a few beautiful finds…

keletas graziu radybu …

Fillipa by Paola Zakimi

a fox making knots…ah!!!by Paulina Temmes

fat bear by Vriad-Lee

girls by A little sprout

dog by monohpuz

Kyoko Okubo

Ann Wood

Specially ordered, specially made, now lives across the ocean – mommy Eevi.

Specialiai uzsakyta, specialiai padaryta ir sekmingai gyvenanti uzu atlanto – mamyte Eevi.

There will be more bears and more babies… but next time: I’m planing to share some more of those lovely Japanese books I’ve and one of them will be up for grabs.

Enjoy your weekend!

Bus daugiau mesku ir kudikeliu… bet sakanti karta planuoju pasidalinti mielom japoniskom knygelem ir viena nedidele dovanele. Gero savaitgalio!

x

I’ve been proven, that sugar from a long-term friend can become ‘not a friend any more’ , but you don’t really have to be some sort of strong person and totally ignore food that has been sweetened somehow. I love sweetness. The subtle one. When those delicious things that go down your mouth do not sweeten your body up, but bring lovely color into your everyday. There are desserts, that prepared alone in your mind make your saliva rund down the lip for a long time… But I’m in such period in my life, I can’t have any sugar… So what’s left? Alternatives. That’s what. And there are a few. And not so bad ones.

For example: tested many times, praised by others and so loved by my family – a dough recipe, that with a bit of correction and the house fills up with vanilla smell again. For your table and your tummies – sugarless muffins or cake with berries.

100g butter or vegetable spread

284ml soured cream or natural yoghurt (I use plain soya one)

2 large org. eggs

1 tsp. vanilla extract

zest of 1 lemon

280g plain flour (I use whole spelt or wholemeal, can be 50×50)

2 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. bicarbonate of soda

1/2 tsp salt

200g caster sugar (I only used 2 brushed off spoons of agave syrup, sometimes honey or black molasses)

4 tsp. poppy seeds

140g fresh or frozen berries (summer berries, winter ones or cranberries)

Leave on the rack to cool before you ‘demolish’ the final thing. You also could spoon over some maple or agave syrup and eat while they are still warm. Whatever way you choose – enjoy!

Kad cukrus is ilgamecio draugo gali patapti nedraugu – isitikinau, bet zmogus neprivalai but kokia ten be galo stipria asmenybe ir visiskai ignoruoti maista, kuris kazkuo pasaldintas. As salduma megstu. Subtilu. Kuomet burnon keliaujantys skanestai neapsaldina kuno, bet paspalvina kasdienybe. Eh. Yra desertiniu patiekalu kuriuos vien mintyse pasigaminus seiles per lupa ilgai varva… Bet dabar toks laikmetis, man cukraus negalima… Tad kas lieka? Alternatyvos. Va kas. O ju yra. Ir visai neblogu.

Stai pvz mano seniai patikrintas, kitu isgirtas ir seimos pamiltas teslos receptukas, kuri kiek pakoregavus namuose pakvipo vanile. Jusu stalui ir skrandziui – becukriai keksiukai arba pyragas su vaisiais

Teslon desim:

100g nesudyto sviesto augalinio pakaitalo

284ml grietines arba naturalaus jogurto (tinka ir sojos)

2 didesni kiausiniai

1arb.s. vaniles ekstrakto

1-os citrinos tarkuota zievele

280g miltu (labai gerai naudojasi ir speltos ir rupesni kvietiniai, galima per puse)

2arb.s. kepimo milteliu

1arb.s. sodos

1/2 arb.s. druskos

200g cukraus (as naudoju agave sirupa, medu, juodaji molases… dedu vos 2 nubrauktus saukstus pasirinktinai)

4 arb.s. aguonu

140g svieziu ar saldytu uogu (spanguoles, braskes, avietes, serbentai… )

