Painting Again

It's been years since I painted somthing last time. And more than a handful of years since I finished something. So this feels good. I used to love to paint and I guess I still do. This one has been in progress for the last couple of days. I used acrylic paint on canvas and I am going to varnish it as soon as I have bought some. It's about 24 x 18 x 1,5 cm (7 x 9.5 x 0,6 inches). I like her cute little face and naked feet. And that place! I wonder what she sees, looking down like that.

Inspiration

I got more fun mail today - Howl's Moving Castle on DVD! I love Miyazaki´s movies and this is the latest of them. I also went out and bought 3 magazines for inspiration. In order of how good a read I found them:

• British Homes & Gardens
• German Burda Patchworks
• American Country Marketplace

Heaps and Loads and More

You won't believe how much i bought at the thrift store today. I can't anyhow. I spent a whopping $115 !!! I didn't plan this, but what to do when they had so much goodies there? And each and every item were so cheap that I couldn't think it would get to be so much together? The good part is that now I'll have enough materials to keep me buzy at leasta month. Here are most, but not everything, of todays finds:

Great Mail Today Again

I got a package from Canada today! My prize has arrived and it is just a lovely as I imagined it to be. Thank you again, Izik, for chosing me as the winner of your contest :) I love this sweet little robot.

The Cards

Here are the images I promised!

New postcards

This is the only creativity I had time for today. I made two sets of three postcards, with fall leaves and "I just want to say" embossed in white or gold. They are quite simple but stylish, so I am happy with them. As always - I can't take any good pictures at night so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see them, and then I will put them in my shop as well.

Teabag Swap - Paula

Oh, happy day :) I got the best swap package today. Why? Beacuse I got the loveliest little crocheted "Tea bag" for my handbag as an extra little thing! It will hold a few of my favourite tea bags, so I can bring them with me wherever I go and always have something good to drink. So fun and cute, I think this was the best idea. You even got the colors right. Of course there were teas as well in the package. Every single one new to me, and lots of yummy tastes I think! The packages all look so good I almost can't chose which to begin with. And I got way more than required in the swap. Paula, I could hug you, that's how happy I am with what I got. Thank you so much!

Shopping

Guess what? The Cold Days Tote sold! My first item to sell on Etsy and it feels really good. Someone like what I made so much that she spent money on it. Fantastic!
The not so fun result of this is that I realised how little I get left when all the fees are paid - PayPal and Etsy both charge of course and then I had free shipping as well. What remained isn't much considering I spent 5 hours on the tote. I have to admit it shouldn't take that long to make a tote. I'll get quicker. Anyhow, now all the free shipping is gone on my items!

Since I were so happy about the sell I decided to go spend some money myself. I've been shopping for 3 hours and came home with lots of clothes! Fun fun fun. Fun!

For the Cold Days to Come

This is what I were doing yesterday - sewing this sturdy tote! It's a perfect size for magazines and got a small pocket inside for a cellphone, an ipod or such. I cut out squares from diffrent red fabrics and sewed onto this good quality wool I had. In retrospect I should have sewed the squares closer together for a better visual appeal, but it works out rather ok anyway.


These are the fabrics I used:

1. Norwegian folklore print, new
2. Vintage embroidery
3. Flower print by Åhléns, new
4. Check print, new
5. Vintage flower print
6. Metal threads and fabric from India
7. Flower print, new
8. Woven fabric, new
9. Vintage silk tie
10. Vintage flower print
11. Vintage graphic print
12. Norwegian folklore print, new

What's Up?

I've been working on a project on and off all day. It just didn't come together. I tried this and tried that. Added here and removed there. And finally I know how to top it off! It's nothing super special but I like it. Tomorrow I'll finish and then put it in my shop. Hint: in looks it's something for the cold days to come, in practice it's for everyday.

Matchbox Swap

I sure hope my reciever isn't lurking! The swap rules are: fill a matchbox with as much as you can, tailoring the contents to your partners interests. Decorate the box.

I know my swap partner is into beading right now, so therefore I put the focus on beads but then also gathered some other things I hope she will like.

Friday Muffins - Gingerbread

I had forgotten the muffins today, but thankfully remembered an hour ago. So today we had late muffins and D. chose which spices to use - ginger, cinnamon and cloves. They turned out real tasty. Basic recipie and then the spices. Thats all. I can't believe how easy muffins are, I had so forgotten until I stumbled in here and here four weeks ago.

