Corner View: White, or What To Do Over the Fireplace?

This week's theme is white. I like the idea of white. I like our white kitchen cabinets. But I don't really like white walls. I've tried. I just always feel like I'm in a hospital, or a creepy insane asylum. I feel like I should go to colored-walls-anonymous because here in Germany most homes have all white walls. Hi, my name is Juliette and I paint my walls. Yes, I do. Except when their surface doesn't permit paint, like below:


Here you see the horrid fireplace wall. We didn't paint it blue like the rest of the room. Well, the wall opposite the fireplace isn't painted either. It's just white, but it has tons of windows on it and we wanted the room to look balanced somehow. I drew red boxes all over the picture of our big, white wall in an effort to get a feel for what I might could do. Perhaps a large rectangle mirror, lots of framed pictures, we don't know what. The fact that the wall is actually two different depths doesn't help.

It's turned into a dumping ground in the living room. Yuck. Everything on the mantel can go. The wood box is our TV garage and should get painted and get decorative knobs. The random tools should get cleaned out of the niche by the fireplace and filled with chopped wood for the winter. You get the picture.

Something needs to happen to this white wall ASAP because although we like the whole fireplace idea, it's a bit of an eyesore just now.

Ideas?

To see more white - usually pretty, non-angst-ridden things, click on over to Spain Daily.

Stoffmarkt Holland in Frankfurt: a Fabric Market in Germany

Well, we went! Even though my budget was pitifully small and after 10 minutes my husband was bored, we made it. He found a cafe to sit and read in while I spent 3 hours perusing the 140+ booths at the Holland-Stoff Markt. I was really on sensory overload - so much to take in!!


I chatted to a couple of friendly German ladies while we waited in line at one booth and learned a few things: 1) the fabric markt comes 2-3x a year (Feb/March, May, and Sept/October) to Frankfurt. Sometimes the third time will be nixed in favor of a stop in Wiesbaden or Koblenz. This was important to learn because of fact #2.

(cute printed jersey fabric)

2) There really aren't any good shops in Germany to buy fabric. You can find some things in Karstadt department stores "if you're lucky", but it's not likely. Plan on buying your fabric online unless you come to the fabric markt. (see their resource list at the bottom of this post)

(wool and jersey prints)

3) Since fabric is really scarce here, you buy as much as you can afford when you see it. Then you go home and figure out what to do with it. This didn't work for me as I only had 40 Euro to spend and already had a list of projects requiring specific amounts/types of fabric. They couldn't believe how organized I was, but I said it was thanks to the tiny budget, ha ha!

(Cotton prints and polka dot jersey)

Cotton print pricing:
40 Euros doesn't sound like a tiny budget until you see the prices of fabric here. 5 Euro/meter was a good deal at this market.

(cotton prints on the 5 Euro table)

This was almost exclusively cotton prints with some bolts of jersey and fine-wale corduroy mixed in. The patterns I really liked averaged between 7.50 - 14 Euros/meter. There was gorgeous fabric from the designer Tilda at 18.50/meter, which was just ridiculous! I didn't see any American designers or styles.

(Tilda fabrics for 18.50/meter. I should've moved the book!)

What other types of fabric were available?
I would say about 50% of the booths were selling heavy woolens, tweeds, herringbone patterns, etc. If you wanted to make your own coats, winter dress skirts/trousers, etc. this is a great place to visit. Many 'inspiration projects' were hanging from the booths. There were so many bolts of boiled wools!


I didn't watch their prices too much, I think they were mainly about 25-40 Euro/meter. There was one set of beautifully patterned boiled wool that was 69 Euros/meter! (see below)

I only saw this small display of oilcloth (waschtuch auf Deutsch). I thought it would be fun for some everyday placemats, but at 19.50/meter I wasn't prepared to take the leap!


There were many booths offering slippery printed rayon/polyesters which might be fun if you wanted to make your own tops. I'm not 'there' yet sewing-skill wise, and didn't really care for any of the designs. They were about the same prices as the cotton prints and were also the main fodder in the 2 Euro bins that could be occasionally spotted.

(bolts of blue boiled wools)

Trimming was offered at maybe 4-6 booths. Lots of selection, but they were always just jammed with people! Prices varied, but my pom-pom trim was 1.75/meter. It was so claustrophobic I couldn't stay long!

