San Francisco (#2)

Today I rented a bike and went from pier 41 to Sausolito! I'm not a sporty type (except I like to play tennis) so I am quite proud of my achievement! The bridge I had to conquer. The bridge from the other side. The bridge taken from the ferry. Alcatraz. I enjoyed a real american lunch with a Californian Chardonnay. The palm trees are ready for christmas. I really enjoyed myself today! Cycled all the way to Sausolito. the weather was fantastic and I enjoyed the ride. Loved the smell of Eucalyptus along the way! And the view everywhere. In Sausolito I took the ferry back. Had lunch at pier 39 and walked around there. I took the streetcar back to market street and tried another shopping round. No stampedes today. I have been in 2 art supply stores, bought some clothes at the Old Navy, been to the Apple Store and the drugstore. What a day......and YES San Francisco is a wonderful city!

San Francisco

Hope everyone has had a lovely Thanksgiving! The day after, I was walking the streets and shops of San Francisco. Black Friday with a jet lag..................... Had to stay awake because of a 9 hour time difference. Enthusiastic I began my shopping marathon. But after a few hours I dragged myself to the hotel with sore feet and no energy left. I went to bed at 6 o'clock (stupid I know, but after being more than 24 hours awake I couldn't care less) So now I am awake at 2 o'clock in the morning. A YouTube video of a song we all know and which I still love. That must have been a time! I just talked to my husband on Skype and he told me that in NY a shop employee was trampled to death yesterday by customers. Isn't that sad ?! Sometimes I wish we could turn back the time.......

Mermaid

I found this cd with stuff from my old computer and some murals I did in the house we lived before. Here is a mural in the boys room. This is for Diana´s Daily Art Stop. Today´s challenge is Mermaids. When I saw that I had to think of this one. The mermaid is next to the door. I´m glad that I still have this picture......... Ik heb laatst een cd gevonden met dingen van mijn vorige computer en daarop stonden wat foto´s van muurschilderingen in mijn vorige huis. Dit is een muurschildering in de kamer van de jongens. Ik moest aan deze foto denken toen ik Diana´s Daily Art Stop blog las. Het thema van vandaag is mermaids. De zeemeermin zit naast de blauwe deur. Toch wel leuk dat ik deze foto nog heb......

Inukshuk

When my neighbours son went to New Zealand to climb mountains I was looking for a symbol of good luck for a traveller. I can upon this Inukshuk. I painted a little amulet for him with the Inukshuk to guide him and we gave him him some money to buy something to drink upon arrival, both would fit in his wallet. Travel light and save. I have been fascinated by this symbol ever since and wanted to paint it in a mandala one day. This little mandala is just a little foretaste. Toen mijn buurjongen een paar jaar geleden naar Nieuw Zeeland ging om bergen te gaan beklimmen zocht ik naar een symbol voor een goede behouden reis.Toen stuitte ik op de Inutshuk. I heb een klein amulet geschilderd en wat geld gegeven, beiden zouden in zijn portemonnai passen. Voor een lichte en veilige reis. Dit symbool is me altijd bijgebleven en ik wil het een keer gebruiken in een mandala. Dit mini doekje is maar een voorproefje. The mysterious stone figures known as inuksuit can be found throughout the circumpolar world. Inukshuk, the singular of inuksuit, means "in the likeness of a human" in the Inuit language. They are monuments made of un worked stones that are used by the Inuit for communication and survival. The traditional meaning of the inukshuk is "Someone was here" or "You are on the right path." The Inuit make inuksuit in different forms for a variety of purposes: as navigation or directional aids, to mark a place of respect or memorial for a beloved person, or to indicate migration routes or places where fish can be found. Other similar stone structures were objects of veneration, signifying places of power or the abode of spirits. Although most inuksuit appear singly, sometimes they are arranged in sequences spanning great distances or are grouped to mark a specific place. Inukshuk Een inukshuk is een opeenstapeling van stenen in de vorm van een persoon die de weg wijst. Een Inukshuk werd vroeger in Canada gebruikt om de mensen de weg te wijzen zodat ze uit het aanbod van vele richtingen en mogelijkheden niet de verkeerde route of richting zouden nemen. Het woord “inukshuk” stamt uit de taal van de Inuit of ook wel Eskimo’s genoemd. De Inuit maken inukshuks voor verschillende doelen: om de richting aan te geven voor reizigers, te waarschuwen voor aankomend gevaar, als een gedenkteken of om te helpen bij de jacht op caribou-herten. De inukshuk staat symbool voor de kracht, leiderschap en motivatie van de Inuit indianen die in een van de meest vijandige gebieden ter wereld overleven. The Inukshuk is chosen as the emblem for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. De Inukshuk is gekozen als embleem voor de Olympische Winter Spelen van Vancouver in 2010.

