Gingerbread man

Every year before Christmas I seeking in my notes a gingerbread man cookie recipe for a long time. This year I thought up to make a nice picture of gingerbread man for my kitchen. With the recipe of course.

And I give this nice picture of gingerbread man to you! I've uploaded the picture in large format, so you can save this picture yourself  and do with it a note card, decor for the kitchen and just use it in your cookbook. Download image easily and for free!
Right-click on the image "open link in new tab". In the opened window save the image to your PC. Then you can use the picture of your choice. It is a gift from Marina Vita.

Also you can find this watercolor painting  in my shop Marina Vita.

I'm going to make gingerbread man for New Year's party too - my daughter is very fond of them!

Here's the recipe gingerbread man separately:


Gingerbread man

Ingredients:
350g flour and a little for rolling
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
125g butter
175g brown sugar
2 eggs
4 tbsp golden syrup
Icing for decorating

Method of preparation:
Sift together flour, baking soda, ginger. Add the butter and mix until crumbs state. Add the sugar.
Whisk the egg and golden syrup together and add to the overall batch. Knead the dough until smooth. Then wrap in foil and place in the fridge for for a short time cooling.
Roll dough thickness of 0.5 cm and cut out shapes. Figures spread on a tray with parchment paper.
Bake at 180 g for 15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool, then Enrich glaze as prompt your imagination.



And a couple of recipes from my friends with a very quick and delicious desserts for New Year's party. Christmas cake from Alex Citrus Cat and Christmas cookies from Tanya socksandmittens.

Bon Appetit and Happy New Year!

Mango Sticky Rice Dessert

If you've ever been to Thailand, you have tried the sticky rice with mango! Adults and children love this treat.
Cooked very simple and will be a great holiday dessert for your family. Perfect for breakfast in holiday morning.

Recipe for Mango Sticky Rice Dessert (Khao Niaow Ma Muang)

We will need:
1 cup thai sweet rice. Also called sticky rice, you will approach the sushi rice.
1-2 ripe mangoes
4-5 tablespoons palm sugar or brown sugar
1/4 tablespoon salt
200ml coconut milk or cream

1. Wash rice and cook in a double boiler
2. Heat the coconut milk and dissolve sugar and salt in it
3. Mix the cooked rice and coconut milk and leave to soak up for 10-15 minutes
4. Peel and slice the mango. Serve with rice.
If desired, add coconut cream, nuts, candied fruits.

In Thailand, rice dyed with natural food dyes.

Bon Appetit and Merry Christmas!

Sarong - exotic and colorful!

Amazingly beautiful women walking the streets - in bright clothes painted in batik technique. Their skirts are painted the same flowers that grow in the streets. Exotic and colorful!

In the Thai province of Krabi, where I live, a sarong is a very common casual wear for women. Men wear a sarong primarily as home clothes. Muslims and Buddhists wear sarongs.

Wikipedia says:

A sarong is a large tube or length of fabric, often wrapped around the waist and worn by men and women throughout much of South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, the Horn of Africa, and on many Pacific islands. The fabric most often has woven plaid or checkered patterns, or may be brightly colored by means of batik or ikat dyeing. 

This consists of length of fabric about a yard (0.91 m) wide and two-and-a-half yards (2.3 m) long. In the center of this sheet, across the narrower width, a panel of contrasting color or pattern about one foot wide is woven or dyed into the fabric, which is known as the kepala or "head" of the sarong. This sheet is stitched at the narrower edges to form a tube. One steps into this tube, brings the upper edge above the level of the navel (the hem should be level with the ankles), positions the kepala at the center of the back, and folds in the excess fabric from both sides to the front center, where they overlap and secures the sarong by rolling the upper hem down over itself. Malay men wear sarongs woven in a check pattern; women wear sarongs dyed in the batik method, with, for example, flower motifs, and in brighter colors.

I also love to wear sarongs, but wear them only at home.

Secret comfort of sarong is - to bear it without underwear. Fabric protects your skin from the sun, and inside ventilation.

And of course, many products can be made from this beautiful fabric - bags, toys, home decor and even pictures! I'll show them to you next time. :)

Lighthouse is a place of force and power!

One night I dreamed of a place where I would like to be. I dreamed of a place where I can step back from reality and be alone.

I saw the sea and the sky, large fields around. And as the center of attraction - the lighthouse!

In those nights I painted landscapes with lighthouses.

My place of freedom and peace.

The collection of earrings

I believe that a woman can never have too many shoes, bags and earrings!

When we moved to Asia,  I left my collection of handmade earrings in Europe. I do not know when I see it again.
And now I'm ready to start a new collection of the earrings! The Earrings complement the image. Complete it and talk a lot about the owner.  The Earrings show the temperament and nature of the women. Her mood today.
Jewelry is the perfect gift for your friends and relatives for any occasion. Whether it's a holiday or just a sign of attention . Earrings are not a serious thing, but it brings joy and cheer up!

That's what I love today:

I like the pure colors of  YUNILIsmiles

Coffee Owls Cards Collection

I want to show you my coffee owls cards collection .
Mom owls  and Dad owls, funny little owls - they are so cute and a little foolish.

For these cards I paint the paper with the strong coffee. I really like the uneven filling of staining. Besides cards smell of coffee so romantic and cozy.

