Yule time

Granny blanket and rat, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Spend my time with crochet my first granny square blanket. Just loved to make it, working with soft merino wool. Made me a rat to play with feeling comfy under this periwinkle hippie/bohemian/rosanne piece of home made craft galore. The rat as a anarchistic symbol, screw the middleclasses! Especially those from the Art world. (Big stinky A).
I'll have some fun :)

Dear readers, I wish you a good Yule, Happy X-mas and just a good time.
Love Elisa

Shameless copy

Pincushion my magpie eye spotted somewhere on Flickr :), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My favorite thing to do on the internet is watching Flickr photostreams from crafters and artists. Look at their works, the beautiful homes and studios. Never with the intention to copy work, just to admire and enjoy.
My old pincushion was losing straw and a few days ago I saw a image from a japanese craftbook somewhere on Flickr.
Thanks to whoever you are for the idea !
Just happy to copy :)

Have fun and good coffee.

A fine romance

A fine romance, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

On a grey and rainy day.
Feel happy in my studio,
let the melancholy win, dwell in a pile of soft fabrics.
Blessed be the lovers in this world,
and the coffee growers :)

Studio Feel

Studio wall, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Happy working in my colorful studio.
I'll be a clean lines conceptual artist in another life, in this life I feel no need for it :)
Just love and fun make my day.

Sing along with me; head, shoulders, knees and toes, knees and toes :)
Love you, Elisa

Feelings of comfort

Mother Earth, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

This Samhain I like to present you this little Mother Earth doll.
She proudly shows of my improving crochet skills.

Whatever makes the girl happy and the crafty ancestors proud :)

Happy Halloween!

Kunst-Tauschbörse

Art swap, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Just the perfect Sunday to put on my happy cat shoes.

The Atelierhaus Aachen has made a show with art works to swap, could be money, but also yoga-classes or cleaning windows. Whatever makes the artist and the buyer happy.
They have a "Finissage" on Sunday 4 Oktober, I'll take my sculpture home, or a brand new laptop ;)
Either way I'm just happy to participate.
Forgot my camera today, take some photos later.

Miauw and see you later, Elisa

Images

Images, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

By now, I must have over 500 laminated images, all cut from magazines.

The choices I make to cut an image or not tells a story. What is still hidden in the morning mist.
Feels like working on a shell grotto.
Waiting for the sun to come out and solve the mist. But as we all know, that can take years.
Maybe I'm all wrinkled and grey by the time ;)

For sure the story will start with once upon a time...
may they live happily ever after.

And so may you, love Elisa.

Dreaming of Winter

Dreaming of Winter, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Home for a second

Home for a second, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

In my little garden on this sunny Friday.

It's Friday that I'm in love
feeling at home.

My first day of holiday at home, all Sundays in a row.

Made and ate a big English breakfast. Now I feel like the Muse can come in.
Maybe I just saw her, as a white butterfly.

The artist as canvas :)

The artist as canvas :), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Spend the day with the little ones, we had a fun time.

My face was a canvas for five little brushes, with five serious sweet faces behind them. You can see how gentle they worked. I just love the result, as the photo.

Kids are the best humans :)

Polkadot tree hugger :)

Polkadot tree hugger :), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Last Sunday in London at the south bank of the river Thames.

Just been to ' Walking in my mind' in the Hayward Gallery.
Loved to see the polkadot works from Yayoi Kusama and got totally enchanted by Yoshitomo Nara, my mind, heart and three souls felt so at home in his drawing room (bedroom included).
Breastfed my magic by the video installation from Pippilotti Rist, smooth extremities.

Kissing or hugging a tree seems to be my personal ritual in London :)
Sending out my eternal wish for the universe; to play along in the contemporary art world ;)

Die Drache und der Wind

Remember summer, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

A perfect place to rest and share stories with dear witches and smoke.
Memories like straw spun to gold.

