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. ➔
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. ➔
As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into a chart, and now the infographics is available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, 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! ➔
For an article named “The many faces of mask fashions”, The Occidental asked LA art students about their masks, and my sewing partner NagaKiri‘s adorable daughter Emily is showing three of her beautifully handcrafted Hybrid Masks (avialable via NagaKiri Studio on Etsy). Plus, she’s the cover girl! Thank you Kiri, for letting me know. ➔
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. ➔
One year ago, I got really fed up with testing one poorly fitting mask pattern after the other, and decided to use what I’ve learnt to invent my own Hybrid Mask pattern. And my very first attempt fitted perfectly! In order to help others with similar problems, I published pattern and instructions in German on April 14th and in English on April 21st. ➔
It’s been a year since I first started testing mask patterns, having no idea that this would lead to making my own and helping the helpers! It’s been quite a ride since, and I am so thankful for how mask makers make this dark time feel so much brighter. Yet, there are days when everyday life feels so far away… and then, there’s a new pattern challenge, a license enquiry, a kind donation, or someone who thanks me in a way that’s so touching – and all of a sudden, I’m sure we’re gonna be fine. Thank you so much, Jenn, for brightening my day with your beautiful mask! <3 ➔
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. ➔
»One of the most popular patterns was developed by Iris Luckhaus, a German illustrator and sewist. Luckhaus, who was fed up with cloth masks fogging up her glasses, made a small change to the nosepiece of a standard cloth mask design that eliminated fogging. Her post went viral on the OSCMS Facebook group with incredible user engagement and over 300 shares. Since then, tens of thousands of her cloth masks have been made around the world.« ➔
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
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. ➔
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! ➔
I felt honoured when I discovered my hybrid mask had been tested by the fabulously useful portal MaskeZeigen.de, an initiative started at the German government’s hackathon #wirvsvirus, which I’ve been following from the start! This is what tester Birgit S. says (direct translation :)), who has both sewn the mask and taken those lovely pictures above:
»The author of the instructions is a professional. And you can tell. (…) The highlight of this mask is the seperate, backwards folded nose pleat, which also contains the nose wire (…). I was pleasantly surprised at how well the mask fits. In my opinion, the author’s plan to design a mask that “fits as tightly and seamlessly as possible on the nose, cheek and chin and does not slide up into the eyes or down the tip of the nose” worked out perfectly. ➔
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! ➔
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! ➔
My professional association, the Illustratoren Organisation IO e.V., represents is members again at the Frankfurt book fair this October – with Sedbooks, Sedcards and an endless projection of pictures! For this purpose, I reworked last year’s Christmas card, where our Lily Lux reads out to all the animals in the well-decorated forest. ➔
Lovely Mimi Fiedler is in the Jingle Jungle Studio in Zürich right now, reading her »Balkantherapie« for the audiobook (release: Nov 9th, 2015) – and she posted some beautiful photos (© Olivia Burkhart) of this on Facebook, which she kindly allowed me to share. I am so much looking forward to listen to the book read by her!
Am ersten November 2010 hat Lily Lux angefangen, #Winterglueck auf Facebook und Twitter zu sammeln – und so entstand in täglicher Folge unser hier einzusehendes und nachzulesendes #Winterglueck-Archiv mit erstaunlich vielen wunderbaren Glücksmomenten, die wir damals selbst gar nicht so erwartet hätten. Schön, sich auch an düsteren Tagen genau umsehen zu müssen, ob man nicht doch noch ein unentdecktes Glück findet. Und: Wir machen weiter! ➔
On September 22nd, we had the big signing, exhibition and reading “One Night Stand” celebrating the erotic anthology “Bettgeschichten – Comics für Erwachsene” (Hrsg: Naomi Fearn und Reinhard Kleist at Zwerchfell Verlag), for which I illustrated a spread with my “Frau Nachbarin” – and it was a wonderful evening! Many thanks to Naomi Fearn, Modern Graphics, Galerie Knoth und Krüger and all those who did actually read (and tell) their comics!
You can read more about the event, look at pictures and even listen to the sensational playlist if you head over to the Bettgeschichten Blog!
