Back at last!

I recently had the opportunity to once again take a trip home to my native Bavaria to spend some much needed time with family I don’t get to see nearly enough. It had been four years since my last visit, nearly eight for the rest of my bunch.

It is a journey I have made often through the years. It was something I honestly hadn’t given much thought when I left, a young woman, so many many years ago, this need,  the desire to follow a homing beacon.
The urge to be close to what you knew growing up, people, places, food, I discovered, never abates. Yes, you become accustomed to the fact that “home” is not in the country of your birth, that you are entirely comfortable speaking in a language different from the one you heard and spoke growing up. You make new friends, come to love your new family just the same as though you had grown up with them. You consider this “new” place your home, almost feel a little guilty for calling it “home” in front of your parents, because you worry deep inside that they might consider themselves truly left behind.

I feel blessed to have had  this experience and know that my design choices are most definitely influenced by them. There is nothing like traveling to a different continent to get the creative juices flowing. Just like after last year’s journey to Cape Breton, I am once again inspired by all of the sights and sounds I got to experience. Germany has become ultra modern in many ways. But thankfully, in my native Bavaria traditional influences remain strong. I hope to be able to express both directions in my future designs.

Busy weeks lie ahead of me and I feel refreshed and ready to face them. So for today I’ll leave you with a few memorable places that inspire me again and again to forge ahead in my creative journey, the journey that is my life.

As always I find myself drawn to Mother Nature, discovering interesting color combos and textures, just like these unusual mushrooms/fungi. Mushroom hunting is more than a hobby for my family, it’s a passion! So much fun walking through the woods and discovering these little wonders!

Then there is architecture. Some very unusual structures, like this tower designed by the Austrian artist Hundertwasser.

This tower is actually only part of a most interesting place called Kuchlbauer’s Bier Welt (beer world). I was absolutely fascinated by the use of unexpected materials and shapes. The inside of the tower is said to be as interesting as its exterior. Here are a couple more shots:

 

Don’t adjust your monitor. This is one twisted building!

 

 

How fun it must be to be able to realize your artistic vision on such a scale!

But it doesn’t always have to be something big, even small details can lend an ordinary window artistic and organic flair!

Then there is traditional art and architecture…

And finally to my very favorite place, the Berchtesgadener Land with it’s only German alpine National Park.

This is what I consider the gateway to Heaven:)

To get to this lovely place, where cows are grazing on the meadows and chickens run underfoot.

I don’t think I could ever get tired of this view.

The textures are amazing!

While I consider myself fortunate to be able to travel, there is plenty to see in your immediate area as well! As we are getting deeper and deeper into the Fall season with its abundance of deep, rich colors, I look forward to strolls through our local forests, leaves crunching underfoot!

You know what would look amazing with all the gorgeous Fall colors? Some brand new patina copper jewelry!

Echoes of Ela is back open on Etsy! You can check it out by clicking “My shop” up top!

I have a few exciting things coming up in the next few weeks! Be sure to take a moment to Like the EoE FB page for updates on upcoming events!

Karin