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! ➔
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! ➔
In addition to the illustrated instructions for sewing my brand new, not only gaplessly and slip-free fitting, but also very spacious Hybrid Boxy Mask, I have now created a highly detailed step-by-step picture tutorial for beginners! ➔
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. ➔
My shops at Søciety6 [US] and RedBubble [EU/US], which I recently updated with new illustrations and infographics and which in addition to art prints, posters and cards also sell printed products like curtains, pillows, blankets, carpets, bed linen, mugs, trays, boards, wrapping paper, notebooks, stickers, jigsaw puzzles, magnets, cases, bags, shirts and a whole lot of other things, offer fabulous discounts again! On Redbubble, it is 20% to 60% with the code »WHYWAIT« until November 11th, and Søciety6 also offers 35% to 50% (without code) on a wide range of articles this week. ➔
Due to personal reasons, my sewing partner Reusable Mask Co Australia is closing their business on October 31st, so if you’d like to own one (or more) of their beautiful masks (recommended by Vogue!), you better order right away! I’m so thankful to Sarah for this amazing collaboration half around the globe, I still adore her masks and truly enjoyed seeing all her adventures and successes in mask making, and I wholeheartedly wish her all the best for the future! ➔
As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a whole lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into another identification chart, and now the infographics is available at Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, art prints, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured below, as well as bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and plenty of other products! ➔
Little Foxy was one of my favorite projects this year! It all started with a friend enquiring me to draw a special art print for the birth of a friends’ daughter, and it involved extensive research (like, snooping the new mother’s blog for likes and interests :)), finding a new style (I’ve never drawn anthropomorphic animals before, and it was more fun than expected!), figuring out that New England’s wildlife is surprisingly different from European wildlife (American robins are actually thrushs!) and, somehow, drawing so many of these animals that they got their own wall chart! ➔
Some maskers insert disposable filter materials (e.g. Filti) between the inner and outer layers of reusable cloth masks. For this reason, my Hybrid Mask has a filter opening! This offers the advantage of combining decent fit (through mask pattern) and filter efficiency (through disposable filters), but the disadvantage that filters are often complicated to insert, rarely cover the whole surface and easily slip. For me and my family, double masking, i.e. wearing FFP2 / KN95, surgical or self-stapled, same-pattern filter masks underneath, seems like a better option. Lately though, a lovely mask maker mentioned how complicated double masking is for kids, and I finally had an idea: Filter frames! ➔
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 at 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! ➔
In Germany, the wearing of medical masks, i.e. FFP2 or surgical masks, became mandatory yesterday. Since I don’t think anyone will check certifications in public, this means that everything except cloth masks is allowed. I’d like to explain how masks work, how filter and fit determine their efficiency, and why a cloth mask ban doesn’t really make much sense to me. Furthermore, I’d like to point out solutions for a more responsible, safe and sustainable use of medical masks. One of these solutions could be wearing a cloth cover over medical masks, or double masking. ➔
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 adore these stylish winter hybrid masks made of chunky Pendleton wool buffalo plaid, which my sewing partner Kiri Schultz from Seattle in the Pacific Northwest made! In her family, they are jokingly called “blankets for the face”, which I find at least as pretty as the fresh fir branches and cones in the picture. I bet these masks smell great! ➔
I have recently equipped my shops at Søciety6 [US] and RedBubble [EU + US] with fresh illustrations, field guides, infographics, patterns and some winter specials – and I was amazed at all the new products there! In addition to prints, posters and postcards, there are now also printed furniture, curtains, pillows, blankets, carpets, bed linen, shower curtains, bath mats, coffee mugs, water bottles, trays, boards, wrapping paper, notebooks, stickers, magnets, cases, skins, bags, picnic blankets, shirts and much more – and some of them now with my designs! ➔
I am so proud that Open Source Medical Supplies is showing my Mask Tying Techniques in a beautiful pictorial pictorial cloth mask guide! Thanks to Devon for connecting and to Sophia for the great design <3
Bastei Lübbe is giving away books on Instagram – with a nicely designed quiz, for which I have provided my animal tracks graphics! Five copies of »Reading tracks – stories that the tracks of animals tell us« by Stefanie Argow and Ulrike Fokken with illustrations by Florian Frick and me will be raffled to those who answer correctly. Good luck! ➔
