Wednesday, 12 August 2009

Parisian apartment

parisian apartment

When this Parisian apartment was first purchases by its owner, a young french artist, she thought long and hard about the best way to maximise the space. Her dream was for this small, 30 square foot apartment to have all the comforts of home but to also function as a working space for her artmaking, a place to screen films, a performance space hosting an audience of up to 40 people, and a guest house for friends traveling through Paris.

After 8 months of thinking, drawing and designing, she finally achieved her goal. The result: multi level lofts, pull out bench seats that convert into beds, a wall for screening films, a compact kitchen including dishwasher and breadmaker, a large desk and studio corner, the tiniest bathroom that has everything one needs, comfortable living room area with plenty of seating, and all this while maintaining a open plan design with plenty of free space for performing.

My pictures do not do this interior justice. I would have needed to a wide angle lense to capture the openness of the space. Also my only opportunity to photograph the apartment was at night, so my apologies, daylight would have been much much better!

In other news I am starting up a German language course this week that will have me studying in the classroom 3 and a half hours a day, plus homework and much study in my free time. That in edition to my job will keep me pretty busy! I need to restructure things a little (read check facebook and youtube less often and do more productive things instead!) in order to keep blogging. Hopefully that old truism 'the busier you are, the more you get done' will apply to me here too. At the moment ENTIRE DAYS slip away with me doing just about nothing because I don't have enough structure. So bring on the learning!

keep well everybody!
xokimberlee

Tuesday, 4 August 2009

hello paris, nice to meet you

Library - 8676

parisian fun park


Library - 8636

parisian landmarks

my first time in Paris
It was beautiful, romatic, historic, and charming -just like I dreamed it.
dear city, I miss you already. sigh.


I have many more pictures here if you want to have a look see.


Still having a wonderful time here in Europe, but seeing pictures and reading blogs from back home does make me miss it there too. So I guess I have a case of 'wish I was there, glad I am here.' Which is actually the story of my adult life.

Anyway, I soon hope to share some pictures and stories of interior spaces in Paris. But right now I am nursing one very sick husband.

xoxokimberlee

Sunday, 2 August 2009

New times




Lieveke is looking to the future.


And we are moving in two weeks. To the exactly the same town-house unit, a row further. I know, radical.
The colorful 'Tippa' dress is Lieveke's new favorite, from this lovely shop, warmly recommended.

When he heard that we are moving, a friend gave us the happy sixties diy book, hilarious, and funky - oh ye primary colour-scheme - I like of course the craft unit.

The pussy-cat says : I always like to try the one I never tried before. Some time ago Lieveke chose this lithograph for her birthday, ...figures.






Have a sweet new week
-Lies

Friday, 24 July 2009

Made





Computer's fixed. Heh.
So meanwhile, made some things.
Top for myself, from this sewing book (every-one has it, it's great, that's why). Toddler girl dresses for the Etsy shop (next week.) Found some colorful cups and pyrex's. And Noor is growing into a fine young thing. Oh, I made the cushion cover too.


Nice weekend all
Looking fw to catching up on all your blogs
-Lies

Friday, 17 July 2009

kunstlerhaus bethanien (photo overload? you decide!)

Today we went to Kunstlerhaus Bethanien which is a contemporary arts orginisation that provides artist residency, studio space, exhibition space, workshops, training, and many more cultural services -all housed in a VERY large, former convalescent hospital. Walking about the labyrinth of empty hallways, locked rooms, and echoing stairwells was an experience in and of its self. I felt like I was part of some isolating performance piece or on the set of a strangely beautiful film.

Here is what was on the windows and walls. And it should be noted that we arrived very early by Berlin standards (11 am) and things didn't quite open for another hour. This could account for some of the echoing emptiness. And why we managed to get ourselves locked in an abandoned stairwell long enough for things to move from 'exciting' to 'oh goodness we might be in real trouble here' (don't worry, we got out. obviously).

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien


Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien


Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Cartoons and illustrations painted down every corridor, stickers all over the glass, salt 'n pepa references in the text, and we weren't even to the exhibition space yet!

okay here we go...(i will insert relevant information about this show when luke comes home and provides me with it)


Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien

Kunstlerhaus Bathanien


I really like the craft and obsessively handmade work I am seeing lately. Makes me want to make art.

By now I have decided, yes (Y-E-S!), this was a picture overload post! and I really promise to be more restrained in the future! BUT it was such a beautiful eyefull and I thought you might like it too!

After this we were starving (something about seeing art and biking all over town makes me HUGNRY) so we pedaled around kreuzburg, otherwise know as little Istanbul, getting lost until nearly all hope perished and I began wilting off my bicycle while faintly calling "luke, slow down I don't think I can make it" (because I am not dramatic or anything). But then, we found the place, and the largest platter of the most delicious turkish food was our great reward.

so yes, good day!

Now if only we had a place to live before we become homeless next week. Luke delayed that problem by buying us tickets to Paris. SO now we have another week to find a place, phew!

Until Lies gets her internet sorted out, looks like you're stuck with me and my travel posts. Best of luck Lies, and I do enjoy the technology free time. I hear you can get loads of meaningful things done when this happens.

xoxo,
Kimberlee

Wednesday, 15 July 2009

Living without it.

Yup. 't Is on the blink. Our puter. Not so bad really, quite liberating, living without it.
Getting heaps (wel yeh make it moderately 'a bit' considering our 3 month-old Noor) of knitting done eh.
Hope to see you soon...

-Lies

Tuesday, 7 July 2009

bike ride through rural east berlin

This weekend we took a train outside of the city and were surprised to find that in less than 20 minutes the urban landscape had completely transformed into picturesque countryside. Our German friend and guide takes these bikes rides almost every weekend in the summer, sometimes biking 6 hours to Poland! I might need to work up to that one, because the 35ks we did was just plenty for me at this point.

Along the way:

rural east berlin as seen by bike
riding through the country side of former east germany

one of the many lakes
taking a dip in one of the many lakes we passed by,

rural east berlin as seen by bike
country produce stand with honey&marmalade, put your money in the box & please be honest!

dbant, east german car from the 1960s
a rare spotting of the classic 1960s East German car the 'Trabant', see more here
rural east berlin as seen by bike
Biking through the tiny villages and enjoying the old style houses.

rural east berlin as seen by bike
the landscape reminded me of northern Wisconsin sometimes.

My creation
We spotted some sour cherry trees that were perfectly ripe, YUM!

I have plenty more pictures of all the things we have been up to here so if you are interested go here. Hope you are all staying warm in NZ, I am going to visit blogs this avo to catch up on the many cozy scenes of winter baking, knitting, and fireside warmth.

xoKimberlee