Meet my Sweet, Belowed Friend Nina

That´s Nina in the age of six when I met her, four years ago, in the home for orphan and abused children in Zagreb. In her group she was the only one sitting without saying a word. It turned out she can´t pronouce words due tu some sirious injures in her early childhood. I arranged myself in the way I could visit the children twice a week and take one by one out  - to  the zoo, the children´s theatre, for a walk ..... Some of them were not free to go out with me because their parents  or relatives had came to visit them. Nina was always avalible - nobody visited her.

In the course of weeks I  became Nina´s teta Dunja (teta menas aunt in Croatian). Entering the children´s home I heared them calling: "Nina, teta Dunja came to visit you!" So everybody considered I belonged now to her and I was happy with this progress. For, I liked her from the first glace. She was, and still is, a sweet, gentle, little girl. 

Our relation became closer and closer. As for me, my emotions twords Nina  are grandma´s affections. I´m a "substitute" grany with the best wishes for her grandchild. And -  I have chosen NinasSmile for the name of my Etsy shop because I want very much she would smile in her future  life. 

There is also  a blog about Nina posted in Aprile.

How I´ve got fish to swim on my bag?

It´s almost every day that I wake up at dawn with the first birds singing in our garden. Still in half-sleep i try to check up my programm for the day. This and that has to be done ... And than a new idea hits me - Let sew a bag with fish! What kind of fish? What kind of bag? If I make the bag I´ll have to  postpone other tasks. Never mind, I like the fish-idea. Now hury, get up! The idea could have been forgoten in one hour time.

How does it start?

First look through all the places where fabrics, buttons, threads, ..... are stored

and heap them up. Quite a mass, isn´t it. Now select fabrics that fit best.

 These would be fine for the fish. As basic fabric I´m going to use white cotton.

 Parts of the bag are cut up: the body, pockets, straps

 and fish are ready to be appliqued.  May be some buttons ond pendants could be nice as decoration? I habe bought them recently from my friends shops, SandArts and craftzee.

 Here, the pockets are almost ready! But what would be better - like this

 or better this way?

Yes, that´s better. Now the only thing  I had to do was to sew the parts together. And here it is! Voilá! 

Was it easy to make it? Yes and no. It took  all together about three or four hours but it made fun.

For Marc

 

We were traveling the lengh and breadth of Tasmania - the six of us: our two daughters, their partners, my husband and me.

 What a magical patch of the Earth! Tasmania's  landscapes are so different of what we are used to seeing in Europe.

 The plants and animal life so specific for Australia and Tasmania.

 It was somehow as beeing in the wonderworld.

One sunny morning we were heading towards Hobart.  All was perfect  until around the curve a flock of hundreds of sheep appeared approaching us. What now?

Marc, a relatively new member of our family, was driving. What will his reaction be?

 Rudeness? - No.- Cross words? - No.  Nervousness? Agitation?

 Marc slowed down to pedestrian pace, opened the window, smiled, waved to the sheep in a friendly way,  talked to them, nicknamed them, ...

 And the whole flock gave way continuing in its direction - slowely, peacefuly, munching, ...


It was quite an adventure. It could have been a stressful one but thanks to Marc's good nature and his kindeness it turned out to be a funny one.
Thank you, Marc. You have passed a very importent exsam.  Love you!

Sunrise in Melbourne, January 2011

At down, while the most were still deep in dreams,  my friend Jasminka and I got up to watch the sunrise. At 05.00 a.m. it was still pitch-dark, but then ....

we could see patches of blue sky with dark clouds,

it was getting  brighter and brighter,

almost day,

and the adventure of the new day began for all of us and even for this little bird.

CST Members Chatting in Muzungu

I´m so proud,  it was my idea to call te first live meeting of CST members. We met in the  cozy Cafe  Muzungu in Zagreb. It was so nice to see who hides  behind the familiar shopnames, to exchange our experiances and useful tips. We were all in high spirits. Befor living for summer holidays we plan one more  rendevous. It´s just a pity our etsy mates living outside the capital can´t join our next meetings as easily as we Zagreber can.

I Fell in Love ....

with Lisabon

We, four friends and former teachers, decided to spend one week somewhere in Europe. No one  of us has ever been  in Lisabon, so it was easy to choose  our destination. Why? Portugal has a famous history, Lisabon is  know for its charm, Portugal has similar monetary problems as Croatia- so affordable -  and there is a direct  flight from Zagreb to Lisabon.

 Just after  our arrival at the aierport  we  experienced the closeness to the Portugues people. Luis, our landlord, was so friendly to pick us up from the airport and was helpful during the whole week.

 We had the opportunity to see the remains od the Potuguise famous history. Great, bautiful, ... But what  is so near to my heart is the charm of the place - the easy-going attitude so common to the South.

 I had the chance to travel a lot. Not only in Europe but to America and Australia as well. Attractive and beautiful countries - charmning and exuisite.

But Lisabon is a place where I could spend my life.

Kindle Sleeve with a Magic Village, One of a Kind -Item

I like reading, bought a Kindle and sewed a sleeve for it. The closure wasn´t safe enough , my kindle slipped out and was  broken. Now a made a better version for my costumer on Etsy. Its beautiful, padded and  SAFE!
http://www.etsy.com/listing/70353290/kindle-sleeve-with-a-magic-village-one