Challenge entry

I could not be happier with this weeks challenge theme chosen by DeerLola on the European Streetteam. It's been ages since I participated in the European Streetteam challenges. The challenges usually only last a week and sometimes that is just too short to finalize a ceramic project.
This week's challenge was called 'Ode to Anna' aka AnnaRubyKing or LilaRubyKing.
Read more about it on DeerLola's blog:
I've been admiring Anna's work from the first time I saw it and above that, Anna is just a super lovely person all around so it was such a pleasure to make something inspired by her work.

These birds make me smile and even though that they can't sing, they are still called singing birds because each and every one of them is inspired by the 2D birds of AnnaRubyKing.
And I have also made a few to use in a moss terrarium.And I have another idea in mind with these birds but they need some more fine tuning. I might have a new production line in my ceramic factory here! They are available in my Etsy shop.

Woot woot! Thank you so much everyone who casted their vote on the Etsy voter!
My ceramic set has been chosen by the Etsy community as high-end luxury item for the holidays. It has been published in the Storque, Etsy's handmade blog, today. One click on the picture below will bring you right to it! :) I'm thrilled about this - thanks for so much love! :)

How to make a paper doily angel & garland?

The other day I was looking at the pile of paper doilies and thought I could make some fun angels from them & string some doilies on a nylon thread to put in front of our window. A bit of holiday decoration without it being too traditional.
Here is what you need: paper doilies, a wooden bead, cotton thread, thin metal thread, scissors, doublesided tape and nylon thread.

Fold a paper doily double.

Make a cut through the doily on the side.

Make a cut through on the other side too.

Cut away part of the doily for the arms. Cut it a tiny little bit towards the middle on both sides.

Cut a piece of doublesided tape and attach it to one 'arm'.

Fold the part with the doublesides tape over the other part.

Do the same on the other side and you'll have this.

Cut some cotton thread about 8/10cm long.

Cut a piece of thin metal thread.

Make a loop on the metal thread and twist it a few times.

Put the cotton thread in between the 2 metal threads & twist it again.

String a wooden bead on the metal thread.

String the doily on the metal thread.

Twist around the metal thread a few times so
that the upper part can't come loose.

Cut a piece of doublesided tape.

Tape it in between the doily.

Press firmly.

Draw a little face on the wooden bead.
Your angel is finished.

Cut doilies towards the middle.

Make a fold between parts.

String them on a nylon thread together with the doliy angel.

Hang it in front of your window.

Granny squares in progress

Don't you love to see a stack of granny squares grow? I do!
I managed to get 2 x 9 squares done this week.Although I'd like to cheat sometimes... and you all know how much I detest sewing in the ends.
I can't wait to have more so I can stack them by color! :)

Secret Santa wants to know...

... if there is anything else that the Elves need to know...

I'd love to have a gathering for all of us in some place around Europe.
Like a stand in a colourful market in the city centre
of one of our amazing European cities.
Apparently I'm losing my mind with age so if he could arrange

for a replacement, that would be helpful. :)

I prefer small things over big things

I like Crocs

I'm 162,5m tall

I'm an Aquarius! Some day we will rule the world! :P

I'm a very difficult person to make a present for.

Lots of people claimed to have been a good girl this year...Oh yes! Please tell Santa I've always dreamt about braiding beads

into his wonderfully soft beard hair!
If he could please make that dream come true this year??
OOPS, looks like Santa doesn't want it this year... sorry!

Secret Santa is a game played by the European Streetteam on Etsy. The idea behind the Secret Santa is that you make something for a teammember and also receive a gift yourself.
Since I try to organise the game for our team, I get a lovely reward: reading all the questionnaires and knowing all the teammember's secrets! :)
What I also know is that lots of people of the team would like to read them all too... That's why I share part of the answers on the questions in my blog. And even though it's anonymous, it's still fun to read what other people wrote... Hope you enjoyed to have a peek in our team.