There were also a 3-4 booths with thread, scissors, cutting guides, sewing machines, and patterns. They were also jammed. I just can't imagine starting up this hobby had my mom not sent over a lot of basic start up things recently! Who would have thought sewing/fabric was such a niche market in Germany?!


Anybody and everybody was at this market. It wasn't just a bunch of grandmothers! I overhead people talking who said they sold online on DaWanda, were sewing for their daughter, wanted a new punk statement piece, needed new throw pillows, making a wedding dress, you name it! It was very intersting and very exhausting!


I purchased a few things for some Christmas presents I'm making - so sadly no pictures because the people who are getting them are also readers of this blog! But here are a few things I picked up for myself. I want to use the two fabrics in our kitchen to do something on the table - napkins, placemats, runner, etc. I have a few ideas for the pom-pom trim, but haven't made a decision yet. I'm looking forward to finally getting started on some projects now!

Resources for fabric in Germany:
Tipp Tapp Stoffe was present and selling the Tilda fabrics. Micha's Stoffecke and Kostenlose Schnittmuster were recommended by both German women. I wasn't impressed with any of the websites, especially the last 2. They're hard to navigate and look so primitive I tend not to trust them aside from their recommendations. They also said DaWanda and sometimes Etsy, would be great to find German sellers with cute fabric. The Holland-Stoffmarkt will continue again in the Frühjahr 2010, so early 2010. Keep checking their website for new schedules. I think now that I've seen a lot of this in person I'll feel confident to compare prices to German online sellers and make more online purchases. I'll defnitely come back to the Stoffmarkt-Holland when it comes again to Frankfurt.

Any other German fabric websites I should add?

To cut or not to cut: A Fabric Markt Soliloquy

To cut or not to cut: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to cut the fabric your mother purchased and
sent over via your father,

Or to take arms/cash against a sea of fabric at the huge
Holland Fabric Markt in Frankfurt this weekend,

And by opposing the cutting angst, see if I'd prefer
something else for the projects?

To visit the Markt: to see the possibilities;

No more; and by shopping to say we end

The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks

That cutting fabric, committing it to a project is heir to, 'tis a consummation

Devoutly to be wish'd. To the Markt, to possibilities;

To possibilities: perchance to dream and find fabric 'better suited':
ay, there's the rub;

For in the possibilities of the Fabric Markt what dreams may come

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, this land-of-no-fabric-shops,

Must give us pause: there's the respect

That makes calamity of so long life;

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,
the few and far between and expensive fabric shops of Germany,

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,

The pangs of disprized love, the law's delay,

The insolence of office and the spurns

That patient merit of the unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make

With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,

To grunt and sweat under a weary life and empty sewing stash,

But that the dread of something after the Markt has gone, and I've missed it,

The undiscover'd country from whose bourn of cute fabric

No traveler returns empty handed, puzzles the will

And makes us rather bear those financial ills we have

Than commit to using that specific fabric for that project with no choice?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all;

And thus the native hue of resolution

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought that
perhaps I should just first use what fabric I have,

And enterprises of great pitch and moment

With this regard their currents turn awry,

And lose the name of action.

Or do I lose action?? Even Stefan is starting to get interested in going to this Holland Fabric Markt on Sunday afternoon in Frankfurt. Especially after seeing all the beautiful pictures Holly posted over on Decor8. Amazing! Here's one of them:


At first we thought we were booked solid this weekend, but the event in question is thankfully only all day Saturday. Sunday is also the big voting day in Germany. I think we can manage church in the morning and take the train into town for the fabric fair with a swing by the polls in between.

Vintage 1978 Sewing Guide and Projects

I was flipping through my Reader's Digest Guide to Sewing (original copyright 1978) yesterday when I found myself again laughing over some of the projects in the back. First up is a convertible quilt - which wouldn't be so strange if the child model didn't look so scary somehow - Chucky? are you sleeping over?


Then comes a gardening coverall modeled by a woman who looks like she's about to punch herself in the face:


Maybe she wanted to punch herself because she missed out on the chance to model the beach coverup below. Or is it a cape? or changing-tent? With no arm holes I'm going to suggest we just stick with calling it a simple skirt and not try so hard.


