The melon diaries #3 - work space utopia

At the beginning of July I have been contacted by Etsy France to fill out an interview sheet which they sent to their 50 top Etsy stores based in France.
WOOHOO!!!!
The interview was the classic Etsy 'behind the scenes' questionnaire with the side note that they would love to have some pictures of me and my work space, if possible.

Pictures?
Yeah, sure!
.....no wait!

When I thought of that I instantly remembered the work space pics I usually see on Etsy, or on Pinterest. And I started a bit to panic, cause my work space looks nothing like them - see below:

YUCK!!!! Disgustingly perfect!
I mean "COME ON!" Where do you work in this space? It is all way too neat and tidy. Even those that have some full loaded ares, like a mood board, it is the neatest mess I have ever seen. I don't really believe that those are work spaces - those are showrooms projecting a work space utopia.

Don't get me wrong, surely some people can keep it together like this on a daily basis but they must be graphic designers, or similar. Having a work that takes really only place on the desktop of their computers.

Producing physical items like my ceramics, or paintings or clothing is a messy business no matter if you produce made-to-order or pre-produce in batches. And so I tried to find more realistic examples:

That looks much more like it, doesn't it?! I have these examples on my pinterest board, but soon there will be more - promise.

So here I was, annoyed that I was facing the dilemma between not sending in any photos and have a smaller chance of being interesting enough to be published by EtsyFR or having to have a big clean-up on short notice and show off my work space when there is actually no work in progress. I did the latter and here the results:

Oh, and it wouldn't be the melon diaries if I didn't give you an update, right?!
So sadly Melon No2 seems to be dying....; but No1 is doing fine, considering it is growing out of a flower pot.

The melon diaries #2 - living in a cave.

If you would have asked me 5years ago where I see myself in 5years, I would have said Canada, or Sweden. Definitely a cold country.
But here I am in France - the SOUTH of France. 28°C (~90°F) at 8am in the summer months.
When you come here on vacation it is probably in some place with a pool or at the seaside.... perfect hot weather almost guaranteed. You will invite the warmth and sun in and you probably think  my home looks a bit like this:

the Mediterranean sea

Doors, windows and shutters wide open.....

windows and shutters wide open

 Yeah, well.... It does look like this more or less 9months out of 12. But right now, when it is that hot and you are not on vacation but have to work....
The windows, doors AND shutters stay closed - keep the heat out!!!! All day until at least 8pm. At night we open everything to cool the apartment down.
So right now it feels a bit like living in a cave.

Next year we might try to swap flats for the summer... find some nice Swedish family that would like to come here and in return we get to stay at their house for a few weeks....oh, I could daydream about that all day!

>>> But hey! If I'd live in Sweden I wouldn't have watermelons growing on my balcony. 

The little ones does not seem to grow - still grape sized. 

But the big one grew 2.5inch in 2days - yaaay!

The melon diaries #1

A garden is a beautiful thing to have.
I would love to have a garden. I would have a fruit and veggie part...

would be a neat veggie patch idea

and since I am a 'foody' I'd have a wall of herbs

...and then, of cause a part to play and relax. A green area for the kids and a patio part for the adults.

oh, and heat resistant driveway greenery like this

Unfortunately, I am a bit a lost case when it comes to tending to plants. So I know I would need some serious help. So that is the reason I am so excited about the latest development on my balcony. A melon plant appeared and I have now TWO watermelons growing. This plant must have come from the small compost I cultivated last year and used on my plants this year. If they make it to an eatable stage, I'd be so thrilled.

P.S.: find all links and sources of the pictures shown here: http://pinterest.com/LaNiqueHOME/plants-gardening-outdoor-spaces/

No1 is just a few days old but already on  a good way

7" or 17.5cm

No2 has appreared yeseterday and is just grape sized - for now!

Cake in a cup - no cupcake!

So remember how I keep preaching that we should spoil the crap (excuse my French) out of each other on the weekends and how it really makes a difference on the long run....you get (everyone) excited for the weekends.
Well, I found a recipe for a cake that is quicker done than it takes for your coffee to run through the machine.

source can be found here.

 Now, under the link you will find the original recipe that is in fact real good but it is VERY mighty.
For all sugar conscious people (like me) try this:

Ingredients
4 tablespoons self-rising flour [4tbs normal flour + 0.5teapoon baking powder for all who don't have self-rising flour]
4 tablespoons 1 teaspoon sugar
1 egg
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons 1tablespoon Nutella (remember Nutella has already tons of sugar and even more oil)
3 tablespoons milk
3 tablespoons 2tablespoons vegetable oil
Whipped Cream Topping (if desired)
½ cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon sugar
Directions
Combine all ingredients in a large coffee mug. Whisk well with a fork until smooth. Split onto 2cups cause with the baking powder it will rise, rise RISE!!!!
Microwave on high for 1½– 3 minutes. (Time depends on microwave; mine took 2 minutes.)
Add heavy cream to the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment and whip on medium-high speed until almost stiff. Add sugar and beat until heavy cream forms stiff peaks. Top Mug Cakes with whipped cream and a little chocolate sauce, if desired.

