tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50921466372386491972012-02-16T09:48:30.660+01:00Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.comBlogger4091100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-51381168535053908862010-09-29T14:14:00.002+02:002010-09-30T13:27:32.522+02:00

I've moved... Come and find out what I've been up to over at Pampelmuse and Me

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-40408734177348929442010-09-01T07:54:00.004+02:002010-09-01T07:58:09.271+02:00

So, my exciting news is that... I'm on the move!   Yep, I'm chaging blogs.  I've been thinking about this for a while, partly because I wanted to change my design, but also because I wanted my blog name and blog address to match.  And now my email address matches too!  I wasn't really sure how or when to do it, but when the 365 Challenge materialised I decided that it was now or never.  So now it

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-46802782466057843282010-08-31T06:43:00.001+02:002010-08-31T13:27:26.067+02:00

On my last fleamarket visit I picked up this cool 1950s footstool with the hope of giving it a new life with a change of fabric.  I even managed to find the fabric at the same market - although when I bought the stool I had no idea what I was going to cover it with.  In amongst some sheets I found an old hessian mail bag from the former West German Postal Service.  I've never upholstered anything

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-10666731530783513402010-08-30T07:41:00.002+02:002010-08-30T09:00:09.885+02:00

This weekend was the 'Lange Nacht der Museen'.  Two times a year all of Berlin's museums are open until 2am.  Each museum has it's own program of music, talks, tours and activies and one ticket gets you entry into all. It's a great night - the museums are packed and there are free shuttle buses to drive you around to the different museum areas of Berlin.  We ended up staying in one place and

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-40830173214573195612010-08-27T08:49:00.001+02:002010-08-27T08:51:44.579+02:00

It's been a funny old week.  The weather has definitely turned to autumn.  Not sure if it's the weather or not, but I've felt unbelievably tired, a little bit frustrated at work (but after much discussion on Wednesday - after the "bad" Tuesday - I think this might be improving) and I've felt a little uninspired in terms of my blog and taking photographs.  Everythings been hit with a bit of

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-61417436558683485632010-08-26T08:13:00.008+02:002010-08-26T09:40:33.421+02:00

The first cup caresses my dry lips and throat, The second shatters the walls of my lonely sadness, The third searches the dry rivulets of my soul to find the stories of five thousand scrolls. With the fourth the pain of past injustice vanishes through my pores. The fifth purifies my flesh and bone. With the sixth I am in touch with the immortals. The seventh gives such pleasure I can hardly bear

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-3441387296827908452010-08-25T06:54:00.025+02:002010-08-25T08:16:47.054+02:00

I had a bad day yesterday.  One of those days that should be relegated to the backwaters and forgotton about forever.  Nothing went right.  I left work frazzled and fried, contemplating how I was going to approach things differently so that I can keep turning up to work and not feel like I'm banging my head against a wall.  I dragged myself up stairs to our apartment feeling just a tad sorry for

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-36391100751833498082010-08-24T08:18:00.012+02:002010-08-24T08:18:00.219+02:00

I've had a few people ask me how I blend my photos so I thought I'd put together a small tutorial for anyone who's interested.  I should qualify this by saying that I know very little about the technical names and so some of the names I use are bound to be wrong.  A lot of what I've learnt has come from trial and error and reading around the internet.  I also did a wonderful introductory

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-44610922182887285032010-08-23T08:47:00.000+02:002010-08-23T08:47:03.758+02:00

I'm back from a long weekend in Brighton, UK.  I'd like to say it was purely a happy, weekend jaunt, but unfortunately most of the weekend I was stuck in a fairly run-down Hotel for a conference.  Nevermind, the weather wasn't particularly inviting outside anyway - english summer at it's best!  When I did manage to get out between the rain showers I was a little disappointed with what Brighton

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-8375847636322117902010-08-19T10:16:00.033+02:002010-08-19T10:16:00.187+02:00

There is another sky  There is another sky,Ever serene and fair,And there is another sunshine,Though it be darkness there;Never mind faded forests, Austin,Never mind silent fields -Here is a little forest,Whose leaf is ever green;Here is a brighter garden,Where not a frost has been;In its unfading flowersI hear the bright bee hum:Prithee, my brother,Into my garden come!by Emily Dickinson This

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-66357202602901629662010-08-18T09:03:00.001+02:002010-08-18T09:19:09.644+02:00

Back in July I signed up to Tillie from 'she waits for whispers' photoswap.  The instructions were easy - send your partner 24 photos.  That's it.  An easy-peasy-Japanesy swap perfect for a photo lover like me. Last week I received these lovely photos from Allison - a collage student at James Madison University.  It was so much fun to look through her photos and learn a little about her life in

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-86291574911931444712010-08-17T08:40:00.014+02:002010-08-17T08:40:00.218+02:00

This week Christina from Diva's and Dreams has us thinking about food.  I love food, in fact there's not many foods that I don't like.   I love stone fruits, cherries and strawberries in the summer but as soon as autumn comes I'm lusting after figs and chestnuts.  In winter I love homemade soups and roasts and in spring it's asparagus and fresh greens. Anyway, it should come as no suprise that I

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-45182565093622075582010-08-16T08:03:00.002+02:002010-08-16T08:03:00.286+02:00

Thank you to all the well-wishes that were sent regarding my homesickness.  I am feeling much better now after a lovely weekend spent cooking delicious food, taking photographs and even doing a little bit of painting.  I took these photos on Friday night and wasn't really sure about them initially.  I ended up processing them to give them a retro feel and quite like how they turned out.  A bit of