Be serious in a Pipi Longstocking way,
sail the seas, surrender to waves and wind, wave to the women on the island with the apple trees. Cast the anchor and return home. Sit by the fireplace in the little wood house.
Let the thoughts of happy times fill my heart.
Warm feelings follow.

For the love of Molly

Sleepy me, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

No, it's not me with a hangover from celebrate Bloomsday in Dublin.
What I sure would have loved to do today ;)
To me Molly Blooms chapter in the Ullysses is my favorite tekst ever written. A girl close to my heart.

Mmh, yes, I want to share deep thoughts in my blog about the world, love and peace, art, my spirituality. Instead I only share small bits of my art and life. Nothing special.
Makes me feel boring. That's the way it is.
Just a litlle dreamer.

Mmh, yes, just let me take the seedcake back from his mouth.
and yes I said yes I will Yes!

Walter van Beirendonck

Walter van Beirendonck, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My favorite belgian fashion designer since somewhere in the eighties.
I fel in love with his knitted mens sweaters in a girls magazine.
His work is so playful and fun.

Visited his shop in Antwerpen, it was the best shop I have ever been in. Like a fairyland. And like in a fairyland I did not had the money to take something home with me, so I got out save ;)
Joking, I love to be enchanted by this guy.

Meanwhile I'm busy cutting the cutest fabrics my money could buy. Sewing them together, iron them.

And let my magic start :)

Happy

Happy fabric, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Last week I bought this retro fabric on the market for 1 euro per meter. It just made me happy. As I was browsing my Walter van Beirendonck book, I saw it being used in his Revolution show winter 2001-02.

That's the little things in life I love.
Just pay attention.

Focus Maastricht

Focus Maastricht, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My work "Granny dreams" is on show in Atelierhouse Aachen.
Focus Maastricht shows works from artist from Maastricht and Heerlen.
Painting, video, photo and installations.

The atelierhouse has a good vibe to it, it was a cool show with works from twelve artists. Really good was it to meet some of my best classmates from school. Felt good to be seen as a artist for a few hours ;)

Check out the sites from my friends: Janna Navis and Paul Caron on their site are also the works of the cutest couple from school; Sandra Hanckman and Patrick Bolk. My college artist from Heerlen, Erick van Heugten, busy talking as always, on the photo.
And mysterious photos from David Bowie lover Hanneke van Dongen.

Meet Nessa

Nessa, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

My tiny herb garden seems to have attract a magical creature.

She told me her name is Nessa and she love chervil and radish.
The concert from Bruce Springsteens yesterday at Pinkpop must have scared her, it was so loud.Maybe that's why she has left her normal habitat.

She can stay as long as she wants :)

Put on the gloves

Put on the gloves, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

And prepare to fight for love.
Spread softness and joy.

What's the point to hide in a flowervase?
Go dust the broomstick and fly.

Happy sunny weekend.

Sad but true

Sad but true, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

There is a big gap between the life I dream and the life I'm living.

It's easy to get dissapointed and hide in the dark woods.
There better not enter Fairy markets with their dazzling lights.
Run from the music, eat some honey in a dark cave. Sleep without dreams.
Tomorrow walk with my head up high, put on happy clothes and smile :)
Just smile.

Green meets red

Green meets red, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Studio window, the green and red reminds me fairy tales are possible.
Love will tame the big bad wolf.

All colours will agree in the dark.
Francis Bacon.

Today I'll enjoy the sun.

Off / On

Off / On, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

The magic is in the light.

Having fun with small things :)

Sleepless

Home, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Counting sheep for weeks now, can't seem to get grip on a normal sleeping pattern.

To skip a night or two is great for my creativity. Ideas open up easier in the wee hours of the night. And as tiredness takes over the inner critic shuts down. Once a month it's a good place to be.

Now, I'm just walking on my last reserves, energeticly and emotionally.
That's a state I despise. Small things matter to much, I get overwhelmed by feelings. Daily life feels like a constant struggle.
Depressing thoughts take over.
Beltane seems lightyears away.

