*Crochet bear

Some close-ups from my latest finished crochet project. The pattern is from @mauvepony, you can find it here ‣ {klick}. I decided to let him naked instead of giving him the pullover from the original pattern. I used yarn with 30% alpaca and 70% merino content and even though it is a bit tricky to work with it, because it doesn't unravel well when making mistakes, I love the softness and how natural it feels. I'm really happy how this bear turned out and now it's time to wrap him for being able to give him away at Christmas. :)

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*Advent diary & finishing my crochet bear

{Music: Singur – Oskar Schuster + As Ballad – Lambert}

Enjoying Advent time with walks in the frost, making sketches, baking cookies, making place for my crafted paper star & finally finishing my crochet bear.

Macadamia nut chocolate chips cookies recipe

(from Tina Sosna)

• 320 g flour (I used spelt flour)

• 200g butter

• 140 g sugar (I used half amount, because I don't like it so sweet)

• 2 eggs

• 100 g salty macadamia nuts

• 200 g dark chocolate

• Soda (Natron)

• Baking powder

Roast the flour in the oven for about 10–15 minutes at 180 degrees, depending on how dark you like it (I roasted mine in the pan on the oven, which also worked well). Add 2 g soda (natron), 3 g baking powder. Mix it with soft butter, sugar and eggs. Cut the macadamia nuts and dark chocolate in pieces and add it to the dough. Form balls and place them on baking sheet prepared with baking paper and bake for about 15 minutes at 180 degrees.

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*holding the light in the darker times

I'm back with some of my recent watercolor paintings.

It's the third Advent weekend already and I'm preparing some Christmas letters that I want to send out today. Further I'm painting on my last prompt for the #LazyLines_SlowTimes drawing challenge. Yesterday in the evening I sorted my watercolor paints. Sorting things always calms my mind. Sometimes I just empty one of my cupboards and slowly fill it again in a neat way and I feel better.

I'm off again, but I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

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*A light in the oak forest & Advent preparations

{Music: An amalgation waltz 1839 – Joep Beving + We Contain Multitudes + Ólafur Arnalds + For Steven – Joep Beving}

Having a calm moment in the oak forest, making the Advent wreath and baking "Powidl-Datschgerl".

The recipe I have from one of my best friends mum. She used to make them when we were children and I loved them! I remember how I would have liked to eat them all, but would not dare to take another one until my friend also did. Have a wonderful second Advent!

Powidl-Datschgerl recipe

• 350 g flour (I used spelt flour)

• 60 g sugar (originally it is a lot more sugar, but I find the plum jam filling sweet enough)

• 15 g yeast

• ⅛ l milk

• 60 g butter

• plum jam (Powidl)

• 1 egg yolk (safe the egg white for the finish)

• 1 lemon

• a pinch of salt

Warm up the milk and mix all the ingredients with the zest of a quarter of a untreated lemon in a bowl with a wooden spoon to form a smooth dough. Put the dough on a board and knead it with your hands to form a silky dough. Leave to rest for half an hour. Then roll it out, cut it into rounds, fill it with 1-2 teaspoons of plum jam (Powidl) depending on the size, press it together firmly and leave it to rise for 20 minutes. Brush with egg white and bake at 170 degrees for approx. 15–25 minutes.

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*everything is connected with silver threads

Not long after writing yesterday's blog entry, the ice rain changed into snow and and lied down like a coat of powdered sugar on the bland landscape. It was a short delight, but instantly brought a this certain winter calmness into our four walls.

Like always I'm a bit behind with my analogue pictures here, but this is still how it looks most of the days here.

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*birds, ice rain & peaceful candle light moments

The luckiest film photography moments for me are for sure when I manage to press the shutter when a flock of birds appears on the sky.

We still had no proper snowfall, but we are having ice rain right now. It's a pleasant sound when the frozen drops are bursting on the roof and house walls. A bit like standing under a winter tree whose frozen branches are touching each other when moving in the wind.

I have been turning our bedroom on it's head, I needed some change and made place for our future Christmas tree. I'm also still painting for "LazyLines" and sometimes I film a little. The waxing moon looks beautiful these days, a sharp shiny sickle on the clear evening sky. Time seems always flying extra fast before Christmas. I try to light a candle every now and then and hold still to counteract the rush of time. What gives you the most peace right now?

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*Quiet nature & needlework moments in November

{Music: Morning brings peace of mind (Bernt Jansch cover) – Christ Brain + Wish – Christ Brain}

Simply some peaceful moments throughout November.

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*baby blanket

Some close-ups of the baby blanket that I finished at the beginning of November. I was a bit unhappy with the wool first, because it felt not as soft anymore when crocheting with it, but after I made the pictures I washed it with wool detergent and then it became nice and soft again and I really love the color combination. It's so pleasing when you start a project and look out for specific wool before, instead of taking leftovers that you have at home already which I usually do when I am making something for myself. But I wanted the blanket to become just as I have imagined it and it should be something special! I can't wait to see it in use! But we have to be a little patient still!

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*November happy list

I have noticed that I made only one happy list in 2024, at the beginning of June. It might say something about the difficulties of this year. Anyway, let's make a list before the year is over again. November has become one of my favorite months!

• a deep red morning sky

• making an Advent wreath

• mist in the oak forest

• scents of eucalyptus, sandalwood & frankincense

• flocks of goldfinches

• the warmth of the stove fire

• painting

• my kumquat tree is blooming

• candlelight & stillness

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*Fairy rings and other things

This was the most beautiful fairy ring that I have ever seen.

We had the first snow last week, but just a little bit in the evening when it was dark already and on the next morning only the tree tops in the distance where still white. When the fog is not too strong, the air becomes so clear and pleasant to breathe. This is what I love about winter, when you are finally able to breathe through. On the weekend we made another forest walk and I collected some spruce branches to make an Advent wreath the coming days. I don't know if I mentioned here already, but I'm joining this years Advent drawing challenge again, it has a new name now, it is called "LazyLines SlowTimes" and is hosted by Ema Malyauka. To be honest, I did not like the prompts at all when I read them the first time, but the good thing about those art challenges is, that you are totally free and after some sketching, I felt more content with them and now I am looking forward to sink into my painting bubble where the world around me dissolves.

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*A blanket for a winter baby

{Music: This beautiful life – Ocie Elliott + Go your way (Anne Briggs cover) – Chris Brain + Hulu Ukulele – Chris Haugen} 

In the midst of the mist

I started to crochet a blanket

for my sisters winter baby to come.

I finished it in the gentle evening light

under the birches and hope that it 

will bring joy and good use.

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*herbarium pieces

The biggest ceramic pieces I made so far. They came out nicely, but took up a lot space in the kiln.

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*tea set

I made the little jug, because I wanted to have something where I can allow to infuse my loose black tea leaves in exactly the amount of water I use to drink for my breakfast tea. And I love how it turned out! I already had it several times with me when I was outside with my needlework.

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*birds like leaves

When birds are flying like leaves from the trees 

and the days get shorter and shorter.

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*most of my prayers

Most of my prayers are wordless

and I have the pleadings of a child. 

My fingers are never still,

but my heart is.

I do not hear it pounding,

nor feel it in my chest.

When I sleep, I sleep soundless.

My partner is waking me in fear.

I was merely far far away,

where I fly without wings.

{Claudia Voglhuber}

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*white minimalist vase

White vase for minimalists in a natural white tone and unique design.

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*birds

More ceramic birds of all sorts.

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