Berlin I Have Arrived!

So here I am again in that beautiful city called Berlin. It's great to see Axel again and the appartment feels like a home away from home. I've already done some sight seeing visiting the Brandenburg gate and Jewish memorial. I've also started the horrifying task of finding work in a foreign city. It seems there are millions of others like myself looking for 'teaching english' jobs. I'm not quite sure how things will go because most of the jobs start next semester which starts in August and I leave at the end of August. I've also started reading for uni and gathering information for my first assignment. The weather has been so nice though that it's hard to stay inside reading, all I want to do is wander around and go exploring.

20 years since the wall came down, it mark the event you can get your photo taken with an East side soldier and get a passport (fake of course) with the original passport stamps from the different areas of Berlin, American, Russian etc. Only 2 Euros what a touristy bargan!

Jewish memorial

Infront of the Brandenburg Gate

Anyhow I will try and keep this blog updated although with uni work and job searching and a bit of sight seeing, there is really not much time for anything else! Ah but who's complaining. I love this city!!!!!!

New Handmade Felted Bead Necklaces

I've been busy making a batch of felt bead necklaces. I'm hoping to take them with me to Germany where I hope sell them at one of the craft markets in Berlin. I'm really happy with these necklaces mainly because I feel I've done the best I could with the materials I've used and I believe they are of great quality, no corners cut. Thick tiger wire, metal beads and clasps, fittings and chain, none of that cheaper plastic stuff that looks like metal, and of course tightly felted beads made carefully by hand and quality wooden beads.

Some of the necklaces are adjustable and finished off with a wooden bead.

These beads are actually made with wool that I've washed, carded and dyed by my very own hands. Wool supplied from my uncle's farm in Toolernvale, Victoria.

I thought these hot pink beads deserved to be glammed up with some gorgeous silver metal beads.

Hopefully I will be able to establish an Etsy shop as well but I have a few things to work out before I do that, like how extra income (if things go well) will affect my taxes etc. and if I need to register it all as a business with business name and ABN number. Anyhow it's been a dream of mine to sell stuff at a craft market so I hope I can live out that dream. Also how cool would it be to live that out in Berlin?!

Wish me luck!

Neck Warmer From Germany

There were a few things I made while I was away in Germany. Being a lazy blogger while I was there I didn't actually post any photos of the stuff I made. I've decided to make up for that and post some now. This is a neck warmer that I made. I was so sick of wearing scarfs that didn't really cover my neck well that I decided to go online to find a pattern for something that would keep me warm. It is a ribbed effect even though it is crochet. I love the effect and think it would be a great way to make a whole jumper, crochet but with the 'knitted' look. The only problem I had with this neck warmer was that the top would curl and expose some of my neck to the cold. I had to reshape it every night to make it uncurl.

A Crafter's Suitcase

Just thought I'd show you all how a crafter like myself packs for a 6 months overseas trip... Do I hear you ask 'where are the clothes?' I promise you there are SOME under there, under the watercolors, paintbrushes, jewelery making bits and pieces and wool tops. I don't know how much this suit case weighs at the moment but I don't think it's looking good for under 20 kg.

The Ring

I am sorry to those of you who have been visiting my blog over the past 3 months just to find that I am still sitting in Hong-Kong airport. I have totally neglected this blog even though there has been so much happening that I could have written about. Axel came over to Australia February 17th and just left on the 26th of March after attending my sister's wedding on the 21st of March. During this time we also picked up my engagement ring which I blogged about in past entries. The jewelers did a perfect job in creating my vision, it is EXACTLY how I wanted it! Even though Axel had his doubts when I first pitched him my idea, as soon as he saw the final product he loved it and often would ask to look at it again and again, pulling my hand to have a look. Here are some photos of the ring...


I will be heading off to Germany again in a week so I hope I can keep you all posted on how I'm going over there. I will be unemployed but looking for work while I'm there and that is making me quite nervous. I will also try and continue to improve my German language skills and set up a craft stall at the local markets. Anyhow we shall see how it all goes. Hope you have all been well while I've been away from blogland. I promise to post more often!

Sitting not so Pretty in Hong Kong's Airport

Well what does one do when they are stuck in transit for 12 hours? Yep they hop on a computer and write a blog entry. What does one write about while sitting waiting for 7 more hours to pass? Well I don't know... I guess I could give you all an update regarding my trip to Rome and Germany. I was hoping to write about it when I got home and had some photos down loaded but oh well I'll just have to post a bit of a gallery later.

