Calling all Day Trippers!

Hi Guys.

You might have noticed that I have been playing around with my blog design over the weekend. I moved some stuff, rearranged things a bit, and hopefully made everything a trifle prettier and less messy. Please do let me know if you have problems with anything in the new layout.
One thing that felt weird was removing the Google Friend Connect widget. That little thing made me feel like I was looking at a group of friends every time I opened my website, and I celebrated every time the counter went up. But seeing as Google is slowly phasing out all its old products (bye, bye, Google reader, my old friend) I thought I might as well bite the bullet and embrace the change. Only AFTER I removed it did I start to wonder if I had also automatically removed my followers as a result. Are you still there? I hope so! And you will still be able to follow me through all these places once all of old Google has passed over.
I had already thought about removing the widget on a few occasions, but that mainly had to do with me getting stressed out if nobody new wanted to actually become my friend, or if people unfollowed me. The reason why I always kept it in the end was that I felt that you, my followers, deserved a bit of exposure, and people could go and check you out by flipping through your tiny thumbnail faces and visiting your pages.
And because I think it's cool that you want to hang out with me, I think I want to keep that exposure happening. So here's what we're gonna do:
If you are a follower of mine and also run your own blog, leave me a comment below. In that comment tell me what your actual method of stalking is (etc. Feedburner, Bloglovin', Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Friend Connect (???)...), the name and address of your blog, 5 nouns that describe what you're doing over there, and the country that you blog from. "Why so nosey?", you may ask. Well... I will take all that info and link to your site from my brand new Day Tripper page! It's going to be my own little follower directory. I'm so pleased with my idea and I think it's going to be awesome. Sound good? Good. Let's do it. 
If you are at loss for nouns, this is how I would sum up All The Live Long Day, for example: FOOD, PHOTOS, TRAVEL, STUFF, PROCRASTINATION. Does that make sense? I hope so. Also, I checked and there were 111 of you before I killed off the widget, so I am expecting 111 comments, children! 
I so am looking forward to getting re-acquainted and to compiling the Day Tripper list.

Love,

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

What I've Been Busy With.

Hello, hello. Sometimes (though rarely) I do have a good excuse not to blog. It's those times I'm busy living! My parents stayed over for the first week of May, and it was my birthday, and we went to the seaside and had a lovely meal, and then a party with my friends. And there was cake. A lot of cake. And a tragic hedgehog and shells (more of these later). And to be honest, I have also been alternately watching Being Erica and Parks & Recreation, both of which are very, very captivating TV shows. Alas, here are a few phonos (phone-photos, I'm so funny!):

I discovered my new favourite bubble tea flavour: rose milk. I think the boba was strawberry-flavoured. To die for!

My birthday started off with just one cake. The normal amount. I also got presents. My parents gifted me a night alone in a book shop. How ace is that? Had I known such opportunities existed  I would have put that on my bucket list for sure. Marco gave me speakers for my phone (I am recently Spotify-addicted) and the River Cottage Handbooks, which I had been longing for for a while.

I couldn't have eaten a slice of my one cake after a big breakfast of pancakes and delicious lunch sandwiches from The Cupcake Cafe in Margate. 

Margate panorama. There is nothing better than spending your birthday by the seaside. In my book at least. 

Margate wildlife.

Margate art.

After trawling the charity shops in Margate and hanging out at the beach, we had some time to kill before dinner (not pictured), so we took a little drive and watched the sun set over Ramsgate marina.

Dude knows how to accessorize!

The beach in Ramsgate and I being a happy birthday girl after the amount of cakes that I got given had grown into a buffet by Saturday.

Would you look at this. See that little white cake on the left? Quite inconspicuous, n'est-ce pas?

Look what it was!!! Only a rainbow cake, made by my super-duper amazing friend Christina! It made me so happy! We're still eating it now, although it's diminishing quickly.

I had a truly happy birthday week. My friends and family made me feel really special.

What about you guys? Has anything exciting happened in your lives? How do you like to spend your birthday? I'd love to know, so leave me a comment.

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Being Spiritual with Amy from Fate-Filled Times

For today, I can give you a very special post from my online friend Amy. Amy and I met through a shared love of tea and have since discovered that we also both like cats, nature and Instagram. I love Amy's blog for the inspiration it gives me and for her earnest approach to art, life, and happiness. In her guest post, Amy is sharing with us what being spiritual means to her and gives some helpful hints on how to bring more spirit into your daily life.

Thanks so much!

***

Greetings fellow All The Live Long Day readers! 

