Latest Forum Posts by: Bastelfan

What a lovely idea to show us your Advent calendar again. Thank you so much, dear Veronika.
Unfortunately, I was too late to order one for myself. I wanted to try it out too, because I still had the pictures of your calendar from last year in my head.
It’s interesting to see what you make out of it. Please post more pictures.

Unfortunately, I don’t have a calendar this year. I didn’t even manage to finish making one myself. Terrible.
Something always came up—especially the stressful shifts in my caregiving job—so I just didn’t feel like it and was constantly tired and worn out.

I hope that changes next year.

S = Stasi (abbreviation for the Ministry for State Security...)

Many people may associate this with bad experiences; I personally don’t, but that’s just how it was back then. Everything had its place.

I don’t have any pictures on hand right now, but I recently saw in an English Christmas movie that you can also wrap gifts with old scarves (headscarves or square neckerchiefs). Just wrap the gift in it, then tie the ends of the scarf into a bow. Done.
I hope that explanation makes sense.

Dear Ruth,
I’d also like to send you my very best wishes on your special day today—wishing you good luck and good health.
Stay just the way you are, with all your creative ideas, and continued success with your shop.

I’m sure your family will spoil you rotten today, and I hope you have many wonderful hours with your loved ones.

Warm regards
from Andrea

Oh my, I didn't even notice. Thanks, Ina. Hope it works properly now

Hi everyone,
your windows are decorated so beautifully.
I started decorating last week, too. I always need colorful lights.

Warm regards from me

Lollipops
are still around today, but I can still remember the colorful ones from my childhood very well.
They came in yellow and red, and afterward your tongue was always colorful. Funny. Especially those chocolate lollipops with cocoa inside. I like to suck on them, just like those pipe-shaped lollipops—elongated and red, as far as I remember.
There were some interesting candies back then, but we paid close attention to dental hygiene. We learned that as early as kindergarten.
 

C = Cama, was a low-calorie margarine produced in the GDR. It came in those round plastic tubs with lids.

My grandma lived a healthy lifestyle and often spread it on her bread; I didn’t like it back then. I preferred the cream butter.

UTP classes (Technical Production classes). They were mandatory starting in 7th grade, with both theory and practice. We did work experience at companies and took technical drawing classes. But it was fun (except for having to get up early). I enjoyed technical drawing.
That was also the time of the slide rule—I loved it.

 

Interflug
That was the state-owned airline of the GDR

A “dacha”

used to be a weekend cottage or garden shed.
We didn’t have one back then, but we did have a small boat and a tent. My parents would often take us by boat to the campground when we were on vacation. Great times. Three weeks straight out in nature—fishing, playing hide-and-seek, campground parties, swimming, walking around the island, barbecue evenings...

Ina was faster

T = Wallpaper trim

—I only know that back in the GDR days, when my dad helped us hang wallpaper, they’d always nail these narrow strips of wallpaper trim to the wall as a top border. They came in all sorts of patterns and colors, as far as I can remember.

And I think my mom used the leftover ones as a support frame for my kite; she covered it with packing paper, painted the whole thing, added a “newspaper tail,” and it was done.

Here we have frost, it’s freezing cold, but the sun is shining.

I met up with a friend in town for our first mulled wine in a long time. It had been half a year since we last saw each other. The Christmas market opens here on Monday. Then we’ll have roasted almonds again.

Yes, I know that string game too; I can still do it today. Rubber band jumping/Gummihopse—oh, that was so much fun. We didn’t need much to be happy or to play.

I’ll continue now with P = Pioneers

There were the Young Pioneers (blue neckerchief), and from 4th grade on the Thälmann Pioneers (red neckerchief). We were so proud to wear the Pioneer uniform with the neckerchief, plus a blue cap. We also had a Pioneer ID card... it was still a lovely time.
It’s nice when you can reminisce. Everything was so carefree.

I’ve been crocheting with my leftover yarn, and this is what came out of it.
Based on a purchased English pattern

B = Sherbet powder

I loved that as a kid. Those little packets with the sherbet powder inside. You could dissolve it in water and drink it like a fizzy drink, but the best part was dipping our damp fingers into the powder and then licking it off. It gave such a great tingling sensation on the tongue. Ah, those were the days.

Here’s my Grinch in the meantime—that was the only green I had on hand.
Following a video tutorial, I also crocheted this little Christmas doily and edged it with glittery yarn.

Egg muffins with vegetables (I just Googled it). I wonder if that tastes good?