This trip to Germany was great, good chance to get a feel for what it will be like living with Axel, which will become more apparent after the 6 month stint in April. As expected he is easy to live with, quite relaxed, flexible and extremely attentive and helpful. I don't know what I was like to live with, at times a pain in the bum I suspect but he assures me that I was fine. I'm sure the snoring wasn't a hit with him but hopefully the home cooked meals made up for that. Anyhow I am so excited to have him back in Australia in three weeks even though it's just for 6 weeks this time, I have to wait until October before he moves here permanently.

Well what can I say about Rome...? First of all you cannot turn a corner without there being something amazing and monumental there in front of you. While 2 and a half days is not really enough we did manage to get to see most of the main attractions. Spanish steps, Colosseum, St Peter's, Trevi Fountain, Pantheon, St Angelo's Castle, Vatican museums, Sistine Chapel and a few other small churches and museums with significant artworks. We also got a bit of a look at the Roman forum, all the ancient ruins. It's so amazing to think that you are walking on the same ground where others so important in history also walked. Very inspiring actually. I must say getting a good feed and at a reasonable price was tricky and there were some annoying moments. Not being able to speak any Italian also makes it quite tricky. It's not like Germany in that sense, you really do need some knowledge of the local tongue to get what you want. Anyhow overall it was a great cultural and artistic experience!

Anyhow I hope everyone is doing well and are enjoying either the hot or very cold weather, depending on where you are in the world. I'm not looking forward to returning to a 30 degrees C day in Melbourne, but then at least there is air conditioning at mum's.

Hope to write again soon and post some more holiday pics! Stay tuned

Our Engagement Dinner in Xanten, Germany

While I was still in Australia Axel, being the ´events manager´that he is, organised a family dinner at a local restaurant to celebrate and officially announce our engagement. Here are some photos of the evening.

Axel´s parents, grandmothers and brothers, with their girlfriends attended the dinner at the restaurant Dalmatien. It was a lovely evening and the food was great. Axel got up and officially announced why we were there and that we planned on getting married in April 2010. We were then congratulated by members of his family and everyone officially welcomed me into the Remy family which was very touching and yes I almost cried I was that overwhelmed with happiness.

It was a little embarrassing. Axel and I had to go to a doctor´s appointment and also get Axel´s hair cut before the dinner. It took much longer than we thought so we actually didn´t have time to go home and get ready thus why we looked like this... Axel in tracksuit pants and I in a t-shirt and jeans. Not the best look for your engagement dinner especially when everyone else is dressed up! Oh well...

In April 2010 I will be able to officially call baby Lena my niece. I already love her so much!

New Year´s Eve with a 180° view of Berlin

Yes I am doing things a bit backwards here, posting NYE photos with the intention to put some other Christmas photos on later. Sorry about that guys. Anyhow as mentioned before NYE in Berlin was really all about the fireworks. We were lucky enough to have our friend Nadine invite us to join her and Erni to view the fireworks from her work place´s roof top. It was amazing! Beautiful 180+ degrees of Berlin. I must say it didn´t take long for the sky to be filled with firework smoke which was a shame because it spoilt the view we had.
Here are some photos from the night...

Axel and I after the NYE count down.

Friends Nadine, Erni and Simone.

Chritmas In Germany

Hi everyone! Finally after 30 odd hours I made it back to Germany and have been reunited with my darling Axel. It´s kind of weird seeing him after 5 months. You go from kind of being single to being part of a couple in a flash. Very strange for the brain to get around but lovely for the heart!

Anyhow after a nice long sleep in Axel and I went to Öberhause for some Christmas shopping and lucky for me there was this great Christmas market next to the shopping centre. I remember going to a Christmas market in Berlin when I first came to Germany in 1999. I was worried I was going to miss out because I was coming so close to Christmas time and most close just before Christmas.

Here is a photo of some yummy potato fritters we had with apple sauce and the famous Gluwein! It tasted even better than I remember it. Hmmmmm Gluwein.... I also got to have this yummy cheesy potato pizza thing and some cooked mushrooms with herb sauce and fried onions, what an awesome dinner!

There was also some winter fun to be had with this snow slide set up and another section for kids to ride snow mobiles. We decided we will wait till we get to Berlin to have a go.

Anyhow today Axel and I have the honour of decorating the Christmas trees and then we are off for dinner in Xanten with his family, the dinner will be our engagement dinner and so it´s going to be quite a special event.

