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

Fun with paper and magazines

Things are only impossible until they're not.  
Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation

I love this quote today, because it helps me reach for the stars, even if, for now, they are made of paper. As golden leaves start to cover the pavements, paper leaves are covering my floor. Inspiring bits and pieces from magazines i like, and cut out paper-doillies for a little project for the Christmas-edition of KidsLife. It was such a joy this morning, to discover Hana Lynch, a photographer i worked with, has featured our magazine  in her beautiful blog, the mom tog diaries. 

We published some of her work about the makeover of her kids rooms recently, and i love how it turned out. Have a look at more of her amazing work!

The air was chilly this morning, and i actually liked it - so fresh!  For a little extra fun this weekend, visit my friend Susan. She has a lovely giveaway over at  Mary Janes Tearoom.

Love for a happy weekend!

Photos: 1t: Martina Voigt-Scmid, 2, 3 and 4: Hana Lynch

Friday Pretties: A paper wreath - and how to make it

Do you have old books - old, old books that are not pretty or good enough to keep? Here's something you can do with them, if you're not afraid to cut of some pages! A paper-wreath, leaves made out of printed pages. I liked the black and white look - but maybe it looks good as well, if you cut leaves out of old magazines - with colored pages. A little project if you don't quite feel ready yet to start on your christmas-decoration, and want to keep the autumn feeling lingering a bit longer.

The last picture shows you, how to do it - really simple and easy. Cut the leaves and then fix them with deco-needles on a styrofoam-wreath - that way, you can move them a little bit and adjust them to your liking. A little bow can be aded as a final touch.

Have a great weekend! And visit Joyce to see  more pretties here!!

Fotos artwork & painting: Martina Voigt-Schmid

Monday Love: Organic Shapes

Shapes in movement: Matisse-style mobile from Pukapuka, available at Etsy.


Print in subtle colors by NY artist Michelle Oka Doner, via Marlborough


Waxes for Meijer gardens and sculpture park in Grand Rapids, Michigan. They were cast in bronze for a 2008 installation.

Michelle Oka Doners intense work amazes me, whenever i see it. It's focus are the fascinating forms of life within land and water The beauty of creatures, shapes and forms, gently moulded by the sea. Read an interview about her and her art here.


"Snow Flowers" by Henri Matisse, watercolor and gouache on cut and pasted papers, 1951, via habit of art.

Henri Matisse always was - and still is - my biggest Guru in painting. His work is so full of live and joyful elegance, and it keeps inspiring artists and designers worldwide.
When he was really old and sick and sitting in a wheelchair, he created what seems the most light and modern part of his work, the colorful papercuts. A wonderful reminder of how a creative mind can transform any given limitations.

Enjoy - and have a good start into the week!

Meet Elsa Mora

Just discovered a great new artist i love - and am really exited about it. Her name is Elsa Mora, and she's so incredibly talented. Her delicate papercuts are amazing, but she also works on painting, drawing, sculpture, the sweetest handmade dolls and her own style, wich is adorable!

Her work is very different from mine - so fine and exact, almost like couture needlework. Yet Elsa is also a very warm and wise person and mother, and it's so much fun to dicover her various blogs. If you're crazy about her artwork - there's also some of it available on Etsy.
Have a wonderful, relaxed, inspired weekend and celebrate all the good things in your life!

Fotos via Elsa Mora