Category Archives: Tiny happiness

A year in a jar

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Every year I’m surprised. All news channels look back on the year and it turns out I’ve forgotten at least 95% of it. Largely. Besides the feeling of surprise, it makes me feel a little ignorant, too.

However, these news channels all show why my brain banished most of those news items, as most are terrible tragedies and other depressing facts. But it’s not only these facts that I seem to have forgotten. Also the good things that happened, the beautiful moments that popped up along the road I travelled during that year – blurry memories as well… That saddens me a bit as it occurs to me that remembering such things could give a nice positive boost at the start of the new year!

So this year I started my 2014-in-a-jar. I found the idea somewhere on the internet and immediately decided that was going to be the trick for me.

It’s easy as one-two-three. You can make it yourself. Use an old jam jar. Or a weck jar. Maybe you’re more the box-type. Shoe-boxes may do, too! There are no rules.

My year in a weck jar
You can make your own too
Or maybe this is more your style?
These I made for friends

 

If you feel totally lost at only the thought of that jar, here are some guidelines. Just to help.

A few guide lines...

This is how it works…

 

My weck jar has really helped me become more aware of interesting moments and beautiful happenings. It absolutely is a good way to stand still and see what you have. To realise it’s not all that black and negative. And to be thankful for it.

Tomorrow I will open my weck jar and carefully read the collected moments. I will use them to write a short review on my 2014. Then the jar will be ready for 2015.

And so will I.

 

Palmtrees and mistletoe

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Dear reader,

The Netherlands is expecting a lukewarm and windy Christmas. Is it snowing yet where-ever you are? Or perhaps you’ve just finished putting up the Christmas baubles in your palmtree?

No matter what the weather will be, I’m wishing you a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS surrounded by loved ones and leaving you with warm memories! And of course lots of cheeky kisses under the mistletoe…

Happy Christmas from my mistletoe and I...

Happy Christmas from my mistletoe and I…

Fulfilling

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I received some lovely pictures from Australia! A few weeks back someone ordered two Christmas cards through Etsy and asked me to write and send them to two lovely boys. And they arrived! Look at the result…

That’s heart-warming… Very well done Lewis! And exactly what I hoped my cards would trigger (whether you’re 8 or 80). Happy me!

And, as if my day couldn’t have started any better already after the beautiful pictures from Australia, I also got promoted on Instagram via @AAApromotion. They featured my Christmas tree!

What a day… I’m content and I’m gonna share this feeling of contentment with you. If you still haven’t found the time to write your Nan, lover or lovely niece and nephew a Christmas card – and I know the thought is nagging! – you’re at the right address. I absolutely LOVE writing and sending the card for you. The thought that you can sit back and relax and have yourself a Merry Little Christmas, is so fulfilling to me. So, as Christmas is approaching real fast, just place your order with the address and text before December 20th and I will do the rest!

Happy Today to you!

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Happy Brownie and Pretend to be a Time traveller Day to you all!

Jaja you forgot, but I didn’t. Today is December the 8th. The day we get to eat brownies and time travel to where ever it is we want to go (it’s raining here in Amsterdam so I’ll be travelling to the supermarket in my time capsule later on. I don’t have a car.)
Or maybe it’s December the 19th by the time you read this. In that case: have a ball this Underdog Day and Look For An Evergreen Day! And if it’s raining on the 19th too, no one will mind you time-travelling to the grocery shop.

These days every day is a “special day” (that’s just too many days in one sentence). Special days as moments to remember and be aware. Or simply celebrate funny facts and make every day a party. Whether you like it or not – I LOVE it – every day celebrates at least one thing. From Eat Red Apples Day (which you sadly missed as it was the 1st of December) to Disobedience Day (July 3rd) and Creative Ice Cream Flavours Day (July 1st). And, unbelievable but true, last Friday was International Ninja Day. Damn, you missed that one too!
The most creative days I’ve come across on my all-time favourite website Days of the Year. On this site you can check what day it is today, what day it is next Thursday – apart from being a Thursday – and even what month or year it will be. Believe me when I say: check this site if you are having a so called off day. I promise you you’ll find a reason to celebrate something, a reason to buy yourself cookies or caramel popcorn (April the 6th is going to be your day if you like caramel popcorn) or another good reason to take a day off. It always manages to make me happy anyway.