My name is Amy and I blog over at Fate-Filled Times. 

Annika and I met through a tea swap online and we've been pals ever since. Annika is beyond sweet* and I am honoured to be a guest blogger while she is away. 

*(Editor's note: you're so kind to say that! x)

Over on my blog, I often write about my life journey with emphasis on art and spirituality. 

Today I'd like to share with you what my spirituality means to me. 

  

For me, feeling spiritual involves:

*feeling connected to something mysterious and greater than myself

*a feeling there is a greater force at work all around me

*someone or something I can pray to and who I know hears me

I tend to call this force The Universe. 

The reason I like to call my beliefs spiritual is I feel free to create the definition of what I believe in rather than following a prescribed path. I believe in so many aspects of all of religions and belief systems! I can see the benefit of many paths, yet none of them individually and exclusively appeal to me. There are many common threads through various beliefs and I like to think we are all connected through these threads, regardless of our chosen beliefs.   

Where Do I Find My Spirituality?

It is important for my psyche and for my heart to have meaningful spiritual moments. I've learned in my life that I feel most connected to the sacred when I am:

*Connected to nature, to the earth, to the sky, to the lakes and oceans, streams, fields, trees, sun and moon.

And

*Expressive in the arts, through writing, blogging, photography, art journaling, painting and creating.

Being in nature and expressing through art and writing unequivocally heal my spirit and connect me to that which is greater than myself.

These are the things that fill me up. These are the places I go when I feel broken down, hollowed out, confused and lost. These are the places where I feel lifted, inspired, connected and content.

These are my pathways to clarity; my spiritual spaces.

Discover what connects you to your spirituality and indulge in it. Treat yourself to adventures, practices, hobbies, spaces and places that are sacred to you.  

Ask Yourself:

Your spirituality can be found anywhere meaningful to you!

Spiritual moments might be felt in:

*a hot bath

*meditation

*yoga practice

*the light of a full moon

*reading the words of Rilke

*the sounds of a church choir

*a newborn baby sleeping in your arms

*the crunch of fall leaves under your boots

*driving in your car with your favourite music

*or any space or place where you feel the most 

connected to yourself, the world and 

that which is sacred to you

Having reminders of these spiritual connections in my home or that I carry with me make a difference in my days and in my energy. 

How can you make your space sacred?

*Cleanse your space with open windows, intention, and maybe even some sage smoke.

*Collect mementos to remind you of your spirituality and place them in your space. Create an altar.

*Create a blessing for your home. Say it out loud. Hang it up.

Since I prefer to be in the company of nature and art, I like to have plants in my home, to bring nature indoors. I also enjoy paintings and stained glass in my space. I have many natural stones and crystals as well as feathers, shells and salt lamps.

How can you carry sacred items with you?

*Carry small sacred items with you with you when you are on the go. You can also carry items in a pouch and keep in your bag/purse or wear them.

*Keep meaningful quotes and notes with you that you can refer to.

*Take photos of sacred symbols, places or people with your phone and look through them on your commute.

I like to wear jewelry with precious and semi precious stones as well as jewelry that has been passed down through my family. I keep a small pouch with me that I can fill with whatever item speaks to me (such as herbs, stones and shells) and I keep it in my bag. I like to wear natural materials that are protective and calming while I am out in the busy world. Oil blends are also nice to wear for the benefit of aromatherapy.

Our spirits can very easily be depleted by all the negative energy and toxic people/spaces. Fuel up on the good stuff as often as you can. 

And, while you are out in the world, remember...

Thanks so much for reading and a special thanks to Annika for hosting me on your wonderful blog.

Take good care of yourself (and your spirit),

Amy

© Amy - Fate-Filled Times

Panda Pencil Case

So, I handmade this panda pencil case for my "niece" Clara. (She's my inverted-comma-niece because we are not blood-related, but she's my sister-from-another-mister's daughter). I used this tutorial for help with assembling the case and made the rest of the design up completely. Which is incidentally how I live most of my life...

It's a present for Clara's first day of school, which we Germans celebrate big. I have been informed by a reliable source that "niece" is currently panda-crazy. 

Well, guess what, I am now panda-crazy, too. Just in a completely different way. Because starting to make something with ears and eyes and a zipper and then having your sewing machine give up the ghost in the first quarter of that process does drive you somewhat bonkers... But for a hand-sewn first attempt, it ain't too terribly bad. Even if I say so myself.

Happy First Day Of School, Clara!!!

 

P.S.: Sorry about the cat hair....

  © Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).  

Go for Gold! And sponsor a photographer.