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-23491745236245902602010-08-13T21:14:00.004+02:002010-08-13T22:28:39.442+02:00

Image from weheartit: JeanJeanie Yesterday I was homesick.  It snuck up on my while I wasn't looking and completely suprised me.  Nearly bowled me over in a shower of tears at a meeting at work.  Not a great look really.  I had to excuse myself to the bathroom, stand in front of the mirror and talk myself out of bursting into tears.  I've never done that before (stand in front of a mirror and

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-86147113214944227632010-08-12T15:45:00.007+02:002010-08-12T15:45:00.195+02:00

There are lots of things that our house doesn't own.  Funny things that would normally be considered essential items for a house.  We don't own a TV for instance.  We don't have a microwave and for now, at least, we don't have a kettle.  This little sauce jug is my kettle.  I think I inherited it when I first moved out of home.  A long abandoned pot that had been relegated to the back corners of

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-6838949945966220242010-08-12T08:59:00.022+02:002010-08-12T08:59:00.502+02:00

This week Madeline Bea provided the prompt "raw".  I ended up using a poem by Charles Bukowski.  I've read quite a bit of his work during the year and I tend to find it a little, well, 'raw'.  He tackles some interesting themes in a pretty confronting manner.  But I decided to take a big breath and use his poem this week - the mixed-media picture used the poem as a springboard.  I played around

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-29206206207392355982010-08-11T10:39:00.001+02:002010-08-17T11:15:38.692+02:00

Edit: I'm in Brighton, UK for the next few days and I decided to be a bit sneaky and use a previous post for my 'Arts 'n Craft' entry over at Ramblings and Photos.  Oh, and I'm serious about needing the knitting pattern!Back in January I promised Matthias a knitted vest.  He chose the pattern from Rowan Knitting for Him, a fairly poorly named book in my opinion, but it happens to have some lovely

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-47635471207690623472010-08-10T20:41:00.001+02:002010-08-10T20:42:32.689+02:00

This is one of my favourite pictures from my trip to Den Haag earlier this year.  A business man zipping up the small streets of Delft on his way to work.  I love the contrast between modern and medieval with the old guildhall in the background. For more entries into 'on the road' check our ramblings and photos

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-82845883688842035192010-08-10T11:55:00.001+02:002010-08-11T12:47:30.068+02:00

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-5609492584500171542010-08-10T08:00:00.003+02:002010-08-10T08:00:02.540+02:00

This week the "this is who I am" challenge is all about hair and hair flicks.  This photo isn't particularly recent - it was taken at a wedding I attended in Australia back in November last year, but it's a pretty accurate depiction of my hair at the moment.   I  have thick hair.  Really thick.  It's thick enough that throughout my life hairdressers have always commented on it.  Without fail. 

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-24927409966219106382010-08-09T08:00:00.012+02:002010-08-09T09:17:08.186+02:00

On Friday night Matthias and I had an 'American date'.  We ventured to a new 1960s themed American Diner for burgers and chips and then followed it up by going bowling.  It was the perfect date for a rainy night in Berlin.  The burgers were authentic, even down to the fairly awful coleslaw on the side. The best bit by far was the delicious vanilla milkshake I had in one of those cool glass

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-10507718371967800712010-08-06T09:17:00.001+02:002010-08-06T09:22:28.639+02:00

I found this beautiful video on Wednesday on mati rose's blog.  I'm not usually one for sharing videos, but this is wonderful.  I've just spent two weeks alone in Berlin while Matthias was in Vienna for work.  I had a lot of time to wander the streets, visit coffee shops and become totally inspired by the thoughts and possibilties that are allowed to blossom when you have time alone to nuture

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-33982154913450721302010-08-05T13:02:00.062+02:002010-08-05T13:02:00.379+02:00

Yesterday on my way home from work I stopped at Volkspark am Weinberg to have a look at the small flower garden there and was amazed to see how many bees were still working hard in the late afternoon sun.  I had in mind to take a few pictures of the flowers with the light at different angles. I'm trying to practice taking pictures 'lit from the back' and 'lit from the front' and understand how

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-89391111549941985752010-08-05T09:10:00.001+02:002010-08-05T09:11:08.484+02:00

This week over at Madeline Bea's 'Sunday Creative' the theme is "shapely".  Thanks to this prompt I have discovered this week that there is a whole genre of poetry that revolves around 'shaping' your poems to reflect the contents of the prose.  I like this idea and it gives the poems an extra dimension and a bit of fun.   The image that follows is really just a bit of fun.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-57046631168710932010-08-04T08:54:00.000+02:002010-08-04T08:54:35.241+02:00

My youngest sister is a bit of a foodie.  She has a brain built for food and remembers events based on what was eaten that night.  Want to remember what you ate at a particular restaurant a few years ago, ask and she'll probably remember.  She'll also remember if you liked it or not, which is handy if you go back and start to order the same dish - she'll fill in the gaps and see you right.  She's

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-10820495430589429832010-08-03T11:42:00.000+02:002010-08-03T11:42:54.366+02:00

I've been stalking a few artists on Etsy today in search of inspiration, ideas and techniques for my next mixed-media piece.  So far I've been doing all my work using photoshop, but I love the way these three artists have combined photos, paint and digital manipulation to create some wonderful pieces.  I'm slowly starting to amass quite a large collection of bits and pieces of paper from paper

