Happy X-mas

Happy X-mas, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Wish you a great x-mas time!

I don't give a shit about x-mas. It's all to much for me, the decorations everywere from September; the horrible songs, the constant stream of cars in my street going to the parking. The bad tempered people shopping like hell is out.
I do love to give presents, and to be together with friends and family.
And midwinter is a good time to give.
In our home we keep the holiday simple, today my two sweeties made these cookies. That's a true joy!

Love and peace to you

Bling

Bling, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Happy Yule to you all
May the light return

and may I remember;

Angels can fly
because
they take themselves
lightly

G.K. Chesterton

Winter-time

Tree child, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

There is this place in my soul, a dry, dark litlle cave I love to spend my time. Surrounded with roots and the soothing sounds of the earth.

No thoughts of what I should let grow above the surface. Spring is to come in another life.

First be with Winter
Just me
Feel comfortable and warm
alone and save

Goddess mobile

Goddess mobile, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

It's more crafts that I make these days. But I love to make my own designs, so the artist in me stays somewhat happy. In the mobile, the colors of the five pointed stars and the little goddesses represent the chakra's to me.

In my spiritual practice, I love to imagine myself surrounded with these colors.
Imagine myself floating in the air on a red cloud, in a red sphere. Feeling the energy of the hot red, on my skin, in my feelings, to become red. See what I can learn today from this color, what quality it can give me for my daily life. Feel in my body the place of the chakra, notice how my energy feels there.But mostly to be with the red color and enjoy.
Then I imagine the sphere to change into orange and so on.

May your colors never fade,
and have a lovely weekend.
Elisa

Spiral Dance

Tomorrow I join the Dutch Reclaiming Samhain celebration, I'm looking forward to have a ritual with a bigger group of witches, pagans and friends. Dance the spiral dance, feel the connection with life and dead. The organisers asked me to invoke fire in the circle, this may just be what I need to invoke in my life. More activity and passion.

I want to share a beautiful made compilation of the spiral dance in San Francisco, and wish lots of fun for my friends in the USA. And may our New Year bring optimism back in the world.

Wish you magical dreams in the night,
and the best shadow play on your walls,
Love Elisa.

Samhain

Samhain, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Time for introspection.

Listening to the voices from the past, searching for the things in me that lurk in the dark. Face my ghosts, and have a good laugh with them.
I'm not making as much things that I would like, and throw my ideas away before I let them come to life. I feel sometimes lost in my bubbles, but just love to see them flow.
On Samhain I want to battle my inner critic and heat up the fire in me.

These days I'm just a happy homemaker :)
Playing dollhouse on a real life scale,
Just whatever makes the clock tick.

Love is all.

Little pumpkin doll

Little pumpkin doll, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Inspired by my Waldorf work environment, I've made this cute doll. Using a kit from De witte engel. To celebrate this beautiful season.

Haven't made dolls like this in years, I must admit it gives me a lot of joy.
And it gives me a the opportunity to use my all time favorite buttonhole stitch :)
The simplest things make the most joy.

Enjoy the moments of peace, love Elisa

Autumn feelings

Michaelmas nature table, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

It's raining a lot in Holland, Autumn time again.
My favorite time in the year, no more hot summer days;), walking in the colorful woods, candles burning in my home. Dressing with lots of layers of clothes, making pumpkin soup. Time for harvest and enjoy the fruits.

The Michaelmas nature table is from the Waldorf children daycare where I help out sometimes. I take care together with my friend and college Meike to 7-8 children. The lovely little ones are a few months old until 4 years old.

I love to work with my friend and the children in this really child friendly place, but I had some mixed feelings in the first few weeks.
Was this the first step of admitting that I terribly fail to be a proffesional artist?
I seem to have more fear than trust in me.

But as only 3% of Dutch proffesionel fine artist can make enough money to live with their art, it does not mean I'm a bad artist if I almost make no money with it.
O, confidence...

Tomorrow I just will work on my art, dare to fail and go on creating my colorful magical world.
Get inspiration from Michaels fight with the dragon, make some fun with my inner shadows and just love the day.

