o o

stripes II

2012-01-19T18:56:00.002+01:00

a poncho and scarves off the loom and Lou in bed again.
i would love to get colours like the ones of her sweater but i decided to weave with the big amount of last years leftovers.

it is dark and rainy here so the light and warm tones are very tempting.

but we are going to switzerland soon, there will be snow.

white, light and the sound cushioned.

robots

2012-01-16T22:38:00.001+01:00

she has been sick today, so we spent one of the rare weekdays together at home.
wrapped in the blanket i made last year and obsessed with her new passion, pop music.
mostly nothing we do agree with, the time when she was called the "indie"girl by her teacher are gone.

that would be interesting charts, songs a family with a preteenager or teenager could listen to without anybody getting annoyed.

our number one would be this song

making stripes

2012-01-13T17:56:00.003+01:00

Experimenting with stripes. a great set of woven stripes here and some of my favourites here.
the verveine tea i use to drink while weaving made a face.

new

2012-01-12T13:54:00.005+01:00

a new layout and my new working room. refurbished with a bed/shelve i inherited from my grandfather and much less clutter.

try and error

2012-01-09T22:24:00.002+01:00

i wanted to change something here but got too tired for a final new layout, so i hope it will look better soon!

good night

Best of 2011

2012-01-01T17:43:00.025+01:00

L was asked to write a personal chart list of 2011 for a film-zine amongst many others. 3 moments of 2011 that lasted.
I enjoyed reading them all as they were very personal and not just film-related.
in fact that's what i like reading on blogs, personal views on everyday matters or artistic and cultural events.

here are some of my memorable moments from 2011:

1
early in the year, learning to weave taught by T., the whole repetitive process and learning by doing later while practising on my own on the loom he made for me. his patience and my friends helping me weaving, attracted by the intricate process of the craft.

2
meeting dear R. in person. still being overwhelmed that she dared to book a flight and come straight to our house.

3
discovering that making costumes for a period film brought back my passion for my profession. the conceptual approach to making costumes after an extended research is what i love doing.

+++++++++++++++++++

wishing you a wonderful new year !

o IIIIIIIIIIIII I I I I I I I I .

2011-12-26T16:28:00.005+01:00

happy and calm holidays to everybody who is still passing by at this nearly abandoned place.
it seems like life needed all time and attention recently.
but i will be coming back, whenever i feel like i have something to show.

like here, some of the beautiful treasures we got for christmas from different places, friends and family.

* a handmade bowl from berlin.
* handknitted cuffs by my mother
* handwoven carpet from egypt beduins, brought home shortly before christmas by my adventurous man
* a beautiful book from england

i hope you are all very well

drama

2011-12-05T10:58:00.005+01:00

on stage & a lot more behind the scenes. chechov became reality.

we had a good pre-premiere but then chaos overtook, hopefully they could continue performing this weekend, it would be worth it.

2011-12-04T00:22:00.006+01:00

it seems too complicated to post anything else then brushes doodles by Lou

- - --

2011-11-24T00:57:00.004+01:00

by my daughter

construction-deconstruction

2011-11-22T21:02:00.010+01:00

life offers many facets these days.

mix

2011-11-14T22:27:00.008+01:00

we are trying to improvise theater costumes. my aim would be to let it look like nobody had put a hand on it. just like the actors had pulled something out of the drawer in order to get into their characters.

it should be light and effortless and strange, but somehow coherent and beautiful.

i have been trying not to talk about the garments or a concept while fitting some of them, that's hard but really interesting.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

in the forest

2011-11-06T17:44:00.006+01:00

this weekend!

there is nothing better then visiting friends at the lake in the forest in autumn.

- . ---

2011-10-27T22:50:00.002+02:00

the back of a bulgarian apron

brushes doodle on photo of her younger self by Lou

rain

2011-10-26T22:04:00.003+02:00

the first grey and rainy day.

spreads from vogue paris 1978

and bela tarr

wolfen

2011-10-25T11:57:00.005+02:00

my favourite Berlin label is finally online, have a look here.

i wouldn't know what to wear in autumn and winter without her cardigans, I own about three in different colours and shapes and the shrunken ones go on to Lou...i know i should know how to treat wool but sometimes i am just careless.

the picture above is taken from the wolfen website.

posting again

2011-10-23T11:35:00.003+02:00

some of Lou's scribbles i found this morning

& a new theater project started.
it's still very sunny, not as dark at it looks here.
hope i will get back into a more regular posting mode, let's see.

