My first craft challenge

Yes!!! It's November 1st in my timezone...

LiLi M. proudly presents:

'Masked people can and will be removed from the picture':



To have a better view, just click on the picture!

Have an inspiring day, LiLi M.

My first craft challenge

Yes!!! It's November 1st in my timezone...

LiLi M. proudly presents:

'Masked people can and will be removed from the picture':



To have a better view, just click on the picture!

Have an inspiring day, LiLi M.

The Siren of the flea-market

When I was a child my parents were collecting antiques. I guess it was the first nostalgia wave in the early seventies. Oh my, how I hated these antique shows! But sometimes I saw something that would really catch me, like those antique china dolls. I tried to persuade my mother to buy some, but she preferred some antiques one could really use like a clock or some candle holders.

When I was about 12 I caught the bug as well. On Mondays after school I visited the flea-market, which was a part of the bigger regular daily market. And since then it has become a kind of addiction. I think I'm not the only one around here. Nowadays I go to flea-markets or fairs whenever I get the chance. Every Tuesday there is a flea-market in a nearby city.
Lastly it starts every monday night. I keep hearing that voice:' LiLi, LiLi M. do your hear me? There are bargains....Bargains come and get them...it has to be the Siren who calls me, just like she called all those shippers to the coast, she lures me to the market. Oooooh I cannot resist that voice. Oh that thrill of the hunt. So today I went again.



Though I couldn't resist the voice, I arrived way too late at the market (thanks to the dutch railway society). It was very cold, that's not good, but rain is a disaster. When it rains you'd better stay home as the dealers are staying home as well. So I have little treasures to show you. And I even cannot show them all, because I have bought a present as well. The little brown paper rings will be used for crafting tags. As I bought them the little box fell over and about 500 of the 1000 rings escaped, gone with the wind! (After I have paid for them of course!)


The cologne bottle (still full of fragrance) with box is part of a collection, you see (above). It's an adventure to discover new parts again and again.


Hoops and bar loops are also a small collection! You're not surprised I always can find something that I can use...are you?


Just what was missing in my studio; a clasp to hold some cards, that are waiting to be used in some projects. I have piles of them. I started to collect them when I first started collecting old stuff at the age of 12. But I have send some to nice people..of course...I like it when somebody gives a treasure from a by gone era to me too. By the way that lovely box on top of this blog report is a present from the lovely Mrs. H.

While I have little to show you this week, let's look at some of last weeks' bargains too;
Well I have to admit that sometimes I pretend not to hear that Siren's call. At those moments I'm dying without flowers and/ or some herbs, vegetables, candy you name it. Last week I just needed some hydrangeas, as my crown in the kitchen has turned pale after a year. In my hometown I couldn't get them anymore so I went to the market. Pfff went there for flowers this time, not for some second hand junk or anything, what a relief!


* Flowers bought at the market at a very good price, that's an advantage of the market too. Unlike in shops the dealers at the market give you a fair discount when you buy a lot of flowers!! And I needed a lot as the crown is big.


* before; pale crown


*and after; a fresh crown! I have made this crown on a straw model. I have used pins (yes the ones you use for sewing) to attach the flowers. I know that there are a kind of clamps especially made for this purpose. I can tell you even better; I do have those clamps, but where are they? All I could remember that I couldn't find those things last year and I was wondering how on earth did I make that crown at that time? When the crown came off I saw the pins, so I haven't searched for the clamps this year either. Pins are ok.

Ok. That was a little side path. I do that all the time in daily life as well.
And now for some other bargains:


*I bought this enamelware coffeepot, is it really a problem that this pot doesn't fit with my collection of white (as you can see this is a kind of creamy color) and blue enamelware? I don't think so!


And this is an awesome find. These are 800and something of pages with advertisements in a volume of a dutch magazine, Year 1918! I just love it! While the cover is missing I've paid an unbelievable low price. It's loaded an loaded with those funny images, I will show you more in the near future.

Whether it's working with the mac computer or anything else, I don't know, but somehow I just cannot upload pictures from other people to the right margin of my blog. I have tried for hours, loosing my good humour, mmm almost loosing my senses. Now I will place Beachy's picture in this post for the time being. I just want to tell you that I'm joining a craft challenge for the first time. It is hosted by Beachy (at http://beachyscapecodcupboard.blogspot.com) by the way, making a hidden url isn't possible with my navigation system (Safari) either. Results of the challenge will be published November 1st, but mine is already ready!! I'm so excited!



