Randomness From Around The Web

Creative ideas and mischievous monsters: the pictures on Spielkkind have the power to brighten your day! I follow Kerstin on Instagram (khiesti).

Randomness From Around The Web

This winter is strange. No snow! In between the grey days there are a lot of high temperatures and even sunshine, so I won't complain... but I do miss the snow and the cozy stillness it gives even to a bustling city like Vienna. I haven't given up my hopes yet! Meanwhile I walk around the park in my lunch break and take pictures of the tree silhouettes against the grey sky... I kinda like their graphic quality.

Put those naked branches to use and make a little forest for your living room: Made by Joel shares this adorable idea for a forest building toy!

In winter I always crave Sauerkraut, it's so good, especially paired with heartier meals like sausages or potato dumplings! I have never thought of making my own, but this recipe from The Nourishing Gourmet looks doable.

And to balance all that healthiness, how about some cupcakes with a dreamy Chocolate Swiss Meringue Buttercream?

I recently came across this wonderful magazine: Taproot is an ad free print magazine with beautiful artwork and inspiring articles. It's published quarterly with a subtle theme for each issue - the 2014 themes are BREATHE, SEED, MEND and BREAD and the cover art comes from Geninne Zlatkis! I have shared my love for her art here before. Now I am thinking about getting a subscription... oh, I initially came upon it via Soulemama, the blog of Taproot editor Amanda Blake Soule.

Have you seen the pictures of frozen soap bubbles around the web? Incredibly beautiful!

Randomness From Around The Web

Mud Puddles And Meteors has a great weekly feature on their blog: hitting the trail. The picture above is from the Shackford Head Trail in Eastport, Maine - I want to go outside right now, looking for adventures in the woods and fields!

The best thing to wear on a cold day in October is a snuggly cardigan. I'd like to try my knitting skills on this lovely one, instructions from Brigitte.

Potatoes, squash, apples and onions, sliced thinly and baked under a bubbly parmesan crust - this Autumn Gratin looks absolutely delicious!

And for dessert: "almost healthy pumpkin bars", recipe from Gypsy Forest.

Wild Neighbours

Artist Kai Fagerström took these magical pictures in an abandoned cottage in Finnland and called the series "The House in the Woods". (Found via National Geographic).

Randomness From Around The Web

Look at these little knit Monsters, so cute! Made by artist Anna Hrachovec, found via the CUT magazine blog.

An  autumn favourite: plum streusel cake! This one from german blog Liebesbotschaft looks so good...

Make a lined market bag with instructions from tiny happy for all those lovely vegetables and fruits that can now be found on the farmers markets.

Randomness From Around The Web

I found the party decorations pictured above on Oh Happy Day: the punched tissue paper fans look gorgeous!

Birthdays coming up and lots of presents to wrap? Print your own wrapping paper with free graphics, via Wolves in London.

A great summer salad: Arugula with chicken and strawberries,  from Serendipity (german blog).

This interesting project shows tweets by locals and tourists combined with a map - in Vienna, a lot of people tweet from the airport apparently! Check out your city or just explore the map, it's strangely beautiful! All those little dots...

Life advice: a mother's "posthumous" letter to her daughter."... always remember that, nine times out of ten, you probably aren’t having a full-on nervous breakdown – you just need a cup of tea and a biscuit".

Want to try painting with watercolors? This tutorial on The Alison show is very helpful.

Spotted shoes! so cute. By Dani from High Walls via Drifter And The Gypsy.

Randomness From Around The Web

Summer is here! These hot days call for light and refreshing treats. Ice cream, any one? I love these mix and match popsicles from Oh Happy Day, especially that they made them for a first day of summer-party! Back then it was still too cold here in Austria, but now the sun's out and I could eat one of those right now!

Homemade chocolate sauce that will form a yummy, crackly shell for your ice cream on SHELIKES (german blog).

Beautiful pictures from a family vacation in Positano on A Cup Of Jo - Italy is always a fantastic choice for a great holiday!

Looks like a light and flavorsome summer lunch: Apricot Salsa Quesadillas on Top With Cinnamon.

I love these Creative Paper Lamps from Danish blog BoligLiv (via decor8), and it looks simple enough to do on a sunny afternoon. Let's see, if I can decide on a color and style, maybe I'll give my living room paper globe a makeover this summer!

What a cool DIY idea from Kinsey: this moon phase shirt is beautiful and reminds me of the posters that went around the blogosphere for some time. Always loved the look of this beautiful orb in print, and I think I have to make a shirt like this soon.