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! ➔
My amazing sewing partner Reusable Masks Co Australia shot a lovely video with beautiful Carmen on how to dress up the Hybrid Cloth Mask with head ties, and another one on how to make ear loops! I could watch them all day long, and I thought they might be useful for my readers too. Great thanks to Sarah for letting me show them! ➔
Open Source Medical Supplies is my favourite international mask making group, as there are specialists from such a wide variety of fields, helping each other and the volunteers. I have been posting and discussing my hybrid mask pattern there, helped countless volunteers to sew it and was thankful to learn about material studies and neat sewing tricks! When John Kalil asked to intervíew me for their site, I jumped right in – and now, his article is online! ➔
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. ➔
After starting out with a no-sew DIY makeshift emergency mask, then testing all available patterns for cloth masks and finally inventing my own – the optimized Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits truly gapless, breathable yet reliably stays in place, even without a nose piece! –, I have now combined these two types of masks (and everything I have learned in the meantime!) to design an instant no-sew DIY mask with the same pattern and fit as the Hybrid Mask. ➔
I think it’s incredibly exciting and really great how my hybrid cloth mask gets around, how it is recommended, sewn and donated all over the world! In this post, I wanted to collect some of the recommendations and reviews. ➔
Since I first published pattern and instructions for my Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless yet roomy and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about making a detail tutorial for beginners and visual learners, but as a video needs at least 2-3 quiet days and a picture tutorial was possible to just make inbetween, I decided to go with that for now! ➔
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. ➔
A couple of years ago, I created a colouring sheet for the wonderful Malbogen Blog, right after a storm almost stole my scarf and when Lily Lux was longing for new adventures The special thing about it is that it can not only be used for colouring in, but due to some open space, you can even draw your own ideas! Maybe coloring in, painting on, and making up your own little trip with the wind might help you feel a little less locked up at home. Have a good flight! ➔
We 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 happy, healthy and absolutely wonderful new year twothousandtwenty! ➔
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’ve set them up in my own retro school wall chart layout, and now they’re available at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
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 first poster of my very interesting cooperation with professional track reader Stefanie Argow (Hidden Tracks) is finished – and already available at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay) today! ➔
I am very pleased about my specimens of the special »Unterwegs« (issue 03/19) of LECKER magazine by Bauer Media Verlag, which next to delicious recipes for summer, picnic and travels shows my bird silhouettes on a full page! ➔
Finally, four of our favourite Christmas illustrations from the last couple of years are available as posters and art prints at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay!)! I’m very happy this finally worked out :) ➔
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 now set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at the Posterlounge (soon also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
In August, the amazing Posterlounge is celebrating its 15th birthday! I’d like to wholeheartedly congratulate them, and I’m also happy to announce that all month long, there’s a 15% discount on everything (amongst many other posters, my own illustrations, infographics und life drawings!) with the code “HAPPY15”. Btw, I’m on board for 12 years :) ➔
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 now set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at the Posterlounge (soon also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
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 feiert Weihnachten” (Gerti celebrates Christmas) 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! ➔
Gerti, the DIY dressup doll I designed, styled and illustrated as stamps and dies for the online shop Charlie & Paulchen, just got new clothes and accessories for the winter! The fresh set is called “Gerti feiert Weihnachten” (Gerti celebrates Christmas) and contains elements of winter, snow sports and christmas, so Gerti is ready for many winter joys! ➔
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 just received my voucher specimens for the april issue of the German »Eltern Family« magazine, for which I reworked my two-handed Finger Alphabet, and I am very happy to see it turned out real nice! ➔
