Friday art: Macaroon prints

The pursuit of perfection, then, is the pursuit of sweetness and light.
Matthew Arnold  

Weekend is almost here! I'm still half on vacation, sitting in the garden doing illustrations for a little carneval-book. These whimsical prints however, are by Lucilles kitchen - and can be bought on Etsy. I found them so sweet and inspiring with the handwriting on silver Ladurée print. Hope your August weekend is happy, golden and filled with summer fun!

Prints: Lucilles kitchen

Friday Pretties: A colorful summer

The soul becomes dyed with the color of its thoughts.
Marcus Aurelius 

Too hot, too cold - it seems, this summer likes to play in extremes. While some of you are almost melting away and want to sit and sleep in the freezer, others can't get out of their raincoats and wellies - like me! The lady in this painting shows, how to still celebrate life and balance hardship with equanimity and pride.  Am looking forward to a colorful weekend, no matter what the weather - did you hear that, rain? Nothing against you, personally, but - time to take a break! Have you planned anything nice yet?

Painting: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Friday Pretties: Jewellery design

Some drawings around the theme of jewellery design i found in my desk the other day. I did these several years ago, to be honest, quite a long while ago, for the last picture shows the design for our wedding band. The rings where the only thing that actually got made - from paper into metal. I had a client who had ordered ideas for a special watch to be made exclusively for him, and doing this, i got ideas for many other things. I had fun looking at these sheets again, so maybe you do, too!

 Are you ready for the weekend, like i am?  This week felt a bit tense for me and i can't wait to relax and come visit and chat with you.

Friday Pretties: A colorful mess

If I create from the heart, nearly everything works; if from the head, almost nothing.
Marc Chagall

A wee peek into my room which is also my studio at the moment, filled with colors, canvases, books, magazines, papers of all kinds  – i just need a lot of insprational stuff around that i use all the time.

The two paintings on the wall are not really finished, but i like them this way, leaving things open a bit, leaving space to dream. Yesterday i was painting a bit on some small canvases, mainly flowers, which is always good to get me going. WiIll show you more about this soon!

I'm so ready for a break! If i don't have time to paint for a long time, i feel like all the colors in my head and heart get muddled up to a cloudy melange, and i need time to sort this out. We'll have a long weekend here, with monday being a holiday - how about you?

Photo and paintings: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Friday Pretties: Girlfriends in the garden

Gardening is how I relax. It's another form of creating and playing with colors.
Oscar de la Renta

 Everything is more fun, if you do it with a girlfriend. Yesterday, instead of getting back to my canvases, as i had planned, i got engaged in a day of heavy gardening, helped by a lovely friend of mine and my son, who both developed Crocodile-Dundee qualities in tearing out huge elderberry branches and other things, that made the place look like a djungle. In fact, it felt like creating a huge - 3-dimensional painting!

This weekend however, i hope to relax and enjoy the well tended greenness, look at the flowers, bronze my legs, do my toenails and maybe eat that yummy strawberry crumble we tried for the magazine some time ago. The crust is made from oatflakes, a bit of flower, sugar, melted butter and a bit of Cardamon - so good!

Chin chin to girlfriends - and by that i include YOU! You make the world go round in a nicer way and you totally rock!

Photos: 1st: Vogue, 2nd, 3rd and 4th: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Friday Pretties: Paris fashion

What makes french women special?
Are they really special in the way they look and dress, or is it more the myth of Paris, being the City of love, lights, fashion, art and style, we project on to them? Looking at a lot of pictures - from my own memory and experience, and from magazines and blogs i'd say, french women are very feminin - and they enjoy to be so, even if they look "gamine", like the girl in the first picture here. (I just got me a leopard blouse like that, ha!)

They know how to combine elegance with playfulness and a sexy nonchalnace. I've always enjoyed seeing the women in Paris, women of all ages, being dressed up in such an inspiring way. Putting together an outfit, like a work of art - which in some ways, it really is.  So, wether in Paris or not, let's not forget that dressing up nicely -  and a little daring  - makes life, street life anyway, more interesting and beautiful - not just for ourselves, but also for others. (A good excuse to schedule a little shopping soon, huh?).

All the pictures i show you here are taken by incredibly talented street fashion photographer Vanessa Jackmann. Her blog is so full of beautiful women it drives me crazy ;) You can read an interview with her here.

