October 31, 2024

*in my bubble


Last day of October.
This month I really disappeared into a cozy needlework bubble. I finished three projects and am working on a fourth bigger one. I made some more clay experiments and continued clearing out the attic (it seems a life long project, there is still a lot of construction waste to dispose bit by bit). The weekend will stay mild and I can't wait to transition into more frosty weather. But the good thing is that our fig tree had some more time to let his fruits ripen, so I could pick some more yesterday and they tasted fantastic! The garden beds are overgrown with cosmos flowers and when the blossoms are glowing out of the mist in the mornings, it is a real feast for the eyes.

October 29, 2024

*sand & sea


It was quite a journey until my friend Olivia from Sweden received the crochet bag that I made for her (in the colors sand & light blue which are one of her favorites and I love them too)! The package was lost somewhere on the mailing route in Germany and we were very lucky that it got found in the end and came back to me, so I resent it and yesterday it finally arrived safe at her place! It would have been so sad if it was lost completely when thinking of the hours of work that went into making it. If you have seen my Croatia movie, then you know that this bag has absorbed a lot of fresh ocean air before it was finished. 

The main pattern is from "Paula strickt". It is the third bag in this style I made over the years. You can see the other ones here and here if you like.

October 27, 2024

*Recently


We are having misty days, but still quite mild temperatures for the time of the year. We only regularly heated the tiled stove so far and hardly the kitchen stove. I'm full of ideas for my clay work. The last firing did not turn out so well for some pieces, some black pieces have created "warts". I already knew about the issues with dark clays, but made some more research about it, the higher manganese content tends to gas out when firing with high temperatures and you have to find the right temperature where it still sinters. But I had pieces with other clay too, so I did burn all together again. But still I'm really excited of the black clay outcomes, I love how the light glaze behaves on it. It created those reddish little spots and the transition to the transparent glaze is simply beautiful. So I am not that disappointed, I already took some pictures that I will share soon again here. Further I finished knitting a hat, I haven't knitted for ages, so I had to kind of find my way back into it first, but after some time my hands remembered what to do again and it worked out and even fitted. I just used wool leftovers and no fixed pattern. And I found an old knitting UFO (unfinished object), that I had since at least six years in a box on our attic. I hope I manage this winter to finish it finally! Let's see how it goes! In any case, enjoy your weekend and see you soon again!

October 25, 2024

*An ode to the fog

{Music: Ode to Vivian (Rework) – Patrick Watson}

A walk in the fog, admiring all the spiderwebs, collecting apples and nuts. Between the young walnut trees and the muted green of the meadow I found two yellow glowing spots of toadflax flowers. They were so beautiful, a suaveness in midst of the mist.

The pretty tote bag is designed by my dear friend Olivia Lillemor from Sweden. She gifted it to me in September and I really love it!

October 21, 2024

*blue fennel


I love Mondays!
It’s usually my house-cleaning day, but yesterday I finished glazing my latest ceramics, so I postponed the cleaning a bit and loaded the kiln as early as possible. Most of the pieces in the pictures are already carefully packed and will soon be shipped to their new owners. I hope they arrive safely and will be cherished!

I want to slowly replace all my dishes with my handmade ceramics (except for other handmade pieces I have from artist friends). It feels so good to open the kitchen cupboards and see them there. There’s a kind of warmth that handmade items emit – I love that! The jug is currently filled with the last dahlia flowers.

October 20, 2024

*Autumn mice

Apple mouse meets pear mouse.
 

October 19, 2024

*The start of autumn & finishing my crochet project

{Music: Highland Railway – James Quinn + Long Strides – Blue Dot Sessions}

A little collection of moments when autumn just started
and I finished my crochet bag project.

October 17, 2024

*scents in the wind


A last picture series of our stay at the sea.

The island is abound with wild herbs and lavender. I picked some wild sage, that I dried later for tea and took some seeds to try to grow a plant next spring. I have a big sage plant already, but it is a different sort. I drink a lot of sage tea during the whole year. It's really refreshing and medicative.

We are having heavy storms right now, it was hard to find rest with the noise out there, but I finished another crochet project I started recently. A woolen top. It has been ages since I last crocheted a piece of clothing. Let's see if I can take some pictures soon, it is still so dark outside. It still takes over an hour until the sun rises. Take care & have a nice day!

October 16, 2024

*black clay


My first black clay results! They turned out surprisingly satisfying. It’s easier to see in person than in the photos, but the lighter parts of the clay shimmer like gold in the light. The white glaze has a really nice effect on them! You can always click on the pictures to see them larger.

October 14, 2024

*playing the ocean


This rainbow was our welcome on island Hvar, it was the first sight when we finally arrived. There is something very special to this island.

Because of the unsteady weather, there were not many people on the beaches or swimming in the sea. But there was this one man, who you would consider to be not the average, I don't know if he had some mental disorder, but that is not the point. After observing him for a moment, I was truly mesmerized. He was completely naked and was holding a key with his mouth, while he was moving gently in the ocean, playing an invisible instrument with his hands, as if the ocean was his piano. He was fully captivated in his own world and seemed to not feel the cold of the water. He did not take notice of others around him or seemed to care about what another might think of him. It was so beautiful to watch. There was this innocence and complete trust in life and the world he emitted. After what seemed like an eternity, he suddenly jumped out of the water, like a child, and ran naked across the street.
 

