Visit Diane at WAMP this Sunday

People are always asking what I am working on...well this week here it is!
When? Sunday June 7
Where? Erzsébet square (Budapest)
Time? 11am-7pm
Why? To support local designers and have fun!
Special focus on mommies and babies!

What is WAMP?

"WAMP was established in 2006 with the aim to bringing designers closer to public and to creating a common platform for unique, quality and available design objects. The monthly WAMP design fair has become one of the most important cultural and design forums in Budapest. In the summer Erzsébet square (former bus station) and in winter Gödör Klub hosts the event.

Jewelery, graphic design, textiles, ceramics, glassware, recycling objects as well as toy design objects are presented by designers and some galleries present their works on the fair. The special atmosphere of the fair was once a novelty in Budapest but became an awaited regular event after becoming generally known.

The aim of the initiative is to support and promote contemporary Hungarian design, as well as to enhance demand for design in everyday life."

I will be selling pillows and cards! If you are in Budapest come by and say hello! And keep your fingers crossed for good weather!

I must give a HUGE thank you to my friend Andi who will be helping me on Sunday.

Hope to see you there!

Another blog?

Some of you may not know that I have another blog. I started this blog a few months ago and the focus is on design and art in Hungary and Europe. I also write about projects I am working on and where you can find me and my products-it is more of a professional blog.

So, I updated the blog last night with photos from a great trip I went on with my friend Sue.

Check it out:

http://www.dianekappablog.com/

Sue and Diane and Herend

Pocket Coffee?

No this isn't some special pocket where you keep your coffee cleverly concealed.  Nor is this what a friend of ours calls the dessert pocket:  a pocket that magically appears after eating a large meal that allows you to eat that delicious piece of chocolate cake.

Pocket Coffee is a chocolate praline that is filled with real Italian espresso.  The maker of this confectionery invented the hugely popular Nutella.  In my opinion, where they succeed with Nutella they failed with Pocket Coffee.  The idea is brillant:  chocolate + espresso.  The taste however is too much like Chemical Coffee.

Firefighters

Steve had another big event today. It was Hungary's Children's Day. United Way puts on an event with free activities for the kids. There is tons of entertainment from puppet shows to school bands. There are booths where the kids can have their face painted, play music and sing along with friends and tour the inside of a fire truck. The weather tried to participate but gave bits of rain throughout the day. I visited Steve and said hello and took a bunch of photos. Here is my favorite.

Panka asked if these guyes would take the photo with me. She explained that both my grandfathers and father were all firefighters. (I have a gut feeling that all firefighters have a little jokster in them. The guy on the right looks like he would participate in some of the jokes I have heard about....)

A visit to Esceri Market

Our friends Sasha and Laura visited us last week from Seattle. We had a great time showing them Budapest. It was really nice having them visit. We took them to all our favorite places and introduced them to a few of our new freinds. One of the places we visited was Esceri Market. You can find anything at this huge Hungarian flea market -- antique furntiure, Herend Pottery, portfolios of artists (made me sad), old paintings, clothing, and toys. Not to mention a few war relics and tons of textiles. Here are a few photos I took at the market.

This made me so sad. All I can say is
that they look ashamed. I wanted to buy
them all and give them a home.

Buy me! Buy me!

Aren't I cute!

Kinda Creepy.

We have internet...finally!!!!

Visual representation of the internet (above). 

We once lived in darkness. :-)

At least there are roses

I got a call yesterday from T-home and they said...

"Sorry but you can not get internet from us. We cannot tell you why but we can tell you that it won't work. Also, we recommend you don't cancel your account and you have to keep paying until Sept 29, even though we can not give you service. You do have two options: sell your contract to someone who needs internet or pay 35,000HUF ($165) to cancel."

We are obviously going to fill an official complaint. We have gone to a new company and started this process over. We paid 5000HUF ($25) to have the internet set up quicker. We should have internet by Friday. Keep your fingers crossed.

On a good note, we love our new flat. The roses are blooming and I have bought some potted herbs along with some hanging plants. We are eating many dinners outside and will relax tonight with a glass of wine on the patio:) Here is a photo I took earlier today. If you click on the photo it should enlarge and you can see all the roses in bloom.

We miss you and hope to see you on Skype soon.
-diane