Merry Christmas :-)

A very merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you are enjoying the holiday.
I'd like to share xmas cake pictures and recipe, and have gathered it all at Clemmensen&Brok.

Thank you Gracia&Louise for the great tip, made me generous on the liquids :-) Which paid off.

Time for relaxing. Are you up to something special?

The David Collection

The other day my friend and I visited The David Collection here in Copenhagen. Like so many other cities around the world, Copenhagen holds many museums, and I find myself puzzled as of why there are still so many of them I haven't yet visited. The David Collection was one of such unvisited. Now no more.

And what a treat this museum is. Holding three permanent collections, The Islamic is the most visited, and also the one we saw. Absolutely stunning; the art, the surroundings and the atmosphere was wonderful, inspiring, educational ... and a mind broadening experience. And the staff was really really sweet.

Okay. 'nough with the words :-)

I love this. Now on my cell phone display :)

The last images on mind before I fell asleep that night, was fluttering signs dancing on warm colored backgrounds

...

The reason our choise fell on The David Collection this Wednesday was their Special exhibition on Sufism. My friend is quite versed in this area, and I, having recently bought a collection of Rumi poems, was eager to learn more.

Being only one room, the exhibition was quite small, but as oposed to the huge permanent one we had strolled through, reading infoboards sporadically, we absorbed every word and every nuance of this one room. The stories and the art made a great impression on me.

This board reads a prayer and a poem from 1658:
If you seek the jewel in a mine, then you yourself are the jewel; if you live for the soul in the body, then you yourself are the soul – know that when the day is over, you are what you are seeking.

Candy collection

:-)

Pipe Cleaner Elf

With a little yarn, felt and some pipe cleaners, and some fairy heads and clogs from the crafts store, we made some very easy elves.

Illustrations

I was fortunate to be asked to illustrate an article in the beautiful foodie mag: Copenhagen Food :-) This one is about Christmas foods in other countries.

I apologize for the quality of the photos. I'm so challenged with the seasonal lack of light ;)
Today old friends came over, and we made æbleskiver and glögg, and felted hearts and pibe cleaner Elfs.

Mrs. Eliot Books had a post on Instagram which is really cool. And Francesca's Flickr pool is awesome!

WHATTA-YA-KNOW???

A little door appeared out of no-where here at the office yesterday! I do believe the little Elf has his own entrance. And he brought candy! What a sweet elf :-))))

More elf doors here, and here and here :-)

Christmassy at the office

Feeling wonderfully Christmassy at the office now :o) I know—I'm a little late posting this. (Dang! note to self: when photographing stuff with dates on, publish same day!« You should know how many images I have lying around: »planned but never published« That's New-Year-Resolution-material right there ;-)

I hope you have reasons to begin December with a smile :-)
Yesterday I was recommended to find Smilerynker's (»Crowsfeet's«) blog. Via a lady who'd been inspired by Smilerynker to make this in a corner of her appartment: A little elf-door in the wall. Isn't this the sweetest idea? I think my kids may be too old for Elves sneaking in and out of the walls now. But I'm not :-) Maybe I should start looking for doors ...

Have a warm and sweet Friday

It's beginning to smell a lot like xmas ...

Today we celebrated first advent Sunday, and lighted the first candle in this year's advent wreath. Last year I made three—one out of paper, one of fabric, and a miniture one using christmas tree candles and egg cups. This year's advent »wreath« is not really a wreath, more of a foresty bump with lots of birdies on it :-) We've had many an argument wether or not it was a crying shame to light these innocent lil' creatures.

No animals were harmed during this shot.

Feeling awfully Christmassy, I also started a long planned (or long dreamed, rather) foodie project: I'm making a traditional English Christmas cake. I have high hopes for this puppy (which, I might add, is of considerate weight and sturdiness).
The creature has soaked in booze, been sifted, stirred, whisked, spiced, baked and boozed some more. And it aint over yet! Now it shall sit for three weeks, to be regurlarly drizzled with ... more booze. Then decorated. Then (hopefully) enjoyed.

I have never even had Christmas cake before. And have no idea what I have gotten myself into.
Am I in for a treat?

Happy 1st Advent Sunday! And happy beginning of Christmas month:-)

Work

Made the Danish cover for Pierre Pradervand's The Gentle Art of Blessing.