So if I don´t add another post before Christmas I will take this opportunity to wish you all a merry Christmas and a wonderful new year. May you all be blessed and surrounded by loved ones and good health.

Visiting Franz Marc Museum in Kochel am see

Finally after 14 years of wishing and hoping I made it to the Franz Marc Museum in Kochel am see! I first came across the artists Franz Marc in 1994 when I was studying art as an elective at highschool, and instantly I fell in love with his work and the artist himself. I must say that I thought the museum would feature photos and artifacts from his life but I was wrong it is a real gallery that feautres his work and that of other modern artists who were his friends or working around the same time. I think the house he had in Reid is actually set up in this fashion. I wish I knew where it was so I could visit it.

Here is the view of the museum from the carpark, the gardens are so beautiful as are the surrounding forrest and mountains.
Here is the view from the other side of the car park, the actual Kochel am see, ´lake Kochel´

And finally here I am standing outside of the Franz Marc museum. Thank you Axel for making my dream come true, driving me all the way across your country to see my beloved Franz Marc.

Swiss Crafts

I believe in my last post I promised some photos of traditional and local crafts that I came across in Switzerland. Here are some of those photos. I came across this bell making workshop and pottery studio when travelling with Regular and her dad through the Swiss mountains near her village.

These photos are of a workshop where bells for stock animals and decorations for horses are made. These bells and decorations would have been used more often in years gone by. Most of these in the photos are made for trophies. In the local villages they hold wrestling contests and the winners get a bell as a trophie. on the bell is inscribed the winners name, the year and event.
People also order these special silver bells as wedding gifts with the names of the couple written on the bell. I thought they were a wonderful idea and would love to get one for my wedding. I made sure Regular knew that hehehehehe! All the leather work and the making of the black and brass bells are done by hand. The wedding ones and others like them are made from casts rather than hammered into shape from a sheet of metal.

Here are some photos from the pottery studio. I loved every pieced in the store but in particular this fondu set that costs 500 euros almost 1000 australian dollars! Considering it is all hand made and painted it´s worth it. You could watch the artists create the different pieces and watch them paint them with the diffrent glazes. It was great to watch. Proof that they were indeed hand made and made locally.


Here I am picking out a small ceramic bunny. I wish I could afford more I would have bought so many more things if I had the cash!

I only have a few more days left in Germany and I am already starting to feel down, I don´t want to go back home. I´m just starting to feel settled and comfortable with the language barrier, different environment etc. I am also enjoying the extra time off work and uni and don´t really want to have to get to reality just yet. I don´t know how I am going to cope not seeing Axel again for 5 months, 4 months this time was hard enough. boooooo hoooooo hooooo!

Hello from Germany

Ok so I thought I´d have a bit more time to write but I have been on the road for two weeks traveling from northern to southern germany, then flying to Switzerland and back again. I must say it has been a very busy and awesome three weeks and I am already sad about having to go back home in a week. The country and it´s people have been wonderful. Axel´s family and friends have been welcoming and helpful which makes it even harder to leave in a week. Anyhow I thought I would just take this opportunity to tell you all that everyone loved their handmade presents and I found out that Axel´s mum was looking for cushions for that room for over 6 months but couldn´t find any she liked! until mine came along hehehehe so I was glad that I chose to make cushions and not table runners. Axel and his brother and his girlfriend loved the quilt for the baby, baby Lena who I have totally fallen in love with.

I am already starting to think about what I could make for everyone´s Christmas presents, more granny blankets, Christmas stockings and some cross stitches I think or some scarfs and hats considering it will be winter. Anyhow I have 5 months to work it all out.

Here are some photos, highlights from the past 3 weeks...

The cushions in the Remy´s lounge room.

Looking at Axel´s baby photos, awwww so cute! hasn´t changed much hehehehe.

Driving on the ´WRONG´side of the road, ok ok ok the right side of the road!

Meeting up with Bernard who was responsible for introducing me to Axel in Melbourne

Meeting up with friends from Contiki Australia, Thomas in Munich and Regular in Lucern Switzerland

Finally visiting the Franz Marc museum in Kochel am see a 14 year dream of mine finally came true also visited Franz Marc´s grave in Kochel.

There are so many other highlight but I´ve just realised how late it is and I have promised to cook lunch tomorrow, Axel´s mum is working night shift so I wanted to cook so she doesn´t have to worry. I will post some more photos later, there are some great photos from Switzerland which show some local craft, awesome stuff I tell ya. Till then I hope everyone is well and enjoying their summer or winter weather.