Winding Down: My Top Ten Photos of 2012

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It has become a tradition for me to wind down the year on my blog by posting some Top Ten Lists before the year ends. It makes me go back and look at what I have done and accomplished and it also makes me dwell in memories. Too often we forget about the things we did and accomplished throughout the year- often just bashing ourselves for not fulfilling all the wonderful new year’s resolutions from last year.  Maybe this makes you wanna do it too – if so – share :)

 

In the beginning of the year, right before CHA we did a little road trip and one stop was at Death Valley. It was such a cool trip and the landscape was just unbelievable.

This picture reminds me of the fortune that my great-aunt Margot survived a stroke and heart attack this year. This is a bit after it happened and it shows her recovered so much – it makes me still happy.

While stopping over in New Jersey in July, my brother-in-law took me on a bike ride. I loved it- riding on a Harley on streets in the States is pretty much a picture of freedom in my head…as well as a picture of a couple of friends in Germany I know too ;)

Amalfi Coast – up on a hill after a pretty steep hike – what a reward to see this view.

And another one from the Amalfi Coast – here on Capri. It was an amazing day with hubs – and this reminds me on that…plus- I dislike photos with myself – I prefer being behind the camera – and that one is actual accepted ;)

Memories of having a couple of evenings chatting and spending time together with my husband on a nice terrace in Rome.

This amazing double rainbow photo at Niagara will always remember me on this spectacular view and sight and afternoon with Barb in Canada!

I love this picture of a forest here in Hamburg- a wonderful walk on an autumn afternoon

And that one…I just love the decoration and the reflection in the window. It also reminds me of a wonderful day with my friend Julie in NYC.

Isn’t it amazing all those memories and emotions photos can trigger?…well probably not my photos in you – hahahha- but your own :)

Huge hugs

Nat

P.S. – don’t forget to sign up for CREATIVE JUMPSTART Summit 2013– it starts soon!

Comments (4)

  • Sue Clarke

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    The Amalfi Coast one is incredible! The rest are pretty good too;-)

    Reply

  • Pearl Maple

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    beautiful collection of images/memories of your travels and adventures this year

    Reply

  • Petrin Diaz

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    I celebrate with you all those beautiful moments, and confirm that photos are the best friends we have any moment to revive happiness! Will start selecting my top 10!…have a nice and productive 2013, filled with God’s love, are my best wishes from PR!

    Reply

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Frohe Weihnachten or Happy Holidays!

In Germany we celebrate Christmas starting on Christmas Eve therefore on December 24. As a kid this means…this is a LOOOOONNNNGGGGGGG day…because you have to wait till it gets dark to finally start celebrating Christmas and also see what Santa brought for you.

As an adult as it gets dark pretty early it means the day is really SHOOoooooRT because the stores (read you have to stock up for 3 days in food etc) will be closed in the afternoon, and then also on the 25th and the 26th- because we celebrate 3 days . It means- while you read it – I am probably standing in line at the grocery store trying to get the last eggs, the last fresh milk and getting our fresh turkey at the butcher. (if you read it later..I am celebrating already with my loved ones :) )

And you know what- I loooooooveeee it! It is so much fun preparing all this for a couple days of festivities. I most likely will meet some of the neighbors and people around, everyone is excited and happy and chatty while waiting in line…what is not to love about this? I love this time…! I will see you back on December 27!

I am wishing everyone a wonderful holiday season and those that celebrate Christmas a Very Merry Christmas!

Huge hugs and Love

Nat

  • marjiekemper

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    Oh, Nat, the colors and textures are just totally pulling me in… LOVE it! And the idea of just giving into the long holiday is very restful… shopping for food here for the holidays is a bit less kind (my dh is the shopper and he will tell you he meets some frightful people in the produce aisles at holiday time!) Wishing you and your honey the merriest Christmas and happiest New Year. xx

    Reply

  • Riikka

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    Merry Christmas and sweet holidays! <3

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  • Kelly Belton

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    Have a wonderful Christmas Nathalie, from all of your friends in Toronto!

    Reply

  • Nicole H.

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    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to your and yours Nat!! Hugs, Nicole

    Reply

  • Deborah Pierro

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    Nat–Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy 2013! xoxoxo

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  • Jean Marmo

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    Wishing you a very Merry Christmas!! We will be celebrating here later today when my son is able to get home.

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  • Lisa Flaherty

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    Merry Christmas, Nat!! Stay warm and enjoy all it’s pleasures! :)

    Reply

  • Renee

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    Thank You for such a wonderful post! Makes me feel like I am reading a story book.
    Merry Christmas!

