My day is Friday

Friday is my day: Verluisant's hope

2012-01-27T01:28:00.000-08:00

Hello from frozen Greece! Winter this year is really cold even on the islands! Yayyy :)
Today we will travel to France to meet sweet Lucie from Verluisant's hope! Enjoy the ride ;)

Fox

9h00
Bonjour! Welcome into my world! My name is Lucie and I'm the designer behind Verluisant's Hope. I live with my husband in a town near the center of France. Today is a very good day because I don't to have wake up early!! The rest of the week, I work in a school and it's always a challenge to leave my bed. The fact is that I love to sleep and my nights are filled with interesting dreams. Indeed, it's a dream that brought me the idea of paper cutting!

9h10
Breakfast time: impossible to survive without my morning tea.

9h30
I go to the kitchen and I feed the cutest occupant of the flat: Winchester, my little rabbit seems to be always starving while he is pretty plump... My second «pet» is a carnivorous plant, but she catches the flies herself.

10h00
I'm finally dressed after a few minutes spent to choose my outfit. I must confess I love clothes and jewels... and Etsy is my favorite market for this kind of items! For instance, the wonderful dress I wear comes from Patricia Valery and my necklace from Corail Menthe, both Etsy shop I heart!

I switch my computer on, check my e-mails and go to see what's new in my Etsy shop. I have also another on line shop, in a french site. I try to read the forums, making treasuries and keep in touch with my teams. Then, I read the news, my favorites blogs and I write my to-do list for the day. I choose good music (today I begin with Peter Doherty, then maybe a bit of Muse) and I'm ready to start creating! Today, I'm starting a new papercut inspired by "20 000 lieues sous les mers" my favorite Jules Verne's book. I usually make one or two drafts before the final drawing on black paper. During this step, I choose some papers for the background of my papercut. As a bookworm, I passionately love beautiful papers, so I collect old books, vintage dictionnaries and maps, beautiful sheets and colourful fabrics that I use in my work, jewels and papercuts.

12h30
Today, Julien, my husband is taking care of cooking <3 ! Menu: omelette and chicory salad. Simple but tasty!

13h30
Help! No more black paper. I need to go downtown for a little bit of shopping. I introduce Moulins, a little provincial town with some beautiful old stones. The weather is cold but, for the first time since morning the sun is out of the fog.

16h30
I've got the paper, a discounted dress and a brand new lipstick (yes, it was unexpected)!

17h00
Five o'clock tea! Impossible to survive without my afternoon tea. During tea time, I dedicate my time to my other passion: reading. I studied literature and there is an influence in all my creations. Today I read for the fourth or fifth time "L'écume des jours" from Boris Vian, a surrealist (and sad) story of love. Maybe a future theme for my papercuts or my jewels!

18h00
I spend a couple of hours on my computer, chatting with my sister and my friends and searching for new ideas. Usually, I choose this hour to list my new items in my on line shops.

20h00
Dinner with Julien. Our tradition is to watch some films or series before we go to sleep.

22h00
I'm beginning to yawn, so, after a hot shower, I join my beloved bed! Bonne nuit!

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Thank you Lucie! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!
Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

xo
Tatiana

Friday is my day: Villa Figura

2012-01-20T02:21:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! Today we are traveling to Netherlands to meet sweet Anneke from Villa Figura. Enjoy!

Map of Imagination

Hi there! My name is Anneke from Villa Figura. I live together with my partner Bas, toddler Tom and baby Maas on the outskirts of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. On a typical Friday you would find me working as a Service designer and consultant (Huh?). Today is different because I'm still on maternity leave. My days are pretty much scheduled around our baby Maas.

6:30 >> These days mornings are dark and cold. I feel reluctant to get out of bed, but our children are already wide awake. 'Rush Hour', as we call it, starts. Bas hurries off to work while I wrap the kids up warmly to go outside. It’s a rainy day in the Netherlands...

9:00 >> After I bring Tom to daycare, I return home with baby Maas. While Maas sleeps in the pram, I quickly do some chores around the house. Cleaning up after breakfast, picking up toys, and the laundry. The hamper just keeps on filling up!

11:00 >> Now, I was hoping to do some illustration work, however Maas decides otherwise as he's quite moody after his feed. Change of plans. A stroll to the supermarket will calm him. I drop one of my Etsy orders in the mailbox on our way.

13:00 >> I finally sit down to attend to some requests for custom prints, prepare orders and pre-stamp some of my envelopes. The moment the sun peeks through the clouds I take the advantage of it to shoot some product photos for my Etsy shop.

15:00 >> I decide it is time to cross the visit to museum Boijmans off of my maternity leave bucket list. It is our first official mother - son 'date'. Two-months old Maas even gets his own entry ticket! I enjoy the nominations for the Dutch design prize and the collection of applied art and design. Judging from his wailing Maas will not wait for his feed 'till we get home and I really don't want to risk a drama on the tram. So, Maas treats me to some unexpected cappuccino in the cafe while I feed him.

18:00 >> The second the front door opens and Bas and Tom come in, our house changes from a tranquil retreat, into a happy exuberant mess. Tom and Bas frolic on the couch and build a train track together.

21:00 >> After a bath, a story and some milk, both our boys are asleep now and I quickly sit behind my laptop to work more on my alphabet project. I'm under a little pressure to create the letter Z, V and B monograms as I have already got orders for them! We should go to bed early because this weekend we have more friends and family coming over for a baby visit. But Bas and I cannot resist an episode of House and curl up on the couch together. Sleep tight!

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Thank you Anneke! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!
Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

xo
Tatiana

Friday is my day: Fattidame

2012-01-13T04:25:00.000-08:00

Hello dear fellows! Happy New Year to all of you :) We are back (so sorry about last week's missed post, I am sure I put it somewhere :D) with a fresh series of European Artists sharing their Fridays. Today we start the New Year with Paola from Alessandria, Italy once more. We love this country :) Enjoy!

Hello! I’m Paola from Fattidame!

Giorgio the octopus

I live with my soulmate Filippo and our three terrible cats in a nice village north of Italy. We live in the countryside, not far from the town Alessandria. I’m very lucky because I work at home for my husband's building enterprise and I can deal with my etsy shop part time! Now here is my typical Friday...

(7:30)
It’s time to wake up! The alarm rings at 7:30 a.m and for me is always a blow...

But three hungry wild animals are waiting in the kitchen for their breakfast ;) They are Natalino, Chicca and Virgola. If I want to have my breakfast, I must feed them before it!!

My husband’s already at work, so I get my breakfast alone with a cup of “lattee caffè” and some biscuits. I try to organize my day, but I’d like the day to last 48 hours ;)

(8:30)
It’s time to go to the office... It is not a long way, I just go up in the attic of my house and dive into the paperwork ;)

(12:00)
I prepare lunch for me and Filippo. Just a plate of pasta, some vegetables and a good coffee. We talk about work, but also about our day. Then Filippo goes back to work.

(13:30)
After lunch I can spend a couple of hours on my pc! I check my on-line etsy shop, blog, emails, I think about some new ideas for my shop and I draw inspiration from my puppies sleeping all day!
If It’s a sunny day I can take pictures of my new items.

(15:00)
Almost every day, I go for walking in the countryside near my home. I love this moment because walking makes my body feel good, but above all my mind. I love to walk near nature!

(16:30)
After a warm shower I take out my sewing box, threads, needles, fabrics and I watch what is being born from my hands and my creative mess! It’s always a surprise: A camel, a mouse, a cat, a dog or a pig...

(19:30)
It’s time for cooking! Filippo arrives at home and while I’m cooking we talk about our day.
After supper we watch a film, read a magazine or a book.

(23:30)
But the bed calls me... another day is over.
So Good Night!

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Thank you Paola! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my day: Leen's

2011-12-17T00:52:00.000-08:00

Hello friends! This time of the week arrived again :) Today we travel to Belgium and I am glad to present you Leen from Leen's!

Set of 4 greeting cards by Leen's

Hello, my name is Leen. Togetherwith my partner Dieter, I live in a flat in Antwerp, a Belgian city. I hopeyou'll like to follow a day in my live.

7:20

My alarm clock rings. It’s difficultto get up, because it’s so cosy and warm in bed. I have this problem especiallyin autumn and winter, when it’s still dark in the morning and cold outside.When I finally get up, I start my day with a few yoga exercises. I take ashower and get dressed.

8:30

I have breakfast together withDieter, who works at home on Fridays. I write in my “to do” notebook (it willbe a busy day…) and I make my first cup of tea of the day.

9:00

Our living room is split in twoparts. One of these parts is the studio where I work. It was a very busy weekand I've made a big mess of my working table, so first thing to do: clean up!

9:30

I actually don’t like to clean up,but I’m always happy when the work is done. A clean desk makes it so much nicerto work. I reward myself by changing my inspiration board: a magnetic boardfilled with cards from artists whom I admire and some other stuff I like.

9:45

While I was hanging one card next tothe other, the postman delivered a box with the holiday cards I've illustrated.I decide to start photographing them immediately. The earlier I can put them onEtsy, the better! It happens to be a tough job: the sun shines only every nowand then, and most of the time there are big clouds that take away all thelight. After a long time of trying and making a lot of failed pictures, Ichoose the best ones to place in my shop. I adapt the pictures a bit inPhotoshop, and then I can finally make my listings on Etsy.

12:15

In 15 minutes I have an appointmentwith my sister in the city centre. I take my bike (my favourite means oftransport) and I arrive just in time.

12:30

We have lunch together and we talk alot about the things that keep us busy. My sister is a writer, and it’s so muchfun to share our creative processes, encouraging each other and giving adviceto one another! But of course, we do talk about many other things too.

13:30

We go to the shop, as we need bothfood for dinner. After shopping, we decide to have a coffee in one of thosegreat coffee bars in our city (because we just can't stop talking ;-). Coffeebars are dangerous places for girls like us; we tend to spend hours and hoursover there…

15:30

Back at home. I check my mailbox,make a post for my blog and start reading other blogs, avery inspiring but time-consuming activity. So I decide to get away from mycomputer and to do something with my hands. Making buttons from the fabric Idesigned a whole while ago seems to be a good idea.

18:00

Time flies and I need to startcooking for dinner. I’m going to make a dish from “de groene prinses”. She creates gorgeous vegetarianmeals. Since the existence of this blog, it has been much easier for me todecide what to cook. Fortunately Dieter loves these meals too.

20:00

While Dieter is doing the dishes(lucky me!), I get back to work. I come to the conclusion that I haven't donepretty much of my to do list today. Ok, first I need to finish somecommissioned jobs and then I will finally tackle the design for that tote bag.It’s going to be a long evening...

And for tomorrow: happy weekend everyone!

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Thank you Leen! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my day: My Cherry Tree

2011-12-09T02:07:00.001-08:00

Hello! Another Friday is here and today we are traveling to Slovenia to meet Vesna & Mojca from My Cherry Tree and Cherry Time!

Hi I am Vesna!
I own My Cherry Tree and I am also a part of Cherry Time team. (handmade shop with my best friend Mojca). We live in Ljubljana, capital of Slovenia.

My Cherry Tree is all about beautiful vintage and antique goodies and handmade collection inspired by French vintage postcards, music, love and beautiful vintage supplies.

Cherry Time is about unique handmade goodies for women and kids.

My Friday

{7:20}
Breakfast, browsing through emails, conversations, making morning treasury...Discussing ideas, options, materials with Mojca.

{9:00}
Styling vintage and handmade goodies, taking photos, creating, packing...

{11:00}
Time for my day time job.

{18:00}
So happy that weekend started with unlimited time for creating and enjoying free time...

Cherry time team Vesna & Mojca

Visit our blog and take part of our giveaway.

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Thank you Vesna & Mojca! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my day: Strangewoodart

2011-12-02T00:06:00.001-08:00

Hello Hello! Have a great December everyone! Today, while we are still spending one more week in beautiful Italy, we will have the chance to meet talented Linda from Strangewoodart. Enjoy the ride!

My name is Linda and Ilive in North Italy with my partner and my son, Nicola. We live in a prettyvillage, where you can still find an authentic magical atmosphere, verydifferent from a town, from which I have ran away many years ago. Working from home allowsme to spend as much time as possible with my family and look after my son. Iconsider myself very lucky. And now, here is my typical Friday:

Sculpture Art Doll from Strangewoodart

(7.30)

I wake up beforeeverybody else, because I like to have breakfast by myself with a large mug of "Latte" and biscuits. I love listening to a relaxing CD and write my list ofpriorities for the day, even if by the evening I have accomplished only half ofwhat I was meant to do. The trouble is that I always expect too much frommyself.

(8.15)

Federico and Nicolawake up and have breakfast. My son takes always along time, because he listens to fairy tales, he plays and tries to delay goingto pre-school. It would be nice tostay home and play, but only for today though...

(9.15)

As quick as thunder,we manage to go out, before the school’s doors close. Nicola begins a day ofplay and activities with his friends. The village is smalland we all know each other. He has known his school mates since birth.

(9.30)

Now I have a fewthings to do. In the village we haveeverything we need: shops, chemist, postal office, council office and a famousmuseum: the Museum of the Mask, where you can discover traditions and culturesfrom most of the countries in the world with ethnical costumes for everyancient festivity. I like to stroll alongthe village streets, where you can see very old houses with religious frescospainted on the walls: the atmosphere is enchanted.

(10.00)

Finally at home: Icheck my on-line shop, emails, blog and all activities relating to the web. If I did not have aprecise plan, I would risk to spend all day in front of my PC. My house is on 4 levels and mylaboratory is in the attic: this is a very important place for me. When everybody is in the kitchen, I canwork in peace. I try to beorganized, but it is really difficult for me. I can’t help it, this is the way I am... Therefore every coupleof days, when I start to struggle finding things, I decide to sort everythingout.

