April 13, 2009 at 9:28 pm · Filed under our house, family
May I welcome you to my home. We moved in two days before Christmas, which seems like such a long time ago. The weeks before moving and many weeks after was just a blur of packing and unpacking and several projects to improve our living space.
It is an airy, but small, apartment house with only thirteen neighbours. We all have miniscule gardens facing the common yard. It is cosy and friendly.
There is still some stuff left, like building a work space and finishing a room for little Ivar.
Meanwhile, me and Tyra has taken up the challenge of learning how to bake just like my grandfather. He used to be a pastry chef and owner of a bakery. I guess that learning his skills will take us some serious amount of time… We do not mind, as long as there are bowls of cookie dough to lick on the way.
There is some more photos (of the messy moving process) in my Flickr photostream, if you wish to have a peek.
Hope you are having a great day!
December 7, 2008 at 9:14 pm · Filed under links, family
This short post is for my sweet little boy, Ivar, who turned two years old yesterday. He is such a big boy!
Today he entertained a whole wagon in the metro while practising his “Merry Christmas” greetings. He did not really get a hang on that, and simply saluted everyone he saw with a “Merry!” and a big smile. His childlike magic worked - a merry train it was!
So, for all little train lovers out there - or for everyone longing for snow, Christmas and marry singing - this is Ivars current favourite on YouTube:
Thomas the Tank Engine - The Snow Song (Sing Along)
I recommend that you listen to it at least three times in a row.
Merry!
December 5, 2008 at 11:15 pm · Filed under photography
Let me take you along on my way to work, a dark and cold winter morning in Stockholm. You will need plenty of knitwear to keep you warm.
Outside our back door. The snow has melted away and only left ice cold drops of water on tiny branches.
An old apple tree on the university campus. Long ago they used this place for experimental crops. I suppose this tree was lucky to survive the expansion of the university buildings.
The tiny sign on the university gym says “Warning for falling snow”. Yeah. Silly.
Another angle of the same building by architect Ralph Erskine. Every time I pass this wooden wall, I want to stretch out a hand and stroke it. Yeah. Weird.
We have almost arrived at my museum. This tiny oak tree STILL has its leaves on. I wonder if someone secretly super glued them on their branches?
Thanks for tagging along! Hope you are having a great weekend.
November 14, 2008 at 12:08 pm · Filed under craft, knitting
I really loved working on this shawl - the Medallion Shawl by Norah Gaughan (Ravelry link) from Vogue Knitting winter 07/08 - mainly because of the unusual pattern and construction. But also because the two different yarns I used was a real treat to handle; Blue Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton paired with Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. They worked surprisingly well together
Somehow, I thought this shawl would be complicated to knit. Dude - it was easy! And fun! This is where I need to exclaim a big, huge Thank you! towards Norahs direction. I became a fan as soon as the first hexagon was finished.
It actually gave me a lot of confidence to try other potentially tricky patterns. Knitting should always be like this.
If you are interested, you can read more about this project here:
Palpable as silk and cotton
Green or white
November 8, 2008 at 4:32 pm · Filed under our house, family
The good news are that our house is all ready and just waiting for us to move in! It was inspected a week ago and passed on every item of the check-list. We had hoped to be living here already. Actually, we had hoped to move in August. It is kind of painful to wait and even though I have patience in abundance for life matters - this is starting to wear me down.
So why have we not moved? Well, we need to sell our apartement - but in these times of financial crisis the housing market is so slow and buyers are reluctant to take any risks with their money. So they either don’t bid at all or bid far below what we have asked for.
Well, here it is! It might look VERY white right now, but try to think of it as a blank canvas. We wanted the background to be as neutral as it possibly could. Think of a gallery or a greenhouse structure. The light in the big room is simply amazing. Even on the darkest swedish winter days, there will be light playing.
Imagine decorating this for Christmas! I know, I know - I should wait. But if I can find our Christmas decorations, I will also find most of my craft supplies - most of which has been pack away since May.
Hope you are having a calm and recharging weekend!
November 4, 2008 at 10:25 pm · Filed under knitting
Pattern: Urchin hat by Ysolda Teague from Knitty Fall 2007
Yarn: 2 balls of Løve Garn Cocoon
Needles: 7 mm
You can find some more project details on Ravelry
I always find it hard to combine a hat with glasses. It is a combination that does not work for or on me. I typically just put something silly on my head, growl and try to walk as fast as possible through the Swedish winter. Until now that is. The Urchin hat sits so high that it looks good any way. This winter will be an Urchin winter. The pattern is so quick and so much fun that I could knit several more hats.
There I was, all set with the self-timer and an artsy angle, when Ivar heard some funny beeping noises from my camera. He came running just in time for the click. I guess the artsy fartsy photo shooting will have to wait.
By the way, it feels good to be back.
June 16, 2008 at 10:10 pm · Filed under links, me, photography, knitting
Created with fd’s Flickr Toys. Idea nicked from Saskia.
1. Emma… on the prowl., 2. LOBSTER 01251A, 3. Brahehus, 4. Camouflage, 5. elizabeth - the golden age, 6. espresso, 7. teacup and outside bath, 8. So sweet…, 9. Black Hmong woman Song…, 10. Love XOXO, 11. lugn., 12. waltzing with ivar
The concept:
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker).
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favorite color?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favorite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favorite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One Word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.
We (me and litte i) spent WWKIP Day (World Wide Knit in Public Day) with the Stockholm Knitters at Maria torget and Marias Garn, and had a wonderful time. I did, unfortunately, not get a chance to take any photos. Maria and Catrin were more mindful and you can find some picture proof over at Marias Garnhändelser or Everyday Life.
June 5, 2008 at 11:07 am · Filed under eco, links, knitting
A pile of silky and cottony softness. I find myself simply fondling my knitting needles all wrapped up with lustruous white silk or humble soft cotton. It is comforting just to hold it in my hands. The pile of white medallions for Norah Gaughans “Medallion Shawl” seems to slowly grow by itself. It is almost like falling in love with knitting for the first time again. There has to be fifteen medallions before I can sew them toghether and I am halfway there.
I need to share a few inspiational links, that I stumbled upon while planning and dreaming about the interior of our new house.
Gudrun Sjödén is a Swedish designer with a wonderfully creative fabric collection. Follow the link to Home Spring 2008 from the startpage. Her blankets, rugs and bedspreads are so happy.
At HAPPYsthlm I found jewellry and fabric themed “vegetation” which really appeals to me. I hope to see a lot more from them with inspiration from nature.
Hope you are having a good week!
May 21, 2008 at 9:38 pm · Filed under our house, eco, family
May 9, 2008 at 3:54 pm · Filed under eco, knitting
I have started on the Medallion Shawl by Norah Gaughan from Vogue Knitting, which I fell in love with a little while ago. At first I choose a multicoloured green merino yarn that I simply adore. My original idea was that it would look a bit like seaweed, moss or fern. Imagine being wrapped in soft, velvety, squishy moss? Ah… I do not understand - is that not what every girl dreams about? My question, however, is not about the mossyness of the scarf, but if the lace pattern works with this yarn. Cool or fool?
My second swatch is made with Blu Sky Alpacas Organic Cotton. A simply divine yarn. I have wicked thoughts about mixing up the cotton hexagons with a few made out of Deeba Silk. Which is, if possible, an even more magical yarn. It would be a kind of white in white, matte and silk and very soft kind of scarf. Would that be asking for trouble or could it be interesting? I must have knitted this swatch five times, because I kept messing it up.
I cannot make up my mind. Please help me.
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