    Reply

  • Madeline Rains

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    Sounds wonderful! I love how so many in Europe still go to market every day for fresh food. Wonderful. Merry Christmas from an organic farm in Georgia, in the US.

    Reply

  • Dara Lynn

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    Merry Christmas to you, hubby, and family….from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Wishing you, hubby and kitty the best Christmas ever!
    And may you have a blessed New Year. Enjoy:-)

    Reply

  • Petrin Diaz

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    Oh, your story is so inspiring! Each place in the world has its own ways to celebrate Adviento, and yours is very special! Lovely! Hope you and your family a joyful time…thanks for describing!

    Reply

  • Anne

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    Frohe Weihnachten und viel Erfolg!
    Liebe Grüße nach Hamburg.

    Reply

  • Cuchy

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    ¡Feliz Navidad!

    Reply

  • MichaelaBM

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    Liebe Nat,
    Ich wünsche Dir und Deinen Lieben ein wunderschönes Weihnachtsfest und einen guten Rutsch in ein tolles, aufregendes und kreatives neues Jahr!
    Liebe Grüße
    Michaela

    Reply

  • Ingrid Steinberger

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    Ich wünsche dir ein wunderschönes Weihnachtsfest und alles Gute und viel Erfolg im Jahr 2013.
    glg Ingrid

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      LIebe Ingrid, das wünsche ich Dir und Deinen Lieben auch! Es war wunderschön, Dich dieses Jahr gleich zweimal zu sehen :) Sei gedrückt, nat

      Reply

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How does he get down the chimney?

I still love this one so much – it is my fave and makes me laugh !

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=BwJJdTkvS7Y]

And there you have it!

So, what do you think? How does he get down the chimney?

have a wonderful day

Nat

  • anja kieboom

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    I never get enough of sesamestreet!!! it is indeed so cute!!! and i joined the january online ‘summit’ what a great initiative!

    Reply

  • SusanJane

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    We could never figure it out since we had no chimney and the house was locked. It was a total mystery. But really we didn’t care because of all the goodies that showed up under the tree.

    Reply

  • Sue Clarke

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    Thanks for posting that one Nat. I haven’t seen it in a while. I just love the first boy who says that Santa ties the reindeer’s antlers together so that they will fit down the chimney. At our house Santa uses his special key to get in since we don’t have a chimney. Thank you for the beautiful card!!!

    Reply

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Wowsers- Creative JumpStart Summit 2013…but how do I sign up?

CJSLogo_500

Some of you have already seen the huge announcement about Creative JumpStart Summit 2013 yesterday…and if not- you gotta check it out here!

The response in the first 24 hours is overwhelming- THANK YOU , THANK YOU , THANK YOU.

Already 1300 of you decided to join so far. But I also got a lot of questions on how to sign up – because some of you have never subscribed to a  newsletter and I have to admit it is a bit confusing if you have never done it. So I put together this  quick little video that explains how the sign up works. Because: don’t forget you can only get the free Creative JumpStart Summit 2013 videos with their urls and passwords as well win the many giveaways by our Sponsors and JumpStarters if you are subscribed to the newsletter!

[vimeo 56088424 w=400 h=300]

 

So go and sign up here!

We can’t wait for January 2013 – we will have so much fun!

huge hugs

Nat

 

  • Cheri Condren

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    Excited!! Thank you!

    Reply

  • vicki

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    Thank you so much!

    Reply

  • Theresa Magladry

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    Yay!! You’re doing Creative Jumpstart again this year!!!! THANK YOU!

    Reply

Leave a comment

Creative JumpStart 2013!!!!

CJSLogo_500

Here we go again.  I am so so so excited :)

After last year’s success of Creative JumpStart I decided to organize it again. We had about 4.500 subscribers last year!  It was so much fun! So here is the scoop about it:

January is approaching–a month that is full with promises, resolutions and intentions. A month that for many is following lots of holiday celebrations, family gatherings and other end-of-the-year events.

It’s also time to start creating again. But suddenly there it is for some of us: that lost feeling on how to start. Here is the cure :)

I invited a group of wonderful, inspiring and creative ladies and gentlemen from around the globe in the mixed media and scrapbooking world to join together for the Creative Jump Start Summit 2013. We are coming together to show you some ways to get back into the creative groove and how to get your creative juices flowing. We want to share with you “3 Ways to …” help you jump-start your creativity in 2013.

