Things to be Thankful for

on Monday 17:16
- Beautiful, shining family
- Peace of mind
- Gorgeous, wise, loving friends (with big ears and huge hearts)
- Warm cheeks and cold feet (litterally, that is ;-)
- Abundance of work (= main reason for being so quiet on blog lately)
- Winning Tsk Tsk Tiel's awesome contest, and receiving wonderful package of babuschka goodies all the way from Australia. Thank you so so much, Tiel :-)
- Last of beautiful day's beams of sunshine on floor

Please have a lovely evening, and if you feel like it, I would love to hear which things you are thankful for today ...?

✶
The New Yorker magazine covers

♫
Camille: Ta Douleur

Gallery

Tuesday is SMK-day. Right picture is from the exhibition RE:THINK.
...
In the book I bought recently was many great artists, one: Lorenzo Petrantoni. Please watch these awesome animations with his work: 1 and 2
c·u·soon :)

Illustration Friday: Propagate

♥

Perhaps it was the idea of all those granny squares, that made me think that I at least needed to finish a few projects first.

Remember the scarf? Well that is ready to venture out into the cold.


And yesterday I did a little fabric bag. For scarfs maybe? Or socks? Or perhaps it's a pillow? Whatever it is, it was great fun to sew :-) and it has been a doodle in my sketch book for longer than I like to admit ... :-)

I'm heading for a busy week, workwise, so here are a few more links that usual ...
Aimee posted of Diana Trout, who made an Art Journal video that was hugely inspiring, if y'ask this humble blogger.
Ale Mercado
Camilla Falsini

Take care :) See you soon

Illustration Friday: Adrift

Calm

Fortunately for me, one does not have to be able to read Japanese to read pictures ...
Left: a little set-up from my window
Right: a picture of a book on how to knit with beads



Left and right: more pictures of books in Japanese

Paper Schmaper
Jon Klassen at Design Sponge, +, +

You Granny - Me Square!

Yarn is like CANDY! (I feel like I've been here before). But it's so true—I have little resistance! During a little browse through a different yarn barn than my usual, I spotted a whole table of thinly spun wool on huge spools, of which I could mix my own batch. »I'll take 10 g of this, and 15 g of that«. Imma tellin' ya—my pulse went up significantly!

(click for bigger picture ;-)

These little guys are quite small; 3,5x3,5 cm. They would be amazing as a full size blanket ...
(did you say ...?) Well, I know myself well enough to know that a project of this magnitude could very well be overtaken by another (in a matter of mere minutes, to be frank). So no outrageous ambitions, no pressure, just pure love for what has the potential to be a wolly wonder. And I bought only 50 g. Taking it one square at a time. Like life, no?! :)

+Dottie Angel was new to me a few days ago. Not s'much anymore—do you know those blogs that get right in your system, and just make you keep hitting "older posts"? DA's blog was like this for me. So many great photos, so many sweet funny words and so much lovely inspiration.

+Nomono (illustration) Cool stuff!

Take care:)

Dear Mr. Mailbox

... thank you for nesting this. Dear Mr. Postman; thank you for bringing it. Dear Ms Manos; thank you for selling, and Dear Mrs. Engman; thank you so much for creating this sweet kitchen towel, for Manos to sell, Postman to bring, Mailbox to nest, and for me to dance with all through the dishes.

Wish I could post ...

... smell! These miniature lemon-poppyseed madeleines made my place smell divine. The recipe is easy; take any regular muffin recipe you like and add mashed banana, zest and juice of a lemon, and 3 tablespoons black poppyseed.
+ I saw the link for these sweet paper flowers at Once Wed, a long time ago at Sandra Jutos. Now I finally made some.

+ a little collage

Wish you a happy Thursday :)

The Red Otter – wonderful, inspiring blog

Greetings!

Made these four cards, and put them in the shop. They are all original collages, on an a5 white double card, and come with a matching coloured high quality envelope.

double-click these three to enlarge

Have a sweet weekend!
Talking to Volcano,
Jokemijn

oooohhh

I said the other day I had bought some books on comtemporary illustration and graphic design, and here are a few photos. Matte Stephens, Pietary Posti, Marco Wagner, Martin Haake are just a few of the artists. Gorgeous awesome amazing!
:)

Under cover still

It snowed again last night. The world insists on being in b&w. It's so funny visiting Geninne or Gracia, whom's worlds are in colour this time of year. Ours will be in colour again when the time comes. For now, I'm enjoying the cold light and crispness.



