“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”
I’m very happy and also a bit proud that this year, inbetween all my other projects, I finally managed to get on board with #Mermay! I found today’s #Sailor theme so inspiring that I’m already trying to find time for another one…. ➔
Heather Tal Murphy has written an exciting article for SLATE Magazine about Spawning, the company behind haveibeentrained.com (the website where artists can have their images removed from LAION 5B, the database most commonly used to train AI models), and I feature in it too – in words and pictures! ➔
Together with other former students and teachers of Vivienne Westwood‘s fashion class at the Berlin University of the Arts, I participated in this commemorative obituary that was published in the culture section of WochenTAZ today – and I also had the great honour of designing the obituary on behalf of all of us. ➔
Because I’m having a large construction site right outside my studio window for the past couple of months, my noise protection headphones aren’t always enough and moving my work requires some major rewiring, I wondered what Lily Lux would do here, or better, what it might look to make the best of this terribly annoying situation? ➔
For the project Kurze Wege (Short Paths) of the Protestant Youth in Wunstorf, I revised my Useful Knots and created a postcard from them, which was sent to the supporters of the project together with a piece of rope – in order to “create connections” in this way, which I think is an extremely neat idea! ➔
Not only have I been learning a lot about AI text-to-image generators and writing a post about the ethical issues involved, but I’ve also been thinking and discussing with collegues what we can do to solve those very issues as soon as possible – on both a large and small scale, and in both the long and short term. Here’s a little roundup! ➔
I assume that in most people’s lives, there are a few precious others from whom you have learned a lot and who have shaped you, quite directly or in confrontation or both. For me, my professor Vivienne Westwood, in whose fashion class at Universität der Künste Berlin I studied for four years, was one of those people without whom I would not be who I am today, and to whom I am infinitely grateful for everything I learned from her (and often, against her). ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentythree! ➔
I’ve been learning a lot lately about how the currently popular AIs that generate images from text prompts work. Now that I can find virtually everything I’ve ever published in those databases, I think it’s time to explain this to others: ➔
After being asked time and again if the animal trail poster I created with tracker Stefanie Argow and Dr. Sarah Kiefer of Stadtwildtiere.de, the Citizen Science project of the Leibniz-Instituts für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW), was available for purchase, we have now finally uploaded it to Redbubble [product page], where it can be ordered! The original size shown in this article, with life-size tracks, corresponds to the poster in large format, 85 x 120 cm. ➔
This summer, we’ve been out and about in forests, fields, parks and gardens a lot, and enjoyed identifying trees! We noticed that the distinction between tree and shrub is quite impractical for identifying leaves on the go!, and therefore, I decided to extend my 25 Tree Leaves identification chart to 36 Tree and Shrub Leaves, to cover the most common large, woody plants! The infographics is now available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Finally, the series is complete! I revised my Two-Handed Finger Alphabet and Flag Semaphore and also edited the two alphabets that were still missing, Morse Code and Braille Alphabet, to fit in a poster format. The entire series is now available as posters or art prints at Posterlounge (also via eBay!) and as printed on lovely cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, towels, blankets, cases, stickers and a whole lot of other beautiful products at Redbubble and Søciety6! ➔
After publishing my Songbirds last year, I now lovingly revised all birds to make them even more distinctive! The new version is now available as a poster in German and English from Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay) and printed on cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, blankets, cases, stickers and other products from Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
After drawing Tree Shapes, Leaves, Fruits and Shoots, I have put all these characteristics of the most common foliage trees into a single identification chart, which is helpful to get to know the tree species and identify them over all the seasons. The identification chart is available at Posterlounge (also via eBay!), Redbubble und Søciety6! ➔
After illustrating the Wildlife of New England last year, planning a color version of my black-and-white forest animals for a long time and recently working more often with and about urban wildlife, at some point it made sense to create an identification chart with wildlife close to settlements, i.e. wild animals that can be seen in the city and on walks! The illustration is finally finished and available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
