Valerie from Faraway's Avatar

Valerie from Faraway

@valeriefromfaraway.bsky.social

Interdisciplinary artist based in Czech Republic. Puppets, comics, and songs. Friend of crows. No AI art. she/they patreon.com/valeriefromfaraway

459 Followers  |  297 Following  |  110 Posts  |  Joined: 07.10.2023  |  1.8163

Latest posts by valeriefromfaraway.bsky.social on Bluesky

An old woman was lost, peeking in my building. She asked about a shop and I showed her where it was (many entrances, same building).
After, she thanked me and, unprompted, told me I spoke beautifully, and asked where I was from, how long have I been here, etc.

It made my little immigrant day.

10.06.2025 13:56 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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I'm sorry @npr.org, but who are you platforming?

01.05.2025 16:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I accidentally double paid my power bill and there's no email on the website so I had to call, which led to a crazy conversation (successful, seems like we fixed it) in Czech, tiny bits of English, and occasional numbers and salutations in Ukrainian.

Language is brilliant. I love language.

30.04.2025 13:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Someone broke into our school and vandalised it... I haven't been inside, we don't have much information, but it's closed today.
Which led to me walking though the city with 6th grade, then having coffee with a gaggle of 10th grade girls and- I don't know, it's a weird but actually quite nice day.

30.04.2025 10:51 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Not sure who is looking for recommendations, but my Anker powerbank just got run over by a car in the rain and still works, so...

That's pretty good.

24.04.2025 13:53 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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It's my nameday in Czech Republic. My friends in the village all sang to me and made a toast (hruΕ‘kovice: pear liquor, if you're keeping track).

And I made a lumpy basket.

Good day.

18.04.2025 19:10 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Post image Two clay figures, a gymnast who will be mounted upside down, and a sad clown who will hang from a post.

Two clay figures, a gymnast who will be mounted upside down, and a sad clown who will hang from a post.

Today we added to the garden circus.
I haven't worked in clay-clay in YEARS.
#puppets #clay #wip #ceramic #keramiky #loutky

27.03.2025 21:54 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0
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Boing Boing Boing | The Horne Section Podcast

It's brutally hard times, but I was surprised by a new @thehornesection.bsky.social podcast this morning and could not stop smiling through the intro.
I recommend.
Even better if you're on the 5th floor and can dance down the stairs.

Also, I've been teaching my Czechs about puns, so... Thanks guys

06.03.2025 21:01 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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The people who 'see' foreign languages: How synaesthesia can help language learning Synaesthesia is a neurological condition found to enhance memory and learning. Now, scientists say seeing in colour could help when it comes to learning a second language.

Hi, it's also very unhelpful sometimes.

Like, I spent 15 minutes in a field yesterday trying to explain the colour (rusty brown) and squareness of an Irish dialect... in Czech.

(Unsuccessfully.)

27.02.2025 10:10 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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From the watercolour zine mines.

#bloodymary #zine #watercolour #watercolor #akvarel #水彩 #ζΌ«η”» #comic #wip

25.02.2025 10:16 β€” πŸ‘ 6    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Aw snap, ya'll.
Do you see it?

I'm looking forward to this book.
I'm also looking forward to everyone pointing it out to me when they see it.πŸ’™

24.02.2025 22:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
A small sketch in watercolour. It shows a large pint glass with two guys (SoΕ‘na and Pavel) behind it saying they *do* have them here (meaning bloody marys), "it's three parts vodka and one part ketchup".
The ketchup is very rendered but seeps into the vodka in the glass.

A small sketch in watercolour. It shows a large pint glass with two guys (SoΕ‘na and Pavel) behind it saying they *do* have them here (meaning bloody marys), "it's three parts vodka and one part ketchup". The ketchup is very rendered but seeps into the vodka in the glass.

The (virgin) bloody marys I ended up making for my friends, cobbled together with what I could find in Czech Republic. They were okay, but I have definitely had better.
They are served in glass mugs with celery stalls and pickle olive skewers, surrounded by carving tools and other ingredients.