A yummy breakfast/lunch/dinner for lovely summer zucchini: Eggs Foo Yung, on A Foothill Companion.

Randomness From Around The Web

Beautiful tissue paper flowers from Emma's bachelorette party on A Beautiful Mess.

Summertime printable gift wrap and tags in cheery colors from Lia Griffith.

Gluten free Summer Recipes from gluten-free-girl and the chef. Mmmmh, the apricot-strawberry cake looks delicious!

An old problem: how to store all those pretty earrings? I still haven't solved it (remember this?)! Luri and Wilma had a great idea: an Earring Organizer made from wooden tags and twine. Pretty and practical!

Free notecard printables from Caravan in lots of awesome designs, hooray! Found on How About Orange.

A gorgeous magenta dip dye tote bag from Kristin Eldrige.

Elder flowers smell wonderful and they have a lot of benefits - find a list of recipes like Elder flower syrup and salve on Emil und die großen Schwestern.

Have you ever done a photo a day challenge? I haven't, but it sounds like fun...

I have been wanting to try ethiopian food ever since my friend N. told me about having it in Paris: you don't use cutlery but a thin sourdough bread called "Injera" to scoop up the ragouts and curries. I think that sounds amazing! And little did I know, there is a presumably great ethiopian place right here in Vienna! It looks very hospitable, there's a coffee ceremony you can have and the flatbread is made from tef, which is gluten free, yay! So, who's hungry?

Congee

I have been wanting to make Congee for a while now. Ever since I've changed my nutrition according to TCM principles a few years ago, I usually eat a warm breakfast: porridge with fruit, soup or vegetable omelets - my stomach loves it! But I hadn't tried this method yet. Then I found a recipe on Ulma's blog and finally got round to it. You basically cook rice (mochi rice or sushi rice or a mixture of both is best) with water in a ratio of 1:10 for up to 4 hours until it is very creamy. Tastes great with fruit and nuts, sprinkled with cinnamon and kardamom, but traditionally (in China) Congee is eaten with meat, fish, vegetables, egg, soy sauce... Some great ideas for combinations can be found here on Frau Ziii's blog. Have to try that soon, I'm thinking toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, some chicken and veggies... yum!

Minty stripes

I'm on instagram now... this pretty candy made my day: so nice and colourful, and they taste of mint and chocolate!
@juko02

Valencia

 

Sunshine, palm trees, eating the most amazing tapas and most of all: spending wonderful days with my friends... the first bachelorette party - so exciting!  Such a beautiful city, I can't wait to come back soon ♡

Randomness From Around The Web

Who doesn't need a giant gold wall decoration? Make one with Hank & Hunt.

Two ingredient cookies? I'm in! Genius recipe from The Burlap Bag.

I love all kinds of street art, and somehow these fall into this category, too: amazing Hong Kong pictures from Christian Åslund found on Honestly... wtf.

My hair is veeeeeery straight and hairpins never stick longer to my head than maybe ten minutes. Maybe this tutorial "How to use a hairpin" will help?

Oooh, very dangerous online shop: because everything looks so pretty! The Human Empire shop from Hamburg sells great posters, accessories, kids stuff, clothes...

Printing with potatoes: we did this all the time when I was little, it's fun! This potato stamped baby towel is just darling, from bloesem kids.

I like baking and cooking with new grains and flours, so these buckwheat waffles from Oh, Ladycakes sound really great - and the pictures are mouthwatering, blueberries, yum!

Randomness From Around The Web

WOW. I'm absolutely blown away by the beautiful pictures from the flower girls series by Irina Bordo for Fashion Gone Rogue, I spied them on Honestly... wtf. The one above kind of reminds me of this painting by Emily W. Martin.

This Kiddo Mr. Fox Tee from Oana Befort is adorable -as is the little boy who's wearing it. Aaaah, kiddie fever! :)

Bird Labels  from Worldlabel, to label things with or get crafty like Ginny from Small Things.

To bring some color into these dreary days: Mixed Media Collar Necklace- DIY from Stripes and Sequins.

Haha, I like the inscription on the first picture here: "Build like a girl"! The Storage benches from Sawdust Girl are so pretty, and it does look doable!

A nice idea to learn new languages or perfect the ones you already know: "Kontaktepool Sprachencafé" (contact pool language café) in Vienna!

A beautifully airy flower pom pin from Lovely Indeed.

A home tour in San Francisco and tips on living in a small space, via A Cup Of Jo.

Easter Projects

I love this rabbit plate! It's from h&m home, they have all kinds of pretty stuff that's easterly but not too kitsch.

These rabbit printed cards from Atelier Cherry also fall into this category: primary colours, simple shapes, no frills - yay!

