postcards from Ljubljana

Dear Friends!

I's been a long time I haven't write you.... my fault...
My days are full - filled with love, happiness and also with some troubles (as it has to be harmony in the world:)
We happily come back from Poland. We had happy, happy. happy time with mum in my beautifull Wrocław. Unfortunately I didn't manage to realize my "Big Plan" of showing to my Husband some other "Very Important Places" like Torun or Warsaw... So exploring other cities we are leaving for next time. Now we are coming back to Slovenian reality....
Slovenia welcomed us with sunny, hot weather and finnaly I feel this beautiful summertime when you are melting somwhere in the shadow and waiting for evening. Ljubljana is amazing in summertime (when the livin' is easy, fish are jumpin' and the cotton is high...;)

And now - glued to my chair and melting from heat I want to share a good news with you:

If you wish to have my postcards please email me: mari.szmatula@gmail.com

Advent wreath, Advent candlestick.

This year we don't have the Advent wreath... But we have The Advent candlestick. And it is very, very simple - ceramic joghurt cups, white candles and a piece of twine - cannot be simplier:)

and I love simplicity:)

p.s. of course there are already two candles burning, but it is a photo I've made last week ;)

two creatures

Lately my days I can titled as "waiting". 

And no - I am not impatient... 

I am just tired a little bit...

But waiting has also it's good points. For example The Time. The time I can spend on many different things. Unfortunately I cannot be as active as I used to be (although I am doing my best). Some of you also know that I am not as sociable as I used to be (don't worry- "I will be back" :). I've found happines in simple, quiet daily living and simple things. As you already know I start to explore sewing. For obvious reasons I started to enjoy sewing toys. And I have to admit one thing: I have really no idea why I haven't discovered it before...?!?!

Today I want to show you some of my last handicrafts (some things I did before you can see HERE, HERE and HERE).

Don't ask me what's this. Isn't it obvious?

Please use your imagination or ask your children - they will explain you everything :)

Polish readers can have some associations with "Bromba i inni", a book by Maciej Wojtyszko and one of characters called Fikander:)

Now those two funny creatures are impatiently waiting to play:)

warning!!!

I have to warn you. 

Our appartment become a very, very dangerous place....

Especially if you are a sock. A lost, lonely sock. 

This is what could happen with your sock if, by chance, you lost it at our place... And be carefull if you have new and pretty socks we are able to "help" them to lost...

This is what happened to my Husband's sock...

cooperation

I love to colaborate with other people. 

I love to cooperate with other artists. 

And I do love when a different kind of art connect in some action. 

So you can imagine how glad I was when I was invited to have my part in a nice project. 

Everything is about connecting visual art and music. 

In a small town in Slovenija called Kočevje (the same in which I was living some time ago), a few nice people gathered, decided to connect local musicians and make together a CD. Every band will introduce one song. But is not the end. Every band was supposed to invite one artist and aked him (or her) to make a visualization of the song. And one evening somwhere in the end of October, I was asked to make a picture for a band called FORŠUS (you can even like the band HERE:).

With pleasure I made some pictures for them inspired by the song titled Zadnja noč, which means The last night. 

Although the picture below was made especially for them, at the end we decided for another one. Which one? For now it is surprise - I will tell you when the project will be ended. 

All songs will be gathered in a CD compilation, and a booklet with all works and illustrations will be included. It will be also an exhibition and a concert in the end of December. I am not sure exactly when but don't worry - I will let you know.

ZADNJA NOČ

Sedi v sobi

gleda v strop

in misli o sanjah

Ki sta jih imela

ki so odšle

ki so že zdavnaj

Zunaj je sonce

notri prijeten mrak

sama si

Ti si sanjala

ni nazaj poti

To je zadnja noc za naju dva

midva se bova zdaj razšla

konec konec je

to je zadnja noc za naju dva

midva se bova zdaj razšla

Svetloba izginja

postaja mrak

sence na zidu

Odsevi spominov

ki iščeš jih

ki upaš še vanje

Koraki v daljavo

odhajajo

upanje izginja

Besede ostale

uničile so vse

sometimes sun, sometimes rain

I like handmade stuff. I do appreciate handmade things.

Handmade presents - they have this special value. 

I like handmade toys. Sometimes I get sick looking at this awful plastic rubbish in shops...I wish our Little One has nice toys and as less plastic as it's possilbe (if nowadays it is possible...) 

As you already know (if you don't just read here), lately I start to enjoy sewing. As I don't have a sewing machine everything is REALLY HANDMADE (and yes, holes in my fingers are the best proof...)

For good start something "to chew" for the Youngest :)
Sun and Cloud. That is life- sometimes sun, sometimes rain.
Learning from the very begining ;-)

a new activity... sewing

Lately I had a very unusuall mess on my desk... 
It reminds me on my grandfather who was a tailor. 
I loved to play in his workshop, hiding in wardrobes full of materials. I loved to explore those shelves filled with threads and needles. Boxes with colorfull gumbs were for me like treasure chests. This specific sound of old, foot-power Singer sewing mahine and my gradnfather wearing his thick glasses, patiently bending over cloth patterns...
I start to enjoy a new activity - SEWING. I' ve started my adventure with...toys :) I am not sure in which direction it will evolve but for now I really enjoy it:) I have so many ideas in my head...stay tuned. New things are coming!

Castle hill

This Saturday we had a very nice weather. Sun was shining (shortly, but it was:) and it was really amazing light. Finally we could go outside and enjoy a little bit more time on fresh air without getting wet or running noses. Because lately I'm more "rolling" then walking, we decided to spend our afternoon somwhere near by the city centre and admire view from the castle hill. 

It was so nice to (st)roll around in the autumn leaves :)

Some views from rolling up the hill.

Here like a little, pinky budda ;-)

and we saw a Christmas tree with a real STAR on the top!

and one of my favourite places and views on the castle hill

all photos by my Husband.