I am very happy about my specimen copy of the opulent catalog for the exhibition »Modebilder – Kunstkleider« at the Berlinischen Galerie, for which my former costume history lecturer Dr. Gundula Wolter wrote a very exciting article about Vivienne Westwood’s fashion class at the Berlin University of the Arts, and where I found unexpectedly many and full-page pictures of the huntresses from my diploma collection »Jagdfieber«, which I created there! ➔
In the meantime, I’ve finished my identification chart on kitchen herbs that I started years ago (but never found time to edit), mainly because I wanted to know for myself what is what and because it’s so exciting to try and understand and draw the blueprint of plants! The chart is available via Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
After a couple of years, where I learned a lot about trees – partly thanks to my client, the Landesforsten – I recently completely revised and lovingly corrected the details of my tree leaves, so that every tiny line is finally right (I hope :))! The revised identification chart is now available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
As new variants and increasing incidences appear, while at the same time mask mandates for public indoor spaces are lifted (…), mask upgrades and mask optimisation are once more discussed widely – and more often than not, the topic is oversimplified. Therefore, I would like to summarize our various DIY approaches to making masks safer and more efficient for the new challenges we’re all facing these days! For further information, you’ll find links in the text. ➔
After the Hybrid Pleated Mask, Hybrid Custom Masks and the Hybrid Boxy Mask, I created a Hybrid Mask Frame – as an alternative for all those who cannot breathe well with Double Masks, yet don’t find a gaplessly fitting, slip-free respirator or surgical mask. Due to a reverse pleat, this Mask Frame fits perfectly – even without nose wire! ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentytwo! ➔
Now that I’ve gone through all the possibilities to customize my original Hybrid Mask for a wide range of face shapes, needs and preferences, I finally created a new cloth mask pattern with an open chin dart (or twisted pleat). Similar to 3D, Boxy, Origami, Japanese or Octagon shapes, which form a square box, the Hybrid Boxy Mask forms a triangular box which does not touch the mouth or nosetip and offers plenty of space for breathing, speaking or singing. ➔
Last January, when I wrote my post about Mask Science with the science behind masks, advantages and disadvantages of mask types, practical tests, tips for optimization and a note on why and how we double mask, I still hoped that the vaccine might make masks redundant in everyday life, and that this could be my last mask post. Right now, it looks like thanks to new variants, masks will stay with us for a while (…), and as many people are looking to upgrade their masks these days, I’d like to explain our double masking with the Hybrid Cloth Mask (aka Luckhaus Mask) in detail. ➔
Together with tracker Stefanie Argow from HiddenTracks and Dr. Sarah Kiefer from Stadtwildtiere.de, the Citizen Science Project of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), I designed two notebooks and a gym bag, for their advertising and as an identification aid for wild animals whose tracks can be found in the city of Berlin. ➔
I’ve been working on my European Songbirds wall chart for several years, every now and then. It takes some effort to not just copy a photo, but to create a generalized cross-section from countless images – but that is exactly what helps with the identification! In addition to posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured above, there are bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and many other products available on Redbubble and Søciety6 now. ➔
Since my field guides for nature have been printed on products on RedBubble, I’ve been asked to offer German graphics too, and now they’re available as art prints, posters, postcards, pillows, blankets, bed linen, shower curtains, bath mats, mugs, water bottles, notebooks, stickers, magnets, cases, skins, bags, shirts and more amazing products! ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentyone! ➔
I am very happy to present an amazing new book here, for which I created the track illustrations in cooperation with the (co-) author and professional tracker Stefanie Argow. »Spuren lesen – Geschichten, die uns die Fährten der Tiere erzählen« tells in an exciting, instructive and often humorous way about the stories behind animal tracks. ➔
Today, I would like to introduce you to my amazing sewing partners, who are making masks with my hybrid pattern and selling them in online shops, on Etsy or in retail stores. Each of them has a different approach to mask making, they offer unique fabrics and ways to apply my pattern – and I think all their masks are just stunningly beautiful! In the picture above, you can see some samples by Christina King, Reusable Mask Co Australia and Samook Designs. ➔
My hybrid cloth mask is still getting around! It’s sewn by volunteers and partners near and far, and recommended all over the world. After my first recommendation and review collection in June, I’ve now gathered some more! ➔