Have an inspiring day. Do listen to that Siren, it will give you so much pleasure!

The Siren of the flea-market

When I was a child my parents were collecting antiques. I guess it was the first nostalgia wave in the early seventies. Oh my, how I hated these antique shows! But sometimes I saw something that would really catch me, like those antique china dolls. I tried to persuade my mother to buy some, but she preferred some antiques one could really use like a clock or some candle holders.

When I was about 12 I caught the bug as well. On Mondays after school I visited the flea-market, which was a part of the bigger regular daily market. And since then it has become a kind of addiction. I think I'm not the only one around here. Nowadays I go to flea-markets or fairs whenever I get the chance. Every Tuesday there is a flea-market in a nearby city.
Lastly it starts every monday night. I keep hearing that voice:' LiLi, LiLi M. do your hear me? There are bargains....Bargains come and get them...it has to be the Siren who calls me, just like she called all those shippers to the coast, she lures me to the market. Oooooh I cannot resist that voice. Oh that thrill of the hunt. So today I went again.



Though I couldn't resist the voice, I arrived way too late at the market (thanks to the dutch railway society). It was very cold, that's not good, but rain is a disaster. When it rains you'd better stay home as the dealers are staying home as well. So I have little treasures to show you. And I even cannot show them all, because I have bought a present as well. The little brown paper rings will be used for crafting tags. As I bought them the little box fell over and about 500 of the 1000 rings escaped, gone with the wind! (After I have paid for them of course!)


The cologne bottle (still full of fragrance) with box is part of a collection, you see (above). It's an adventure to discover new parts again and again.


Hoops and bar loops are also a small collection! You're not surprised I always can find something that I can use...are you?


Just what was missing in my studio; a clasp to hold some cards, that are waiting to be used in some projects. I have piles of them. I started to collect them when I first started collecting old stuff at the age of 12. But I have send some to nice people..of course...I like it when somebody gives a treasure from a by gone era to me too. By the way that lovely box on top of this blog report is a present from the lovely Mrs. H.

While I have little to show you this week, let's look at some of last weeks' bargains too;
Well I have to admit that sometimes I pretend not to hear that Siren's call. At those moments I'm dying without flowers and/ or some herbs, vegetables, candy you name it. Last week I just needed some hydrangeas, as my crown in the kitchen has turned pale after a year. In my hometown I couldn't get them anymore so I went to the market. Pfff went there for flowers this time, not for some second hand junk or anything, what a relief!


* Flowers bought at the market at a very good price, that's an advantage of the market too. Unlike in shops the dealers at the market give you a fair discount when you buy a lot of flowers!! And I needed a lot as the crown is big.


* before; pale crown


*and after; a fresh crown! I have made this crown on a straw model. I have used pins (yes the ones you use for sewing) to attach the flowers. I know that there are a kind of clamps especially made for this purpose. I can tell you even better; I do have those clamps, but where are they? All I could remember that I couldn't find those things last year and I was wondering how on earth did I make that crown at that time? When the crown came off I saw the pins, so I haven't searched for the clamps this year either. Pins are ok.

Ok. That was a little side path. I do that all the time in daily life as well.
And now for some other bargains:


*I bought this enamelware coffeepot, is it really a problem that this pot doesn't fit with my collection of white (as you can see this is a kind of creamy color) and blue enamelware? I don't think so!


And this is an awesome find. These are 800and something of pages with advertisements in a volume of a dutch magazine, Year 1918! I just love it! While the cover is missing I've paid an unbelievable low price. It's loaded an loaded with those funny images, I will show you more in the near future.

Whether it's working with the mac computer or anything else, I don't know, but somehow I just cannot upload pictures from other people to the right margin of my blog. I have tried for hours, loosing my good humour, mmm almost loosing my senses. Now I will place Beachy's picture in this post for the time being. I just want to tell you that I'm joining a craft challenge for the first time. It is hosted by Beachy (at http://beachyscapecodcupboard.blogspot.com) by the way, making a hidden url isn't possible with my navigation system (Safari) either. Results of the challenge will be published November 1st, but mine is already ready!! I'm so excited!