Let me show you who is participating:

[vimeo 56193517 w=400 h=300]
Here’s what you get and how it works:

  • 1. Throughout January we will share videos showing tutorials to inspire you –
  • 2. You sign up for the Creative JumpStart 2013 newsletter HERE and, in January 2013, you will receive  a daily link and password to unlock the view of the materials as soon as they go live
  • 3. On some days our Sponsors will have a giveaway for you and you will receive two newsletters these days
  • 4. You watch the presentations and you will be hopefully inspired to be more creative—all for FREE! If you like it you can donate to the cause – check it out here.

So come on—get inspiration from some of the most creative people in the community. Only 11 more days till we start :)

What are you waiting for? (Did I mention it’s FREE?)

Nat

Comments (83)

  • Denise Trottier

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    I’ve been looking for the last video where you said the winners would be announced and haven’t gotten it, is there any way you can send it to me…I really enjoyed this series, thank you so much…

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      The last video says I will announce the winners in mid february. so please be patient!

      Reply

  • Angela

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    Hi
    Thanks for all your hard work creating the Creative Jumpstart. Just wondering how we know who won all the wonderful prizes? Did you contact the winners individually?

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      the winners will be announced as said in the last video – if you watch that you will know ;)

      Reply

  • Cher

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    Thank you for coordinating. This sounds like a great event!

    Reply

  • Dani

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    primera vez que participo de algo asi, no entiendo mucho pero me encanta!! saludos desde Chile

    Reply

  • janet

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    sounds great…. count me in but does it matter if I dont participate every day… time ..you know
    janet

    Reply

  • Diane Warburton

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    I’d love to help advertise the ‘jumpstart’ – is there a little photo thing ( I forget what they’re called) which can go in the sidebar of my blog?

    Reply

  • anna

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    Very interesting and useful tutorials. Every day I look forward to a new technique.Thank you.

    Reply

  • Danielle

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    I have had so much fun viewing the first three videos…and have already learned a lot and have been so inspired!!!! Thank you!!!!!!

    Reply

  • sandeeNC

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    wow, sounds exciting, sorry I missed it last year! Going to go sign up! waving hi from the hills of North Carolina :)

    Reply

  • Sheree Kuhn

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    This is my first online class so I’m clueless in how this works but am so ready to play. I just love art journaling!!!!

    Reply

  • Heather

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    Late signing up for emails as I thought I had already done it DOH! Looking forward to the inspiration. Many thanks

    Reply

  • scrapandstamp

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    Hi there
    I got my email for the first day and none of the links are working. Can you please check your email…
    Cheers
    Sharon Ling

    Reply

    • nathalie-kalbach

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      check a bit later- it seems as there are a lot of people trying to hit it right now. We have over 4000 subscribers and it seems a lot of peeps trying right now.

      Reply

  • Laurie Kearnes

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    I got my alert that the Jumpstart was starting but I haven’t gotten the daily email like you said we would get with the password and all. I’m so excited but I’m worried I’m missing the video! What do I do?

    Reply

  • Vicki

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    Excited to participate in this year’s jump start!!

    Reply

  • Sandra Lomas

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    Hello Nathalie – i can’t wait to get started. thanks for making this available to us!!!

    Reply

  • lynne

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    Looking forward to the jump start….I’ve been a sloth over the holiday. Thanks!,
    Lynne

    Reply

  • Dee in NH

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    Wow!! Thank you so, so much! Free is exactly what I can afford right now and to have all of you talented people sharing with us is beyond amazing!!!

    Reply

  • Melanie

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    I love to participate. It’s so sweet you do this for evereyone.
    I will wish you a healthy, happy and creative 2013.
    Groetjes, Melanie

    Reply

  • Julia

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    Thank you Nat and all the other artists giving their time, this sounds very interesting and I look forward to it all, thank you

    Reply

  • Mel

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    Looking forward to learning some new things.

    Reply

  • Marie

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    Cool I just sign pu CAN not wait for it to start…..1 1/2 day until…..

    Reply

  • Creative Jumpstart

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    Thank you all for being so excited- we can’t wait!

    Reply

  • Tana

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    Sounds really great!! Thank you, Nathalie!! :) ♥

    Reply

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If Our Tree Could Speak…

treespeak

…well there were a lot of stories to tell…

treetransport

….how the poor thing got carried through a snowy cold day through the city…and then up the fifth floor and then left out for a night in the dark and cold hallway

ornaments

….how the next day it was brought in and all kinds of shiny boxes started to appear next to it

Babushka

…how Babushka said “don’t you worry….I came all the way from New York , my home was Anthropologie and I have a good home here for many years now” and then clonked down and weighs heavy on the branch ever since

bazookaguy

…how Bazooka Guy made a scary appearance but then said…”hey…I am just a good guy representing childhood games of the guy called “hubs” – I will take care of you!”

