Monday Love: Turning stairs into art

Some amazing street art  that caught my eye. Isn't it stunning, how just a bit of color can have  such a dramatic impact to an otherwise quite bland and grey scenery? Well, it's more than a bit of color, in all of these cases it's a LOT of color, and a lot of work and creative imagination. And it's wonderful to see how people care - and put so much effort into making life more beautiful and creating a colorful surprise for others.

So, if your week seems like a steep grey stair to climb sometimes, think of how you can transform the experience - into a piece of art. Because:

And: Spring is almost here. In case you're looking for some new shades:

My recent giveaway is still open. 

You can win a pair of chic free eyeglasses. Enter here

Monday Love: Pure energy

Happy start to your week lovelies!

While it's grey and rainy outside here, i want to show you the color combination, that revives my energy right now: Golden yellow, hot pink, soft pink, purple, white and a dash of light citrus. This is a triptych from some years ago, but i feel like making something along these lines now. What makes you happy these days?

Paintings: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: Pinecone garland DIY

Happy new week flowers!

Hope you all had a delightful second of advent. It had snowed here and everything looked white and magical. Fitting top the winter atmosphere, i've created a little DIY for you, in case you're not yet finished decorating. Try this garland, made from pinecones, painted white, pink mini-pompoms and some nice ribbon.

Here's how:

You paint the pinecones white and let them dry

Tie them into a nice ribbon

and glue Mini-pompoms in between

At the ends, knot ribbon together so as to make a hanger

Finito! 

Idea and photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: Underwater Magic

Howdy lovelies, happy new week to you! Are you feeling up to the challenge of everyday life, or would you rather dive into an ocean of fantasy and imagination?

I recently came across the magical work of Saruyi, an artist from Japan, who creates fragile, luminous underwater creatures and worlds that look so real and so alive, although they are made of fabric and fiber. 

Her ongoing project  Urban Aquarium “explores the concept of being ‘out of context’ and ‘displaced’, something she experienced by being relocated from Japan to Australia and other stations. Her artistic underwater world is shown in unexpected places throughout the city of Portland, where she now resides and works, to offer views into a world below the surface of busy "Hustle and Bustle". To find out more about the various jelly- and starfishes, visit her website here. And find more nature inspired art in the wonderful blog "Dearest Nature"

All photos: Saruyi’s World: Urban aquarium / Mixed media fiber

Monday Love: Pretty bowls

Happy new week lovelies! 

How are you these days? It's really fall here now and the mornings and evenings are darker and colder. I love the colors and atmosphere of this time of year, but feel a little slower and need some extra glam to get going. Like pretty gold plated bowls, made from paper maché.

Am currently on the lookout for new DIY ideas for my magazine - and came across these pretty gold plated bowls by Kelly Murray. They are a bit complicated to make with kids, but i still love them so much i'd like to show them to you here. It's not soooo long to go now now until christmas ... 

Photos: Kelly Murray.

Monday Love: Cupcakes!

Just a sweet little something to add some sweetness to your monday - whatever else will be on your plates today. Only good things, i hope! i baked these with shredded coconut mixed into a vanila dough and the frosting is just 2/3 cream cheese with 1/3 whipped cream, sugar and lemon rind - and a drop of red food coloring for the pinkish color. Have a delicious day!

Photos : Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: shoes!

Isn't it cool when the days that are supposed to feel good, actually do?  

Jim Carrey

 Monday greetings from my studio! Although i do have a lot of work, i was painting quite a lot these days and am getting back in toi the swing and groove of colors. To me, painting is a bit like composing a piece of music - and it feels good wehn you manage to strike the right notes!

Have a lovely start to your week and see you soon!

Photo and painting: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: Shopping!

When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other.  

Chinese Proverb
 

 Got some flowers for you lovelies, to jazz up your monday with summer brightness! Have a delicious start to your week and see you soon!

Photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: French meringues

Playing with food

Do you need some extra sweet fun stuff to get your week going? Here's a hint: Playing with food can be fun sometimes, not just for the little ones! Don't you get all exited when you see these gorgeous meringues by fantastic food blogger Emilie from griottes? She's a genius when it comes to turning desserts into works of art and phantasy. I actually find them too pretty to eat - pure eye candy and food for the soul!

Photos: from griottes via decor8

Monday Love: Flowers and a painting

The temple bell stops but I still hear the sound coming out of the flowers.  
Basho

 Exiting ... how sometimes things, like these fading flowers, interact with a painting and  add to its composition. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder! I just bought some fresh flowers to invite spring. Do you feel it yet?