Since I first published my pattern for sewing the Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless (even without nosepiece!) and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about adjustments for special shapes and needs. In this post, I introduce a selection of these customized Hybrid patterns, and every now and then (last March 8th, 2021), I add new ones! ➔
If you take a closer look, there are so many ways to attach a face mask to your ears or head! After looking into masks in great detail over the past couple of weeks and having all these little sketches for mask tying techniques on my desk, I finally drew an infographic that shows all the different ways to tie a cloth mask with ear bands or head ties. ➔
For my own production, I optimized the pattern and manufacture of the cloth mask, to make it fit gapless and fog-free around nose, cheeks and chin and reliably stay in place, so it doesn’t slide up the eyes or down the nose. Individual parts such as wire, filter and ties are very easy to replace, plus the mask is quick and simple to sew, wash and iron. ➔
Along with tracker Stefanie Argow and Dr. Sarah Kiefer of Stadtwildtiere.de, the citizen science project for urban wildlife by Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), I designed a quiz with the trails of Berlin wildlife! The game is aimed primarily at children and used for events. The premiere is next weekend at FEZ Berlin! ➔
The Niedersächsische Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), for whose »Waldstück« magazine I’ve drawn shoots and buds of 16 common trees, allowed me to use my graphics freely – so I have set them up in my own identification chart layout, and they’re available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Today, I was very happy to receive my fresh specimens of the fall issue of »Waldstück«, the awesome free magazine by Niedersächsische Landesforsten! For a kid’s poster inside that magazine, I illustrated 16 tree shoots and buds, for tree identification in winter. On the poster, my graphics are accompanied by some interesting information. ➔
The very first poster of my super interesting cooperation with the professional track reader Stefanie Argow (Hidden Tracks) is finished – and it’s already available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6! ➔
I reworked my secretary for an invitation card by Technische Universität Berlin. The slogan for a seminar program for administration staff, “All threads in hand!”, is “Are you still typing, or are you managing already?”. ➔
For a client who doesn’t want to be mentioned, I’ve made some drafts to illustrate the Bulgarian fairy tale “The little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds”. The project evolved in a different direction, but those drafts have led me to a new style – so I’d like to show them, even though they are unfinished and I most likely won’t finish them properly. ➔
The Niedersächsischen Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), with whom I recently have developed 30 graphics for tree fruits, nuts, cones and seeds, allowed me to use my illustrations freely – so I have set them up in my own identification chart layout, and they’re available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
With the series Lola macht Urlaub, I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours between other projects. Inspired by almost summerish days, I tried to picture the slothy happiness of a warm, sunny afternoon by the sea. ➔
The Niedersächsischen Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), with whom I recently have developed 16 graphics for the typical silhouettes of different trees, allowed me to use my illustrations freely – so I have set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Gerti, the DIY dressup doll I designed, styled and illustrated as stamps and dies for the online shop Charlie & Paulchen, just got her third set of clothes and accessories for the summer! The fresh set is called »Gerti geht baden« (Gerti takes a bath), and it contains everything you need for a lovely day full of fun by the sea or by the lake! ➔
With the series Lola macht Urlaub (Lola is on vacation), I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours inbetween other projects. Inspired by late winter, I tried to catch a summer evening in a French café here. ➔
We wish you very lovely and heartwarming holidays, and all the best for a happy and wonderful new year! ➔
I am looking forward to receive my specimen copies of the January edition of the magazine »SZ Familie«, which is being released today – and for their seperatable children’s part, I edited my 36 Common Animal Tracks! ➔
Via Instagram, I discovered cards and gift tags which bloggers crafted with the stamp and die set “Nikolausbande” by Charlie & Paulchen – and those are so amazing and full of stunning ideas that I really have to show them here! ➔
For Charlie & Paulchen, I already designed, styled and illustrated Gerti, the craftable dressup doll, and some seasonal outfits for her – and now, there are three cute little Santas for christmas cards and gift tags following! This gang of Santas is also produced as stamps and dies, which can be used on their own or in combination with each other. ➔
