The one that believes snow is there to be eaten.

Dexter's favourite winter treat?

Snow. 

A whole lot of, to be precise.

Dexter is pretty excitable by default. But when it comes to snow, he's not just excited: he gets a little crazy. Crazy enough to gulp down serious amounts of snow and run around at high speed. Or bury himself under a snow pile or dig giant holes or even start levitating. (I'm not kidding! See picture below!) He doesn't get tired, he doesn't get cold (and its almost ten degrees below zero!), only thing he cares about is eating all the snow he could get. And chasing snowballs; eating them, too, if possible. 

I love chilly white winters like this one.

Dexter loves them more.

December Sky

I fell from the sky today. 

To land home.

I am giving.

 What are you guys doing on a chilly December Wednesday?

I am giving flowers to strangers. 

Christkindlmarkt

There are more than 10 different Christmas markets all around Vienna. The most famous one (and my personal favourite, too) is the Christkindlmarkt on the square in front of the beautiful Town hall. The market is one of the oldest in Europe, dating back over seven hundred years, and people seem to love it even more today.

All the trees in the park, where Chirstkindlmarkt is situated, are beautifully decorated with themed lights, garlands and figures, shaped like gingerbread men. Hundreds of cosy wooden huts offer a great diversity of sweets, hand-made goods, Christmas decorations and pieces of art. You could also find the best eggnog punch around here, or maybe apple cider. Inside the Town hall, there is a children's workshop, where cute little elves bake cookies, decorate presents and sing songs, and a sweet shoppe, where you could order a piece of Sachertorte, while listening to Christmas songs.

The whole park smells of cinnamon, caramel apples and home-baked bread and it is just impossible not to feel festive around here. It is absolutely heart-warming. (you still need gloves, though, because December is freezing!)

Are you already excited about Christmas? Have you decorated your tree, made a list with presents? Or is it a bit too early? 

Preparing for winter

Life lately has been filled with enormous amounts of tea to keep me awake, heavy (and not-so-interesting) textbooks piling on my desk and an occasional get out for some fresh air (and candy apples). Oh, and I am also kind of working as the postman of the floor, because magically all post comes to my apartment and I have to hand it out every time. Which is actually a fun way to meet all my neighbours, so I can't complain.

As the colder weather starts to set in I feel the need to put down a list of all the things I'd like to do this winter. For starters, finally learn to ski. (Ice-skating is also an option). Learn a bunch of new recipes. Finish up my two textbooks in time. And, of course, finally open up my online shop. I promise I've been working on this for quite some time, but there are so many little details I need to take care of. I am looking forward to flying back home in just 10 days and I hope I'll have all the time I need for all my plans and, of course, for some snow-angel making with Dexter (he's pretty good at rolling in the snow, although his "angel" looks more like a giant mess) and some cuddling in front of the fireplace and also some cookie baking.

Ah, winter. I can't wait.

*have you tried pomegranate juice? I've recently discovered it and I believe I am now addicted.

I'm shy

I'm versatile

A Rembrandt painting in motion.

For a couple of minutes today, the sky looked like a moving Rembrandt painting. I took some time off my textbooks and enjoyed a cup of hot cocoa under the pitched roof windows. Sometimes the simplest things can make your day. 

Walt says

I'm beautiful

Puzzle graphic number 2.

Playing with stamps: notepad DIY

I am addicted, I admit it. Stamps are just too cool to be left aside for too long. Plus, you could make a thousand fun things with them. So if you don't own a set yet - I highly recommend finding one. You will love it at least as much as I do. We could even start a fan club. No? Just me? Oh all right then.

This DIY is a fun weekend activity you can do by yourself or with friends. And it's perfect for a gift, too, because let's be honest - who doesn't like cool handmade stuff? The supplies you are going to need are: glue, scissors, plain paper pad, cardboard and - of course - stamps and an ink pad.

1: First of all you will need the measures of your paper pad so that you can easily cut out a front-back cover for it from the cardboard. Fold the center of the cover so that it fits perfectly to the paper pad. If your cardboard is thicker, use the tip of the scissors to create a thin line before folding. This way you won't damage the cardboard and it would fold perfectly. 2: Use liquid glue to attach the paper pad to the cardboard cover and let it dry completely. 3 and 4: Think of what you want to use the notepad for and use the stamps to print whatever it suits it best. You might find my pick a little boring but hey - at least I'm honest! Stamping on cardboard can be tricky - it needs more ink than regular paper, so keep your stamps on the ink pad a little longer. You could leave it like that or you could spice things a little by adding simple illustrations to finish it up.
And there you have it!

I'm a mess

I've been working on a commissioned set of graphics for the past couple of days. It is about human emotions and I have a lot of work to do, defining happiness, confusion, beauty and aggression by textures only. Great thing about these puzzle graphics, as I call them, is that they can be interpreted in many different ways. For someone it might depict rage, while others would find peace and harmony in it and the best part of it is that there isn't a wrong version. 

This is the raw sketch of my first print. It still needs some Photoshop retouching and minor heals, but that will come when finishing the whole set. I'm curious to find out what you see in it!

Wherever you can find pancakes on a Sunday, you can find love.

Pancakes are a special treat for me. They smell like birthday mornings and love.
I am still learning how to cook stuff. Sometimes it's a piece of cake and sometimes I end up with a stew although I've followed a soup recipe. But it's alright. I'm eager to learn. And I am getting better, actually.
Pancakes are different, though. I can make a perfect batch with closed eyes. I can flip them like a pro, I can make them in funny forms (like Totoro, for example) and they always taste great. I have only one condition: it has got to be on a Sunday. My idea of perfect romance is having pancakes for breakfast on a gloomy Sunday. With apricot jam and with cheese and with some Nutella, please.
I love sitting here on the red couch with my boyfriend (while it's snowing outside for the first time!), munching pancakes and laughing at funny dog videos. We miss Dexter. He loves pancakes as much as we do. It's a family thing.