Exposition d'Ete

Photo 1; work by Janna Navis&Paul Caron
Photo 2&3; work by Lisette Wansink

Last weekend I visted the Exposition d'Ete in the Belgian village Eben-Emael.
Two of my dear art school classmates, Janna and Lisette, showed some work here.
These 3 works I loved the most. For the fun they have and the way these girls can always make me laugh.

The toy insect was working so hard on his little bike, it was so cute.
On the monitor you saw the green grass move to the side.
Life is a adventure for those who dare!

Fun Molecule ( yet to be discovered by science ! )

Fun Molecule ( yet to be discovered by science ! ), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Look at this "Fun Monecule", I made in the spring. Happines lives in pompoms :)

I participated in a real fun thing, "the mixed nuts project". The idea of a australian artist, Kirsty.
She send to artists and crafters from all over the world a pattern from a nut. Each artist altered the nut to his or her taste and its so much fun to see what they made.
There is a mixed nuts online exhibition, where you can see and buy the nuts. Go take a look :)

Sandra from Herzensart made a post about her beautiful Pieta Nut, go and read that to.

Make as much fun as you can this weekend,
sunshine and love, Elisa

Hope :)

Hope :), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Look what the sunlight and the crystal by the window gave me this morning.
The universe is filled with wonder and in times I forget that, it has tricks to make me see again.

May we never stop to wonder,
xxx, Elisa

Patience

Patience, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Whitnessing the thought patterns in my mind,
make a distance between me and them.

Remember strenght and time makes power.

Work with love.

Soft Pink

Pink love, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Working on my laminated images and moved my work table near the window. I like it better, there is so much more light.
We now also eat our meals at this table, so I set up some decoration.

I hope it also helps me to find some rest, I do feel really nervous and unadequate these days. May the pink keep me calm and remind me to not to take myself to serious and not to worry so much. Go with the flow and just enjoy this one day.
Find the peace I'm missing in the world in my heart today.

L'Etranger

For the opening of the Cultura Nova festival a stranger came to Heerlen. It was a familiar stranger, the artists Plasticiens Volants and Os Gemeos have been several times in our little town. I really want to thank them for bringing a little magic back in town.
I loved the graffiti Giant around my corner from Os Gemeos and was happy to see his brother on the Tate Modern and Plasticiens Volants stole my heart 10 years ago with their birdwoman Ezili.
Some days it's great to live here :)

I spend the day making comfort foods, Cornish pasty (almost as good as the ones we so much loved in Padstow), chicken soup with home grown waterkress and potato salad.
Helps to make my soul stronger, at least one can eat the result ;)

Love and may no human or animal ever hunger again
and no soul be to insecure to create, Elisa

Swap

Towe My's art!, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Look at these great crochet works, it's from a Swedish artist, Towe My.

We met at Flickr and I admired her Clunny. ( The white bunny shape).
She makes cute objects but takes crochet to another level.
I just love the little magical world she creates.

It was my first swap and it was so much fun to do.
Made grey days have some sunlight :)

Messy feelings

Ice bear sofa, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My thoughts are a mess these days.
I'm working on two things, but feel insecure about them.( one of them is behind my new sofa cover, the laminated fashion images.)

To help me clear my mind, I'm moving furniture, getting rid of unused things.
Cleaning home can give me a good feeling, to make space for new things to come.
Maybe it's all about invoking light in my mind and hope in my heart.

Love and dreams, Elisa

Fun Park

Dsc_0082, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My mascot "Platvoetje" solved the mystery of Stonehenge; it's a fun park for witches. Just the perfect spot for a show.

We loved Somerset and Cornwall, the beautiful land is soaked with stories. About ancient ones, wise woman and sea witches, King Arthur, healing wells and labyrinths, used and loved since ancient times. I visited the indoor Goddess Temple in Glastonbury, and loved her Temple all around.

Now it's home sweet home again, still searching for my yellow-brick road :-) Weaving stories in my web of faith.