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-51988868925496165332010-08-02T09:21:00.000+02:002010-08-02T09:21:00.739+02:00

This is one of the few photos I have which is framed in our house.  We have a wall of photos in the kitchen, but they're really just happy snap-shots and quick family photos that remind us of friends and family.  I keep meaning to print out a few photos and frame them like this one - I even thought about doing it this week for Divas and Dreams Creative Challenge - but it is something that has

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-84956349970091473232010-07-31T22:06:00.000+02:002010-07-31T22:06:31.480+02:00

A little while ago Britni from Antika Moda gave me this award.  She has a wonderful blog and etsy shop full of vintage finds and some wonderful hand knitted goodies.  If you don't know her already I encourage you to check her out. Okay, some rules for the award:1. Thank the person who gave you the award2. Share seven things about you3. Nominate 15 newly discovered blogs4. Let your nominees know

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-36276589596409739352010-07-30T08:02:00.001+02:002010-07-30T09:01:54.484+02:00

I got the idea to make relish recently when I realised that they don't stock any form of chutney or relish in German supermarkets.  I love relish and I'm secretly hoping that this relish, some jam and a few other preserved "tastes" of summer will keep my spirits up this winter when fresh fruit and vegies are reduced to potatoes, onions, apples and pears (I'm exaggerating slightly, but if you

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-52589637870507806112010-07-29T07:59:00.013+02:002010-07-29T07:59:00.145+02:00

Morning (Love Sonnet XXVVII) Naked you are simple as one of your hands;Smooth, earthy, small, transparent, round.Your moon lines, apple pathways, Naked you are slender as a naked grain of wheat. Naked you are blue as a night in Cuba;You've vines and stars in your hair.Naked you are spacious and yellowAs summer in a goldern Church. Naked you are tiny as one of your nails;Curved, subtle, rosy,

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-42378119743751473912010-07-28T08:02:00.001+02:002010-07-28T09:29:19.707+02:00

Our little balcony garden has grown so much since this photo was taken two months ago.  Look at it now.Basil, sour lettuce, peppermint, rosemary and olives and over in the another corner we have figs and tomatoes.It's been so exciting watching everything grow over the summer.  We've been picking the rosemary for ages and adding the sour lettuce to salads every now and then, but I hadn't had any

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-40553614961379054882010-07-27T09:03:00.000+02:002010-07-27T09:03:00.636+02:00

I really love Berlin's architecture.  Especially the some of the newer parts that were built post-1989 when the wall came down.  One of my favourite buildings, in particular, is the Hauptbahnhof (main train station).      It's one of the busiest train stations in europe with trains arriving on 4 levels at all times of the day.  It's an exciting place to wander around, especially at the moment

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-29914211348130814042010-07-26T08:30:00.002+02:002010-07-26T09:11:24.275+02:00

On Saturday I took part in the Scott Kelby Worldwide Photowalk.  It was a bit of a last minute decision  (I registered at 10pm on Friday night).  I umm'ed and ahh'ed about the whole thing and nearly backed out but I'm really glad that I ended up going.  I learnt some new tricks, met some photo-people who live around Berlin and the best part was that I managed to navigate the whole day almost

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-89194409917013219212010-07-23T08:38:00.001+02:002010-07-23T08:38:00.912+02:00

I'm still searching for the perfect summer salad that requires minimal cooking for hot summer nights.  Last week I think I came close.  It's this - Mango slaw.  I'm not much of a "slaw" person - but this one is good.  The cabbage is crunchy, the mango sweet and the onion gives the whole salad balance.  Next time I think I'll go for slightly firmer mangoes which keep their shape once cut.  When I

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-36538210161611539502010-07-22T14:00:00.002+02:002010-07-22T14:39:51.927+02:00

One more photo from the weekend in Copenhagen.  This week's theme for You Capture was black and white.  I took this photo of Nyhavn from a watertaxi on our way to Halvandet.   Nyhavn was one of the last ports in central Copenhagen to be gentrified in the 1970s.  It's now pretty much over -run with touristy restaurants, but if you squint your eyes (or turn your photo into B&W) it's as if time

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-8165730668151849852010-07-22T01:09:00.005+02:002010-07-28T22:27:36.060+02:00

This week Madeline Bea's prompt was traditional.  Keeping with "my tradition" albeit short-lived, I started with a poem - a traditional sonnet.  My mind immediately wandered to "shall I compare thee to a summer's day", but since this is supposed to be about me exploring unknown poets and poetry I kept searching.  Ebenezer Jones' High Summer was the answer. No mixed-media image this week.  The

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-30318031836961653932010-07-21T12:06:00.003+02:002010-07-21T12:06:00.260+02:00

I might have been slightly misleading about there being no photos of me from the wedding on the weekend.  There were a couple but the only one deemed blog-worthy was this one and I was saving it for Divas and Dreams Creative Workshop challenge.  Week three is all about celebrating your emotions.  The task was to think of the one emotion that takes up most space inside you, which feeling is the

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-26868356392068358102010-07-20T21:04:00.001+02:002010-07-20T21:06:04.842+02:00

Photos from the wedding as promised.  The ceremony started at 3pm, dinner bagan at six (four courses and seventeen speeches!) and by midnight we were dancing in the old barn to a fantastic band from Copenhagen.  Supper was served at 3am (!) and although I didn't make it to the end, there was apparently a soccer game at 6am just before the last revellers turned in for a few hours shut-eye before