Links

Good links should be shared.

• An image
• And one, two, three, four and five very cute episodes about Komaneko.

Hanging with Emma

I got another visitor today. Meet the quirky and fun Emma!

She's an original design. You can find her here until she moves to her new home :)

Hi Ingesund!

[Just a lil message to some newly arrived friends]

Jag hoppas ni hittar hit under morrondagen! Skriv gärna en liten hälsning. Det gör ni genom att klicka på textlänken 'Comments' som finns under varje inlägg. Skriv sedan er text, välj 'Other' och fyll i vem du är och avsluta med att klicka på 'Send'. Det fixar ni nog! Det var så kul att se er alla tidigare ikväll, ni är ju så goa :) Anne-Marie och Anna-Lena: David har sagt att jag kan ta bilen, hurra! Frågan är bara när han kan klara sig utan den. Jag återkommer i frågan senare per mejl.

Fall Necklace

I felt like making something for fall. Put together brown leaves and heavy skies and you get .. this! It's about 90 cm (35,5 inches) and without any clasps. Made of glass and freshwater pearls. The pendant's got sterling foil inside. I'm going to take new photos tomorrow when the light is better and then put this in my Etsy shop.

My Teabags

I might just as well show you one of the three teabag packages I sent through one of Swap-bots swaps. I hope they have all arrived! This swap was for 5 teabags. I sent about 9 teabags (I thought why not send one of every sort I have), a handmade card with message and 2 small pieces of good quality chocolate. That Yogi Chai tea is my absolute favourite, as I might have mentioned earlier :) I put everything in plastic bags, not wanting them to deteriorate during transport. Or the chocolate to melt and make everything yucky.

My ATCs

I've been planning to post pictures here of the ATCs I sent away in the "What is an ATC?" swap, but now that I got photos back from the recievers (thank you Sara and Michelle!) I'm embarassed to show you. I truly think any of you could have done better. It's better to own up to my failures I just realised, so here are the two (of three) I got photos of. I have to say one thing though, they do look better in reality.

Sus-hi

[You might think I'm going crazy, but alas. This post is explained if you read the one before.]

We are getting to know each other. She says she was named Sus-hi. Sus-hi apparently lives in a tree in her world. So does her friends. So how did she get here? Well, she's on an adventure! Sus-hi found a tunnel underneath one of the roots. And now she is here, in my mind. I tell her about our world. She apparently wants to stay a while and continue her adventure. Good for me! I like her.

A World of Her Own

What do you think? I wanted to do an original design. I found a few images of my friends pets and used those to inspire this fantasy animal/doll. I think she would be ok. I keep thinking that she has a world of her own, where I can visit if I get behind the bookshelf in the darkest corner of my apartment. I wonder what her name is. I'll tell you as soon as I know.

Bookmark Swap

I never showed you what I sent to Kathleen in New Zealand. I've finally found out that my envelope arrived and was happily accepted into her home at least 10 days ago! Now I can show you what I made, without fear of spoiling the surprise. This was my first swap ever, I was a bit nervous it wouldn't be good enough. I decided on a more fall-ish design.


The swap was for one bookmark. So I sent a card with message, two bookmarks and a small parcel, containing some good quality dark chocolate. I love to snack while i read. Bad habit.

No bookmark has arrived in my own mail yet, but the deadline isn't until Sept. 30. I need to be patient. Sigh :)

Fall Has Arrived At My Doorstep

The time has come. This will replace the one that's been sitting on the outside of our door throughout summer. That which looks like dark smudges are golden ink. I love the fall. I love that I live where the seasons come in full, all of them. Now I got to go to bed, it's past midnight here.

Custom Made Necklace

This is an order by the same customer that I made the black and blue necklace for. She now wanted another in the same simple style, but with red instead of blue. This is what I came up with. I also made a matching gift wrap as she's giving this to her sister. I have to admit I am giving her a great price for these necklaces, since we are also friends :)

Things for a Love(ly) Dinner

D's little brother just got engaged, so today I shopped a Love Dinner kit (with D's money and approval)! It was fun to think of what to get for a cool young couple and match it all. When I got home I proceeded to write a recipie containing all the things I got, a how-to for a lovely evening. I do hope they enjoy it! But keep it a secret, they haven't gotten the bag yet..