(10.30)

I start working withair drying clay. My work is divided indifferent phases: modeling, drying, sanding, hand painting, finishing. Today I will shape afew sculptures, which will take at least 3 days to dry. I prefer to make as many as possible,even in the small breaks during the day.

(12.30)

I prepare lunch formyself. Sometimes I meet up mypartner for lunch, but today I have many things to finish, so I have decided tostay home. During my meal, Iwatch the news to know what happens out there in the world, even if I can seethat these are difficult times for everyone. Often, I can’t wait toget back to my colorful sculptures or relax half an hour changingchannels.

(13.30)

If I am lucky and it’sa sunny day, I can take pictures of my items. I always have to takepictures of myself and it is really hard, because I have to try over and overuntil I am fully satisfied. ForChristmas I hope that Santa will bring me a camera stand.

(14.30)

It is time to go toschool to pick up Nicola, because today is a sunny day and we can go for awalk. Near our house there is alarge square with a view and a play area, but today is too cold for that and noone else is there.

(14.50)

We decided to go toOvada, the nearest town, for a walk in the city centre. There the atmosphere is quitedifferent, closer to a city lifestyle, but it is important not to lose touchwith “civilation”, as we say jokingly here in the village.

(17.00)

Back home, Nicolafalls asleep for an hour and I can spend time drawing. I have registered to the Sketchbookproject and, before starting, I try to practice the techniques to findinspiration and study. I’ve alwaysloved drawing and I happy that I am managing to find a way to keep my passionalive. It is important to findtime to do what you like, even if it is only a hobby, rather than work. I think that this is a good opportunityto get stimulated to achieve the best I can even in this field!

(19.30)

Dinner time is gettingcloser; I start preparing the meal. I love cooking, buttoday I have little time. I preferto cook at weekends, when my two boys spend their time wondering aroundtogether on their bicycle. Iprefer to cook pasta dishes and puddings, obviously Italian style. While we aredining, we talk about ourselves and how we have spent our day and we enjoyplanning for the weekend.

(21.00)

While I prepare theevening coffee, Nicola and his dad play happily. Their games are always boisterous: trains, cars,fighting... And I used to dream ofdolls and fairy tale castles...! Sigh!

(23.30)

Nicola sleepsalready. It is time for theevening rituals: relaxing, reading a book, before switching the light off. It was definitely a busy Friday... Andfrom tomorrow a relaxing weekend with my family!

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Thank you Linda! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my day: Satyrikon Lab

2011-11-24T22:08:00.001-08:00

Hello Hello! This time of week has come again and today I am so happy to present you Roberta Cortese from Satyrikon Lab! Enjoy :)

Hello, I’m Robertafrom Satyrikon Lab, the shop I share with my friend Loredana, and where mypaper creations are crossing her fabric jewels and hats. We live in the centerof Turin, Italy, and we usually don’t really work together, though right nowwe’re both working on a bigger project and therefore she will join me later onthis day... I’ll start then with my Friday!

Mini Photo Album with Accordion from Satyrikon Lab

[7:15]

It’s a bit granted,but it’s true: I cannot start my day without a good coffee! We have severalcoffee makers, this is the little one just for me, ‘cause my husband went outearlier today.

[7:45]

Morning chanting withmy daughter Sophia (we are all buddhist at home) and then my puppies Sirius(left) and Gea (right) ready for our morning walk: they’re 8 months old, verylovely but also lively... and they hold us fit!

[8:15]

I take you outsidewith me and show you my morning path, from the nice little street just in frontof my house, to the very beautiful park where we meet every day a lot of goodfriends. In the last picture just a few of them, left to right: Gea, Sirius,Wall-ee, Frida, Greta, Pupa, Sumà, Splif.

[9:30]

After the second coffee,checking everything on my pc: private posts, Etsy shop, Facebook page and account, and... to not forget: today is #FF (follow Friday) on twitter,which is something I really like because you can always get to know a lot ofvery interesting people.

[10:00]

Coming and leavingpost: the postman just brought me these really beautiful fabrics I ordered from USA (through Etsy, of course...) and the two mini wedding photo albums Isold yesterday are ready to fly to Dubai!

[10:15]

Sorting pictures fromour last event and playing Big Editor with the post Loredana wrote last nightfor our blog. There in the photograph is me, playingmodel and wearing an amazing dress made by Loredana, which has actually 4sleeves and is completely convertible (you finally have a dozen dresses justwith only one!).

We presentedLoredana’s dresses together with a reading of Mozart’s letter (ok, actually,I’m an actress... and this is not a joke!) at the opening of a show room ofarts and crafts here in Turin. I’m very happy because I’m organizing the wholething with my association Satyrikon and sometimes it’s notso easy, but the opening was a big success and... together with us there aretwo other Etsy fellows: Sonia from lofficina andVincenza from Ferrarel; we’ll be together untilChristmas!

[13:00]

The gorgeous sightseeing from my living room: La Mole Antonelliana, major landmark of Turin and abuilding I really, really love. Next, you can imagine a picture of me getting everythingready for assembling my little hand coloured, paper-glass framed pictures.

[14:00]

Sirius and Geawaiting because they know Sophia’s school must be over. Lunch with Sophia.Our menu: piedmonts tortellini, potatoes salad with tuna, persimmons (we lovethem!) and coffee at the end, of course (third and last one).

[15:30]

Time to go! This wasmy way to the show room today: the arcades of via Po, the big San Carlo square,a (not very short) stop to the central postal office and finally via Botero,the little street where our show room is.

[16:15]

And here it is, ourshow room, Loredana’s and my little corner! The place’s name is Lacca(lacquer) and it is actually a restoration lab which put us u1p for all theduration of our events. We called our program spunicunifait, which is a word invented by Mozart, and therewill be further readings and workshop... always on Friday!

[16:30]

Starting somethingunusual for me and learning from Romina, which is a very patient teacher. Iwant to strip this old little windows, change its glass and reuse it as a framefor one of my photographs.

[19:30]

After closing hertailoring atelier, finally Loredana join me at the lab... and goes on working!Here she’s making one of her fabric wrapped rings.

[21:00]

Time to close! Lastwalk back home, through via Monte di Pietà, the arcades of via Pietro Micca,piazza Castello (the heart of the city) and last but not least la MoleAntonelliana again! In the night it shines together with the Fibonacci serieson her.

[21:30]

My husband set someappetizer for me and I like to play with food... Well, at the end I’m home:let’s have dinner, wait for Sophia coming back from the cinema (“Melancholia”tonight), take a good book with me to bed for the last read before sleeping...I think I can be fully satisfied: it was a long day but a beautiful Friday, asusual!

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Thank you Roberta! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, have a great weekend and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my Day: The Drifter Leather

2011-11-17T05:01:00.001-08:00

Hello all and happy fall & winter season! This is Tatiana from ILaBoom and I will be taking care of this wonderful column as long as needed :) I am very happy to present to you, all these wonderful artists talking about their (and mine to tell you the truth) favorite day, Friday! This Friday 3 amazing and talented girls from Northern Greece, The Drifter Leather team will keep us company!

leather tobacco pouch by The Drifter Leather

Hello! We are Maria, Callie and Christiana a.k.a. The Drifter Leather team. We live in Thessaloniki, a city by the sea in Northern Greece. We live together and with our father, Maria's husband in a house we call home. We also work together making shoes and handmade leather accessories. Today we are going to share with you one day of our lives.

08:00 Callie, Maria, Christianna, is time for us to wake up. The view out of our window reminds us that fall is almost over and Christmas are coming. We are drinking our morning coffee (we <3 coffee) and checking out our Etsy shop, our Blog and our FB page. So excited we sold two tobacco pouches, today!

This is our view from our window. Our neighborhood, Pylaia still looks like a village!

09:00 "Callie is having her regular graphic design lesson while Maria is going for shoe work at our workshop in our garage and Christianna is packaging the tobacco pouches that we sold. She soon will be leaving for the post office and for the grocery shopping.

14:00 Callie, Maria and Christianna are cooking together. Cooking is a great challenge for the three of us. We usually cook together or watch one another cooking! We love spice and greek cuisine."

17:00 "Callie and Christianna are setting a photoshoot for our shops. Callie's passion is photography! She has been photoshooting bands and models the last 3 years! Maria is creating a treasury collection and browsing the internet.

18:00 "Our evening coffee! Talking about our accessories designs and collection. Scheduling our Christmas designs. Also talking about our studies and lives!"

19:00 "Christianna is rehearsing and composing. She is studying music and lately has been trying to create her own music."

"Maria is crafting a custom design. We love it when we get special requests from customers. It's a great challenge for us and it's so satisfying to create the customer's dream accessory."

"Callie is practicing on sketching and on using the graphic design software."

22:00 "Christianna, Callie and Maria are watching a movie. We all love comedies and romantic movies so we never argue about which movie we are going to watch!"

24:00 "It is bed time for all of us! It was a busy day, Friday is definitely our Day!"

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Thank you so much girls! As for all of you lovely readers stay tunned for our next week's guest!

Until then, keep up the good work and be creative :)

Tatiana

Friday is my day: Helmitarha

2011-07-07T23:11:00.000-07:00

Hello and happy July to everyone! Today we will spend a day in the company of Jana in Finland. She creates very striking and unique jewelry from beads, stone and leather - go take a look at her shop helmitarha.etsy.com for more of her beautiful work!

With this post it's time for me to say goodbye and thank you to all readers, commenters and especially the artists who have shared their day while I've been taking care of this blog. A big thank you also to Heli for giving me the opportunity to work behind the scenes here. :) Thank you all!

The blog will go on a little summer break now, but will be back in August when Heli is back at the helm. Have a very good summer, everyone!

- Maria/Morrgan

Flying Over Coral Desert - bead embroidered necklace. Fossil coral, MOP, crystal, pearls
helmitarha

Hello! My name is Jana and I’m the artist behind Helmitarha. I live in Kotka – beautiful city by the Baltic Sea. I live with my husband and our precious little squirrel-dog Liisa.

This is one day from my life.

6:45
I get up. I need to be at the office before 8:00 and I still need to get myself ready and drive 20 km to the city.

Check the weather – nice! Warm, but a bit cloudy.

Then I get a judgmental look from our dog for getting up so early. She’s always the last one out of the bed.

Then I get myself ready and go to the living room/kitchen. While the coffee is getting ready, I have a whole bunch of hungry fishes to feed.

Then I have a short moment to check my e-mails, blog comments and my Etsy store.

Coffee is ready and it’s time to sit on the porch and enjoy the weather. :) In summer we try to have most of our meals outside.

Hmmm... Looks like grass needs some trimming.

7:30 It’s tme to leave for work.

During the day I work in a small propery management company, but I’m always waiting for that special moment, when I come home and open the door to my workroom.

18:30 Here it is – one of the greatest moments of the day. I’m home and I can go to my tiny nook and dig into all of my treasures.

This is my temporary workroom. We moved to a new house just a couple of month ago and I still have a lot of things packed in the boxes. This room can fit only my table and couple of drawer units, but I’m planning to move to a larger room once we finish the reno.
Here is the other corner of the room. You can see my antique typerwiters right by the big pile of boxes that I still need to unpack.

Today I want to start a new project. I still don’t know, what it is going to be, that’s why I look for the inspiration around me...

stone beads...

seed beads...

My cabochon folder...

and bookshelf...
Then I decide to open the jewelry box and look at some of my favorite pieces.

Very often I like to ty new things – fresh design and unusual color combinations. That’s why most of my jewelry is one-of-a-kind.

22:00 Oh, I discovered 3 new sales in my Etsy store. Yay!

I sit down at my table, get my portable packing station and start packing the sales.
I enjoy the packing process, as I always imagine the face of the person that will be unwrapping it – untying the ribbon, reading the hand-written note and then discovering the jewelry piece that they are going to enjoy for many years to come.

23:30 It’s been a long day. My hubby pours me a glass of wine and we sit in the living room and talk about the day. Then I take a book in one hand and dog in the other, and we all head towards the bedroom.

Thank you for spending this day with me! I enjoyed your company! Have a good night! ;)

Friday is my day: Weird&Twisted

2011-07-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week brings a treat for us yarn enthusiasts - we'll spend a day with Weird&Twisted, a spinning duo in Germany. Their Etsy shop with the same name (WeirdAndTwisted.etsy.com) has more of their wonderful, imaginative yarns, so be sure to take a look there too!

Bright Fish - Handspun Ocean Art Yarn that GLOWS in the Dark
WeirdAndTwisted

Hi World, we’re Weird&Twisted, a team of two German spinners. It’s been quite a challenge to document our day since we usually don’t work together. We decided to take turns in describing our day, and to split photos, so that’s that taken care of :-) To clarify who is who and to make the whole thing more fun we’ll write in two colours: Weird is green, Twisted is red. In the split photos, you’ll find Weird on the left side, and Twisted on the right.

I usually try to get up at 7, if I didn’t work too late the night before. My husband or I make coffee, take turns in the shower and then he’s off to work. I work at home, so I usually take my coffee and cereal to the computer and start my day checking the shop for orders.

I get up when breakfast is ready. :-) I’m in the extraordinary position of having a husband who gets up before me. (Well, that’s true for working days, because I’m the one who’s got to do breakfast on saturdays and sundays.) We have breakfast, then my beloved husband leaves for work. I stay where I am - I’m self employed and work from home, both a curse and a blessing.

After breakfast I start packaging yarns a customer ordered yesterday. It was Twisted who started designing each envelope individually, Weird&Twisted style - now we always do this.