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-72521653925291651822010-07-20T07:00:00.001+02:002010-07-20T23:19:10.391+02:00

This is the photo that Kim edited as part of Stay-Cation this week.  Thought it was only appropriate for it to start off my sneak-peek of K&K's wedding.  Even more so as it was taken in April when I was at another friend's wedding in Tuscany.  Pop over to Kim's blog to see a before and after of the image.  Kim is an incredibly inspiring blogger, artist and photographer - her blog was one of the

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-11910359389952620382010-07-19T23:37:00.001+02:002010-07-22T10:05:12.299+02:00

Just back and ready for bed, but before I go a few photos from the weekend.  Copenhagen was wonderful.  Perfect weather, a wonderful wedding and a chance to catch up with friends I haven't seen for over a year.  There was plenty of drinking, gossiping, eating and general merriment - so much so that looking back at my photos from the weekend there's a lot of happy snaps of people mid-sentence,

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-72315326794459358772010-07-19T08:35:00.000+02:002010-07-19T08:35:00.384+02:00

Happy Monday!  I'm in Copenhagen having a long weekend, attending a wedding (yippee!) and generally having a delightful time.  Hopefully I'll be back tomorrow with some photos to share.  In the meantime, here's some etsy love for you. A couple of days ago I was looking through etsy and I came across "Belle and Boo", a beautiful shop run by artists Mandy and Kate.  They currently work out of

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-34672786117498943002010-07-16T08:51:00.002+02:002010-07-28T22:28:23.672+02:00

Thanks for all the suggestions about my crochet dress on Wednesday.  Much appreciated - unfortunately I think there is no going back with the dress.  No matter what belt and which-way I try it, it just looks frumpy.  Better luck next time... Beside there are much more exciting things happening this weekend.  I'm off to Copenhagen this morning. Yippee!  A friend is getting married this weekend in

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-62200433998204866292010-07-15T10:07:00.001+02:002010-07-15T10:07:00.492+02:00

Vehicles of all shapes and sizes, but all of the miniture kind.  Found at what is fast becoming my favourite flea market in Berlin - just across the way in Freidrichshain.  I had grand plans to take all sorts of pictures of vehicles this week, but the heat got to me and I ran out of time.  This one's a little on the grainy side - showing the limitations of my camera in not the greatest of light.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-61088017457793127522010-07-15T08:06:00.007+02:002010-07-28T22:28:03.479+02:00

The Bridge by Russell Edson In his travels he comes to a bridge made entirely of bones. Before crossing he writes a letter to his mother: Dear mother, guess what? the ape accidentally bit off one of his hands while eating a banana. Just now I am at the foot of a bone bridge. I shall be crossing it shortly. I don't know if I shall find hills and valleys made of flesh on the other

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-54147562927959234412010-07-14T08:08:00.001+02:002010-07-14T16:29:26.315+02:00

Not so long ago I posted about how I was planning on turning some simple t-shirts and dresses into beautiful crocheted masterpieces.  I crocheted with fury and if truth be told I'm actually quite pleased with how the crochet turned out.  I then bought what I thought was a cool shift-dress from H&M - it's only problem (or so I thought) was it being a little on the transparent side.  No problem, a

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-52971995835610244902010-07-13T08:48:00.001+02:002010-07-13T08:50:29.652+02:00

This week over at Diva's and Dreams our challenge was to think of two positive aspects of our personality and one negative aspect and play with them in photos and words.  For more details visit here. My words were:QuickPassionate Peppery What I most love about myself if that I'm passionate and quickWhat I most hate about myself is that I'm peppery Now a sentence with them all together: A quick

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-74963048891595760942010-07-12T08:32:00.000+02:002010-07-12T08:32:00.697+02:00

Germany has been experiencing somewhat of a heatwave in the last few weeks.  After the coldest winter on record we seem to be destined for the hottest summer.  With no air-con in the apartment, we, and almost every other Berliner headed for the water.  We cooled off, played cards, read the paper and I even got some knitting done.  It almost felt like we were on proper summer holidays and not just

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-54553434090507678922010-07-10T10:27:00.000+02:002010-07-10T10:27:00.035+02:00

Earlier this week Denalee from Silver Strands gave me this "going places"  award and then yesterday Mandy's Yellow Corner presented me with  the "sugar doll" award.  Thank you, I'm very chuffed! Having never received a blogger award before, to get two in a week has made feel awesome.  Thanks ladies! In the first award you have to write about where you'll be in 10 years and in the second,

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-35382176296341716292010-07-09T09:18:00.001+02:002010-07-09T14:47:02.806+02:00

It's been a pretty crazy month around our house with visitors coming and going, sickness, a hot house, the world cup, frazzled brains from the heat and frayed nerves from, well, everything.  So last night Matthias and I decided to unplug, unwind and chill out together.  No soccer, no computers, no phones.  We picked up a simple picnic of bread, cheese and ham from the supermarket, grabbed a

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-3737173247251830862010-07-08T08:58:00.001+02:002010-07-28T22:28:59.941+02:00

Preface to this post: These photo's were taken while watching the world cup quarter final where Germany beat Argentina 4-0.  The post was written just before I watched the semi-final lastnight.  I was convinced that Germany would win.  But it was not to be.  Last night, Germany lost the semi to Spain.  This morning the city is moarning.  Literally.  Ah, well.  Better luck next time, huh? German's

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-70684079556200176812010-07-07T08:28:00.004+02:002010-07-07T12:14:54.340+02:00

