Tuesday, December 29, 2015

wilder mann - folk rituals in europe

Somehow European culture - the folk and rituals part of it - is in my genes. 

If I had time I would spend most of my days doing research on this particular cultural field. What I love about this pre-Christian culture is the leading role for nature and the cycle of life. 

Filling up my 'celebrate' board on Pinterest I came across these pictures taken by French photographer Charles Fréger for his book Wilder Mann. Fréger visited 18 European countries, photographing people performing ancient rituals. They dress up as savages, devils, bears and goats to celebrate the seasonal cycle, fertility, life, and death.

This book is an important European document. Not because I think that ancient traditions should be preserved at all costs. But it shows us how people gave and still give meaning to their simple daily life in a very personal and authentic way.  Maybe it can encourage us to invent our own beautiful rituals that suit the modern times we live in.


Wednesday, December 16, 2015

christmas: 8 easy peasy projects - DIY

All I want for Christmas is...TIME! Just some little spare time to do a few small craft projects. Maybe more because of the meditative part of the crafting itself than for the stunning result. However, when I see these lovely easy peasy projects I found on Pinterest I might go for the results as well! 

From top left: 
  • For small houses, a flat wall-hanging christmas tree. www.domino.com
  • A complete advent village, cut and built in a few hours. www.abeautifulmess.com 
  • And my own free printable christmas lights, they were on my blog a few years ago, I still kind of like them. You can download them here: last-minute-christmas-lights 
  • Completely my cup of tea: a paper cut christmas wreath. www.fallfordiy.com
  • What about this easy wool bulbs? You can make wonderful variations with different kinds of wool I think. www.sinnenrausch.blogspot.es
  • If I can lay my hand on pine pipecleaners somewhere (never heard of before!) I will definately make these pine-snowflakes! www.camillestyles.com
  • I would love to make 10 small versions of this cranberry wreath/crown to decorate the plates on the christmas table with.  www.papernstitchblog.com
  • 'Words on the wall' version 2.0: moss-sheet letters! www.themerrythought.com

Wednesday, December 9, 2015

loena - magical glowing patterns in the dark


You might know them already, these Loena lanterns by Nathan and Tineke from the Dutch Design brand Ontwerpduo. I bought the lamp about one year ago and forgot to blog about it. In the meantime they have been designing dozens of new incredibly beautiful things (amazing glas pendant lights for instance). But I had to start somewhere catching up with my blogposts!
Besides: I love my Loena lamp, especially switched off, it makes me not want to leave the room, because of the magic that happens in the paper as soon as it gets dark. 

I love Ontwerpduo's dreaminess, their nostalgia and the fact that every one of their designs could be a prop in a beautiful fairytale. 

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

my autumn on insta

I guess September and October are my favorite months of the year to spend in nature. The fading colors, the fog in the morning, the sunrises... I tried to capture it during my morning walks and posted the pics on Instagram.
The gift (wrapped in paper and tags I designed for Ompak) was for my mother's birthday. She is heaving a hard time, seperated from my dad and in a nursing home. As for the autumn flowers: I bought 2 identical bunches, one for my father and one for my mother. Tried to connect them this way.
I received a lovely gift from a colleague/friend (last row, first pic). She produces these fantastic scented soy candles with pure etheric oils. This one has Basil as its ingredient, and it spreads a very subtle, refined 'small' scent in your home. I've become a big fan of LOCHT!