Monday, June 13, 2016

Yes, moving home in short order

First: My heartfelt condolences to the LGBT community, to Orlando and all mankind.
I am deeply touched, sad, devastated, aghast, horrified.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes, I sold my house, moving back home to Germany.
(America is getting frightening... especially in Politics.)

My Big Estate Sale is imminent.

I will be selling everything and I mean: EVERYTHING
All my lifelong collected treasures from all around the world.
July 14th, 15th, 16th. Please inquire for an address.

Including: Persian Rugs,
Dinner Ware and matching Flatware,
Czech crystal, fine Crystal Glasses,
Ivory carvings, Jewelry,
Furniture, (many Bombay Company)
Indian Art hand painted Wall Hangings,
my hand painted OOAK blank Note Cards,
genuine Czechoslovakian Moser Snifters,

genuine Silver Porcelain from 1910,
Meissen, Dresden, Rosenthal, Hutschenreuther Porcelain (Germany),

a huge hand carved Putto Chandelier,
many colorful, smiling Koziol gadgets,
a Baby Crocodile Attaché case from 1960
almost mint,
and uncountable special OOAK items that'd make those perfect gifts.

To get an idea and/or snatch something up beforehand
please go here: BonanzaSeller 

For now I also have many items listed for 45% OFF:
BlueBoy
And 50% OFF everything here:
European Goodies

I am crying, yeah... but also looking forward to moving home (to the nest :-) )

Please check out what I announced above, take advantage for upcoming Holidays, Christmas-es etc.
 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Enuff of Politics? Same here :-)

Oh, those politics, up and down the road, 24/7.
It's enough. Let's talk about something else.

Little HINT:
I have discovered a little trick that might be stone-old, but was new to me.
Do you also have a problem with sticky, half-rusty power plugs?
(Florida air does that to them)
I always had a hard time to get my electrical cords plugged in or worse,
unplugged.
Thinking 'what' and 'how' ...???
I used a drop of WD40 on the metal parts, let it dry
(!!! not sticking it wet into the wall-socket!!) and violá!,
they now are going in and out like being buttered.


 
And a little bit of bragging about myself now:

Did you know that I didn't only write a book (please see below)
but that I'm also boasting to be a modest artist. Yeah, humbly yours :-)
This is how my little Art Work came about: I was thinking
'Hmm, what kind of Christmas and other Greetings am I going to send out this year?'
There are many people, friends, who collect my OOAK cards since decades, indeed.
But these cards I came up with this year have been the 'killer'.
The recipients reacted overwhelmingly surprised and positive. Some are framing my cards...
So, I thought, why not offering what I am creating here.
There will never be two of the same. What's gone is gone.
 
My 'Art' is handmade thus ONE Of A KIND. Either on paper or on burlap.
I'm using acrylic paint, Glitter, 24K Leaf Gold, real Swarovski crystals and pearls,
flowers and produce warm, colorful Acrylic creations.
Naïve Art.
Some are right here; take a look:
http://www.bonanza.com/booths/blueboy?item_sort_options[custom_category_id]=652069&item_sort_options[per_page]=100

It's very time and work intensive. Very intricate.

A DIFFERENT gift idea for:
Wedding, Anniversary, Birthday - divorce? - Get Well, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Condolences
 - what ever YOU can think of - the sky is the limit.
 Blank Note Cards contain ONLY my 'art'-work.
Envelopes come with it, naturally.

A few samples:
Fantasy on Burlap

Chakra Tree on Burlap

Tree Of Life on Burlap

Cardinal in Berry Tree

Pearl Tree of Love

Perfume that never dies

Exhale on my Pond

It's raining diamonds and flowers

Raining Flowers

Fantasy in 24K Leaf Gold
and many, many more
I just LOVE to be creative.



I saw, I liked, I cared, I loved, I trusted,
I'm hurt, I'm gone!
Why? You saw, You liked, You lusted,
You cheated, You lied, You betrayed.



 That's SOME content of my book. 
Thank you for your visit! It's MUCH appreciated.

Saturday, January 23, 2016

Make Kindness Contageous ☼

 We are well into the new year and already fighting Mother Nature, huh?
Believe it or not the off shooting tails of the East Coast Blizzard are felt here.
Boy did we have a storm last night and coooooold... even down here in Florida.