Barbara

2011-10-09T00:05:00.004+02:00

at work with my girl last week.

she enjoyed the last days of shooting like i did and everybody else who participated.

what an advantage to be able working in a relaxed and professional atmosphere.

my wonderful team even taught a young actor some knitting basics.

brain

2011-10-03T10:47:00.004+02:00

drawn while listening to the good night story.
a habit L is still practising even if she is reading an incredible amount of books herself.

last days

2011-09-28T22:32:00.008+02:00

+ of shooting: prop sale on location

+ of chaos at home: this is a wish, i guess

+ of summer: we are outside as much as possible and are enjoying an incredibly beautiful indian summer this year

for O

2011-09-26T20:59:00.006+02:00

some autumn colour. nothing new but i liked the big bunch of hagebutten i got, is it really dogrose or rosehip in english?

i am telling myself to take more pictures these days but it's like i don't feel like catching something.

as if i have to finish this project before my eyes and mind will be clear and alert again.

i am patient and i somehow think i need this unproductive periods in between.

i am watching and collecting and waiting.

a long week

2011-09-17T21:02:00.004+02:00

travelling between home and different locations

i i i i i i i i i i i i

2011-09-08T22:24:00.004+02:00

on my working table this morning!

back at home now, i've got the nicest present from my man, my daughter's gift for me still unfinished, she really seems to come after me. ( i was wearing an unfinished silk-skirt for the wedding last weekend)

it's my birthday today and it has been a very good one so far. despite i started it far away at work on set.

tomorrow there will be more work but here at home and then some celebrating!

E. M.

2011-09-06T12:13:00.001+02:00

i am going to miss this tonight!

what a pitty

- _ - _ - _ - _ - _

2011-09-01T22:48:00.005+02:00

+ extras, playing

+ african weaving

home

2011-08-28T23:20:00.004+02:00

+ weekend at home in Berlin

+ a future home for some small animals, a new collaboration with Lou

+ mostly every night during the week here

sewing ?

2011-08-28T21:37:00.006+02:00

dvn f/w 2011/12

i have been searching for some inspiration as i need something long and wonderful for a wedding next weekend.

I would like to have a long 40ies skirt and a blouse, both out of silk but as i have to go back to the countryside to take care about the costumes and dress a couple of people i guess i am going to end up sewing myself, probably by night.

there hasn't been much practice recently.

the last things i have been sewing were a pillow for Lou and some squares for an unfinished collaboration with dear R., still in progress so far.

green

2011-08-25T00:22:00.002+02:00

the weather is crazy these weeks.

a lot of rain and thunderstorm inbetween humid heat and cold periods after masses of water poured down.

at least it produces this sumptuous green & i am happy being home tonight, i wouldn't have liked to experience that storm in my little hut at the lake.

red & blue

2011-08-22T16:55:00.005+02:00

my favourite colour combination!

there are so many pictures i would like to show from the first shooting week but i better don't.

the images should be kept secret until the film will be released.

today

2011-08-16T23:16:00.007+02:00

we had a very good start.

i do have a fabulous team and my early morning view has been quite a surprise! there is a lake, plums, apples, berries, all kind of herbs and even pumpkins.

maybe making costumes isn't too bad.

my adventure

2011-08-09T21:45:00.006+02:00

taking pictures at a location tour with some of the actors in costumes, trying to find out if everything will come together.

the longer i work in that business the more complicated it seems to be, but i am optimistic this time.

there was enough time to get prepared and make, even remake after finding out that some things weren't right.
i don't care about perfection, as long as we are able to really care about the film during the whole process of making, it seems worth it and that's how it feels right now.

let's see.

we will start shooting next week.

her adventure

2011-08-09T21:26:00.004+02:00

they built tree-houses and slept in the tipis until they were finished.
then they have been decorated and used as a shelter for the last night.
i am so happy that she spent nearly every minute of her vacation outside, in the middle of nature, my girl, growing up in the heart of the big city.