However, this was the last entry to this year's Secret Santa swap. All the gifts have to be sent out before the 10th of December. You can take a look at all the received gifts in our Secret Swap group on Flickr. Amazing things have been made so be sure to take a peek! :)

And there is more, this head Santa is retiring...
Now I know all the secrets, I think I completed my mission! Besides, after organising 3 swaps, I think it's time for a change. And guess what... a new secret swap person was on my doorstep. Best Secret Santa present ever as it's just an amazing woman with lots of enthusiam, a warm heart & lots of love for the European Streetteam.
She 's a very active woman as she's part of the EST Handmade blog-team, doing the then & now series on Scoutiegirl, has her own blog & runs a succesful Etsy shop.
I'm certain that you'll love to share your secrets with her - I know I will! She will be without a doubt an amazing secret swap chief! :)

The next secret swap will be organised by... drumroll...

Judit aka Vadjutka
You're already looking like a wonderful Spring Fairy!
Good luck to you!

My creative space

I love my creative space this week as it's full with candy! :)
I got a request from one of my customers to sent out a card to her sister in Holland from Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas is mainly celebrated in Holland and Belgium on the 5th or 6th of December. In Belgium, kids put a plate with sugarcubes for Sinterklaas' horse & an alcoholic beverage for Sinterklaas in front of the fireplace on the 5th of December. During the night, Sinterklaas rides with his horse and his helpers (zwarte pieten) over the rooftops and brings gifts for the good kids. The helpers of Sinterklaas are black as they have to climb down the chimney's.
It's a lovely tradition & most kids love to believe in him for as long as possible...

Anyway, this customer made a lovely Dutch poem (even though she only speaks a little bit) for her sister and I put it on the card. She asked me if I could add some Sinterklaas candy for her as well. Good reason to go out and get some myself too! :)

Want to show you creative space? Hop over to Kootoyoo's to play! It's fun! :)

And can I please ask you a favor?
If you have an Etsy-account and like my work, please go and vote for me here!
Thanks so much for casting your vote!

The secret project... work in progress

Last monday I shipped a parcel to my secret partner. I made the first part of the production on the things we agreed on. I couldn't believe really how little it was in volume - so many teeny tiny bits but it will make for a good start I hope.
I put some things in there to surprise her although I could not wait to share pictures of it of course. I experimented with some red underglaze. Definately needs more tweeking but it looks cool I think. She replied saying that she'd be dreaming of red spots. Is that a good or a bad sign? :)And then she had asked me to make a kind of drop with a crackle glaze on the bottom.
I absolutely love this! I just couldn't wait any longer to share it with you. I think we should make more of these although I have no clue yet what she'll do with these! :)
I suppose it's my turn to be teased of what she'll do with it now... *sigh*
I think I loved teasing her and you better! :)As soon as I get so see some pictures of what she produces, I will show... I can't wait! :)

You can find more pictures of the finished products in my Flickr stream. I must admit I was quite impressed myself by the Barbie hands after they had been sanded and fired.

To know the idea behind the secret project, go read the first blogpost here or click on the label 'the secret project' to see all the posts about it.
Can't wait to receive your guesses but think about it carefully 'cause you can only guess once! :)
You can send your guess to mitsy@artmind.eu and can not change your guess so think about it carefully...

Flickr Favorites

1. Harry Eskimo, 2. Untitled, 3. Untitled 4. In the park with Modesty

Some parts of the world are brr... cold, some are hmm... hot.
I don't know where you are but I hope you feel happy and at home wherever you are. This blue makes me happy & these kids make me smile.

Don't forget to look at my favorite mosaic from last week. It's so light and airy and is making you long for the holiday season.

If you like to play this week, make your mosaic and add a link to your blogpost (NOT your blog please) or Flickr in Mister Linky (click on the button below and fill in your name with the link to your blogpost or Flickr picture).
I'll pop over to have a look at yours. Can't wait to see your creations and find new favorites! :)



And there is still time to participate in my give-away! Yay!
Quick, go here! :)