Mini feeling: surprised

This one belongs in a cartoon I think...

Mini feeling: proud

Standing tall and proud.
In Dutch we say 'growing from pride' which basicly means that you grow from being proud about something, I had some help from Chichiboulie and LillyElla because I was not sure this would be said in the English language. Apparently it is nothing used in the English language like we use it in Dutch.
However, LillyElla remembered this childhood story about a giraffe who's neck grew longer and longer to reach the leaves on the trees but with his neck growing, also grew his pride. He became too proud to eat the leaves off the ground. She doesn't remember the rest of the story but it must be the giraffe which is referred to as proud.
If anyone knows which children's book this is, please do let me know, I would be happy to post a link to it here.
Thanks ChichiBoulie & LillyElla for your help. :)

Mini feeling: sleepy

*yawns*

Hmmm... speculaas

This is probably the easiest and yummiest recipe for speculaas I've ever tried. My mom passed it on to me and I think it's not the last time I'm making these...
Ingredients (for 45 pieces)

• 1kg flour
• 1 package of baking powder (20g)
• 600g dark brown sugar
• 1 coffeespoon baking soda
• 3 eggs
• 20 drops of almond extract (I use a bit more 'cause it's yummy)
• 400g butter (I use baking butter - Solo for example)

Mix the flour, the baking soda, the baking powder and the brown sugar.
Add the almond extract and the eggs and stir.
Melt the butter, add it and knead it all to a firm dough.
Make little balls of plus/minus 50g and put them on a baking paper in the oven.
Bake them for 15 minutes in a preheated oven of 200°C
Take 'em out and let them cool of for a bit.
They will go all crunchy outside and nice and soft on the inside.
I used half of the ingredients for this recipe and put three trays in the oven. I had 22 pieces of speculaas and now only euh... 15 left... uhoh!
We did have a guest so that explains... :)

Mini feeling: creative

Bubbles are an irrepressible activity or emotion: bubbling over with creativity.

Mini feeling: chaotic

Lacking a visible order or organization.

Mini feeling: uncertain

Twisting and turning.
Lacking confidence and being doubtful.

Mini feeling: defensive

Enclosed in a shell.
Something that serves to defend.

Mini feeling: lost

Taking a journey and not looking back.
Getting lost but the destination is close... I'll get there in the end!PS: The labyrinth has been handcarved and is somewhat uneven. It took me a long time to make it. I'm not sure I like it the way it is... If I will reproduce this feeling, I will make a stamp out of polymer clay so I can press it into the tummy.

Mini feeling: relaxed

Like waves coming to the shore... and walking barefoot on the beach looking at that. Too bad it's only in my imagination right now...

Happy Easter???

While all the neighbors are having up their X-mas decorations, my partner just put a sign in front of our window where he is counting down till Easter! I'm glad to know there is always someone crazier then me - my luck I happen to live with that person! :)
The sign reads: '117 nights until Easter'...
That sure brings me in the mood to organise the secret Easter Bunny for the European Streetteam... :)

Mini feeling: shitty

I suppose we all know how that feels...
Did you know I'm also a big fan of Calvin & Hobbes?

Mini feeling: passionate

Ruled by intense emotion or strong feeling.

Mini feeling: comfortable

A snug little patchwork blanket is all you need to feel this way...

Mini feeling: shy

The red cheeks explain it all...
This is red clay onto white clay. The effect will be more clear when it's fired.

Get Eurofied sampler box

A while ago, I blogged about my participation in the Get Eurofied sampler box. I didn't show you what I made for the box as I didn't want to spoil the fun for people who would buy it. Now that they are almost all gone, I can show you which sample of mine was in the box.
It is something you can only receive when shopping ArtMind... or when buying a sampler box. There are only a few boxes left so if you want one, you have to be fast! :)

Mini feeling: small

Totally insignificant... looks a bit lost too...

Mini feeling: excited

Being all wound up.
Overactive. Hyper. Bouncing.
Being in a great state of tension.

Mini feeling: confused

Perplexed by many conflicting situations or statements.

More naughty Santa's

Karlita wrote me the other day to let me know there were some more gifts waiting at her house from naughty Santa's and invited me to come by to collect them. :)
So I passed by the bakery and took some pastries while she arranged the coffee at her home. It is so much fun to spend time with another Etsian and I'm glad we live so close.
There have been many smiles again... Probably needless to say but it was of course totally unneccesary to send me a Santa gift but I really have been enjoying all the little & big surprises.
If you want to see the other surprises that my teammates gave me, you can hop over to Karlita's blog and see them. I do love our Streetteam!
Now I need to ask for a promise from every Secret Easter Bunny participant not to sent me anything! :) I think that does need to be a condition to be able to participate! ;)
If you want to see the gifts closer, please click on the picture and you'll be redirected to Flickr where I have put notes on the picture! :)

Mini feeling: sweet

I had to eat an icecream to finish off this feeling. The sacrifices we have to make sometimes...

Mini feeling: cold

Brrr...

Mini feeling: zombie

I think we all feel like this at one point or another...

Mini feeling: divided

Not united - separate in opinion or feeling.

New toys to play with...

Yesterday we went to look for information to buy a kiln and of course I couldn't resist some new toys...
Please click on the picture to find out what it all is...

