The owl animation

Saw this on Spanish television and thought it was cute!
There are more funny short stories with the pink owl on you tube.

Scribbler Too

Did you ever hear of Scribbler Too? Well, neither had I. But then I received a piece of art through swap-bot that was created with ScribblerToo. No, not the doodle on the picture here, that is me trying it for the first time. Go...check it out...get hooked.

Your fork is a powerful tool

Do you care about climate change? This is a movie you need to see. I was sceptic, I was biting my nails the first 15 minutes, but then it grabbed me and made me think. Us eating meat is the number 1 reason for climate change. 18%. Think about that. Meat the truth.

Art journal inspiration

Recently I discovered this blog that is a great inspiration for art journaling!

Bag with zipper for Moi!

Finally I made myself a bag. After making a few for others, I now felt comfortable enough to make myself a bag with the fabric I bought weeks ago.

And the big trick here was the zipper. Or should I say zipperS?

Boyfriend wrote a book

As you might remember, Boyfriend is on national Dutch radio every day. He is a co-host in the programme named Somertijd on Radio Veronica. All not very interesting if you are not from Holland probably, but this post needs me to introduce him.

Every day around 18:40 he has his own item where he tells a fact. And the fact is not always 100% guaranteed correct as he get's them from other sources...like...the internet. And we know the b*shit they write there. Take this blog for example.

Just kidding.

Anyway, the facts are mostly funny, not very important, but of high entertainment value. You ask what? An example? Are you sure? I am warning you. Okay, here it goes. Did you know you breathe in 1000cc of farts daily?

Sorry you asked yet?

Again, anyway, one day a publisher thought it would be fun to put all the things he collected over the 5 years he has been doing this together in a book. I am still not sure why, but it all came together in his book that is now for sale. And as you might understand, I have ab-so-lu-te-ly NOTHING to do with this. It's a guy thing I guess.

Eco bag

This bag can be used to go to the bakery, the supermarket for small groceries or basically for anything you wish to use it for. I made it for a swap called eco-bag and sent this one to Nancy. Guess what one of her favorite colors is.

To get the pattern for this shoulder bag, check this tutorial by Tiny Happy.

Lapswap!

This one is for the Dutchies only...

Op de blog van Knofje kun je je nog tot woensdag opgeven om mee te doen met het ruilen van 4 stofjes (50x50cm elk). Zij organiseert deze swap onder de naam Lapswap. Wel uiterlijk 19 mei insturen, dus da's al snel.

Hierboven zie je mijn inzending. Ik ben heel benieuwd welke stofjes er later op mijn deurmat vallen..

Dove wreath - A moment in time

Not the prettiest picture or the best shot in the New York Times project 'A moment in time', but sure one of the cutest.

Go here to see the earth covered by stacks of thousands of virtual photographs, corresponding in location to where they were taken at one 'moment in time' (15:00 U.T.C. Sunday, May 2)

Finally made it!

I wanted to have this from before I ever used a sewing machine. What is it you say?It is a great way of carrying a sketch book and some pencils around. I made it to take it with me on holidays and travels. My very own pencil cover.

Right after I took the picture above, the pencil fell out. And to avoid that ever happening again, I made small pockets to keep them in place.
I am so happy with this! And then to think that LittleZ has it on her blog as a free pattern...

This sure was an ascension day well spent.

Passport cover

Why are passports always looking as dull as they do on the outside?

For that reason I hosted a passport cover swap on swapbot in our Dutch group. I made this cover for Mirjam to personalize her travel document. I learned a lot again sewing this. With every project I make a mistake and learn from it. And with every project I like sewing more and more.

Sunshine Award

"The Sunshine Award is awarded to bloggers whose positivity and creativity inspire others in the blogging world."

I am sure you have seen this award going around in the blog world. It goes so fast, I was awarded twice in a day! *blush* Jennifer and Jennifer (really 2 different people, I promis) gave me the award. Click their names and check out their blogs for inspiration if you like. Thank you lovely girls!

An award usually comes with a few rules. Only 5 requirements here.
1. Put the logo on your blog within your post. Check!
2. Pass the award on to other bloggers.
3. Link to the nominees within your post.
4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and the link to the person who gave you the award.Check!

And the award is passed on to:

1. Artful life : Sandra makes very VERY pretty photo's.

2. De Nieuwlaatjes: This is my sister who keeps a blog about her family. Since we live about 1.5hr drive away from each other, I am very thankful for that! And not to forget, she ROCKS as a mom. Although going through a rough time right now, I am seeing her as a beautiful person.

3.Khris: Because she had the pattern to my first tote bag project.

Check them out as I am sure you will love their blogs.

Two more mandala items found

From Madrid I brought back this souvenir. As our house is all natural tones, this little one is a real eye catcher.

And this....ladies and gentlepeople...this item I found for 1,60 euro in a thrift store.

It is a sack to store items in I guess. But I loved the detailed mandala on it. Especially for that little price.

