inspiration

Advent Wreath Inspiration

- Tobia 2 Comments

Who else is busy thinking about this years advent wreath? I usually ponder I ideas already when most people enjoy their summer vacay at the pool. I have to be honest, this year my picture is not that clear. When I don’t know what direction to go I usually just look at my Pinterest board. Usually the first thing that I know is the color scheme of the new wreath. This might happen when I see certain candles or just some decoration that speaks to me. My moms wreath this year will be gold/brown/nude.

Following I want to share some advent wreath inspiration.

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Fall Bucket List 2018

- Tobia 1 Comment

Hello again,

Did you enjoy the last days of summer? I sure did but I have to be honest I am looking forward to cooler temperatures and the cozy home feel that comes with the fall season.

fall bucket list 2018

Just this week I was visiting my friend and instead of just hanging out and chatting our time away we ended up making apple sauce from her 7 apple trees  – and chatting our time away. This inspired me to make a fall bucket list. Actually the first one on this blog – how did that happen?

  1. Making apple sauce.
    I realised I have never done it before only watched my grandma.
  2. Sewing a maxi skirt.
    I want to expand my wardrobe choices. I created a new pinterest board and am inspired by this look.
    A picture of me wearing it ended up on this blogpost.
  3. Make a tassel necklace.
    As I didn’t get it done in summer – let’s try in fall.
  4. Try a new pumpkin recipe.
    Let me know if you have any good ones.
  5. Drink lots of tea.
    Nothing more to say…
  6. Read even more books.
    I let you in on a secret: I already managed to hit my reading goal for this year. Come join me on Goodreads to share some fun. Check out my posts about my favorite books 2018 part I & part II
  7. Taking walks in the park and cemetery and observe the leaves changing.
    It is always such calming experience. See here.
  8. Go mushroom picking.
    It’s a long lost love and I wish I could make time to do so. Maybe this year.
  9. Celebrate my mothers 60th birthday.
    It is really weird doing so. I remember celebrating my grandpas. Anyone else having strange feelings?
  10. Participating in a charity.
    I’m thinking about going the “Christmas in a shoebox”. The last years I’ve been too late.
    Here is my blogpost about the experience.
  11. Going to BLOGST a blogging conference.
    Lucky me snatched a ticket third time in a row so I will be going to Cologne in November. Who will I meet? Read about my experience and what I learnt about networking here.
  12. Work on my craft lab.
    This is so embarrassing but I put it out here: I am still not done with this room. I really want – no need – to finish it by the end of the year. It drives me crazy. Well, this is semi done I’d say. Not as far as I would like but you can see progress. However I won’t manage my yearly goal I am afraid.
  13. Making a floral arrangement for Sunday of the Dead.
    And maybe donating it to an unattended grave. I made two arrangements however only for my grandparents grave.
  14. Sitting on the balcony listening to the rain.
    Preferably wrapped in a warm coat and som hot beverage in my hand.
  15. Reading more blogs and commenting.
    At least on the weekends I want to catch up and leave some lovely words.
  16. Enjoying a spa day with myself.
    I have to admit that I prefer those days maybe even a tiny bit more compared to having company.

What plans do you have for fall. Love to hear about it in the comments.

Happy fall,

Tobia

Being an artist for 100 days – #100daysofcraftaliciousdrops

- Tobia 2 Comments

Another one in the books!
If you followed along on Instagram in the last months you couldn’t miss my crafty endeavor. I challenged myself to learn more about watercoloring and aquarell painting and so I joined the annual fun of #the100dayproject where artist meet and challenge themselves to try new things, dabble with new techniques and just play around.

You may also know that this was my third year in joining (read about #100daysofcraftaliciouspatterns here). And it was the easiest year yet.