And remember the sea air in my lungs, sunshine on my skin, water from Chalice Well in my mouth, the sand under my feet and the stories in my heart. Lift up my spirit, take a big jump and fly.

Candy Floss life

Dsc_0002, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

I want to show you a page from my dummy. My first idea for a "Candy Floss life", a new work I want to make. The joy of beginnings :-)

I'm in the happy place of planning a family holiday to the South West of the UK. A camping trip to Devon and Cornwall.
I'll take my dummy with me and make some more sketches. And enjoy our time in places like Brighton, Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Tintagel and Boscastle.

Looking forward to another Merry Meet with the UK,
Happy holidays for you also, love and blessings, Elisa

Blog break

Invoke tree, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

With this laminated images I'm going to say goodbye for now.
It's my little invoke tree for happy times.

This weekend its off to the Pinkpop festival for me. I'm really looking forward to see and hear Metallica and Rage Against The Machine.
And enjoy three days of festival and the company of my dear friends.

Later there will be a short trip to London, and my first time in a plane :-)
And to make some real money I'm going to work in a "normal" job, telephone work.
Let's hope I like it, and still have enough time and energy to work on my art.

Thanks for reading and see you in a while,
let us all make the best life we can, with love in our hearts and peace in our actions.

Sunny Blessings, Elisa

Soft voodoo

Soft voodoo, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

There are days life is joyful and light like a butterfly on a flower.
There are those nights King Kong has chosen my shoulders to sit on.

Like love doesn't exist in this life. And panic is waving 'hello' to me.

Time to play some soft voodoo;

Breath in... ,Breath out...
and wait for the dawn to face the new day.

Scissor time

Plaatjes knippen, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Being happy is in small things... I remember me as a little girl, recovering from a flu, on my bed made on the sofa. My mom gave me a sketch book, magazines, scissors and glue. Days of fun for me.

Don't ask me what or why. For I don't now the answer.
Maybe it's a kind of invocation of a photo shop shiny happy world.
A shrine for a superfluous glamour Goddess.

The creative process of making art is asking questions, not giving answers.

May we never stop wondering.
Love, Elisa Scissorhand

Summer nights

Mint tea love, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

We have summer in Holland, the smell off BBQ is overwhelming in the evenings.
I make mint tea from fresh leaves, green tea and lots of sugar. And I just love the minty smell in my home.

My friend Caroline is going to build a website for me, so great ! ( visit her own; www.rebellyous.nl )
Today we exchanged some ideas.

And I'm invoking dreams in my heart, making little things and remember my freedom.
Summer days are just perfect to nurture my ideas and feel at ease.

Sunny blessings and great summer nights ;-)

Summer nights- Grease

Through the never

Beltane, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

On this long sunny Beltane weekend in Holland we had lots of fun.
Winter is over, love is in the making and the greens are full with daisy's.

The seeds I've planted at Imbolc are become tiny little plants, waiting for me feeding them with my fresh new thoughts, waters of emotion, inspirational fire, and get my hands dirty in the soil.

The making of art is more and more a spiritual journey to me.
Getting rid of voices in my head and follow my own inner light as it always lights my personal yellow-brick-road. And to know that how strange and dangerous or dull my path may seem, the reward is always to come home. And home has nothing to do with the place I live on earth, as long as I wear my red shoes I am there!

With the power of sex celebrated on Beltane, I remember it's so easy to see and follow my inner light. Just listen to the things that make me excited :-)

Trough the never- Metallica

A Forest

Tree planting :-), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

A grown up tree is been planting across my street.
Makes me feel very happy to see some green in the midst of the concrete jungle.

And in my dream head I'm singing the Cure's song;

Come closer and see
See into the trees
Find the girl
While you can
Come close and see
See into the dark
Just follow your eyes
Just follow your eyes

I hear her voice
Calling my name
The sound is deep
In the dark
I hear her voice
And start to run
In to the trees
In to the trees

In to the trees

Suddenly I stop
But I know it's too late
I'm lost in a forest
All alone
The girl was never there
It's always the same
I'm running towards nothing
Again and again and again

Piece of my heart

Two healing teapots, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Made this teacosy's, they are like an invocation to me. To walk on the sunny side of the street, at least in my souls.

