Art is long, life is short

The secret of art is: make as much as you can. Even if it all seems to be nonsense, good for nothing, not new at all, carry on.
It's never too late for a happy childhood! ;) And: Everybody's got the right to make a fool of him/herself!











Because I don't want to use the original, I started with copies, but it's not the same.



I love that "Sepia" und "Walnut stain" ink, I am using, it makes the paper look really old.


Isn't that a great sentence? Art is long, life is short.

My friend Videbitis works in a library, he's sent me tons of old library cards and as a "thankyou" I made this little "Nonsense"-Book called "good for nothing" from these cards, it was great fun.

About writing a diary

I've started a German blogging group about "The artist's way" by Julia Cameron.


Which means morning pages, which means that I am now writing morning pages, my private diary and a blog diary (on my German blog). Such a lot of writing, but I love it.

A journal/diary has to be a safe place, a home, where you can be as you are, no censors allowed, a sacred space out of normal everydaydoing.


Where does it come from, this strong urge to write? I don't know, but I am writing since I am able to do. Writing diary started when I was 12. I always wanted to be a writer and my cousin Markus, who is many years older than me, said to me one day: "You should start with writing a diary, because that's what all good writers do. And don't only record what has happened, also write down, what you feel, even if it is: oh I could have murdered that person..."
I took it to heart and started my diary. And kept to it since then.

On some days, when I felt lost and lonely, writing down my daily life in very small details really safed me from getting depressed, because I recognized how many wonderful little "sunshines" there are.
My daughter playing in the garden, the cat coming to cuddle, a ball game with my dog, a beautiful sunset, butterflies on thistles, a certain song I love on the supermarket's musicstream ("How deep is your love" by the Bee Gees), a poem that I had forgotten and found by accident, a smile from a stranger, a good tomato sauce on my pasta...
And when I re-read old diary entries, it's always that recording of little things, that makes me smile.



I have got this very old diary from a farmer who wrote this in 1882. It's a gem I found at Etsy.


I bought it to use it in my collages, but now I don't have the heart to loot it. It's a world of its own. It has been the private space of some-one who is long gone. It's full of a beautiful handwriting, mostly about his work and the weather and in the back a ledger with gains and expenses.

I always loved the fact, that the words journal and journey are so close to each other.
It so true, that there is a close relationship.

A trip to Berlin Part two: Mitte

Mitte is a district more trendy, more chic than Prenzlauerberg.
But it has also got its corners of wild, selfmade art and so many interesting nooks to find.

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In the backyard of „The Hackische Höfe“ there is so much art and an exhibition about Anne Frank.



These mailboxes must be a nightmare to every postman.


Altered pages are everywhere! I love it!


Art and art again, you just have to look a bit closer.


Art and politics get together very well.


If you ever come to Berlin, get off at S-Bahn "Hackischer Markt" and then walk down the Oranienburger Straße. That’s a great place for eating out and visiting interesting places.

I’ve got all this and a delicious soup for only $6.40.


It’s just vis-à-vis from the Artist’s house „Tacheles“. Always a big attraction for tourists.

And btw: all people speak English fluently in Berlin’s tourist area. And I did not hear much German voices anymore, only English, French and dutch. ;)

A trip to Berlin Part 1: Prenzlauerberg

Come on with me on a trip to Berlin. I was born there and some times I am travelling back south to see it.




This is Prenzlauerberg, a district in the former eastern part of town. Now it’s young, trendy, full of art. Or vandalism? Or art?!?




Capitalism kills, destroys, normalizes.



Art and politics, self made life, raising children, going to the wholefood store, sitting in a café...



Kitsch, art and a bit of nature, as it should be.




Love the book postcard: "My life" is written on it.




Schönhauser Allee. Now I am driving from Prenzlauerberg to Mitte. (Yes, that’s the name of the district, simply „Middle“.)

The Underground station with an interesting exhibition.


More about "Mitte" tomorrow.

Btw: Today, August 13, 2011, 50 years ago my grandfather was waking up, went to his little shop and can't believe it. The bridge he lived by ended at a wall, that hasn't been there the night before.
The Berlin Wall.

Collages...Collages...Collages

I am quite addicted to Collages these days. I remember having done this as a child a lot too. It was with starting the "wreck this journal" thing I came back to it.
Provided with so many lovely papers from paper swap it's a real pleasure.

I've made some Collage Mini Books and also a "Junk Journal", a good exercise in letting go of perfection.

Paper Swap "Wild at (he)art"

It's time again. The next paper swap is only a few weeks from now.
So sign in, if you want to play!

This time's topic: "Express yourself on paper without censoring", that means: do whatever you like, painting, doodeling, drawing, altered art, collaging, mixed media and do it wild, without listening to your inner critics, just DO IT!
And have fun!



Join us on: lawendula@googlemail.com

And the winner is....

Congratulations! You will receive the Collage Mini Book #1!


Thank you all for your comments and for playing along!

The first collage mini book - a giveaway

Collaging in the garden on a summer's day. Can there be anything better?

This little book is made from lovely paper swap sendings from lovely people from all over the world and from my daily paper stuff.

I decided to make a giveaway out of this.




So if you want to win it, just leave a comment here with your e-mail adress or bloglink! :)
You can sign in til Sunday! I will choose the winner on 7 p.m. CET!



PS: If leaving a comment does not work, please send an e-mail to lawendula@googlemail.com

Mosaics of July's Mondays

I am in the "Mosaic on Monday" Flickr Group. These are my Monday Mosiacs in July.









Which one do you like best?

Please click on pix to see credits- thanks!

Looking for today's mosaic? Please click here.