From top and then clockwise:

• A paper bag to put everything in (white dots on black with red ribbon).
• Fake flowers to decorate with.
• There can be no Love Dinner without candles!
• A paper wrap for Bag-in-box wines, with Elvis (how cool is that?).
• Paper napkins with Elvis (I'm leaving instructions for them to play the King this evening)
• A set of love poetry magnets for the fridge (to take turns making poetry with while cooking).
• And this I have no idea if they like or not, but I thought it fun - a set of two dice, one with action words and the other with 'where' words. I.e. Kiss + neck and so forth.. (for use after dinner while drinking the hot chocolate that's in the kit).
• The recipie!
• Minty chocolate powder (to use with hot milk.)
• Spiced salt, good with meat and fish (I'm proposing they buy a good quality meat to use this with, and then some readymade sauce and sallad. His kitchen is really small.)
• Heart shaped pasta.
• A card I made, containing a little message from us.

Pricetag: about $45

Some New Postcards

Last night I felt like making some new postcards, with blank insides, since my stash has emptied out. I picked some random scrap papers and this is what I finished with (the fox button is by April Fool). Simple and generic for that sudden message I got to mail someone.

ATC Swap - Raesha

I got two nice things in my mail today. One was the item I bought as my contribution to 5-4-3-2..Etsy! The thing is that I haven't gotten any reply from the girls arranging it. But it's a good idea anyhow and I can do a lil pledge of my own and support Etsy by my self if needs be. But you'll have to wait to the end of the month to see what I got!

The other mail I got was an ATC from Raesha in New Mexico. Not only did she send me the most well done and pretty ATC (with a friendship theme) I've seen but she also included a very nice card with message and stickers for me! It was a real treat to open up her envelope and see what was inside. Thank you so much Raesha!

D. Baking Bread

In the middle of the night to sunday I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep, at least not until a couple of hours later. So I slept late. I got out of bed around 11.30, took a shower and when I opened the door there was this delicious smell. D. was baking bread! It is the first time I can remember that he has done this (we've been together for four years). Fantastic! He had done the dishes, tidyed up and baked the bread. This was a really lovely morning :)

Now it's Official!

A few weeks ago I happened to stumble upon Rockettoro, by the Canadian artist Izik Levy, and lo and behold there was a haiku contest taking place! I decided to enter since I really liked the price, a Dichroic Glass Robot Pendant. It's beautiful and I am a little drawn towards cuteness and robots I have to admit. I took a moment, looking at the images of his wonderful (love that heart!) robots, and then just let the words come as they pleased. A few seconds later I had this (read slowly and thoughtfully):

I walk in the light
with an angular grace
diode flashing red

And it is what I sent. And then I won. Haha. Amazing. I never win! Maybe it's been my secret gift all along - I am fantastic doing second language haikus? If you know any more of this kind of contest, please tell me so I can see if the theory holds up!

Oh, also have to tell you this - what is extra great about Mr. Levy is that he is donating 10% of all proceeds from the sale of his glass Robot Pendants through www.rockettoro.com to SickKids Foundation. Bravo.

Friday Muffins - Cardamom and Oatmeal

It's saturday I know, but I forgot to post about these yesterday. These are the best so far, both in taste and shape. It's a standard muffin recipie but with a filling added. A filling consisting of butter, sugar, oatmeal and crushed cardamom, yum! We love these and will keep the recipie for sure.

I Won Something Beautiful

Yes I did. I've been running around my apartment shouting "I won" this whole morning! I know I won but it's also a bit unreal since what I won is such a lovley thing. And on top of it all it wasn't the luck of the draw, it was my skill at haiku-writing that won me this item. This gorgeous thing, made by a really skilled (and good-hearted) craftsperson up in Canada. Wow.

I'm going to post what and where and how as soon as he has done it officially at his own website.

ATC Swap - Barbara

Yesterday I got a letter from Philadelphia, U.S.A. It contained a short letter and my first recieved ATC ever. We are both beginners at making ATCs but hers was good - I love that Barbara made her first ATC with an ATC theme! Isn't that clever? It's made of 5 layers of papers, beginning with asking what an ATC is, then layer for layer answering and giving the history. A great idea! The only thing she might do diffrent I guess is that she got the size a little bit wrong, it's missing 10 mm in height if I am not mistaken (and I might be). I really don't care though, it's so cleverly done otherwise and this is a swap for learning! Thank you Barbara.