October 13, 2024

*white swans & soap dish


Good morning! It’s still dark outside, but on my blog the sun is already shining on my white ceramic swans.

Yesterday we went for a walk under huge chestnut trees and along a stream through the forest. The wet weather brought out a wonderful variety of mushrooms, sprouting from the ground and the tree trunks.

I also finished another crochet project – a light blue bonnet made with soft alpaca wool. Autumn really is the perfect time for needlework. When it gets colder and you’re surrounded by wool, cinnamon tea, and the warmth of the stove – what could be cozier?

The summer asters grew so beautifully this year, even though they bloomed quite late. But I had such a lovely variety – I especially fell for the ones in soft pastel shades like the ones in the picture. I also had some in rich purple and deep ruby tones.

October 10, 2024

*Collecting sunrises on island Hvar

{Music: 17 (Youth Lagoon cover) + The great fire (Future islands cover) – Ocie Elliott + Tides of Change – Joe Kirby + Pulse – Blue dot sessions}

In September we have been to the beautiful Croatian island Hvar. The weather was very unsteady, it rained and stormed a lot, but in between I had the most enjoyable time. The water was still warm enough to take a swim every now and then and every morning I would walk to the coast to be witness of the rising sun. It was pure nourishment for my soul, I will never forget those moments and it feels like a part of me is still sitting there with the wind and waves. We visited the Shepherd's Village Humac, existing since the 17. century and it really looks like it has not changed much since. It was one of the most fascinating villages I have ever seen, it felt so grounding walking between those natural old stone buildings surrounded by all the fragrant herbs. Also I started to crochet a bag for a friend while I was listening to the sound of the waves and the ocean breeze was gently stroking my skin. I was picking wild sage and collected some seeds that I want to try next year. 

October 09, 2024

*I lived my life


Ich lebte mein Leben
zwischen den wilden Gräsern
und dem Glitzern der Tautropfen.

Im Winter zog ich ins Haus einer Schnecke
und träumte vom sanften Wiegen
der Glockenblumen im Sommerwinde
und dem zarten Duft der Windlingsblüten.

Nichts ließ mein Herz mehr erblühen
als der stetige Tanz der Jahreszeiten.
Ein endloser Kreis, der die Liebe beschreibt
und den Sinn für die Unendlichkeit weckt.

Ich lebte mein Leben
zwischen raschelnden Erlenblättern
und dem Hauch singender Libellen.

Wenn ich müde war, lauschte ich dem Flüstern der Sterne,
die immer etwas zu erzählen hatten,
egal ob es Tag oder Nacht war.

Nichts berührte meine Sinne mehr
als das Lachen der Bäume, 
wenn der erste Regen nach langer Dürre
ihre müden Äste streifte.

Ich lebte mein Leben
zwischen dem Schwingenstaub der Nachtfalter
und dem Summen emsiger Wildbienen.

Wen ich durstig war, trank ich aus der Stille des Sees,
der wie ein Spiegel andere Welten verbarg,
in die ich eintauchen
und ganz ich selbst sein konnte.

{Claudia Voglhuber}


I lived my life
between the wild grasses
and the glitter of the dewdrops.

In winter I moved into the house of a snail
and dreamed of the gentle swaying
of the bluebells in the summer wind
and the delicate scent of the bindweed flowers.

Nothing made my heart blossom more
than the constant dance of the seasons.
An endless circle that describes love
and awakens the sense of infinity.

I lived my life
between rustling alder leaves
and the breath of singing dragonflies.

When I was tired, I listened to the whisper of the stars,
which always had something to tell,
regardless of whether it was day or night.

Nothing touched my senses more
than the laughter of the trees
when the first rain after a long drought
touched their tired branches.

I lived my life
between the dust of the moths' wings
and the buzzing of busy wild bees.

When I was thirsty, I drank from the silence of the lake,
which, like a mirror, concealed other worlds,
in which I could immerse myself
and be completely myself.

{Claudia Voglhuber}

October 08, 2024

*overflowing heart


Do you like to write poetry?

I do from time to time.

When I am walking alone
in between all the beauty of nature, 
it feels like my heart it overflowing
and the words just drop down from the sky into my head.
Often I do not have something to write with me,
so I loose them again.

Yesterday we had the first really foggy day. It did not take long and I was out to film a bit and take some pictures. Between the young walnut trees and the muted green of the meadow there were two yellow glowing spots of toadflax flowers. It was so beautiful, this suaveness in midst of the mist.
Further I collected some apples and nuts and I'm working on a new crochet project, I feel very inspired and motivated right now which I'm very grateful for. 

October 07, 2024

*plates, flowers & stones


Plates, all unique.

October 06, 2024

*little birds & bowls & plates


Further it goes, there will be a ceramic overflow in the coming days, I hope you don't mind!