Fair report

Psst! Come closer! I wanna tell you something, but it's kind of a secret.... Ok, are you listening?

Psst! Hai mai aproape! Vreau sa-ti spun ceva, dar e cam secret... OK, asculti?

 

A few weeks ago, She took us to a fair. We are used to them already: she puts us on display and people come and look and touch and say oh-look-how-cute and some of us even get adopted, which is a bit heartbreaking, if you ask me, as I never get to see my brothers again, but I guess it's also a good thing, as we muckla are curious beings and it's always good to see other places and live in other people's drawers, since frankly I'm quite sick of the shelf I have to live on at home, where She puts us for weeks on end and nobody comes to play with us unless maybe that new baby comes to visit and nibbles on us a little.

Acum cateva saptamani, Ea ne-a dus la un targ. Deja suntem obisnuiti cu ele: ne expune si vin oamenii si se uita si pun mana si zic vai-uite-ce-dragut si unii dintre noi sunt chiar adoptati, ceea ce e un pic tragic dupa parerea mea, pentru ca nu mai apuc sa-mi vad fratii niciodata, dar presupun ca e si ceva bun, fiindca noi mishumacii suntem fiinte curioase si intotdeauna e fain sa vezi alte locuri si sa locuiesti in sertare la altii, ca sincer sa spun m-am cam saturat de raftul pe care trebuie sa locuiesc acasa, unde Ea ne pune sa stam saptamani de-a randul si nu vine nimeni sa se joace cu noi, numai daca nu vine copilu' ala nou din cand in cand si ne rontzaie un pic. 

But what She doesn't know, and I bet you didn't know either, is that we don't really stand still. I mean, come on, we are alert intelligent inquisitive extremely bright beings, and shelves are just too boring. So, whenever people aren't looking, we wander in search of shiny things. We love shiny things. Some of us go shopping...
Dar ceea ce nu stie ea, si pun pariu ca nici tu nu stiai, este ca noi nu prea stam linistiti. Adica, sa fim seriosi, suntem fiinte inteligente, curioase, extrem de alerte, si rafturile sunt pur si simplu prea plictisitoare. Asa ca, ori de cate ori nu se uita oamenii, noi plecam in cautare de lucrusoare stralucitoare. Ne place tare mult tot ce straluceste. Unii din noi merg la cumparaturi...

I swear, if she brings home any more shiny stuff, I'm going to throw her off the shelf, we are crowded enough as it is, fabrics and us and button jars and more of us and boxes and all.
Pe cuvant, daca asta mai aduce acasa multe chestii lucioase, o arunc de pe raft, deja suntem destul de inghesuiti si asa, cu materiale si cu noi si borcane cu nasturi si iarasi noi si cutii si tot felu'. 

I personally am one who appreciates art, so I wandered onto Carmen's shelves, to admire her creations. Exquisitely crafted, I tell you!

Eu personal sunt un admirator al artei, asa ca m-am plimbat un pic pe rafturile lui Carmen, ca sa-i admit creatiile. Impecabil executate, va spun!

Greenie here is the more studious kind, and he always manages to find something to inspect, research or explore: fimo creations...

Greenie al nostru e genul mai studios, el tot timpul gaseste ceva de inspectat, de cercetat sau de explorat: creatii din fimo...

...or even new species. Much to our delight, he discovered these creatures that are called stripeys apparently and they are all a bit silly but then who am I to judge, since many people call us silly too, which we most definitely are not.

...sau chiar specii noi. Spre marea noastra incantare, a descoperit creaturile astea care cica se numesc stripey si sunt cam natangi dar in fond cine sunt eu sa judec, doar si noua ne zice multa lume ca suntem natangi, desi nu-i adevarat deloc.

 

The stripeys are friends with this big creature the name of which I don't know and Greenie didn't manage to find out either, even if he looked through his books and even dared ask the thing what it was, but it didn't say anything.

Stripey astia sunt prieteni cu o creatura mare care nu stiu cum se numeste si nici Greenie n-a reusit sa afle, desi s-a uitat prin carti si chiar a indraznit sa-l intrebe pe animal ce e, dar n-a zis nimic.

This other brother of mine is such a sucker for cuddly things, and I just couldn't get him to stop throwing himself in amongst the cushions. But I have to say, Flavia's pillows were just thoo thoft...
Alt frate de-al meu adora lucrurile moi, si nu l-am putut opri sa se arunce repetat intre pernele Flaviei. Dar trebuie sa recunosc, pernele eu sunt asa de moooi...

ahh...

Oh, did I mention we like shiny stuff?

A, oare v-am spus ca ne plac lucrusoarele stralucitoare?

All in all, we had a great time, even if we have to interrupt our activities and pretend we're sitting nicely on the shelf every time someone turns around. It's a tough life, but someone has to do it, otherwise there's be no more fun left in this world, and that would be such a pity. Wouldn't it?

Oh! As i said, don't tell anyone! Deal?