So, I'm not a regular blogger anymore, but that won't keep me from shamelessly plugging my friend Gesche's photography project and accompanying Kickstarter campaign! I'm uncouth like that.

Gesche is asking for support for raising funds for her Go for Gold! exhibition. Go for Gold! will be on view at the Underground Gallery in London from July 27th – August 9th, 2012. 

 

Gesche started working on the Go for Gold! series six years ago and has continually updated the project since, critically documenting the social and geographical transformation of East London’s landscape in preparation for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games

Gesche sees the current exhibition "as an important counterweight to the Cultural Olympiad and the images that have been distributed by the Olympic Delivery Authority and London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. That's also why it is so important to me to show the series while the Olympics are actually on."

Through signing up for Kickstarter, Gesche is hoping to raise funds for gallery hire, the private view, and insuring her artwork. You can read more on the project here or visit Gesche's website to find out more about her work. The following photos are part of the exhibition:

 © Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated). 

Giveaway at The Corner Of The Internet I Call Home

My friend Fiona from The Corner Of The Internet I Call Home recently hit 50 followers and is celebrating  this occasion by giving away a gorgeous necklace. Go HERE to enter.

{via}

Fiona also recently emigrated from London to Perth in Australia and is slowly but surely settling into her new surroundings. Go check out her blog, because apart from getting to know Perth through her eyes, you will also find posts on ethical fashion, some yummy recipes for baked goods and a whole lotta blogging love!

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Sprechen Sie Deutsch?

No, seriously! Do you speak German? I ask because my good old friend Susanna has just gone and started a blog called Bücher, Essen etc.... In German. But maybe you would like to learn?! 
Susanna and I worked together in the same bookshop in Cologne for a few years, I lived with her for a little while and she did my bridal make-up. I will actually get to see her when Marco and I go to Germany next week, and I am very much looking forward to that! So far, Susanna has blogged about her cat Ratte, her bike, the town she lives in, and a few other snippets from her life. She shares vegan recipes as well! Overall, she is one lovely lady! I am really glad that I now have a real-life blogging friend!
Susanna speaks English too, though, so if you want to go and leave her a 'hello' instead of a 'hallo', I'm sure she will be pleased. In fact, why don't you go and welcome her into the blog world in any language whatsoever. Just tell her I sent you. Dankeschön!

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Wedding Quilt

I personally thought this day would never come. Nor did the people who kept asking me about the quilt I had told them I would make about two years ago. The back story? I asked everybody at our wedding to bring a piece of fabric that I was going to make into a memory quilt to remind Marco and me of the day and of all the people that shared it with us.
So we got married, people gave me special fabrics, and then this fabric just sat around for nearly 24 months. I was kind of apprehensive to start on the quilt. It is going to be my first one, and I was so afraid of messing it up. But now I will tackle it! It is still daunting, especially as there are quite a few materials like silk and wool that you would probably normally not quilt with. But I have managed a few smaller patchwork projects over the past months, and succeeding with those have given me the confidence to start something bigger. So far, I have only taken photos to catalogue who gave us which fabric, and washed all the pieces so that the finished blanket will not shrink. And yay! All the fabric survived! I will keep you up to date on the progress. Wish me luck!

Canadian friends gave us fabric that they used for their furniture.

My grandparents gave me a piece of corduroy from dungarees I had as a child. 

My friend Saskia made a quilt block especially for us.

My uncle (via my Mama) donated a piece of my old room's curtains.

My colleague and his wife gave us a Chinese silken handkerchief.

This is a fragment of a skirt my Mama made me when I was little.

My friend Susi brought a piece of window decorating fabric from the bookshop that we used to work at together.

Our friend John once made this batique that should have become a cushion but will no go in the quilt.

My aunt surprised us with a fabric remnant of the dress that she wore as a bridesmaid at my parent's wedding.

My friend Abi parted with a whole thoughtful collection that included her son's first hat.

Now I cannot wait to cut squares out of all these!

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).

Music & Laughter

Do you remember the Keep Calm And Cross Stitch frame I made earlier this year? I made something similar for my friend Cecilia. She is passionate about Salsa, so I wanted to cross stitch a saying that was related to music. I picked this quote, which means something like "The music is riddled with laughter". (Correct my shoddy Spanish, if you can!)
I used a piece of vintage fabric from my stash and embroidered the letters in DMC 714 with the help of waste canvas. I did not use an embroidery hoop, which is why the stitches look a bit crooked. Won't happen again!

© Text & Photos - Annika - All The Live Long Day (unless otherwise stated).