Makrame

Makrame - the word that led me to Morocco and to Sweden and back to Germany 30 years ago... Not quite yet physically travelling, but a journey of the very young creative mind.

With a sailor in the family and much water around and grandma's small farm operation to enjoy, rope was everywhere: boats, horses, ornaments - they all depended on these natural threads.

It is not only a pleasure to see them reemerge, it seems that the longevity and versatility of rope has made a comeback for reasons of sustainability - we have come to understand that it is a much superior material to plastic!

Thank you, DS, for inspiring me again to assemble and braid some strings!!! With Easter holidays looming, Miss T will have to show some enthusiasm and may hop to school with a little makrame bag of her own soon...
Have you tried it? Please share your creations!!!

Naturally, Anke

Coaster Gallery

A long narrow hallway is often difficult to decorate, particularly if there is not much light. Large paintings are out of the question and so many opt for small photo frames to display family memories. Here is another idea:

Ein langer, enger Flur ist oft schwierig zu dekorieren, vor allem, wenn es nicht viel Licht gibt. Grosse Gemaelde sind tabu und daher entscheiden sich viele fuer kleine Foto-Rahmen, die Familien-Erinnerungen zeigen.
Hier ist eine andere Idee:

 I have found these coasters last week - and you might have read about my current obsession with all things Parisian - and since they DID look tacky on the table, I had to find another way of displaying them without displeasing the other members of the family.
So with a little help of my friend "the blue sticky", they have become a daily reminder of the exciting week we had au bord de la Seine last August.


Letzte Woche fand ich diese Untersetzer - und Du hast vielleicht ueber meine momentane Besessenheit, was alles Parisische angeht, gelesen - und da sie auf dem Tisch ziemlich kitschig aussahen, musste ich eine andere Flaeche finden, um sie darzustellen, ohne die Augen der anderen Familienmitglieder zu beleidigen.
Also wurden sie mit Hilfe meines Freundes "das blaue Klebende" zu einer taeglichen Erinnerung an die aufregende Woche, die wir im letzten August am Seine-Ufer verbracht haben.

And since the Goddess of Opp-Shopping meant well, she handed me these Sydney photographs a few days later. Speak about the universe conspiring...!!!

Und da die Goettin des Opp-Shoppings es gut mit mir meinte, gab sie mir noch diese Sydney-Fotografien ein paar Tage spaeter mit auf den Weg. Na, wenn da mal nicht das Universum wieder einen Plan schmiedet...!!!

And there were not only the coasters... - 6 placemats, too! What might I do with these???

Und da waren nicht nur die Untersetzer... - 6 Sets auch noch! Was koennte ich denn damit machen???

As so often, these beauties will go and await their fate safely stored in the chest.

Wie so haeufig werden diese Schoenheiten ihr Schicksal trocken und sicher im Sideboard abwarten.

Naturally, Anke

The Est Magazine

The Est Magazine is a revelation! To me anyway...!

Is is testimony to my friend B's remark yesterday that our life has been influenced by Nordic design, but less so by Nordic culture or food - but with the rise of Swedish thriller writing and Australian-Danish relations growing from top to bottom of society and business, this is changing. This issue of the mag is just plain wonderful, a treat for every design & decor sweet-tooth!

By the way, please watch the Swedish original, not the US release - you WILL enjoy the authentic plot and landscape more in its homeland setting, promise.










Naturally, Anke

Have you been to Paris lately?

I took my daughter to Paris for a few culturally inclined days last August, en route to the South. I caught a bug: Since then, Paris seems to be everywhere. I hear chansons, I see Eiffel towers, I eat baguette with soft smelly cheeses, I dress in blue, red and white and have bought Vogue every month. Aaaaaahhhh, Paris...

Naturally, Anke