We used to send along small chocolates and pretty invoices with a personal note of thanks, but due to customs reasons that’s no longer possible. Now we only send the yarn(s), each with a banderole specifying the important information, and business cards. When someone buys many yarns at once, or keeps returning often, we sometimes send along a small thank you - such as some of our handmade stitch markers or even a small skein of yarn.

My general goal is to spin four or five yarns per week, and list as many. In preparation I usually card batts, which means I blend fibre on a drum carder. I often card all the batts for one week in one day, if I can fit that into my schedule, but today I only card one batt. I choose softest merino wool of bright greens, fine merino wool of light pink, and white bamboo flakes.

Well, as I said, I work from home. I switched to a standing desk because it’s way more healthy for my back. If I work on a desk all day, not even yoga can soothe the ache and relax the muscles, so my standing desk is where I’m happy. :)

I’m a Social Media Consultant and Coach, and I have to do lots of different things. On this day, I wrote a proposal and a new blog article. If you want to know more about what I’m doing, feel free to check out my (German) Social Media Blog!

I try to get as much done before noon, before my brain is all up and awake and wants me to do aaaaall kinds of stuff but work.

When I’m done carding, I set the batt (that’s the piece of mixed fibres I take off the drum carder) aside for later, and now it’s time for a different kind of work. I currently balance three jobs: the Etsy shop and all that’s involved, a part time job for a market research institute, and (the most important one) writing my thesis. I’ll work on the thesis later, now I have to test some software for the market reasearch institute.

After a few hours of testing, I can finally prepare for spinning! I document the ingredients on file cards, split up the batt into managable pieces, string the beads onto golden thread, fix it to the bobbin, and start spinning.

I have a light lunch, and on most days (as on this one) some rice wafers with chocolate which I’m particularly fond of. Well... and then I start working again. Did I say it’s a blessing AND a curse!?

Every so often, I stop to spin in a flower. This is a little tricky and takes some time and patience, but as with everything, it gets easier with practice :-)

While having some bread and cheese for lunch, I edit some of the photos I took last week. I usually use a photo tent, and I don’t want to set everything up for just one or two yarns, so I have established Friday as my photo day. That way, I can take pictures of all the yarns I spun during one week.

After lunch, I finish the yarn. I wind it off the bobbin using a so called niddy noddy, and then I weigh and measure it. It also needs to be washed to set the twist. It will be ready for photo shooting and shipping after a few days, when it’s completely dry.

Sometimes, we both have coffee together. We get some cake or bake waffles and have a break.

This cake was really yummy!

After our break, I make a detour to the local supermarket and buy groceries, and when I get home I work on my thesis. I study Prehistoric Archaeology, Archaeology of Ancient Near East, and Egyptology at the University of Heidelberg. My thesis is about identity and material culture in prehistory (exact time period to be defined), which is an absolutely intriguing subject.

On I’d say two days a week, I spin. So after my coffee break is over, I grab some fiber, like this wonderful batt I prepared some weeks before. As the drum carder is at Weird’s place, I tend to card a whole bunch of batts at once and stash them at home.

And then I start spinning! Yay!

I seldom finish a yarn in one day. I like to take my time, and I tend to spin a bit finer yarns that can’t be rushed. So the yarn sits on the bobbin and waits for me to finish it another day. :)

I hoped to have enough time for listing a yarn and writing a blog post, but I’m still buried in my books, and looking at the clock I think I will have to postpone anything else until tomorrow.

When I’m really, really good, I have some more time to take pictures. I carry my Ikea “Lack” table over to the window and do the drill: One picture of the whole yarn, one picture of the skein, one where you can see the yarn’s structure, one close up - and one for fun. :) I like taking yarn pics, so if anyone sees a job opening for a full time yarn fotographer, call me! (Just kidding, I like my job. :D )

Sometimes I finish the day with more work. Well, I’m self-employed, so that’s not a bad thing! ;) At about 7 pm, my husband returns from work and we spend the evening together cooking, enjoying the meal and having a good time.

I decide to keep working on the thesis until my husband gets home. Then we’ll cook dinner and enjoy it in front of the TV, watching an episode of Battlestar Galactica. We have already watched the whole series, but it’s been a while and we wanted to start again, wondering what it’s like to watch the beginning when we already know what will happen in the end. Afterwards, we might play a board game, or Lego Batman on the PS3, or he’ll play some PS3 game and I might get the chance to list a yarn, or write that blog post. When we go to bed, my husband often reads to me - what better way to finish the day? :-)

Friday is my day: Skrynka

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's time for a visit to Ukraine, to say hi to Natalka. Her Etsy shop skrynka.etsy.com is full of beautiful embroidery, both to wear as for example jewelry and belts, and to decorate your walls. Be sure to take a look!

Enjoy and happy Midsummer!

Hand embroidery - Burgundy heart with palpitation - Cute cross-stitch in wooden hoop
skrynka

My name is Natalya Pavlysh, but I like it when friends call me Natalka. I live in Ukraine, in the longest city, Kryvy Rih. It is 150 km long so some people from south of the city never meet those from its north.

As a child I loved making things with my hands. Whenever I saw interesting clothes, bags, scarves my first thought was "can I make it myself?". So I know how to crochet, sew, knit, bead... but when I started to embroider, it became my passion. I just can't stop since!

Now I am currently a stay at home mom and as I have got plenty of time I decided to use it wise, turning my passion into a little business so I opened my Etsy shop. Skrynka (Скринька) in Ukrainian means little box, usually used to keep treasures like jewelry or granny's legacy. I imagine that my shop can be a little box of embroidered treasures: jewelry, home decor, accessories.

As you will see I spend my days around my baby-son Oleg, husband Yaroslav and my etsy shop Skrynka.

We usually wake up around 7 o’clock. But we get up a little later. I’m a breastfeeding mother and the first thing my son wants, when he wakes up, is having his breakfast.
While my husband is at home I try to check my e-mails and the Etsy forums threads as they are important for me. Then he goes to work and I have my breakfast. One thing I love most of the summer is that I can take a mix of berries for breakfast, vegetable salad for lunch and ice cream with currant as a night snack.

Then I try to embroider just a bit. Usually I can’t because Oleg is a very curious child and he must take my embroidery hoop or needle or bother me another way.

Nearly 9 or 10 o’clock Oleg has his morning sleep and if there was a sale, I pack it. The packaging of each order is always a little different. It depends of my mood, color of embroidery, envelop. But it is always a handmade box or bag.

I’m almost done, and have no time left to sit at my computer. In the morning my son sleeps about 30 minutes, rarely an hour. Oh, there’s still time to make a treasury...

When there are no sales, I spend this time for some designing or for inspirational things. I draw my designs on paper with colored pencils. I don't like to use computer programs for that. The old pencil and eraser method is much more creative.

Between morning sleep and lunch we go to the post office to ship orders. It is not so far from our apartment, just a few minute’s walk. Here we are. :)

Usually we use a baby-carriage for our walks but if it is a short distance to the shop or the post office I use a baby-carrier. On the way back home I buy some flowers. I like it when even a small bouquet stands near my monitor. It makes me smile. :)

After lunch we play a couple of hours and my son goes to sleep again. It is my craft time at last!

I’m working on the balcony. It is a small place where Oleg cannot come because the way is blocked with a chair. Only here I can expand all my tiny craft supplies. And there is enough light to take photos. But I can only take good photos in the morning, when the sun is shining.

Of course I also review my ETSY shop, e-mail and chat a bit with my teammates.

When I need inspiration, I visit Ukrainian and Slavic ornaments photo galleries, I look at my photos got in folk art museums or local exhibitions. I'm truly inspired by Ukrainian folk cross-stitching embroidery. It is in my blood I think. I have a few festive towels from my granny. She has embroidered them when she was young and now they need to be restored but they are so beautiful with their meaningful ornaments, she used ancients symbols of water, earth and the Guardian - keeper of the family fire.

I understand that I can't convey all the folk embroidery significance, but this is not my goal. I try to make wearable ethnic things that can find their place into everyday life.

Time goes quickly and at 16 o’clock Oleg wakes up and my crafty time is over until night.

This evening my husband plays tennis and after a snack we go for a walk to the courts. It is not so far, only an hour of strolling. So I use the baby carrier again and even decide to go by bus. A couple of days ago it was rainy but now it is hot again, very hot. And it isn’t pleasant to walk this time of the day.

Courts are near a small pond, there is a walk-only zone around and we can walk and play while the game goes on.

But Oleg misses his dad and for a while I cannot take him away from the fence.

It was a month ago but I can’t resist showing you the first place’s prize which my husband won. Isn’t it cute? It fits right into Etsy’s style!

When the game is over we go home. The heat is gone and we decide to walk. Oleg even eats and falls asleep in his sling.

We live in an industrial city but even here you can make good photos sometimes. This picture was taken 2 years ago on the bridge while we were heading back home. Look, do you notice the shaft and smocking pipes on the horizon?

We went home tired and Yaroslav with Oleg went to their beds immediately after bath. But I get my ice cream with currant and sit in front of the monitor.

There’s a lot of work to be done: e-mails, shop, treasuries and of course chat with my Etsy friends. :)

Friday is my day: colettecolor

2011-06-17T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week we will visit Colette in Hungary! I adore the wonderful colours and attention to detail you can see in her Etsy shop colettecolor.etsy.com, which has bags, pouches, jewelry and more. Enjoy her day!

The mute tulip handmade wool appliqued zipper pouch
colettecolor

My name is Nicolette Ludvig. I live in Győr, in Hungary, in the heart of Europe, halfway between Budapest and Vienna. It is 20 years now that I’ve been exploring the secrets of colours. I do sewing, knitting, crocheting... and I’m passionately interested in whatever is made of yarn and textile.

Thank you so much for the invitation to this blog. You know, I started my ETSY shop merely six months ago, and I highly appreciate every support.

Please come with me, as I’m presenting you how I spend my days.

I get up early in the morning, opening my eyes at about 5 or 6 o’clock. The house is all quiet yet, my dear husband and our three sons (16, 13 and 5) are all sound asleep.
I read my e-mail messages and the orders, I review my ETSY shop, and my blog.

By the time my loved ones begin to strech in their beds, I’ve already finished the administration.
While my husband goes to the bakery for some fresh rolls, I make tea and coffee. 8 o’clock – the house is quiet again. The older boys have gone to school, the little one to the nursery, my husband to his workplace.
I’m alone now with my rolls of textile...

Let the creation begin!

That is... wait a minute... some things are missing! I need some zippers, wooden beads, cotton yarn, etc. I must go to the town center! On the way home, I visit my painter friend, Hokata. She’s my partner in planning a summer camp for creative people who make wonderful crafts of all kind. ... I mean, whatever is made of textile! Sipping our tasty tea we chat about the details of our plans.
We are bound together by the joy of life and the love of colours. I’ve decided to recommend her ETSY shop deeply from my heart.
Visit http://www.etsy.com/shop/hokata.

I arrive home at noon. I usually leave out lunch… there’s nobody to prepare it I like eating fruits, so I gulp down an apple, or it’s the season of cherry now, and there’s plenty of it in our garden. If I need any substantial, I prepare a banana-shake.

I peep to my studio... Oh, my! Who on earth did this mess? (No question, that was me...) It would be proper to tidy everything in up, but there are too many orders, I haven’t got time to do that.

I often go to do sewing in the garden, ’cause I’m keen on my garden, plants and flowers around me. I love sunshine and twittering of the birds. My garden means excellent inspiration to me, the work is progressing better in an environment, like this!

Let’s see the orders for bags... well, there are lots of it! I will hardly finish sewing them within the deadlines. I would boldly say that my products are pretty popular in the Hungarian market-place of handicraft.

If only it were true with ETSY too! That’s my secret dream.
In addition to preparing bags, my other passion is making those colourful round purses. I use various techniques to make them: appliquéd trimming, embroidery, yarns, crocheting. Of course I find colours very important, too and my shop’s name also suggests it. COLETTECOLOR the shop’s name is, which expresses that me and the colours are inseparable companions.

Wow, it’s 3 p.m. now, I must go for my youngest son to the nursery school. On the way I drop into the post office to send the parcels. I’m going to make some tasteful pizzas for dinner so we buy the ingredients in the store. FRIDAY is PIZZA DAY in our family.

When we arrive home, the rest of the family have come from school, training or work. It’s family time!

I knead the dough for the pizza and prepare the other ingredients.
The boys’ favourite is pizza Hawaii with bacon and pineapple, my husband and me like it with slices of tomatoes and aubergine. At the dinner table we chat about the events of the day, while we, adults are sipping a glass of good Hungarian wine after the Italian flavours.

In the evening the older boys go to their own programs, the little one, his daddy and me ride our bicycles to the highest point of our neighbourhood. (165 meters :) The scenery is breathtaking.

photo by Zoltan Toth
http://www.panoramio.com/user/1140367

At home again... We collapse into our beds.

„Good night, sleep tight! Don’t let the bad bugs bite!” :)

Friday is my day: anniejewelry

2011-06-10T00:00:00.000-07:00

It's time to go to Croatia and say hello to Anica! She creates wonderful wirewrapped jewelry with incredible detail - see for yourself at her Etsy shop anniejewelry.etsy.com. First though, enjoy her day!

(I'm doing a bit of travelling myself at the moment - this Friday I am celebrating my 30th birthday in Scotland. :)

my inner sense - silver wire wrapped necklace
anniejewelry

Hello everybody!

I'm Anica, which is the Croatian equivalent of Annie. I wish you a warm welcome into my small world!

Today is Saturday and I'm going to spend it at home, in my beautiful town of Samobor, Croatia. This is really not a typical day because I spend most of my days in a nearby Croatian capital, Zagreb, where I work full time in an insurance company. The job is stressful so I can't wait for the weekends to have more time for the people and things I love.