Little Boy Blue by Eugene Field (1850-1895)   The little toy dog is covered with dust,    But sturdy and stanch he stands; And the little toy soldier is red with rust,    And his musket moulds in his hands. Time was when the little toy dog was new,    And the soldier was passing fair; And that was the time when our Little Boy Blue    Kissed them and put them there.  "Now, don't you go till I

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-61377459886421576782010-07-06T08:03:00.000+02:002010-07-06T08:03:00.297+02:00

This is who I am is a creativity workshop hosted by Christina of Divas and Dreams.  I actually found out about it from Lemontines, who is following a similar path to me at the moment discovering photography, mixed-media and also has a soft-spot for knitting.  A girl of my own heart.   This week's challenge was to capture your personality in objects and write about it.  Hmm, tricky.  And yet as I

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-13899844690523754292010-07-05T08:12:00.001+02:002010-07-05T08:44:23.042+02:00

Dinner, soccer, lakes, ice-cream, watermelon and beer.  Pretty much sums up a delicious weekend.  Friday night I ended up cooking a Zuchinni and Ricotta galette from Smitten Kitchen.  Perfect recipe for a hot evening, the only challenge being making the pastry without the butter melting required putting the pastry into the freezer to 'cool-off' every five minutes.  And thanks to all the helpful

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-35449384063703447942010-07-02T11:38:00.001+02:002010-07-02T11:39:40.939+02:00

It's seriously hot here folks.  Summer has hit Berlin and it feels so good to be able to leave my apartment in the morning with just a whisper of a cool breeze knowing that we a destined for another day of blue, sunny skies and summer-y goodness.  The one downside is that our apartment is kinda hot.  Hot enough that I don't really want to be cooking over a hot stove tonight and we're planning on

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-55065463296038967312010-07-01T13:30:00.000+02:002010-07-01T13:30:00.821+02:00

I feel like my neighbourhood was just made for this week's theme.  A quick stroll around the 'hood capturing all the different chairs out on the nature strip.  In the end it was hard getting it down to only five (!)

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-91316509687486201502010-06-30T21:45:00.000+02:002010-06-30T21:45:33.368+02:00

Whoo-hoo!  My sister is in town for the week.  She received word that she'd passed all her uni exams and hot-footed it onto a plane and arrived on Monday night.  As well as bringing lots of hugs and boundless energy she packed in her bag the latest edition of frankie.  If you don't know frankie I highly recommend you check it out.  I've spent the last few hours devouring every, single page of

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-46271724415333660192010-06-30T11:25:00.000+02:002010-06-30T11:25:49.807+02:00

I'm a bit obsessed with frills, ruffles and bows at the moment.  I'd love to be able to wear a cute summer dress with ruffles and bows, but sadly I think it would just look silly.  Or at least, I'd feel silly wearing them.  But on a bag?  On a bag, I could definitely do.   All found on etsy.by Bay an Hippoby Peace lovn Polkadotsby Davie and Chiyoby Bay an Hippo

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-68656085296617679712010-06-29T07:09:00.001+02:002010-06-29T09:14:00.518+02:00

Summer has finally arrived in Berlin!  I'm soaking up the heat and loving the street life, made all the more exciting by the World Cup.  Germany played on Sunday, did you see the game?  I think half of Berlin saw it sitting out on the street, drinking beer and eating ice-cream.  Next weekend - Germany vs Argentina.  It's going to be a big one...

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-7335812190136437492010-06-28T11:42:00.000+02:002010-06-28T11:42:13.981+02:00

Anyone who has been reading my blog for a while will have noticed that my interest in photography has grown exponentially since I moved to Berlin.  I've always liked photography, but this year it has grown from a passing interest into somewhat of a passion.  I'm almost never without my camera, you know, "just in case".  As Matthias sits down to watch the world cup, I sit down to edit photos,

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-16991289702765459722010-06-28T08:00:00.002+02:002010-06-28T10:28:54.327+02:00

Firstly, thank you to everyone who read my post on Friday and commented.  I feel like I should say something else more eloquent or prophetic but everything I write sounds insincere or a little false.  So instead I'll just leave it at 'thanks'.  It meant a lot. This weekend we received a delicious (and edible) package in the mail from Vienna.   A Sacher Torte!  I had no idea you could sent

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-14574016585346081592010-06-25T11:59:00.001+02:002010-06-25T12:00:48.432+02:00

Health, or ability, in this case is a strange thing.  You never really appreciate it is there until it's not.  I suppose this is the case with most things, but somehow it seems all the more so with health.  You take it for granted.  It is.  It always has been.  And mostly, you think, it always will be.  And then, quite unexpectedly, it disappears and all of a sudden your left with a gaping hole

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-67308265666176501072010-06-24T12:04:00.001+02:002010-06-24T13:25:33.121+02:00

These beautiful, white flowers are carpeting our balcony boxes this week.  Each bloom lasts only 24 hours - by morning they are finished.  Close-up, and from below, they remind me of curtains blowing in the wind. If you're interested in seeing what everyone else has been doing this week, follow the link.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-43462729094801392842010-06-24T11:39:00.001+02:002010-06-25T14:41:16.383+02:00

Image: Comic Coverage Yesterday Australia swore in it's first female Prime Minister.  Julia Gillard, welcome to the top job.   I heard Julia Gillard speak once, long before she was deputy or shadow anything.  She was good.  She'd done her homework, knew her audience, understood our issues.  She stood out from the other politicians.  I liked her.  First impressions tend to stick and I think

