Tidbits: Weihnachtsmarkt and new Brooches

picture taken before the fair started

This week was dominated by the alternative Christmas fair (last night) in Flensburg on the Danish-German border. It was in the Norderstrasse, close to the medieval Nordertor gate. The market was on two opposite sides of the Norderstrasse, at one side it was in the Danish Library (that's where I was) and at the other side was in an Art Gallery and its inner court. Despite the cold there were many people and the whole atmosphere was very cozy; lots of Xmas snacks and Glühwein, and very alternative street decoration with bunting made of rope with old shoes and paper snowflakes. Hubby, Peggy and I had a great evening, despite the fact I did not sell as much as I hoped I would :)

Das Nordertor, Flensburgs Wahrzeichen

It's a beautiful old street with a lot of athmosphere; I could not take pics of the Nordertor because it was too dark, but I found some great pics on the net. Next to the market was a lovely coffee, cocoa and tea house with great cakes, so everybody went there to warm up and have some drink and cake. The interior was so beautiful, it was like an exhibition of a tea and coffee can collector !

And I made a new collection of brooches this week. Obsessed with buttons, I finally decided to make my own ones. Gathered some lovely wood branches in my garden (something I have to do each year anyway for my wood stove) and let them dry for a couple of months. Sawed them into thin slices, and let them dry again for some months. And then the thrill of making the holes ! Not 2 or 4 holes, as ordinary buttons usually have, but much more holes I drilled into those slices. Then sanded and oiled (with organic corn oil), and there they were; the real special P8 buttons. So, what now to do with them ? Took them many times in my hands, they feel so yummy.... Why not combine them with some embroidery, which I so love to do ? And some of my special vintage buttons ? So far so good, and the new line of double buttoned embroidered P8 brooches was born. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did making them. Here some pics of the new brooches:


They are for sale in my Etsy P8 Button Art shop, and there are more to come in the coming days !

Tidbits : Flowers

OK, this was not my best week.... I was ill, had the flu, pretty heavy, and felt awful. Pretty sad about it, because I had great plans; sewing two skirts and new bags for the Xmas market. Nothing of all this. Hope next week will be better :)
But in between my bed and the toilet, I made some flowers for the Xmas market, I thought it would be a nice decoration of my stand, winter white flowers. And maybe I sell them too. Made them from old trevira fabric (a heritage from my mother), some wire and real tree branches. Looked from some beautiful worn ones in our wood stove burning wood stack. The flowers themselves can be changed in form, because of the wire sewn into them.



I only think that they will not be very suitable for Etsy, because the branches cannot be very long (German Post: 60x15x15 box is maximum) and although they weigh not much, it's still 6 Euro to send them abroad. I could cut the branches at about 45 cm, and I could see how much flowers I could get into the German Post norm, but where do I get cartons from that size ????

Tidbits : Snow & Weihnachtsmarkt

Finally it looks like winter here ! We got a lot of snow yesterday and it's still very dark in the air, so I expect more snow today. It looks gorgeous !

And it's freezing, so maybe when it keeps on freezing, I'll have a chance to see the fjord frozen ????? They all tell me here how they were skating on the fjord when they were kids....

And we had last weekend a Xmas fair or Weihnachtsmarkt in Kappeln; quite cozy and I sold some items too !

Tidbits : "Weihnachtsmarkt"

I attended last weekend for the first time the Xmas market here in the neighbourhood (Weihnachtsmarkt Süderbrarup); it was in the former cattle exhibition hall. In the past this region had a lot of breeders from the beautiful Angler cattle and those breeders held their shows in this hall. An old brick & wood building, with lots of open air ventilation. So pretty romantic but very cold.... It was quite dark in there too, so my husband had to go home again to get me a lamp. Next year we have to plan that better; I need much more light on my table !

There were about 20 market stands, from wooden toys to aquarells, and of course lots of punch and food. I was surprised to see so much artists and the market had lots of visitors. There were musical events with child choirs, bands, Santa Claus, clowns, ets. too. It was nice to see those kids enjoying themselves.

At the moment I am quite exhausted from this happening; my legs hurt, I got a cold and could not speak any good German anymore at the end of these 2 days (I am Dutch myself). But I sold quite some hats, especially of the black winter ones, and my button jewelry did it well too. So, maybe next year again ???