Magic Times

Cel mai mult si mai mult imi face placere (de fapt ne face amandurora, atat mie cat si lui Valentin) sa participam la evenimente, targuri si festivaluri si sa interactionam cu oameni noi si luminosi care apreciaza ce facem. Anul acesta a fost incarcat cu experiente minunate si ne-am bucurat sa fim parte din multe intamplari frumoase.
In weekendul trecut am ajuns la Bucuresti, departe de casa, dar plini de energie si voie buna si impreuna cu prietenii nostri de le Primitiv Foods am amenajat un stand cu care ne-am mandrit: cercei, brose, decoratiuni pentru Craciun, lucrate manual, absint natural, distilat cu grija din alcool de fructe si plante culese din natura darnica, miere dulce si parfumata, felicitari mesterite cu drag si un ceai aromat din plante cultivate si culese din flora spontana.

EN: What I love most (actually what I and Valentin both love most) is to be part of events, markets and festivals and interact with new and shinny people that appreciate what we create. This year was filled with wonderful experiences and we were glad to be part of beautiful stories.
Last weekend we went to Bucharest, far from home, but bursting with energy and good vibes and together with our friends from Primitiv Foods we put together a nice stall: earrings, pins, Christmas ornaments, all handmade, natural absinthe, carefully distilled from fruits alcohol and hand-picked plants, sweet and flavored honey, creative cards and a beautifully scented tea, made from garden grown and wild medicinal plants. 

The Season to be Jolly

Nici nu stiu cand luna noiembrie s-a topit intr-un decembrie de basm, cu zapada si turturi de gheata. Si mi-am zis ca e momentul potrivit sa scot in lume decoratiunile de brad din acest an. Cumva, stand la tara, inspiratia a venit din multele sate din imprejurimi, cu ale lor casute mici si pitoresti si cu imaginea focului care trosneste in soba pe care s-a toalnit motanul, cu mirosul de paine calda si senzatia de timp care se dilata.

EN: I can't even say when November melted into a fairy tale December, with snow and ice hanging on the roof. And I realized it's about time to take out this year's Christmas ornaments. I believe that living at the country side, I got inspired by the so many villages from around, with their small houses, where the wood fire burns in the big clay stoves, where a white cat purrs lazy and it smells of fresh baked bread and the feeling of slowing down completes the picture.

 Ne-am bucurat de zilele iernatice si am testat putin masina in weekend, urcand pana la proaspat redeschisa Cabana Rarau. Si am faut bine, pentru ca peisajul care ne-a intampinat a fost spectaculos. Padurea de brazi acoperita cu cea mai alba si curata zapada si linistea rece care domnea in regatul zapezii ne-au deconectat pur si simplu de la orice stres sau gand galagios.

EN: We enjoyed the wintery days and tested a little the car this weekend with a trip to the newly re-opened Rarau Cabin. And it felt the right thing, because the landscape we found was spectacular. The pine forest covered in the whitest and cleanest snow and the cold quietness that ruled the ice land took us far from any noisy thought or stress.

Daca ajungeti iarna in Bucovina, nu ezitati sa faceti drumul pana la Pietrele Doamnei si sa mancati un bors de pastrav.
EN: If you arrive in Bucovina during winter time, take a trip to Rarau, it's worthy.

Busy Season

Cam asa arata si ultimele decoratiuni care au iesit din atelier. Am pictat si anul acesta fete care se bucura de iarna, fie afara, fara sa le pese de gerul care musca, fie la caldura si savurand momentele de tihna.
Inca nu am ajuns la momentul meu de tihna si pictez neintrerupt (poate doar cu pauze, cat sa privesc motanelul care se da in spectacol sau sa framant painica:), dar mi-am dat seama ca ocupatia asta care imi ia mult din timp, imi e draga tare si n-as face altfel. Azi am multumit in gand, cu bucurie, pentru norocul de a fi unde imi doresc si de a fi impacata cu alegerile pe care le fac. Cred ca e cel mai important si totul se asaza exact cum trebuie atunci cand faci cum crezi.

EN: This is how the last Christmas ornaments that have left the workshop look like. I painted this year too girls who are enjoying winter, either outside, without caring about the deep cold or inside, enjoying their moments of relax.
I haven't arrived at my moment of quietness, yet and I paint all day long (maybe with short brakes, to watch the cat fooling around or to bake the bread), but I realized that this is what I enjoy most to do and I wouldn't change it. Today I thanked joyful in my mind for being lucky enough to be ok with my choices and to be exactly where I want to. I believe that it's the most important thing and everything sets into place when you're heart is at ease.

