Turns out I almost skipped spring completely this year.
Turns out I didn't knew the trees were already starting to bloom until I finally made it for a walk, a walk longer than my short hop to the supermarket.
I did, however, know about daffodils, but only because I can see them from my window.
I also do know all about a healthy lifestyle - not all maybe, but certainly enough to be at hand when advice is necessary.
And still, more and more I realize that this faculty is probably the greatest health hazard I've ever come across, and I'm slowly getting tired of it.
Sleep deprived, starved out and and exhausted, I decided to pull the emergency break last week and put my notes aside for a while. Instead, I focused on a donation-box-background that was long overdue, because reindeer are just not the kind of animals that are around this time of year.
Checking the measurments of the donation box that I've given away for Christmas based on the box I have at home, I first cut the thick cardboard base to the right size.
Then I took ages to pick the background paper, and after going through several designs in my head, I opted for this soft pink one with a wonderful floral print in a couple of places. I cut it in a way that would keep the cherry blossoms in one corner, with the plan to place paper flowers on where the floral motif is.
Once this was done, I glued a sheet of soft pink background paper to the cardboard which would in the end look like a tiny pink frame to the scene I imagined.
Working on the patterned paper itself, I didn't cover the blossoms one on one though. Placing the paper flowers together, I rather decided to use the floral print as an additional layer of bloom in the background.
In the opposite corner, I placed a couple of paper flowers only. To make it look a little fuller, however, I glued a chipboard decoration next to the flower arrangement.
To make the "donation" sign more prominent this time, I put the silver stickers on a strip of white cardboard which I then glued to the same pink paper that makes the base of the whole project. To make it stand out a little bit more, I used 3D pads.
Also, I decided to not put any more flowers in the remaining corners - instead, I used a couple of silver feather stickers.
Since I decided to play with asymmetry for the sign, I placed three tiny white pearls in the pink corner.
To match those pearls, I later on decided not to put leafs in my scene.
Anyway, I added a little bling by placing white and soft cream pearls of different sizes in numerous places along the paper flowers. Partly, the pearls fit due to the fact that blossoms on the branches come before leafs in spring. On the other hand, it could just be the morning dew, or the reflections of the evening gloom.
Feather stickers in the upper corner, alongside with a white ribbon loop that ensures the decoration can be removed from inside the box once the seasons change. As everything was now covered in pearls, and considering the silver stickers, I decided to remove the tiny pearls I placed on the chipboard bows. Instead, I replaced them with shimmering silver rhinestones.
Bye-bye, reindeer background, and welcome spring! Nice to meet you.
A little contribution to the April collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.
Last years' pink blossoms in park Tivoli. I haven't made it there this year yet.
challenges:
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- a bit more time to craft: ATG
- allsorts challengeblog: spring flowers or showers
- basteltraum: mother's day/flowers
- brown sugar: pearls/mother's day
- cardmania: spring
- crafting with an attitude: ATG
- crafty catz: ATG
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- create and inspire: ATG
- creative inspirations: springtime
- deep ocean: Easter/spring
- do-all kreatives: pastel colours
- fussy and fancy: add a sentiment
- inspiration destination: ATG
- kreativtanten: ATG
- little red wagon: shine (gemstones, silver stickers)
- love to craft: ATG
- moving along with the times: springtime
- path of positivity: pastels
- pennys papertake: ATG
- scrapping4fun: spring
- crazy challenge: spring
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- unicorn challengeblog: ribbon
- wortartwednesday: ATG
- worldwide open design team challenge: ATG
Another summer weekend, another sight of the sea. This time, I opted for a rather short trip to Trst/Trieste with a hike along Napoleon's Road, which I think turned out to be way better (or, at least, very different) from the Rovinj experience.
Sunshine and blue skies can only mean one thing - what a beautiful day ahead!
Since the first part of the panoramic path is lined by trees, it meant I could still enjoy the shade for some time. Soon, however, the first views began to open up...
... The city in the bay - a blooming harabour in the old Habsburg times, it now gives the impression of a Sleeping Beauty.
Blue skies, blue sea, and a lovely breeze that makes the summer heat bearable. At the same time, not feeling heat doesn't save one from sunburns. Learning from the past and applying protection, however, does - 1:0 for me this time.
Turns out the Napoleonica is not only beautiful for its vews towards the sea, but also up to the rock walls that are popular among climbers.
Nevertheless, my priority remained finding a quiet spot to admire the big blue :)
And talking about views, a noteworthy opportunity would be taking a path towards Vedetta Italia, a platform above the actual road.
View towards the city, Monte Grisa sanctuary in the foreground.
Off to the sea! Turns out there is a ferry that runs along the coastal towns in the vicinity of Trst during the summer months. Just a little more and we'd set sail from Sistiana/Sesljan towards our daily destination.
Duino/Devin castle in the vicinity. The Rilke trail that goes from Sesljan towards the castle would certainly be a nice one to walk someday, however, our little ferry boat soon took off in the opposite direction.
Miramare castle above the Adriatic sea, with castle Duino in the background.
Another view of the Monte Grisa church...
... and already, we'd near the harbour of Trst.
After a short introduction on the main square, we were free to go on our individual discoveries.
Church of St. Mary next to the old city center...
... remains of a Roman theatre nearby...
... the stock market...
... a lovely market of hand crafts...
... and proof that money can not buy everything. I wonder how many people asked though :)
On to the next program point: as if the heat itself wasn't enough by now, we'd walk up the hill to the cathedral of St. Justus. The interesting merger of two different churches that were built side by side between the 9th and 11th
century resulted in an asymmetrical facade that hides both Romanesque and Gothic elements alongside with beautiful mosaics.
The not-so-old and not-so-nice monument next to the church...
... the beautiful inside...
... and the sweet reason we had to wait to enter in the first place.
Past some more Roman remains, our next stop would be the castle of St. Justus.
Greeted by Mikez and Jakez (because, how horribly can you change an originally Slovene name?), it was time to discover the ancient halls, as well as the huge viewing platform.
Slowly but surely, as the sun was preparing to set, the city became immersed in a glowing light, and the breeze that came from the open see would make one want to fall asleep in a hammock.
From dreams to reality: heading home again. I guess know I really need to renew my Italian skills.