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-82472447858778605712010-06-24T08:00:00.000+02:002010-06-24T08:00:01.704+02:00

To see the Summer Sky, by Emily Dickinson To see the Summer Sky Is Poetry, though never in a Book it lie -- True Poems flee --  This photo reminds me of the clouds you see in the big masterpieces hanging in the galleries around europe.  Big, stormy, summer skies framing scenes from the Spanish Conquesta.  Photography, poetry, paintings. sigh.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-86195004349687973162010-06-23T08:40:00.004+02:002010-06-24T09:23:44.280+02:00

"Feeding Time" Based on some very nice comments on my blog, conversations and overwhelming pats-on-the-back, I decided to have another play around with mixed-media.   This time last year I was preparing to move to Botswana.  I was to spend a year there doing research with a celebrated research group.  I was pretty stoked about the opportunity and while quietly cautious about how it would 'be',

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-55233295307290097592010-06-22T08:13:00.000+02:002010-06-22T08:13:00.844+02:00

I thought I had well and truly left my crochet mojo behind with the potholders, but it seems that it's back.  You see, I've seen a few crochet "adorned" clothes popping up here and there in the shops this summer.  Every time I  see them, I hear a little voice in my head saying "You know, you could make something like that.  You could buy a plain t-shirt and crochet a few bits and pieces , sew it

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-67878267570389164492010-06-21T08:30:00.001+02:002010-06-23T08:44:00.956+02:00

Such a lovely, sleepy weekend filled with watching football, playing petanque and drinking beer in the shady beer gardens that are filled with soccer fans at the moment.  With another loss to Australia this weekend, I'm thinking about jumping on the German bandwagon.  What do you think?

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-87349388642378901982010-06-18T08:53:00.000+02:002010-06-18T08:53:43.980+02:00

Translation : Thoughts are Free A quiet post this morning.  This weekend there's more World Cup watching planned, drinks and dinner with friend's from Vienna, brunch on Sunday and a bit more resting before I start back at work again on Monday.   The photo is completely unrelated - a little bit of meditation to take you into the weekend.  

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-65855139520175161752010-06-17T15:32:00.001+02:002010-06-17T16:28:26.133+02:00

The Berliner Dom (Berlin Cathedral) quietly sits on the banks of the Spree.  Like so much of Berlin it is an enigma.  A catholic-looking church of baroque style, built by protestant Kings, with state money, for an evangelical congregation.  It was supposed to be a counter-point to the Vatican's Basilica, but I think more likely, built to surpass with the magestic New Synagogue built by Berlin's

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-61596938680455980912010-06-17T08:38:00.000+02:002010-06-17T08:38:00.181+02:00

Blue Wings, bu George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) Warm whisp'ring through the slender olive leavesCame to me a gentle sound, Whis'pring of a secret foundIn the clear sunshine 'mid the goldern sheaves: Said it was sleeping for me in the moon, Called it gladness, called it joy, Drew me on 'Come hither, boy.'To where the blue wings rested on the corn. I thought the gentle sound had whispered true

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-1047227571532982952010-06-16T14:58:00.001+02:002010-06-16T14:59:27.912+02:00

Berliners, I've realised, like their seasonal fruit.  A couple of weeks ago it was all about Beerlitz Spargel (White Asparagus).  Every "turk" (seven11) and grocer worth his while was selling Beerlitz Spargel; every restaurant and pub has a special 'Spargelkarte'.  Now it's the strawberry.  These cute little stands have been popping up everywhere selling locally grown strawberries which smell and

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-6783162183513443152010-06-15T08:31:00.002+02:002010-06-15T10:46:11.409+02:00

First steps into the world of mixed-media.  I made this for a Danish friend's Hens weekend.  There's a lovely tradition in Denmark of everyone giving the bride-to-be a small gift symbolising thier friendship with her.  It's then up to the bride to guess which gift is from whom.  As a trial of mixed-media, I made this for her.  

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-56503300711555857552010-06-14T12:47:00.000+02:002010-06-14T12:47:20.792+02:00

Last night was always going to be tough for a little soccer nation like Australia.  After five minutes it was pretty clear that they were little fish playing in a much, much bigger sea.  They were out-maneuvered, out-classed and out-played.  And then Tim Cahill got a controversial red card. 4-0, game over.   Well, at least the Germans were happy.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-62893077576320951502010-06-14T08:41:00.000+02:002010-06-14T08:41:00.801+02:00

How was your weekend?  Mine was full of excitment, although not the sort you really want  - the bugs that have been camping out in my throat decided to throw the party of the decade in my ear.  They're a pretty rowdy bunch when they get going and the result was a perforated ear drum and a 2am trip to the emergency room on Saturday morning for pain killers and some antibiotics.  I'm hoping the

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-46598864096899935892010-06-11T08:00:00.001+02:002010-06-11T08:00:02.544+02:00

I have been pretty much out of action all week with a fairly nasty bug.  What started as a sore throat on Sunday night quickly morphed into a raging fire in my throat on Monday and by Tuesday I was stuck in bed.  None of this, I'm sure, was helped by me thinking rather delusionally on Monday morning that I wasn't too sick to travel to Heidelberg for a meeting.  Turns out that I was, but I went

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-44658734464421680332010-06-10T15:30:00.000+02:002010-06-10T15:30:00.125+02:00

This week's theme was "Fun".  This picture was taken while on a boat cruise around Berlin with my parents last weekend.  So double the fun - these kyakers were obviously having fun checking out the abandoned and now heavily 'tattooed' boat and I was having fun, hanging out with my parents on a beautiful Spring weekend in Berlin.  If you want to play along, here is the link. 

