Sunday, July 28, 2013

Decorate Your CD Box

Referring to Jo's post about the washi tape box, I made my CD box a bit prettier. After having a pretty productive and creative day, I figured I could post at least a part of it.
It's not difficult, doesn't take a lot of time and makes a pretty decorative contribution to you room.

All you need is

the ugly CD box
washi tape / masking tape
scissors

done.


You pick out your colors you want to use and start sticking until you like the outcome. I started with the sides and then figured wash-ing the top would be cool too.
I like it and it made my shelf a tiny bit prettier!

               

Sunday, July 21, 2013

DIY: Bracelets

I made some fun ice-cream-colored bracelets today...

Really easy.

Buy some leather strands in your favorite jewelry material store or other craft store.
Definitely take more than one color and take about 2m per color - that way you'll definitely have enough for more than one bracelet and some extra.

You'll also need specific clasps and jump rings that look like this before they are used:


Then you need to measure around your wrist. I just used the leather itself and took three strands at a time. Clasp them together at both ends, insert the jump rings and of course a closure and you're done! Fast and easy and perfect for summer!


Sunday, June 23, 2013

Places to go to in Hamburg (2)

Elbtunnel - the old tunnel in Hamburg. Today it's mainly a tourist attraction and not used very often. You can still go down there in a car but most of the time it's used by pedestrians and bike riders. The lighting down there is great. And it's definitely worth a fun visit!

Musical - well...I've been to broadway, but haven't gone to a musical here. I really want to go - anyone want to go with me? ;)
I think it's an extra special thing to do here because you get over there by taking the boat. So you have a little extra anticipation time.

Fischmarkt - gotta go there after a night of partying and being happy. It's so fun. Especially when you're in a large group of a couple of people.

Miniatur Wunderland - it's supposed to be amazing. It's German für "miniature wonderland" (wow, big surprise there, haha). There's basically a gigantic mini-landscape with trains, trees, people and everything you usually have in a model railroad kit - just in an amazingly big amount. Haven't been there but it's on my to do list. Just not all the way at the top.

Planten un Blomen - yeah. Well I've been there. And lost my phone there while writing postcards - funny story. It's a pretty park in the middle of the city with all kinds of flowers and plants (translation from Hamburg-German to English: plants and flowers). Great place with a little lake/pond, places to sit and things to see. Need to go back there again soon. And watch my phone carefully. (Luckily it was still on the bench where I lost it last time :) )

Maritime Museum - I'm not quite the museum type but I really need to see it some time...Someone want to go?

Speicherstadt - a really beautiful part of town (but only at night) Very old. Its translation is "storage city". This is where they used to store all the goods that came to Hamburg from all over the world by ship. There are still some in use. For example the tea and coffee storage. But lots of them have been altered into business locations or even apartments. The lights at night with the reflections in the water are really great.

Dom - biiiiig carnival that's here a couple times a year. For really long. I was surprised how often they are here for over a month! They have pretty much everything a carnival needs. Slow rides, fast rides, crazy rides, food....


Pictures are going to be up by the end of the week!

Monday, June 17, 2013

Craft Stores

After posting my favorite fabric stores I will now post my favorite craft places and suppliers.

Before I came to Hamburg I always thought - "Wow, I think Hamburg is the most crafty place in Germany!" It is.

First of all: The place I went to three times in December: Porzellanfräulein.
Paint your own ceramics, have a great comfortable and realxing afternoon there. Read my post to see more!






Then the place where I've been twice in the last three weeks: Nuena.
Paradise for bead and color lovers. I'm telling you: They have every single bead you can think of. And you can also spend an afternoon in their little store. There's always good music and a calm environment you can work in really well.
This is what I made on a spontaneous trip to the store: Necklace.







idee. Craft store. They have pretty much everything one can need. A very little amount of expensive fabrics, washi tape, cardboard, paint, decoration, wood materials...told you so: everything. I love going there just to have a look...sometimes I even make it out without buying anything. Woohooo!






...and then I found another really cool craft store at a mall that's pretty far away from my house. I was like "well they couldn't have built it another place, huh?" Well..someone heard me. Because a month later I saw a sign in the mall next to my boyfriends house saying "Panduro. Opening in March" I was like "Ooooh yeeeeeeeah!"

Monday, June 10, 2013

Places to go to in Hamburg (1)

Since I've been living here for 10 whole months by now (which is amazing and absolutely unbelievable) I thought I'd share some more information on this city.