Tineke´s Mandala

Tineke, who hosted the workshop, finished her mandala the day after. Isn´t it a beauty ?! Tineke, die gastvrouw was van de workshop, heeft haar mandala de dag erna afgemaakt. Is hij niet schitterend geworden ?!

Cactus Monday (#11)

Can anyone tell me why this is called a Christmas Cactus? To me it looks more like a succulent........ Cactus Sjimmie wishes everyone Happy Cactus Monday!

Mandala Workshop

Yesterday´s workhop. De workshop van gisteren. It was fun. Het was leuk. Everyone enjoyed making their own numerological mandala. Iedereen genoot van het maken van hun eigen numerologische mandala. There were also 2 children. They made their own birthmandala with such concentration. I was amazed! Er waren ook 2 kinderen. Ze hebben ontzettend geconcentreerd hun eigen geboortemandala gemaakt. Ik stond er versteld van! I love to see kids at work. We can learn so much from them. Kinderen aan het werk zien is altijd zo leuk! Daar kunnen we altijd veel van leren. Evelien and her daughter Simone Evelien met haar dochter Simone Trudie had as much fun as the children. Trudie had er net zo veel plezier in als de kinderen. Simone taking a look at her result. She is only 13 years old and truly talented! Simone kijkt nog eens naar het eindresultaat. Ze is pas 13 jaar en een echt talent! Pieter made his mandala with great precision. Pieter maakte zijn mandala met de grootste precisie. Ahhhh those eyes! Ahhhh die ogen! Always wonderful to have animals around. Altijd heerlijk als er ook dieren zijn. Loes explains her vision to Carin. Loes legt haar visie uit aan Carin. What a lovely kitchen! A good place to create. Wat een heerlijke keuken! Een mooie plek om iets te creeren. Everyone concentrated. Iedereen geconcentreerd bezig. Savitri took a picture of me helping Tineke to pick out a flower. Savitri heeft ook een foto van mij genomen terwijl ik Tineke hielp bij het zoeken naar een bloem. Simone Pieter Savitri Anthe Nienke Evelien Carin Tineke Tineke´s mandala finished (the day after) Trudie Loes

Click on the stack! Klik op de stapel! And how about me? I truly enjoyed this day. Must admit I was a bit nervous at first, but seeing everyone creating with so much fun and inspiration took this feeling away. I was amazed by the results! So wonderful everyone used their imagination and their own ideas. Even the ones with little drawing experience made wonderful mandalas. I enjoyed seeing the mandalas unfold and was amazed. We all had a sense of gratitude about this day. Wow! En ik? Ik heb echt genoten van deze dag. Ik moet toegeven dat ik in het begin een beetje nerveus was, maar dat verdween toen ik iedereen met zoveel plezier en inspiratie zag creeren. Ik stond versteld van de resultaten! Geweldig zoals iedereen zijn eigen verbeelding en creativiteit aansprak. Zelfs diegenen met weinig tekenervaring maakten de mooiste mandala`s. Ik genoot ervan om bij iedereen die mandala´s te zien onstaan en was soms helemaal verbaasd. We hadden allemaal een dankbaar en plezierig gevoel aan het einde van de dag. Wauw!

Purple Lotus

This mandala I made in Johannesburg. Deze mandala heb ik in Johannesburg gemaakt.