My Title this time depicts my 2016 Resolution.
"Make Kindness Contagious". I think it's a good one -
can help everyone anywhere.

I'm back (better: still on) to my little art work 'hobby' -
creating plain greeting cards with what ever jumps into my head or what I'm watching, collecting ideas during daily life. I'm using acryl paint, silicone, lots of glitter and glue, 24K leaf gold, genuine Swarovski crystal-
'diamonds', flowers, my hands and fantasy.
Every single one is totally ONE of a kind.
A unique greeting or gift for anyone.
Yup, I have them up for sale on Etsy:
https://www.etsy.com/shop/EuropeanGoodies  <-- LOOK?

Here is a 3-fold card that I haven't put up for sale yet... I like it and can't produce the same again.
I will however sell it. ($10.00 = shipping $2.25)
A loving couple, maybe for a Valentine's gift?
It's painted on burlap and has a 'feel' to it - 3D-like.

I create many different styles like those:



Some painted on burlap, some are on paper. All motives are elevated, have texture and this 3D effect.
Check them out.. for a birthday surprise or for your Valentine ♥ ♥ 
 https://www.etsy.com/shop/EuropeanGoodies

Thank you for visiting my blog and for reading what little I have to say :-)

And now, don't forget to hug your kids tonight!!

Yours always
Johanna



You prefer Discounts?  Who doesn't ??
Just look, and smile:
http://ow.ly/IKpTC


 

Sunday, January 3, 2016

A very Happy New Year to All

And again I've neglected my blog.
I better make no resolutions - maybe I'm then able to keep up with my writing.
Resolutions are there to be neglected, right? ... Yeah, bad girl, that's me.

What's new?
My nephew and his Canadian wife whose wedding I attended in 2014 have been busy.
Little Nora was born in November 2015.
Congrats, congrats. Great accomplishment.

Otherwise pretty well same old, same old.

I am still pursuing to sell my house.
Yes, I had an open house, many people came, unanimous response:
Unique, unique, unique and soooo beautiful.
People, and/or prospective buyers must see the inside.
It has curb appeal, but the inside is insane.
Well, so much for that.

My Christmas HouseNow, on Christmas Eve I received a 'nice' little Christmas gift.
A huge truck backed into my driveway and hit my brick-built mailbox into ruins and pieces.
Lovely mess and 'Happy Holidays'. Grrrr....
I didn't even notice but my wonderful neighbor saw it, jumped into his car and followed the truck.
The driver didn't notice either.
Thanks to neighbor Dan, this will not be on my wallet.
It just looks a little earth quake-like now.
The first thing friends from Germany asked me was whether the car survived.
I laughed so hard... well, the truck had some damage but wasn't DOA.





 As for my little business: 'Selling my collected Life' - it's going slow but it's going.
And I have madly reduced prices now.
For those unusual gifts that you are looking for (or something for YOURSELF finally). 


My prices have fallen like my brick mail box. EuropeanGoodies <-- Check it out? Please?

Now, don't forget to hug your kids and let them know they are doing great.


Yours always,
Johanna


 

Saturday, August 8, 2015

Soldier needs help, desperately! PLEASE help to raise some funds!!

To feed a Family of 8 (eight!!!) is quite a BIG task nowadays.
Now imagine a Veteran who was used to work hard for his loved ones comes home from two tours in Iraq and is 100% disabled - physically and mentally (PTSD).
Six kids!! Alan and his wife Amy are GOOD people (I know the family) who do not deserve to be treated by the VA like this. They are supposed to live on $1,800 a month. YEAH? What?
Help from the Army MIGHT arrive in a YEAR!!
Yes, I am screaming in CAPS.
To me? This is happening only in America, the country that boasts to be 'the greatest in the world'...??? Rrright!
Where is healthy common sense here?
Alan stuck his neck out for you, me, this country and is now 'dropped': "See how you fend for yourself."

http://m.gofund.me/u4nd7w 

Thankfully, Americans have big ♥ hearts ♥ and are often helpful beyond their own means.
In Alan's and Amy's case - it's a family that we know, a family that IS fighting and doesn't want to rely on freebies.
But they need our, your HELP. NOW, not down the road.
Every little bitty bit will help - I am begging all my blog-followers: Please, think about this: One, two or three less Starbuck's Café's, maybe no dinner out on Saturday night or - how about this - donate your 'Sunday-Church-donation-box money' to the Bradford family. Just once?