Packable rain hat: what can I say? trenches and scarves are back in vogue, but I doubt a hat styled like a fairy hat is anything a serious career girl would sport walking into her cubicle. Could be useful for the odd little woodland fairy costume one might sew.


This woman looks like she could be Madonna or Gwyneth Paltrow stepping out after a private Pilates session with her trainer. Funny how looks come back around again! This project is for a duffle bag, but today I think you're more likely to find a yoga mat and bottle of Evian in there.


Then came the myriad of home decor projects. Some of this has definitely come full circle and is back in style, perhaps only with a few minor tweaks here and there. Fabric covered foam blocks in a fresher fabric would make a great lounge area and the fabric covered trash can is a clever way to bring in pattern. However, those lamps, sea chest, and random roller shades would have to go...


I think the curtains are horrid but, in principle, the rest of the room isn't too bad and wouldn't be hard to bring into a current style. I'm still confused about the random roller shades: how practical are they as room dividers?


The bordered curtains and the monogram shams are totally something I could see somebody doing now, but the coverlet and the shag rug...seriously...a pattern for a shag rug??


This little boy room actually features some good mod-kid projects. However, how does one sit on a stool that has a giant pom-pom in the middle?? And who styled this room so that there's not a chance of opening the dresser drawers??


I love the lamp on the bedside table in this teenage girl's bedroom. The ridiculous amount of throw pillows is only possible in a kid's room where slumber parties and pillow fights abound. I'm just not buying the supply list that says I need vinyl sheeting for the bed coverlet...ew and ew again.


The last room is sooo dated looking, but I suppose you could find use in the wall pocket organizer project. I really don't think I could trust the organzier hanging up on the curtain rod, though. I could see a kid overloading or tugging on it and pulling the whole thing off the wall.


For all it's dated looks and projects, this book has a ton of good information that's already been a help. Today I washed and ironed some fabric and tomorrow I hope to start sewing again!

Post It

I received a cute card in addition to the beautiful slippers
I won from Tina over on TravelingMama.

I highly recommend checking out her Etsy shop where you can purchase a pair of slippers of your own. 100% of the proceeds go towards helping a school in Morrocco. Read about it here.

Corner View: September and a Science Fair

We're back to the Corner View series after a summer hiatus. This week's theme is September. School is in full swing here with Stefan back to teaching and this past weekend we had the chance to cast our votes in a local science fair from area elementary schools. Each project had to incorporate a mini solar panel to create movement. There were lots of windmills and sets of flying swings!


One of the more impressive creations had a solar panel that caused a beater in a jar to rotate; essentially a solar powered mixer.


Then there was this one named "Flying Saucer Standing Still". It's solar panel created zero movement on the project (bad) and looked more like it should be called "Grasping at Straws: a no imagination project".


Somehow a science fair seems very September-ish, and one focused on alternative energy seems very German! For more Corner Views, head on over to Spain Daily.

My skylight on Chez Larsson!

Benita, in Sweden writing Chez Larsson, has a great blog presenting all her DIY and organizing tips within a clean, fresh aesthetic. She also takes reader problems and offers creative solutions. Today she's featuring our skylight situation.


We're looking for a DIY solution for window coverings to save us from spending a fortune on custom coverings. She and her husband are offering up several viable options. I'm looking forward to picking one and getting started! Think of this as a DIY preview for us =)


Check out the post, but also check out her blog. I've been a regular reader and have implemented many of her organizing tips in our own home. Maybe there's something there for you!

Mini peanut butter cups - how??

My peanut butter supply is replenished after a trip to one of the local Asian markets. I found this recipe for making your own chocolate peanut butter cups, but am a tad stumped.

I have no mini sized paper cupcake liners.
I don't want to use the huge pan
(no liners for that pan either, come to think of it).

I do not intend to make my own paper liners.

Greasing each cup seems gross, even with butter.
Am I wrong here?

What do I do? Can this still be done?

If not, I'll have to resort to these
amazing looking peanut butter bars.

By the way - typing 'peanut butter cups' into
Flickr's search box seriously makes your mouth water.

Contact paper and a pillow case: Lighten up!