I love the phenomenon that is reconfirmed over and over again: You barely ever visit tourist attractions in the city you live in. And if you do it's mostly not for yourself but for guests that are visiting from a different place. You plan trips and realise you haven't been to most of the places yourself.
Luckily I came to Hamburg before I lived here. That way I saw a lot more things than I would've otherwise...

So this is a list I compiled from different sources on the net while looking for the most well-known and most popular attractions. Some of them I have seen, been to or done, others I haven't. And most of those I still want to see...(People: Visit me! ...one person in specific and you know who you are! :( )
Hamburg Dungeon - A little bit too spooky for me. Sorry, but I can't ;) I'd be screaming nonstop, might hit one or two people and probably wouldn't be able to sleep for the next two to three weeks. Not happening.

Hafencity - Been there more than once and it's pretty cool. By day it's definitely best to go when the sun is shining from blue skies - it makes the buildings look amazing. But if the weather isn't good it's worth it to go by night. All these expensive houses, buildings and apartments have great lighting. They really put a whole lot of money in there.


Harbor tour - Fun boat trip, totally touristy but also used by the locals as fast transportation seeing that you can use it with your public transport ticket for Hamburg. It goes all the way to the docks and back to "Blankenese" which is one of the most wealthy parts of town.


Strandperle - One of the oldest bars in the city - haven't been there myself - but definitely planning to do so. Oldie but goodie! Facebook page

Dialog im Dunkeln - Museum about the dark, blindness and experiences life without light. Amazing exhibition, definitely a To Do for people visiting Hamburg. I did it back home in Frankfurt and it was great!

Reeperbahn - Also called "Kiez". Want to see the second heart of Hamburg? Go here. It's the only place in Germany where you have bars, clubs, pubs and other night-activity things (you're not forced to see these - I didn't either ;) ) in a radius of 1 km. Fun for a night out - especially if you like to party. (I've only been there 4 times or something like that...)

St. Pauli - The district where "Reeperbahn" is ;) It leads up to the river and has a cool beach bar: StrandPauli

Michel - Hamburgs main church with a platform from where you can see Hamburg from above in a height of 82 meters. Need to go there soon to finally have an "overview" of the city :)

...so this is the first part of my Hamburg To Do List. The second part with annotations for the grid will be coming soon!

Monday, June 3, 2013

Projects

I actually managed to fulfill some of my goals in sewing. I was productive. Can't believe it. Each time when I look at my best friends' blog I feel bad because she is so much better at the whole blogging thing. But this time a achieved something. Not everything but at least I started. (A little credit there, please)

Here are my outcomes. I might even get some tutorials done. (I case anyone reads it and is interested...)


Thursday, May 30, 2013

Stuff to Make (June)

A whole lot of plans, one summer. Or should I say two months? Not quite sure I'll actually make all these but I really do want to try. Starting today! (haha.)

bra for backless tops

sequinned hot pants

laptop case from a scarf

beaded and stitched skirt

cut offs

polka dot pants

wrap dress (maybe yellow, not sure yet)

navy skirt with white stripes

coral fancy skirt

dress from two scarves

bikini (either like this one... 

...or this one..

...or 
the dark blue one I've been
wanting to make forever)

layered dress inspiration
just that I want to make a top in 
light blue

...kind of like this one ;)

and finally make a workout shirt!








Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Goals 2013 - Update

So now that 4 months are over...I figured I'd revise my goal list and see which goals I actually reached. Well. I'd say, compared to the past years this year is pretty good. I remember them and at least try to reach them. Some, like the blogging, are less successful than others, but I am still working on all of them. Here is a little update on my goals 2013.

The blogging really seems to be the most difficult thing for me.

I haven't done a lot of pinterest tutorials, but I have started a whole lot of projects in sewing and crafting. So that counts halfway.

This is admittedly the one goal I forgot about. Maybe I'll try achieving it. But no promises there.

Save money. Well...I did :) And it went well. But it's probably easier because I have been earning more money lately.

That explains this point. I have been spending a lot. But it still works out with saving. So it's ok. My motto: What if something happened to me tomorrow. And if I had saved a whole lot of money and not have bought some things I wanted - it would be a total waste. Yes, save some money. But not everything :)

Be happy. Yes. Well it worked really well in the beginning. I had a little down time during the non-sunny days and some complications. But the weather has gotten a whole lot better and my happiness is increasing as well - YAY :)

Be thankful. Oh yes. I am. For everything. Every night I think about how very blessed I am to have everything I have. Thank You.