Orkaite isildoma iki 190C. Istirpdytas sviestas paliekamas atvesti, tuomet imaisom greitine ar jogurta, kiausinius, citrinos zievele ir vaniles ekstrakta. Kitame dubenyje sumaisom visus sausuosius produktus. Supilame skystaja mase, lengvai ismaisome. Suberiam uogas ir vel pamaisom. Jei kepami keksiukai, i spec forma susideliojama keksiuku popierinius krepselius, dosniai juos pripildome tesla ir kepame apie 20-25min. kol graziai paruduoja. Visada patikrinu mediniu dantu krapstuku ar gaminys iskepes. Isimtus is orkaites paliekam atvesti, o toliau tai jau kas kaip.Galima apslakstyti klevu ar agavo syrupu ir valgyt dar siltus…

Kepant pyrago varijanta, zema forma istepu sviestu, pripildau tesla ir lygiai taip pat, kepu 20-25 min.

These were with frozen summer berries: raspberries, blackberries, blackcurrants

Cia puikuojasi keksiukai su saldytom vasarinem uogom: avietem, gervuogem, serbentais

and this beauty – with fresh cranberries

o cia – grazuolis su spanguolem

The berries work wonders, you don’t miss sweetness (unless, of course, you love deserts to be obviously sweet) in these and the moist and soft texture doesn’t leave your taste buds doubting whether it’s some sort of bread, or realla a reminder of a cake you’re munching.  It’s good and in moderation – much better than the sweeter version. I think.

Uogos pagrindines darbininkes, nepasigesit saldumo (nebent jus megstat akivaizdziai saldzius desertus) situose ir dregna, svelni tekstura jusu skonio receptoriu neuzklausines ar duona kazkokia valgot ar tikra pyrago uzuomina. Tikrai geras, o saikingai vartojant – daug geresnis nei saldzioji versija. Taip galvoju.

Twins are not my specialization, but when you have somebody wanting to make a Christmas present for themselves, how can I say no… Sadie doesn’t even know she’s got a lookalike sister…My client, I really hope, she is pleased with her purchased bear. Nele?

Dvyniai nera mano specializacija, bet kai atsiranda norinciu pasidaryti sau kaledine dovana, kaip gali atsakyti… Sadie nezino, kad atsirado sese antrininke… O kliente tai labai viliuosi liko patenkinta isigyta meske.

I love creative freedom (yes, yes, I hear you – most of us do, freedom in general – is good, really good), when I can just make and see what/who comes out. And then get to know my creation and together with my good friend imagination we find something to add  to the toy’s life Although I also have to thank my clients, quite a few of my custom orders were so much fun too. Like having to try and make something I would probably avoid making… so I learn more and don’t end up repeating myself too much. Challenges are needed and welcome. And well, there will be plenty of those to come…

Labai myliu kurybine laisve (taip, taip, girdziu tave – dauguma is musu tokie, aplamai laisve yra gerai, labai gerai), kuomet galiu tiesiog gaminti ir stebeti kas ‘pasigimdo’. Tuomet susipazysti artimiau su kurineliu ir savo geros drauges vaizduotes padedama mudvi randam kazka pridet prie zaisliuko gyvenimo Nors turiu padekoti ir savo klientams, ne vienas uzsakymas buvo gan smagus. Pavyzdziui turejau bandyt ir padaryt kazka, ko pati tai tiketina buciau vengusi… tad taip kazka vis ismokstu ir per daug nesikartoju. Na, issukiai reikalingi ir laukiami. Tokiu tai panasu bus uztektinai…

The hopping one has gone to the house full of my other creatures, so she’s got a Christmas tree  and a big bunch of greetings to deliver.

Sokliuotoja isvyko i namus pilnus kitu mano gamintu gyvuneliu, tad jai itaisem Kaledu egle sventem irvisa kruva linkejimu.

