In the air again

I thought of skipping Christmas completely this year, but since the holidays included a two-week break from practice (yay!) I thought I might take a few days off to head home. However, as my sister would be busy during this time, and she kept on begging for some company, I had no other choice but to figure out how to get to Düsseldorf as quickly as possible. 

Given the distance, the only acceptable option was to grow wings. Or use those available. Unlike last time, the trip to the airport was really smooth, and I managed to get from check-in to the gate in 10 minutes only - one of the (few) advantages of a small international airport.

Turns out our plane was already being prepared. Meet Adria's newest addition: Vesna.

Disadvantages of small international airports: little traffic and not much going on. One of the few visitors that day, the airline with the Swiss cross.

Ready to take off, Triglav in the background

What a lovely view after days of fog and cold

Climbing towards the Alps, Krvavec ski resort bathes in sunshine

A peek towards Austria - Carinthia is one big pot of fog

Mountains as far as one can see

Happy between heaven and earth :)

As close as I'll get to a white Christmas

Somewhere over the rainbow

Cloudy weather seen from above

Wind turbins - a clear sign you're in Germany

Not exactly the clear blue sky, but at least there was no sign of turbulence that was promised by the captain prior to take-off :)

On the cloudy layer, in the opposide direction of the sun... Could it be a glory phenomenon? Not as clear as the one pictured by Skypointer, but thanks to the blogging pilot I knew instantly what I was looking at :)

Descending over Frankfurt

The airport's numbers are impressive, but only its appearance makes you realize how huge it really is. Obviously, the place must be every AvGeek's dream.

First sight before touching down, the world's largest passenger jet

Little Vesna seemed like a chicken in comparison, and being parked far from the main terminal it meant we'd drive through the area for quite some time. On the other hand this would include a free, close-up airport tour. 

Na svoji Vesni :)

The Queen of the Skies

Sunset over FRA. The tranquility of the place airspace is deceiving as there is none.

Pre-Christmas roof cleaning.

Given the airport is perfectly accessible by public transport, including long-distance trains, it was only a delay that made me miss the opening sequence of Hänsel and Gretel at the Duisburg theatre. 

Turns out I could easly become an opera lover - a wonderful acting performance, fantastic music, great scenery and the best evil witch one can imagine. Nothing comes close to my little sister being part of the Deutsche Oper an Rhein, though :)

A little contribution to the gallery of skies at Raumfee.

~ to be continued ~

A different kind of Christmas

Hard to believe, but it looks like between recovering from practise (i.e. sleeping most of the weekend) and packing before visiting my sister I managed to create another Christmas card - probably the last one for 2015.
It's a different kind of Christmas card, but so is this Christmas. 

When I visited my aunt in Vienna, it was the first time I've seen masses of refugees sleeping on the streets around the main train station. I can never imgagine what they've been through and what lies ahead for them, but certainly life is something that can turn upside down in a moment. As if losing everything wouldn't be enough, being faced with hate and suspicion everywhere you go is something nobody should ever experience. 
Then, one day my aunt showed me a text that has spread in the social media recently: 

The Christmas story

without Arabs

without Jews

without Africans

without Palestinians

without refugees

is a story of an ox and a donkey.

It might be fun at the first sight, but I think it brings the message across very clearly. Who are we to lock our doors and celebrate the miracle of Christmas, which in its central part is the story of a young family having no place to go?

As I've been thinking about how to use it on a Christmas card, another viennese memory came to my mind. During a mass in St. Stephen's cathedral that was celebrated by different nationalities living in this wonderful city, and Francesco Montenegro (archbishop of Lampedusa) as a special guest, lifebelts were brought to the altar during the offertory procession. 
I thought of using the image of a lifebelt in my Christmas card, too, but then decided to go with the abstract version of it, using red and white punched flowers. Definitely not your typical Christmas wreath, but then again, neither is this Christmas.
In the center of the circle, I put the Christmas story sentiment. 

Around the text, I places a silver sticker, which I combined with a shimmering gemstone in each of the flowers.