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! ➔
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! ➔
In addition to the illustrated instructions for sewing my brand new, not only gaplessly and slip-free fitting, but also very spacious Hybrid Boxy Mask, I have now created a highly detailed step-by-step picture tutorial for beginners! ➔
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. ➔
My shops at Søciety6 [US] and RedBubble [EU/US], which I recently updated with new illustrations and infographics and which in addition to art prints, posters and cards also sell printed products like curtains, pillows, blankets, carpets, bed linen, mugs, trays, boards, wrapping paper, notebooks, stickers, jigsaw puzzles, magnets, cases, bags, shirts and a whole lot of other things, offer fabulous discounts again! On Redbubble, it is 20% to 60% with the code »WHYWAIT« until November 11th, and Søciety6 also offers 35% to 50% (without code) on a wide range of articles this week. ➔
Due to personal reasons, my sewing partner Reusable Mask Co Australia is closing their business on October 31st, so if you’d like to own one (or more) of their beautiful masks (recommended by Vogue!), you better order right away! I’m so thankful to Sarah for this amazing collaboration half around the globe, I still adore her masks and truly enjoyed seeing all her adventures and successes in mask making, and I wholeheartedly wish her all the best for the future! ➔
As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a whole lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into another identification chart, and now the infographics is available at Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, art prints, notebooks, postcards and mugs as pictured below, as well as bags, shirts, pillows, scarves, blankets, covers, stickers and plenty of other products! ➔
Little Foxy was one of my favorite projects this year! It all started with a friend enquiring me to draw a special art print for the birth of a friends’ daughter, and it involved extensive research (like, snooping the new mother’s blog for likes and interests :)), finding a new style (I’ve never drawn anthropomorphic animals before, and it was more fun than expected!), figuring out that New England’s wildlife is surprisingly different from European wildlife (American robins are actually thrushs!) and, somehow, drawing so many of these animals that they got their own wall chart! ➔
Some maskers insert disposable filter materials (e.g. Filti) between the inner and outer layers of reusable cloth masks. For this reason, my Hybrid Mask has a filter opening! This offers the advantage of combining decent fit (through mask pattern) and filter efficiency (through disposable filters), but the disadvantage that filters are often complicated to insert, rarely cover the whole surface and easily slip. For me and my family, double masking, i.e. wearing FFP2 / KN95, surgical or self-stapled, same-pattern filter masks underneath, seems like a better option. Lately though, a lovely mask maker mentioned how complicated double masking is for kids, and I finally had an idea: Filter frames! ➔
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 at 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! ➔
In Germany, the wearing of medical masks, i.e. FFP2 or surgical masks, became mandatory yesterday. Since I don’t think anyone will check certifications in public, this means that everything except cloth masks is allowed. I’d like to explain how masks work, how filter and fit determine their efficiency, and why a cloth mask ban doesn’t really make much sense to me. Furthermore, I’d like to point out solutions for a more responsible, safe and sustainable use of medical masks. One of these solutions could be wearing a cloth cover over medical masks, or double masking. ➔
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 adore these stylish winter hybrid masks made of chunky Pendleton wool buffalo plaid, which my sewing partner Kiri Schultz from Seattle in the Pacific Northwest made! In her family, they are jokingly called “blankets for the face”, which I find at least as pretty as the fresh fir branches and cones in the picture. I bet these masks smell great! ➔
I have recently equipped my shops at Søciety6 [US] and RedBubble [EU + US] with fresh illustrations, field guides, infographics, patterns and some winter specials – and I was amazed at all the new products there! In addition to prints, posters and postcards, there are now also printed furniture, curtains, pillows, blankets, carpets, bed linen, shower curtains, bath mats, coffee mugs, water bottles, trays, boards, wrapping paper, notebooks, stickers, magnets, cases, skins, bags, picnic blankets, shirts and much more – and some of them now with my designs! ➔
I am so proud that Open Source Medical Supplies is showing my Mask Tying Techniques in a beautiful pictorial pictorial cloth mask guide! Thanks to Devon for connecting and to Sophia for the great design <3