Miffy inspired easter garland from mini eco and bunny jars in pastel colours from Torie Jayne - spotted on Roboti Liebt (german blog).

Oh Happy Day shares a fun idea to make Easter Fools jello eggs!

Wrap some chocolate in these Origami Rabbit Wrappers and make for a sweet easter surprise.

And if you prefer your origami in 3D:  try folding a bunny like Jessica from How About Orange.

Randomness From Around The Web

American Buffalo Art Print  from The Animal Print Shop. Isn't he impressive?

A beautiful carrot cake from photisserie.

Mmmmmh... this looks so good: the life changing loaf of bread from My New Roots.

Helmut, the beautiful desk lamp from Moss design.

Remember for later: a sweet lullaby that actually works from A Cup Of Jo - even though I do not have any kids (yet), i love reading her Motherhood Monday tips, so sweet.

Looks like fun: make your own pinhole viewbox, from Alphabet Glue, via Ginny from small things.

A cute scallop pouch from monsters circus.

DIY watercolour wedding invitiations from Annika Likes

DIY ribbon/fabric tape spool from Bee-inspired

A pretty mousepad with polka dots from Lovely Indeed.

A Home Tour with Danni Hong on A Beautiful Mess - I love the Kelim Bag so much!

Printable chalkboard gift tags for any occasion, so sweet! From The Elli Blog.

Island dreams

The Rock Restaurant on Zanzibar looks like straight out of a fairy tale, but it actually exists! I would sit on the terrace, overlook the unbelievably turquoise sea and get stuffed on mango salad, gnocchi with vanilla and prawns, grilled fish... I wish I could go right now!

Randomness From Around The Web

Globes are very much loved by the DIY community, for decorating, making lamps etc. This one is made from paper and you can make it yourself. How cool is that?!

Colourful washi tape magnets! From Craft and Creativity.

Blick7 has some pretty cool ideas for candles and lanterns: made from wax and ice cubes or from ice and berries.

Healthy and delicious: Winter Greens and Gruyere Tart with a Cornmeal Millet Crust from  theKitchn.

A great tip for sore throats: Clove Coconut Tea from bleubird.

And something just to enjoy: Homemade Baileys from Tabula Rosi.

This Constellations Scarf from A Beautiful Mess is so pretty!

These silk blouses I spied on A Cup Of Jo are stunning -  Everlane also sells beautiful T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Belts, Bags, Scarves...I love their concept and their less-is-more philosophy, unfortunately they do not ship to Europe (yet)!

Incredibly yummy looking nutella cheesecake bars, wow...

And then I definitely want to make some of these: gold nugget earrings, from Lovely Indeed. So pretty!

A new café in Vienna: Café Francais with very nice breakfast choices ("Luis de fun" or "Catherine Den'œuf" and more!).

A Walk By The Seaside Etsy Treasury

Inspired by one of my favourite Geninne prints: cuddled up in a warm scarf for a walk by the sea, collecting driftwood, sea glass and smooth pebbles, the smell of saltwater and lavender, and afterwards a steaming bowl of hot soup at home. That's what I'm dreaming of right now!

Warm socks and hats for warm feet and ears

I love this simple but cute knitting pattern, looks like little hearts or polka dots :) Above is a detail from my favorite woolly socks, sooo needed right now in this freezing weather!

Although it is a Fair Isle pattern by principle, it is quite easy to knit, here is a how-to.

Or you can download the pattern for this adorable speckled hat from frolic, I found it via Fee ist mein Name.

Also, I have been planning to make some slippers for extra warm feet, here are some ideas:
bootie style slippers made from leather on Verflixt & Zugenäht, or make them out of felt, like here on helpster.

Randomness From Around The Web

Gorgeous Elle Fanning pictures via Honestly... wtf.

Poufs, crochet rugs, pillow covers - and all those wonderful colours! Villka Hilka is a beautiful new online shop, found via Sodapop Design.

Pretty DIY telephone bookends from A Beautiful Mess for your retro bookshelf.

An ingenious spiderweb game for bad weather days, I'm sure not only kids would enjoy this...

Aennie shows on her blog how to make your own freezer paper - so clever!

10 simple things to make you happier at home - definitely should do 2, 4 and 5 more often! Oh, 6 and 10, too. Well, all of them are great tips, and it does not even take a lot of time, big plus for me!

Buy some jewellery making components in the hardware store- for these pretty earrings made with hex nuts for example.

How cool is this: toy factory cocktails with little men frozen inside the glasses!  Over on Everyday Elsie.