Personally, I would be VERY grateful - and promise to shoot a prayer 'up' for you.
Here is the link again:
http://m.gofund.me/u4nd7w
Open it and see for yourself, read a little about this deserving family.
Well, can't say more now, but PLEASE! And THANK YOU!

Johanna
....and don't forget to hug your kids tonight :-)

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Time waits for nobody. Sleep well, 'Kleines'

Time waits for nobody. 
Yeah, I can tell. 

I am ready to go home again, home to Germany.
Alas, the occasion is not quite a pleasant one.

I wrote about Rita, my sister - and here and now want to thank every one for your prayers for her, for so many 'Get Well' cards and even gifts that you've sent to Germany to make her smile. And smiling she was.
Thank you all! From the bottom of my heart.

Rita is now sleeping forever.
I will be attending her burial under 'our' tree in a part of the forest where we grew up, called 'Friedwald'.
The translation would be: Forest of Peace.
It IS a peaceful place in a forest high above our home town, 'Michelstadt' im Odenwald in Germany.
There are no headstones, no names, no flowers just a tiny number on one of the many trees so that our kids can find our resting place, if they want to visit.
Our urns are made of paper maché out of consideration for the environment - they will totally dissolve. 
And... nobody needs to tend to our graves. There are none. 


Rita in 2014 already sick

So, Rita, 'my little one', as I always called her because she entered this world after me - will be laid to rest next week, Friday June 26.

"R.I.P., 'Kleines', I miss you, sleep well and say 'hi' to our family and friends up there.
I know you were carried by angels, picked up, welcomed and embraced by our parents, our brother and near and distant family and friends."

It'll be like a Tornado for me - I hope I can keep my sanity together.


As always:
Please, don't forget to hug your kids and tell them: 'I love you'.

Yours always,
Johanna

Thursday, May 7, 2015

I saw, I liked, I cared, I loved, I trusted, I'm hurt, I'm gone!


I saw, I liked, I cared, I loved, I trusted,
I'm hurt, I'm gone!
Why? You saw, You liked, You lusted,
You cheated, You lied, You betrayed.
 That's SOME content of my book. 


This is my very beloved Aunt Elisabeth
who is celebrating her LIFE on May 18th 2015 for the 102nd time.
She holds up my book.

 Come and see what I'm up to otherwise?
Right here: http://ow.ly/M8JZz
And don't forget to hug your kids tonight!

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Another Review of my Book.

To me, it's mighty interesting WHAT readers are 'talking' about.
It gives me an idea, a sense of what and/or which part seems to be important for them.
Young people praise the relationship (that's to say: friendship) between mother and son in my case.
Others are more prone to the historic part.
Again another Lady recently told me that she is able to picture everything that I am describing.
She feels like I am directly talking to HER.

Now THIS is exactly what I wanted, what I intended. I am talking to YOU.
Sometimes in a little 'harsh ??' language, sometimes (hopefully) funny.
In any case truthfully and just as I would talk to you.
I am not a third party telling someone else's story.
And as 'TempestRaven' said, "you will definitely learn something of use from her experiences in life".
Hmm, I hope so.
(Scroll down for TempestRaven's input)

The book? ... is here: www.TheIvoryCarversDaughter.com

Here's Ms. Diane Simmons' opinion:

I had the pleasure of reading this wonderful book shortly after it was published!
I am not going to write much about the true story. One reason it would be too lengthy, the other is, every single sentence is captivating and you need to read it!
Literary experts say a book never gets any better than the first five pages. I'm afraid I must disagree as each  page was more exciting than the previous one.
Although it is a true life story the characters are compelling and complex. The author tells the story in such an engaging and unique style.
This is not a book that you don't want to lay down! I quit reading several times just to think and absorb everything. There is happiness, sadness, excitement and everyday living  that I and many of you have never experienced. Great Book!
Diane Simmons
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

Sweet little (and bigger) gifts!
http://ow.ly/M8JZz
I'd love for you to PLEASE check it out?