Have an inspiring day. Do listen to that Siren, it will give you so much pleasure!

And the winner is...

Today we are going to find out who the winner is of that awesome Cath Kidston book. I' ve made little papers with the 45 participants. 44 girls and one guy. A few of them haven't commented my blog here, but they used the picasa-forum (about 6) or gave comment in my personal mailbox (about 3). My roommate Eugene, who should be changing hats this moment, as he always does twice a year, has lent me his top hat before changing it with his summer Maurice Chevalier hat. Thanks for cooperation Eugene!


*Eugene with summer hat.


*Eugene's winter hat

Another roommate, Cecile, is insisting on being a member of the jury, so you all know it's going to be a fair drawing.
Now there could be the sound of drums, but I was planning to make it an illusionists' show, so were having Carl Orff (Carmina Burana) in the background. I don't think disappearing and appearing of that hat does show well in photo's, however ;-))




And now for the moment of truth the winner is: (you are listening to the choirs in the Carmina Burana right now):







Elizabeth ( Sweet roses and vintage chique)!! (http://sweetrosesandvintagechic.blogspot.com)
I don't know if anybody can read this! Just click on the image!

Ah she deserves it!! Congratulations Elizabeth!

Ok that's that. Tomorrow I will publish a post about flea-market finds. Thanks for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

And the winner is...

Today we are going to find out who the winner is of that awesome Cath Kidston book. I' ve made little papers with the 45 participants. 44 girls and one guy. A few of them haven't commented my blog here, but they used the picasa-forum (about 6) or gave comment in my personal mailbox (about 3). My roommate Eugene, who should be changing hats this moment, as he always does twice a year, has lent me his top hat before changing it with his summer Maurice Chevalier hat. Thanks for cooperation Eugene!


*Eugene with summer hat.


*Eugene's winter hat

Another roommate, Cecile, is insisting on being a member of the jury, so you all know it's going to be a fair drawing.
Now there could be the sound of drums, but I was planning to make it an illusionists' show, so were having Carl Orff (Carmina Burana) in the background. I don't think disappearing and appearing of that hat does show well in photo's, however ;-))




And now for the moment of truth the winner is: (you are listening to the choirs in the Carmina Burana right now):







Elizabeth ( Sweet roses and vintage chique)!! (http://sweetrosesandvintagechic.blogspot.com)
I don't know if anybody can read this! Just click on the image!

Ah she deserves it!! Congratulations Elizabeth!

Ok that's that. Tomorrow I will publish a post about flea-market finds. Thanks for stopping by. Have an inspiring day!

Blog action day; the environment

Do you see the light?




Hi all,

Today October 15th is blog action day. About 15.000 bloggers around the world will take part and are all publishing about the same subject today; the environment. I was planning to take part in the action too. Talking about saving energy and supplies...well now I am out of energy myself! I slept too short last night. So this will probably be a short post. For obvious reasons I will not explain the importance of this subject; perhaps other bloggers do. Let's just see what I still can do today to save our environment and perhaps there is something that you can do too.

1. Plastic Bags

From now on I will keep two plastic bags (neatly folded) in my bag, so I don't need to take anymore plastic and paper bags from the shop into this house. I wasn't buying those plastic bags in the supermarket anymore already, but from now on I will refuse those bags in shops like shoe shops, where they never ask if you want to have a bag, you just get one. I will only accept a new plastic bag if it's a very very nice one. Then I will save that bag the rest of my life...do you know I still have lovely plastic bags from Mac & Maggie's, my favourite fashion shop in the early 80-ties? My husband gets one plastic bag (also neatly folded) in his coat. He doesn't know yet that he is subject of my very good plans.

* Looking for one of these nice Mac & Maggie bags from the 80ties, I found out that I even saved some ugly Mac& Maggie bags from that era too!!



2. Don't computer all day

I will not keep the computer in sleeping position all day (and peeking every 10 minutes). I will do lots of craftwork while I don't computer that much anymore. Let's warn the children as well. Just use that off-button!

3. Save energy by using the right lightbulbs

*Do they exist? Energy saving lightbulbs that really look like these?

