Hello Handmade

"hello handmade is a place for independent, handmade design and original ideas. hello handmade wants to support the growing handmade-scene and provide a new network for its creative members as well as other parties interested in their products, projects and ideas.

hello handmade is founded and organised by Sophie Pester, Designer and Maker (jodii.de) from Hamburg, Germany."

Articles are in German, but pictures and links speak for themselves. Check it out!

"Hello World" (by Working Mom)

Wow! What a week. To me it seems like my life has turned around 180 degrees in only one week. I found a part time job. No. The job found me. I wasn't actually looking for one. Fate played it's game. And I didn't mind.

I am a working Mom now.

That's the sentence that keeps flashing in my mind. I know my life will change from now on. I know I asked for change. I'm just confused it happened so easily and suddenly.

I'm very greatful and excited.

Yet I'm quite nervous how it will all come together. It's a challenge. It will take some extra energy. But I know it's the lesson I'm supposed to learn right now.

Wish me luck!

Spring

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Matching outfits

Dear Olive and Jen,

I went to a huge outdoor fabric fair (Stoffmarkt Holland) today:



It was awesome! Hundreds of booths with different kinds of fabric and accessoiries. I loved it! Except for those thousands of other people (who told them to come???) which made it hard to even get to the piles - especially with Lenara on my back. So it wasn't so fun after a little while. The prices were ok, not as inexpensive as me and my friend had hoped. Sewing is one expensive hobby. But so nice to have such a variety of fabric to look at.

I ended up buying some smaller pieces (thanks Papa for sponsoring this little trip). Aaaaaaand, ladies, there are two pieces that are meant to be turned into matching outfits for Lady Olivia and Lady Lenara. One little summer outfit for each of them. I was going to post a pic, but my computer won't let me download it from my camera. You'll like it! We should brainstorm some outfits (maybe something from this post) and make them together while you're here. What do you think?

Moment: First Icecream of the Season

Mayday, mayday

I saw those nutshell boats in a book just recently. So I was going to make some for Lenara today. Bad news: they all drowned! Still we had fun. Is that bad?

Birdies: Finally some for myself

Moment: Lenara & Puppets watch YouTube

She arranged them like that! How hilarious! I almost broke down...

More Spring

Before 9am

I took Lenara to the day nanny's by bike = 45 minute bike ride! Then I put some laundry in the machine and took a long shower - including hair! It's not even 9am! What a good start into the day. Now 2 hours to get some paper work done and make some ebay money. Thinking about finishing a dress... but I should rather be doing "serious" stuff. I took some really nice spring pictures yesterday. But I can't post them. It just feels wrong listening to the news of Japan. Why did they built those nuclear power plants in such a known earthquake region in the first place? I will join a protest group for shutting down all nuclear power plants in Germany on facebook right now.

Shocking: Japan

While having had such a nice day myself, the contrast to the catastrophe of Japan (and the rest of the world eventually) couldn't be any stronger. Following the news on TV and praying for the victims and some miracles.

What a fun project: Teddy

My friend's daughter - Lenara's friend - had a similar one with her yesterday. I loved it! [Surprise, surprise!] So did everyone else at the little garden party we had. And since I just recently copied a "how-to-chrochette-a-teddy-tutorial" from a book from the library... and we spent a relaxing day at my parents' today... this is today's all-day-chrochetting-and-having-latte-macchiaots-in-the-sun-result. And I know who this little guy will be living with...

YouTube Fun

We have just been watching some funny YouTube videos. Lenara doesn't get to watch TV yet (hopefully for a while). But sometimes we look at photos or videos of other kids (my friends kids on facebook or YouTube). Just small scenes, that I think she can relate to. There are also funny and good children's songs animations. But not all are recommended. I'd recommend to review them first and make a little collection before showing them to your child. For example, I don't like the flashing bright colored ones. I've also researched finger games in the past. Also something Lenara liked and I thought was appropriate to share with her. I'm trying not to skip or switch videos (like we grown ups switch between window browser all the time and interrupt videos) and not show many in a row.

Here are some examples we liked:

Dancing Baby


Laughing Baby


Father in crib (ohhh, how I can relate!!)


Alle meine Entchen (Lenara knows the words to this song):


Hoppe Hoppe Reiter (Lenara knows the words to this one as well):

Goodnight, Baby

I knew tonight was going to be tough for Olivia to fall asleep. I think she knew, too. It was the first night I gave a real try for her to get back on schedule. We've been going to sleep around midnight since we've come back from Oregon (they are 3 hours earlier than us here).

So, tonight when I told Olivia it was bedtime she went to her baby and first gave her to me. Then, I gave the baby back to Olivia and said "Goodnight Baby". Olivia walked over to the rocking chair, put the doll in and said "rock, rock,rock"' then waved goodnight and headed up the stairs. Then, she was ready.

One thing I don't mention too much is how particular Olivia is. Maybe it's because I don't want her to sound like a trouble or a brat, because she is definitely not. Olivia really has a sense of the way things should be. She remembers where things were and how things were and what was said. She is that way with routine also. We do the same songs & pattern each night. She chooses the same books too. but tonight, this was different so I just had to record this little special bit.

So precious.


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Lala's Style

She insisted on her and me wearing the stockings like that this morning. We had some good laughs to say the least...

Cone Puppet (finished)

I told Lenara he came with the old suitcase I just got. And that he lives in it. So sometimes we stand in front of the suitcase and call him "Zwergelein, Zwergelein, bist du daheim?" (Little dwarf, little dwarf, are you home?) and he comes out and sings with us. At the end he sings "Auf Wiedersehen, auf wiedersehen, ich muss jetzt gehen." (Good bye, good bye I have to go home now). Oh, how I love childhood magic

Mobile for Princess Bed

I love it! Simple. Natural. Special. I used fabric I also used for decorating our bedroom (curtain, pillows). The bed decoration is not finished yet, though. I have more fabric... and more ideas. Stay tuned!

Ribbon wand

Ribbon & "o" were 3$ total so this Easter wand is done early.

The idea is a Waldorf one, though I'm sure children danced with ribbons before his philosophy.

Olivia is running around from room to room and she laughs the whole time. (well, when she's not clinging to me like there's hot ashes on the floor). The hardest part is going to be waiting to give it to her!




The laundry in the background is what I SHOULD have been folding instead.

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Esprit Recycled Skirt

Two fleamarket shirts:

RE: Tampon Bag Industry

Tampon Bag Industrie

There seems to be a market for tampon bags... at least on DaWanda. That's news. So precious!