Via Instagram, I discovered lots of cards which DIY bloggers crafted with the stamp and die set “Gerti geht Gassi” (Gerti walks the dog) by Charlie & Paulchen – and many of them are so amazing, unique and full of stunning ideas that I just can’t stop looking at them, and that I really have to show them here! ➔
For Charlie & Paulchen, an online shop for finest German stamps and dies, I designed the DIY dressup doll Gerti, as well as some seasonal outfits for her! With stamps, dies and various materials, Gerti can be crafted onto cards. ➔
In March, I made some drafts for the packagings of Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Spreewälder Fährmanns-Snack, which are being produced by the organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) from local pumpkin seeds, nettle salt (Fährmanns-Snack) and beet sugar (Lutki-Schmaus), and traded locally, with a small booklet about Spreewald. ➔
We’re delighted to see the first picture of the book »Du hast das Wort, Schätzchen! – 100 charmante Geschichten rund um die Sprache«, which I discovered today at Fräulein Nullpunktzwo. Thank you very much for the tag, Susanne! ➔
I enjoy my inbetween drawings so much right now that I’d really like to steal time for them more frequently! – This is Carmilla, who became a vampiress long ago (her unsuspecting friend used to say she has such an “old-fashioned face”), walking through the city rather early, as the evening is so stormy, rainy and wonderfully gloomy. ➔
Inbetween, and with quite some longing for summer warmth and vacations, I complemented my monochromous “Seascape” series with a jackknife into the ocean, and soon this will be availbale as an artprint! ➔
I was very happy to see my tree leaf shape poster (available via Posterlounge) once more in the wild, this time on the chic dark walls of charming lifestyle blogger Anjiko, decorated with the first signs of spring! There’s even a contest where you can win a coupon for your own posters. – Thank you very much, dear Maria, for sending me the link! ➔
Inbetween, I carefully reworked the very first, stormy scene from my “Seascape” series – and soon, the fashionista on an ocean liner will be available as an artprint, next to the other parts of that series! ➔
Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi wears mostly the fourth outfit (striped shirt, hotpants and suspenders), and in one of the small vignettes, the blouse from the third outfit. ➔
“She had a thing for those sailors, and they had a thing for her. Unfortunately, humans didn’t last long in her element.”
I’m very happy and also a bit proud that this year, inbetween all my other projects, I finally managed to get on board with #Mermay! I found today’s #Sailor theme so inspiring that I’m already trying to find time for another one…. ➔
Heather Tal Murphy has written an exciting article for SLATE Magazine about Spawning, the company behind haveibeentrained.com (the website where artists can have their images removed from LAION 5B, the database most commonly used to train AI models), and I feature in it too – in words and pictures! ➔
Together with other former students and teachers of Vivienne Westwood‘s fashion class at the Berlin University of the Arts, I participated in this commemorative obituary that was published in the culture section of WochenTAZ today – and I also had the great honour of designing the obituary on behalf of all of us. ➔
Because I’m having a large construction site right outside my studio window for the past couple of months, my noise protection headphones aren’t always enough and moving my work requires some major rewiring, I wondered what Lily Lux would do here, or better, what it might look to make the best of this terribly annoying situation? ➔
For the project Kurze Wege (Short Paths) of the Protestant Youth in Wunstorf, I revised my Useful Knots and created a postcard from them, which was sent to the supporters of the project together with a piece of rope – in order to “create connections” in this way, which I think is an extremely neat idea! ➔
Not only have I been learning a lot about AI text-to-image generators and writing a post about the ethical issues involved, but I’ve also been thinking and discussing with collegues what we can do to solve those very issues as soon as possible – on both a large and small scale, and in both the long and short term. Here’s a little roundup! ➔
I assume that in most people’s lives, there are a few precious others from whom you have learned a lot and who have shaped you, quite directly or in confrontation or both. For me, my professor Vivienne Westwood, in whose fashion class at Universität der Künste Berlin I studied for four years, was one of those people without whom I would not be who I am today, and to whom I am infinitely grateful for everything I learned from her (and often, against her). ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentythree! ➔
I’ve been learning a lot lately about how the currently popular AIs that generate images from text prompts work. Now that I can find virtually everything I’ve ever published in those databases, I think it’s time to explain this to others: ➔