Book birthdays are wonderful! Especially when we receive such wonderful pictures from a book store for the occasion… thank you very much, dear Elisa! ➔
Neuerdings gibt es einen wunderbaren neuen Blog zum erotischen Sammelband “Bettgeschichten – Comics für Erwachsene” (Hrsg: Naomi Fearn und Reinhard Kleist im Zwerchfell Verlag), wo sämtliche Zeichner vorgestellt werden und wo auch immer wieder schicke Links gepostet werden… vorgestern war ich dran, mit lauter schönen Worten:
“(…) kann ich nicht einfach mal ein schönes Bild haben, mit schönen Details, in dem ich verträumt versinken kann?” Aber ja, Cherie! Und zwar bei unserem wunderschönen Vektor-Wunder Iris Luckhaus. Als die einzige Künstlerin in unserem Buch, die neben Illustration auch noch Modedesign studiert hat (bei Vivienne Westwood, oh la la!) überrascht es nicht, daß sie neben Illustrationen für diverse Magazine auch noch Stylistin ist und Leute in 2 und 3D gut aussehen lässt.“
Dankesehr, liebe Naomi! <3
Did I ever publically mention we love to see (and reblog) our Lily Lux having her picnic in places abroad? So here’s a very nice example from Liverpool (Thank you so much, dear @MsJinx! Shared enthusiasm is such a great thing, especially when it leads to ideas like this!) and with a Click, you can see Lily Lux having a very green St. Patrick’s Day with Jinx and her friend.
We felt honoured to be invited to take part in the Illustrie’s advent calendar projekt, and we are very happy about our own star on their “Walk of Art & Fame”!!!
The advent calendar project is all about the awesome Mr. Sven Elch, employee of the “Santa & Sons” company, and his very special adventures in the advent season… the Illustrie made a hilarious advent calendar app for iPhone und iPad from this.
In our contribution, we show what happens when Mr. Elch personally takes care of the blog’s guests… Thank you very much Stew and Timo for a very pleasant game of visual ping pong! ➔
Bei Lily Lux gibt es nun eine eigene Pinnwand für Winterliche Köstlichkeiten – dort können Sie Lieblingsrezepte teilen, ansehen und nachbacken! Immer wieder spannend finden wir regionale oder historische Spezialitäten, von denen wir noch nie zuvor gehört haben. Außerdem gibt es eine kleine Umfrage zum liebsten Advents- und Weihnachtsgebäck – auf dem ersten Platz liegen Vanillekipferl, auf dem zweiten Platz Zimtsterne, und auf dem dritten Platz derzeit Dominosteine, dicht gefolgt von Spekulatius, Lebkuchen und Mürbteigkeksen… ➔
Lily Lux definitely has the most adorable fans in the world, because they build furnished flats for the fridge magnets and even send us pictures! And I couldn’t possible not show this picture on the blog… Thank you very much, dear Mani Engel!
If anyone would like to follow Mani’s footsteps: the rooms are part of a foldable play set called “Tamara’s House” and available in bookstores.
And we collected some more stories, ideas and handicrafts around Lily Lux here!
At Lily Lux‘, we now have a new waving, twinkling, charming lucky cat for the winter which you are welcome to use as a banner for your site or your blog.
Code, instructions and some more Lily Lux banners you’ll find on her networks page, and some more pre-christmas gifts and games can be found here.
Nach Lily Lux’ #Winterglueck und #Fruehlingsglueck auf Facebook und Twitter haben wir nun auch wieder einiges #Herbstglueck gesammelt – und hier gibt es nun wieder ein kleines #Herbstglueck-Archiv (aus technischen Gründen in umgekehrter Reihenfolge) mit erstaunlich vielen wirklich wunderbaren Glücksmomenten… und bald geht es wieder weiter mit dem #Winterglueck! ➔
My fall illustration for the marvellous Malbogen Blog, coloured in by myself (thanks to Photoshop tidier than possible with crayons, I admit!) and decorated with a flying kite (in Lily Lux’ favourite red), a curious swallow and a cloud. And now I’d really like to see what’s flying at the end of your thread! ➔
I illustrated a fresh page for the marvellous Malbogen Blog, after Judith asked so nicely, the storm almost catched my scarf and Lily Lux felt like heading for new adventures… The special thing about this page is that it’s not just to colour it in, but as well to draw something on – and I would really like to see what kids (or adults :)) draw on… elephants, autumn leaves, spectating bunnies, chinese dragons, forest backgrounds, castles and towns, or something completely different maybe? If you’re painting the sheet, you’re welcome to upload and leave a comment! ➔
“Liebe Lily, meinen ersten Hokkaido-Kürbis des Lebens habe ich dank dir meisterhaft zubereitet. In deinem tollen Notizbuch hast du dieses einfache Rezept, das zu einem himmlisch-leckeren Auflauf führt. Das Resultat wurde leider schneller gegessen als die Kamera zuschnappen konnte. Tausend Dank dafür!”
Yesterday, it was our Lily Lux Notizbuch‘s birthday, and today it’s our book Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux! We congratulate the books, even though we don’t have that much time for celebrating this year (last year, it was marvellous!)… we look forward to congratulations – and a fantastic new year with Lily Lux! ♥
Ab dem Herbst 2011 gibt es nun auch – sofern wir das zeitlich hinbekommen! – immer mal wieder monatlich neue Feiertagskalender für Ihren Desktop! Mit ganz verschiedenen Feier-, Gedenk- und Aktionstagen sowie den persönlichen Feiertagen von Lily Lux. Viel Vergnügen wünschen wir Ihnen damit, und vor allem: frohes Feiern!
Guten Tag, ich bin Lily Lux! Ich freue mich sehr, diesen Blog heute wieder als Gastautorin besuchen zu dürfen und Euch nun herzlich zur Wunschbuch-Verlosung willkommen zu heißen, die zur Feier unserer 700 (siebenhundert!!!) 707 (siebenhundertundsieben!!!) weltwunderbarsten Freunde, Fans und Follower stattfindet und für die wir letzte Woche Euer persönliches Sommerglück wissen wollten. Ich befinde mich grade im wunderbaren Fotoautomaten in der Restobar, und werde nun live verlosen… Die Gewinnerin oder der Gewinner darf sich ein Buch aussuchen, und zwar entweder “Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux” oder das “Lily Lux Notizbuch”!
Wir freuen uns sehr über die schönen Beiträge, die Ihr uns gepostet habt! Oben könnt Ihr sehen, wie ich Eure Namen auf kleine gelbe Zettelchen schreibe. Es nehmen teil: Jule mit köstlichen eigenen Tomaten, Stephanie mit Fremde-zum-Lächeln-bringenden Strandkunstwerken, Benjamin mit schicken Cocktails, Nadja mit ihrem bezaubernden Sommerkind, Stefanie mit wunderschönen Schmetterlingen und Katrin mit einer leckeren Kindheitsköstlichkeit! Die kompletten Beiträge könnt Ihr hier sehen. ➔
Die Klappentexterin ruft den Sommer aus, und Lily Lux darf Ihr Sommerglück vorstellen!
Ausschnitt aus dem Lily Lux Notizbuch (Iris Luckhaus und Matthias Klesse für Cadeau im Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, September 2010).
Guten Tag, ich bin Lily Lux und darf heute Gastautorin hier sein (dankeschön, liebe Iris!) – und nächste Woche auch endlich mal wieder Glücksfee, worauf ich mich sehr freue! Zur Feier unserer 700 (siebenhundert!!!) 707 (siebenhundertundsieben!!!) weltwunderbarsten Freunde, Fans und Follower könnt Ihr nämlich nun als Dankeschön ein Wunschbuch gewinnen!
Zur Wahl stehen “Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux” oder das “Lily Lux Notizbuch”. Die Bücher könnt Ihr Euch auf meiner Website ansehen und auch hineinblättern, falls Ihr die nicht ohnehin schon selbst habt und als Geschenk für einen Eurer Lieblingsmenschen gewinnen möchtet. Vielen herzlichen Dank an den Hoffmann und Campe Verlag für das Buchgeschenk! ➔
Heute, am 22. Mai, ist Welttag der biologischen Vielfalt, und dieses Jahr sind die Wälder das Schwerpunktthema des UN-Tages. Lily Lux war zur Feier des Tages in ihrem wunderbaren Arboretum, hat ein paar Notizen gemacht und einige großartige Bäume kennengelernt und wiederentdeckt. ➔
Our travelling Notizbuch is on the road again, with its very own Travelbug! Also, our lovingly designed Cache has been found quite a few times lately, so it seems like spring is really there now… We’re very delighted about that, wish great fun to all geocachers for this season and are excited how the journey of our book continues!
“Lily sieht toll aus und macht gute Laune, deshalb war für mich klar, dass ich sie nicht nur Zuhause um mich haben möchte. Auch auf der Arbeit zaubert sie mir ein Lächeln auf die Lippen und ist der Alltag noch so grau. ➔
Heute stellen mein Co-Autor Matthias Klesse und ich bei der Klappentexterin unsere drei allerliebsten Lieblingsbücher (welche erstaunlicherweise dieselben sind – vermutlich prädestiniert sowas dazu, zusammen neue Bücher zu schreiben) vor! ➔
“Es geschah an einem trüben, verschlafenen Morgen. Der Tag begann nur zäh, dehnte sich wie ein Kaugummi endlos in die Länge und wollte am liebsten liegenbleiben. „Nicht gerade sehr motivierend, verehrter Herr Morgen!“ sagte ich und stampfte müde in die Küche. Doch dort war der Teufel los. Bommy – mein Kühlschrank – war so laut wie ich ihn noch nie gehört habe und auch der Rest – Wasserkocher, Herd – alle befanden sich in Aufruhr. Nanu? Was war passiert? Nur wenige Sekunden später, entdeckte ich den Grund. Lily Lux war zu Besuch! (…)” >>
Zum Abschluß der wunderbaren Lily-Lux-Woche bei der Klappentexterin gibt es nicht nur großartige und bebilderte Magnetgeschichten, sondern auch ein kleines Gewinnspiel, das bis Ostern läuft und für das wir ein kleines Banner gebastelt haben. Wir freuen uns und danken ganz herzlich für die schönen Beiträge, die guten Fragen und die netten Kommentare! ➔
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. ➔
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. ➔
As part of my “Foxy goes Hiking” project, I’ve researched and illustrated a lot of the smaller animals of New England. When the abundance became confusing, I’ve turned them into a chart, and now the infographics is available at Posterlounge (Amazon / eBay), Redbubble and Søciety6, printed on posters, 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! ➔
For an article named “The many faces of mask fashions”, The Occidental asked LA art students about their masks, and my sewing partner NagaKiri‘s adorable daughter Emily is showing three of her beautifully handcrafted Hybrid Masks (avialable via NagaKiri Studio on Etsy). Plus, she’s the cover girl! Thank you Kiri, for letting me know. ➔
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. ➔
One year ago, I got really fed up with testing one poorly fitting mask pattern after the other, and decided to use what I’ve learnt to invent my own Hybrid Mask pattern. And my very first attempt fitted perfectly! In order to help others with similar problems, I published pattern and instructions in German on April 14th and in English on April 21st. ➔
It’s been a year since I first started testing mask patterns, having no idea that this would lead to making my own and helping the helpers! It’s been quite a ride since, and I am so thankful for how mask makers make this dark time feel so much brighter. Yet, there are days when everyday life feels so far away… and then, there’s a new pattern challenge, a license enquiry, a kind donation, or someone who thanks me in a way that’s so touching – and all of a sudden, I’m sure we’re gonna be fine. Thank you so much, Jenn, for brightening my day with your beautiful mask! <3 ➔
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. ➔
»One of the most popular patterns was developed by Iris Luckhaus, a German illustrator and sewist. Luckhaus, who was fed up with cloth masks fogging up her glasses, made a small change to the nosepiece of a standard cloth mask design that eliminated fogging. Her post went viral on the OSCMS Facebook group with incredible user engagement and over 300 shares. Since then, tens of thousands of her cloth masks have been made around the world.« ➔
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
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. ➔
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! ➔
I felt honoured when I discovered my hybrid mask had been tested by the fabulously useful portal MaskeZeigen.de, an initiative started at the German government’s hackathon #wirvsvirus, which I’ve been following from the start! This is what tester Birgit S. says (direct translation :)), who has both sewn the mask and taken those lovely pictures above:
»The author of the instructions is a professional. And you can tell. (…) The highlight of this mask is the seperate, backwards folded nose pleat, which also contains the nose wire (…). I was pleasantly surprised at how well the mask fits. In my opinion, the author’s plan to design a mask that “fits as tightly and seamlessly as possible on the nose, cheek and chin and does not slide up into the eyes or down the tip of the nose” worked out perfectly. ➔
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! ➔
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! ➔
My professional association, the Illustratoren Organisation IO e.V., represents is members again at the Frankfurt book fair this October – with Sedbooks, Sedcards and an endless projection of pictures! For this purpose, I reworked last year’s Christmas card, where our Lily Lux reads out to all the animals in the well-decorated forest. ➔
Lovely Mimi Fiedler is in the Jingle Jungle Studio in Zürich right now, reading her »Balkantherapie« for the audiobook (release: Nov 9th, 2015) – and she posted some beautiful photos (© Olivia Burkhart) of this on Facebook, which she kindly allowed me to share. I am so much looking forward to listen to the book read by her!
Am ersten November 2010 hat Lily Lux angefangen, #Winterglueck auf Facebook und Twitter zu sammeln – und so entstand in täglicher Folge unser hier einzusehendes und nachzulesendes #Winterglueck-Archiv mit erstaunlich vielen wunderbaren Glücksmomenten, die wir damals selbst gar nicht so erwartet hätten. Schön, sich auch an düsteren Tagen genau umsehen zu müssen, ob man nicht doch noch ein unentdecktes Glück findet. Und: Wir machen weiter! ➔
On September 22nd, we had the big signing, exhibition and reading “One Night Stand” celebrating the erotic anthology “Bettgeschichten – Comics für Erwachsene” (Hrsg: Naomi Fearn und Reinhard Kleist at Zwerchfell Verlag), for which I illustrated a spread with my “Frau Nachbarin” – and it was a wonderful evening! Many thanks to Naomi Fearn, Modern Graphics, Galerie Knoth und Krüger and all those who did actually read (and tell) their comics!
You can read more about the event, look at pictures and even listen to the sensational playlist if you head over to the Bettgeschichten Blog!
Book birthdays are wonderful! Especially when we receive such wonderful pictures from a book store for the occasion… thank you very much, dear Elisa! ➔
Neuerdings gibt es einen wunderbaren neuen Blog zum erotischen Sammelband “Bettgeschichten – Comics für Erwachsene” (Hrsg: Naomi Fearn und Reinhard Kleist im Zwerchfell Verlag), wo sämtliche Zeichner vorgestellt werden und wo auch immer wieder schicke Links gepostet werden… vorgestern war ich dran, mit lauter schönen Worten:
“(…) kann ich nicht einfach mal ein schönes Bild haben, mit schönen Details, in dem ich verträumt versinken kann?” Aber ja, Cherie! Und zwar bei unserem wunderschönen Vektor-Wunder Iris Luckhaus. Als die einzige Künstlerin in unserem Buch, die neben Illustration auch noch Modedesign studiert hat (bei Vivienne Westwood, oh la la!) überrascht es nicht, daß sie neben Illustrationen für diverse Magazine auch noch Stylistin ist und Leute in 2 und 3D gut aussehen lässt.“
Dankesehr, liebe Naomi! <3
Did I ever publically mention we love to see (and reblog) our Lily Lux having her picnic in places abroad? So here’s a very nice example from Liverpool (Thank you so much, dear @MsJinx! Shared enthusiasm is such a great thing, especially when it leads to ideas like this!) and with a Click, you can see Lily Lux having a very green St. Patrick’s Day with Jinx and her friend.
We felt honoured to be invited to take part in the Illustrie’s advent calendar projekt, and we are very happy about our own star on their “Walk of Art & Fame”!!!
The advent calendar project is all about the awesome Mr. Sven Elch, employee of the “Santa & Sons” company, and his very special adventures in the advent season… the Illustrie made a hilarious advent calendar app for iPhone und iPad from this.
In our contribution, we show what happens when Mr. Elch personally takes care of the blog’s guests… Thank you very much Stew and Timo for a very pleasant game of visual ping pong! ➔
Bei Lily Lux gibt es nun eine eigene Pinnwand für Winterliche Köstlichkeiten – dort können Sie Lieblingsrezepte teilen, ansehen und nachbacken! Immer wieder spannend finden wir regionale oder historische Spezialitäten, von denen wir noch nie zuvor gehört haben. Außerdem gibt es eine kleine Umfrage zum liebsten Advents- und Weihnachtsgebäck – auf dem ersten Platz liegen Vanillekipferl, auf dem zweiten Platz Zimtsterne, und auf dem dritten Platz derzeit Dominosteine, dicht gefolgt von Spekulatius, Lebkuchen und Mürbteigkeksen… ➔
Lily Lux definitely has the most adorable fans in the world, because they build furnished flats for the fridge magnets and even send us pictures! And I couldn’t possible not show this picture on the blog… Thank you very much, dear Mani Engel!
If anyone would like to follow Mani’s footsteps: the rooms are part of a foldable play set called “Tamara’s House” and available in bookstores.
And we collected some more stories, ideas and handicrafts around Lily Lux here!
At Lily Lux‘, we now have a new waving, twinkling, charming lucky cat for the winter which you are welcome to use as a banner for your site or your blog.
Code, instructions and some more Lily Lux banners you’ll find on her networks page, and some more pre-christmas gifts and games can be found here.
Nach Lily Lux’ #Winterglueck und #Fruehlingsglueck auf Facebook und Twitter haben wir nun auch wieder einiges #Herbstglueck gesammelt – und hier gibt es nun wieder ein kleines #Herbstglueck-Archiv (aus technischen Gründen in umgekehrter Reihenfolge) mit erstaunlich vielen wirklich wunderbaren Glücksmomenten… und bald geht es wieder weiter mit dem #Winterglueck! ➔
My fall illustration for the marvellous Malbogen Blog, coloured in by myself (thanks to Photoshop tidier than possible with crayons, I admit!) and decorated with a flying kite (in Lily Lux’ favourite red), a curious swallow and a cloud. And now I’d really like to see what’s flying at the end of your thread! ➔
I illustrated a fresh page for the marvellous Malbogen Blog, after Judith asked so nicely, the storm almost catched my scarf and Lily Lux felt like heading for new adventures… The special thing about this page is that it’s not just to colour it in, but as well to draw something on – and I would really like to see what kids (or adults :)) draw on… elephants, autumn leaves, spectating bunnies, chinese dragons, forest backgrounds, castles and towns, or something completely different maybe? If you’re painting the sheet, you’re welcome to upload and leave a comment! ➔
“Liebe Lily, meinen ersten Hokkaido-Kürbis des Lebens habe ich dank dir meisterhaft zubereitet. In deinem tollen Notizbuch hast du dieses einfache Rezept, das zu einem himmlisch-leckeren Auflauf führt. Das Resultat wurde leider schneller gegessen als die Kamera zuschnappen konnte. Tausend Dank dafür!”
Yesterday, it was our Lily Lux Notizbuch‘s birthday, and today it’s our book Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux! We congratulate the books, even though we don’t have that much time for celebrating this year (last year, it was marvellous!)… we look forward to congratulations – and a fantastic new year with Lily Lux! ♥
Ab dem Herbst 2011 gibt es nun auch – sofern wir das zeitlich hinbekommen! – immer mal wieder monatlich neue Feiertagskalender für Ihren Desktop! Mit ganz verschiedenen Feier-, Gedenk- und Aktionstagen sowie den persönlichen Feiertagen von Lily Lux. Viel Vergnügen wünschen wir Ihnen damit, und vor allem: frohes Feiern!
Guten Tag, ich bin Lily Lux! Ich freue mich sehr, diesen Blog heute wieder als Gastautorin besuchen zu dürfen und Euch nun herzlich zur Wunschbuch-Verlosung willkommen zu heißen, die zur Feier unserer 700 (siebenhundert!!!) 707 (siebenhundertundsieben!!!) weltwunderbarsten Freunde, Fans und Follower stattfindet und für die wir letzte Woche Euer persönliches Sommerglück wissen wollten. Ich befinde mich grade im wunderbaren Fotoautomaten in der Restobar, und werde nun live verlosen… Die Gewinnerin oder der Gewinner darf sich ein Buch aussuchen, und zwar entweder “Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux” oder das “Lily Lux Notizbuch”!
Wir freuen uns sehr über die schönen Beiträge, die Ihr uns gepostet habt! Oben könnt Ihr sehen, wie ich Eure Namen auf kleine gelbe Zettelchen schreibe. Es nehmen teil: Jule mit köstlichen eigenen Tomaten, Stephanie mit Fremde-zum-Lächeln-bringenden Strandkunstwerken, Benjamin mit schicken Cocktails, Nadja mit ihrem bezaubernden Sommerkind, Stefanie mit wunderschönen Schmetterlingen und Katrin mit einer leckeren Kindheitsköstlichkeit! Die kompletten Beiträge könnt Ihr hier sehen. ➔
Die Klappentexterin ruft den Sommer aus, und Lily Lux darf Ihr Sommerglück vorstellen!
Ausschnitt aus dem Lily Lux Notizbuch (Iris Luckhaus und Matthias Klesse für Cadeau im Hoffmann und Campe Verlag, September 2010).
Guten Tag, ich bin Lily Lux und darf heute Gastautorin hier sein (dankeschön, liebe Iris!) – und nächste Woche auch endlich mal wieder Glücksfee, worauf ich mich sehr freue! Zur Feier unserer 700 (siebenhundert!!!) 707 (siebenhundertundsieben!!!) weltwunderbarsten Freunde, Fans und Follower könnt Ihr nämlich nun als Dankeschön ein Wunschbuch gewinnen!
Zur Wahl stehen “Die wunderbare Welt der Lily Lux” oder das “Lily Lux Notizbuch”. Die Bücher könnt Ihr Euch auf meiner Website ansehen und auch hineinblättern, falls Ihr die nicht ohnehin schon selbst habt und als Geschenk für einen Eurer Lieblingsmenschen gewinnen möchtet. Vielen herzlichen Dank an den Hoffmann und Campe Verlag für das Buchgeschenk! ➔
Heute, am 22. Mai, ist Welttag der biologischen Vielfalt, und dieses Jahr sind die Wälder das Schwerpunktthema des UN-Tages. Lily Lux war zur Feier des Tages in ihrem wunderbaren Arboretum, hat ein paar Notizen gemacht und einige großartige Bäume kennengelernt und wiederentdeckt. ➔
Our travelling Notizbuch is on the road again, with its very own Travelbug! Also, our lovingly designed Cache has been found quite a few times lately, so it seems like spring is really there now… We’re very delighted about that, wish great fun to all geocachers for this season and are excited how the journey of our book continues!
“Lily sieht toll aus und macht gute Laune, deshalb war für mich klar, dass ich sie nicht nur Zuhause um mich haben möchte. Auch auf der Arbeit zaubert sie mir ein Lächeln auf die Lippen und ist der Alltag noch so grau. ➔
Heute stellen mein Co-Autor Matthias Klesse und ich bei der Klappentexterin unsere drei allerliebsten Lieblingsbücher (welche erstaunlicherweise dieselben sind – vermutlich prädestiniert sowas dazu, zusammen neue Bücher zu schreiben) vor! ➔
“Es geschah an einem trüben, verschlafenen Morgen. Der Tag begann nur zäh, dehnte sich wie ein Kaugummi endlos in die Länge und wollte am liebsten liegenbleiben. „Nicht gerade sehr motivierend, verehrter Herr Morgen!“ sagte ich und stampfte müde in die Küche. Doch dort war der Teufel los. Bommy – mein Kühlschrank – war so laut wie ich ihn noch nie gehört habe und auch der Rest – Wasserkocher, Herd – alle befanden sich in Aufruhr. Nanu? Was war passiert? Nur wenige Sekunden später, entdeckte ich den Grund. Lily Lux war zu Besuch! (…)” >>
Zum Abschluß der wunderbaren Lily-Lux-Woche bei der Klappentexterin gibt es nicht nur großartige und bebilderte Magnetgeschichten, sondern auch ein kleines Gewinnspiel, das bis Ostern läuft und für das wir ein kleines Banner gebastelt haben. Wir freuen uns und danken ganz herzlich für die schönen Beiträge, die guten Fragen und die netten Kommentare! ➔
