Moline

Books and colour

It's been long again since my last post. There was so much to reflect upon and so many new inputs and ideas. We've been to London for a few days and loved it. Again and again I can go there and this city amazes me. I so love the diversity and vibrancy. And then there was a lot of reading. I will be musing on this topic in another post. 

And there is also  this amazing online workshop Susannah is holding and I am taking part of. So I am taking pictures and do some writing and it is very intense and personal. There will be some bits and pieces to share from time to time. For example this: I love books and colour and when I saw this picture I had to try it and combine these two loves

 

It matches the season and I recently started really liking Orange. And what is more important: these seemingly randomly juxtaposed books in one colour say so much a bout me and evoke memories and stories. So I am enjoying the colour input and also at the same time writing down some thoughts and memories. That is so new and exiting and it made me staple some more books in different colours in our library. And they keep pleasing my eye and telling stories the way they are piled up. And like in the picture combining Mexico, children's rooms, Steven Greenblatt, Updike, Naipaul and Tolle now makes sense. They are pieces or me, my story and parts of my life. And this is exiting for me to re-see it that way.

On colour - again

You know I have this thing with colour combinations. I just cannot hang pictures and things on the wall without thinking of a colour scheme. I tried hard to do a multicoloured wall in my craftroom like the gorgeous ones I've seen on Flickr. But I just can't do it and gave up finally.  So I go on creating colour-combination walls in our house and this time it was a yellow one.

Luckily there are some walls in the house so I can chose different colours. I already have the green wall in the bathroom and the black and white and blue one in the entrance,  remember? The entrance is having a makeover as well - colourwise. It will be black and white and light blue again for the winter time but right now I need some orange there. I am still working so no pictures for now! 

And yes, I am officially an Unraveller now because I am taking part in Susannah Conway's Unravelling course. I am so so happy that I got a place this time! It will be an adventurous journey - for sure! 

Colours

Don't you just love these late summer colours? I could have flowers all over the house and most of the time I have. It just makes such a difference when your eyes can rest on them in every room. They make me smile and it is like putting little altars all over the house to bless the different corners.

We are very fortunate to live in the middle of this old little town and we can walk to the market twice a week to soak in all these colours

And believe it or not: There are still strawberries in My friend Gele's garden and I can sit and watch Jakob harvesting them whilst I am having a tea and a treat (or two)

You see, I am feeling better now and what is important: I am resting more. So I will be having enough energy and muse for a new project that will start tomorrow (more tomorrow then...) and the upcoming changes I will be revealing to you over the following weeks. Stay with me on this new journey!

Dottie Angel

Dottie Angel
Originally uploaded by moline (resting again)

There are many reasons why this woman can be an inspiration - here are mine:
- she makes lovely vintage looking teatowels with linen, doilies and embroidered squirrels on it (as if that was not reason enough to really like her!)
- she has an airstream trailer in her garden
- he named "her" Gladys
- she is the proud owner of a light blue pick-up-truck and it really is a 68 Ford!
- she named him Winston

- even her sewing machine has a name: Miss Ethel

- her use of Orla Kiely patterns

- she has padded hangers in her closet (fabric padded and crocheted ones)

- she makes me look at hanging laundry in a different way with her garland-like washing line in her garden
- the way she travels with her old suitcase and tote
- that her used dog and the new one "Olive" are pampered with lovely granny square blankets (even dogs should be brought up in style!)
- the lampshade-teatowels and cushions she made (reminded me that I also once was into lamps 
- the patchwork covered shelves (why did I not have this idea? I just always use plain fabric and seldom mix them when covering up shelves...)
- her love for the English countryside
- her love for granny sqares and crocheting and knitting and doilies

I think I could go on for a while but I want to leave also a bit of thinking to you so I can go o and read her blog

See you soon!

Still working on the bigger picture

Granny squares
Originally uploaded by moline (up again)

This is part of a mum(s) and me- project we started a while ago. My mum and me started these granny squares a while ago. She was crocheting with my wool, 100 km away and we exchanged wool and grannies from time to time. I now have to finish this all up, add some white bordering and a few more squares. And of course Pauline is helping in this mum(s) and me-project and is already waiting for the first cushion of this series to adorn her sofa (or maybe a potholder for the kitchen?)
These squares make me happy: looking at them and producing them - just try it out - it is so easy!

