Dreaming out loud

So I mentioned in my previous post that living in a foreign country can sometimes be pretty overwhelming.  Although there are a lot of things I appreciate here, sometimes I find myself feeling frustrated and helpless.

Anyways, art has always been some sort of release for me.  Feeling like I created something that's entirely my own is a really good feeling, and a relaxing way for me to let out any anxiety from the day.  Sadly I haven't been doing as much art since I moved here which is partly why I wanted to make this blog.  Making cakes, drawing, painting, sculpting with clay..any sort of art is fine by me.

dreaming out loud.  Sketch by li 2011

I was in the train listening to an album by one republic and noticed the title in my little screen. The album is called "dreaming out loud" I just started imagining some stuff and wanted to put it on paper.  I used the same face from the sketch I did in the previous post and changed it a bit.

dreaming out loud. Sketch by li 2011

dreaming out loud. Sketch by li 2011

I don't think it's quite finished though..there are a few more things I want to add...
Have a nice and stress-free day.

Love, li

Life in a foreign country.

Sometimes I feel so overwhelmed living here I have to remind myself to close my eyes and breath...

"everybody but me" sketch by li 2011

Sketch pen and colored pencil by li 2011

Just your average cupcake...

As I said before it was my roommates birthday last weekend.  I busted out the giant cupcake form my mom sent me last year and tried it once more.  The first time I used it was an utter fail and the middle ended up all runny.  This time I found a recipe online and followed it very closely.  At first I thought it was going to be another failure but after I moved the rack lower in the oven the middle finally cooked through.  It only took two hours......it said it was supposed to take one. hmm...
Also I really wanted to decorate it with white frosting, but here in germany canned frosting is way expensive and nearly impossible to find.  I could only find chocolate at my grocery store.  So I tried to make my own but the butter I had wasn't really butter it was more margerine and melty.  Therefore the top looks melty and saggy.  Otherwise it tasted delicious.

pre-decorated

Anjio's giant cupcake June 2011 made by li

I really want to keep trying some new baking/decoration and improve my skills!  Just need to find the time/money. 

Too many summer babies...

Is it just me, or do tons of people have birthdays around May/June?

The 27th was one of my friends (here in Germany) birthday and earlier this year (maybe around Jan?) we were walking by a German cake shop and we saw this pretty cake with little roses on it.  I told her that I would loovee to make cakes like that someday.   So she made me promise to make her a cake for her birthday.  I didn't have the confidence to make a huge cake.  But I did manage to make her some home-made chocolate cupcakes with fondant/marzipan decorations. I <3 baking

The obligatory Birthday card :)

Deliciousness...

Chocolate love

Close up of Marzipan rose

All of the cupcakes together :) by li May 2011

My roommates birthday is this weekend too.  I promised to make her a giant cupcake.  Pictures will follow. (if it's not a disaster ;)

With love,
li

Happy Birthday Srah!

I realize this is a day late, but I had to wait for srah to recieve her package to post this so I wouldn't ruin the surprise.  Anyways, happy birthday to you friend!  I'm so sad I wasn't able to spend the day with my best friend on her birthday...but at least I was able to make a care package for her.

srahs bday card by li 2011

I love making cards for people.  They just feel so much more personal.

picture of some cafe in my town

So one of my inspirations for srahs gift is also one of her favorite things about Germany.  I can't believe this is the only picture that I've taken so far of a pretzel.  Not those nasty, dry, hard pretzels that come in a bag.  These are giant, soft, warm deliciousness.  If I remember I'll take some more pictures of the pretzels here, there are cheese ones and pizza flavored ones. omg heaven. The only thing missing is that delicious nacho cheese that they sell in America.  We used to get those all the time when we were shopping together in the mall!

Pre-baked pretzels

Cooked pretzels by li

Another hobby I started in Germany is making these fimo-clay keychains/straps.  I've made so many on my lazy days here, and they are great for gifts.  I actually made one for srah already, but I thought I'd make her some pretzels since I couldn't send her a real one.  I'm planning on making some more clay stuff for another friends birthday this month which I'll post later.

p.s. I miss you srah....!

<3 li

Germany 2: Spring time is asparagus time.

Since I moved to Germany I've noticed that people become obsessed with Asparagus in the springtime.  You start to see it everywhere, in restaurants, supermarkets, your dreams....

And so naturally it ended up on our kitchen table.
We found this recipe in the magazine at the supermarket and thought it looked like a delicious asparagus pie.  It was delicious but I think the crust was a little bit too dry.  To be honest it felt a little like eating sand.

But at least it looked amazing! 

 

Love, li

p.s. if anyone is interested in the recipe I would be happy to post it, maybe you can alter it to make a non sandy crust :)

Germany 1 : Hussel Chocolates

For my first official post from Germany I would like to feature these delicious german chocolates.  I love this store in particular.  As soon as you walk in all you smell is pure sweetness and your carried away to candyland.  The chocolates are almost too pretty to eat.  When srah came to visit me a few months ago she fell in love with it too.  What can I say, it's charm is just unresistable.  And for non chocolate lovers of course they offer gummis as well! nom nom nom.

Germany has the most amazing sweets, not just chocolate and gummis, but also cakes and ice cream.  (Of course I plan on making a seperate post for each :p )  But I decided to make a card including everything, something perfect to give to your own sweetheart <3

 My Sweetheart by li

My Sweetheart by li

My Sweetheart by li

Hope everyone is having a great week
Love, li

Greetings

A big hello from Germany and Japan!

So as an informal introduction to our blog we just want to say welcome!  As our info says we are just two girls (best friends actually) who ended up living in two completely different countries.  One day we randomly decided to share our love for travelling and art through a blog.  We will be posting anything and everything that we find interesting in our every day lives.  Our general theme is to post a picture of a place we've visited during our time living in Germany and Japan, and try to create something inspired from that place.  Postcards, paintings, sculptures, food, and everything in between!  Hopefully we get some good ideas to share along the way!

Enjoy~

Your Friends,
srah&li

Germany 2009 Sketch by li