Do you know Neil Gaiman? He's one of my favorite authors, and recently I stumbled 'cross this adorable little interview his 10-year old daughter made with him. Sometimes in interviews, if you listen real good, you can hear the slight distance the interviewed places between him (or her) and the interviewer (which I totally understand. Must be hard to be expected to turn yourself inside out, because you wrote a book, made a piece of art or).
But you can't do that with your child. Don't want to, I quess. This interview is full of love and smile and un-distance. Made me so happy.

Here, but not here

These smelled so sweet, fresh out of the oven.
It's wonderfully snowy here, and the couch-area is a blanket-full, hot cocoa-buttered buns-smelling comfort zone. So I'm here, y'know. But not :-) Got two new books (awesome inspiring illustration-ones - show you later), new music and audiobooks from the library. —yeah ... 'think 'm gonna hang out in the cozy corner (when not working, naturellement:) another day or two :-)))
I hope you are well. Will see you soon:)

No visual links, but a little music; Camille :)

last of the three

—and a link: A Friend to knit with; sweet and knitty inspiration.
Have a wonderful weekend :-)

(...)

(notice the lotus in the herbs?;-)

I have collected some reviews of our book Scraps—an inspirational field guide to collage on the right for you to read (if you like). —>

Delicious Ann Wood Handmade. Truckloads of eyecandy.

...

After 3+ hours of doing taxes, someone felt like a bit of doodling :)
I did two more—I'll show them later.

Esti posted the most delicate stonepicture the other day
Head over heels in love with Miki Sato's work

Hermit

1 ink
1 crossword puzzle
3 games of memory
1 double cup o' joe
5 text messages
0 worries


I didn't leave the house today :) Do you sometimes get that way too?
Began a little neck-warmer from leftover silk-alpaca (sooo soft), thinking it up while I go. The pendants will go at the ends. (Buttons are better than candy!).
I hope your Sunday is soothing.

Are you an owl lover? Then please don't miss My Owl Barn :)
Cool cords

e-see you soon :)

hmm ... looks healthy, huh?

:-) It tastes better than it looks, but granted, there's a whole lot 'o good conscience in there too. It started out as carrot, orange and fresh ginger, but that little sucker just burned my taste buds right off. Ginger's mean! In case anyone asks. So I had to soften the thing up with some mango and blueberry (and more orange and carrot). Ah well.

Watched The Accidental Husband this weekend, which led to crush on Uma's knitted vest/sleeveless jacket. A delightful challenge! I have these few pictures (tried googling, but found nothing). I'll team up with my local yarnbarn and figure out way to knit this.

Busy day today. With a few (four, actually) deadlines to be met, so off I go. I hope you have a good one.
:)

A few links before you go? Delilcate M
And a fun picture - Adobe Photoshop in 3D :-) **update** Here's a Flickr set on how they built it

Over and over again

I never get tired of taking pictures of the sky. Like no two snowflakes are alike, the sky keeps changing tones, and the soft colours just make my hair curl.
I recently finished reading a book that suggested a bit of perspective in order to understand the logic of enjoying life. It read You're sitting on a planet spinning around in the middle of absolutely nowhere. (...) You're floating in empty space in a universe that goes on forever. As trite as it may be, looking at the sky reminds me of this. I'm just a breath, on a piece of dust in the middle of eternity—feeling absolutely blessed.

I'm nuts about Yokoo. Beside savouring her numerous selfportraits and gorgeous knitwear, please read her funny Etsy interview, visit her Flickr and read about her in the NY Times.
I found Yokoo via Fruenswerk (again ;-)

Collections

I love making these. Making more, having a plan. I'll tell you about it later :)
Have a grand middle-week.
Newly discovered: frazier & wing. Via Fruenswerk (who btw has new music-photo-blog links-style cookin'. Good stuff!)
He-he; do you remeber this? I had this one - Oil Panic. We called them "Bip-bip spil" (Beep-beep-games). The sound alone makes me 10 years old again :-))

Unfolding

Bought groceries. Rubbed sleep out of my eyes. In a day and 1/3 Everyday will call my attention. I'll probably answer! Will have to clean desk, gather piles of last year before I begin.
2010. Only a few hours of experience, but with the persistence of a universe.
I think I'm ready ...

On request, I made a site for my Coffee Owls with colours and prices. If you like, you can order by sending me an email.