For the background I used part of a map that came from my favourite copy shop.

chalenges: 
- craft-alnica: wreath
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- as you like it: favourite Christmas colours (red and white - red because it's a Christmas classic that can never go wrong, and white because Christmas isn't "real Christmas" to me as long as there's no snow outside)
- christmas cards all year round: keep it simple
- crafting from the heart: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- creative card crew: ATG
- deep ocean: ATG
- holly jolly christmas challenge: ATG
- that craft place: ATG
- the glory of christmas: ATG
- through the craftroom door
- tuesday throwdown: ATG
- word art wednesday: ATG
- papertake weekly: fave challenge ever (ATG)

CAS in brown

Are you in Christmas mood yet? 
Honestly, I didn't yet have time to think about anything like Christmas as I've been busy with University Monday through Friday from early morning (eeeek!) til way in the afternoon. Turns out surgery can actually be interesting, and exceptionally, there is no sarcasm in me saying so. 
However, the daily routine meant I didn't get to do any housework during the week, and barely some on the weekends. 
I did rush through the decorated city center a couple of times, but I'm not a shopping person normally (except of the crafting stuff) so I didn't quite fall for the crazyness going on in this oh-so-peaceful time of year. I won't be decorating anything myself either as I'll go visit my sister for the holidays, and I haven't baked anything as I had no time. 
Sounds like there has not been and wil not be much of Christmas for me this year.

The only Christmas-related crafting anything I did was making a couple of Christmas cards. Today's CAS card in brown will probably be one of my last creations for this year.

I made it using a brown wrapping paper with an old scripture which I placed on brown cardstock and attatched on the card with 3D adhesive pads.

In the end, I punched a couple of snowflakes and decorated them with white pearls. As I didn't include any Christmas related image or decorations, the cad might as well fit for any other winter occasion - a winter birthday probably?

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- gem of a challenge: ATG Christmas
- basteltanten: ATG
- christmas cards all year round: keep it simple
- crafting from the heart: ATG
- crafty calendar: let it snow
- crafty cardmakers: snow
- crafty gals corner: ATG
- craftyhazelnutschristmaschallenge: ATG as long as it's Christmas
- craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper
- deep ocean: ATG
- holly jolly christmas challenge: ATG
- inspiration destination: ATG
- crafty calendar: let it snow
- pennys papertake: ATG
- pile it on: ATG Christmas/winter
- the glory of christmas: ATG
- through the craftroom door: ATG
- tuesday throwdown: ATG
- use your stuff: Christmas time
- papertake weekly: winter birthday

Colourful pots

Amaryllis. When we were children, dad used to have quite a number of flower bulbs that were in wonderful bloom each winter, and sometimes even during the year. 
They were in full bloom when my sister was born, using all the space there was on the windowsill of our living room. I can't remember where the most of them ended up through the years, but a magnificent red one stayed with us year after year, never disappointing with its blossom.
It was there from the very beginning as it was among my parents' wedding presents. It was in bloom each year around the time spring turned into summer, 25 years in a row. It was in bloom one early summer day when dad passed away and made a wonderful home-made bouquet on his coffin. After that, big changes were made in every aspect of our lives and the faithful amaryllis bulb disappeared. 
For the next couple of years, I always had some flowers around, but I somehow avoided amaryllis - until I had the sudden desire for them last year. I've seen some bulbs in the local supermarket and decided to give them a try. They came in simple industrial clay pots I wanted to remodel, but I never took the time. The flowers bloomed and faded, but the pots remained as they were when I brought them home. 
Finally I decided it was time for change. Using acrylic paints and napkins, I covered them in new colours, each pot in a different style. In each of them, the principle stays the same: small napkin motifs matching the colour of the upper part of the pot.

Milk coffee brown with Asian motifs

Yellow with tulips

Green with clover and daisies

Red with hearts

I seem to have bad luck with my flowers laterly, so I'm not sure whether the bulbs will survive this winter, but as long as they bloom (or just stand there in the colourful pots) they are a very welcome change to the cold, grey weather outside.

As I've never used napkin decoupage on clay, I was a little worried about the result, but it turned out just fine. The paint needs a layer or two more than if it was used on wood, and that's about it. Time for the blooms to come!

A little contribution to the gallery of Christmas projects & happenings at Lotta liebt blau.

challenges: 
- 613 avenue create: ATG
- basteltanten: ATG
- crafty gals corner: ATG
- inspiration destination: ATG
- pile it on: ATG Christmas/winter