I'm an early bird and I got up even earlier than usual. My hubby and daughter are still asleep but there's another family member to welcome me with great joy – our Maltese dog, Masha. We cuddle and I make her a ponytail so she could see me better :) Then I take some time to groom myself :)

We have a house with a garden and some strawberries among other fruits and vegetables – perfect for a healthy day-starter. I go and get some – my mother in law is doing the gardening and she loves it but she's away at the moment so there has to be someone to replace her. With the smoothie at my side I check Etsy, FB and some portals for news.

My daughter wakes up, I make her a breakfast and take her to her cheerleading class. Taking a stroll through Samobor is always a good idea – today I am admiring the beautiful roses. Then I buy newspapers and have a coffee in my favorite bar.

My husband is now awake so I pick him up and we both go to pick up our daughter and take Masha for a walk. We have beautiful parks, lawns, even woods and hills practically in the center of Samobor.

We come back home and the hubby cooks another coffee, much better than the first one :)

Then we're off to Zagreb to choose some ceramic tiles. We are renovating our attic and this is important for me because I'll finally have a studio in my current kitchen!!! Looking forward to it! It's very complicated to work on a dining table, always having to pull out and put back all supplies and tools or tolerate the creative mess :)

After getting back everyone's hungry and I make a soup, a quiche and a salad – perfect! Taking a nap in the afternoon is a must, at least for some of us :)

My hubby's watching tennis, the daughter's friends are at our place and, as for me, now it's time for my crafting activities! I'm choosing the balcony, it's almost summer. Although I adore silver and love working with it, I've been playing with bronze lately. It's much cheeper nowdays that the prices of silver have risen enormously and those warm tones go very well with the turquoise, shells, corals – all summer delights :)

I choose a coral bead, bronze sheet and wire. After finishing the pendant I oxidize it – I can't resist doing that, perhaps I have some kind of a disease?!

Later, I take out the newly acquired supplies. I'm thinking about opening another shop (I already opened a profile, doKIDyourself). This one would be something completely different than the jewelry I sell as anniejewelry. Take a peek at these beads I made several years ago - the other shop should feature something similar to this. I adore children's illustration and all the cute stuff for kids. What's stopping me from working on it and opening the new shop is the lack of time, of course... Let's hope I will find some soon :)

The evening is reserved for the family, TV, new listings, renewals... just the usual stuff! One great day behind me! Good night everyone!

Friday is my day: diohej

2011-06-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week we're travelling to Hungary, to visit Eva of diohej.etsy.com! Her shop is full of absolutely delightful purses and bags. Be sure to take a look, but first enjoy her day!

Laced floral frame purse
diohej

My name is Eva. I live in Hungary, Tatabánya in a family house with my husband, my son and my daughter.

I am an accountant. My office is in my house. My passion is sewing, and I am glad to sew handbags, accessories, purses for Etsy.

I get up at 6.30 in the morning, I drink a coffee, and have a breakfast with my family. Then follows the preparations, and when the others goes to work and school I go into my office (workshop).

7.30
My first job is to look at my e-mails and letters written by my clients, and then I make a plan of my daily tasks. Depending on how much work I have, and if there is a deadline for my work, I am working with accountancy, or seam, while the radio is on.

Today I have a lot of work, so this morning is dedicated for my work.

It's exhausting to sit and work daylong at the computer.

Meanwhile, my attention is on the Etsy, on the treasuries, and sometimes I get up and go out into the garden to our dog and the cat, and to the plants of course.

12:00
It is time for a break, I am cooking a divine frothy coffee , I am reading patchwork blogs, then I am unpacking the materials and I get inspiration by what I could sew.

I am drawing, I am planning my lino-works. I like to make lino-engravings, and to print them on textile.

Then I go to shopping in a supermarket that is in my neighbourhood, at two minutes to walk, while my daughter gets home from school.

17:00
It’s time for Cooking. The family is getting home, I am washing dishes, I stay together with my family, and then I'm coming downstairs to my workshop, and I am preocuppied only with sewing.

20:00
There are waiting for me a lot of clothes in this evening, which must be ironed out. This week I haven't time enough to do it because of my important work.
21:00
In the evening I am watching TV, we have a dinner, then follows the bathing and going to bed with a reading book.

Friday is my day: LilouColours

2011-05-27T00:00:00.000-07:00

Off we go to the UK to visit Ingrid! The first thing that caught my eye in her Etsy shop (LilouColours.etsy.com, with scarves, bags and yarns) were all the beautiful colours - it's no wonder that word is in the name! This week Ingrid takes us along to show us her creative day. Enjoy!

Large Handbag - Libertine
LilouColours

Hello, my name is Ingrid (a.k.a. Lilou) and I live in the small village of Bollington, in Cheshire, England, with my lovely husband Andy and my two hedonistic cats.

This is a day in my life:

7:30
I get up. I laugh seeing my hair in the mirror. I've decided to let it grow again and must endure the awkward "Hulk meets Jedward" stage.

Off to the kitchen, where I make sandwiches for Andy: On the menu today is camembert and Paté. Andy works hard, as a painter and decorator and this is my way of thanking him.

Next, I feed the 2 cats who have been waiting patiently, while I my coffee steeps... Andy is off to work and it looks like a beautiful sunny day.

8:02
I am not a morning person, so I need all the help I can get! Coffee time is my personal time, when I check my emails, catch up on news and chit chat on the Etsy thread. This a really relaxing time for me. When my coffee mug is empty, I know it's time for a shower.

9:12
I'm all dressed and ready to start the day. I need to do some indigo dyeing today, so I turn the heat on for my vat. Indigo is a beautiful dye, but the process can be a little complicated and time-consuming. It requires a fair amount of planning.

9:13
I have a bunch of silk skeins that need to soak, before they can be mordanted and dyed tomorrow. So it's off to the bath for a little dip.

9:15
I hope on the loom and start weaving. I have been playing a lot with painted warps lately. It seems I am most happy when there are many colours, constantly changing as I weave. I get up frequently to refill my bobbins, with my manual bobbin winder.

Weaving is a very repetitive task, so I love listening to my favourite songs, as it makes the time go by, as I enjoy watching the clothe change in front of my eyes.

10:10
I go check on the indigo vat. The temperature and colour looks good, so I dip the yarn for about 8 minutes. Then give it a quick rinse and watch the transformation happen, from yellow to blue. Indigo requires many dips for darker shades and the yarn must rest in between, or the colour will not develop.

10:20
Back to weaving and my music.

11:50
Time for another dip in the indigo vat.

12:00
I think it's time for some food now, as I am getting a bit peckish. It's a beautiful sunny day, still, which is a rare treat here in the Peak District, so I'm in the mood for a fresh tomato salad, with mozzarella and basil from the garden, and a little slice of home-made bread.

12:45
I look at my cats and wonder: Where did I go wrong? That was supposed to be my life!

13:00
Back to my loom. My lilac scarf is near the end. Once finished, I cut it off the loom.

13:30
Before I can wash the scarf, I need to knot the fringe, so it doesn't unravel. This is a tedious task (and not my favourite), as I need to pick 8 threads at a time, to make a smooth slip knot. I enlist the help of a pin to do this, as it makes it much easier to separate the ends.

14:45
I am musing at what colours I want to play with next... I am without a doubt a colour junky and can never get enough of them...

15:00
I need to prepare my next set of scarves, for next week. First I need to measure the yarn on what's called a "warping board". It is a simple frame with pegs, around which I wrap the yarn to a pre-determined measurement. These scarves have 442 ends, so I got up and down 442 times!

16:20
I need to finish a couple of cushions I started last week, so I can list them on Etsy, in my 2nd store. I love these gorgeous kimono fabrics, they really perk me up in the afternoon, as they are quite fun to work with. I am also enjoying my fabulous new Janome sewing machine, which I recently bought second-hand on ebay. It is so smooth compared to the old dinosaur I was using before.

17:10
Time for a tea break. Checking my emails, etc.

17:30
Back on the loom, and a more music. I start a new scarf with the remaining warp and this time I decide to use a pastel yellow. It's surprisingly perky and I can't wait to see what it will look like on the other end, where the warp is lilac again.

18:50

Andy is back from work. He has had a really long day, finishing a big job for a customer. We decide to go for a walk, as the weather is too good to be true! We go through the cricket grounds, come face-to-face with a wandering dalmatian, continue to the canal and look at the ducks grooming themselves at the end of a long day.

19:40
I haven't made any plans for dinner this evening, so we decide to enjoy a meal at a nearby pub. I have a glass of wine, we enjoy a simple meal and an evening conversation. Chatting about our move to Chester next week, how we will miss Bollington but at the same time, can't wait to move to our new place. Chester is a beautiful town and our new place has a much better studio space and storage.

21:45
We walk back home, after a long, productive day, ready to start all over again tomorrow.

Friday is my day: Kanelstrand

2011-05-20T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week we travel up to Scandinavia to say hi to Sonya in Norway. You can see more of her beautiful felted jewelry in her Etsy shop kanelstrand.etsy.com, but don't forget to take a look at her day first!

Handmade Organic Bracelet - Tribal Vibe Zuma
kanelstrand

Hello and welcome to my day!

I am Sonya and I live with my family in a pine forest by the sea on the Southernmost tip of Norway. The area around my home is so fascinating that it fills my head with creative ideas which sometimes storm me and leave me sleepless.

I run a handmade business on etsy where I sell my organic felted jewelery with Scandinavian design. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to devote to creativity full time.

I am so happy that you are going to join me on a Spring Friday and I will get to show you so much of the beauty around my home!

09:00
I wake up and the first thing I hear is bird songs. Yes, the birds are finally back after a long and cold winter and you cannot imagine how happy I am to have them around. I go downstairs, where my husband who has already taken our daughter to school is waiting for me with warm waffles and jam. We have breakfast while he is updating me on the latest news.

I check on our little pet rabbit who enjoys life on the balcony but is often scared by the sound of the wind.

09:30
The weather is lovely and from my balcony I can see the glittering sea. I can’t wait to go out but first I turn my laptop on and check my emails, the etsy forums, and read the comments I have received on my blog the previous night. I love it when there is a discussion on my blog! I go through my Google Reader and write a blog post.

It is time for a walk! I have so many places to go to, and they are all in the wild. I am a photographer, so I take a close look at every little detail around me. My first stop is a lovely glasshouse with a peach and a fig tree inside, as well as many roses. But today my attention is attracted by the tender and young cherry tree just outside the glasshouse. It is so beautiful in its blooms!

After a good while photographing the lovely cherry blooms I turn and see I have company. I love the deer living in our forest! They have grown so much used to people that sometimes they get really near.

I continue along the path that leads to one of the beaches and when I get closer I see a not-so-solitary swan in the water.

I follow the path to the second, the third and the fourth beach. Each of them has a different color of sand and different reasons to attract me. The walk through the pines with this breathtaking view of the sea and the scattered small islands not only gives me a chance to take amazing photographs but also charges me positively for my creative work.

Before going back home I decide to climb the hill right behind our house to get a full view of the sea.

11:00
I am back home and it’s time for more work. I am developing new designs for my bracelets and since I have an idea for increasing the diversity in my etsy shop, I get to crocheting and felting. I love reading but unfortunately it takes up the time I use for crafting. That is why I have resorted to audio books, so now I load the CD in my laptop and continue listening to Dostoyevsky’s Brothers Karamazov.

12:30
We love home baked bread and I decide to bake one for lunch. I continue working while the bread is in the oven.

14:00
Our daughter is back from school and we have a quick lunch of fresh salad, cheese and warm bread. After that we get to our tasks.

15:00
I go out to meet my husband in town. Our house is 10 minutes away from the center and it is not long before I am walking on the river promenade.

15:15
I love to stop in front of this restaurant. They are baking their own bread and very often there is some old bread left in a basket for everyone that wants to feed the birds. So, I take the opportunity.

15:25
I meet my husband and we head to a cliff overlooking the town. The weather is so inviting and we never miss an opportunity for good photos.

Afterwards we climb down and before sitting in our favorite jazz cafe we check out some shops. Although it is still spring I can feel the coming of summer already, looking at all the lively and sunny colors.

We enjoy the best cups of hot chocolate around and have a nice chat with friends.

16:30
We head back home but since our way follows the curves of the beach we feel tempted to stay there for an improvised sunbathing session. We are 2 minutes away from home anyway, so we finally decide to grab a blanket and to take the sunbathing seriously. In the meantime, our daughter is ready with her homework and joins us for a fun game of badminton.

18:00
It is time for the family dinner. We prepare grilled vegetables and enjoy them while talking over our day, school, books, news and ideas.

19:00
The three of us take a final for the day walk together.

19:30
Boardgames are a favorite family pastime for us in the winter but when there is nothing special on TV we play them in spring as well. There follows an hour of train journeys through Scandinavia.

20:30
It is time for me to go back to my virtual part and comment on some blogs, see what is going on in etsy, check my Facebook and Twitter, go through my Google Reader and sketch up some ideas for blog posts. I also work a little bit more in the quiet darkness of our living room.

24:00
I normally go to bed between 1:00 and 2:00 o’clock but tonight I will do that earlier because tomorrow morning we are going on a journey.

Thank you for spending the day with me and good night!

Friday is my day: Kirschbits

2011-05-13T11:09:00.000-07:00

Our trip around Europe and the world continues with a visit to Van in Germany! She makes stylish and colourful bags, including hobo bags, messenger bags, clutches, wristlets and more - you can see them in her Etsy shop Kirschbits.etsy.com. Enjoy!