Davina, who was originally planed as Davi, joined Benet and Inga (and Mai)… Not only their sweet owner and owner’s mommy loves them (along with other minnies and maxies of mine that have moved to the same address), but apparently Santa too. They were presents themselves, but these toys  have got a big wooden house for themselves for Christmas! Yep. They might have it too good in that Estonia

Davina, kuri pradzioje buvo suplanuota kaip Davi’s, susikibo paranken su Benet’u ir Inga (ir Mai). Reikalas toks, kad ne tik ju miela seimininke ir seimininkes mamyte juos (kartu ir kitus mano mini ir maxi gamintus minkstuolius kurie persikrauste tuo paciu adresu) myli, panasu dedule Kaleda taip pat. Jie patys buvo dovanomis, bet sitie minkstuoliai gavo didziuli medini nama Kaledom! Taip taip.  Per gerai jiem ten toj Estijoj

Little Pinch – a ‘3rd leg’… is so devoted to Davina. A dream, not a dog!

Mazasis Pinch’ius kaip 3-ia koja, atsidaves Davina’i. Svajone ne suo!

Hope your weekend was a good one! I have big/ish plans for this week…

Tikiuosi savaitgalis jus pamalonino! As parengiau kokius tai didokus planus siai savaitei…

Reminder, Benet -  the pilot. We did not pack too much for the traveller, so that life and flying is easy.

Primenam, Benet’as – (nebe) mano skrajunas. Keliauninkui daug nedejom, kad gyvenimas bei skraidymas butu lengvas.

A couple of fruits, world map, warm hat, backpack on the shoulders and the world is your oyster! We kissed the pilot goodbye and wished him lots of great travels. Now we’re hoping for some postcards from Benet from magical places… We know that so far he’s stuck in Estonia

Pora vaisiu, pasaulio zemelapis ir silta kepure, kuprine ant peciu ir pasaulis pries akis! Nubuciavom pilota ir palinkejom daug graziu kelioniu. Dabar laukiam atviruku nuo Benet’o is stebuklingu saliu… Zinom kad kol kas jis Estijoje

Sometimes I think about my creations that are left only in pictures for me, what are their destinies, their homes… as if thinking about my children, that I raised and trusted to the big world, to somebody else…

They are like tiny pieces of my dreams, somewhere, at somebody’s, far far away… and it’s somewhat comforting.

Thanks for that.

Kartais pasvajoju prie savo darbelius, man likusiu nuotraukose, kokie ju likimai, kokie ju namai… tarsi apie vaikucius, kuriuos uzauginau ir patikejau didziajam pasauliui, kazkam kitam… tai tarsi dalelyte mano svajoniu, kazkur, pas kazka, toli toli… ir tai kazkokia jaukuma.

Aciu uz tai.

While the new teddies are in the process of making (at last) – the re-homed  ones take the stage…

Remember Bettino?

Kol nauji meskiukai dar tik ‘kepami’ – eteri uzima i gyvenima jau paleistieji…

Pamenat Bettino?

He’s Canadian now. I hear life is good and grey England is not being missed. Actually, Bettino is double lucky as long ears Etta was sent to join him. Or maybe the way round, Etta is the lucky one… one way or the other – the pair have a life and I’m (thankful) happy for and with them!

Kanadietis dabar. Girdejau gyvena gerai ir pilkos Anglijos nesiilgi. Jam pasiseke net dvigubai, mat pavyjui isskubejo ir ilgaause Etta. O gal atvirksciai, pasiseke Etta’i… kaip ten bebutu – porele gyvena, o as esu (dekinga) laiminga su jais ir uz juos!

Tomorrow: Friday! And some more sold toys…

So we have one happy dinosaur, who’s now so exited (too exited! But that’s understandable) about his new life awaiting for him, and one unhappy one (Dinosaur and Zook promissed to write letters to each other…). The happy one took aaaageeeees to make his final decision, he even proposed to live in one house till summer, then visit another one, spend Christmas with one of your families…. and even come and visit us at some point… but in the end we calmed him down. So after some negotiations, the choice is made.  Zook insists on a girl owner.

The one who offers tea and hugs, and kisses (how without them?)! Kate B, the long tail one is jumping up and down and soon into his little box and from there the new story will start. A good one, I’m sure. Congratulations! Please, email me your address!