My new office is yellow. I promise it's a good yellow - strong - but good. However, my phone camera just doesn't do it justice. Regardless - a few updates are in order(and a LOT more need to happen!). I knew I wanted my new office to be yellow and I wished to only have white furniture in it, however we have to work with what we have, right? I had lots of 'birke furnier' (beech finish) that looked great in my last office/our old master bedroom.


I also have lots of white contact paper, even after this project. So I made the fronts of the desk drawers white. Subtle, yet moving in the right direction. No, this is not rocket science DIY.


And instead of buying new white doors for my big, huge Effektiv cabinet (~50 Euro), I covered those up, too. Thankfully contact paper is forgiving when something like this happens:

I almost gave up on this panel, but think it came out well in the end.

Since I've never been a fan of the gargantuan black desk chair back, I slid a white pillowcase over it until I get around to making a proper slipcover for it. I like white pillowcases.


By the way, I'm losing all hope for developing my sewing skills. There are almost no fabric shops in Germany unless you happen to live in Berlin, Munich, or Hamburg. I'm not kidding. There are a handful of online shops, but the prices are a little steep for a beginner sewer. Our local department store has a weensy little corner for sewing type things. Sigh. Guess what I'm doing when we fly State-side for Christmas this year?

Good news: My dad arrives Saturday for a short visit. My mother promises there are some sewing goodies in an extra suitcase... I'm so excited!!

ps- this is going on Kimba's DIY Thursday post. For more DIY click here.

Super fast curtain swaddle

There's an old Ivar shelf in my husband's office that drives me crazy. It wouldn't bother me if it wasn't also in the room that doubles as the primary guest room. However, it is - and it's mess is just horrible. So we worked with what we had and found a solution.


In our last apartment we had curtains in his office with a pattern that resembled an entomologist's collection: lots of birds, butterflies, plants, etc. Birds and plants are a hobby of his, so he was disappointed when he realized his new office wouldn't need curtains due to the massive skylight over his desk. So we decided to use them to cover up the ugly old Ivar shelf with all his messy-organized teaching materials. We added a few screws (ie pegs) to the unit, and thanks to these little curtain hooks, it's easy to close it up when you want.


Sure, it's basically a wall of fabric - but it's primarily his office, so as long as he's happy and the shelf is covered, then I'm happy. The best part is that we were able to use things we already had on hand. A bonus is that our printer is also in there, so it's not getting dusty anymore!

Stay tuned for another office project - this time in my office!

Another tutu lamp spotting!

I am feeling much better and went to the hair salon today. I flipped through the September '09 ELLE and ran into this: (at first I thought the model was wearing a veil!)


so I snapped a photo with my phone before being whisked off for a shampoo and head massage.

I came home and finished a project in my office that I'll post tomorrow. Yay for getting something done!

Tutu Lamps and Folklore

So I'm feeling better today, but I know it's going to take a couple of more days to shake this thing. Yesterday I was lying on the couch looking through my new Gudrun Sjöden home catalog and saw this image.


How crazy is a tutu lamp?! I know we just finished our jam jar lamps, but this tutu lamp looks like an easy DIY. I think you could just make your own tulle tutu, mini-sized, and slip it over a pendent shaped like the one below. I think this could be darling in a little girl's room or in a guest bathroom!


I did think about dust allergies - but it seems that hand washing a tutu and following up with a cool iron if needed, is all you would ever have to do to eliminate that concern. Somebody should definitely try this!

And then I was thinking back to the non-home catalog of Gudrun Sjöden, and how pretty and inspirational it was on it's own. Folkloric looks have been coming back for a while now and they really amped it up this year. These designs remind me so much of the old women in rural Romania I've seen in the past.

*images from GS website

I couldn't have everything from GS,
but a piece or two would be really pretty!

Checking in to check out

Verblüht is the German word for when a flower's bloom has seen better days. This is about how I feel myself right now. Horrid head cold and tons of rain. It's annoying because I have some fun projects I'm just dying to work on, but I'm so out of it that reading and making soup is about all I have the energy for.

The good news is the projects can wait (even if I can't) and there is the possibility that my dad might come visit us next week as part of a long layover on a business trip!

I had fun playing around with a new photo tool today called Rollip and made the above 'Polaroid' from one of my own shots. To try it out, click here.