100daysofcraftaliciousdrops - being an artist

Let’s see if I can come up with a little fun list of noteworthy things and stuff I learned along the way:

  1. You don’t need much to join and get started in this project. Overall I spent approximately 30€ in paint and pens. It could have been even less because in the end I mainly used 1-2 pens. As for the paper I recycled the inner core of where wrapping paper is rolled on to. Of course this took some time preparing and cutting up in my squares but I appreciate using materials that are otherwise a waste.
  2. To be honest the kraft paper was a real challenge. It had some coating that was water resistant – not ideal for watercoloring. And so I was actually thinking about scrapping it on day 50 to experience with real aquarell paper. (I already got a pad.) I just couldn’t manage to make the edges look all fringed and cool. I am glad I stuck with it though because it made me think outside the box and figure out new ways to achieve what I was trying to get.
  3. I think I used about eight different techniques for all my images.
  4. It is very calming to watch the paint move around on paper and find its way.
  5. I usually only spent a maximum of 15 minutes on the project. A bit longer when I took a process video. (Check it out a compilation on my Instagram highlights).
  6. Sometimes I felt guilty for not taking longer to do it. I asked myself if I didn’t take it seriously.
  7. I never really had the feeling I want to quite. I actually complained a week before it ended to Mr. 🖤 that the project will end and that I am so sad.
  8. I always painted on the assigned date but was slow on posting to Instagram. However I have to admit there where two days where I completely forgot because I was so tired and one day where I deliberately decided to do two pieces the next day.
  9. I like the blue ones with white pen the best. I actually think they look much more interesting if pen is added.
  10. I already have two ideas for the next 100 day project. That only proves: Creativity breeds creativity!

When I started the project my goal was to end up with at least 50 pieces or art. In the end I got 74. Here are a few of my faves:

100daysofcraftaliciousdrops faves - being an artist

Now check out the whole collection #100daysofcraftaliciousdrops and let me know what your faves are. Also if you are interested you can check my highlights on Instagram for a few process videos.

One thought that I had during this project was: When are you being an artist? When is the time you become legit? Who defines what an artist is? Do you have to sell a piece? Do you have a gallery show your work? Do you have to call yourself an artist? I really don’t know and would be interested in your opinion.

Happy weekend and stay crafty,

Tobia

Best Traditions I Grew Up With

- Tobia 4 Comments

It is storming outside, the fall leaves are dancing in the wind and my coffee warms my hands while I was reminiscing in childhood memories. I realized I had some fun traditions I grew up with and wanted to share today:

1. Die Fete | The Bash

Every Saturday after my dad’s birthday we celebrate “Die Fete”. BUT it is not just a birthday party it just kinda happens to fall close to my dad’s birthday. It originally started out as his party I am sure but it is much more now. Since my dad’s college days he invites his friends and companions to this bash. Every single year! In 2018 it will be the 30th+ time. And since it is such a fixed date most people have it marked and will show up. Everyone makes time for it. And if something comes up they know next year they have another chance. I think my parents have created a really great way of staying in touch with their friends, introducing new people in the mix as they grow older and even having been matchmakers too. And even though I am over 30 now and don’t live at home there is still one guy bringing candy for the kids.

traditions and memories

2. Der Rundbrief | The (Family) Newsletter

And this brings me right to the next tradition. Every year before Christmas a newsletter was sent out. Again mainly my dad writes about what happened the last year in the family and shares his thoughts with his friends. The very end of the letter always ends with the invitation to above mentioned gathering.
I always loved those letters and since they have been written since I am alive I can basically read my life in them. Since I moved out I receive my very own copy.

But I am even more happy that Mr. ♥ and I started to adapt this tradition the year we got married. Now he sits on December 23rd and writes a wonderful letter of all the things happened to us that year. The things we are grateful for, the things we struggled, the people we miss. It is a wonderful way to connect. Unlike my parents we do sent it out via email though.

3. Adventsstündchen | Advent hour

My love for advent and Christmas was ingrained early on. My mom used to sit us down during advent and craft with us. We would light the advent wreath, would have a plate of cookies, sometimes listen to some music or play the piano or flute and make little project. Like straw stars, paper stars or lanterns. We would learn poems, sing songs or think about the Christmas play. Make Christmas presents for friends and family or bake cookies. It was always such a magical time and one of my most treasured childhood memories.