After being asked time and again if the animal trail poster I created with tracker Stefanie Argow and Dr. Sarah Kiefer of Stadtwildtiere.de, the Citizen Science project of the Leibniz-Instituts für Zoo- und Wildtierforschung (IZW), was available for purchase, we have now finally uploaded it to Redbubble [product page], where it can be ordered! The original size shown in this article, with life-size tracks, corresponds to the poster in large format, 85 x 120 cm. ➔
This summer, we’ve been out and about in forests, fields, parks and gardens a lot, and enjoyed identifying trees! We noticed that the distinction between tree and shrub is quite impractical for identifying leaves on the go!, and therefore, I decided to extend my 25 Tree Leaves identification chart to 36 Tree and Shrub Leaves, to cover the most common large, woody plants! The infographics is now available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Finally, the series is complete! I revised my Two-Handed Finger Alphabet and Flag Semaphore and also edited the two alphabets that were still missing, Morse Code and Braille Alphabet, to fit in a poster format. The entire series is now available as posters or art prints at Posterlounge (also via eBay!) and as printed on lovely cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, towels, blankets, cases, stickers and a whole lot of other beautiful products at Redbubble and Søciety6! ➔
After publishing my Songbirds last year, I now lovingly revised all birds to make them even more distinctive! The new version is now available as a poster in German and English from Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay) and printed on cards, mugs, bags, shirts, pillows, blankets, cases, stickers and other products from Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
After drawing Tree Shapes, Leaves, Fruits and Shoots, I have put all these characteristics of the most common foliage trees into a single identification chart, which is helpful to get to know the tree species and identify them over all the seasons. The identification chart is available at Posterlounge (also via eBay!), Redbubble und Søciety6! ➔
After illustrating the Wildlife of New England last year, planning a color version of my black-and-white forest animals for a long time and recently working more often with and about urban wildlife, at some point it made sense to create an identification chart with wildlife close to settlements, i.e. wild animals that can be seen in the city and on walks! The illustration is finally finished and available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
I am very happy about my specimen copy of the opulent catalog for the exhibition »Modebilder – Kunstkleider« at the Berlinischen Galerie, for which my former costume history lecturer Dr. Gundula Wolter wrote a very exciting article about Vivienne Westwood’s fashion class at the Berlin University of the Arts, and where I found unexpectedly many and full-page pictures of the huntresses from my diploma collection »Jagdfieber«, which I created there! ➔
In the meantime, I’ve finished my identification chart on kitchen herbs that I started years ago (but never found time to edit), mainly because I wanted to know for myself what is what and because it’s so exciting to try and understand and draw the blueprint of plants! The chart is available via Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
After a couple of years, where I learned a lot about trees – partly thanks to my client, the Landesforsten – I recently completely revised and lovingly corrected the details of my tree leaves, so that every tiny line is finally right (I hope :))! The revised identification chart is now available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
As new variants and increasing incidences appear, while at the same time mask mandates for public indoor spaces are lifted (…), mask upgrades and mask optimisation are once more discussed widely – and more often than not, the topic is oversimplified. Therefore, I would like to summarize our various DIY approaches to making masks safer and more efficient for the new challenges we’re all facing these days! For further information, you’ll find links in the text. ➔
After the Hybrid Pleated Mask, Hybrid Custom Masks and the Hybrid Boxy Mask, I created a Hybrid Mask Frame – as an alternative for all those who cannot breathe well with Double Masks, yet don’t find a gaplessly fitting, slip-free respirator or surgical mask. Due to a reverse pleat, this Mask Frame fits perfectly – even without nose wire! ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentytwo! ➔
Now that I’ve gone through all the possibilities to customize my original Hybrid Mask for a wide range of face shapes, needs and preferences, I finally created a new cloth mask pattern with an open chin dart (or twisted pleat). Similar to 3D, Boxy, Origami, Japanese or Octagon shapes, which form a square box, the Hybrid Boxy Mask forms a triangular box which does not touch the mouth or nosetip and offers plenty of space for breathing, speaking or singing. ➔
Last January, when I wrote my post about Mask Science with the science behind masks, advantages and disadvantages of mask types, practical tests, tips for optimization and a note on why and how we double mask, I still hoped that the vaccine might make masks redundant in everyday life, and that this could be my last mask post. Right now, it looks like thanks to new variants, masks will stay with us for a while (…), and as many people are looking to upgrade their masks these days, I’d like to explain our double masking with the Hybrid Cloth Mask (aka Luckhaus Mask) in detail. ➔