I'm going to buy more of those long lasting and energy-saving light bulbs. Nowadays there are soft toned ones and these don't look as hideous anymore as before. And I am going to find out if there are these kind of bulbs that will fit in a chandelier AND fit with that chandelier considering looks. If I cannot find these I will write a letter to at least one long lasting light bulbmanufacturer to ask when we can expect those beautiful longlasting bulbs disguised as flames. That's a promise.

* 30-ties lamp with new softtoned energy-saving light bulb. We replaced 4 today

4. Recycling
*before
*after

I just love recycling. Making new out of old. I hate throwing away things. I guess I was a very poor girl in a former life. I love about everything and almost everything has some potential to me. I have to force myself to throw away used paper from packages. I always save every matchbox and every shoebox and to be frank every other box as well. I even want to save those nets from oranges, you can use them to wrap gifts. And of course we use things other people just throw away. I always use empty jars and empty bottles. I pick up things from the street as well. I've found a lovely table and I took it home by bike. It looks lovely in the garden. Picking up isn't fun only, it's free and it downsizes that enormous garbage mountain we are all contributing to.

*free table!

5. Let's save energy by lowering the temperature in our house

If we can ever find out where the manual of the central heating system is and b. how you can program our thermostat then we will try to program it minus 0.5 degree, so instead of 20 degrees Celsius we will program the thermostat at 19,5 degrees. Perhaps it will hardly be noticeable. It could save us all a lot of energy. I'll keep you informed about this one.

6. Vegetarian meals

I will try to eat at least one vegetarian meal a week. Did you know that a vegetarian meal will cost about 8 times less ground, energy and supplies than a portion of meat for one person? So a cow has to eat 8 times as much as you would, if you just could ate that grass, so to speak, but of course you can eat other vegetables. Did you know that if we were all vegetarians there wouldn't have to be a food problem in the third world? Mmmm something to think about....

7. Cars and groceries

A lot of people I know just use their cars for doing groceries at these cheap large stores at the end of the town. I guess it would be much cheaper and much more friendly to our environment if they all went more often to their little supermarket in their neighbourhood. Of course I'm talking now about the dutch situation in towns like my town and I am talking about people who don't work full time. When I quit working I still did my groceries once a week. But after a while I started visiting my small 'Spar' shop around the corner almost everyday. I just love it. Everybody knows you. The boss Simon is a person who will answer your questions, help you, order for you or explain to you why he hasn't got that large jar of peanutbutter anymore. He never pretends that he doesn't see you, nor will he answer your question with; "If it's not on the shelf, we don't have it anymore." Now one of the shopassistents is going to marry and she has hung her wedding announcement at the cashiers corner. I like that. Perhaps you can consider to visit your shop around the corner more often, they will appreciate your visit and every time you don't use your car, it helps because that time you will not warm up the earth more. It really isn't that more expensive...you should calculate what that drive to the cheap megastore really costs! And I as I shop more often I don't throw away as much AND I use a freezer and a fridge less than I was used to. All contributing to saving on energy.

*Do you still have those jars Simon? I need them in my little studio.

8. Cut down that paper hill...

I was talking about the garbage mountain already. Part of that is paper hill. I will try to register to as many email newsletters as possible and put a sticker on our postbox that I don't want to receive those paper bulletins anymore.

*Once a cardboard shoebox, now a memento box for baby J. who sent us almost the same birth announcement.

Well 8 is my lucky number...

I'm done, I'm going to sleep...

All bloggers unite, we can change the world!!! Let's make it a better place!

Blog action day; the environment

Do you see the light?




Hi all,

Today October 15th is blog action day. About 15.000 bloggers around the world will take part and are all publishing about the same subject today; the environment. I was planning to take part in the action too. Talking about saving energy and supplies...well now I am out of energy myself! I slept too short last night. So this will probably be a short post. For obvious reasons I will not explain the importance of this subject; perhaps other bloggers do. Let's just see what I still can do today to save our environment and perhaps there is something that you can do too.

1. Plastic Bags

From now on I will keep two plastic bags (neatly folded) in my bag, so I don't need to take anymore plastic and paper bags from the shop into this house. I wasn't buying those plastic bags in the supermarket anymore already, but from now on I will refuse those bags in shops like shoe shops, where they never ask if you want to have a bag, you just get one. I will only accept a new plastic bag if it's a very very nice one. Then I will save that bag the rest of my life...do you know I still have lovely plastic bags from Mac & Maggie's, my favourite fashion shop in the early 80-ties? My husband gets one plastic bag (also neatly folded) in his coat. He doesn't know yet that he is subject of my very good plans.