I guess that's all for now on mandala's. Can you tell I really like them? What gave it away?

My heart chakra in a mandala

heart chakra in a mandala
Originally uploaded by kimminita

Photo impression 1 day in Madrid

I liked Madrid a lot. It was TOO hot for the time of the year and I had a little problem adjusting to that (as in Holland we do not even get these temperatures in the summer), but I loved the city. It is friendly, clean, quiet (compared to Paris i.e.), everything in the center is walking distance and there is a lot of police in the streets. Of course that is because there's a lot of robbing taking place, but it gives you a feeling of being safe.

My colleague from madrid took me out for tapas and showed a little of the city by night. It gave me a good impression of Madrid and I will surely visit it again for a holiday in the future.

1. Madrid - Spain, 2. Madrid - Spain, 3. Madrid - Spain, 4. Madrid - Spain, 5. Madrid - Spain, 6. Madrid - Spain, 7. Madrid - Spain, 8. Madrid - Spain, 9. Madrid - Spain, 10. Madrid - Spain, 11. Madrid - Spain, 12. Madrid - Spain, 13. Madrid - Spain, 14. Madrid - Spain, 15. Madrid - Spain, 16. Madrid - Spain, 17. Madrid - Spain, 18. Madrid - Spain, 19. Madrid - Spain, 20. Madrid - Spain

Mandala's in Madrid

Madrid - Spain
Originally uploaded by kimminita

When I was in Madrid (for work) last week, I stayed in the beautiful Hotel Villa Real. They have their own art collection and it made my mandala loving heart beat faster! This is a 4th century mandala. Amazing to see.

Another mosaic with 2 mandala shaped figures in it. Over 1600 years old. Can you imagine?

And the diameter is over 1 meter. Makes me wonder how many people worked on this, how, how long and also....why? What is the story behind it? And no...that story is not on the piece of paper next to it. That just says how old it is and where it was purchased. In case you were thinking of out smarting Moi.

Romantic in Sevilla

Picture source inside the travel lab

Lover’s locks would be romantic to do when going to Sevilla in a few weeks. Heading out now. Have.to.buy.a.lock.

Surprise from Jennifer

Back in February, Jennifer blogged about sending her handpainted postcards to whoever was interested in getting one. As I love hand painted art, I immediately reacted. Jennifer responded by e-mailing me in March that she sent the card and that the post office people told her it could take up to 2 weeks. I waited patiently, we wrote about it, I forgot about it and then...it arrived last week! A month and a half after it was stamped. But, it was not just a card she sent! My goodness what a surprise package. I already enjoyed a cup of herbal tea and I am taking the sketch book to Spain end of the month. She gave me a hand painted bookmark which will be an item in her future Etsy shop. Very precious. And the handpainted postcard will get a pretty frame and place in my new corner in the attic we are currently re-doing. Thanks a million Jennifer. And once I can reach my mandala card box again after the construction works are over, I will send them to you.

Can't believe I made a Tote Bag

Seriously....I can't believe I managed to make a tote bag. But I did! Using this pattern by Khris. Look at me..proudly showing my very first tote bag. And I enjoyed making it a lot! It took me half a day in total. Looks like me and my bulky old sewing machine are finally becoming buddies. Okay, done showing off now. I have to wrap up the bag and send it to Patricia, my partner for the handmade tote swap on swap bot.

Queensday themed swap

On swap bot I hosted a swap with a Queensday theme. I already blogged about what I sent, but look at what I received!
Marieka got me a notebook for which she made this very Dutch cover. I think she did a great job. I love it!

Aurora Borealis

Today I ran into these pictures.






That is the Northern Light. Isn't it the prettiest thing ever? It makes me love Mother nature even more! The pictures were taken in Yellow Knife in Canada.



I received these beauties in my inbox but there's not mentioned who took the pictures.

Scientifically, the Auroras are produced by the collision of charged particles from Earth's magnetosphere, mostly electrons but also protons and heavier particles, with atoms and molecules of Earth's upper atmosphere (at altitudes above 80 km (50 miles).

However, the flickering curtains of lights, apparently dancing across the dark sky are an amazing celestial phenomenon that has amazed people for centuries.

The point about the Northern Light that makes me hesitate to ever go see it in real life? This

What did I say about loving Mother Nature? Well, she's a woman...and women can be .. fill out the dots as you please.

Queensday 2010

First of all: sorry for not posting for over a week! But my computer suddenly crashed and it took a while to repair it. My IT-manager (see the man in the picture) is also my fellow construction worker currently rebuilding our attic, my boyfriend, my weekend-cook oh and a DJ not to forget. But, he managed to get it all done! Well, the attic we have not yet finished.

Yesterday was Queensday in the Netherlands. Juri had to entertain people at the Light Square in Eindhoven for an hour and he did a very good job. I went along with my camera and tried to take some pictures to catch a little of the Queensday atmosphere. People dressed up in orange dancing and having fun in the streets. I love Queensday!