Haddeby, pleated colorful mauve shoulder bag with flowers and teal satin top band
Kirschbits

Hi! My name is Vanessa, but you can call me Van. I live in Schleswig, a very old town already existing during viking times, that is located at the end of the Schlei fjord in the northern most part of Germany.

Today is Friday and it is a special day. Sadly very few crafting, but a lot of outdoors and photographing. After some days of planning, I'm going on bike to visit my friend Petronella (P8 Accessories, Kraplap, P8iosities) from the Etsy European Street Team! She lives in a very small village on the shore of the Schlei, around 30 km to the east of Schleswig. Very close to Arnis, the smallest city in Germany.

It is a pretty exciting day as I've never made such a long trip totally alone. So I woke up early, but not early enough to say "Tschüss" (bye) to my son when he left to school, around 1 hour before. But it is early enough to capture our playful and crazy Lumi (our cute white cat), still partially asleep in her favorite place: beside my husband's legs!

Matthias is still sleeping, so I have to get the camera silently and capture Lumi, who cleverly opened her eyes to have that expression of "let me sleeeeep".

Then Matthias woke up with the sound of the camera and after cuddling Lumi, he went gently to take the already brewed coffee for our first morning mug of coffee, to enjoy it as every morning, together in bed. Love my coffee mug, who was the perfect birthday gift. A designers coffee mug!

Then while Matthias checks his mails, and the news of the day, I get my crafting basket that I have beside my bed, where I have yarns of different colors, and the boxes with beads. I love crocheting a bit in the morning and in the night before sleep. So today I made 2 crochet flowers that I want to begin to experiment adding them to my bags creations. And to one of the flowers I added a wooden bead. Love the result! As you see in the image I've been also experimenting with different chained beads. Let's see what time and play will bring!

After Matt is done with the news, he gives me the Mac and I check mails, convos, news from Venezuela, weather forecasts for the day and of course the EST thread of the day.

Matt made a quick but healthy breakfast, some defrosted berries mix with cornflakes and milk for him, and my favorite apple, oatmeal, almonds and yogurt! Delicious and full of fiber that I'll need later!

At around 9.40 am Matt leaves to work in Flensburg at the regional newspaper, and I took some few time to advance a bit in some patterns I need cut for some wristlets. I finished the cutting and made some order in my working table to have everything ready to be sewn.

Ups it was getting late! I had no chance to take photos of this part of the day as it was a bit late. I made some stretching and cardio exercises, then took a quick shower, packed my bag, made a sandwich, got an apple and filled my 1 lt. bottle with my favorite energizing drink: water, carrots, orange and lemon juice.

All packed and ready for a long ride. Let's go! I picked up my bike from the basement, put my favorite bag (Haddeby, crossbody messenger bag) and the bottle in the back basket, in the front bag the sandwich and the apple, and gone!

Around 15 minutes later, outside Schleswig, I went through this beautiful bikes and walking path. The first rape flowers field was shining through!

Biking on and on... around 40 minutes later I was in the middle of this amazing road, surrounded by more rape flowers fields. These yellow fields are a trademark in this region. Love them, love the color, love the perfume (like honey and roses), and its the call for summer! (This year they blossomed 2 weeks before).

Some dozens kms ahead I got finally the first sight of the Schlei after a big big yellow field. I went on a slightly shorter way through the area of Angeln here in the north-east of Schleswig-Holstein, instead of biking along the shore, so the view of the Schlei was something I was waiting for since a couple of hours, and for me was the finishing of the second stage of my trip.

Loved the feeling of being one with the nature, so few cars passing by, almost no bikers at all, it was just me, the yellow, green and blue of the almost completely clear sky.

Then I started the last part of my trip, arriving to the town of Lindau where this beautiful Dutch Windmill is still working.

At the end of this town there is a famous bridge to cross the Schlei. It is a one way bridge, shared by train, cars and bikers or walking people. All in one. So when there is traffic, the waiting cars files can be quite long! Even more when the bridge is up for Sailing boats to cross! It is a very old bridge and still working very well.

To my surprise, when I arrived to the crossing, I found that they were working on -precisely!- the railroad at the crossing I needed to take! I didn't want to cross the bridge but to continue along the shore. And that was closed! How annoying and scary moment! I would have to turn back and bike across a hill and give a huge round without being sure where I was going to end! I went close to the working site and asked one of the men if it was possible to.... and without letting me finish he said to me and a skating boy beside me (who also had a face of "please please please"): "on foot very carefully cross there in the corner!" The boy and me thanked him and crossed the railroad quickly (I was carrying my bike in my arms!). On the other side there was this long line of cars waiting to cross the bridge. I stopped in front of the restaurant to take a photo of the scene.

Some meters away to the east I could capture Lindaunis bridge at its best!

And to the other side, while munching my apple, I took this breathtaking view of the south shore of the Schlei.

Few kms ahead was my destination. So I packed up strength and after the short stop, continued on the recently made (still in the making) bikes way along the street. Some minutes after and finally I saw the beautiful house with the blue frames and the nice "Art button" poster outside. I arrived!!! As you can see in the photo courtesy of Petronella, I was still alive and with the camera in my hand)

Peggy ran to me in a single cry of desperation and welcoming as just she can do it! So lovely! I got my camera once more and captured Petronella with Peggy on her arms.

I rested under the sun in P8's backyard, while she permanent refilled my glass with fresh cold water and we talked for a couple of hours in the sun. Totally relaxing. We talked a bit about everything, and also checked fabrics and ideas for a dress I need soon for a wedding. Then in the night Matthias arrived from his work, and we had a delicious fish bbq Pieter cooked for us.

After the fresh strawberries ice cream we had for dessert, we were dead tired, full and happy.

Night was closing in, the moon shining and the stars blinking in the blueish sky. The cold breeze was shaking us, so Pieter lighted up a quick fire using the coal of the bbq. Was beautiful as well!

Matthias had a great time experimenting with the flames and sparkles.

Then it was getting pretty late and we were all tired but happy, so took my bike to the car, packed in and went back home. It was the perfect closing for a perfect day!

Friday is my day: Lotta Losten

2011-05-06T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! This week we're going to Sweden to visit the lovely Lotta, who creates wonderful and unique jewelry. Enjoy Lotta's day and remember to take a look at her Etsy shop lottalosten.etsy.com for more of her work!

Four Dimensions Purple Sculptural Necklace Pendant
Lotta Losten

Hello there!
I'm Lotta and I live in Gothenburg, Sweden. It's a sunny and lovely day here so I'm happy you chose to visit me today.

I'm a jewelry artist and I work with copper wire in a technique I've made up myself through years of practising.

I also work as a fill in at group homes for people with different kinds of neurological disorders, but today I'm dedicated to my own business. I used to work full time before but it started to get really difficult to combine both that job and my own business so now I work more at home, which is really great! This is what I want to do every day!

08.30. I wake up before the alarm clock sets of. That never ever happens. I'm usually a great sleeper and going up before 09 is really unusual for me.

My boyfriend David is a filmmaker (http://www.dauid.com) and works from home as well so we have a nice calm morning together before we get to work.

08.45 Breakfast! We recently moved in together in a big apartment and we are not completely finished with all the rooms yet but our kitchen is lovely.

When I've made my breakfast I bring it with me in to our living room sofa. We usually watch Late Late show with Craig Ferguson as we eat in the mornings. He makes me laugh so hard and it's great to start your day that way.
So this pic was just to show off my bright and shiny kitchen... :-)

09.45 I make myself pretty. And today I get chased by the camera, as you can see.

10.00 Work begins. After checking my emails, blogs and Etsy I start making a pair of earrings to go in my shop later. I sit close to the computer so I can tweet (@lostenjewelry) and check the internet often. I'm totally addicted! I listen to lots of music and right now I'm rediscovering my childhood idol Vanessa Paradis. Singing along and making jewelry is really a great combo.

12.15. Time for coffee and a fruit. Behind the coffeepot you can see David working in front of his computer. It's nice to share work space because it almost feels like I have collegues. Collegues are the only thing I really miss with working with my own business.

Sometimes we sit quiet and work and sometimes we look up from behind our computers to talk to eachother or just throw an air kiss.

14:30 I update my blogs. I've got two of them. A swedish one (http://lottalosten.com) which I've had for almost four years now. It's a page for everything I like to do such as theatre, photography and jewelry making, and then I've got an English one as well (http://lottalosten.blogspot.com) that I started up just a couple of weeks ago where I focus mostly on my jewelry.

15.00 I pack the orders for the day. I like making the packages look like pretty gifts before I put them in a padded envelope. I'm hoping that the customers will get smiles on their faces when they open their envelopes and see the box with the ribbon.

15.20 We go and buy food for todays dinner and pop by the post office. We really love our new neighbourhood! It has all the shops you need and it's really charming.

16.00 We eat our dinner on the balcony which has a lovely view over the city. Today we have pasta sallad with tuna, goat cheese and pesto. Delicious!

16.30 Back to work! I take pictures of the earrings I just made and other pieces that I made yesterday. At Davids old apartment I found a really great spot in the kitchen window to take my pics. Here I'm trying different views to see where in the apartment it looks the best. Today I'm trying the window in our work room. It looks fine, but I really miss that old window, it was perfect! The only thing I miss from that old place.

After that I take pictures in my light box to compliment the ones taken in the window. I want my jewelry to look as crisp as possible and I find that a light box is the best way to do that. No shadows or other distracting things. Just my jewelry.

17.45 I rush to meet my friend Becka. We take the tram to a place nearby the water that's called Röda sten which means Red stone.

The sun sets and it's really nice to sit there and have a glass of wine or beer and just talk for a couple of hours. We've known eachother for about 15 years and it's always nice to meet up with her!

21.30 When we leave the restaurant Gothenburg shows itself from it's best side. I truly love my city!

I say goodbye to Becka who lives close by and go to take the tram. I get home about twenty minutes later.

22.00 I make myself a sandwich and a cup of tea and sit down by my computer again. Nights when I'm not out with friends I usually sit in the sofa at this time making jewelry and watching tv shows with David. It's really great to have a moveable job like this!
But because I was out tonight I have to do the editing of the pictures I took earlier of my jewelry now instead. After that is done I list them in my Etsy shop.

I work for a couple of hours until my eyes start to melt together.

Half an hour after midnight it's bed time. I lay awake for a while thinking of great new jewelry I want to make - tomorrow, now it's sleepy time!

Good night and thanks for the visit! I hope you have enjoyed it and that we see eachother on the web sometime soon.

Friday is my day: Sadiie

2011-04-29T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week we're going to say hello to Sadiie in the Czech Republic. In her shop, sadiie.etsy.com, you can find beautiful, upcycled home decor items such as paper wreaths and mobiles. But first, let's take a look at Sadiie's busy day!

Paper Wreath - Tagetes
Sadiie

There's an ~~app~~ TEA for that.

My alarm clock sounds at 5.55 but I am usually awake a few minutes before it starts to ring. My day starts with classic earl grey tea (I love the bergamot scent) and breakfast, today it's warm soup from yesterday and cheese.

I eat only with my two cats because my partner is now working 3 months abroad and my grandma, who lives downstairs, wakes up later than me. After breakfast I get dressed, check my diary and go downstairs feed our dog and prepare breakfast and medicines for the old lady. At 7.00 I take the bus to the city and go to my office. I live in a small village in the north part of Prague so waiting for and traveling downtown by public transport is one of the chilling moments for reading, listening to music or just finding something beautiful every day.

I work as a creative director in a small czech company. My regular work day is quite hectic, containing anything from doodling logos, preparing technical studies, designing websites to brainstorming about new mobile app features. I can't complain on boredom!

Because my diary is very full today, I brought lunch from home. Trout with vegetables, yum.

I usually have lunch at some nearby restaurant, but today I need every minute so I eat at my desk. After lunch I have my second cup of tea, white sort shou mei. During the afternoon I do the rest of the work and some private agenda. I leave the office at 17.30 and go to gym where I meet my friend and do some workout for one and half hour. After my sweaty date with iron I quickly take a shower and run to catch the bus back to my village.

I arrive home around 21.00, cook bulgur with vegetables for my grandma for the next day. Later on I do some inspiration research for the morning plus I have to book a couple of flight tickets, I'm going to visit friends in Oxford and in June I'm flying to Dubai where I need to apply for visa. Filling bureaucratic applications is not my favourite activity in the late evening. After my goodnight lemon balm tea and some book reading I fall asleep with both cats in my bed.

... so where's the etsy fun? Squeezed somewhere during weekends :]

Friday is my day: meilingerzita

2011-04-22T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! It's time to visit Hungary and say hi to Zita. She makes the most adorable bears, bunnies and other creatures, as well as stylish laptop bags, which you can see in her shop meilingerzita.etsy.com.

Rabbit bunny handmade fabric red white dotted easter 7,87 inch
meilingerzita

7.30 am
I wake up, have a shower, make coffee.
I draw the curtains, and I see gladly my crassulas come on well. For some weeks I gave them too much water, so their stems were shrivelled up.

8.00 am
I check my e-mails, see my Facebook page, my Etsy, our forums, create a treasury for Etsy, read some news and write a post to my blog.
The background of the photo you can see my rabbits. I keep them on my wall until they are added to the cart of customers on my Etsy shop.

9.00 am
I make a list of my tasks for the next days: two little bears of felt for my friend, some photos of my items, little bags for a kindergarten, two brooch for an order, a little red knitted hat and so.

9.30 am
I must go to a Hungarian design market, but I have an idea in my head, so I draw it fastly (I would like to draw lots of illustration of my bear, called Portz. I want to show his life with this illustrations. Later I will list them in my Etsy shop as prints).