Photo: Robin Benito

Monday Love: More cupcales & a painting

Which cupcake frosting tastes sweeter, the pink one or the yellow one?

Interesting question, and it shows so much about the power of color: all of the kids present on that day, thought the pink ones were sweeter and more yummy. Even though eitehr way the creme was spiced with lemon, one child said, the pink one tasted like raspberry ... So - it really IS true that pink makes people happy and adds some extra-sweetness to your life - make the test today:

Put your pink sunglasses on and smile at everyone you see!

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

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

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

Monday Love: DIY-shopping bag

 

Are you looking for a cute last minute present idea? This bag can be ready in an afternoon of crafty fun. We took a vintage photo of my friends mum, printed it on a sheet lazertran and ironed it onto a plain white linen bag. The photo was then embellished by hand with buttons and ribbon, to match the pictures nostalgic appeal. This bag is a handy companion, because it can be kept folded in your handbag and taken out for that extra bit of shopping you have to do sometimes. Breadrolls for sunday breakfast look very good in it as well as fresh veggies and flowers from the farmers market!

Have a spelndid start to your week!

Bag design: Monika Dziondziak, photo: Robin Benito

Monday Love: Fluffy Angel

The reason angels can fly is because they take themselves lightly.  

G.K. Chesterton, "Orthodoxy"

This cute little angel came down to me from the heavens of blogland, to be exact from the Netherlands part of blogland, in a packet from my sweet friend Saskia from "Join my Joy". Saskia sure knows how to bring joy to others - she's a constant inspiration to look at the bright side and make the most of every moment!

Have a lovely flight through the week and don't forget what i have heard: We are each of us angels with only one wing, and we can only fly by embracing one another!

Photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: Shirt into skirt DIY

I love this easy project, for it shows how to make a skirt in 8 seconds - without having to use needle and threat or a  sewing machine. Just ideal for people like me - who love to make things, but are not, hmmm, exactly talented when it comes to needlework. You take a T-shirt with a wide enough neckline, that you can step into - so that the shirt sits around your waist. You then take the empty arms and tie them into a pretty bow - ta daaaaa, finish! To see a more detailed instruction, have a look at this amazing blog here

 Hope your week is of to a fab start lovelies! I'm at home today with a bad cold, but actually enjoy having some time to rest and catch up on myself and think about all kinds of things i have planned.

See you later!

Photos: Welcome to the gOOd life

Monday Love: DIY booksign

Nostaligc photos ...

i have a whole box of them, and sometimes i open it and revell in the spirit of times past by looking at portraits of my great-grandmother, countess Marie-Louise D'Harnoncourt and her brothers, sisiters and cousins. She was an adventurous spirit who once ran away from her home chateau with her house teacher and caused a big scandal. One day, i would like to write her story. This year however, i got the photos out to play and my good friend Monika designed sweet ideas for handmade presents for our magazine KidsLife, using these romantic pictures.  

These booksigns are easy to make. She printed the photos in desired size on lazertran and ironed them on pretty, eggshell colored cardbord, cut it in shape and adorned it with simple, elegant ribbons. They adds such a lovely, personal note to your presents, if you intend to give away books.

Have a fabulous start to your week dear ones - and see you soon!

Photo: Robin Benito

Monday Love: DIY-candle holders

Happy monday lovelies!

Since the evenings are getting longer and darker now, we need more light in the house - especially candle-light. Although the flames may be tiny, they really do warm us and lighten up feelings as well! These glas-holders are an idea from our latest issue of KidsLife, and they are so easy to make. You cut papaer doillies and fix them with a straw-ribbon on simple glasses. Put a tealight in and - voilá, it looks so pretty!

Photo: Robin Benito

Monday Love: Beautiful autumn

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.  
Albert Camus

 We had such a warm and sunny start into November! These pix are from a visit at my painter friends house and i love the mix of flowers, fruit and colored leaves, of fresh things and faded things, all beautifuly woven together by golden rays of november sun. Have a grape - and a sweet and lovely start to your week!

Monday Love: Let your lips speak!

...even without saying a word! 

Love these funky lipstyles and hope you all are having a fab old time for Halloween! Here in Germany, only the kids get dressed up and party, but i love the thought of this night being the night, where the spirit world is closest to our world. Will there be fairies out on the lawn tonight? Will my dearest grandmother look down on us from heaven? Cheers to mystery and imagination!

Photo: Leonore nevermore