Many sweet and cool tattoos at Tattly.
This 80s wristwatch is my favorite :-)))!
+ Like how she'swearing this
Via Book By Its Cover

New Kid In Town

The little family of Coffee Owls has a new member, and it'sapink :-)
Same hi-quality 100% wool. Same hi-glass class eyes (or was it the other way around ;o)

The grey/yellow Coffee Owl (which has been the most popular so far) is temporarily out of stock.
But shall soon return!
Camilla Engman is collecting »Morran art«, and making a book.

I love this chocolatety board; San van Heems' »Color=Brown« on Pinterest

Soul Food

This weekend is Copenhagen Book Fair-weekend. I went yesterday, and in spite of the fact that Friday is a normal workday, the place was packed. Yes, of books ;o) and of book-lovers too. Ain't it great?!
Judging by the amount of visiters, it seems the book is still a beloved media.

It's always fun and inspiring to look at covers, and the foodie in me was drooling all over all the fabulous cook books. Especially Marie Melchior's Når livet er en fest (When Life Is A Celebration) and Anette Eckmann's Naturens spisekammer (Nature's Larder).

(The picture right above here is from the little publishing house Batzer & Co. Now, I cannot say I have read all of their books, but a few, and the ones I have, have all been of the mindblowing, life-altering kind, and are without exception among the best books I have ever read. I am actually quite awestruck by this! Some record in my book ;-)

Accidentally bumped into Blues Brothers later last night :-))) Into this scene; Amazing Aretha, her bouncing hips and pink slippers singing at her and hubby Matt "Guitar" Murphy's joint: Soul Food.
:-) Take it away, Aretha!



Today, I'm baking sellery in salt crust. Smells autumn-y and sweet. M-mmmm! Soooul Foood indeed ;-)

What's your Soul Food?
:-)

Hoot Hoot

Many a fledget Coffee Owl have flown from the nest lately. Last weekend I emptied the shelves of yellow yarn, and grapped some pink, white and earthy tones  too.

Time to expand the palette.

Pretty crafty Lori Marie blog via Pinterest

knitty witty

Arne & Carlos 55 Christmas balls to knit. A fabulous book with great patterns for small cozy xmas yarn balls. These guys crack me up. You can see little videos of them on their website.

... But...what...then... that five-needle thing next to the book... is that a xmas ball then??

no-no. Can't say I'm a one-project-yarnie ;-)) 5-10 project-yarnie more likely! This is the beginning of a pair of long wrist warmers for work. A wonderful (and fast) no-recipe thing. This warmer here is already almost ready.

And speaking of funny knits: Love this turkey baby hat :-))) from Melondipity
Loooovely mushroom board at Pinterest

Foggy

On my way to work yesterday. Autumn has been so mild, and the mornings dim and silent.

Wauw! Feel as if I've been in a regular time warp. Where did those past two-and-a-half weeks go??? Work have been ca-raiizy, which made my brain shut down for brief moments :-))) Last week grocery shopping I used the self-service register like I've done so many times before, and I actually placed two cartons of milk in my shopping bag without scanning them first! ...
Me: »Miss! Theres something wrong with the screen—the machine won't let me continue«
Helpful-lady-at-register: »You have to scan your groceries before putting them in your bag. Otherwise it's stealing«
Me: »Oh«
Man! Did I feel stupid. I actually bursted into a lame explanation of how I'd had a really busy day, but she'd already turned to help someone else. I alternately laughed and shook my head all the way home.

But alas! Now Weekend has put its warm, soft arms around me, and though I still have to work a little, I also want to blog! And knit! (got mi'self a brand new book, and yarn in new colors for Coffee-Owls-to-come to share with you later).

I updated my website during the holiday. Or rather -- made a brand new one. Which—thanks to very-user-friendly IWeb—was actually easier than updating (plus the old site felt a bit outdated). The link is here if you want to see some of my work stuff: christineclemmensen.dk

See you soon:-) I hope your weekend treats you with soft- and mellowness!
:-)

Pretty patterns on Pinterest
Delicate »Queen« by Emma Block. Emma's blog here. Also via Pinterest

a quick hello ...

The schools are closed this week, and rain and sunshine fight over who's stronger. It's an equal match!
Just a quick hello, with a crooked face from yesterdays trip to Tivoli.

I'm kind of holiday-ing, or have been yesterday and today, but also updating my portfolio, and the next couple of days I'll be working some. I'm using iweb for my new webpage - and am blown away by how easy it is to use. How fortunate, since I'm no html-master.

I hope you are well, hope that autumn is treating you gently.

Pretty table linen from Thornback&Peel
Another kind of prints from Collage-O-rama

Good morning ...

Good morning Copenhagen,

Good morning Sir,

Goodmorning Sunshine,

Good morning Shadow (Good morning Tourist on steps) ...