10.30 am
This design market is got up once a month in the centre of Budapest. There are lots of quality design goods and visitors too.

11.00 am
I have a collaboration with Vadjutka (she also has an Etsy shop: http://www.etsy.com/shop/vadjutka): she sells her beautiful jewelleries and I give a make up as a gift to her costumers. You can see the market and Vadjutka's stand on photo no 5.

7.30 pm
I get home and a lovely dinner waits for me.

8.30 pm
I decide I finish my newest laptop bag, but I don't have too much time: we have a programme.

9.00 pm
Instead I apply a cat of felt to a bear's stomach. I need some minutes to do it.

9.30 pm
I finish the cat and we go to a pub to meet our friends.

Friday is my day: pintameldia

2011-04-15T00:00:00.000-07:00

This week we're visiting Spain and saying hello to Esti of pintameldia.etsy.com. In her shop you can see more of her sweet and lovely illustrations, artwork, paper puppets and more. Have a happy Friday!

The Thomas & Olivia alphabet poster
pintameldia

Hola!

I’m Esti a.k.a Pintameldia and I live in Bilbao, north of Spain, with my husband and my two daughters. This is a day in my life.

7:15
I wake up, shower and get dressed.

7:30
I have breakfast with my husband, who is an early bird and makes the best toast around here. I wake up the girls and here our stressful forty minutes begin: get them dressed, prepare their breakfast, tidy up the rooms a little... and then we head out the door and I drive them to school.

9:10
I leave the girls at school and head back home. I do some more tidying up.

10:00
I sit down at my table, on my brand new chair. I turn on my laptop, check my email and write my (almost) daily blog post. I also write down the list of things to-do today.

10:45
This is the moment I need to focus on my work properly. Most of my mornings I sketch or draw, but today I have to work on some comissioned paper puppets. It’s gonna take me several hours.

13:15
I take a break. It’s really sunny outside. I live in an old house with a patio, very close to the sea and only twenty minutes from the center of the city. I love living here.

13:35
Time to do some small house chores (laundry) and to get out of the house to buy bread before the shop closes. After this, I come back and eat lunch (some leftovers from the day before).

15:00
I prepare and pack a mid-afternoon snack for the kids: strawberries, sándwiches and yoghurt.

15:30
It’s so nice outside that I decide to drive to school earlier. I park the car there and go for a walk.

16:45
The kids come out and we lingered at the school yard, eating the snack I have prepared at home (them), talking to friends (me), playing (them) and enjoying the great weather (all of us).

18:15
They are having so much fun that it gets really hard to leave. But they know today we are going to see some friends play and within seconds they are all ready to go and excited.

19:00
Helicon (a band friend of ours for whom I’ve made some artwork) is playing at the Fnac in the center of the city. We are lucky to find a parking space quickly and arrive right in time for the first song. We hand some earplugs to the girls because of the music volume. It almost feels like witnessing an intimate rehearsal and the atmosphere is fantastic. The girls enjoy it a lot.

21:00
Back home, light dinner, the girls are fast asleep. This is the time I take the whole day in, savouring the good moments, recalling the music, the joyful talk and the fabulous spring temperature. It’s also time to work on an illustration. The perfect moment, when the house is silent and calm.

Friday is my day: pergamondo

2011-04-08T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! Our Friday guest this week is Elisavet of pergamondo.etsy.com, a shop full of delightfully unique, asymmetric jewelry. Let's go to Greece and take a look at her day!

grey beads through white sticks necklace
pergamondo

Hi everybody! I'm Elisavet and I live in Athens, Greece. I'm so happy that I'm featured in this blog because Friday is my day too!

8.00 a.m. _ I wake up, have breakfast and get dressed. Today, I've got to go to Salamina, an island close to Athens, to work on a project for my day job. As an architect of this project I travel a lot to this island.

After finishing my job for today, I visit my parents who also live in Salamina. We have lunch together and catch up. I then leave the island and take the ferry back to Athens.

6.00 p.m. _ I arrive home and, like every day, I put some food in my neighborhood's stray cats. I then go upstairs to my appartment and make myself a cup of coffee.

I prepare my working space so I can start cutting some circles from a plastic sheet for a necklace that I want to create.

Once I start cutting the circles, I got an idea for another necklace so after finishing with the plastic sheet, I continue cutting from a piece of grey felt.

10.00 p.m. _ My roomate come in so I give myself a break. After catching up with her, I continue making the necklaces.

12.30 a.m. _ I am alredy dressed up and ready to go for a walk and meet some friends in a bar down town. My Friday is already over!

Friday is my day: SoleDeVita

2011-04-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday to all! This is Morrgan's hubby, filling in for her flu-ridden self while she convalesces under a fit of blankets.

Today we'll take a trip to Latvia to meet the bright and bubbly Solvita. From her Etsy shop at SoleDeVita.etsy.com she sells delightful handmade pinback buttons, greeting cards and rings for your hands and ears.

Set of 2 OOAK pin-back buttons: Black background + White lace + golden ribbon
SoleDeVita

Hello, hello!

My name is Solvita, but you can call me Sole. ;)
I am a small town girl from Latvia. I live with my beloved Hubby in a nice little town called Valmiera. And here is my Day.

My day starts quite early (about 07:30), because I have regular day job from 09:00 to 17:00.

I am not having breakfast, because it is too early for me. I know, I know, not the healthiest way to start a day.
So sorry, Dear Grapefruit! You will have to wait till evening! :)

So, I do my hair, wash my teeth and about 08:40 o'clock, I am ready and out on the street.
With a sun in my back, I am on my way to work. It is 20 minutes walking.

Too bad, there is not much to see along this road. It is still winter here, lots of snow and, yes, lots of mud. It is road reconstruction on my street.

It is 09:00 and I am at my office-warehouse-What-Ever-it-is.
I work in a little Ophthalmology company. We buy and sell optical frames and make glasses for nice people. My job is to write invoices and pack orders and do other stuff..

Coffee is my first breakfast.

I check my Etsy and other Social sites. But there isn't much time to chill, I have lots to do.

It is ~12:30 and somewhere between mountains of sunglasses and papers is my lunch from local Take-away. Looks bad, but tastes good. :))

So I spend all my days in these 4 walls building dream castles and dreaming about "quitting my day job".
(Those, who have a Etsy shop, will definitely understand me. :D :D He hee...)

My working day ends about 17:00. There is another 20 minutes walking and I am back home.
Today is my Lucky day. Hubby has made a delicious chilly-bean stew with minced meat. Mmmmmm... Yummmy!

Nope, beer is NOT for me. :))

After the supper and a little dessert it's time for crafting and creativity.

Todays project is, Greeting card + Gift.
I am trying something new. Who knows, maybe these Cards will make me a Millionaire. :))

A bit of packaging and taking photos.

...and that's it. Time flies fast and another day is over. It is almost midnight and my bed is calling me.
So, Bye bye!

Friday is my day: MyClayDay

2011-03-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

Hello and happy Friday! Today we're visiting Barbara in Slovenia. Please check out her shop MyClayDay.etsy.com for stoneware jewelry, buttons, plates and other beautiful ceramics; but first, enjoy her day!

Little white with brown spiral stoneware earrings
MyClayDay

First I would like to say hi to all readers of this blog, I'm really happy and excited to have an opportunity to present one of MyClayDays to you. :) Actually this is a special Friday for me, because today I get to stay at home all day and do what I love most – work with clay. Here's how my day goes:

I wake up at 6.30 even if I don't have to go to work today, but I have a lot of work to do and I'm very excited to spend a whole day in my craft shop.

The first thing I do every morning are 5 tibetan rites, which I have been doing on and off for years now. I think these exercises are a great substitute for morning coffee, when I finish I'm wide awake and ready to go on with my day.

7.30 a.m. Breakfast/Etsy check time. No new orders for me today, but there are some views and new hearts for my shop.

After breakfast I go to my »warehouse« in the attic to bring down some raku vases and plates I made last year at the raku weekend with my colleagues from the school of ceramics. Found a lot of other stuff I almost forgot about too. I'll take pictures and put them on Etsy next week.

9.30 a.m. Postman comes with a nice surprise, a much expected little package from Turkey with beautiful handmade copper earring findings from NeSHEnJewellery. I immediately try some with my clay earrings and beads and I think they go together perfectly. I will wait for a new batch of beads and pendants to be finished and will use the new findings there. But I’ve put two pairs of earrings together immediately and put them on Etsy. :)

11. a.m. My friend Mateja arrives. She's a very talented photographer (check out her Etsy shop) and she kindly offered to take some pictures of my crafty day. Thanks to her my photos in this blog look so professional. :) She doesn't loose any time and starts taking pictures of me in action.

I'm preparing to fill my kiln today with various tiny things I have been working on for the last few weeks. Fish hooks and fish ornaments are for a friend who would like to have a unique looking bathroom, bells are for a girl who is getting married in May, I have tried some one-flower vases resembling sea urchins, I'm making trials for coasters and of course there is a lot of ceramic jewellery for my customers in Slovenia and on Etsy. As you can see my work is much influenced by sea and sea creatures. :)

Mateja is busy taking pictures of my raku collection while I'm finishing the items for the kiln.

3 p.m. I'm finally ready to load the kiln. This will be bisque firing at around 980°C. After that all items will be glazed and fired again to stoneware temperatures of around 1280°C. I set the programme of my electric kiln and now I have to wait until Sunday morning. The firing itself takes about 8 hours and then the kiln has to cool down to under 100°C before I can open it and take the items out.

4 p.m. Now we are really hungry and we start preparing lunch. Asian style stir fry with vegetables and wild rice, yummy! Bon appétit to Mateja and me after a hard day's work.

5.30 p.m. After some afternoon green tea and chitchat Mateja takes her last picture and takes off. This is a picture of me with my »biggest« work, my beloved stripy ceramic pear. The top of the pear comes off and I use it to keep my slippers inside. I call it my slipper pear. :)

Time to say goodbye, I have enjoyed this day very much, I hope you have enjoyed my clay day with me!

Friday is my day: Fingerprince

2011-03-18T00:00:00.000-07:00

This Friday we're going back to Greece to visit Alina of Fingerprince.etsy.com. She makes the most adorable sterling silver jewelry, her shop makes me smile every time. Let's take a look at Alina's day!

Cute bird sterling silver pendant in black cord
Fingerprince

Hi everyone! My name is Alina, and I live in a suburb of Athens (Greece) with my husband and three daughters.

A regular day starts at 7:30. I wake up to prepare my elder daughters for school. I do try to steal a moment to check my Etsy shop for sales, messages and “hearts” in my i-pad.

I usually work in the kitchen table because lighting is perfect. So often you can find little hands messing up with my stuff...

I try to figure out a way to make a workshop for myself at home. I used to work at the marketing department of an international bank but a couple of months ago I quit my job to dedicate myself to a business of my own, related to handmade jewelry and painted porcelain objects. Due to a health problem I had to postpone my plans, so until things are back to normal I am fully dedicated to my etsy shop!

Ready for school!

A stop at the local super market...

...and quickly back home to prepare my orders...

11:30 My friend Maria is coming over to pick up a pendant she asked me to make for her. Looks great on her.

I am having a break and chat over a cup of coffee...

I check Etsy often during the day, and I renew my items to get more views.

13:00 Another break to make lunch. The kids come back from school around 14:30. I will look after them and work again during the evening.

16:00 My mother is coming over to see us. Great weather for gardening!

Well it seems I am not going to work much today...

I try a lot to improve my “shop’s” photos. I believe this is key for sales. So whenever a day is shinny I experiment with new photos.

19:30 My husband comes home from work. This is a time we have as a family... We play, exchange the news of the day and have dinner.

21:00 The children are asleep. I have a cup of chamomile to relax.

My orders are packed and ready to ship. I’ll leave them my the main entrance so as to take them to the mail tomorrow.

23:00. Its time for bed… A last glimpse at my Etsy store, and Goodnight!

Friday is my day: ColoursandTextures

2011-03-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

This week we're going to the UK, where Tessa of ColoursandTextures.etsy.com will show us what her day looks like. Enjoy her Friday and don't forget to go see more of her beautiful work in her shop!

Pink Lilies, Limited Edition print from an original silk painting
ColoursandTextures

Hi, I am Tessa. I live on the edge of South London. From here it’s quick to get into London or out into the Surrey countryside. I paint and love textiles, painting on silk combines both.

I teach watercolour and silk painting to small groups of adults as well as write for art magazines.

My Etsy shop is coloursandtextures.etsy.com and my blog is colours-textures.blogspot.com.

My day starts around 6.30am with a big leisurely cup of tea ( or 2) made by Mr Colours.

Breakfast is banana, orange, natural yoghurt and fruit and nut muesli. That keeps me going till lunch.

My laptop usually goes on about 9 o’clock. I check for emails and look at google analytics. During the day I look in on my etsy shop and pop in on my team threads.

Today I went to my studio next to choose and prepare some work for submitting to an exhibition. (my studio is a hijacked ex dining room)

It is tidier than usual on a Friday as I teach a class in there on a Thursday afternoon. It can very easily get like this!

I searched on my laptop through some images of my work to decide which to use for prints.

Making the prints took longer than expected as I have a new printer to get my head around and boy was it complicated. I got 3 done, then mounted them, attached labels and packed them in cello sleeves.

When I looked up at my clock I saw that it was already past 12.30 and time to go for a swim.

It takes about 10 minutes to drive to the swimming pool. It’s nice to have a change of activity. I swam for about half an hour then went to relax in the steam room, bliss!

Back home at about 2.15 I had a quick lunch. Mr C and Stella were out for a walk. He makes home made bread with our bread machine. I usually have it with soup or make a sandwich or a toastie. The soup in the photo is lentil, carrot and chicken left from a bigger batch that I made.