Together with tracker Stefanie Argow from HiddenTracks and Dr. Sarah Kiefer from Stadtwildtiere.de, the Citizen Science Project of the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), I designed two notebooks and a gym bag, for their advertising and as an identification aid for wild animals whose tracks can be found in the city of Berlin. ➔
I’ve been working on my European Songbirds wall chart for several years, every now and then. It takes some effort to not just copy a photo, but to create a generalized cross-section from countless images – but that is exactly what helps with the identification! In addition to posters, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured above, there are bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and many other products available on Redbubble and Søciety6 now. ➔
Since my field guides for nature have been printed on products on RedBubble, I’ve been asked to offer German graphics too, and now they’re available as art prints, posters, postcards, pillows, blankets, bed linen, shower curtains, bath mats, mugs, water bottles, notebooks, stickers, magnets, cases, skins, bags, shirts and more amazing products! ➔
We’d like to wish you very lovely, candle-lit and heartwarming holidays (and a merry Christmas, or whatever you may be celebrating!), and all the best for a truly happy, healthy and wonderful new year Twothousandtwentyone! ➔
I am very happy to present an amazing new book here, for which I created the track illustrations in cooperation with the (co-) author and professional tracker Stefanie Argow. »Spuren lesen – Geschichten, die uns die Fährten der Tiere erzählen« tells in an exciting, instructive and often humorous way about the stories behind animal tracks. ➔
Today, I would like to introduce you to my amazing sewing partners, who are making masks with my hybrid pattern and selling them in online shops, on Etsy or in retail stores. Each of them has a different approach to mask making, they offer unique fabrics and ways to apply my pattern – and I think all their masks are just stunningly beautiful! In the picture above, you can see some samples by Christina King, Reusable Mask Co Australia and Samook Designs. ➔
My hybrid cloth mask is still getting around! It’s sewn by volunteers and partners near and far, and recommended all over the world. After my first recommendation and review collection in June, I’ve now gathered some more! ➔
Since I first published my pattern for sewing the Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless (even without nosepiece!) and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about adjustments for special shapes and needs. In this post, I introduce a selection of these customized Hybrid patterns, and every now and then (last March 8th, 2021), I add new ones! ➔
If you take a closer look, there are so many ways to attach a face mask to your ears or head! After looking into masks in great detail over the past couple of weeks and having all these little sketches for mask tying techniques on my desk, I finally drew an infographic that shows all the different ways to tie a cloth mask with ear bands or head ties. ➔
For my own production, I optimized the pattern and manufacture of the cloth mask, to make it fit gapless and fog-free around nose, cheeks and chin and reliably stay in place, so it doesn’t slide up the eyes or down the nose. Individual parts such as wire, filter and ties are very easy to replace, plus the mask is quick and simple to sew, wash and iron. ➔
Along with tracker Stefanie Argow and Dr. Sarah Kiefer of Stadtwildtiere.de, the citizen science project for urban wildlife by Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), I designed a quiz with the trails of Berlin wildlife! The game is aimed primarily at children and used for events. The premiere is next weekend at FEZ Berlin! ➔
The Niedersächsische Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), for whose »Waldstück« magazine I’ve drawn shoots and buds of 16 common trees, allowed me to use my graphics freely – so I have set them up in my own identification chart layout, and they’re available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Today, I was very happy to receive my fresh specimens of the fall issue of »Waldstück«, the awesome free magazine by Niedersächsische Landesforsten! For a kid’s poster inside that magazine, I illustrated 16 tree shoots and buds, for tree identification in winter. On the poster, my graphics are accompanied by some interesting information. ➔
The very first poster of my super interesting cooperation with the professional track reader Stefanie Argow (Hidden Tracks) is finished – and it’s already available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6! ➔
I reworked my secretary for an invitation card by Technische Universität Berlin. The slogan for a seminar program for administration staff, “All threads in hand!”, is “Are you still typing, or are you managing already?”. ➔