4. Weihnachtsspiel | Christmas Play

For many many years of my life I was performing Christmas plays. And I am not talking about the native plays you do in church though I did those too. No we had pretty specific schedule on Christmas Eve and when who got presents. And while we got ours after church and before dinner my parents got theirs after the Christmas play performed by my sisters and I after dinner. It all started during Adventsstündchen where my mom asked if we didn’t wanna sing a song for dad on Christmas. Once we got older we decided to do those little things on our own. We were putting lots of thought into those plays – even though often we only started the day day before Christmas. I remember one time we were doing the play in English (I started having english class only 6 months earlier!), one was a quizz show with a modern and the old Santa and yet another one where we traveled around the world. One of the funniest one was actually a native play we did where my little sister (only 4/5 years then) played every single role but Maria & Joseph. It was hilarious with all her wardrobe changes. Too bad that I cannot remember them all. And no there are no tapes just memories.

5. Dads Stories

You could put down our intensive vacation travels as a tradition too. Mostly twice a year summer and winter we would go exploring the world. And usually not twice to the same place – only exception would be skiing areas. But as much as we loved the vacation we were always specially excited about the newest story my dad would tell us. It was always a story related to the area we would visit or a topic that was relevant. So there would be a story about marmots when hiking in the Alps and one about mosquitos when we were visiting the Mecklenburg Lake District. There was a story about wolfs and foxes and tunnels when I was hiking in Poland (1988) with my dad and only years later I would discover that he actually told me about the political conflict. I so wished I would have wrote down all the great stories. They were so entertaining but always had an educational aspect.

Looking back on those traditions it seems like I had no chance than to fall in love with this time of year. Many of them just revolve around the Season. Or maybe even back then my little self absorbed those the most as it was important to me. Who knows.

But I am curious if you have any traditions that have stuck with you. That always keep coming back to you and that hold warm fuzzy memories. Please share, I’d love to read. And if you decide to write a blogpost too make sure to link it.

Happy strolling down memory lane,

Tobia

My Favorite Podcasts to Listen To

- Tobia 2 Comments

I love me some podcasts.

Not so sure when I discovered podcasts but it must have been 2/3 years ago. Today I want to share some favorites of mine.

favorite creative podcasts

1. Elise gets crafty

All time favorite. I personally think there in none better out there or at least I haven’t found it yet. Elise talks about creative endeavors by interviewing solopreneurs. They tell their story and share their process. I like that Elise always asked a set of same questions at the end. I find her very authentic and approachable. It is the only podcast where I have not missed a single broadcast!

Listen to podcast

2. Being Boss

This is a podcast I only recently picked up and was recommended to ( I think it was Tina). I like it a lot. However I have to say that sometimes I find it a bit too much spiritual and woohwoo at times. Also they often run off topic but then it’s the charm. There are some really strong episodes in the beginning with little task to set up a business.

Listen to podcast

3. Magic Lessons

This is actually a promo podcast for Elisabeth Gilbert’s book but it really doesn’t feel that way. I love the concept of the show. She calls a person who has a specific problem like the most boring job, lost creativity over a death, etc. And talks with them why and how. Then gives them little tasks how to get out of there and often calls friends of her who have been in similar situations asking what they recommend. 6 months later she calls them back and sees how they are doing.

Listen to podcast

4. Invisibilia

I really like this one. I find this is a bit more researched and more of a traditional journalistic take than the others I listen to. The topics are always things that you can not see and cannot get a grip on – hence the name: like fear. There Or two into the US who go and talk to different kind of people and come back comparing notes.

Listen to podcast

5. Raise your hand and say yes

This podcast was my second favorite when I started out listening to podcasts.Tiffany is life coach and I really love her style and motivation she gives in her podcasts. Some really good advise and thought process. However I find that processing further into the episodes she becomes more and more salesy and that just bothers me.

Listen to podcast

6. Accidental Creative

Yeah a guy! It’s nice to have a male voice once in a while. Similar concept on how creatives came to be creative and what their story is. But a bit more focused on productivity and

Listen to podcast

7. Sterngeschichten {German}

Currently my only German podcast. Another more scientific one. It explains all the wonders of the universe and astronomy. Definitely something new anytime I listen to it.

Listen to podcast

Now I am more than interested if you have any recommendations for me. So drop a comment I am looking forward discovering new ones.

Happy podcast listening,

Tobia

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