When Stella got back in I took her in the garden to play with her ball. She’s ready now to take it to her bed.

Then it was back to studio to get the paintings together. I had to choose five. One of them needed framing. The others were already framed but needed checking for labels d-rings etc. One of them had acquired some specks under the glass and in trying to dislodge them the glass broke so I chose another painting to take instead.

I prefer days when I am painting or out gathering ideas as sketches or photos.

At about 5.30pm I started to get the meal together. Mackerel fillets with a homemade salsa, potatoes and peas and a glass of red wine. I enjoy cooking and making up my own recipes.

We ate at 6.15pm. Stella watched patiently and got a bit of fish skin and a plate to lick.

We had a quiet evening. I watched a TV programme called Extraordinary Dogs, wrote a post for my food blog and chatted to Mr C.

An eagerly awaited parcel arrived on the doorstep. Three new designs of cards had been printed from jpegs I sent to a local printer earlier in the week. I am really pleased with them and will package them up over the weekend and take some of them with me when I submit the paintings on Monday. The exhibition will be from April to September at Pashley Manor, an Elizabethan house and gardens in Sussex.

10.30 Bedtime

Friday is my day: Tuuni

2011-03-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday and welcome to Finland! Yes, this week we're visiting fellow Finn Tuija. Her shop Tuuni.etsy.com contains "treasures from the past, upcycled to you with love"; a lovely description of these beautiful home decor items.

linen and lace -storage bin, large
Tuuni

My day starts at 6.30 when our daughter comes to wake us up. Sometimes it's hard to get up so early, but it's also convenient: there is more hours in a day when you sleep less.

I tend to check my e-mail and Etsy Teams forum while sipping my morning coffee.

After breakfast I take Helmi to daycare. It's located around the corner, we are very lucky to have only 5 minutes walk there and back. It has been a very cold winter, around -20 C for week after week.

After 8.30 I take our dog Vilma for a walk.

Our route goes through this picturesque little village that has its origins in Middle Ages. There is a wonderful rock church, grain fields and river with an old mill in the area. Can you believe it's only 15km away from Helsinki?

9.00 I check my e-mail again and try not to spend too much time at the computer. I get carried away sometimes. Better start working now. Today I'm sewing couple of fabric bins in custom size for a lovely customer.

Around noon it's time for lunch. Today I'm having creamy chicken soup with rye bread (soup is ready made, but so good!).

Then I take some photos of the fabric bins and also of myself. I was told to :)
Hi there!

After a cup of coffee I usually continue sewing, but today I drive to Helsinki to see my retailer Eija, who is owner of a lovely little boutique called Mereija.

They focus on recycled and eco friendly accessories and also clothing repare. She can turn any old piece of garment into most fashionable outfit. I brought her some of my frame purses.

While in Helsinki, I also visit my old friend Jaana. She's a goldsmith and I will collect a babyspoon I ordered from her. It is a gift to Helmis' little cousin who is having his christening soon.

The day goes by so quickly. It's time to pick up Helmi.

Then I make dinner and spend some time with the family. Her favorite game is hide-and-seek, but she allways runs out from her hiding place before we find her, that is so funny. She goes to bed around 8.30 and we finally have some time together with my husband.

Nighty night!

Friday is my day: elsahats

2011-02-25T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for another Friday visit! Today we say hello to Elsa in Greece. Check out elsahats.etsy.com for colourful and unique hats, fascinators, bags and more - but first, take a look at Elsa's day!

Spring flower bouquet fascinator
elsahats

07:00: I was dreaming of flowers and running around in a field. Too bad I have to wake up. I’m working on Spring samples and a group show and I’m spending most of the day in the studio. I stand up automatically, like a robot and wear any clothes that I find on the floor. In my case 2 pullovers, a hat and a cowl that I made a month ago and I’m heading to my studio, which is hopefully next door.

I need some coffee! I look terrible in the morning with no make-up on, so you’ll better take a look at one of my most favourite pictures:

7:30: Today, I’m having a busy day ahead of me and hopefully I don’t have a class tonight. So, here, I’m in my “Private Idaho of complete mess”. I can’t work any other way though, as I want to see and feel the materials. Coffee tastes great and so does a banana!

I have turned on the computer. I read my emails, etsy, favourite blogs, facebook and twitter. There are no orders today so I’m making some treasuries. I usually do them on Monday and Friday morning and today is the day to do plenty of them! I got to check youtube and find some songs for treasury titles.

10:00: I bought some new taffeta yesterday, so today I’m working on more flowers.

I’m also working on a head piece for my step sister’s wedding, so I need to find some fabric and more flowers.

12:00: It’s noon already! Where did time go? Mom is calling from USA. I haven’t spoke to her for a week and we need to catch up in so many things.

I think the view from the window could look better, but that apartment building is there for more than 20yrs.

13:00: Time to get some lunch and I’m having my favourite beans from yesterday. I love legumes and fruit juices.

13:30: I have to prepare for the advanced English class that I’m teaching tomorrow.

16:00: I’m working on a hat order for a friend, who has just survived cancer and she’s going under chemo. She needs a cotton beanie, so I’ve got her some vibrant yarn to make her a stripped one.

19:00: Oups! I have overslept again, and I need to work on some photographs in Photoshop and send them over tonight. So I’m in the studio again, opened the computer, made some fresh coffee and check facebook and etsy again. I want to see people’s reaction to the treasuries and or another excuse not to work on samples. I need to catch up with some friends in facebook too and gossip a bit.

11:00: Time for bed! I love to sleep early!

Friday is my day: Loddelina

2011-02-18T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's Friday! Yay! This week we're going to visit Damjana of loddelina.etsy.com in France. I'm a big fan of her bags, wristlets, pouches and more - the details are delightful!

Shoulder bag PIPPA GRANDE in salmon corduroy with buttons and embroidery
Loddelina

7.45h - breakfast
My alarm clock is set to 7.15 but my children, Gaston (4.5) and Lily (2.5), always wake me up half an hour or so earlier. The tempo of our morning depends on whether it is a school day or not.

8.30h - at the school
On "green" school days we hurry up with dressing and having breakfast and we try to leave the house at 8.15. Gaston's école maternelle is on the hill above the town from where we admire a frosty, wintry view of Pontarlier.

9.30h - shopping
On "blue" non-school days I take both my children with me on my morning chores - every day we buy fresh milk, cheese, eggs and yohurt at the local fromagerie.

12.00h - lunch
Children love homemade pizza with sour cream, leek, goat cheese, lardons of bacon and black olives.

13.30h - back to school
Lily and I escort Gaston back to school in the afternoon and on the way back Lily falls asleep in her pram.

14.00h - siesta
Back at home I put Lily to bed and now I have some time for Loddelina!

14.30h - coffee!
I make myself a foamy macchiato and check my shop, blog and Etsy forums. If I have pictures to take, early afternoon is the best light for photography and later I can quickly edit the pictures before Lily wakes up and demands my attention.

15.30h - psssst, she is still sleeping...
... So I quickly do some sewing before it is time to go pick up Gaston from school at 16.20h

intermezzo: a view of Pontarlier
time between us coming back from school, snacking, playing, eating dinner, bathing and putting on the pijama, is a blur. Before I know it, it is 20.15h and time for bed. Yes, please, I am exhausted! - oh, bedtime for children...

21.30h - sew, mama, sew!
children are in bed and hubby is watching a game tonight so I retreat happily to my sewing corner...

23.00h - packing an order, yey!
I check my emails before switching off the computer and if there is an order to pack, I quickly prepare some labels and cards to go with it.

Good night!

Friday is my day: LAccentNou

2011-02-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

Our trip around Europe continues, as today we're going to visit Anastasia in Spain. Her unique jewelry is clearly inspired by nature, even using natural materials like pebbles. Do take a look at her lovely creations in her shop LAccentNou.etsy.com, but don't forget to read about her day first!

Stone Hair Pins
LAccentNou

Our day begins at 7:45 a.m. Our because I live with my daughter and son and my husband and the most important morning task is to wake-up and to prepare kids and yourself to go out.

Sometimes my husband put the music on and it is more nice to begin the day listening music!

My daughter starts classes at 9 a.m., so before that time we have to be at school and after that to leave our little son at kindergarden.

After that we go to have some breakfast with my husband. This is the moment of the day when we stay together without kids, share morning coffee, food and speak.

Normally we have a “pa amb oli” (“bread with oil”) and a cup of coffee with milk.

Pa amb oli is something very mediterranean and very traditional here. It consists in a piece of bread and olive oil, salt, also you can put fresh tomatoes, green pepper, some garlic and than cheese or ham or anything you wish. Pa amb oli remembers me italian Bruschetta. It is so simple and just great!

It is very usual here to have breakfast outside, in a cafe. On the 2nd of January the no-smoking law do not allow to smoke in public places like cafes and restaurants and I’m so happy with it!

10:30 After breakfast we return home with my husband. He is a musician and he works at home. I work in an hotel as a receptionist in summer time and in winter time I have my holidays :) This way I can dedicate more time to kids, to home and to my creative projects.

I check my Etsy convos, I clean my studio, I create something, I take photos, I pack orders, I go to a supplier shop, I make stuff...all these together mixed with home cleaning and cooking.

It is very important for me to have a quiet moment in the day to have my cup of hot tea. Just to sit alone and to think.

At 13:30 I go to the Post office and after that I go to take my daughter and my son from school.

At 14:30-15:00 we have lunch.

After lunch it is ideal to have some break because the stomach is full and you can’t move yourself, but not always it is possible, the little one is a non-stop machine so you just have to follow his wishes :)

Sometimes, if the weather is good, we go to walk in the afternoon. There is a small pine forest in 5 minutes walking from our home and kids just love to explore and to go up and down by the hill. I love to contemplate the nature and I always return home with pockets full of branches and pinecones. Our dog Drujoc is always happy to walk with us!

At about 17:00-18:00, I try to take photos outside, if the light is beautiful.

At 18:00 I take my daughter to basketball and if my son doesn’t sleep I take him with me and we go to the park or to the supermarket to buy some food.

At 20:15 we are back at home and we sit all together on the sofa and watch TV and have some cereals with milk or making a pancake party! Normally there is a battle between the little one and my daughter because everyone wants to have the central place on the sofa :)

After that I play with my son or we watch cartoons together. He loves to play with lavender sachets from FricDeMentol. He says that Layer girl is mommy and Le Solitaire is daddy :)

This is my little lavender trick, after the game he sleeps so well :)

Once kids are sleeping I have my free time again and I try to use it efficient making something in my studio, spending time with the computer or just taking shower and taking care of myself :)

I go to sleep very late at about 1-2 a.m. Nighty night!

Friday is my day: La Cravate Du Chien

2011-02-04T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello and happy Friday! Our guest this week is Daphne of lacravatteduchien.etsy.com. She makes the most adorable jewelry from her illustrations. Off we go to Greece to see what her day is like. Enjoy!

lacravatteduchien

Good morning everyone!

It's around 9:00 and crawl my self into the shower.

15 minutes later I start my day with a nice big coffee and breakfast. Now I feel awake!

Let's check the computer. First see my emails and then the daily etsy visit. List new items and go to the teams forums.

And sent my boyfriend Stefanos a "good morning" message.

Time to get some work done. I decided to work a lot every day, since I don't have an other job, and make sure the next time I have a bazaar I don't have to run around like crazy and have some stock ready.

But first I have to clean up the place!

Getting hungry. Better go in the kitchen and prepare something or i'll have to eat my sister's totally saltless food!

Later on a walk in the park with my niece!

I'm back home. Time to relax a bit with my book and maybe skype a bit with Stefanos. Long distance relationship is not an easy thing, that's for sure!

And now time to think what i'll wear tonight and start getting ready! It's my birthday and i'm going out!

Off for some tequila! See you!!

Friday is my day: LucieTales

2011-01-28T00:00:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone! Today we will go to France to visit Lucie. She creates wonderful jewelry and accessories, which you can see in her shop lucietales.etsy.com. Enjoy and happy weekend!

Givre Frost Earrings
lucietales

So, here I am, Lucie, at 9:00 a.m. after breakfast, at the kitchen table.

I'm checking out my emails, reading my favorites blogs and the last pages of the european street team thread. I'm near the stove, a tea mug at hand and my cat in my lap (it's very important for her psychological wellbeing to start the day being cuddled).

Then I prepare the orders that are to be sent today : today I'm packing a vintage soap box purchased from my vintage shop (LucieTalesVintage.etsy.com) by Stephanie aka Petitplat :)

Now it's time to finish my last hand knitted cowl, I want to wear it now!

Today I won't be alone for my daily walk to the post office and then on the shore... On my right you can see Lily, my faithful model, she won't come today with me, she has some little difficulty walking....and on my left, here is the man of my life, who is always willing to go walking.

We're going out through the garden, looking a little sad in winter... and there's not much to do there at this period of year, except feeding the birds.

Let's walk! We're going straight to the sea, or more precisely the estuary...this is just down the street!

This is the promenade on the sea front, and the big man fighting the eagle is the american memorial. Our town was a busy scene during the WWII.

We could walk on the promenade but I always prefer strolling down the beach, exploring and looking at what the last tide brought up.

Now the tide is low...sometimes we can observe some migrating birds having their breakfast there.

It's lunchtime now: an homemade veggie soup and a beef steak, vitamins, fiber and proteins!

After lunch, I go straight to my studio.....Well, there is a sofa in my atelier, how practical! With a full contented stomach, I'm a little dozing...

Here is my photo studio in a corner of our library : behind the windows I have sometimes some beautiful light to take pictures of my jewelry. Here I'm trying to photograph my last urchin brooch pined on a scarf to list it in my etsy shop.