The green one will be for grounding tea; to be able to live at peace on this earth in my own heart.
The red one is for passion.

Piece of my heart - Janis Joplin

I don't give a ...

I don't give a ... (Peaches song), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Almost a year of blogging for me now, I like to throw out these lines in universe. Like a drowning woman lifelines into the sea. I've tried to be optimistic and honest in my posts, as I strongly believe that the beauty I give is what makes my life more worth living.

But today it's time for a big rant on unempathic doctors. But I get so much pain in my belly from only thinking about it, I don't know were to start.
*How about asking a 12 year old girl who has her period for four weeks in a row, to undress. And as she comes back dressed in white cotton shirt and underpants say, 'you have to take your underpants of and sit on the bed with your legs in the iron things'. And without explaining starts to examine her...
*Or the gynaecologist asking the woman in pain during the same examination if she has troubles with intercourse, because by the tense way this goes he could not imagine it to go well...

Assholes go fuck your selves! And if you believe in Hell burn in it!
Next time I'll come to the hospital I'll try to bring some big Hell's Angels with me, and we will put you in the chair on your knees and start pushing medical instruments in you, see how you like that.

Pfff, breath out, breath in and remember I'm not my pain.
Love and trust, Elisa

I don't give a ... - Peaches

Love like blood

Flowers and beads, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

These nights I dream that I'm a boy, walking happily in the woods.
In the morning I'm sad to wake with pain in my belly once again.
I feel so blessed with my daughter, so my womb really did a good job and I love it for that.
But always so much pain , it steals so much joy and confidence in my life.
Keeps me locked up in me.

Wish to be better real soon.
And work with hope,
Love.

Love like blood - Killing Joke

Take the long way home

Taking the works home, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

I like this image from my works on their way home. Looks like a real over the top, 'Kill your seventies-darlings' installation made in 80's ;-)

The idea of home is very important to me, in my heart and art.
The actual place where we live, the longing for places we've loved and the yearning of our souls for a true home.
True love is the only one who can make a true home to be our true souls.
Lot's of trues today :-)

I'm working on two dolls, 'strings of hope' , drawings, cutting photo's out of magazines, glue them in inspiration dummy's, sewing little things.
It's like cleaning my thoughts and feelings.
My way to change my perception.

The biggest task for me to do today, is to take Light in with every breath I take, and breath Love out.

Brightest Blessings, Elisa

Take the long way home - Supertramp

Swimming in your ocean

Window display boekhandel De Zon, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

For the local spiritual bookstore I made this window display today.
I enjoyed taking some old works from the attic and let them see a bit of light. And had a really great time by making the display, talking to the shop owner and eat a delicious salmon salade baguette :-)

The room divider with ribbons and beads I customized yesterday.
I loved to work with beads and ribbons again.
*Note to me: collect more beads, ribbons, flowers and pompons!
How cool would be a room in a room totally made out of these.

The rest of the works are over ten years old. Made from paper mache, a shedded mermaids tale skin, a group of seven wise bird woman watching the waters of the world, and all the emotions flow in tides.
And my four "Nose-in-the-wind" elements watchers.

I picked out some books I liked in the store, added some fabric flowers and bling-bling to it all, and with a wave of my magic wand I was satisfied. And really enjoyed a fun day.
To me, it's important to remember the fun aspect of art and spiritual matters.
Follow my path of joy.

Swimming in your ocean - Crash Test dummies.

Don't stop me now

Tuttebel on Sunday, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

... cause I'm having a good time!

Carnaval in town, we just celebrate one day. That's enough!
But it is such a nice day, with lots of great friends and so much fun.
It is like a little time capsule, always the same day, what ever year it is.
Really comforting, to know there will always be this great Sunday.
Again and again. Gives this girl energy and joy.

Make fun when you can! Love, Elisa.

Queen- Don't stop me now.