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-83703513260384181622010-06-10T08:46:00.000+02:002010-06-10T08:46:00.069+02:00

Count That Day Lost, by George Eliot If you sit down at set of sunAnd count the acts that you have done,And, counting, findOne self-denying deed, one wordThat eased the heart of him who heard, One glance most kindThat fell like sunshine where it went --Then you may count that day well spent. But if, through all the livelong day,You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay --If, through it allYou've

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-84022465093038036852010-06-09T17:26:00.001+02:002010-06-09T17:29:05.288+02:00

On one of the first lovely spring days in Berlin there's nothing better than a trip to Potsdam to visit the Prussian Summer Palaces.  Beautiful parks, fountains and stunning vistas at every turn.  Even the inside on the New Palace turns up some lovely suprises. Half way between the New Palace and Sans Souci is a lovely little Chinese Tea House - I imagine, if I were a princess living in these

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-27751657691680342222010-06-08T11:31:00.000+02:002010-06-08T11:31:52.404+02:00

The gates to Sans Soucci in January, and then again, last week.  Worlds apart and both equally magestic and beautiful.   I've come down with a nasty Spring virus that is making the world seem fuzzy and my throat feel like it's on fire.  I'm off to bed with Strepsils and a movie.  Will be back when I feel more human again.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-86264340699128256542010-06-04T08:30:00.000+02:002010-06-04T08:30:00.037+02:00

I stumbled across this blog and this post yesterday and even though I don't know Kate I was so taken by this story.  Kate's big adventure - absolutely magic.  A perfect way to begin your weekend.  Read it.  You won't be disappointed.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-58984958249758652002010-06-03T17:31:00.003+02:002010-06-04T08:16:36.234+02:00

Image: pepography (via the drifter and the gypsy) Eat Your Heart Out I've come by, she says, to tell youthat this is it. I'm not kidding, it'sover. this is it.I sit on the couth watching her arrange her long red hair before my bedroommirror.she pulls her hair up andpiles it on top of her head-she lets her eyes look atmy eyes-then she drops her hair andlets it fall down in front of her face.we go

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-86096563296263695562010-06-03T08:30:00.001+02:002010-06-03T08:56:28.188+02:00

I've decided to play along with You Capture - this week's theme "favourite shot".  This is my favourite from the weekend.  Matthias, caught at breakfast on Sunday morning.  If you're interested in playing along follow this link.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-62138139827640155362010-06-02T09:00:00.003+02:002010-06-02T09:07:03.313+02:00

I'm currently thinking about what my next 'creative' project will be and contemplating experimenting with mixed media.  It seems to be the perfect way to combine my love of paper, photography and vintage, as well as  sing up all the tiny bits and pieces of "things" that I tend to keep because I can't bare to throw them out.  There are so many great artists inspiring me at the moment, but here are

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-52116021373577447982010-06-01T08:30:00.003+02:002010-06-01T08:56:50.038+02:00

I keep meaning to post some pictures of my apartment but the weather continues to be terrible.  And, given that it is June - June(!) - I keep thinking "next week it'll be sunny", but it just keeps raining and now I have some fresh flowers which are begging to be photographed.  So here is one of my favourite little corners of our apartment. A little kitchen "nook", although even this makes it

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-12257108616775057922010-05-31T08:30:00.002+02:002010-06-01T08:59:42.569+02:00

It's tradition at my office for the birthday-girl/boy to bring in some cake or biscuits to celebrate.  Lastnight I quickly baked up some Anzac biscuits and had a little fun with my new birthday present - did you guess what it was?  Yep - a new Marco Lens for my camera.  I am totally smitten. Anzac Biscuits 1 cup plain flour 1 cup sugar 1 cup rolled oats 1 cup desiccated coconut 4 oz butter 2

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-26271090899831145522010-05-30T20:53:00.000+02:002010-05-30T20:53:07.299+02:00

Wow, what a great weekend!  The sun shone on Saturday - perfect weather for a guided bike ride through Friedrichshain and Kreuzberg and then an amazing dinner at Ma.  A four-course degustation menu with Champagne and German Reisling shared with Matthias, Clare and Shane. Yum!  And today, completely spoilt with gifts, flowers and lots of love.  Can you guess what one of the presents was? The last

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-21880093725451726422010-05-28T09:01:00.001+02:002010-05-28T10:52:41.510+02:00

I love my ride to and from work.  It takes me past the memorial to the Berlin Wall, parks, shops and some of my favourite cafes.  Although it's only a short ride, it helps me wake-up in the morning and un-wind in the afternoon.  Yesterday I took some quick pictures from my bike so today you all get to come with me on my ride home from work. Home!  Which is just as well, as those clouds look

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-36398792091682418962010-05-27T08:00:00.003+02:002010-05-27T08:05:46.100+02:00

Narration  by Emily Dickinson An altered look about the hills;A Tyrian light the village fills; A wider sunrise in the dawn;A deeper twilight on the lawn;A print of a vermillion foot; A purple finger on the slope;A flippant fly upon the pane;A spider at his trade again;An added strut to chanticleer; A flower expected everywhere;An axe shrill singing in the woods;Fern-odours on untravelled roads;