ENJOY!!!! 
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Als grosser Fan des Wochenendes plaediere ich immer dafuer das wir diese kurze Zeit dazu nutzen sollten einander zu verwoehnen und schon oft habe ich euch Beispiele auf meiner Facebookseite gegeben was bei mir zu hause so getan wird.
Jetzt habe ich auf Pinterest ein Rezept fuer Tassenkuchen gefunden. Ja,ja.... ganz richtig gelesen. Den Link zum Originalrezept findet ihr hier. Aber ich moechte fuer alle Zuckerbewussten eine leichtere Variante bieten die nicht minder lecker ist:
4 El  Mehl
0.5 tl Backpulver
4 El 1 tl Zucker
1 Ei
2 El Kakao ungesuesst (optionell)
3 El 1 El Nutella (denkt immer dran: Nutella ist schon voll von Zucker und Oel)
3 El Milch
3 El 2 El Sonnenblumen-/Nussoel

Alles gut vermischen und dann auf ZWEI Becher verteilen, denn mit dem Backpulver waechst es ganz schoen an UND "geteilye Freud ist ja bekanntlich doppelte Freude" ;)
Dann das ganze 1,5 bis 3min in die Mikrowelle, ganz je nachdem wie stark euer Geraet ist.

BAAAM - FERTIG!!!! das dauert alles in allem maximal 5minuten.... in der Zeit ist vielleicht noch nicht einmal euer Kaffee durchgelaufen.

Guten Appetit!!!

Interiors for my products No.2

It is time again to show you in what kind of ambiance I see my products in. Naturally those are only examples of how a small business owner and creator sees her little brand.

Those interiors are examples I found on Pinterest and you will find their original links on my profile.

All products can be found for purchase in my Etsy or Meylah shop and if you have some special wishes for alterations, let me know, I am sure I can find just the thing for you!

Scandinavian minimalist mountain design mobile in a white interior.

on a darker background Scandinavian minimalist mountain design mobile

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Scandinavian minimalist iceberg design mobile. LIMITED EDITION

Spring flower puzzle. Bright Scandinavian folk design wall art. 58pieces

If you want to see some more previews about my new collection, find LaNiqueHOME on facebook for daily news and updates.

...never buy handmade too cheap.

I think everyone who buys consciously handmade is not buying it cause it is so cheap. Naturally we all like to find a good deal so I guess you will just have set the criteria to define what 'a good deal' means to you.
I have a concrete example right here:
Expecting a baby I needed a whole lot of things I never thought of before. And also things that you already got, but that, well, an adjusted version would come handy. A diaper bag!
Yes, yes, basically I could use just any big messenger bag, but with all the little things it will contain and having a little human to care about.... I want to be organised and I don't want to have to search for things.
So I went off to some stores and looked around. 60-100€ for a branded bag. A well made bag, but a bag made in China, India, Vietnam.... by someone who have worked hard, under conditions I don't know nothing about and who will probably not have gotten even 1/10 of that price as a salary.
So I went online and had a look on Etsy. There is tons of people who offer diaper bags and I hit the 'like' button on all the designs I liked.
In a second round I went back to my favourits to compare all those bags....aesthetically and of cause based on the price. I noticed that I had marked bags at the price range from $25-$150. Now it was time to compare: "What do I get for that money?!" followed by: "What do I actually need?!"
And by the time I had all that figured out I had ~4bags left. So I again ranked them by looks and price and then decided that I want a cotton bag and not something made of laminated material.
3bags left.
I liked them all, so of cause, I went by price.....I want the best deal!
But there is one more thing you have to consider the price.... just like with the branded bags: Where does the bag come from?
I can understand that someone living in Poland, or Romania can produce the bag slightly cheaper than someone in the USA, France, or Germany. Materials are much likely cheaper and their price has to cover their standard of living, not mine. So knowing for a fact that living is cheaper in e.g. Poland I will not spend 100€ for a Polish bag if I can have a similar one for 75€ made in France. It simply does not feel like I made 'a good deal'. If 75€ is enough for a French bag is a different question and everyone will have to decide for themselves.
So to cut a long story short:
I bought a cotton bag made in USA. It has all the features that where important to me. I could chose the pattern/materials used, so it is customized according to what I like. I paid $96 and I think I made a very good deal cause I figured if I a good bag does cost ~80-90€ from a branded company that can produce for much cheaper, why should I pay less for one of identical quality that has been handmade by someone who has a similar standard of living than me? She offers a competitive price and I understand that this price can't be in the lower section of ~60€ cause the material is really nice heavy cotton and the making takes time...even it you are skilled in sewing and do it a lot faster than me. On the contrary! At a price of 60€ I would wonder about how she did it. Is it really cotton? Did she really do it herself? Maybe there a cheaply pre-fabricated elements?

Well, let me tell you: This bag is REALLY nice. It arrived today and I am very happy with the quality. Nice and sturdy, with all the compartments we will need. Washable and just my style! Not too faminine (the man would not what to be seen carrying a womans bag) neither too clichée 'baby bag', or too clichée  'It's a (baby) boy!'
So thank you Nancy! I will recommend your shop and service :D

Customised diaper bag bought at www.fromnancy.etsy.com

French Cliché No.2

I find it always amazing when my international friends come to visit me in France and everybody (especially the ladies) remark the French women. No offence to French men, but the ladies do attract attention. First and foremost all say "They are all so chic!" Elegance is definitively a cliché in the sense that it can be seen all over in the streets. But what is elegance?
So what do you picture if I would describe a friend of mine as 'typically French girl'???
French women are for me comfortable in their femininity without overdoing it. I found some pictures that hit all the spot... which one do you like most?

1) Urban princess. Tender colors, playful girly but not too much.
2) Miss France. OK the hat is maybe a bit too much cliché-ridden, but the rest of the outfit/Make-up is soooo French as well. Simple but accentuated and really not girly.
3) Country beauty. Again soft pale colors, not much make-up but richness in style and romanticism.
4) Femme fatale. I don't think any words are needed here...even the term is French and known all over the world in all the different languages.