Good morning secret gardens and gentle caretakers,

Good morning hidden details,

Good morning Streets of Ocean ...

and good morning neighbour.
A good morning, indeed :)

Majali Illustration

Make your own stuffed Turtle from Make it and Love it

WINNERS! ...and a little drawing

With random.org as little helper, I found two winners of the fruity earrings :-) Congratulations KayLovesVintage & Mathilde :-) And thank you, everyone, for playing :-)))

1. Mette 

2. Farfalla

3. Kaylovesvintage 

4. Losarinas mor

5. Mathilde Brødsgaard 

6. TichTach 

7. Theo 

8. We Blog Artists 

9. helle 

10. Erika 

11. Lydia 

♫ Lovely Leonard Cohen (A Thousand Kisses Deep)

♪ Everlasting Leonard Cohen (Undertow)

Under-the-sea-drawings for a book cover.

A little break

I took time off yesterday. And ended up watercoloring. Felt amazing to make something that wasn't for anything ...

... favorite colours ...

this color-combo (above) were inspired by this amazing shawl from Facile avec Cécile. Aren't like those colors at all though—inspiration works in mysterious ways! (click to enlarge)

Btw, really recommend Facile avec Cécile. Many sweet diy's.

My dear friend sent me this today: Norwedian Savings&Loan commercial with George Clooney. Her expression is just priceless! Love this so much, so funny :-)))

Daily presents

Whenever I can, I walk to where I work. The walk takes me through my beloved old city, and there are numerous routes to follow. I try to walk different ones each time. Each one holds a small present.

Yesterday took me through Christiansborg, into the garden, and through the collonades. The noise of the city are kept out by these light sandy gray walls, and made room for a different sound; of horses. Turning my head, a door was open, and I snug into The Royal Stables. What a treat.

 

I so wasn't supposed to be here, but when a staff passed me (and my obvious phonecamera), he silently ignored me and went on with his day, so I snug out again, to go on with mine.

Fire Illusion

Crazy Cube Illusion

Animated Optical Illusions

There's a new place in town

Torvehallerne, a brand new marked place in the center of Copenhagen, opened last Friday, and today we went to browse and perhaps make taste buds happy :-)

and did we ever ...

dried cape gooseberries, mandarin orange, and mango

fresh honey still on the wax:

It was a feast! Foccacia from Il Fornaio (section C9) Cheese from Ostelageret (section G5) Olives and dolmades from Stig's Oliven, and for the sweet toof; dried cape gooseberries, mandarin orange, and mango from Exotic mix (section A2) and fudge! (There was a whole section of fudge!)

...did you catch the toof-link;-))) If not, here it is. Proper linked: My Milk Toof; playing Monopoly (these guys crack me up every time :-)))

a m·i·n·i·a·t·u·r·e GIVEAWAY

Why is it, that all things tiny just makes me go »aww...« ?! Well, these little guys made my head tilt with the velocity of a summer lightning! 

Naturally, I'd like to share my miniature excitement, and what better way to do that, than with a tiny GIVE-AWAY. So if you'd like a pair of earrings—fruit of your choise—leave a comment to this post before October 1st :-) Please state which pair you'd prefer to win (see the little number under the earringees?) I will draw two winners, and notify directly. I hope you'd like to play along.

(btw—the book on which the earrings are photographed, is the lovely »FLORA« by Nick Knight).

(lastly; a little »after«-image to go with the »before« from ... well ... before. I may not be the most active blogger these days, but I s'rre finish me teacozies ...)

;o)

A few links to travel by: IF-interview with artist and illustrator Chris Buzelli.

Sub-surface images from Nick Goodey's pinbord: Under The Sea.

Sunday spent in the Kitchen

One of the great benefits of having an office is that I seldomly work on the weekends anymore (as opposed to every weekend before). This has freed what feels to be a massive amount of time—time for some of the »homy« stuff I love so much.

Today I spent the entire day in the kitchen. I made a batch of pickles made from my late grandmother's recipe. (You can find a couple of pictures, and the recipe here if you like: at Clemmensen & Brok)

I made a cake and a terrine from the giant zucchini. Wheat and rye buns with nigella seeds, sausage rolls, basil pesto, and for dinner; spicy chicken wings with root ragout and creamy polenta. (might have gone a little bit overboard—admittedly I was kindda beat once we'd finished dinner :-)



The beginning of tea cozy from Saturday. Much too tired to knit now. Perhaps tomorrow.

I hope your Sunday was awesome!