For a client who doesn’t want to be mentioned, I’ve made some drafts to illustrate the Bulgarian fairy tale “The little Girl and the Winter Whirlwinds”. The project evolved in a different direction, but those drafts have led me to a new style – so I’d like to show them, even though they are unfinished and I most likely won’t finish them properly. ➔
The Niedersächsischen Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), with whom I recently have developed 30 graphics for tree fruits, nuts, cones and seeds, allowed me to use my illustrations freely – so I have set them up in my own identification chart layout, and they’re available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
With the series Lola macht Urlaub, I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours between other projects. Inspired by almost summerish days, I tried to picture the slothy happiness of a warm, sunny afternoon by the sea. ➔
The Niedersächsischen Landesforsten (forest administration of Lower Saxony), with whom I recently have developed 16 graphics for the typical silhouettes of different trees, allowed me to use my illustrations freely – so I have set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6. ➔
Gerti, the DIY dressup doll I designed, styled and illustrated as stamps and dies for the online shop Charlie & Paulchen, just got her third set of clothes and accessories for the summer! The fresh set is called »Gerti geht baden« (Gerti takes a bath), and it contains everything you need for a lovely day full of fun by the sea or by the lake! ➔
With the series Lola macht Urlaub (Lola is on vacation), I experiment with new techniques, patterns and colours inbetween other projects. Inspired by late winter, I tried to catch a summer evening in a French café here. ➔
We wish you very lovely and heartwarming holidays, and all the best for a happy and wonderful new year! ➔
I am looking forward to receive my specimen copies of the January edition of the magazine »SZ Familie«, which is being released today – and for their seperatable children’s part, I edited my 36 Common Animal Tracks! ➔
Via Instagram, I discovered cards and gift tags which bloggers crafted with the stamp and die set “Nikolausbande” by Charlie & Paulchen – and those are so amazing and full of stunning ideas that I really have to show them here! ➔
For Charlie & Paulchen, I already designed, styled and illustrated Gerti, the craftable dressup doll, and some seasonal outfits for her – and now, there are three cute little Santas for christmas cards and gift tags following! This gang of Santas is also produced as stamps and dies, which can be used on their own or in combination with each other. ➔
Via Instagram, I discovered lots of cards which DIY bloggers crafted with the stamp and die set “Gerti geht Gassi” (Gerti walks the dog) by Charlie & Paulchen – and many of them are so amazing, unique and full of stunning ideas that I just can’t stop looking at them, and that I really have to show them here! ➔
For Charlie & Paulchen, an online shop for finest German stamps and dies, I designed the DIY dressup doll Gerti, as well as some seasonal outfits for her! With stamps, dies and various materials, Gerti can be crafted onto cards. ➔
In March, I made some drafts for the packagings of Spreewälder Lutki-Schmaus and Spreewälder Fährmanns-Snack, which are being produced by the organic trademark Spreenat (Naschgarten) from local pumpkin seeds, nettle salt (Fährmanns-Snack) and beet sugar (Lutki-Schmaus), and traded locally, with a small booklet about Spreewald. ➔
We’re delighted to see the first picture of the book »Du hast das Wort, Schätzchen! – 100 charmante Geschichten rund um die Sprache«, which I discovered today at Fräulein Nullpunktzwo. Thank you very much for the tag, Susanne! ➔
I enjoy my inbetween drawings so much right now that I’d really like to steal time for them more frequently! – This is Carmilla, who became a vampiress long ago (her unsuspecting friend used to say she has such an “old-fashioned face”), walking through the city rather early, as the evening is so stormy, rainy and wonderfully gloomy. ➔
Inbetween, and with quite some longing for summer warmth and vacations, I complemented my monochromous “Seascape” series with a jackknife into the ocean, and soon this will be availbale as an artprint! ➔
I was very happy to see my tree leaf shape poster (available via Posterlounge) once more in the wild, this time on the chic dark walls of charming lifestyle blogger Anjiko, decorated with the first signs of spring! There’s even a contest where you can win a coupon for your own posters. – Thank you very much, dear Maria, for sending me the link! ➔
Inbetween, I carefully reworked the very first, stormy scene from my “Seascape” series – and soon, the fashionista on an ocean liner will be available as an artprint, next to the other parts of that series! ➔
Those were my first designs for character, clothes and styling for the book “Brauchstu ma keine Doktor, brauchstu nur diese Buch! – Die Balkantherapie für Liebe, Leib und Leben” by the wonderful Mimi Fiedler, which I illustrated almost a year ago for MVG Verlag. In the book and on the cover, Mimi wears mostly the fourth outfit (striped shirt, hotpants and suspenders), and in one of the small vignettes, the blouse from the third outfit. ➔