Beautiful, Inge. You’re so quick. “Turbo-Inge” really hits the nail on the head. That made me laugh so hard.
Your three girls just automatically make you laugh, too. Keep enjoying them.

Thank you, dear Petra. No, no more “Little Old Man”. I crocheted this little doll for a coworker because she can’t quite manage it herself. She’s not staying with me—the doll has already moved on.
Someday I might crochet a “small” one for myself.  Yes, I always enjoyed watching Püppi, too—it was a fun time back then.
Now I can get back to crafting for myself. My crochet shawl is still waiting to be finished, my mini Grinch still needs a face… and I still have some paper and bead crafts to tackle. So I won’t be getting bored.

Hi there, crafty friends—have a wonderful evening, everyone.

I took a few days off, and yay, the crochet order is finally finished. I quickly snapped a photo.
Ta-da! May I introduce Püppi Langstrumpf. (It was a crochet kit.)

Oh, Inge, your triplets look absolutely adorable. Each one is cuter than the next. I’m also curious to see what outfits you’ll dress them in.
Have lots of fun with your little dolls.

Crocheting and beading right now

I’m sending you get-well wishes too, Inge.

Ina, your winter dresses look great.

I’m still crocheting the doll on commission for a coworker. But I’m not making much progress right now because of my late shift—I can’t get any crafting done then.
Other than that, I’m doing a little beadwork for Christmas and making cards.

From me, too, my very best birthday wishes—may you have good luck and good health.

Hello, everyone! I’m sending you all a big hug from afar

Thank you so much for your kind birthday wishes and floral greetings—they really made me very happy.
Yes, I had a wonderful day with my parents. We had a lovely meal at “Kartoffelkäfer”—German cuisine—and I let myself be served for a change. Afterward, we took a little digestive walk, and then of course had coffee with delicious fruit flan, muffins, and whipped cream. In the evening, we had a little drink. Everything was perfect.
And… I even got my requested day off from work.

Warmest regards
Andrea :-)

Barbecue night 

Baking Florentines (they’re thin cookies)

Collecting pinecones for crafts

Good morning, dear forum

members! Right now I’m working on a Pippi Longstocking doll for a colleague—or rather, for her friend.
She’d ordered one of those crochet kits but couldn’t figure out the English instructions at all, so I agreed to help.
Of course, I’ll share a picture of the finished Püppi later—if I don’t forget.

Have a pleasant Friday, everyone, and enjoy your weekend—I have to get back to work.

Hugs, Andrea :-)

Danube Wave

Buying chrysanthemums

Vanilla crescents

A glance out the living room window to enjoy the last rays of sunshine, and right away this fluttering fellow flies in, landing briefly on the balcony table. He spreads his wings as if he knew we wanted to snap a photo of his full beauty. Photo in the bag, and just like that, the peacock butterfly was gone again. 😉 Awesome

Hi everyone,
have you all been busy? I’ve just been crocheting some little fall decorations here and there

 

Strawberry Cake

How big did your little cutie bear turn out to be?

Oh, so cute—your little bear is really fluffy, just made for cuddling. The color is amazing.

My yarn stash is still manageable, even though a few skeins found their way into my bag while I was on vacation.
Most of it is cotton yarn, and I still have some thin crochet yarn too (for smaller amigurumis).
The yarn is spread out across 2 drawers, 3 fabric boxes, and a large, flat plastic under-bed storage box. There are also quite a few UFOs in there—unfortunately—waiting to be finished. Otherwise, everything’s still under control.

My warmest congratulations and all the best to you

I ended up finding some after all. Since there are hardly any yarn stores left in Germany, I just had to grab some from the Panduro shop in Norway.
Here’s my little haul. I’m as proud as can be.

Pretzel sticks

A little 50-gram Norwegian “Bobbel” found its way into my shopping cart. Other than that, I’ve stayed strong.

I’d also like to say a big thank you to the CP team. I’m so glad this site exists.
I’ve met so many nice people here, found lots of inspiration, and gotten help with my questions.
It’s a very diverse forum. Keep up the great work 😉🫂🧶☕️

Warm birthday wishes from 🇧🇻☕️🍰🫂💐🥂🎂, lots of 🍀 and good health. Have a wonderful day.

Here are a few more impressions from 🇧🇻😉

   
Have a nice Sunday

Ginger Cookies

Thank you all. It was like coming home. As if we’d never left. Everything feels so familiar. Not much has changed.
We’re really enjoying our time here. Tomorrow we’re visiting our German friends.

Warm regards from Norway

Oh right, privacy. Please delete this then.