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

You read my book? I received a review from a YOUNG MAN!

Book Review: The Ivory Carver’s Daughter

I got a copy of “The Ivory Carver’s Daughter” from the author herself and I have to say that I enjoyed reading it very much even though I don’t read such kinds of books. Not everyone’s life is interesting enough to warrant a book about them, but author Johanna Fath-Koziol is different. She has gone through so much that it was a good idea she decided to write a book about it and share her life with the rest of the world.

As far as I’m concerned letting other people read about your life and getting to know your family history takes courage. If you keep writing about the ‘good’ stuff, people will feel that you’re probably lying. This is what I found interesting in the book; Johanna Fath-Koziol didn’t hide anything. She didn’t even hide her own flaws, and kudos to her for that.

The book introduces the Koziol family and how the business expanded and over the years and then turned into something very different. As for the character, or the author herself, Johanna was born in a privileged family but being the ‘sandwich kid’ she was always seeking approval. The words she has used really take you on the journey where we see young Johanna experiencing confusion as she tries to be noticed. We follow Johanna as she grows up, gets married, becomes a mother, and then has her whole world shaken due to the death of her baby daughter.

But that doesn’t stop her from moving on with her life as she gives birth to her second child, a son, but again fate draws an unfortunate card and an accident changes her life even more. I loved her relationship with her son Dennis in the book. I always admire parents who have more of a ‘friendship’ like relationship with their kids. Why do parents always have to be strict? Why can’t they be friends with their own blood?

Johanna has indeed experienced life in more faces than most people. She has seen the highs as well as the lows of life. She has been with men who have used and abused her, but the important thing to take from her life is that when all is said and done, she has indeed lived a ‘life’ worthy of sharing with others, and continues to do so. She didn’t let things bring her down so much that she forgot how to get back up again. She’s a survivor and that’s her true strength!
I’ve talked to her over emails and we’ve exchanged gifts. She truly is a wonderful person to interact with. One would think all the hardships in her life must’ve hardened her heart, but instead she’s one of the most friendly people I’ve had the chance to talk with.

I highly recommend reading “The Ivory Carver’s Daughter” by Johanna Fath Koziol as you will definitely learn something of use from her experiences in life.

Did the name Koziol sound familiar to you?
Well,
check out the link here to know more about the family business!

You can also check out an interview with the author here.

Also check out her website!

She also has her own things on sale!

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Breaking News :-)

OK, I am back for a regular blog - I was distracted: not cool.

Please, if you would be so kind? Favor my blog and distribute it?!
I'd like for more readers to follow me and read my "pieces of wisdom" *wink-wink.

Yes, my plan is to move back home to Germany; as soon as my house is sold.
However! I am not in a rush and really hope my house will not be sold too quickly.
I am very much dreading the move and then the 'job' of moving and most of all: having to leave.

I live in a Cul-de-Sac and have such lovely, wonderful (and helpful) neighbors ... it's a shame I have to go. *sigh. And the neighbors don't like it either...

But you know, I am thinking: 'if something seriously happens to me -
who is looking after me?'

I am alone here and being in Germany I have my son nearby, have my beloved brother, friends and ... just people that know me well (and Thanks-God like me too... as far as I can tell :-). So, I'll have a kinda security net. We need that when we are getting old-er. Ha-ha. YEAH! So it goes, right?

I am planning on living in my home town, where I was born. Want to see how it looks?
It's gorgeous and has Europe's oldest town hall, indeed! Here: Michelstadt
For all those reasons I have launched a big MOVING SALE - I can't take my treasures back home again. Too many.
Visit me and see, puhleeze?
My Website with tons of discounted 'not so average' Gifts
Please, you can make an offer too. I surely will consider anything!
I've dedicated an entire section with items:
♥SALE SALE SALE♥ Just look!
I am also on Pinterest where I've set up a MOVING SALE board -
It's free to look. PROMISE :-)
...and you conveniently can click on any picture - it will bring you to the item on SALE.
My Pinterest Boards please, follow me?

Remember! I have only ONE of anything. Everything is OOAK!
And think birthdays, anniversaries, and also Christmas, etc. AHEAD.
Makes sense?
Thank you for your time ***
I'll be baaaack, soon and with helpful fashion and beauty tips and tricks.