*some more happy animals

I really like painting with a limited color palette and it's one of my favorite things to choose those few colors before starting with a new painting. It was also time for a new pattern design. I like simple and airy patterns. I think the little birds would make lovely toddler bedclothes! I would also not mind having a pillow with that pattern :) BTW, it is available in my spoonflower shop now in two different color variations.

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*some happy animals

Two days ago I finished my last commission before our little holiday starts. It feels good to finally be able to concentrate on my own stuff again, to be able to experiment more again without any pressure. So I made some more lake pigments from flowers in the garden. They are drying right now and I'm very excited how the colors will turn out in the end! 

Yesterday evening we made a lovely walk in the sunset and there was a huge flock of birds in the air. Everyone who knows me a little better, knows that I couldn't be any happier when I spot a flock of birds in the sky! Luckily I had my analogue camera with me and could take some pictures, but I don't know yet if they will turn out ok at all, as I got myself a "new" old secondhand camera after my zenit-E unfortunately broke and it's always risky with such old used cameras and I have to see if it works at all and this is my first film with it. So keep your fingers crosses that the camera works properly and we will be pleased with some nice bird pictures in the end :)

I really love this time of the year, when you can already smell fall in the fresh morning air and the light starts slowly to change and gets softer. Are you looking forward to fall? Where you able to make a little vacation this year despite of the circumstances? I hope you are all well and are able to enjoy the simple things in life!

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*little house in the forest

We visited the little abandoned house in the forest again. Whenever I get the chance, I take a new picture of it! Still I haven't managed to be there in winter though. It must look so lovely when it snows!

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*Moody skies & waving fields

On our little vacation at the end of June we made a stop in the Burgenland. It rained most of the time, but I truly loved the wide open meadows and the amount of wild flowers everywhere. We have seen several storks, but sadly I was not able to catch them with my camera.

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*beneath the linden trees

We are having another heat wave and on such days I enjoy the very early morning hours the most as the air feels still bearable. Lots of little projects are going on, I paint a lot, but also enjoy how easy it feels to nourish myself when there is so much to harvest from the garden. I'm eating a big cucumber salad every day and like to make pasta with the fresh tomatoes. August is a lovely month! I hope you are doing well and cope with the heat!

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*reading for trees

It's been nearly a year since I last used a black&white film, so I thought it would be a nice change to use one again. Especially in summer when the colors all around are so vivid and strong, I long for the calm tones of the colder seasons. So this is a way for me to get this calmness back, at least in photography and create this timeless atmosphere that I like so much.

August started pretty hot, in the early morning hours when the air was still a bit fresher I worked in the garden, later we went swimming with Sunny and in the evening we made a relaxing walk in the shade of old maple trees. A good start for the new month.

Reading in nature is something wonderful, nevertheless I love reading in bed the most. I have always a pile of books under my bed and am looking forward to the moment I can let go of the day and just read. I do have a kindle for the books that I do not get in book form anymore, but I prefer the good old paper book form and try to get rare books second hand first. I also have dreams of visiting old libraries where I'm looking through wonderful old books then. Those libraries are so different to the ones I know from "real" life. They are sometimes full of plants that are growing high up towards wonderful roof lights and the shelves are high and contorted. The light is magical and the overall atmosphere so pleasing. 

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*Elephant series

Elephants :)

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*watercolor update

A little watercolor painting update for you!

Enjoy your weekend!

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*gardening moments

Each garden year is different. This makes it on the one hand tricky, but on the other hand interesting. This gardening season I had to water my plants the least so far which is a nice relief and many plants do not care the moody skies, others develop much slower. At the moment the sunflowers are in full bloom and I was able to harvest first tomatoes. The cucumber plants are huge already and also some ripe zucchinis are waiting for me to be picked! This is truly a good time of the year, when there is so much edible to be found in the garden. Sometimes even overwhelming when it all starts to ripen at the same time! But the rain did also make the weeds grow enormously, and when you sit there on your knees pulling out those sometimes really big and rebellious weed parts, you feel like atoning all your sins. Often I struggle with my deficient strength. It's really physical hard work to maintain a garden. But it makes you grateful for every food you put into your mouth, no matter who had grown or prepared it. Enjoy your summer days!

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*simple things

Once again it are the simple things that fill my heart with joy:

the delicate pedals of wild roses,

a beautiful book that I got from a dear friend,

clover on the kitchen table

and last but not least

my little hairy friend that is keeping me company.

Life is friendly overall. 

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