More fantastic Paris inspiration for your weekend at the linkup party, hosted by my friend Anita from Castles Crowns and Cottages here.

More Friday Pretties at Joyces, here.

Photos: Vanessa Jackmann.

Friday Pretties: strawberry trifle

Red and sweet

Are strawberries ripe yet in your part of the world? This is a yummy dessert we tried for the magazine a little while ago, and i tell you - it's worth making! Somehow, i have a fable for casual, improvised meals and for english teatime baking and desserts.  I love a good teatime from time to time, and secretly dream of having a butler, who serves it up in style for us, complete with a white table cloth, a wildflower bouqet, scones, cream, and evrything else. Even if was just like - once a week ;)

For this version, we used layers of crumbled cake, soaked with orange juice and brandy, cut strawberries and cream, whipped with a little sugar and vanilla extract. It looks pretty when you put it in individual jars, and decorate with berries and a bit of flaky chocolate. Try it, to add a delicious note to your weekend!

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

More Friday Pretties here! 

Friday Pretties: Birthday-cowboy

Saddle up and ride your pony!

If someone in our family has birthday, i do a special painting as a decoration. It's a tradition we started, when the kids were really small. We had all kinds of animals, comic-creatures and super-heroes already. Now big boy is riding out on his own trips, and, since mama has the cowboy-feeling on her mind i dedicated this theme to him this year. I'm dreaming of painting a big canvas with horses and all, maybe soon! Hope your weekend will be filled with sunshine, love and fun. See you soon lovelies!

There never was a horse that couldn't be rode;

Never was a cowboy who couldn't be throwed.

Painting: Martina Voigt-Schmid

More Friday Pretties here! 

Friday Pretties: White chocolate and strawberry soup

Want to play with your food?

Why not! This is a fun dessert for your weekend- easy to make and super-delicious! I've made it for our magazine - one of my first real atempts in food styling and photography, helped by my son Robin and his girfriend Julie, eaten and tested by all of us! You can pour the liquids together and create a lovely color-swirl, you can dip muffins or coockies in, put it over fruit-salad, or just drink it of the jar - as a little reward because: you've been soooooooooo good!

The original recipe was found at Tartelette, who is an amazing cook and stylist - we've only made it a little less sweet. Have a yummy weekend everyone! And don't forget to enter my giveaway in the post below!

White chocolate soup

200 g white chocolate

1 cup passionfruit juice

one 14-oz can coconutmilk

Carefully start melting white chocolate in a little pot over low heat. Add coconutmilk and stir, until chocolate has dissolved. Add passionfriutjuice and stir on. Turn heat off and leave for 5 minutes. Than beat mixture until creamy. Put in jars or bowls and chill until serving.

Strawberry purree

500 g ripe strawberries

juice and peel of a bio-lemon

1 dash of vanilla extraxt

Put all ingredients in a blender and puree. Chill mixture until serving.

Photo: Martina Voigt-Schmid
More Friday Pretties here!

Fridayx Pretties: DIY Paper Flowers

In the mood to make something?

How about these colorful flower-pompoms! They look quite impressive as a decoration for a party or - just for fun. And they are super easy to make. I know this is not exactly an easter thing, but - in case flowers are not yet in bloom where you are, they may add a touch of spring to your rooms - give it a try! I've made them last week as a creative project for the magazine, but also for my hubbys birthday.

Do you have anything planned for easter? I'm staying here, but, as the weather is really nice and sunny, i don't really mind. Going for long walks, having nice brunches and dinners with my family and friends, and just relaxing and celebrating the beauty around seems to be just the right thing!

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid
For more Friday Pretties visit Joyce's here! 

Friday Pretties: Beauty saves the day

Happy weekend lovelies!

Don't you think that beauty can save the day?

I've seen this photo some time ago on decor8 and it's beauty stayed with me. It is made by the talented giardino, who lives in one of my favorite landscapes in the world - in Ticino, the italian part of switzerland. Maybe i can show more of her work here soon.

 I have been quite busy the past few days, and have many fabulous things lined up for you in the next week. A kids-fashion shoot, a paper-flower tutorial and some very yummy sweet things to eat!  Meanwhile i hope you'll have a wonderful weekend - will come round later and have a little chat!

Photo: Giardino 

Friday Pretties: Jazz up your day ...

...by wearing some funky jewellery! 