back

2011-08-09T16:11:00.004+02:00

to work, my head is spinning like the beautiful print on that gdr kids blouse but my girl is back as well, safe and happy.

more soon

up and outside

2011-07-31T23:02:00.006+02:00

yesterday nights pleasures with her new obsession, making hair do's!

tonight she is gonna sleep in a camp in this tipi, my mother heart is bleading, hope the rain will stop tonight as predicted.

her best friend is with her and they are adventurous girls!

b r b

2011-07-29T22:21:00.003+02:00

fitting marathon with extras in brandenburg and sleeping in blue satin.

a present

2011-07-26T22:09:00.004+02:00

from my new coworker, an incredibly beautiful belt! hand embroidered by her ex-colleague in the 70ies.

far too small for me, too special for our gdr film, but very much appreciated anyway!

strange

2011-07-24T16:59:00.004+02:00

days & students art from udk

i hope there will be more summer light and better news soon.

summer around B

2011-07-19T22:00:00.004+02:00

Lou is in the countryside at an incredible heavenly place, now with the family of her friend who came with us to greece.

these girls are the best!

i miss her terribly but i know it's a wild girls paradise there, they even have horses.

back in B

2011-07-19T21:48:00.005+02:00

we had a couple of days at home, just he three of us, making plans, going to the final exhibition of the art-schools and experimenting with new hair-do's.

I like being back home and now preparing the next movie.

beauties and biests

2011-07-09T14:50:00.006+02:00

thats what we are and find here in modern and ancient greece.

all of us jumped off the cliff!

have a good summer too

i s l a n d

2011-07-03T14:23:00.004+02:00

we are back on the greek island in our friends house.

early family summer holiday, a two weeks break for me in between costume preparations for the next big project.

it's beautiful like always but one can feel a little bit of the depression, collapsed roads don't get repaired, less guests, we can't enter the path to our favorite beach but that makes us discover new places.

my suitcase got lost and i am improvising since five days, lou is sharing clothes with her friend and i live in L's t-shirts and a cotton scarf.
i am trying to take it as a challenge, make more things out of nothing, but i do miss the crafting things i packed and some of the ritual summer objects/clothes.

artificial twins

2011-06-19T22:36:00.005+02:00

what is this mom?
mh, two girls with neon coloured hair, maybe friends?
no. they are twins, just drawn i a different way, if you would draw both of them the same way they would look very similar!

no twins just happy friends at last weekends bonfire.

early summer

2011-06-14T08:11:00.008+02:00

kids and cherries in the tree, various gardens by day and night, swimming and sailing at the lake & a nice, nice, very nice concert.

every year i am surprised that another summer had arrived.

ponchos

2011-06-09T10:51:00.005+02:00

+ + + + + + + + + + + +

one of my reversible ponchos

fabric interseasons poncho

thank you o

III III

2011-06-06T23:05:00.003+02:00

my kid: braids with plants

alfred eisenstedt, 1941: braids with wool via here

O O

2011-05-30T22:41:00.013+02:00

what i have been weaving recently shown together with my very talented friend C.'s paintings.

We had a wonderful opening night, thank you all for the never ending support, patient teaching, co-weaving & confidence.

L E A V I N G

2011-05-25T12:26:00.006+02:00

towards Hamburg today, setting up the show for friday.
the olive one is going to travel with me now, the blond one will follow for the opening.

this morning i was crossing the street, telling myself if i will get onto the other side while the trafficlights are still green it's gonna be a good opening night. not that they only turned red immediately, i even managed to loose control over the big box filled with kids fleamarket leftovers i was carrying to get my car empty! a million tiny toy pieces spread over the road!

so much about this games.

my aunt

2011-05-22T22:31:00.003+02:00

did this with some friends!
she turned 70 this weekend and held a wonderful big party.
I didn't knew she is such a crochet-land art-pioneer!

WOLKENKUCKUCKSHAUS

2011-05-21T00:26:00.007+02:00

a good version of the house of cards

todays artshow at Lou's school.

artist unknown

tomorrow

2011-05-19T23:20:00.009+02:00

art show at her school. we had a small preview this afternoon.
this are 3D maps they made to show how they move through the building during a school day.

and Lou rehearsing her dance performance for the upcoming show in my favourite castaner shoes, they nearly fit and she is 9!