I have made people happy. And everyone I tell about my goal thinks it's a really good idea and appreciates my attemts. Especially my boyfriend. But since it's not supposed to be the same person who gets treated extra well....I had to find others as well ... ;)

I have tried out a pizza recipe. Pizza from scratch. It was real good! And I made broccoli soup and an awesome spaghetto cheese sauce...so I'm good there.

My apartment is becoming more comfortable every day. Now I even have a couch.

I want to start selling my pouches. I already cut so much fabric but I haven't sewn very much yet. Get to it!

And yes. The dresses. So many events coming up - I wanted DIY wardrobe. Haven't finished so many...need. to. sew.

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Fabric stores

I'm still alive, yes. I'm a really bad blogger, yes. I'm trying hard - please give me some credit for that.

After living in the Big City for what? 1..2..3..4....oh wow - 9 months already?! I thought it was time I posted some of the stores I get my material from...

I've shopped a whole lot these past few months and here are some fabric stores in Hamburg. Some of them I've been to, others are still on my list.


The one I have been to the most is definitely the STOFFCENTRUM. Probably 

because it is closest to my office. They have a wide variety of fabric, but not as many different ones in one fabric. So you shouldn't go there in search of specific fabric. They frequently vary their products and displays. So everytime you go there it looks different and they have new stuff, some of the old stuff is gone, etc. You never know what you'll find the next time! Their prices are low, so that's a big plus for me! The fabric ranges from fleece, to wool, to cotton and furnishing fabrics.
http://www.stoffcentrum.de/
Mon-Fri 10 am - 6 pm
Sat 10 am - 2 pm


The next one is amazing. It's really big and they have pretty much everything. I just discovered it a few weeks ago. It's close to my school - so that's good! The prices are okay...Not the cheapest, but if you keep looking, you can find something in your price range. The fabrics they have are mainly for clothing, furniture and sewing equipment.
http://www.mahlerstoffe.de/
Mon-Fri 9.30 am - 6 pm 
Sat 11 am - 4 pm 

Glückmarie is a tiny little store packed with all kinds of decor fabric. I'd say the fabric is mainly used for little things. They have all kinds of patterns in every color range. When I buy fabric there I want to sew new little pouches or things for children (bibs etc). They also sell things they sewed themselves including clothing and accessories.
 
Mon-Fri 10 am - 7 pm
Sat 11 am - 5 pm


And then the amazing fabric section in Karstadt. The first time I went there I stood there for about five minutes. Speechless. Then I think I spent 1 1/2 hours there in total. Looking throught all the fabric. Sheer fabric, thick fabric. Fabric in uni colors, fabric with patterns. Fabric for clothing, fabric for little projects. Seriously. They have everything. Definitley going back there.

http://www.karstadt.de/jsp/filialen/hamburg-moenckebergstrasse.jsp
Mon-Fri 10 am - 8 pm
Sat 10 am - 8 pm



 




 and all of these I haven't been to. They are on my To-Go-To-List ...







   
 
Stoffgeschäfte auf einer größeren Karte anzeigen

Sunday, March 10, 2013

Summer Inspiration

1 - grey shirt with fake gem stone application. 2 - anchor shorts. 3 - crossed bikini back. 4 - ruffled bikini top. 5 - diy bandeau top. 6 - rope sandals. 7 - bow top. 8 - bra to bikini top. 9 - peplum shirt. 10 - bow sandals

Saturday, March 9, 2013

Dessert: Raspberry Meringue







Really easy and fast dessert - and the good thing: pretty much everyone will love it!
This is me shopping the ingredients: When you only have a bike - you gotta be creative about transportation ;)








Ingredients (this was enough for 4 people):

300g plain joghurt
500g quark
200ml cream
300g frozen raspberries (of course fresh ones are good too)
meringues
vanilla sugar
sugar
castor sugar




Mix all ingredients together - leaving out the raspberries and meringues - until the cream is whipped. (Or until the mixture isn't fluid and runny anymore).
Crush the meringues into little pieces and add half of
them to the mixture.

You can choose whether you want your mixture to become pink by mixing in the raspberries as well.


I preferred adding them before serving to still have a white mixture with (almost) whole raspberries. :) As you like.

sorry for the poor quality...
Have fun getting the compliments - everyone loves it

this is what it looked like "the morning after"