Love is the Answer

Putin cate putin ne apropiem de sfarsitul anului, chiar daca iarna s-a aratat doar pentru cateva zile. Acum parca s-ar pregati primavara, desi calendarul e categoric: am intrat in iarna! Mos Nicolae e primul care vesteste anotimpul de poveste si pe noi ne-a gasit inconurati de oameni dragi si voie buna.
Mi-e tot mai clar in ultima vreme, uitandu-ma in jur, povestind cu prietenii, urmarind oameni necunoscuti pe strada, ca simtim cu totii nevoia de apropiere, de vorbe bune, de priviri calde; ca ne lipseste iubirea celui de langa noi si sentimentul de siguranta. Cred sincer ca singurul mod in care putem sa "vindecam" lumea sau mai bine zis sa ne vindecam pe noi e fiind blanzi si iubitori cu toti cei din jur. Noi, copiii, cu parintii nostri, pe care de multe ori nu mai avem rabdarea sa ii ascultam, ii privim ca pe niste fiinte invechite care vorbesc despre vremuri ce nu mai sunt de actualitate si uitam ca, in esenta, ei vor doar sa fim bine. Parintii cu noi, fara sa ne judece, sa ne ceara sau sa ne compare. Noi cu toti cei din jur, prieteni sau necunoscuti... Si e atat de simplu si binefacator: sa fim buni unii cu ceilalti, de dimineata pana seara, oricand si oricat.

EN: Little by little we are approaching the year's end, although the signs of winter were very fade. Now it feels like spring time is here, but the calendar is sure: it's clearly winter time! Saint Nicholas is the first one that tells about the magical season and we celebrated him surrounded by dear people and happy mood.
It seems so clear lately, looking around, talking t o friends, watching strangers on the street, that we all feel the need to get closer, to hear nice words, to receive warm looks; that we miss the love of the people near to us and the feeling of security. I sincerely believe that the only way to "heal" the world or better to heal ourselves is by being kind and loving to everybody around us. Us, the children, to our parents, that sometimes we don't have the patience to listen to, see them as old machines that talk about times that no longer exist and forget that, in the end, they only want us to be ok. The parents to us, without judging, demanding or comparing. Us, to everybody around, friends or strangers...And it is so easy and good: be nice to ecahother, from morning until evening, anytime and as much as needed.

Angels

Cam asa arata primele ornamente din acest an. Putin mai devreme, dar nu atat cat planuiam:)
Am pictat ingeri-zane-fete bune, ca sa trimita ganduri bune si iubire spre toata lumea, acum cand avem atata nevoie de intelegere.

EN: This is how my first Christmas ornaments look like. A little earlier, but not as early as I wished. I've painted angels-fairies-good girls, so that they send positive vibes and love to everybody, now when we need understanding more than anything.

Daca tot s-a lasat frigul (chiar gerul, acum cad scriu), ne-am gandit ca un muzeu e un mod placut de petrecut duminca, asa ca ne-am indreptat spre Suceava si am ales sa vizitam Hanul Domnesc.
Si a meritat.

EN: Now that it's quite cold, we thought that a museum is a nice way of spending our Sunday afternoon, so we headed to Suceava to visit "Hanul Domnesc" ("The Royal Inn").
And it was worth it.

Vazand obiectele din patrimoniul muzeului: obiecte casnice din materiale naturale (mese, scaune, farfurii, cuptoare, tesaturi, linguri), toate sculptate, pictate mi-am dat seama ca oamenii percepeau altfel viata si timpul. Isi infrumusetau lucrurile din jur, stiau sa coasa, sa teasa, sa picteze, sa modeleze, sa gateasca, sa construiasca, practic faceau totul cu mainile lor, din roadele pamantului. Simteau ritmul naturii, il respectau si cred ca traiau mai fericiti.

EN: Seeing the objects from the museum: household stuff made from natural materials (tables, chairs, plates, stoves, clothes, spoons), all embellished, hand-carved, painted, I realized that people must have perceived life and time so differently than we do. They made their everyday objects beautiful, they knew how to stitch, weave,paint, use the clay, cook, build, practically they were doing everything with their hands, using only the gifts from the land. They felt the rhythm of the nature, respecting it and I believe they lived more happily.

Asta este o pompa de bere "vintage".

EN: A vintage beer pump.

Cat de frumos aratau odaile, cu mobila din lemn incrustat, cu tesaturi din lana, piei de animale...
EN: How beautiful the rooms were, with wooden furniture, hand-carved, with wool blankets and animal skins...

A fost o bucurie sa vizitam Hanul Domnesc si am plecat de acolo plini de inspiratie si cu o liniste placuta in suflet.
EN: It's been such a joy to visit the Inn and we left the place inspired and filled with quietness.

Looking For The Summer

Plecati in cautarea verii, suntem mereu conectati cu "acasa", cu ce se intampla in Romania, cu oamenii frumosi si dragi care, desi sunt departe, ne trimit gandurile bune peste ocean. Si stiu ca acolo ninge si se simte apropierea Sarbatorilor de iarna (aici sunt semne mai putine si daca ne indepartam de zonele aglomerate, nici macar o reclama legata de Craciun:). Asa ca m-am pus pe treaba si am pictat cateva ornamente pentru pomul de Craciun, asa, ca sa imi amintesc atmosfera.