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-33116196108704777982010-05-26T09:00:00.000+02:002010-05-26T09:00:00.460+02:00

I have a love-hate relationship with Berlin's street art.  There's a slightly wild feeling to the place - graffiti everywhere - some of it's breath-takingly beautiful but most of it's just plain ugly.  I know all big cities have graffiti, but there seems to be more of it here and I sometimes wish there was less of the tagging and more of the art.  Perhaps I could convince Miso (Stanislava Pinchuk

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-14860443926998658312010-05-25T15:35:00.000+02:002010-05-25T15:35:00.400+02:00

Today, by all reckoning, seemed to be one of those days where I should have stayed in bed.  Matthias finally complained about me always getting to use the bathroom first and taking too long.  I knew it was coming, but I was secretly hoping that he enjoyed making me tea and waiting while I finished drying my hair and putting on my make-up before he took a shower.  No such luck.  Tomorrow it's his

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-20239136718251017632010-05-25T09:00:00.000+02:002010-05-25T09:00:08.248+02:00

Birthday week - yippee!  It all starts tomorrow when two friends, Clare and Shane, arrive for a week of sight-seeing in Berlin, and of course, to celebrate my birthday.  Matthias has been asking me for a while what I want to do and I keep answering with different (but equally delicious) plans - bike-riding around Kreuzberg, picnic in the park, massage, pedicure, champagne on the Spandau canal,

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-49191183236987818662010-05-24T11:16:00.000+02:002010-05-24T11:16:00.259+02:00

Our new tea set, found at the fleamarket.   I think it's probably circa 1970s.  It's in wonderful condition - no chips or scratches on any of the pieces (4 cups/saucers, teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl).  I was so excited about it and the fact that it was sunny again this morning that I set up breakfast on the balcony.  Perhaps a little wishful thinking on my behalf because as soon as I took this

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-38606248819435405792010-05-24T08:59:00.001+02:002010-05-24T10:01:24.015+02:00

Finally a weekend with some sun.  So nice after weeks and weeks of rain and cloudy skies here.  We made the most of it and went for a bike ride on Saturday and explored some more parts of Berlin.  All the gardens have gone crazy with all the wet and you can almost see the plants growing.  Yesterday we checked out another fleamarket.  Such great finds - we'll definitely be back to buy some (more)

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-29440710573186903562010-05-22T16:12:00.000+02:002010-05-22T16:12:28.183+02:00

Pictures from my trip to The Hague.  I stayed in Delft - a short 30 minute tram ride from The Hague and fell absolutely in love with the quiet village feel with canals and blossoming trees everywhere.  And there was sun!   Vermeer painted some of his most well-known paintings in Delft (The Girl with the Pearl Earing is in the Delft Museum).  Unfortunately all the shops were shut when I was had

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-65684979508008788922010-05-21T09:00:00.000+02:002010-05-21T09:00:00.951+02:00

Exhausted after 3-day trip to Den Haag - thankfully it's the weekend.

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-24681101096679907792010-05-20T08:30:00.000+02:002010-05-20T08:30:00.640+02:00

Let Me Be Mad! O incomparable Giver of life, cut reason loose at last!Let it wander grey-eyed from vanity to vanity.Shatter open my skull, pour in it the wine of madness!Let me be mad, as You; mad with You, with us.Beyond the sanity of fools is a burning desertWhere Your sun is whirling in every atom:Beloved, drag me there, let me roast in Perfection! - Rumi

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-87605752704071924832010-05-19T08:12:00.001+02:002010-05-19T08:15:08.321+02:00

Ever since I was little I've been obsessed with maps.  I am terrible at reading them, but I love looking at them.  I especially love vintage maps, and everything vintage map inspired.   In my fantastical dream house, I'd have a library with an open fire and a big globe you could spin, plus half a dozen or so maps on the walls.  A-hem. When I dream, I dream big!  In the meantime I'll just oogle

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-73204581975520386542010-05-18T08:30:00.002+02:002010-05-18T08:30:00.403+02:00

This week it's all about what I want to still learn.  Because learning is never done and there is so much more I want to master - some things are big, some are small... 30. Ride a motorbike29. Chop vegetables "like a pro"28. Sew27. Grow Bonsai trees26. Play the Guitar25. Tango and Salsa dancing24. Understand internet code23. Master manual mode on my camera22. Backgammon21. Fair isle knitting 20

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-59670578256564205912010-05-17T08:30:00.005+02:002010-05-17T08:30:00.906+02:00

I love fast food in Berlin.  Here, it tends not to be MacDonalds or KFC, but Curry Wurst and Donar Kebab.  Curry Wurst is my favourite.  It's basically a nice sausage, cut into bite-sized pieces and served with curry sauce and a bread roll.  Yum!  For 2 euro a pop, you can't really go wrong! 

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5092146637238649197.post-50308115716448580362010-05-17T08:30:00.002+02:002010-05-16T21:05:32.217+02:00

A wet and miserable weekend wasn't the best way to introduce Berlin to a toddler, but we still managed to see Brandenburg Tor, Alexanderplatz, The Holocaust Memorial, East Side Gallery, waited a very, very long time in the line for the Pergamon and finally got to eat at one of my favourite Vietnamese Restaurants in Prenzlauer Berg.  We also shared a delicious "adult-only" meal in Gendarmenmarkt

Clare Bhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01283236740297246220noreply@blogger.com3