IIIIIII IIIIIIII

2011-05-18T09:27:00.005+02:00

a glimpse of what i have been doing the last months.

but most of the things aren't wearable.

more soon

tic tac tic tac

2011-05-16T00:10:00.007+02:00

i started washing some of the finished weavings. the show is gonna happen very soon, the countdown is on, tic tac tic tac tic tac!

again very impressed by that piece of art our friends have in their house. about the artists work and their very good choice.

ANOTHER PAIR

2011-05-11T22:11:00.001+02:00

she likes to carve sticks recently & eating cucumbers uncut!

FAMILY BUSINESS

2011-04-26T23:06:00.004+02:00

drawn by my daughter last week

handwoven by my mother in 1968, a tie for my father

AROUND

2011-04-20T23:41:00.008+02:00

the area where i grew up.

1980

2011-04-16T23:49:00.004+02:00

east berlin, taken in bookshop, source?

daru, sierra leone, taken in library, source?

parts of my research for both of my projects.
next film gdr 1980, weaving.

YSL

2011-04-07T22:25:00.005+02:00

making turbans.

Vogue Paris 1978, photographer: Harry Benson pour Vadim, related blog here

and Lou's red computer hat

A LITTLE HELP

2011-03-30T22:49:00.010+02:00

from my friends, they are supporting me with weaving the long sheets whenever they find some hours and the master lent me another loom to make it possible.

thank you all!

it makes me love weaving even more.

the pretty weaving girl: source unknown, i am sorry, must have been some nice tumblr.

outside

2011-03-23T22:49:00.004+01:00

i never understood the culture of sitting outside & drinking coffee if it's not really warm, especially if you don't smoke like me.
i wish i could smoke occasionally, like this afternoon, but i am just able to smoke if i had a couple of strong drinks.

but today i sat outside with a friend and even the colours of the fleece blankets seemed to be somehow attractive.

i must be under a strong spring influence.

spring

2011-03-22T14:57:00.005+01:00

spring is here.
it came with Lou's birthday, we had a wonderful weekend, she said she enjoyed it a lot, there just could have been a little bit less visitors. i know what she means and am very happy that she still likes to be just with us, her parents.

i love my days on my own at the studio but need a lot of time to restart every day. it's a slow process and i am trying to overcome my impatience.
the things i've already finished are surprisingly funny, which hasn't been intended but well, they seem to be in a good mood and so am i.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

i set up a tumblr, some inspiration for my current weaving work, you are welcome to have a look.

i i i i i i i i i

2011-03-19T01:01:00.005+01:00

it's her birthday, tomorrow, saturday, my little one will turn nine, still such a child but i could already sense something else, a strong will to become independent soon.

like always i started very late with preparations and used a lot of cf inspiration, i hope they will forgive me!

i am quite sure the girls will like it!

freckles

2011-03-13T23:00:00.004+01:00

i am trying to be aware of all the small moments of joy, every day. they are so volatile and not guaranteed.

unintended artificial freckles of tomatoe-sauce and black water colour

rest after the new evening ritual "cosmetic studio"

///////// /

2011-03-04T08:40:00.004+01:00

via ssm

THREADS

2011-03-01T22:54:00.013+01:00

apparently, i somehow lost the thread here, again.

i made this blog to find out what i wanted to do beside my job as a costumedesigner, a neutral platform to publish some of my inspirations, show peeks into my everydaylife and to share some of the constant pleasure i have with my kid.

it seems like i finally found something that i want to learn, explore and make now and in the future, yes, weaving.
luck, coincidence and a close friend made it happen that i will have the chance to show some of the weaving experiments this summer at a nice and public place which means i can't show a lot of it here until then (the friend is very strict with that!).

so, at the moment i am a little bit helpless about what to post here or maybe most of my energy is absorbed in the real life and making but i still like to go on, i cherish this small public corner and the people i met here.

somehow it feels like a quiet little cafe around the corner where i come to a stop from time to time.
i just developed the bad habit of becoming a little bit sloppy, maybe i should dress up and care a little bit more.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

L's brother has been to the amazonas in peru and brought some necklaces and beautifully beaded pieces.
now she wants to be a djungle girl for carneval, this is one of our reference pictures but she said she is not going to wear fake breasts.

