay the rent by it. But the fact that is doesn't and perhaps never will does not keep us from creating.

Spring 2009

I think it is awfully cold, especially in the evening. I am not yet used to fall temperatures. So here I am, sipping something hot, wearing a shawl, and looking at what French designers see us wearing next spring.... Boy, it gives me the shivers.

Artful blogging

I stumbled upon a Stampington magazine that deals with blogging. Artful blogging at that. This is real eye candy - very interesting people and beautiful photos. Reading this made me think about blogs.
What makes you read a blog - and even better, go there again and again? Is it the photos? Is it because the blogger has the same hobby as you have? Do you seek inspiration? Is a blog more successful when the blogger offers more information on his/her private life?
I know what makes me follow blogs, but what is your motivation? Comments are highly welcome, perhaps I can then adjust my blogging style to what readers would like to see and read about.

Wine tasting

My husband and I have been to a wine tasting. This took place in a rather exquisite surrounding in the bishop's palace in Worms. There were 89 wines to taste. Well, you can't taste that many. (This is rather like selecting a perfume. After some time everything smells alike.) You eat some pieces of bread in between when tasting the wine, but nevertheless you concentrate on what interests you most. We had a list with those wines describing their origin, year of bottling, residual sweetness and content of alcohol. I tasted about 14 wines. There were two very expensive bottles - the wines had won a trophy of rarity. Hmmmmm, for me it tasted like something they had salvaged from the wreck of the Titanic.

Sunny day

Today the sun is shining after - or so it seems - weeks of rain. It has turned so cold so quickly no one is used to it yet. This night we had our first frost. I hope our tomatoes will survive some more days and ripen a little more!
So I just took the opportunity to make some quick shots from those incredibly red berries that are shining in the sun. Who knows how long this will last.

Altered book

My altered book is finished. I managed to sew all four signatures into the original cover, though it was a tight fit. (Small wonder, there were 8 pages more to enclose.)
The inside of the back cover contains the last letter from my mother. She died in February. For Christmas she had stitched a small picture for me and added a personal note. This is contained in the envelope as well as the small wooden angle she had added, which I attached with a linen thread.




I gessoed the outside covers and applied paper from a vintage biology school book as well as some cutouts from a vintage French dictionary. After sewing the signatures in I added some colorful bows from hand dyed silk I bought at Etsy. I added a small looking glass for interest (but you can also decipher the very tiny script from the French dictionary with it).
One day I will give this to my first daughter. It was for her that my mother gave me the story book in the first place. I hope it will become a heirloom.
Now I will have to decide what to make for my second daughter - she should not be left out I think. I have a story book (although not from my mother) that I think I will alter for her.
Nothing for their brother - I think this is a kind of art men are not interested in. At least I come to this conclusion when I see his reactions to this kind of work. Or am I mistaken with this opinion?

Interview

On Tuesday I was interviewed by Beate Knappe, founder of "Kreativ Akademie". This was a very interesting experience. We have been in frequent contact in the internet and therefore know a little about each other. During the interview we recognized that we share quite a lot of interests and opinions. Beate is an immensely active person. Not only does she teach numerous classes (photography and embellishing among others) but she is also maintaining several blogs. Her work was recently published in Cloth, Paper, Scissors. You can hear the interview on radio creativo (in German).

Felted jacket

So this weekend the five pieces of felt were transformed into a jacket. I am rather pleased with the result. I'm still not convinced that red is exactly my color but it isn't as bad as I had thought it might be.
It was quite an experience to sew something made-to-measure. We sewed the whole jacket first using an inexpensive cotton fabric so that everything could be altered according to our wishes - longer sleeves, smaller waist, lowered hem - you name it. Naturally we took the paper cut home and I am thinking of sewing another jacket in a thinner cloth, perhaps in gray. It is amazing how this trial jacket hugs my body...

Birthday present

This is the present for my brother's 50th birthday. It is a set of 9 Zentangles, beautifully framed. (I mentioned the technique of Zentangle in one of my older posts. When I went to the framer he suggested to elevate the squares, much as with Rizzi's art. I readily agreed to that and I think it really enhances the whole design.