Crowd.

A realistic depiction of an underground ride on a late Thursday afternoon. I am somewhere there, too.

Playing with stamps: book separator DIY

I'm not used to using book separators. I believe I am able to remember my progress without any reminders which, as it turns out, never happens. I end up reading pages I've already read or skipping whole chapters.
Finally, after losing another half an hour in searching of where I had left my book, I decided I actually did need a book separator. I've never been keen on using random pieces of paper, candy wrappers or old receipts (as my boyfriend does). I needed something fancier!

All needed for this DIY is a piece of cardboard in a pretty colour, letter stamps and an ink pad. The thicker the cardboard the better, because it wouldn't fold and lose its form.
You could type whatever you like - a favourite quote, song lyrics or something funny. I chose this text because it is short and can fit within only one row. Make sure you work on a hard surface so that you can press the stamps easily and get the best possible image. It could get a little messy - every time after I use ink I find smudges on the most curious places. Let the ink dry completely before using the separator - you don't want to ruin your book!
Ta-dah! You can now throw away all random papers and receipts you use and mark your reading progress with style!

Walt Says:

BulWood

I studied and studied and studied (for whole 4 hours!) and suddenly I found myself
in the middle of a magical forest.
It's curious how my studying almost always evolves to drawing.

Totem

I've been playing with ink markers lately. 

I guess I find it more interesting than starting a 400-page European Law textbook.

 Forever procrastinating. 

Flowers in her hair

Another "Flowers in her hair" illustration. (do you remember the first one?) 

I guess I have a thing for flower wreaths. And roses. 

Walt says:

Walt is a former army man, who hates the present times and always compares everything to what it used to be. He is old, he doesn't have children or grandchildren, but he gives his priceless advice to whoever wants to listen.

I've been doodling short comics in my journal for some time now and I thought it would be fun to share some here. "Walt Says" would appear on a random Wednesday to give you a quick lecture on life. Or to get melancholic. Or just to say hi, in his own way, of course. 

Read of the month: October

I've waited for this book for so long. Not as excitedly as I would wait for a new Harry Potter book, but still - I couldn't wait to get my hands on "The Casual Vacancy".
I find it funny that it is called an adult book. All the kids that grew up with Harry Potter are all adults now, so I guess it's only natural. I expected it to be shorter, but I guess it's better this way- we all have more to read. I've only read a couple of pages in the underground so I cannot say if it's good or bad yet. I know the book has nothing to do with imaginary worlds, adventures or magic. In fact, it is quite the opposite. I know it wouldn't be as marvelous and amazing as the Harry Potter story, either. It is an ordinary book about ordinary people and their ordinary lives. But I am eager to read it anyway.
Because I know the storyteller won't disappoint me.
I am sure that this book will be criticized more than usual. And I get it. But the name Rowling doesn't necessarily mean magic. It means a good read and I am sure this book would be just that.
Let me know if you're reading it, too! I'd love to hear what you think about it!

Lazy Sunday

Sundays are for waking up late and drinking bubble tea in bed. Sundays are for long movie marathons and healthy snacks in between and snuggling with loved ones. And for projects, too - we don't want to get too lazy.

My Sunday is peaceful. I learn German, then I play with alphabet stamps and plan on new diy projects, then I learn some more German. I listen to nice music, doodle in my journal and I welcome autumn with enormous amounts of tea, both bubble and latte. School starts in a couple of days so I take my time to enjoy myself. I know that soon enough I will be surrounded by German books about stuff I don't understand in my own language but I am excited because I know it would be fun. Learning is always fun. 

In the meantime, I will spend my days daydreaming about roadtrips, trying new recipes (I'll get the hang of cooking sooner or later!), reading (J.K. Rowling's new book is out! Eeek!) and, of course, drawing.

I wish you a peaceful Sunday and a great week! Take time for yourselves and do what you love.  xx

Things that make me happy.

A quick illustration I did about the things I enjoy in life. 

Hm, I guess one sheet isn't enough. But it's a start. 

The Perks Of Being... Dexter

Dexter loves to snuggle and is always polite. Sometimes he gets a little too excited when it comes to walks outside but it's alright: he loves the outdoors. He is interested in chasing cats not because he doesn't like them, but because he wants to make friends. He is shy and always waits for someone else to make the first move. But he is romantic, too, always ready to share a stick he has found or his toy, just to impress a lady.

Dexter's hobby (aside from reading) is... sleeping. Although he has his own, he often falls asleep on somebody else's pillow. Sometimes he likes to sleep on books, too. I guess he's a true bookworm adventurer.
Funny fact about him is that his nose changes colours. It is usually dark brownish, but during winter it gets pink. The resemblance with Rudolf the reindeer is amazing.

Dexter loves to try out new things: food, hobbies, dance steps. He's a little sceptic at first, but soon gets the hang out of things. He likes to listen to the piano and sings along, although he's a little afraid of trying to play himself. He likes to dance, but he gets bored a little too soon. Oh, and he's very good at playing hide and seek, too. A real partystarter.
We've been inseparable the whole summer. Running around, playing in puddles, taking pictures or just watching TV. Today he got a little upset when he saw me packing suitcases again. I'm leaving for Vienna tomorrow and I will see  him only on camera. I guess I'll have to play in the rain alone till December. But oh well - I've got many memories and pictures to keep me warm! :)