The (virgin) bloody marys I ended up making for my friends, cobbled together with what I could find in Czech Republic. They were okay, but I have definitely had better. They are served in glass mugs with celery stalls and pickle olive skewers, surrounded by carving tools and other ingredients.

Work in progress watercolor zine about the time I saw a picture of a bloody mary and ended up introducing them to my Czechs.

#watercolour #zine #art #comics #bloodymary

24.02.2025 22:08 β€” πŸ‘ 5    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

Look at him go! πŸ’™

08.02.2025 06:49 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I am so goshdarn proud of @matthewdowsmith.bsky.social!

06.02.2025 18:46 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

At the doctor....
My lungs feel like rusty knifes.
Scrape, scrape.

My American-made workaholic heart is racking up such guilt. But also I miss my kids.

28.01.2025 07:15 β€” πŸ‘ 2    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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Polka time.
That is all.
Shoulders covered. For now.

25.01.2025 20:28 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

A pak, pΕ™edstavka!
(and then, a break!)

Come on....

*note my friends are also eagerly awaiting an uptick in energy.
We came to cut rugs.

25.01.2025 20:17 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Oh, it was immediately followed up by the most legato violin instrumental version of Despacito.

But I can at least dance to Despacito.

Then Czech "These Boots Were Made for Walking".

But my boots specifically came for dancing.

25.01.2025 20:09 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm three partner-dances away from live tweeting my despair as a guy who just wanted to go dancing with friends but everything here's so damned choreographed and gender roled. I love this country, but damn it, play something with a beat.

The folk music of my heart lies further east and I know it.

25.01.2025 19:53 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Gender fuckery aside, I'm pushing 40 and wearing a strapless dress for the first time. I do not know what to do with myself.
My SHOULDERS.

25.01.2025 19:24 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

I'm not sure, though I never heard of her growing up in Catholicism, Saint Dymphna is the patron saint of madness? So it's on brand, but so far only Czechs seem to be really into her. These were the matches for my friend's stove. I might ask to steal them and make a micro puppet show....

25.01.2025 05:59 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
Yellow box of matches that read "Saint Dymphna of Geel, Safety Madness" with a sword and crown in the middle. It is made by Hora Bohemia Works

Yellow box of matches that read "Saint Dymphna of Geel, Safety Madness" with a sword and crown in the middle. It is made by Hora Bohemia Works

These matches.

Safety Madness.
#czech #saintdymphna #design

24.01.2025 19:01 β€” πŸ‘ 7    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

5 minutes, what are you wearing?

Honestly my wardrobe is hopelessly boring when it's all gonna be under a coat....

But it's comfy!
#sketch #art #selfie

23.01.2025 18:28 β€” πŸ‘ 8    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

It's heartbreaking.

20.01.2025 05:26 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

🎢... stress dreams about work, leading into Monday, also inauguration, very little sleeeeeeep, not the day for this... 🎢

20.01.2025 05:00 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

πŸ“Œ Oh I needed this, thank you!

20.01.2025 04:54 β€” πŸ‘ 0    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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[Mexico City, Mexico]

Following the attempted murder of a trans woman. Cops just let the alleged perp go. So actionists from the Mexican sex workers union stormed the judicial building.

Via Ghost of Durruti

17.01.2025 15:32 β€” πŸ‘ 14155    πŸ” 4193    πŸ’¬ 218    πŸ“Œ 852

Thank you Heidi! You could easily recreate this photo sometime with a copy (the comic) and a cheap blue wig. Would not know the difference, myself πŸ’™

17.01.2025 19:38 β€” πŸ‘ 1    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0
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My friend insisted, correctly, that I let him take this photo.

#24hourcomics #comics #zines

17.01.2025 18:36 β€” πŸ‘ 12    πŸ” 1    πŸ’¬ 1    πŸ“Œ 0

Reblog once, Reblog again, Reblog always.

16.01.2025 21:08 β€” πŸ‘ 3    πŸ” 0    πŸ’¬ 0    πŸ“Œ 0

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