A WISH

2011-02-22T22:35:00.007+01:00

please, could anybody offer me a film where i could dress characters like this?

late summer, early autumn would be a good time!

via here, ?, here

DAY & NIGHT

2011-02-20T12:57:00.006+01:00

i am going to write more soon.

we are sick but i am so happy with what i am doing at the moment and a friend won a silver bear at the berlinale film festival yesterday!

he really deserved it, he made an intelligent & beautiful film on africa, seen through the eyes of an european who can't find his way back "home". sleeping sickness by ulrich köhler

RAPUNZEL

2011-02-09T00:05:00.005+01:00

learning how to tame the threads, taught by a very patient and gifted artist.

a long planned project, what a joy to finally get started!

THE DAY AFTER

2011-02-06T17:58:00.004+01:00

P Y J A M A

2011-02-04T15:23:00.005+01:00

Party tonight.
five girls are aloud to sleep in the big room, all in one huge bed!
at least i hope that they are going to sleep...

ROMANIA

2011-01-29T10:23:00.008+01:00

back from a job trip to beautiful bucharest.
again, i had nearly no time to see more of the city but we have been shooting in impressive locations like that literature house above.
i really would like to discover this country, the crossover of eastern and romanian roots and it's breathtaking handcrafted treasures.

LAUNDRY

2011-01-22T21:26:00.003+01:00

& ironing & homework & light this saturday morning

I_I_II_I_I_I_I_I

2011-01-22T19:53:00.004+01:00

i haven't made this beautiful belt, found it at the costume house but:

weaving will happen soon!

FRENCH LESSON

2011-01-17T20:52:00.001+01:00

NICE

2011-01-15T16:20:00.005+01:00

my daughter draws presents for me nearly every day.

found colour on the grey streets of berlin in january.

TULIPS

2011-01-09T23:00:00.006+01:00

in my daughters room.

she took the picture and got the flowers as a present from the flowershop around the corner. she always wanted to become friends with the lady who owns the shop!

RAG RUGGING

2011-01-08T23:05:00.005+01:00

made some tests with rag rugging the last months.

this one is made out of silk leftovers, smooth like fur. the last picture is the back.

it would take me years to make a carpet like this...

ESEL MIT SCHNEE

2011-01-06T21:05:00.003+01:00

Stillleben von Romuald Karmakar (2010)

via here, thank you L.

the donkey belongs to a car mechanic in bavaria. he got him from a client who wasn't able to pay the bill.

2 1 11

2011-01-02T17:09:00.006+01:00

her first foto shooting today!
she was aloud to take part this time, always wanting it, apparently, growing up behind the scenes made her want to change sides.
she enjoyed it a lot but I hope she still wants to become a deep sea diver.

1 1 11

2011-01-01T19:46:00.002+01:00

new year

2010-12-31T18:27:00.004+01:00

wish you a very happy, peaceful, light and exciting new one!

here is something we made the last days, she wanted a market like in 1001 fairy-tales.

and we made fortune cookies for tonight.

. . .

2010-12-30T23:58:00.005+01:00

.

sometimes it's hard to decide in which order to start.

library

2010-12-29T12:40:00.003+01:00

sorting out inbetween years.
found some old pictures taken in the library in hamburg where they have every vogue starting from the fifties.
those days when the rare visits at that place had to be enough inspiration before we had the www.
made me happy that i still like what i picked up many years ago, i still would like to make and have both.

the bv bag ad says: when your own initials are enough

merry christmas

2010-12-25T15:37:00.004+01:00

to you!

we are spending cozy & calm days with family and friends.

hope you are all very well!

her farm

2010-12-20T01:15:00.006+01:00

her all time companions, her beloved animals and today as she was in a total christmas mood she chose a white dress for our dinner tonight and even the dolls were invited to take part - holiday happiness!

making cookies, presents and a dinner for friends, that has been our sunday.

First picture taken by L.

""""""""""

2010-12-13T08:53:00.006+01:00

i wish there will be snow again soon.

pearl embroidery found at a fleamarket.

upside down

2010-12-12T21:54:00.004+01:00

i feel like i have nearly adjusted back to everyday life!
we had a good weekend and friday has been officially my last working day for the movie we finished shooting monday night!
it is so good to be back and my lists for the holiday preparations, things that had to be done for home, several crafting projects and collaborations with friends are endless but i am really looking forward to be able to make my own schedule again.