I don't like mondays

Fairy tale work; sorting pompon's in the studio, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Just a happy moment in my studio.
Sorting out pompon's by color today.

What's not to like about Mondays if I do this sorting work.
Sorting things always make me feel like I'm living a fairy tale.
And it helps to sort out the disturbed mind.

Keep a honest heart, work hard, be friendly, keep your patience
and know that love always wins the battle.

May we all live happily ever after,
Love and light, Elisa.

I don't like Mondays - Boomtown Rats

Gloomy Sunday

softies, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Friends not from the blogging-community, :-) asked me what a softie was. So I'll show you the book cover from the Softies book (isbn 978-0-670-07082-4 , penguin.com.au )

The other photo is one of two softies I've made and like not enough for the book design.

I feel so gloomy today,
time to go out and play...
And tomorrow another dawn will break.
Wish I could take on a new identity, start all over with myself.
Feel strong and free, (I know it's all in me, but hidden so far away)

I already know my new name;
Take my hat off for you, "Angenehm, Frits Wunderlich isst der name"
LOL

Sadly one Sunday
I waited and waited
With flowers in my arms
All the dream has created
I waited 'til dreams, like my heart were all broken
The flowers were all dead
And the words were unspoken
The grief that I know
was beyond all consoling
The beat of my heart was a bell that was tolling

Saddest of Sundays

Gloomy Sunday - Diamanda Galas

Possibly Maybe

Elfenbankjes, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

A softie design is on it's way to Australia.
Feels like a child of me has gone backpacking and I will see a picture of her again in the book next year.
It was a insecure pregnancy with this child, and hard labour :-)
Pattern writing..., I never ever work with patterns, make my own as I go along.
It had to be perfect for me this softie, the honour to be in a book.

But after a lot of try -feel unsatisfied-try again she is just fine.

And the difficult process gave me the insight that it's not about perfect art or a perfect life.The longing for things to be perfect keeps the fun out of my life.

To walk the woods with joy and trust, that's what it all is about.
And walk the woods in our dreams tonight, maybe to see some fairies have a nice rest.

Love, Elisa.

Possibly Maybe - Bjork

Ocean Rain

Salt in the corner, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Should have known better...,

Made a little ritual to clean my new magic room,and myself for the work I want to do.
Asked the elements for clear thoughts and new ideas, passion for life, the ability to cope really well with my emotions,good grounding and the center to hold.
Made a circle, used salt to absorb blockading energy. Spread my arms and whirled counterclockwise to release energy's in me and the room.
And a day later used my vacuum cleaner and sung along with Freddie Mercury's "I want to break free".

Really fun to do, made the room and myself feel really serene and in ease.
But the dancing widdershins was maybe a bit to enthusiastic or my horrible singing..., a few days later I catched a really bad stomach flu.
But after a week, lots of visiting the bathroom and gallons of tea, I can honestly say I have never felt this clean inside to ;-)

Ocean Rain - Echo & the Bunnymen

Pillow talk

Pillow talk, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Say hello to my little white sheep ;-)

It was a yule gift and has now his own room to live in.
We redecorated our little spare bedroom, painted the walls in a pale pink. Had a trip to the local Ikea for some more bookshelves a new carpet and pillows.
From fabrics and second-hand embroideries I made this pillows.
So white sheep and I can do some serious pillow talk this year.

Pillow talk - Nina Hagen

You can leave your hat on.

You can leave your hat on., originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Hello world wide web, it's 2008, and how do you feel?

Are you happy, are you sad
or most the time just mad?
Remember whoever said progress was a slow process, wasn't talking about you, you are the P.I.M.P,
I just wonder who's got the magic stick...

But girls just wanna have fun, so I will continue this blog, and don't mind the why?-thing in my head.
This photo is as always imperfect (green line...), but I love the light and this play with things and thoughts. The suggestion of another world. Fun is possible!

I'll try ever so hard to keep my spirit up, move my lazy ass and enjoy my ' weird head' this year. Just love life.
And the friendly people on the world wide web, love to you.

You can leave your hat on - Joe Cocker