Here's my owl family:

Romantic owls

Absolutely, they are the owls in love. The Wedding is coming soon?

​​Movember on Etsy

I loved the idea of ​​Movember on Etsy!
I saw it on the Citrus Cat

Welcome to November - the month of the mustache!

VintageParlorMens

BeautySpot

katrinshine

I invite you to ​​the Movember Flash Mob!

Post Movember idea and show links to your Movember posts here.

The handmade dolls.

Recently, I absolutely charmed with the handmade dolls.

Soft, gentle, sweet. I love the doll in a primitive, minimalist style.

Something like the Waldorf style and Tilda style dolls. I can not choose between them, and probably it is not necessary. These dolls ake cozy and gentle mood in the house. Of course children can play with them. But it is so nice to have them for adult girls!

Dolls are very different - textile and knitted dolls, sad and playful dolls, elegant and rustic dolls, glamorous and domestic dolls. They all tell us about our childhood.

Dolls - a reminder of childhood and may be about your grandmother or other little princesses in the family. They have so much charm and each has its own story.

Just take a look.

Yulia Goenko from UnderUmbrelland

Christmas cards

The Postcards appeared in my store! Now is not a lot of cards but I'm in the process!
I loved to draw cards!

This is completely handmade. I cut the paper with my hands, cover it coffee, draw a picture.
I try to do my cards maximum close to natural. Use an acid free coffee paper. No printing on postcards, I do not use the printer at all!

Finished cards smell the coffee so enticing! I used the coffee paper before - the smell persists for a long time!

I thought up that all my cards will both cards and miniature paintings. They are a standard size 5"x7" and therefore can be easily put in a frame. I plan to paint more in this cozy coffee style. I hope that will be an excellent collection!

I love the story of this card - simple, homely and eternal. The steps to the house, where a table is covered. Gathered the whole family.
I wish you to be with your family on the Christmas! This is so important!


And a few more

Ideas of Christmas Wreath

Not long is left before Christmas. And I was wondering about the Christmas decor for the home.

Each year, for me the most difficult is Christmas wreath on the front door. It certainly can be easy to buy, but so nice to do it with my own hands.
I collected a lot of ideas on the Pintereste. You are using the Pinterest? I recently rated it as an invaluable storage of useful information in pictures. Simple and clear.

My collection of Christmas wreaths is here  Christmas wreath

Origami Lotus Flowers

Lotus is the symbol of wisdom and spiritual opening. Also lotus symbolizes the Cosmos.

The roots of the lotus grows in the mud. Stems are immersed in water. Flower rises above everything and revealed in the sun.
So out of the mud of materialism, through the water of experience, the soul comes under the rays of enlightenment.


This is a beautiful and wise idea, is n't it?

And I found the idea of ​​how to talk about our feelings in elegant and beautiful way.

Nancy and Emily from fishandlotus

A great idea, mmm ?

Mother and daughter create these gorgeous origami lotus flowers.

Here's what they write about their flowers:

Ukraine Talent

Last week I joined the community of Ukrainian artists.
Maybe you've even been to Ukraine recently. Euro 2012 was in Ukraine this summer
Oficial blog community is here EtsyUkraineTalent

Ukrainian artist community slogan - "We are few, but we are strong!"
And this is true! Works of masters are talented and nontrivial!.
You can see by yourself.

You can also read what surprises wait for Christmas from Ukrainian talents

Urban landscapes of Penang

Two months ago, I visited the city of George Town. It is a huge multi-million city on the island of Penang, Malaysia.
The city struck me with its diversity.  The skyscrapers, dilapidated houses of Chinatown, new luxury villas, colorful townhouses ordinary Malays - all of that jast stand near.
Painted his house in crimson, bright blue or lemon yellow is not a problem for these people! They like bright coloures!

The History Of Newbie

I want to share with you my passion for the last month. I discovered the site Etsy.com.

I'm amazed how many talented people from all over the world gathered there! Amazingly beautiful Collage collected from goods on the site. It's just like a quick sets for purchase.

I did not resist and opened a shop for myself. The shop is called MarinaVita, which means marine life. In it, I put my watercolors.
Of course it is not so easy. At the start - zero of sales  , zero feedback too, I hope yet. :) But etsy-life captured me entirely!
I'll try under "the history of newbie" to tell how my business in the shop - my steps on etsy . Hopefully this will be an interesting experience.

Oh, yes - that's my store   MarinaVita

I hope you enjoy!

funny creatures

So, if I'm the creator, I will show my funny creatures.

What time is it?

World Time Clock & Map - Check Current Local Time Around the World

my first post

Hi! This is my first post in this blog.
I am Marina Vita. The Artist. The Creator. The woman.

My family lives in a journey, now we are staying in Thailand. Thailand inspiring. My beloved husband and my little daughter Anna helping to create.
I am interested in different kinds of art. Now, I enjoy watercolor painting. Later I'll tell you about my other talents may be ;)

English is not my native language. I study it, and sometimes make mistakes. I will be really grateful if you point me to my mistakes.

In the blog I plan to write about women creators.
About the women that create beauty and harmony.
About crafters, hand maders and their works.
There will be interviews with successful women and stories of their career.
Hand Made ideas and inspiration.

Here I am . WELCOME!
Your Marina Vita.