When a shop window...
...becomes a small art exhibition.
Gertrud Günther from Papeterie Anker in Aarberg offered to hang some of my works on a side wall. Instead of ‘just’ this space, she now honours me with an enormous platform in the shop window. How lucky I am to receive so much appreciation and support!
On display at Stadtplatz 27 in 3270 Aarberg since 8th March 2025 for an unknown period of time. And maybe you still need one or two things from the specialised trade...
You are loved
'Something unique for someone very special.'
That's what I want to realise with my calligraphy. Like this four-page letter from a father to his son for his 18th birthday. I was asked to give form to the touchingly written words. The unconditional love expressed in it had a healing effect on me.
The feedback from my client says it all: his son said he had never received ‘anything so beautiful’. And that fulfils another maxim: to bring a smile to people's faces and hearts with what I love to do.
Winterheart Interlaken
The Kursaal Interlaken launched ‘Winterheart Interlaken’ this December. A Christmas market in the Kursaal garden, which you enter through an illuminated tunnel with an 8 metre high decorated Christmas tree in the middle. I was allowed to create the labelling for some of the exhibitor chalets - and of course I didn't miss the opportunity to visit them in their intended location. Until 22 December 2024.
A coincidence at a Thai restaurant
In April 2024, I met an acquaintance and his wife in a restaurant. This surprise was accompanied by the wonderful news that they were expecting their first child. They told me that they had already thought about me before meeting me that evening. They asked if I would like to design a birth card for the little one. Of course I wanted to! Five months later, Emilio was born and I was able to give the little family the text and drawing for their birth announcement.
The parents-to-be just told me the theme: forest/birch and hedgehogs/forest animals. I first sketched a few ideas and then worked closely with them to finalise the subject. Animals help each other to spread the good news. The original drawing will hang in Emilio's room.
Autumn mood in the "Sieberhuus"
The temperatures are dropping, the days are getting shorter, the leaves on the trees are changing colour...
In mid-October, artisans from the region meet at the "Sieberhuus" in Lyss and invite you to their autumn exhibition. With coffee and cake in the cafeteria. We are looking forward to it - see you there!
Handlettering lessons for beginners
All important information as well as the registration option can be found under Events on the homepage of deliVino. No prevoius knowledge is necessary, the number of participants is limited.
Anniversary edition of the herb market
Although the temperatures were not exactly spring-like, about 4000 visitors found their way to Escholzmatt to the 10th Entlebuch Herb and Wild Plant Market. A competition was held to mark the anniversary. Participants could find the answers to the six questions about the Entlebuch on the boards set up on the market grounds. I had the honour of designing these.
Once again, in particular the encounters were a great enrichment, and the lively exchange at the stand made me very happy! Many thanks for stopping by, and especially to the visitors from Western and Eastern Switzerland!
More pictures of the Herb Market 2023 can be found here. The photos were taken by Sandra Steffen-Odermatt.
Large-format writing by hand was a new experience for me, and I had great fun doing it.
Entlebuch herb market celebrates anniversary
On Saturday 20 May, the herb and wild plant market will be held for the 10th time in Escholzmatt/LU. For this reason, anniversary attractions are planned, and the OC and market participants are coming up with various special promotions. This also includes me, and I am very much looking forward to it! You can find the diverse offer in the flyer - in addition to the plants, there are also various handicrafts and regional culinary delights, as well as exhibitors on the topics of nature, animals and agriculture, and much more. We are looking forward to offering the public a colourful market!
Two calligraphers - one project
Calligraphy is usually practised alone and in a quiet chamber. Not so with this project: the collaboration with a calligrapher friend, Susanna Erhard from Rüderswil, was a new and wonderful experience. We were allowed to create a tribute to the conductor and arranger of the choir Musiclight from Langnau i.E.. The framed work was presented to Martin Moser on the occasion of the concert on 1 April 2023 in the church in Rüderswil, to frenetic applause from the audience and choir.
The text literally comes from Susanna's pen, I took care of the clef. Here, too, something new:
I finally ventured into the subject of acanthus leaves.
Invitation card to a 40th birthday party
With great pleasure I was allowed to design an invitation card for a birthday party. The customer showed great trust in me und gave me a free hand. What an honour - I felt very rewarded! Since I already knew the client before, I tried to create something corresponding to her character. The result was a playful, colourful folding card. Guests have to announce their participation with a talon, whereupon they tell the hostess their favourite cooking recipe. And so a part of that gift returns to her in many ways.
The pleasure can be found in the details... To create all these tiny "cookies" sweetened my work.
A privat Wine & Dine event
An unforgettable journey
On Thursday, February 9th, I had the possibility to participate for the first time in a Hike & Sketch by the freelance nature connoisseur and illustrator Ueli Bieri. From a point called Schüpferegg in Entlebuch, we went on a easy hike with stops at magnificent places. Always a chance to try to put a motif on paper in 15 minutes. And for me, riddled with many challenges: how do I represent snow on a white piece of paper? How do I capture the perspective correctly? And how do I have to proceed tactically to apply watercolour in a short time that hardly dries at winter temperatures? Overcome mental boundaries and fears, just get startet. Nothing has to be perfect - the attempt alone counts. And so memories were created that are welcome to stay.