+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +

Lou has two new friends, they are siblings, clever, sweet and wild and i like their socks!

blankets

2010-12-09T20:04:00.012+01:00

accidentally i found a nice new shop yesterday here in berlin. during the summer they sell organic ice cream and now in winter warm blankets.
today i got a link from a friend where i found this wonderful shawl today. samare.
i am totally inspired by that technique and the bright colours.

all kinds of blankets are the perfect things to have and make during winter.

light creature

2010-12-04T23:16:00.006+01:00

yesterday nights lightening for our film.
reminded me somehow of myiasaki's totoro.

good night

2010-12-01T22:41:00.006+01:00

yesterday night Lou got her advent calendar, the bags i needed 3 years to finish, the first years i cheated and operated with less then 24.
but today i got a red calendar too, the first picture showed the small green bag she got today.

good night. it's a very cold night here, hope you all have a warm home like we do.

velvet

2010-11-23T01:08:00.005+01:00

another afro american patchwork master piece from here via mw.
my love for them nurtured constantly these last weeks via ic.
thank you!

leipzig

2010-11-20T23:47:00.004+01:00

this is my last job trip this year!

seen at the market today and i finally started making something again, will show you as it has grown big enough to be presented, it's a perfect way to spend my evenings in the hotel here.

have a good sunday

west berlin

2010-11-16T00:11:00.004+01:00

today!

looked like back in the eighties.

brushes

2010-11-14T21:56:00.005+01:00

i found them today on my phone.
her drawings on photos, i wouldn't even know how to import the picture into the painting mode!

the purple dots are bacteria on her jeans.

orly

2010-11-11T23:11:00.008+01:00

my friend made a wonderful film, shot at the airport orly in paris, including all real passengers, very elegantly not interfering with the daily routine and crowds of an airport, go watch it if you have the chance.

we made

2010-11-09T23:10:00.006+01:00

something with the woolen leftovers.
i had to push Lou and her friend to start, then they were unstoppable, i will not prevent them from making a lot more during the dark afternoons...

burning down

2010-11-09T22:42:00.010+01:00

the caravan.
our caravan, perfectly renovated by L., waiting for spring to be our small weekend refugium at the countryside.
what a story!
last summer we couldn't bring it to the paradise place we found via friends cause the weekend before the campingsite was closed down due to an accident.
now it was parked at a quiet street, waiting for spring to finally find it's destination, the whole family exited about the first trips and adventures with it.
but somebody put it on fire with a burning mattress during halloween night, at least that's what we learned yesterday by the police.

maybe somebody just doesn't want us to go camping at all!

r.i.p, dear caravan, you will be always part of our family history, even if we didn't had the chance to be sheltered by you!

something blue

2010-11-04T20:54:00.005+01:00

a reminder via hg, fabric interseason, such a good concept.

& got this great link from my nerd boyfriend.
reminds me of my job!

again

2010-11-01T23:15:00.007+01:00

i am going to start another post about us wanting to move, no, not just wanting, no, we finally need to, it is just that we always have stopped searching at a certain point, stayed where we are living now since nearly 9 years, cause we couldn't find something adequate or better or at a nicer location or i guess we have just been too lazy to move.
whatever, this is something interesting i found tonight, while starting the hunt again.

it is just a little bit too far in the west of berlin, only two thirds the size of our current appartment, a slightly little bit too expensive, but for sure worth a thought, an appartment available in the corbusier building.

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yesterdays baking

autumn light

2010-10-30T17:12:00.008+02:00

in our kitchen this morning.

we have been preparing the dough for scary cookies as she is invited to a helloween party tomorrow.
i have mixed feelings about the kids celebrating hw, there is no tradition here but as she is attending a bilingual school where most of the teachers are from the us or canada i guess it makes sense.
so we are mixing the traditions, our favourite christmas cookie dough for hands with long nails, skulls and little ghosts.

and here are the last impressions from our trip to italy, as we are going to have a big dinner tonight to reunite the friends who came with us.

pale light

2010-10-24T23:40:00.005+02:00

near capri

tesoro mio/ my darling, a blanket found at a church market

shadow

collaboration with my daughter