If you feel a resistance against the upcoming month of January – always a dreadful one – then comfort yourself with the thought January is going to be The Month of:
1) Oatmeal;
2) Brainteasers;
3) Creativity;
4) Hot Tea;
5) Soup;
6) Getting Organised (I’ve granted myself furlough from this one)
7) Being Kind To Food Servers;
and last but absolutely not least comes
8) The Celebration of Life Month.

Amen to that.

Me, I look forward to April 19th 2015. The day it will be Garlic Day (Luciana, you were born for this day!), Hanging Out Day and Bicycle Day all in one. My advice: cycle somewhere that day with your friends so you can hang out with them and feast on garlic sarnies with garlic butter and some extra garlic on the side. After you’ve done that, make sure you don’t come near other human beings for at least a week.
The whole month of April is going to be grand as far as I can tell, as it will be Decorating Month. And on April the 11th I’m having cheese fondue for breakfast, lunch and dinner to celebrate the invention of cheese fondue. I literally cannot wait!

The only day I haven’t found yet is Drink Tea With Milk Day. And that’s a loss for all of us, I find.
Which is why
*imagine drum roll*
I hereby declare April the 20th
*imagine more drums roll*
not only to be my birthday and Chinese Language Day, but foremost
*the drumming is now getting somewhat out of hand*
Drink Tea With Milk Day!

If that’s not gonna make your day then I don’t know what is… I guess I’ll just leave you be then.

Time for me to go and post the card I wrote for AirmailChristmas yesterday (it was, after all, Letter Writing Day and a card is almost a letter).

 

On my way back I’ll be resisting the brownies – which I’m pretty sure will be handed out for free in the streets of Amsterdam today – because for very unfortunate reasons I chose today to be the start of Skipping All Sugar until Christmas Fortnight… Exactly, that’s 14 days.

Have a good day!!

The last free shipping day

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The day has come! The day (today, December 5th 2014 indeed) that will be your last chance to get your Christmas card order shipped for free. If you live in The Netherlands, USA, Brazil, the UK or Australia! So if you still want to get that little December-gift and are looking to send unique Christmas cards, have a look at my Corner Shop on Etsy…

The other offer still stands – this whole month you can order my Christmas cards and have them written plus posted to your friend, mum, colleague, neighbour, brother, anyone, by me! No waiting for the order to arrive, no worrying about your handwriting… All in service, just for you.

A December gift for you!

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When I started this blog I didn’t think anyone would read my figments. Except my parents.
When I listed my cards on Etsy I didn’t think anyone would buy them. Except my parents.

Turns out I was wrong. You read my blog, that’s for sure. And I even sold Christmas cards to people who – for all I know – weren’t my parents!

Here they are, six different designs.

Them cards.

Now it’s December. The month of giving and loving and caring. So I decided I wanted to give something too. Well, I always want to give, but December makes it a bit easier and I specifically wanted to give something to you readers.

I calculated a bit. I thought some things through. Other things I didn’t think through.

Outcome:
1. It appears 47% of my readers are Dutch (or: based in The Netherlands). Not surprising; I am, after all, Dutch.
2. On December 5th the Dutch Santa has his birthday and gives presents. Galore.
3. Giving away cards for free is not a budget-option.
4. Free shipping costs, however, is.

An idea:
From December 1st until December 5th 2014 the shipping costs are free for all people living in and ordering from The Netherlands.

The idea grew:
Why just one country? Why not make it a Top-5? I love Top-5’s! So, the 5 countries that hold the most readers…?

It finally resulted in this little thank-you-offer:
From December 1st until December 5th 2014 shipping costs for all orders from The Netherlands, USA, UK, Brazil and Australia are free. Hurrah!

Now, if you do not live in one of the afore mentioned countries, let me make it up to you a little bit by telling you I love and appreciate you dearly for visiting my blog. Thank you! Also, during December I will write and send my Christmas cards for you! No extra costs. Just add a note to your order with the address of the receiver and text you wish me to write down. And I will take care of it. You can pay a visit to my little Corner Shop right here.

Welcome to December everyone!

 

Isn’t she an Angel…?

PS: my beloved Christmas Angels will be back, fresh from the printers, tomorrow!

November round-up, December-focus

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Tomorrow it will be December. We’re really nearing the end of 2014.

Today, however, it’s still November so let’s look back on that a little bit.

