Monday Love: Colors & Tea

Genius is the ability to renew one's emotions in daily experience.
Paul Cezanne

Have a colorful day lovelies and don't forget - some dark hues are needed to let the bright ones shine! Some happy colors and warm tea (maybe a croissant too ...) is all i need to brighten my spirit and get my energy going on a cold January morning, even if i don't have time to paint right now. What is your secret to keep warm and joyful in winter?

Painting & photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Chocolate for breakfast


Sunday mornings are my fave ...

... and how about chocolate hazelnut morning smoothie for a late breakfast? If you want to know how it's made, have a look here. It looks like an ideal weekend indulgence to me - a little sweetness can make your day sometimes! I do look forward to a nice and lazy day - what are your plans lovelies?
Excuse my being slow at commenting at the moment - somehow i had problems with blogger or my computer - hope this will be fixed soon!

Happy Chinese New Year!



Are you ready to ride the Dragon?

I just read that in China, today is celebrated as the new years day. As it falls together with a new moon, it's the ideal time to make a fresh start and let our dreams and plans grow. It's the year of the water-dragon. The Dragon is in fact the major symbol of good fortune in Chinese Astrology.  According to tradition, the Dragon brings in the Four Blessings of the East: wealth, virtue, harmony and longevity.  I hope we can expect grand things this year - and that good luck will be coming our way! And here's the lucky cat to wave you all into a fabulous new week!
Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Chin chin weekend!



And a toast to YOU, my fabulous blogfriends!
Who make January look so much brighter! The drink above is called "Aperol Spritz", and it's my fave at the moment - you must give it a try: 1 part aperol, two parts secco or champagne and one part bubbly water. It's the perfect sundowner, even if the sun didn't show up ;) 
These pictures are from a stroll through town with gorgeous Barbara, from fashion art and other fancies. Do you have anything planned for the weekend yet? 

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

It's a day for a crumble!


Life is uncertain.  Eat dessert first.  
Ernestine Ulmer

 Or eat it as the meal itself! Who needs steak when there is crumble? A crumble is such an easy and delicious way to prepare sweet comfort food - so much needed to keep our spirits up in January. This one is made with strwberries and raspberries - equally good with apples and raspberried, hidden under an oatmeal crust spiced with Cardamom. Try it on a drab winter afternoon and feel your juices flow again! Find the original recipe here. I just added oatmeal to the mix and reduced sugar

Photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Pastel Pretty





Let’s get rid of the old and moldy -
New fresh air wants to come into our lives!
I'm on a mission to declutter our house - and with it comes the urge, to do some redecorating as well. This Paris apartment by fashion designer Vanessa Bruno looks so delicate and soft with its sorbet shades, yet some daring contrasts save it from being all too girlie. Also, i love the springlike atmosphere it creates, although it is winter light, that shines through these windows ...

Monday Love: Paper-flower


The power of a paper flower ...

As Christmas is over and spring is not in sight yet, why not cheer the house up with some self-made paper flowers? They are easy to make - have a look here. And look how pretty the color of the paper shines when the light comes through! Monday hugs dear friends! Keep warm and cheerful - inner sunshine is so much needed this time of year!

Photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Friday art: Sunshine and snow





Sunshine and snow, 
spring dancing with winter, waltzing over the fields and having some fun together, icy but lovely. Beautiful light in the room is so good for painting - and for anything else. Isn't it stunning, how our mood changes with the light? At least mine does ;)

We don't have snow here today, but lovely, almost springlike sunshine. I've put the christmas-deco away, exept fo some fairy lights, and will buy some fresh flowers tomorrow. How did your new year start so far? For me, it was a mix of being quite busy and feeling quite tired - i look forward to a relaxed weekend and wish you a bright and cheerful time ahead!

Flowers in snow photos: Fotolia.com, Painting photo: MVS

Jewelled hearts



Imagination is the beginning of creation. You imagine what you desire, you will what you imagine and at last you create what you will.
George Bernard Shaw

Happy 2012 lovelies!
Hope you've all had a great time celebrating and relaxing. I spent a rather quiet but cozy time with my family, and it was just the right thing to do. It rains buckets here and i still feel like staying in bed, but i played a bit with jewellery and my camera, to add some brightness and cheerfullness to the start of a new week and a new year. This week is dedicated to imagination, visualizing, planning and setting things in motion - have you made any plans yet, for the new year ahead?

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid