FREE temporary tattoos - the Everyday Angles by Cut & Tear

I am offering a FREE temporary tattoo with every order from my Etsy shop - until Valentine's day!
Link to my shop: https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CUTandTEAR

The idea behind the Everyday Angles is:

"Nobody is perfect and even Angels get their underwear stuck in the bum (at leat sometimes)." ;-)

Comment, share or wear your Everyday Angel tattoo if you agree...

The German Language Challenge - Week 2 - Reading tips

Dear friends and readers,
Thank you so much for your support, comments and help.
Since I believe that some of you are also hoping to improve your German, I have decided to share some of my personal tips with you as well as my latest written creation.

Here is my first tip: READ! Read as much as you can. If you are struggling to find something light enough but not too stupid, read Deutsch Perfekt. It is a magazine for learning German language and is designed for adults. Here is my new best friend (the title of the latest issue somehow fits!):

Since I love to read and can do it already reasonably well, my loving boyfriend prepares me every week a "read selection". He knows that I do not like fighting with the big and thick newspaper, so he finds only the things I might be interested at (usually art and education related). I love it and mostly complete my homework while eating breakfast. Here is an example of my reading heap.

Maybe you can consider my text also part of your weekly read. ;-) Thank you for your patience. Here we go...

PS: For those, who don't know that I have an online shop on Etsy, here is the link:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/CUTandTEAR

Mein Laden in Wandel. Oder es ist my Leben? 

Seit ich meinen Laden im Jahr 2011 eröffnet habe, hat sich viel geändert. Am Anfang war ich ganz begeistert vom Textildesign, das ich plötzlich auf einem Gymnasium in London im Zusammenhang mit Kunst unterichtet habe. Ich habe intensive gelernt und sehr ungeduldig die neue Fähigkeiten getestet and weiter entwickelt. Bald war mein Kunstkoffer voll von Filzringen, gehäkeltem Kunststoff-schmuck, gestickten Papiercollagen und anderen Besonderheiten gestaltet von recycleten Materialien. Dann habe ich beschlossen die Produkte zu verkaufen! Ein online Laden schien eine gutte Idee zu sein. Ganz ohne Erfarung, habe ich mein Laden auf Etsy geöffnet und für ein ganzes Jahr NICHTS verkauft. Natürlich nicht! Meine Fotos waren schrecklich, ich hatte keine Ahnung von Treasuries oder Teams und ich kannte keine anderen Etsy Verkäufer. Als ich im Frühling 2012 (schon in Deutschland) den Laden schließen wollte, ist etwas Ungewöhnliches passiert. Eine erfahrene Etsy Verkäuferin hat mir Hilfe angeboten. Einfach so. Sie mochte meine neuen Papierpuppen und merkte, dass ich fast nichts verkauf hatte. Durch ihre Kontakte, hat sie meinen Laden in eine „hotte“ Sache gemacht und ich habe fast 50 Sachen in den wenigen Sommer-Wochen verkauft. Zwei Artikel waren in Deutschen Magazinen veröffentlicht und zahllose Blogs haben über meine Puppen geschrieben. Das was Wahsinn! Diese Erfolgs-blase ist natürlich vorbei und meine Geschäfte hängen davon ab, ob ich genug Zeit für Etsy Marketing habe oder nicht. Aber die Waren in meinem Laden wandeln sich auch. Es gibt keine Spur von Kunststoffohrringen mehr und auch meine Puppenfamilie wächst nur langsam. Als sich mein Leben ändert, änderen sich auch die Waren. Weil ich jetzt wieder studieren muss, den Bayerischen Behörden zu zeigen, dass ich wirklich Kunstlehrerin bin, werde ich weniger Zeit für Etsy haben. Darum überlege ich gerade eine neue Richtung für meinen Laden. Ich habe vor, meine Puppenfotographie wie digitale Drucke und Postkarten anzubieten und das Sortiment mit temporären Tattoos anzureichern.

An example of my temporary tattoo - the Everyday Angel:

 

 

CREATURE FEATURE - Cuddly Backpackers by FulBelSic

The CREATURE FEATURE is back!
Not as regular as it used to be, but nevertheless!

Look at these awesome soft backpackers by Benedetta from the lovely Fulana Beltrana Sicrana shop on Etsy. Bene offers wide variety of hilarious male and female dolls. Make sure you stop by!

T is for Treasury...

Cut & Tear is trying to go back to some good blog habits and post more regularly...

Here are some inspirations for your Valentine's day. Etsy is awesome but shipping takes a while, so do not hesitate too long...

Puzzling over Love

Men in Red

The German Language Challenge - Week 1

Dear friends and readers,
My fairly long absence in the blog-world was caused by the changes in my career life. Since I am a qualified Art Teacher,  I am obliged to pass the highest German langauge test known to man - the C2 exam - or Großes Deutsches Sprachdiplom, if I wish to practise my profession in Munich.

 As I am struggling, especially with writing, I have decided to turn to social media for help. Many bloggers report about their weightloss challenges or cooking accomplischments to keep them on track, I have decided to record my struggles with German.

This is the first part of my German Blog-Blabber and everyone is welcome to comment and correct. I would also LOVE to hear about your experiences with learning German.

If you are learning German, you can use my texts to practise your reading, if you are a German native speaker, you can search for mistakes... ;-)

Es gibt keine unüberwindliche Hindernisse... 

Ich bin Kunstlehrerin. Ich habe in England studiert and Master und andere nötige Qualifikationen bekommen und ich habe auch 3 Jahre auf einem MädchenßGzmnasium in London unterrichtet. Als ich nach Deutschland umgezogen bin (für Liebe, was sonst), habe ich gedacht, dass ich meinen Beruf weiter machen werde, sobald ich die deutsche Sprache beherrsche. Leider, was meine Theorie falsh. Als das Bayrische Zeugnisanerkennungsbüro meine Yertifikate überprüft hat, hat die Zuständige Frau mir mitgeteilt, dass ich keine Kunstlehrerin in Bayern bin. Das was ein Schock. Ich konnte es kaum glauben. Ich habe über meine Möglichkeiten nachgedacht. Ich konnte meinen Mann verlassen und nach England zurückkehren. Ich konnte die Arbeit, die ich nicht mehr genieße, weiter machen. Oder ich konnte versuchen, die neueun bürokratischen Hindernisse zu überwinden. Obwohl ich etwas Ähnliches schon in England erlebt habe, habe ich am Ende die dritte Möglichkeit ausgewählt. Jetzt bin ich profesionelle „Hindernisüberspringerin“ (ich weiß, dass das Wort nicht existiert, trotzdem bin ich eine). Erst muss ich die C2 Deutschprüfung bestehen und an der Akademie der Bildenden Künste 30 Kredite kriegen und dann den Anpassungkury auf einem Deutschen Gzmnasium absolvieren. Wer meine Versicherung und Rente während der Hindernisstrecke zahlen wird ist noch nicht klar. Mein erste Schritt ist, mein Deutsch zu verbessern und zwar meinen schriftlichen Ausdruck. Darum habe ich beschlossen, regelmässig diesen Deutschen „Blog-Blabber“ zu schreiben und hoffentlich das Mitleid und die Stütze von den Leuten, die auch mit der deutschen Sprache kämpfen, zu kriegen.

 

Just to give you an exapmple of my first draft (different text) but anyway, note the green! I cannot bear seeing red, so my lovingly correcting professor-boyfriend uses green.

 

 

The Secret Itinerary for the Christmas Markets in Munich

Being an occassional seller myself, I do love markets. The Christmas ones in Munich are a real touristic attraction and I still enjoy visiting them eventhough I live here but it is even more fun showing friends from abroad. After 2,5 years in Munich, I have established a sort of itinerary, avoiding the most crowded markets and selecting the more unusual ones.