What a month it has been! Compared to October and its previous months November really has been my friend. Overall it was kind to me and filled with moments of tiny happiness.
I didn’t post too much of my own drawings, I realise that. My focus has, however, really been with drawing this whole month. Quite a big drawing project occupied my mind. It was so good to focus on that, to discover old passions and give it my all… Even my yoga class made me draw – and unravel myself a bit more.
November also helped me finish the quite big project – the printing of my first ever cards. For Christmas! It certainly won’t be my last printing project either.
The Channel 4 film about Patrick touched my heart so deeply, I had to share it with you. The joy on Patrick’s face, able to finally communicate! It “poked” another passion I once had: sign language.
An important part of drawing and creating is to have inspirers. People you look up to, you know. That make you want to challenge and improve yourself even more. Which, apart from the fact that I’m just madly in love with him, was the reason for me to tell you a bit about Dick Vincent. The artist that makes me happy! What do you think of his work?
As November is (usually) followed by December, Rebecca’s project drew my attention. AirmailChristmas is about connecting, caring and remembering. Which I believe is a perfect summary of what the month of December (and all months that follow) should be all about.

Boy, I needed November. It has left me quite impressed. The realisation that there still can be good weeks, months, periods. That the tendency of a low is “to be followed by good and happy times”. As that’s life.

With December knocking on our doors, now let’s make this new month about giving and loving and how we wish the world and ourselves to be. At least, that will be my December-focus.

Make December a good month!

Make December a good month!

 

Dreaming of an #AirmailChristmas

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Short notice, but it has to be shared: Rebecca got in touch with me last week. She tweeted. If I were interested in joining AirmailChristmas. A worldwide Christmas card exchange that she’s now been running for 3 years. Obviously, that got me curious. So I did some digging.

Turns out a patient of Rebecca (who’s a nurse) died of cancer just before Christmas a couple of years back. This same patient had told her how she would send a card to a random stranger. Every Christmas! Ain’t that kind and heart-warming? This inspired Rebecca to start AirmailChristmas. And that inspired me to join in and tell you a little about it.

Every year AirmailChristmas is in memory of someone. This year it will be in honour of Anna Basso. I didn’t know her and probably you didn’t either. But that doesn’t matter. It’s about the gesture. It’s about thinking of those who are not with us anymore and those who may need some extra love, strength, friendship and the feeling of not being all alone.

For some reason these gestures are easier for us to make around Christmas time.
For some reason that’s when we tend to think of others instead of just ourselves.
For some reason that’s when we find our inner Altruist.
For some unfortunate reason this spirit fades away as soon as the Christmas days are in the past.

But I’ll stick with that Christmas Spirit and say “that’s also just fine”.

Back to the subject. AirmailChristmas. As I like to spread happiness and put smiles on faces, I had to share this initiative with you! I’ll be sending one of my own Christmas cards to “a random stranger” this year. And hope you will too. Can you feel it already? All butterfly and bubbles at the thought of Christmas and making others happy? Get into that festive mood!
If you do, see Rebecca’s blog. Make sure to email her before the 1st of December – I told you it was short notice and I’m fully to blame. Rebecca will then get back to you with someone’s address and the fun and goodwill can commence!

 

When the day is filled with small pleasures

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Today was a good day.
Filled with small pleasures.
Scattered over the day.
Put them all together and it becomes one big happy mess!
See for yourself.

IMG_6064 (2)

It started with a delicious brunch with one of my sweet-mazing friends.
Followed by a stroll.
Meanwhile we sneaked in and out of the most lovely shops we stumbled upon.
And admired the shopfloors, accidentally decorated with Autumn leaves.

IMG_6074

We then found a beautiful passion flower.
Because Summer isn’t all that long ago.
The sun even showed.

All this linked together with lots of laughter.

Today was a good day.

 

 

Contentment

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Cycling home after a lovely afternoon spent with a friend on a terrace, I spotted an amazing sky!
However, sitting on my bike and holding a bottle of wine in one hand – no, I’m not an alcoholic drinking whilst cycling, I had just bought a bottle – I wasn’t really able to take a snap shot.
And okay, yes, I could have stopped.
But enjoying that sky, sun setting, the wind playing with my hair…
Not a fan of hassle, I simply couldn’t be bothered stopping.
I was enjoying the moment and still full of a lovely Saturday.
The moment, the feeling of contentment, mattered more than having it on film.

At home, browsing through my pictures, I remembered this one.

Sun setting Same street, Jan Evertsenstraat in Amsterdam, couple of months ago.
Another enchanting sky.
A bit more cloudy than tonight’s sky.
But, you’ll get the picture.
And I’m happy with my decision of just enjoying the moment.