The bright yellow bauble in these pictures belongs to a wristlet of mine, that looks like it is made of chocolates wrappend in tin-foil. All the kids love it, when they see it, and for me it's a reminder to never forget that a little sweetness can change your mood any time. A chocolate truffle, a raspberry icecream, a lovely compliment, a bunch of flowers, a little walk in the sunshine, a hug, a song, a smile, a small present ... hmmm, maybe buy something for your friend today, because -

The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up.  

Mark Twain

Photos: Martina Voigt-Schmid

For more Friday Pretties visit Joyce's here!  

Friday Pretties: Small collages

"I work in whatever medium likes me at the moment!"

Marc Chagall

Some more small canvases with a mix of painting and collage, a playful approach i like at the moment. It's fun to play with colors, while the world around us is doing the same, adorning trees with fluffy pink blossoms and tender green leaves. 

While everything is getting brighter and more and more pretty around me, i can't help having this sad and burdened feeling underneath, because of the nuclear catastrophe in Japan. When i see Cherry-trees, i think of those people who like them so much,  and who have to bear terrible uncertainty as to what is happening to them. And to a certain degree, it is happening to all of us. All the more reason to be grateful and cherish life the best we can.

Have a splendid spring weekend, i'll be coming over and visit you for tea (or champagne?) anytime!

Photos and paintings: Martina Voigt-Schmid

For more Friday Pretties visit Joyce's here!  

Friday Pretties: Cottage Makeover

Hallo weekend, here we come!

This cottage looks like a perfect hideaway after a busy week - a place to slow down and let your hair down, to breathe deeply, sleep in and enjoy the simple pleasures of fresh air, good food, picking flowers, maybe working in the garden or being creative. Don't you just love that turquoise wooden wall with white stencil leaves pattern in the bedroom? And the yellow-green with white and a touch of pink in the living room? Maybe, you can hear the sound of the ocean in the distance, and smell freshly baked scones - Mrs. Moussie is coming over for tea!

Have a fabulous weekend dear friends. Do take time to spoil yourselfs a little - no pudding, no fun!

Photos: Country Home
For more Friday Pretties visit Joyce's here! 

Friday Pretties: Felted pussy-willow

A cute project for early spring

If you're like me, and you can't wait for things to bloom, maybe you're in for a bit of fun with little felted balls. Attached with a little glue to some bare branches from a fruit tree or bush, they make a colorful and stylish bouquet - or centerpiece for your table. Sometimes, i love to work with this unspun wool, in germany we call it "Märchenwolle" - fairytale-wool. It has such a comforting quality, and rolling it up between your fingers is pure therapy for stress relief!

This is an idea and photo by Betz White - have a look at her Flickr, she's got more amazing craft projects to browse! For more Friday Pretties visit Joyce's here! 

Friday Pretties: Some art vitamins

Let Yourself Be Silently Drawn By the Stronger Pull Of That Which You Really Love.

Jalal-al-Din Rumi

Some small canvases i've worked on, using bits of vintage paper i'd stored in my drawer, and pages of an old book by french writer Colette.

Happy weekend dear ones! I can't believe how another week has just flewn by - time seems to be faster than me! At the moment i feel like time is a horse, and i don't really manage to ride it, but it gallops away with me - there, boom, friday again! Nevertheless of course, weekend is more than welcome and i can't wait to stop by at your places and have some tea!

Paintings/Collages: Martina Voigt-Schmid
More Friday Pretties to visit at Joyce's here! 

Friday Pretties: New furniture for (almost) free!

Chair before

Chair after

Two amazing DIY projects on a budget

 i found on "The art of doing stuff", a blog by this amazing and crafty lady Karen, who is really wort a visit!  She transformed an abandoned chair she found by the side of the road into this strikingly luxurious dream of a chair, and a simple piece of tree-trunk into a stylish side-table that looks like it was bought in an expensive design-store. 

For the chair, she simply covered it up with a Mongolian Lamb throw - no special skills needed for that one, it's finished in a minute, YAY!  For the table - hmmm, looks like a girl must be a bit more patient here, but it sounds perfectly doable as well. Look at the instruction here.

Boy, i miss going to the fleemarket and look for ragged chairs! What are your plans for the weekend?

Photos: "The art of doing stuff"

More Friday Pretties to visit at Joyce's here!