Bastei Lübbe is giving away books on Instagram – with a nicely designed quiz, for which I have provided my animal tracks graphics! Five copies of »Reading tracks – stories that the tracks of animals tell us« by Stefanie Argow and Ulrike Fokken with illustrations by Florian Frick and me will be raffled to those who answer correctly. Good luck! ➔
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! ➔
My amazing sewing partner Reusable Masks Co Australia shot a lovely video with beautiful Carmen on how to dress up the Hybrid Cloth Mask with head ties, and another one on how to make ear loops! I could watch them all day long, and I thought they might be useful for my readers too. Great thanks to Sarah for letting me show them! ➔
Open Source Medical Supplies is my favourite international mask making group, as there are specialists from such a wide variety of fields, helping each other and the volunteers. I have been posting and discussing my hybrid mask pattern there, helped countless volunteers to sew it and was thankful to learn about material studies and neat sewing tricks! When John Kalil asked to intervíew me for their site, I jumped right in – and now, his article is online! ➔
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. ➔
After starting out with a no-sew DIY makeshift emergency mask, then testing all available patterns for cloth masks and finally inventing my own – the optimized Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits truly gapless, breathable yet reliably stays in place, even without a nose piece! –, I have now combined these two types of masks (and everything I have learned in the meantime!) to design an instant no-sew DIY mask with the same pattern and fit as the Hybrid Mask. ➔
I think it’s incredibly exciting and really great how my hybrid cloth mask gets around, how it is recommended, sewn and donated all over the world! In this post, I wanted to collect some of the recommendations and reviews. ➔
Since I first published pattern and instructions for my Hybrid Cloth Mask, which fits gapless yet roomy and reliably stays in place, I’ve been asked about making a detail tutorial for beginners and visual learners, but as a video needs at least 2-3 quiet days and a picture tutorial was possible to just make inbetween, I decided to go with that for now! ➔
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. ➔
A couple of years ago, I created a colouring sheet for the wonderful Malbogen Blog, right after a storm almost stole my scarf and when Lily Lux was longing for new adventures The special thing about it is that it can not only be used for colouring in, but due to some open space, you can even draw your own ideas! Maybe coloring in, painting on, and making up your own little trip with the wind might help you feel a little less locked up at home. Have a good flight! ➔
We 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 happy, healthy and absolutely wonderful new year twothousandtwenty! ➔
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’ve set them up in my own retro school wall chart layout, and now they’re available at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
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 first poster of my very interesting cooperation with professional track reader Stefanie Argow (Hidden Tracks) is finished – and already available at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay) today! ➔
I am very pleased about my specimens of the special »Unterwegs« (issue 03/19) of LECKER magazine by Bauer Media Verlag, which next to delicious recipes for summer, picnic and travels shows my bird silhouettes on a full page! ➔
Finally, four of our favourite Christmas illustrations from the last couple of years are available as posters and art prints at the Posterlounge (also via Amazon and eBay!)! I’m very happy this finally worked out :) ➔
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 now set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at the Posterlounge (soon also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
In August, the amazing Posterlounge is celebrating its 15th birthday! I’d like to wholeheartedly congratulate them, and I’m also happy to announce that all month long, there’s a 15% discount on everything (amongst many other posters, my own illustrations, infographics und life drawings!) with the code “HAPPY15”. Btw, I’m on board for 12 years :) ➔
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 now set them up in my own layout, and they’re already available at the Posterlounge (soon also via Amazon and eBay!). ➔
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 feiert Weihnachten” (Gerti celebrates Christmas) 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! ➔
Gerti, the DIY dressup doll I designed, styled and illustrated as stamps and dies for the online shop Charlie & Paulchen, just got new clothes and accessories for the winter! The fresh set is called “Gerti feiert Weihnachten” (Gerti celebrates Christmas) and contains elements of winter, snow sports and christmas, so Gerti is ready for many winter joys! ➔
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 just received my voucher specimens for the april issue of the German »Eltern Family« magazine, for which I reworked my two-handed Finger Alphabet, and I am very happy to see it turned out real nice! ➔