Canadaeh

…how this thing with a funny accent said “No worries, I am new here too, eh?” and then said something about coming all the way from Canada and being a present from Barbara

Felti

…how Felti from Maine made by Cat, said “Dude, at least you have it warm here!”

Heirloom

…how the shiny dented ball said “uhhh it is nice and airy here, I haven’t been out of aunt Margot’s basement for many many years- I like it – I will shine!”

RURUTGERS

…how the Santa Dude in the Balloon said “We made it to the big ten, RU RU Rutgers” and is waving his big foam finger ever since

SantaMouse

…how Santa Mouse from New Jersey, made by Karen sighed and said “oh no…not again…” dangling from a lower branch and being attacked once in a while by a hairy monster called Niles

Standupbass

…how the Standup Bass constantly pouts because it’s bigger brother in the next room is so much louder

Treelighted

…how cozy and warm and beautiful sparkly it all looks in the evening and how much the tree is enjoyed by the peeps living in this household.

What stories would your tree tell? (go ahead if you want- grab the logo and share your tree’s story!)

nat

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My Prima Place…Volume 5

Finally you can read the Prima Marketing Magazine My Prima Place online- meaning it is available for everyone for free- weheeee :)

Primaplace

 

I have also a little Holiday Canvas in this issue  – fun and easy and with a little tutorial on how to create it :).

Bildschirmfoto 2012-12-15 um 12.56.04

 

You can find the magazine here

 

What are your favorite Magazines (Mixed Media, Scrapbooking, Lifestyle, Decoration etc)?

Have a wonderful day :)

Nat

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The Pain of Parting…OR …Charles Dickens was a smart guy

I recently read an article about Charles Dickens and I was intrigued by his interesting life and his amazing urge to bring the poverty of people to other’s people attention through his words. BTW- he also worked in a law office and then wanted to write and became a freelance writer. Must be something in these law offices that make you crave for creative stuff ;) He was a wise man and an awesome storyteller for sure.

PartingPain

 

“The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again”, Charles Dickens.

PartingPain2

 

played with USArtquest Pigment Colors, Acrylic Paints, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L Adhesive Sheets and Stampendous Aged Embossing Enamel

 

Only a couple more days till ….counting down ….any clue? ;)

Nat

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The Whatevers #7…or If Father Knew…

Are you ready for the 6th Whatevers? If you missed the what the Whatevers is all about…check it out here.

Click here to see what Cat made out of this photo and which story she tells

Click here to see what Vicki made out of this photo and which story she tells

Here is my take on it

iffatherknew02

Heinrich felt really uneasy! When he was asked to play a little role in a gangster movie, he had no idea how close this role would reflect his nightly life. All the scenes bringing alcohol over the State Boarder from Canada…and it didn’t help that in the movie he would get shot….If father knew….

iffatherknew05

His Name: Heinrich – son to Wilhelm

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I used some scraps of hoarded Danyeela Paper, some film stripes by Tim Holtz and painted over it with a glaze made out of Gel Medium and Liquitex Acrylic Inks. I cut out the stars from my old line eMOTions and painted them from behind with yellow acrylic paint.

iffatherknew03

I also painted the photo with Liquitex Acrylic Inks.

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And here is the photo for you:

07_December2012

Here is how it works if you want to play along:

  • Vicki, Cat and I have made a one-year commitment to each other and picked twelve photos with Whatevers whom we will give a story.
  • Every month – if possible always on the 15th –  each of us will do a post with an individual story that goes along for us with the same photo.
  • If you want you can play along and we will have the photo for you – just right click on it to safe it to download and show us your version of The Whatevers.
  • There is no rules to the story itself- it can be funny, sad, uplifting, breathtaking- WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the length or the form of the story– it can be a short sentence, an essay, a poem or a soap opera – WHATEVER
  • There is no rules on the artform you choose – it can be a scrapbook layout, an altered art project, an artjournal page – WHATEVER
  • Here is a rule though: if you take the photo you have to link back to us andshow us your story.
  • These pictures are from our personal stash and are for personal use for you only! If you want to use them for a publication whether a book or magazine in print or digital form please ask for permission!
  • If you want to participate we’ll have a linky list for each Whatever Post.
  • You can also join our The Whatevers -Facebook Page

You can grab the blinkie here if you want to add it to your sidebar

You can share your work with us by submitting here:

Huge hugs

Nat

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