Here is the photo-tour for you.

Saturday afternoon/evening.

We started at the Schwabinger Weihnachtsmarkt (artistic market at Muenchner Freiheit). The decoration is rather contemporary, the sellers are mostly artists and craft people and there is even  "Tent-Gallery" exhibiting local artists (the quality must judge everyone for themselves). The wares include jewellery, toys, fashion accessories, ceramics or paper goods and more... If you are not too cold, there are even music performances.

If you fancy a cute but slightly oversized mosquito for your garten, then this is your market!

As it can get really cold towards the evening, we can only reccommend a fabulous traditional Bavarian restaurant Zur Brezn , which is only few minutes walk from the market.


Sunday (you don't need to get up too early)

First we visited the small market in the Residence on the Odeonsplatz. The inner square of the former palace of the king is rather spectacular location. The market proved to be a real hit with my friends as they managed to buy little presents just about for anyone. This market represent the "traditional" one and offers variery of Christmas decorations, traditional sweets, even traditional bavarian costumes (lederhosen and dirndls). Although it was barely noon, we could not resists the eirpunsch (warm egg nog with cream)!

The next market is the perfect place for lunch. The medieval market on Wittelsbacher Platz offers a wide variety of culinary treats as well as selection of fures (if that is your thing), mediaval waepons, clothing and other bizzare and entertaining items. The sellers wear medieval clothing, so it is a real attraction!

 

 

The last market we visited was a real treat. The Glockenbach Weinachtsmarkt takes place only once per year and my guests were lucky enough to be in Munich at the right time. The venue - Muffathalle-provided  a contrasting experience to the traditional outdoor markets. The sellers were offering hip designer wares including art, fashion and more. Unfortunately, I do not have any photos as we were fairly tired by then. But you can get a feeling for the event when you click here (that was 2010, photos from the organizer's FB page): https://www.facebook.com/events/769708256388686/?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/donna.kilcullen/media_set?set=a.1631051868094.2081877.1590564134&type=1

The Market Marathon with the Creative Lab Munich Team

The market season in Munich is really taking off with the start of Advent and this year Cut & Tear is taking part! On Saturday I co-organize a small private selling event - "The Jingle Mingle Market" - featuring members of the Creative Lab Munich team on Etsy and on Sunday was the fantastic Japandult market organized by the owner of Kirschbluete paper shop. The Japandult aims to feature Bavarian and Japanese products and goods with Japanese flair.

Both markets were really fun and here are some glimpses for you...

This was my stall in the Japandult and the crocheted pandas went to rather unexpected buyers. ;-)

My favourite neighbour sellers - the girls behind the L'EnfantTerrible shop provided ongoing entertainment and sold many many many hairclips, although their fantastic designer clothing for children is absolutelly amazing!!!! Make sure you find their stall in some of the upcoming markets!

April from RawLuxGems did also very well. It was impossible to photograph her stall at the Japanduls as it was all the time busy with buyers.

The Mainly Maren blogger and wreath-maker showed (and sold) her lovely creations at the Jingle Mingle Market.

The artistic prints from Elzemieke proved to be very popular with the buyers at the Japandult. Sharing a stall with her at both markets was fun!

Zaida from The Summer House shop was selling the cutest children shoes ever! They are also available in her Etsy shop.

The ladies behind Limala and KleineKlara shops united their effords and presented wonderful screenprinted children products.

Conny from Vaersgostudio showed her latest creations at the Japandult. This busy graphic designer does not come to many markets but fortunatelly, you can buy her lovely items in her Etsy shop.

Although I tried my best to photograph all, somehow the ladies from Nauli  and Su-pyo managed to escape, what's a pity! Their paperware stalls at the Jingle Mingle Market were fantastic. Fortunatelly, you can buy from them online any time.