The remains of the day

The remains of the day
Originally uploaded by moline (up again)

Lately I added some more colour to liven up our daily routines. I never was a Yellow person except having had a sunny yellow dining room in our old appartment in Constance. but then I thought there was some Yellow missing here in our house, namely right in the middle of it.
There were health issues and they are still going on and see: no Yellow in the middle! readers who have heard of Feng Shui must have heard it before. I am practising it normally and it is so incredible how I seem to have forgotten about this yellow health issue in the middle of everything.
So then I looked for some pretty papers and artwork and it was easy to find some to brighten up our wall in a former dark hall area with nearly no light. I've been eyeing the Paris print from Irene Suchocki for a while now and got it for my Birthday (told my parents, I needed it as well as the Katie Daisy print on the right side!!!)
Now I am greeted every day by a cheering up wall whenever I pass (and that is VERY often!). And at night when we had our tea in the upstairs bedroom and in between brushing teeth and putting away the tea tray (the ttp://www.flylady.net/Fly lady style - thank you!!!), I stop and look and I am just happy then...

Summery

Summery
Originally uploaded by moline (up again)

Back again after a long break. We were away in July visiting the in-laws at Lake Constance, seeing friends and attending a wedding.
The time away from blogging was twofold: I enjoyed being away and out of reach and I missed the contacts.
So there are a lot of plans and projects on my table right now: Fall is approaching and I have to prepare some kits for the shop (AND re-open it!), All the photographs from our trip will have to be sorted and edited and some will go into a handmade album I made beforehand from the wonderful Studio Callico paper kit. this was a wise decision to start a subscription with the monthly kits because the paper and ephemera choices they have are just so inspiring for me right now.
And then there are so many plans about mini-albums. Last year I started photographing my feet in shoes from above because I somehow liked the idea to have reminders of my shoes for years to come. So why not start a mini-book? Said, done! (I'll share the progress. this book really has been on my table since I bought it a long time ago and the only reason why I did not make one of these little books was that I honestly could not decide with what to start because the ideas were racing through my mind).
And yes - summery! It still is and I love wearing open shoes with no socks and all these dresses, this is not so normal here in this country up North so maybe we should move somewhere warmer where we all can walk barefoot the whole day - the children would love that, for sure.
I will keep that in mind but for now I have to start organizing my summer memories! So long!

Just the two of us

...
Originally uploaded by moline (up again)

We had one day without children - just Markus and me in Munich. That was pure quality time. We knew the children were happy bathing by the lake with the grandparents so no need to worry whilst enjoying a lot of mini breaks and great food. And we discovered that it was like several years before when we were newly wed and just enjoyed each otheres company on the week ends. And best thing of all: we are so sure we will be saying the same for years to go. There is nothing like having found your pal for life!!!

Summer!

First of all I have to say thank you for all your warm comments and emails. That means a lot. To be honest, I wasn't thinking that much of this second operation. It has to be done and then it will be ok. -  full stop! So I am getting into the summer mood after three days of rain in Lueneburg we were greeted by much nicer weather down by the lake. 

So time to get out all these sandals again and go outside. We had friends from Istanbul and Lake Geneva visiting the last week end and it was wonderful to talk about old times in Istanbul and to enjoy today (so we can maybe talk about these times in the future somewhere else...). And the lake greeted us with warm weather and fruit vendors everywhere. I love to buy these local products by the road and talk to the people.

And of course I am eating all these atioxidants to stick to my healthy diet. That really is no problem at the moment and I have the feeling each and every berry does something good for my body. 

And then there is this very sweet and talented young artist who is drawing masterpieces for me every day before breakfast! What a treat I can say! 

I love how he is always drawing me with big ears and my earrings because he always wants to hold them when he is with me. So you can really see how important they are for him. 

We have a lot of plans for the next three weeks besides relaxing and swimming. We will be going to Switzerland from time to time to the mountains, explore some museums and see some friends. So enough opportunity to fill up the tanks and have family quality time.

Again!

Again!
Originally uploaded by moline (up again)

How was this saying? if you have lemons, make lemonade!
So that is what I am doing now.
I seem to need another operation to get rid of some cancer cells in a few weeks. This is also the time to relax, sit down and think things over.
We already did it the last time I was operated, a couple of weeks before. It is time to make decisions and major life changes and this is what it is all about: if something like this happens it is easier to focus and to weed thing out. Weed out bad habits, unhealthy relationships, ill making thoughts, and most of all people who are not nurturing and who often upset us and make a huge impact on our daily family life. That shall not happen in the future. We are having so many helpful and well meaning people around us so we will focus on them and lead our energy there instaed of battling with others.
I've been reading so many good nurturing articles since the beginning of this year at other blogger's sites. There are to mention a few: Holly on decor8 and haus maus, Ali, Leo and Carla. I will muse on all these thought provoking posts over the next months to share some with you. They always seem to give the right input at certain times. Thank you for that!
Hope you are having a wonderful summer break - we will!
Hugs!