Anul trecut au fost "domnisoarele cochete", anul acesta le-am creat perechi, "haiducii curajosi".

Le-am pictat pe terasa insorita, privind inspre ocean, la 25 de grade. Si ma amuzam gandindu-ma ca am putea impodobi si noi un palmier (un cactus parca nu s-ar potrivi:)

Bijuurile, tricourile si sacosele pe care le aveam deja pictate s-au odihnit cateva zile la malul oceanului, in Spaghetti Bay, locul despre care am mai scris.

 Am avut si o "taraba", unde Adela, un personaj-om minunat, pe care am cunoscut-o aici, printre curajosii care stau la cort sau in locuinte-pesteri isi prezenta colierele. Asa ca ne-am combinat foarte usor si le-am oferit turistilor care vizitau zona o mostra de arta .

Asa arata comunitatea oamenilor liberi din La Caleta (straini sau localnici, care au ajuns pe insula si nu si-au dorit hotel sau cazare de lux, ci s-au hoatarat sa isi cunoasca limitele infruntand si savurand natura Canarelor).

Viata are un ritm foarte lent pentu ei si se imparte intre bai in ocean, pregatit mancarea si cea mai importanta activitate: procurarea apei potabile. Aici nu sunt izvoare sau rauri, doar oceanul, sarat, iar clima e uscata. Niciunul nu se plange, dar exista si un pret pentru un peisaj spectaculos.

Am avut si noi intentia sa ne mutam cu cortul pe coasta, pentru o saptamana, cel putin, pana cand am trecut printr-o patanie destul de ciudata, care ne-a schimbat perspectiva.
  Experienta cu nomazii l-a costat pe unul dintre noi un stafilococ ciudat, de zona tropicala, care abia astepta sa se cazeze in zgarieturile daruite de cactusi. "Victima" a numit bacteria "muscatura de Caleta", dupa numele localitatii. Nu a fost singurul care a patit-o, pentru ca si cei care locuiau acolo se luptau cu infectia. Ciudatenia prolifereaza in zonele calde, unde apa lipseste si le da batai serioase de cap celor pe care ii atinge. Un localnic ne-a sfatuit sa mergem in nord (zona pe care n-am apucat sa o vizitam, dar despre care stim ca are altfel de vegetatie, izvoare si ploua destul de des), pentru ca la frig si apa dulce, infectia va da inapoi.
 Asa ca povestea va merge mai departe si drumul, pare-se, spre nord


EN:
Being away in such a far place, which by chance is a tropical one, means that what happens home is also very far. Like so is the snow which recently covered Romania, the minus temperatures or even the Christmas comercials that are all over now. But still, our dear ones keep us in touch with the country and send us good vibes. I felt like I want to paint something specific for the winter holidays and created these Christmas tree decorationes. They gave me such a feeling of fresh snow, although they were crafted in a warm place, with ocean view and 25 degrees Celsius weather:)
Part of the items I've created found their place on a small table, next to other handmade necklaces, somewhere on the shore, in the Spaghetti Bay. Adela was nice enough to arrange and watch them, so that tourists passing by would have a small art display they could enjoy.
She is living in this place since 5 weeks, along with other free people, tourists or locals, who decided they want time off from the fuss. Their days pass by slow ("tranquilla" is the master verb here), between baths in the ocean, cooking and the most important activity: bringing fresh water.
Nature is spectacular in this place and maybe a little harsh, for humans, that is. We found this on our skin (ok, his skin, cause so far mine is intact), when contracted a bacteria. It seemes that this stafilococ likes warm, dry places. It gets in the open wounds (even a small scratc), infects them and than eats through flesh (quite ugly). But locals told us that if you go in a colder area, such as the north, where there is more fresh water, it will bea easily to cure.
So, our adventure goes on, towards the shown dirrection:)

Decoratiuni.Partea a 3-a

Si am ajuns si la seria "domnisoarelor prin zapada":) Un grup de 5 ornamente (cu diametrul mare de 7 cm si cel mic de 5 cm), pictate asemenea unor ilustratii, care infatiseaza 5 fete dragalase si cochete care infrunta gerul si viscolul cu gingasie si eleganta.

Domnisoara Verde, careia o pala puternica de vant i-a imprastiat pe jos delicatesele.

Domnisoara Galbena, care se indreapta cu grija spre casa cu un cadou pentru cineva drag (e polei pe jos si trebuie sa fie foarte atenta).

Domnisoara Mov, care rontaie delicat un covrig cu susan auriu, in timp ce prietenul ei, Motanul, o priveste pofticios.

Domnisoara Roz, plecata la colindat.

Si domnsioara Albastra, care si-a facut mila de bietele pasarele pe care le-a prins frigul si le hraneste tacticoasa cu firimituri.
 Sper ca Timpul sa imi dea ragaz sa apuc sa pun in practica si restul de idei de ornamente pe care le-am notat. Dar de departe, acestea 5 sunt preferatele mele:)