Pana la urma ne-am distrat foarte bine, chiar daca trebuie sa ne intrerupem activitatile si sa ne prefacem ca stam frumos pe raft de fiecare data cand se intoarce cineva. E o viata grea, dar cineva trebuie s-o faca si pe asta, altfel n-ar mai fi niciun pic de veselie in lume si asta ar fi mare pacat. Asa-i?

A, si, dupa cu spuneam, sa nu spui nimanui! Bine?

We Did Bring Spring

It looks like our little anti-winter campaign worked. We got the little room of the cafe full to the brim of colourful creations, people flocked to see them and what do you know! little by little, a tentative sun started shining through the fairy-guarded window. 

Se pare ca mica noastra campanie anti-iarna a functionat. Am umplut incaperea cafenelei pana la refuz cu creatii colorate, oamenii s-au inghesuit sa le vada si ca sa vezi! incet incet a inceput sa straluceasca un soare timid prin fereastra pazita de zana.

 

And the light has only grown stronger since. It looks like spring is finally on its way, which delights me to no end!

Si de atunci, lumina e tot mai puternica. Se pare ca in sfarsit vine primavara, si nici nu va pot spune cat de tare ma bucura asta!

Here are some images of shiny creative people in their natural environment. Some sketched...

Iata niste imagini cu oameni creativi in mediul lor natural. Unii schitau...

...some worked...

...unii munceau...

 ...others made sure everybody knew about the fair...

...altii se asigurau ca toata lumea stie de targ...

...and others, less fortunate, had to finish their maths homework for Monday.

...iar altii, mai nefericiti,aveau o tema la mate de terminat pe luni.

 

But everybody, absolutely everybody smiled.

Dar toata lumea, absolut toata lumea zambea.

 

 

Well, maybe not her, but only because she doesn't have a mouth; she would definitely be smiling if she had one!

Ma rog, poate ea nu, dar numai pentru ca n-are gura!

All in all, it was pretty, relaxed, friendly and inspiring, as always. Even my mucklor were happy to lend a hand in the marketing of the products.

Una peste alta,  targul nostru a fost frumos, relaxat, prietenos si plin de inspiratie, ca intotdeauna. Chiar si mishumacii mei au dat o mana de ajutor in prezentarea produselor.

Last but not least, I would like to take a minute to say a heartfelt goodbye to Frank and Archie, who were adopted at the fair, and wish them the best of luck in their future lives.

Nu in ultimul rand, as dori sa le adresez un calduros ramas bun lui Frank si Archie, care au fost adoptati la targ, si sa le urez mult noroc in viata de acum incolo.

 

Archie did not leave before summing up the whole weekend's activity. Thanks dude, I couldn't have said it better myself! 

Archie n-a plecat inainte de a rezuma activitatile acelui sfarsit de saptamana. Mersi frate, nici eu n-o puteam spune mai bine!

For more pics of the fair, go here.

Pentru mai multe poze de la targ, mergeti aici.

Love critters

It seems that, even though the frenzy of spring is over, love-time for mucklor starts now. They get all silly and pursue their potential mates with such tenderness and delicate care!

Se pare ca, desi frenezia primaverii a trecut, anotimpul iubirii de-abia acum incepe pentru mishumaci.
Incep sa se prosteasca si isi curteaza potentialele partenere cu atata tandrete si delicata atentie !

They bring flowers and sweets and precious shiny things. They sing and dance and brush their tails neatly.

Aduc flori si dulciuri si alte pretioase lucruri stralucitoare. Canta si danseaza si isi periaza frumos cozile.
They say sweet things and do their best to look their best.

Spun lucruri dragute si fac tot posibilul sa arate cat mai bine.
But never do they lose their funny-shaped heads entirely!

Dar niciodata nu-si pierd caraghiosul cap in totalitate!

Happy Day

Stiti ce-i in poza asta? Un misumac care sta pe niste carti, desigur! Pe misumac il cunoasteti, pe carti nu. Asa ca daca sunteti curiosi, puteti vedea povestea lor aici.

Where do I start!

Hello again!
Servus din nou!

I have awarded myself the luxury of sleeping in for two days in a row, so now I am fresh and ready to show you impressions of my latest adventures in the world of craft.
Mi-am acordat luxul de a dormi pana la 10 in doua zile la rand, si acum sunt odihnita si gata sa va arat impresii din ultimele mele aventuri in lumea lucrului de mana.

I am quite proud of myself for what I have achieved this past month. I manged to stay sane with a full time job, every single minute of time outside the job spent working on the 20 dolls I made, with the sleepless nights, the races between work and bus stations and theatres while carting around bags and boxes full of dolls and pins and scissors and stuff... it was madness. Truth is my trusty elves were an immense help, I hope I find the proper way to thank them soon.

Sunt destul de mandra de ce am realizat in ultima luna. Am reusit sa fac 20 de papusi in timp ce am si lucrat full-time, am pierdut nopti, am fugit de la lucru la statii de bus si inapoi la lucru si la teatru si tot asa, carand dupa mine pungi si cutii cu papusi si tot felu' de alte chestii...a fost nebunie. Adevarul este ca elfii mei devotati m-au ajutat foarte mult. Sper ca voi gasi modul sa le multumesc, cat de curand.