This is for You

I finished my new clay necklaces today. All five can be found in my shop. I've been through a _lot_ of stress the past few years and some of that experience came pouring out as I made these necklaces. As you probably can tell from what I wrote about each item in the shop.

Now I need some time in the woods with the sun and the birds.

More at Etsy

Yes, I put another necklace in the shop. My mother gave me some large handmade Indian pearls, with lots of decoration on. They seemed rather dull in color and too much altogether. I simply had to find a good way to use them, this was a challenge! Looking at the pearls more in detail I saw how the glitter sparkled and there were both blue and white dots along the central line. This I decided to pick up on. I tried to accent with hues of blue first, but it never felt right no matter what I did. Then I decided to lift the red color by only using neutrals. And what a result! I really love how luxurious this necklace feels - all those good quality shiny pearls and then the dark red glass that brings so much interest!

Teabag Swap - Sofia

I got something really fun in the mailbox today - my first swap package! It was from Sofia, here in Sweden. She sent me _lots_ of teabags. The only one I've tried before is the Indian Spice teabag from Lipton. Some of the blends are herbal which is so great - I've been thinking for quite a while now to try some out. And if I'd like to buy more of one sort or the other? I can find them pretty easily I hope, since the've all been bought here in Sweden! I also got a cute little handwritten letter that was very nice. Thank you Sofia!

Clay Pendants

I got an idea yesterday. Why not make my own clay pendants? I thought it might turn out pretty fine if I stamped some images onto them and then put on a few coatings of lacquer. I have now gotten so far that the pendants just need to dry and then be lacquered. This is the result so far. (Click on the image to see a larger version)

Teabag Swap

I love swaps! I haven't actually recieved anything myself yet, but I have sent away four packages and begun three more today. The swap I'm putting together now is a teabag swap of 5 different kinds to 3 recievers. One package is done and the other recievers have still to answer if they prefer loose swedish teablends or teabags with mostly foreign teablends! I have also bought a few goodies to go with the bags. That is almost the best part - finding small fun things to surprise the reciever with!

This is our tea corner in the kitchen! A good place to be although the photo is not so good. At the front you can see my two favourite teas at the moment:

1. a Spanish black ceylon tea with 3% saffron, by Syren. If you live in Sweden you can order through Tekompaniet.
   


2. and then an American tea - Black Chai - by Yogi Tea.
   Yogi Tea gives away free samples if you live in USA. Their teas are also mostly organic which is a big plus.

Modified Vintage Wallet

This project begun as I signed up for a wallet swap today, at Swap-bot. I had three old wallets I got at an auction and couldn't get anyone else interested in. So I began altering the finest of the three (a really soft and beautiful leather wallet, unused, from London), using leather from the others and some felt, buttons and ribbons. I also put some nice things in it to surprise the reciever in a happy way. Then I realised I liked the modified wallet so much I couldn't part with it! Oh my. The wallet swap has to make do without my contribution. Here it is, but unfortunatly you can't see the green ribbon and bow I also put there.

An Unusual Weekend

It's been a long while since I got to party the whole saturday. I had so much fun! I only knew the hostess, a good friend of mine, so I got to have interesting conversations on new topics with unknown people - which always is great. We ate and drank and enjoyed ourselves. On the downside I didn't feel that good the next day, tired and cranky and I didn't really want to do anything (which we did, we went to my parents and on a happening in their neighbouring village and I did have to apologize for having such a temper this day). This is why I didn't post here and why I haven't done anything creatively the past two days. Not that I didn't try! Last night I tried to make bookmarks for myself but I just couldn't make anything that looked remotely good. Everything went into the thrashbin. But today is a new day and I'm feeling better so I might have something to show you later. I hope so!

This is from that village happening: the opening of a new track in the woods.

ATC Swap and the Friday Muffins!

I just now finished making my ATCs for the swap at Swap-bot ("What is an ATC?"), everything is packaged and sealed and ready to go. Now is when I realise that I have forgotten to photograph them! My last hope is that those recieving the ATCs will be able and willing to help me out. Otherwise this might be a good time to ponder what is really important in my life..

Earlier today dad came around and helped me attach the balcony table. Then I served myself my own homemade friday muffins there, with my favourite saffron tea. This fridays muffins were apple muffins (working on getting rid of all those apples!). A lovely friday afternoon.