Happy Musical Surprise # 1
Happy Musical Surprise # 2

Almost TwentyTen

Hi! I hope you have had a very nice Christmas. I have been—still am—very relaxed. Regularly bored silly, at the same time, can't be bothered to do anything. I believe I need it.
Slowly surfacing, I need to do some stuff before going back to work on the 4th.
New Year near. It is the time to do The Think.
What do you wish for 2010? For you, and for the big picture?

Olive Dear
Matte Stephens

of Waves and Wishes

In my mind there are lists. Lists of groceries for xmas. Lists of wanting to dos on Sunday. Lists of books I wish to read. Of items I wish to knit. Lists of ambitions for 2010. Of foods I'd like to taste. Places I wish to go. People I'd like to see. Projects I wish to start. And finish. Of what I wish to do more. And what I want to do less.
I'm aware that mind-lists can be ones you desperately write down so they wont clutter. These list are nothing like that. These recurrent lists are lists of anticipation. Looking forward. Of Joy, and of endless possibilities ...
I read a quote the other day that stuck; it was by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, and read

A goal without a plan is just a wish

It stuck, I quess, because I have a lot of wishes. There's nothing wrong with having wishes. But having indefinate wishes sometimes stand in the way of carrying them out.
Last year, around this time, I ventured out on a wonderful journey—going into business on my own. I happily went out to sea, having thrown all my baggage in the cabin, a big mess, and set sail.
The year has truely been great. I'm not sailing for shore. But I will use this break to go below deck. And find the compass.
...
As you can see above, I received Estis gorgeous Calendar
And Camillas wonderful book. Thank you both.

Tak

Thank you Fideli, for the wonderful ornaments I received today. They are absolutely gorgeous - I love them. Two of the three are presents. I won't tell which, or for whom;)
...
I have had this image from Anne Bundgaard on my list of faves for a while, and this month it is on the cover of BoligLiv.

so quiet ...

Do you know that sound the snow makes, when it takes away all the other sounds, just to sound quiet?
This morning I didn't hear the alarm clock. Maybe it was because I only slept four hours. Or maybe it looked at me at six, tilted its head and whispered "ahow--she looks so peaceful-- I should let her sleep a little bit longer". Two hours later, all the morning stuff done with, I'm back in my place, the best coffee in the city in a cardboard cup by my side, silence quietly tucks itself around my shoulders. On the other side of the glass, snow waves hello, as it flows by. Some pause, quietly, others seem to be in a bit of a rush. I wave back. Not making a sound.
Snow and Northern Lights. A set (the doll at the bottom is by Cathy Cullis)

"Room for Silence"

Yves Klein Fire Paintings
Luc Besson Subway

On review

Weekend greetings to all. I hope you are well, and not at all stressed out over forecoming holiday :)

The cover I did for a book on Danish climate politics was chosen as "book cover of the week" by Politiken's book section last Saturday. Sabine was kind to tell me about it -- thank you :)
The review is very nice. I'm so honored.

I hope you will bear with me for a flick more; I can't wait for this to premiere; The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus. WOAH! I mean ... what's not to simply love here: Terry Gilliam instructing! Tom Waits as the Devil himself! Heath Ledger (last of his films btw)! Jude Law, Christopher Plummer, Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell! All whipped together in Gilliamsque wonderous eye candy. YUM!

of links and likes

I love this track (found via dear oly).
I am working much and sketching, inbetween, in my diary (we have been disacquianted -- need to find each other again). Cancelled my television; in a few days, there will be only the movies I rent. I will have to remind myself to listen more to the radio. In order not to be completely disconnected. Listening to Murakami. Reading fortysixthatgrace's dream of travel. I dream of this too. On my wish list: Esti's calendar, Camilla's book
I hope your Wednesday be warm and soothing.
✶

Joy

This morning I went walking for a couple of hours, and I ended up in a public garden. In sunlight. The first frost gently biting my nose. I felt utterly thankful.

i.Anton's beautiful photostream. Via Anahata Katkin.
Did you know that Eric Carle—father of The Very Hungry Caterpillar—has a blog?? This made me so happy :-)
Lark made an interview with Elsebeth and me. You can read it here.

Thank you for entering :-) ·*Contest now closed*·

Thank you so much for celebrating the international release of Scraps with me, for all your kind, wonderful comments, and for sharing your places—it has been sush a treat to be handed all these wonderful links to all you guys' awesome creative spaces. Thank you for that.
I will find the two winners using Random.org, and let you know who you are asap:-)
In the meantime, this little muse (also from the book) is here to keep you company.
Thank you again. Have a wonderful 1st of December.
xo

*update ·· the winners are: Elizabeth and Dianne. Congratulations :-)*