Mini feeling: special

Second time that I get to see this message.
I love it, Etsy! It makes me smile! :)
Today.Thank you, Nanouke for making this joyful list for my birthday! :)
Thank you, Etsy for putting it on the frontpage of Etsy, what a delightful surprise! :)

Mini feeling: adventurous

A Belgian comic hero: Kuifje or TinTin.
He's a very adventurous character and also very well known worldwide so I hope that you can recognise the adventure in this feeling...
More info on TinTin on Wikipedia
Thank you AnnaRubyKing, ZamZamDesign and Ingermaaike for your input on his hairdo! :)

Mini feeling: protected

Do you know the Michelin Man? :)
Thanks to TheHouseOfMouse, Starrybluesky, RunAliceRun, Glasfaden, Red2White and LillyElla for helping me define this feeling.

Mini feeling: greedy

Having a desire for anything.
Not a very nice feeling but the childish way it is displayed does make it look a bit cuter I think...
This piggybank does need to be broken if you want to reach what's inside...

Mini feeling: blocked

To suffer a mental block.

Furoshiki gift wrapping

Furo-what?
Furoshiki means 'bath spread' and in the old Japan, they were used to bundle and protect people's clothing at public bath houses. Over the years, their standard use has been to tie up any bundle you can imagine.
These traditional Japanese square cloths are getting a lot of attention lately, as a "green" alternative to wrapping paper and plastic shopping bags.
I think it's a fantastic way to wrap your gifts for the upcoming holidays.
Here's a great example how to wrap your gifts in the Furoshiki mode:

For more information on the history and cultural uses of furoshiki, check out this 1994 article from The Tomen Journal. The author explains that there's a knack to tying them so that they're the most useful, so don't be discouraged if the furoshiki shoulder bag you made doesn't work out the first time.
Enjoy your giftwrapping, enjoy your holidays! :)

Mini feeling: agitated

Being in a state of anxiety or uneasiness.

Thank you Kreativlink, Red2White and Lillyella for helping me define this feeling. Your input is warmly appreciated! :)

Mini feeling: pretty

A girl with pearls must feel pretty...
Thank you, Gina for providing the feeling, I hope this meets up to the expectations! :)

How to use a mould?

A quick how-to on how to work with a mould.
There are numerous ways, I'm just showing you mine... :)
My apologies for the bad quality of the pictures, I was too lazy to get the tripod out... :(
Put some clay between two liners and roll it flat.
Cut the piece in two and press it into the mould. Cut away the edges.Make the edges rough with a spiked spatula.Put some clay pulp on the rough edges and close the mould.After about 20 minutes open the mould and take the feeling out.Smoothen the surfaces and put an airhole in the bottom before firing.Tada: the feeling is now ready to become a REAL feeling.
What will this one be? To be continued...
Feel free to let me know how you feel, it might become one of the 99 feelings...

Mini feeling: stress

An applied force or system of forces that tends to strain or deform a body.

Mini feeling: safe

!!!

Mini feeling: regret

A feeling of disappointment or distress about something that one wishes could be different.

Naughty, naughty Santa's

Last week, Karlita asked me if I could go and have a coffee with her today. There is this gorgeous chocolaterie in our town named Boon. They have delicious coffees and serve nice chocolates and chocolate mousse with them. It's already a treat to go there but this time the surprise was even bigger...
Karlita was already there which I found fantastic because it's always so busy that you never know if you have a place to sit.
Nearly as soon as I sat down and told her how I was doing she handed this big brown bag to me. It's a bag where Saint Nicholas hold the presents in. And today is Saint Nicholas day in Belgium but I didn't expect to get any presents.
Turned out that some members of the European Streetteam send gifts to Karlita for me because I organised the Secret Santa. I couldn't believe my eyes really. People did ask for my address but I refused to give it because the biggest joy for me was organising the Secret Santa.
Really, it was great fun and I got to know the team so much better. I also enjoyed sharing some of the info through my blog and loved that they all enjoyed reading that.
Secret Santa has been an incredibly amazing event and I didn't expect to receive so much warmth and generosity. I feel a bit embarrased too because it was not neccesary at all - it has been a great pleasure for me so I do dare to call you all a bit naughty! :)
Good that most of you already received their gift! :)
I can't show any pictures yet as my partner run off with our camera but Karlita has proof of many smiles and happiness. Rests me to thank all of you for being so kind, sweet and lovely! You are all incredible! Thank you so much - it has been a wonderful Saint Nicholas day for me with the most amazing surprise ever! :)
I will show some pictures as soon as I have the camera! :)
Please hop over to Karlita's blog to see me unwrapping it all... :)

Mini feeling: pressured

Feeling pressured.
Like the air in bubblewrap.
Like a constraining force on the mind or will...

Mini feeling: addicted

Addicted to list feelings here... ;)
The needle does give it a very negative feel for addictions but there sure can be positive addictions too. I'm considering making a chocolate feeling...

Mini feeling: explosive

Feeling like your going to explode?
From anger? From pain? From hurt?
Sometimes I explode from laughing too. :)

Mini feeling: tired

When I feel tired, it feels like my skin is peeling off. It seems like I'm slowly letting air go out of my body like a tire...