So how about I try to put everything in an approximate chronological order?
Deci, ce-ar fi sa incerc sa pun totul cat de cat in ordine cronologica?

First, there were some mucklor. I haven't even tried to find them a name in English, but they were inspired by Sven Nordqvist's mucklor (forever sorry I haven't bought the books when I had the chance), so I will call them by their Swedish name. They are cute and friendly and we had a good time in our little morning photo shoot.
La inceput au fost mishumacii. Sunt draguti si prietenosi si ne-am distrat de minune la mica noastra sesiune foto de dimineata.

...Then, there was another elf meeting. This time, much to my amazement, they actually worked! Stuff I had planned to do for the night were done in the blink of an eye, leaving time for beer and pranks.

...Apoi a fost o alta adunare de elfi. De data asta, spre marea mea surprindere, chiar au lucrat! Tot ceea ce planuisem sa fie facut in seara aia a fost terminat in doi timpi si trei miscari, si ne-a ramas si timp pentru bere si farse.

...And then...then, there was the last night before leaving for Bucuresti. Luckily, by then I was way too tired to panic. So I proceeded to make price tags for my beauties...
...Si apoi...apoi a fost ultima noapte inainte de plecarea la Bucuresti. Din fericire eram mult prea obosita ca sa ma mai panichez. Asa ca le-am facut etichete frumosilor mei...

...and some colour-coordinated packaging (which I later got compliments for :>)
...si niste ambalaje asortate pentru care am primit complimente mai tarziu.

Once I made sure their hair and clothes were looking the part, I gingerly packaged them for the 300km trip. Here are some pretty worried-looking individuals...
Odata ce m-am asigurat ca parul si hainele lor sunt in ordine, i-am impachetat cu delicatete si i-am pregatit pentru calatoria de 300km. Iata cativa indivizi destul de ingrijorati...

...but the cuddlecreeps didn't care much, they were as happy as ever!
...dar monstruletii erau la fel de fericiti ca intotdeauna!
In the end, it was 1:30am and I proceeded to feel good about finishing all the packing (and not even forgetting my toothbrush in the process!), when it dawned on me with a giant OMG that I had forgotten to make the present I was meant to give the little girl of the family I would be staying with.
In sfarsit, era 1:30 si am inceput sa ma simt bine pentru ca terminasem de impachetat si nici macar nu-mi uitasem periutza de dinti, cand mi-am dat seama ca uitasem sa fac cadoul ce trebuia sa i-l dau fetitei familiei la care urma sa stau.

So it was back to the fabric shelves and the thread drawer and the sewing machine, choosing, measuring, cutting, embroidering, until, 2 more hours later, this was born:
Asa ca, inapoi la rafturile cu materiale, si la sertarul cu atze si la masina de cusut, alegand, masurand, taind, brodand, pana cand, 2 ore mai tarziu, s-a nascut asta:

And after the last heroic feat of the night, I slept a short sleep, woke up, ran to work, then ran to the bus which was to take me to Bucuresti. But that, my lads and lasses, is another story...
Si dupa ultima fapta eroica a noptii, am dormit un somn scurt, m-am trezit, am fugit la lucru, si de la lucru la autobuz, si cu el la Bucuresti. Dar asta, dragi copii, este o alta poveste...

The Monthly General Helpers' Meeting

I'm having second thoughts. Maybe this whole elf thing was not such a good business decision after all. I mean, you clothe them, you feed them, you give them cake and cigarette breaks and RIGHTS! and what do they do in return? Ignore every single regulation in the Helper Elf's Guidelines book.
Incep sa am dubii.Poate ca toata treaba asta cu elfii a fost o decizie de afaceri foarte proasta. Pai, ii imbraci, ii hranesti, le dai prajitura si pauze de tzigara si DREPTURI! si ce fac ei in schimb? Ignora fiecare regula din Manualul Elfului Ajutator.

Now that they have a Union, they even have the nerve to file a complaint that my internet is too slow! Try to impose your will, and you get "But master, these are not naked women, these are artistic nudes!" Bah!
Acum ca au si sindicat, mai au si tupeul sa inainteze o plangere ca imi merge internetul prea incet. Incerci sa-ti impui vointza, si auzi "dar stapana, astea nu-s femei goale, astea sunt nuduri artistice!" Pfft!

How careless do you have to be for even an eyless muckla to be able to steal your tea? Lucky I caught them in the act!
Cat de indolent trebuie sa fii incat chiar si un mishumac fara ochi sa-ti poata fura ceaiul? Noroc ca i-am prins eu in flagrant!

At least I have one faithful elf left.
Macar mai am un elf credincios, totusi.

She stitched and stitched, bless her little heart, and she did her best to keep some order in the motley gaggle of dolls that were pushing and shoving waiting for their turn to be adorned.
A cusut si a cusut saraca, si s-a straduit sa mentina ordinea in cardul de papusi care se impingeau si imbranceau asteptandu-si randul sa fie decorate.

Hard work being master of helper elves, I tell ya!
Treaba grea sa fii stapan de elf, va zic io!