An absolute instructive and eventful excursion, to be heartily recommended!
Remembering again...
Remembering again how it was when we could still wonder about things that seem banal today; what happiness we felt at the sight of the burning candles on the Christmas tree; the almost uncontrollable anticipation of the freshly baked Christmas biscuits, or what amazement made our children's hearts beat faster at the sight of a little snow star....
I wish you wonderful and magical Christmas moments and all the best for the New Year.
Big eyes - big mission
I could hardly believe my eyes when I received the request from the secretariat of the Biel Women's Clinic in mid-November. In the end, I was allowed to label 190 tea cups with the first names of the staff and deliver them one month later. I wish those who received them at the gynaecological clinic in Biel many relaxing moments during their breaks and happy holidays!
In the little wooden hut at "Deko für Haus und Garten"
Who hasn't been glad to have the opportunity to buy a somewhat different souvenir or an original gift in a small private shop run by creative people? Daniela Schumacher-Reist's Holzhüttli in Schüpfheim/LU offers just such an opportunity. In the lovingly furnished shed, you will find her homemade items; from pretty decorations for the house and garden to useful utilitarian objects and home-made delicacies. Things for the eyes and heart, created with great attention to detail and sparkling passion - and all this at truly modest prices.
In addition to the existing suppliers Brigitte Emmenegger/Vroni Müller with their lovely sewn items and Lydia Felder with her wonderful natural floristry, I will also be offering Christmas baubles and cards for sale until the festive season.
Opening hours until Christmas: Thu+Fri 14.00-18.00 and Sat 13.00-16.00, or on request. Subject to change.
When the public holds its breath
The Entlebuch Christmas Market offers not only numerous market stalls worth seeing and many beautiful attractions outside, but also an opportunity for artisans to exhibit indoors in the warmth. The focus here is on interaction with visitors - and it is desirable to be able to watch the artists at work. After I had met on the eve of 26 November, I was quite relaxed and looking forward to this day.
Apart from a demo work, I offered interested people to write their names in a font of their choice. In addition, buyers could have their Christmas baubles personalised as they wished right at the stand. After I had already been allowed to put some names on the back of inscribed tree decorations, a customer asked me to add the words "from my favourite son-in-law" to a bauble. By this time, spectators had gathered around the table to watch me write the names or to ask questions. Another visitor was very interested in the challenges of labelling Christmas baubles. I explained that neither pre-lining for a script with descenders nor pre-writing is possible (at least I would not have found a solution until now). So it was clear that the baubles had to be inscribed without any aids. And I added: "I only have one attempt at a time. Since the pointed nib can scratch the thin layer of paint, even wiping the paint off and trying again wouldn't do any good - scratches would remain on the surface." After these words, I took the chosen ball in one hand, dipped my quill in the paint with the other, aimed at an imaginary line on the ball and imagined again the long word "favourite son-in-law" to write in the empty space. I collected myself, a little push prayer - and began to calligraph. As I did so, the whole room immediately became quiet as a mouse. I think all twenty or so spectators in three rows held their breath with me! :) Luckily it worked, and after fifteen minutes of drying time, the lucky buyer could take her ball home with her...
That was one of the most memorable moments at the Entlebuch Christmas Market. But I was also impressed by the work of the OC team, who had organised everything perfectly, from the car park to solid stands, decorations and wonderful attractions to the staggered clearing away. Another highlight, and never experienced like this before: an aperitif for the helpers and exhibitors after the speech and official opening of the market! Merci beaucoup also for providing the great photos.
I would also like to thank all those who took a moment to visit my stand, the extra visitors from Seeland and Schüpfheim and especially my wonderful colleague in the same room, the hand weaver Doris Schnider from Engelberg. You can find more impressions here.
Christmas tree decoration with calligraphy
Outlook on Christmas
Nature shows itself in a colourful autumn dress, and Christmas is slowly approaching - so soon there will be markets again where I will participate. For me very concretely:
Sunday, november 20 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the occasion of the Sunday sale in Langnau i.E./BE
Many highlights await visitors - from all sorts of attractive market stalls and catering facilities to musical entertainment of various styles to children's attractions or a tombola. More than 30 shops have open their doors. For more information: vps-langnau.ch.
Saturday, november 26 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Entlebuch Christmas Market in Entlebuch/LU
The attractive Christmas market on the school building area "Pfrundmatt" enchants with its enormous versatility, and offers a varied program for young and old. While outside, you can stroll through the festively decorates stalls, its possible to watch artisans at work inside. Among other things, visitors can expect an Advent concert, candle pulling, folklore performances and taste all sorts of culinary delights. And don't forget to hand over your written dream to the wishing tree... We are looking forward to it! Form more information: flyer or weihnachtsmarkt-entlebuch.ch.
From an idea to the realization
It was my honourable task to put his words on paper in a appropriate manner and to find a suitable frame for it. The challenges are often hidden in the small things, such as finding the balance between written and empty space and at intervals, or quite "simple" in achieving an equalized set of center lines.
Title written in Baroque Fracture with iron gall ink, gold and China ink; main text (cap height 3 mm) in my own handwriting with Chinese ink on elephant skin paper (A3).
Wild plant and herb market Escholzmatt
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