10 Things I Love In January

1. My new MP3 player. Well, it was about time. The only thing lacking are decent headphones as the default ones and my ears don’t really get along well. I like the thougt that what I listen to is a secret to others.
2. 2011. A new year! As always a new opportunity, and I think that’s just a great prospect.
3. Thrift Stores. There’s one only ten minutes from our little white house in the green lane which is great for unique pieces. Sometimes you’ll get a nice story that comes with the clothing, too!
4. Silly Holidays. There are countless of them, celebrating childhood heroes (Winnie-the-Pooh Day, Jan. 18th), favourite food (World Pasta Day, Oct. 25th) or weird behaviour (Mad Hatter Day, June 10th & Oct. 6th). Reasons to party and celebrate are always great, so get a list of these dates (here or here) and pick your favourites. And don’t forget, tomorrow is Bubble Bath Day!
5. My new Pocket Calendar. Since I started to use these wonderful, practical things, they’ve grown pretty dear to me. I collect favourite words there, names, dates and birthdays and even those silly holidays mentioned in point 4. As for the design I’m very fond of paper blanks, they look so fine and old-fashioned.
6. Black Woolen Tights. You can’t imagine how difficult it is to get one, albeit they are warm and look great. Gladly, one of the green fashion shops here in Marburg has them, still.
7. Small Rubber Animals. I used to get them as a little treat from the dentist when I was a child and found them again in my favourite toy store in the upper town. They are great for several small DIY projects such as decorating electronic gadgets or hair pins. I love that small dragon, he sits on the speaker of my laptop as I’m typing.
8. The Dropkick Murphys. Although their music found me years ago I listen to them a lot at the moment. My current favourites are As One and The Auld Triangle.
9. Spaghetti Bolognese. THE ultimate student food, even more than pizza.As I write there’s a pot of sauce on the hearth and water for another pound of pasta boiling beside it. We always make more than necessary to have some left over for the next day, too. Plus, Bolognese sauce tastes even better when it stood to brew for a while.
10. The fact that you’re reading my blog. Yes, exactly. You. :)

Welsh People’s Army Banner

I finally gave my last year’s (sic!) Christmas present to the Satyr some weeks ago, said banner of the (fictitious) Welsh People’s Army (WPA?). It descends from a joke of our Celtic Science tutor that developed to grow into a symbol derived from the IPA symbol for ll aka. ɬ.

I’m a little ashamed that it took me so long to finish that gift, and it was only the hangers and back lining that lacked. But enough with the words, here are the pictures:

Wool on, I suppose, Earl Grey-tinted linen

Pumpkin After Halloween

When the Satyr returned from university today he held something small and orange in his hand, his arm stretched out in my direction.

“For you, from Teli.”, he said.

She made me a crochet pumpkin!

That’s so cute.

*squeak*

Thank you so much!

Dramatic Effects

After I paid a visit to the doctor for a final blood count this morning I signed up for a craft swap. Again. Now it’s not only Headdresses & Hats but also, mad as a hatter, Alice in Wonderland (due to the hype of Mr. Burton’s… special… version). I’m really looking forward to the profile of the latter. I already got the one for the first swap and am full of ideas. :)

Something I forgot to show you when I was talking about hares yesterday is this wonderful post by Rima from The Hermitage. I really admire her painting skills.

Yesterday evening I felt the urge to draw the design for something I call “Brit Lolita”. In fact, it’s more of a Classic Lolita-Mori Girl crossover with robust fabrics, leather patches at the elbows and motives like roses, white and red dragons (together with harps and thistles to represent all parts of the UK ;) ), cups of tea or city silhouettes.

I still need a scanner... photos are just not the same.

Also, I checked an important point that I had on my to-do list for weeks and cleared some points for a workshop I want to attend in autumn. Now I’ve got to find my university papers again as they were not at their usual place… Oh cruel disarray!
*faints for dramatic effect*
However.