Back in my studio - where I also work sometimes - not in the sofa but at my beading table this time!

After bending over my table and hammering at my bench, I need some stretching now... Am I being watched?

After dinner, I enjoy reading a little by the stove. She loves being read aloud that one!

Friday is my day: dualchocolate

2011-01-21T00:00:00.000-08:00

It's time for a trip outside of Europe! Today we go all the way to the USA to visit Eslin of dualchocolate.etsy.com. Her Etsy shop is full of knitted and crocheted goodies, from adorable bears to jewelry and more. Enjoy!

Blue in Blue Cotton Crochet Cowl/Neckwarmer and Poncho/Capelet
dualchocolate

Hello 2011. Storm and all the Ice.
I am Eslin, artist, poet, woman. I share my life with my two shining stars: my husband and our two-year old boy.

By the beach. Jersey Shore last summer.
Together we share the adventure of life by the beach every single day: season in and season out.

Our daily routine stays pretty much the same through winter, summer, fall and spring, with sunny days, rainy days and lazy mornings and evenings.
In between morning rush and afternoon naps I stitch the day away.
I do not have 15 hours to crochet or knit back to back. I’ve master crocheting and knitting projects only after juggling daily personal activities, and while tackling down a fulltime mommy schedule. I do stay creative around the clock, no problem!
　
5 am: Early morning and early Etsy “Addictivity”: from the crack of dawn ‘till late nites.
I wake up before the world to curate and comment some treasuries, get the lastest EsEtsy and Etsy news , because the regular world can wait.

9 am: Breakfast Time: Ready Set Go Mommy Go:

I prepare a homemade gourmet vegan breakfast, for my family. This marks my second part of the morning. Sun is out and shining.

11:40 am: Is time to go out to get some sun and snow.

Around 12 pm a scheduled trip to the post office. The Post Office is not an everyday nor too often stop. I walk to drop orders to the local post office in any type of weather. Which is a nothing short of a prowess after a blizzard, plus a mild winter storm . We have streets covered with snow on top of ice, of course. And it is so cold there is no possible beach adventure, or any big outdoor adventure for that matter.
How we long for spring!

11:50 am: Walking to the local post office, I find an amazing freeform ice sculpture at the corner garbage can.

How would believe this way is to the beach. Five blocks and sand and clear crystal water awaits.

12:30 pm: Lunch Break. Is time to slurp some natural smoothies!

1 pm: Knit Mommy Knit. This is when I go out to knit purl knit at Yarn Carriage. A local yarn paradise.

Here is where I usually take a break from my regular Mommy life. This is my latest and newest local discovery.
I love sitting around a table talking while knitting and learning for everybody else’s experiences and projects. A new day brings a new stitch, a new pattern a new joke! Life is great!
　
My day begins early, snow adventures and sightseeing, it closing time by 9pm.

Tomorrow we’ll wake up to a totally different window of opportunities.

Friday is my day: zsazsazsu

2011-01-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

Today we visit Sandra in Belgium. She creates gorgeous and unique jewelry, which you can see at zsazsazsu1963.etsy.com. Enjoy and happy Friday!

Les doux et durs in paper
zsazsazsu1963

Hi I am Sandra and I spend about 4 days a week at the travelagency where I work since 25 years. The rest of my free time is shared with my family, 3 cats and lots of beads!

Around 6 o’clock I am jumping out of my bed. Days are already very short, so I like to make the most of it. Can’t leave the house without a shower and a daily hairwash.

I get up earlier then I should, just to be able to have a healthy breakfast, blog, read mails and when time is left, surf.

On working days you can find me from 9am till 6pm at the travelagency. Here we have the principle of "clean desk"... On these days I am the lucky one that goes and have lunch at my mothers home, she really spoils me with good food, every day.

On my day off at work I like to do the groceries, wash, iron, clean in the morning and spend the afternoon on creating, crocheting, knitting etc...

Creating jewelry can’t be done on a clean desk , I need it rather messy, that gives me the most of inspiration. I always have a real fan that needs a lot of attention, and sometimes really sits on the work I am working on. Say hello to Minou, the cat we brought home from our travel to the Provence.

My creations are made with beads, threads and materials out of nature.

I live the the Northsea so every now and then I take a walk to find some materials such as stones and driftwood at the shores.

Today I am making labels for my packaging out of shrinking paper.

Around 6pm I start making dinner. Try to make it healthy with lots of vegetables.

At the end of the day I love to sit in the couch, my 3 cats nearby and a crochet work. It’s a pity I don’t see very well, that’s why I wear 2 pairs of glasses.

I am an early riser, but I go to bed early too... around 9pm my eyes are getting heavy already.

Friday is my day: Nancy van den Boom

2011-01-07T00:00:00.001-08:00

Hello everyone and a Happy New Year 2011! This is Maria (also known as Morrgan) posting. As Heli mentioned in the last post of 2010, I will look after this blog while she is taking a break. Thank you very much for this opportunity Heli, and best wishes to you and your growing family!

On this first Friday of the year we're travelling to The Netherlands to meet Nancy, painter of beautiful art that you can not only place on your wall, but wear as well! You can visit NancyvdBoom.etsy.com to see her work. But first, take a peek at Nancy's day!

Colour Tree original oil painting
NancyvdBoom

Lazy waking up around 10.00 checking my email!

I enjoy this day "off" which means preparing for a creative day! Despite the beautiful weather I will stay in, just to paint all day.

My beloved studio and Eva is already waiting for me (but needs to clear the chair soon).

This 12 square meter is the best place in the house. All mine, Cor built it for me. The skylight providing me beautiful natural light. Only when it gets bit darker in the afternoon in winter, I need the daylightlamp. On the floor beautiful Italian tiles which Cor placed. This place is built with love and it helps me very much creating with a very good feeling.

But first I have to check Keesje in the living room. He seems to be alright! He never comes into my studio. He's waiting all day for me on the couch and hoping I will lay down with him. But I dont have time for this. Well, I choose not to lay down on this creative day. Perhaps later this day, when I am satisfied with painting and enjoy being with Keesje all evening, with him, sleeping on my lap!

My palette is alright too, allthough it might seem to be a mess. A lovely oil painting mess! Precious colours. Some colours I have to refresh, but most of them I can still use.

The view from my studio into the street. The silhouette of the witch is keeping me company!

The brooches and earrings are drying just fine here, in my room. The reds and blues, I love them so much.

Such lovely hours in my working jacket, painting for wearable art!

Time for a short break of 15 minutes at 14.00 hours: Hubby Cor has prepared some tea for us. Today I received my new stamp from www.designandink.etsy.com and I like to play with it! Did I really put green paint on that chair??

Look Cor, isn't this a beautiful stamp with my name and address! Cor agrees. Beautiful work from Design and Ink - Angi!

Closeup of the printed stamp! A combination of calligraphy and printed letters. I can use this for businesscards, envelopes or ...invoices!

I want to get back into the studio and mess with oil paint and have a great time!

Lady with Poppies is the result of a wonderful creative day!

Hope you did like to see my Friday is My Day!

Friday is my day: Morrgan

2010-12-17T01:00:00.000-08:00

Hello again Friday peeps. This is the last Friday post on year 2010 and also my last post, I'm going to have a long break. we are having a baby in the beginning of March (I hope she comes in time). I'll be back probably in summer. But no worries, Maria our todays Friday guest is going to continue to collect Friday is my day posts. She has a shop called Morrgan.etsy.com She knits the most funny and cute animal creations and knitted accessories to warm your hands, feets and head. Enjoy your trip to Finland and Happy holidays! ★

PDF Pattern - Marigold the Moose - Knitting

Morrgan

Hello everyone! I'm Maria, also known as Morrgan in many parts of the

internet, and I like to knit all sorts of things. I hope you'll enjoy
sharing a day with me.

7.30: The first alarm goes off and Mr. Morrgan (my husband) wakes up. I
don't. I'm too busy dreaming about driving around in giant super robots
disguised as cars, à la Transformers.

8.00: The second alarm goes off, finally waking up the Morning Monster
Morrgan. Rawr. I'll spare you from seeing photos - the Morning Monster
me might give you nightmares.

8.05: Fortunately Mr. Morrgan is wise and shows up with a huge cup of
coffee to placate the Morning Monster. Ahhhhhhh. What would I do without
this man. Mr. Morrgan gets ready for work while I have my coffee and
focus on trying to keep my eyes open.

8.30: Mr. Morrgan is off to work and I reluctantly get out of bed to
shower, feed the fish and shrimp of 3 fish tanks, and make breakfast for
myself. The fishies seem to be quicker to wake up than I am, judging by
their feeding frenzy.

8.50: I have toast with cheddar while catching up on the internet:
emails, my Etsy and other shops, the European Street Team forums, a few
blogs, job ads... (I'm a biologist and my last "day job" project ended
some months ago. I'm looking at jobs and trying to figure out what to do
next.)

11.00: Right, that's enough computer time for now! There's only a few
hours of light per day this time of year, better make the most of it. I
pack a few orders that need to be taken to the post office. A bit of
music makes this task more fun - today I listen (and dance) to Jamie
Cullum's jazzy tunes.

11.30: Looks like it snowed a lot this morning! Once again I'm happy we
don't need a car - wouldn't want to dig it out from under all that snow.
The post office is a 10 min walk away and the queue isn't too long, so
soon I have everything shipped.

11.50: I continue my walk and go across the river. The river boats are
actually popular restaurants and bars. Some are open for business in
wintertime too.

The Turku Cathedral. I couldn't resist taking a photo to show you, it
looked so pretty in the snow and against the blue sky. My walk
continues, not too far now from my goal...

12.15: Lunch time! Mr. Morrgan and I try to meet up for lunch once a
week. It gives me an excuse to take a longer walk and get some exercise,
as his work place is about 3 km from home. After all, there's no better
reward for a bit of exercise than a delicious lunch! In this case,
Chinese food.

13.30: Home again and in the mood for knitting! In summer I often sit in
the balcony and knit, but in winter this is one of my fave places to
work: beside my pride and joy, the biggest aquarium that's almost as
long as I am. It's nice to have a green landscape and pretty fishies to
look at when the outdoors is covered in snow.

14.30: Yep, everything seems to be under control here! My brother comes
by to use the ironing board for a bit, in order to look good at a
Christmas party this evening. I think he uses that thing more than I do.
Once the shirt has been sorted out, we chat over a cup of tea and make
plans to go see the Rare Exports movie next week. (A creepy Finnish
Christmas tale with dark humor? Clearly a must-see for us!)

16.00: Time to go out and meet Mr. Morrgan for grocery shopping. It's a
pretty day, so we take the scenic route. This Christmas tree is in front
of the Turku Art Museum. Check out the decorations, they're vinyl records!

16.10: Uh oh. The scenic route takes us past an Apple store and Mr.
Morrgan stops to gaze wistfully upon all the goodies inside. This might
take a while. In the end I lure him away with the promise of pie.

16.50: After shopping, we walk home past a hairdresser that always has
something fun going on in the window. Gotta love that plush dog Santa in
a pink cowboy hat!

17.30: As promised, there's pie! With whipped cream! I baked a pumpkin
pie yesterday for dessert and there's some left over. Since we're still
pretty full from the big lunch, we skip dinner and go straight for the pie.

17.45: This is a suitable time for me to check what's been happening on
the internet and knit some monster scarves. Mr. Morrgan does some
programming on his shiny Macbook, working on his pet project called
Boxer. I guess programming all day at work just isn't enough!

20.30: At this point in an evening we often play a game or watch a DVD,
but tonight it's time to bring out the fancy high-heeled boots! (And the
not-so-fancy bag, ahem.) We're off for a drink or two at our local fave
pub. They have a nice selection of delicious beers, hopefully we can
find something new to try. Maybe we'll see some friends too!

Enjoy the rest of your Friday and happy weekend!

Friday is my day: Lesthings

2010-12-10T01:00:00.000-08:00

Today to sunny Madrid, Spain and meet Virginia from lesthings.etsy.com
She makes so pretty and beautiful jewellery!
Enjoy browsing the shop :)

silvercube earrings-almond tree

lesthings

8.30 in the morning,I wake up.I don't use an alarm clock unless I have to wake up early.
First thing in the morning ,breakfast: fresh orange juice,hot cocoa(I don't have coffee or tea) and some toasts.

A quick shower and directly to the computer and etsy.The first thing I always check are my etsy shops.Sending and reading
convos,treasuries,forums and flickr,today I woke up with three sales!

Some assembling work,today I have to continue with the pieces I prepared yesterday,it's a bit long proccess that must be
done in different steps.

A short break ,I almost always eat something before lunch; today an apple.

Preparing the orders I have to send today...

I forgot to say that I walk through the corridor all day!my workshop and the computer are just on the opposite ends of my house
and I can't resist checking the web now and then...

Today I don't have to much time for lunch.I 'llhave something quick;a tuna sandwich while watching one of my fav series of all time
on tv, Bewitched.
Wouldn't it be great to be able to do everything simply with a nose twitch?

Going to the post office.Although there's one nearer my house,sometimes I prefer going for a walk to the beautiful building
of the Central Post Office in Madrid.It's a beautiful walk !El Prado Museum is on the right.

Back home.This afternoon I have to prepare some new pieces in my workshop I'll try to finish everything I planned for this week
although I'm not sure I'll do...I enjoy hearing the news on the radio while working.

I'm finishing earlier than usual today,tonight I'm going out to a rock concert.It's going to take place in an old fashioned club inside a park.
I put on my favorite boots ,my retro black dress and don't forget the tickets of course!

A perfect way to finish a friday,have a nice weekend!