A shower of good things! and some updates

Two weeks ago I ordered a pendant from Lisa M Griffin. She just opened her Etsy Shop and I decided to buy this charm with the lady bug (symbol of good luck). If you haven´t visit Lisa yet please do and see what wonderful things she has in her Etsy shop as well! The order was accompanied by some lovely gifts! A card with one of her (real) photographs, she has a Nikon (me too) and makes wonderful pictures! A lovely bookmark with a wonderful quote and a fun postcard with vibrant colors! " Seize this very minute. What you can do or dream, you can begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." ~Goethe~ Thanks Lisa!!!! The things are just wonderful! Glad to have you as a blogfriend! You are a wonderful friend and artist! My "Prince of Darkness". I promised Aunt Teri a picture of Sjimmie. Not a real good one. As soon as we have some nice weather here I will take some pictures outside. Here is Sjimmie yesterday, keeping me company while I was working. I also ordered this Mona Lisa (with capcake!) from Diana. Every now and then I popp by her Etsy shop, first of all to see her wonderful new additions but I noticed that every time I was relieved the Mona Lisa was still there..... So I had to buy her, since it was a unique piece of art. I'm so happy I did! I also bought the little mini painting with the flower, which is so gorgeous as well! And these wonderful things were accompanied by 2 lovely gifts! The banana split pendant! En a lovely bracelet which goes wonderful with my uniform I think! Diana, thanks again! And I am also so happy to have met you in blogland! You are a gem! Here is my desk, which is far too small! And I am so sloppy!! But Sjimmie doesn't mind, he squeezes in no matter how much stuff there is. I was working yesterday to prepare the workshop for Saturday. I worked until 1 o'clock. I was so excited and my head was full of ideas so I woke up at 6 already, still bouncing! And las but not least! It has been raining awards! This beautiful awards was presented to me by Museswing! She has designed this one herself! We both love orchids! Thanks Cynthia! I'm honored! These next two awards I got from Soulbrush! Baie dankie skattebol! Again I'm honored! And Happy! Yippie, all these awards! Here is my award to all of you! click here to pick up your copy in the right size. No rules! Just enjoy it and pass it on! Like love. Don't keep it to yourself....... And now I'm off to do my round of blog visits. Sorry I have been neglecting you . (Today just in English: so much to do, so little time.....)

Så som i himmelen

Did any of see the Swedish movie "Så som i himmelen" ( As it is in heaven)? I did a while ago and I was very impressed! Here is the song from the movie; Enjoy! And if you haven' t seen it please do, you won't regret it. Last Wednesday I was asked to give a mandala workshop on next Saturday! I said yes! Isn't that exciting! In Johannesburg I did some work and on my way home I bought some beautiful paper at Harolds. Tonight I will have to work out my notes. So no time to surf around hope I will have tomorrow. This will be my first workshop. I`m curious how it will be and if I can pass my ideas and techniques on........ I will let you know how it was. Heb je de Zweedse film "Så som i himmelen" ( As it is in heaven)gezien? Ik wel, al weer een tijdje geleden, en ik was zeer onder de indruk! Hier een lied uit de film; "Gabriella's Song". Geniet ervan en , mocht je de film niet gezien hebben, dan is het zeker een aanrader! Vorige week wonsdag ben ik gevraagd om een workshop te geven en ik heb ja gezegd! Ik vind het heel erg spannend! In Johannesburg heb ik al wat werk verricht en op weg naar huis ben ik langs de Harolds gegaan en heb daar mooi papier gekocht. Vanavond ga ik mijn aantekeningen uitwerken, dus geen tijd om op het internet te surfen, hoop morgen wel. Dit is de eerste workshop die ik ga geven. Ik ben benieuwd of ik mijn ideeen en vaardigheden kan overbrengen .......... Ik laat het jullie weten.

Cactus Monday (#10)

Home, just in time for cactus monday! Happy Cactus Monday fellow cactuteers and all other friends and visitors! Thuis, nog op tijd voor cactus maandag! happy Cactus Monday vrienden , bezoekers en cactussers! PS: I will take a nap now and will visit all your blogs later! PS: Ik ga even een dutje doen en zal later jullie blog bezoeken!