Purple fields

Being well in the second half of March, it would seem appropriate to introduce this month's Fadengrafik Challenge, I guess. As we'll be marching into spring soon, that's exactly what we'd like to see on your stitched creations. No matter how you interprete the theme, make sure to use some paper embroidery on it and link it up for the chance of winning a cool prize again.

My inspiration card for the month was made in the middle of winter actually, but only lately I finished it off the way it looks now. Similar to the crocus card I made quite a while ago, I coloured the stitched motif with coloured pencils. I added a couple of pearls instead of stamens, however, I did'nt want to create an exact copy of the previous card. Therefore, I decided not to add any butterflies and keep the edges as they are. 

Still, I tried to use the same polka dot embossed paper in the back, but obviously the cards were different enough for the result to look horrible. So, even though the card was done I just couldn't seem to tick it off my to-do list. In fact, every time it came into my hands in the past couple of weeks, it gave me a feeling of not being finished at all.

In the end, I decided to demount it alltogether. I carefully detatched the stitched crocuses and mounted them on this green and violet spring background. Unfortunately, I didn't make any before & after photos to compare, but I certainly like this version a lot better. 

The card even got a new recipient in a dear person going through what I imagine must be an emotional roller coaster. Alongside with this little piece of spring comes the wish we'll be able to sort things out and make a new beginning, or just continue from where we got stuck a while ago. Because some people are worth keeping no matter what, especially if this includes the most wonderful, well-behaved and reliable guy one can imagine. 

A little contribution to the March collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria. 

Off to your patterns and yarns to get your projects done in time for our "Spring" challenge. 
For some more spring inspiration, fields of violet that are currently blooming on many green areas of Munich. Those are from Hellabrunn Zoo.

challenges: 
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- brownsugar: ATG
- crafting with an attitude: ATG
- crafty calendar: mum's day/special female
- creative moments: ATG
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- fussyandfancy: springtime
- friendship challenge: flowers
- glitternsparkle: use some green
- inspiration destination: ATG
- kreativtanten: ATG
- lovetocraft: ATG
- moving along with the times: handmade flowers
- ooh-la-la: spring is in the air
- path of positivity: ATG with optional twist "Birth of new beginnings" (friendship and/or more)
- pennyspapertake: ATG
- pinspirational
- scrapping4fun: recycling (stitched image)
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- wordartwednesday: ATG

CAS in green

Today, I'll post a very simple card to discontinue my blog silence ;)
Actually, rather than a card it was meant to be a gift envelope to get mom the 2017 highway vignette for Slovenia. Because without it, she'd list one excuse after another as to why she can't come visit me - from the vignette being too expensive to not knowing the local roads to go without it. As I had no time to prepare something really special and my main criteria was something flat enough to fit in a normal envelope, I ended up with this:

A very CAS card base made of recycling paper with a Google Maps print of the Ljubljana area. In addition to that, I only used a light green background paper with texture and two little green gemstones. 

On the inside of the card, I placed a strip of punched green texture paper that acts as a pocket for the vignette itself.

A little contribution to the March collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria. 

challenges: 
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- cardmania: pastel colours
- colour throwdown
- crafting with an attitude: ATG
- crafty calendar: mum's day/special female
- crafty cardmakers: for a special woman
- creative moments: ATG
- glitternsparkle: use some green
- inspiration destination: ATG
- kreativtanten: ATG
- lovetocraft: ATG
- pennyspapertake: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- wordartwednesday: ATG

Praha part VII - Blue skies

It's hard to believe how you can get attatched to a city - or distracted by it - in just a couple of days. All I can say about Prague is that it completely stole my heart and I will certainly want to come back one day, the sooner the better. 
For this time however, it was time to pack our things, drop off mom at the train station and head towards the airport. Making sure I wouldn't be late ended up in waiting, but in the end it was time to go.

And even though it seemed like there's nothing but grey above, the clouds started to dilute as soon as we were in the air. 

Czech forests and fields surely would make a great hiking holiday one day.

For the definition of "contrast", either buy a dictionary or board a plane ;)

As happy as an AvGeek can be...

Signs of winter

Into the clouds again

In between the clouds

Soboth reservoir

Dravograd

Almost home

Back to grey

Since mom refused to go to any restaurant for lunch/dinner due to her idea of Czechs ripping off tourists (despite me carefully checking where to go according to our daily program and recommendations), my where-to-eat-list is shortened down to buying chlebíčky in a local bakery and the most delicious hot chocolate I've ever tried at Ječmínek. Might explain why we ended up at their Můstek branch whenever we drove by with the metro, and even why we sometimes drove to Můstek just for the chocolate. Uhm. 
For other tips than that, I can only once again redirect towards the awesome info of Honest Prague Guide - the best guides any city may wish for.

~ the end ~