Time to visit my inner place of power
and find first peace,
joy will follow :)

Meet the Foggels

Foggels, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

I had the best rainy tuesday, having the home to myself.

Enjoying the solitude.
Made some more drawings on a cardboard box.
and take these two Foggels out in the little garden.
They look a little scared, small birds in a big world.
Just like me.

At home I don't have to be brave.

That's what I love,
just to be me
and play a little.

****
O my, having posted this I decide to google Foggels, to see if the word is already out there. To me it sounds like a strange way of saying the dutch word for birds - vogels-.
Ahum, it already has a meaning; Foggels; when you place your testicals over someones eyes to blind them.
Now they really make me laugh.
And am wondering what word there is for breasts who do the same. Boggels?

Ich liebe alle Farben

Outdoor, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Just a photo from the tiny city garden.

And notice my love for bright colors,
one thing I'm not afraid of.

Happy weekend.

Lost

Lost, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

A page from my dummy.

For the love of getting lost in the magic wood:

Find a circle of toadstools, or oak trees,
take a bath in the full moon.

Dance with the fairies,
make love till dawn.

Laundry night

Laundry night, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Today I had a good time playing in the woods with a bunch of great children.

And now just happy to be alone in my studio again.
Having visions of a little house made out of cardboard boxes with lots of my strange drawings.

In my art I'm on a eternal quest for magic.

Working with the children made me again realise that magic lies in ordinary things.
The wonder is in the eyes of the beholder.

I'm dancing in the spring rain, spreading fairy dust to you.
Love Elisa.

Living in a box

face my fears, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Working with cardboard boxes.
Try to draw the world inside my soul. See what's in the boxes in my heart.
Notice how the tapes in my head are playing the same tunes on and on.
( -I draw like shit-, -I'm a crap artist- )
Spend some time with my fears.

Take a breath, or maybe four.

But most of all, I enjoy the spring. The fresh green, the little flowers and the warm sunshine.
Energy for free :)

Lucky winner :)

Lucky winner :), originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Today at lunch I got a surprise, my price came in; a dvd about Kurt Weill. Lucky me.
I've won in a radioshow, Scala at WDR 5. The radio in the studio is always tuned on the WDR 5.

They descibed the life of a musician. It was Blixa Bargeld, being a long time Einstürzende Neubauten and Nick Cave fan I just had to send a mail.

Winning a price is so good for my playful soul,
and Kurt Weills music is healing food for all my souls.

I am a lucky winner, I already have won some great things; Versace sunglasses in a magazine ( they are so Italian putta, I just love them.) A one-day trip to London, books, I come home from witchcamps with lots of goodies won in the raffle.

But the best price was a hot-air balloon trip. To fly with the wind, carried by only air.The silence and clear hearing when the gas-flame was off. So magical.

May we all be lucky winners in our lives, love Elisa.

Play

Play, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

It's my 40th birthday :)

A fine day, and my wish is to always find time to play.

Just feeling happy,
love from my seven grey hair today :)

Drawing made for my little wood lamp.

Dream friends

Dream friends, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Take a peek in my little magic room.

And meet my new friends for my travels between the worlds.
Jacques the templar knight with his horse Josephine.
Made by the talented Sandra Monat from Herzensart.

We had a good time in her new studio and as a early birthday present I'm the proud owner of this work. I am so happy, feel like over the moon.
Josephine and Jacques will be my compagnions on my queste; be brave at 40 :)

Take it easy but be brave, Elisa.

Cut out

Cut out, originally uploaded by Tuttebel.

Hello 2009!
Best wishes to my dear blog readers.

Wish you all the power to play, the confidence to feel and just be happy on the path you walk on.

My way feels somewhat hidden and lonely but if I start to play again who knows what wonders are there around the next corner or tree.
I am happy cutting images and thinking about great installations I can make with them ;)

Love and hope, Elisa