19 June, 2018

Pen storage

There were times I was constantly running out of pens, simply because I used to make loads of notes. Especially in the first years of University, when I was organizing notes into learning material, I would have my own notes written in one colour, adding sub-notes from one book with colour #2, sub-notes from another book in colour #3... Long story short told: lots of writing, lots of pens used up. 
Nowadays, I still scribble all kinds of notes on papers, but I prefer to prepare my learning stuff on my laptop which makes correcting and rearranging so much easier. Lots of writing, less of pens used up. I still had many pens disappear during my practise due to the fact that I never had a doctor return them after "just borrowing them for a sec", but I also accumulated many writing utensils as part of "welcome packages" at congresses or in form pharma giveaways at such events.

Until recently, all my pens were all over my drawer, but as I've emptied a box of cappuccino powder (which my coffee junkie sister claims is a sacrilege mere due to its existence), I put them all into the stable cardboard/metal tube to keep them organized. No decorations, not even a cardboard disguise, just a plain cappuccino box. 
Finally, however, I found the time to change this sight into something more pleasant. 
Ignoring the recycling instructions at the bottom...
... I wrapped it in a turquoise-shaded paper that came with a huge fairy print. Making sure I cut it in a way to keep the fairy away, I wrapped it around the cardboard base. Then, I covered the meeting edges with a leftover-strip featuring a butterfly which I placed on a layer of green cardboard with a punched border. For some time, that was about it, but then I decided to add tiny pearls onto the border ornament to make it a little more interesting. And as one set of them didn't seem to do the job, I filled the spaces in between with even tinier pearls. 
In the upper part of the tube, I concealed the paper edge with a tiny silver sticker...
... while the lower part is quite OK without it as it already has a silver border that comes from the metal bottom.
What I especially like about the paper itself is that it has a changing scheme of patterns and colours in pastel shades from green to purple and blue...
... and while the pens have a new home now, another cappuccino box is already waiting for its transformation.
A little contribution to the June collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
a bit more time to craft: ATG
butterfly challenge: M (butterfly, metallic, maybe a little bit of medium blue)
crafting with an attitude: ATG
crafty catz: ATG
craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
create and inspire: ATG
creative moments: ATG
inspiration destination: ATG
love to craft: ATG 
pennys papertake: ATG
through the craftroom door: ATG
wortartwednesday: ATG
worldwide open design team challenge: ATG

18 June, 2018

Simple beads

Just a quick post with a really simple project I made by recycling some old red and gold glass beads from my stash. 
Originally incorporated in two wristbands and a pair of earrings that came in a box of second hand jewelry I purchased online, I decided to tear the whole thing apart, wash the single parts carefully and re-string them on a nylon thread to create a necklace. 
For the clasp, I used a golden carabiner with a tiny chain that makes it possible to adjust the length of the necklace.
A little contribution to the June collection of Create in Austria - artwork created by Austrians and/or in Austria.

And as there isn't really anything more I could say about the necklace itself, I'll just attatch another glass work: stained-glass window from the basilica of St. Ludger in Essen.


challenges: 

- 613 avenue create: ATG
a bit more time to craft: ATG
crafting with an attitude: ATG
crafty catz: ATG
crafty gals corner: summer colours
create and inspire: ATG
creative moments: ATG
everybody art: recycle (old glass beads)
inspiration destination: ATG
love to craft: ATG 
through the craftroom door: ATG
- wortartwednesday: ATG

17 June, 2018

Jezersko & Savinjsko

Another weekend breakaway, this time towards the north. Our goal for the day was the region of the Kamnik-Savinja Alps - to be precise, Jezersko and its surroundings.
From my childhood days, I vaguely remember the area as an alternative route past the Slovene-Austrian border in case Ljubelj/Loibl pass was closed, but honestly, my memories mainly consist of driving through pitch dark, being sick from the numerous serpentines and puking by the roadside.
This time, however, an early morning drive would make sure I could soak up as much of the landscape as possible. Also, I realised that what seemed to be an endlessly long trip back then, is actually not that far away from Ljubljana. 
First stop of the day: Planšarsko jezero in Upper Jezersko. As the name suggests, the little lake fits perfectly between the green pastures that lie underneath the mountain ranges. 
The artificial pond that was created to remember the glacier lake that has disappeared long ago is nowadays a popular tourist destination, and a great way to end a hike in the area. Or, in our case, to start exploring the surrounding land.
And while the sun was already shining high on the grasslands...
... the nearby forest still offered some shadow and plenty of morning dew on every green thing by the roadside.
Not a morning person usually, but who could possibly insist on not being a morning person when "morning" can mean a view like this?
The creatures of the region are already awake, too. Among others, the most playful little guard dog you'll ever meet.
Next stop: Jenkova kasarna, a place that has offered overnight accommodation to merchants for centuries until it has been transformed into a display of old tools and equipment. Turns out graffiti aren't a new thing at all, and not an ugli one either.
Šenkova domačija - another old farmhouse, another blooming balcony, another little paradise in the middle of the green.
Marching back towards the little lake, the sheep have decided there has been enough of marching for the moment, and enough of sun for a while.
Church of St. Andrew by the roadside.
And off we go again. A quick sneak-peek to Austria via the Jezersko/Seeberg saddle, and back through the Pavlič pass that would eventually lead us into the Upper Savinjska valley.
Another by-the-roadside attraction, an exhibition on the work of prof. Srečko Brodar, who used to work in the nearby Potok cave during the 1920s and 1930s, bringing to light numerous animal remains as well as human tools from the Paleolithic. 
Is it time to go to bed yet? 
Not quite. A quick visit to the parish church of Radmirje and its rich collection of liturgical vestments, many of which have been presented by different European royalties.
And, with the evening sun low, the last thing on our menu: Gornji Grad resp. the huge episcopal church of St. Hermagor and St. Fortunat - who'd have thought that such a remote village would hide a church that is considered to be the largest one in Slovenia in terms of the volume of its interior?
Somewhere on the way back home. Numerous serpentines done, but no pitch dark and no puking.