* Looking for one of these nice Mac & Maggie bags from the 80ties, I found out that I even saved some ugly Mac& Maggie bags from that era too!!



2. Don't computer all day

I will not keep the computer in sleeping position all day (and peeking every 10 minutes). I will do lots of craftwork while I don't computer that much anymore. Let's warn the children as well. Just use that off-button!

3. Save energy by using the right lightbulbs

*Do they exist? Energy saving lightbulbs that really look like these?

I'm going to buy more of those long lasting and energy-saving light bulbs. Nowadays there are soft toned ones and these don't look as hideous anymore as before. And I am going to find out if there are these kind of bulbs that will fit in a chandelier AND fit with that chandelier considering looks. If I cannot find these I will write a letter to at least one long lasting light bulbmanufacturer to ask when we can expect those beautiful longlasting bulbs disguised as flames. That's a promise.

* 30-ties lamp with new softtoned energy-saving light bulb. We replaced 4 today

4. Recycling
*before
*after

I just love recycling. Making new out of old. I hate throwing away things. I guess I was a very poor girl in a former life. I love about everything and almost everything has some potential to me. I have to force myself to throw away used paper from packages. I always save every matchbox and every shoebox and to be frank every other box as well. I even want to save those nets from oranges, you can use them to wrap gifts. And of course we use things other people just throw away. I always use empty jars and empty bottles. I pick up things from the street as well. I've found a lovely table and I took it home by bike. It looks lovely in the garden. Picking up isn't fun only, it's free and it downsizes that enormous garbage mountain we are all contributing to.

*free table!

5. Let's save energy by lowering the temperature in our house

If we can ever find out where the manual of the central heating system is and b. how you can program our thermostat then we will try to program it minus 0.5 degree, so instead of 20 degrees Celsius we will program the thermostat at 19,5 degrees. Perhaps it will hardly be noticeable. It could save us all a lot of energy. I'll keep you informed about this one.

6. Vegetarian meals

I will try to eat at least one vegetarian meal a week. Did you know that a vegetarian meal will cost about 8 times less ground, energy and supplies than a portion of meat for one person? So a cow has to eat 8 times as much as you would, if you just could ate that grass, so to speak, but of course you can eat other vegetables. Did you know that if we were all vegetarians there wouldn't have to be a food problem in the third world? Mmmm something to think about....

7. Cars and groceries

A lot of people I know just use their cars for doing groceries at these cheap large stores at the end of the town. I guess it would be much cheaper and much more friendly to our environment if they all went more often to their little supermarket in their neighbourhood. Of course I'm talking now about the dutch situation in towns like my town and I am talking about people who don't work full time. When I quit working I still did my groceries once a week. But after a while I started visiting my small 'Spar' shop around the corner almost everyday. I just love it. Everybody knows you. The boss Simon is a person who will answer your questions, help you, order for you or explain to you why he hasn't got that large jar of peanutbutter anymore. He never pretends that he doesn't see you, nor will he answer your question with; "If it's not on the shelf, we don't have it anymore." Now one of the shopassistents is going to marry and she has hung her wedding announcement at the cashiers corner. I like that. Perhaps you can consider to visit your shop around the corner more often, they will appreciate your visit and every time you don't use your car, it helps because that time you will not warm up the earth more. It really isn't that more expensive...you should calculate what that drive to the cheap megastore really costs! And I as I shop more often I don't throw away as much AND I use a freezer and a fridge less than I was used to. All contributing to saving on energy.

*Do you still have those jars Simon? I need them in my little studio.

8. Cut down that paper hill...

I was talking about the garbage mountain already. Part of that is paper hill. I will try to register to as many email newsletters as possible and put a sticker on our postbox that I don't want to receive those paper bulletins anymore.

*Once a cardboard shoebox, now a memento box for baby J. who sent us almost the same birth announcement.

Well 8 is my lucky number...

I'm done, I'm going to sleep...

All bloggers unite, we can change the world!!! Let's make it a better place!