Thank you all, for visiting, for uplifting me and making Zook feel so special!  I’m hoping to do more giveaways this year, so there will be more chances to own something made by me.

In a mean time – give something to others. It’s fun.It’s necessary.

Zook’as, po ilgiausiu derybu renkasi mergyte – savininke. Ta, kuri pasiulo arbatos, apkabinimus ir bucinius, kaipgi be ju?

Dekoju visom, uz apsilankyma, uz pakylejima ir Zooko liaupsinima. Ateity turesim daugiau dalybu, tad ir daugiau sansu tureti kazka mano sumeistrauto.

Tuo tarpu – dalinkimes su kitais. Tai smagu. Ir butina.

x

Zook is not just a shy character. He can be quiet/er around new or very loud people, but he also can be so funny and has an imagination bigger than any of us in the house can handle (and we can handle a lot, but Zook’s is way bigger that ‘a lot’, in a very positive way, of course). We hear stories that beat any awarage kids story book (well, ok, not always, but really, he’s very good)…

We don’t  mind Zook staying with us, in fact we love him to bits and would like to keep him all to ourselves,  but we have another dino ‘Dinosaur’, same looking (a double), only with a very different personality and he’s  my littlest ones birthday present and the two toys get constantly mixed up and often there are big tears… and tears are not so much fun. So Zook wants a new home. A home with kid/s, so he can put his fantastic imagination and those entertainment skills to a good use. And we want Zook to be very very loved. So he’s free and could be yours, for you, with you…

Some personal info:

hight: 25cm (9.8 inch) tall

lengh: 41cm (16.1 inch) long

made from cotton, filled with polyester, has a hand embroidery on the back.

Leave a comment and on the 12th by 11am (London time) keep your fingers crossed. I’m keeping mine crossed for Zook.

Zook’as ne tik kuklus. Jis gali but tylus/esnis tarp nauju ar garsakalbiu zmoniu, bet jis dar ir juokingas, o jo vaizduote didesne nei kuris is musu namuose gali atlaikyti (o mes atlaikom daug, bet Zook’o daug didesne nei ‘daug’, cia geraja prasme, kas be ko). Mes girdim istorijas, kurios ‘pramusa’ bet kuria vidutiniskai gera vaikiska istoriju knyga (na, visko buna, bet jis is tikro, nuostabus pasakorius)… Mes visai nieko pries Zook’a liekanti pas mus, labai labai ji mylime ir tikrai noretumem ji pasilikti sau, but turim dar viena dino ‘Dinosaur’a', taip pat atrodanti (antrininka), tik jis kitokia persona ir mano maziausiojo gimtadienio dovana, o abu zaislai pastoviai ‘painiojami’ kas daznai baigiasi asarom… o asaros ne toks jau ir didelis smagumas. Taigi Zook’as nori nauju namu. Namu su vaiku/ais, kad butu su kuo isnaudoti jo fantastiska vaizduote ir linksminimo sugebejimus. O men norime kad Zook’as butu labai labai mylimas. Tad jis nemokamas ir galetu buti jusu, jums, su jumis….

Kiek asmenines info:

ugis: 25cm

ilgis: 41cm

pagamintas is medvilnes, kimstas polyesteriu ir turi rankom siuvineta nugara.

Palik komentara ir 12-ta d. iki 11val. (Londono laiku) laikyk pirsciukus sukryziuotus. As savuosius kryziuoju Zook’o labui.

and uplifting, and wonderful. A little bit worrying, it’s like this big big finger pointing something out to all of us, but still -  for now snow is fun. Lots of fun.

we named him Happy. There were soooo many big and small snow persons around. All white, individual and all handmade Amazing. There will be lots of wandering snowmen in the woods tonight…

And lots of drying mittens, gloves, shoes too…

Winter is nice. White winter is even nicer. Thank you snow!

Zook will be up for grabs from tomorrow…