Welcome, Friday

Must share newly found soft spot Irish singer Lisa Hannigan. She did the cover for her album herself - as she said in an interview: »I'm quite the crafter«. Made me smile. She's so sweet.
There are so many lovely tunes on YouTube, but this version of I Don't Know pushed me over the edge. (although one shouldn't deprive oneself of the official video). Need I say I ordered the album? Sorry, I·Tunes - this crafty cover I gotta have :-) (via lovely all buttoned up).

Scraps is released Sunday ... I feel a give-away coming up ... :-)
I wish you warm and soothing weekend days.

Building from Scraps Part IV: Finishing

Finishing the collage, I started with glueing a piece of watercolor paper onto the cardboard, and letting it dry. Knowing I was going for blue-ish, I watercolored the surface a light blue shade, then found it somewhat dull, with no real texture. Painted it over with Ecoline, Prussian Blue – which was too dark for the transfers to stand out. (I realize now, I should have documented this, but I quess I was was completely caught up in the process—it never occured to me that taking pictures of this might be a swell idea).
I kept working the surface with layers of white acryllic paint, mixing it with leftover blue tones from my watercolor box. Once I found the background apropriate, with different tones in game, but not-too-contrasty, I let it dry and stamped the chinese "rain" at the top. Gave the Lady's frock a makeover, and was ready to glue the elements on.
In this collage, I pretty much stuck to the layout plan. But as a little bonus :-), I found a small metal circle on the sidewalk, that made a fine break for all the square elements at the bottom.
The wooden stick across, below the lady, changed appearance a few times. From thicker, to stamped on (with flower stamp), to this without the broad stripes, to this.
The knots were added last minute, and after having slept on it, I darkened the corner fans with some blue pastel on a cotton ball.

So—there we are. A-Z, skipping a few letters.

It ended up a lovestory. Of the two gentle people - Eileen, a matron of plain origin, an often misundestood woman, due to her fierce apperance, and her sweet Frederick (who was actually a king). Alas, a relationship doomed from the very beginning. Fredrick had, since boyhood, been promised to Princess Fleur of Monaco, but since that fleeting affair with Eileen in Edinbourough, the two lovers' hearts were bound. For all eternity.

(Hey - if you are still here, I wanna thank you for your patience :·)
Building from Scraps part I, part II, part IIb, part III.

I like le belle collage.

I_____you

I have a GoCard out this week. (GoCards are free postcards, on stands in cafés and bars all over town). This says (in Danish): I _____ you, and on the back there's a cloud of suggestions; miss, bring, see, text, admire, help, love, choose, dare, hold, and many more :-) Feel free to fill in the blank.

This add from VW made me smile.
I am SO going to watch Yann Arthus-Bertrand's HOME in HD, when Danish Television airs it on November 1st. (you can see the whole film with the link on YouTube. And the guys at YT have been kind to make the screen xtra large). (Link via Elsebeth).
On a more ... delicious level, please visit Ritzy Bee. Boy! She makes yumminess.
Have a delightful weekend :-)

The Facts of Sunday blogging

Hi :) I hope you had a great weekend. And for you Danish guys who had efterårsferie (an autumn holiday here), I hope you have enjoyed that too.
So!
Sunday fact #1) My left pinky finger hurts from extensive week + weekend knitting. (I use it to hold the string so it won't flobber). I made a vest :-) (above)
Sunday Fact #2) Went to TIVOLI and took 104 pictures I would have sworn were all orange and had pumpkins in them, but my little collage turned out ... purple-ish :) How wonderfully surprising!
Sunday Fact #3) (I don't have any more). Feel free to add a Sunday fact!

♫ Bon Iver: Re:Stack?
My Funny Eye posts The Ends.
And Grainne Morton makes the most beautiful brooches, ear rings, necklaces -- pure yumminess. She also has a blog. (via She Draws)

Taste of Tuesday

Thank you for your sweet comments on the illo in progress :-)

Recipe graphics at Recipe Look, via Emilie Boudet.
Lovely: Tas-ka, and Tas-ka shop.

Great, inspiring Alexandra Hedberg gave this hilarious lego-link.
Don't miss Alexandra's Art as business! Great stuff.

Building from Scraps Part III: Placing the elements

I pretty much knew how the basic layout—the arches and the placing of the Lady should be—so now I needed to find the rest of the elements, the details, and with them, the story. Who is she? What does she do? Why is she sitting here, and is she alone? What's her story?

I found a stamp, and in it was the Danish King Frederik the ninth. There was my story. I'm not going to tell yet -- but she's not royal, that's for sure, and then I shall say no more. Until next time, when the background will be painted on the grey cardboard, the elements will be glued on, stamped and transferred. And probably something else, I no nothing of now.

I haven't had much time to visit, so no links today. I plan to make up for this in the weekend :-)
Have a good one. And take care.

Building from Scraps Part I, Part IIa, Part IIb

Fiona Finished

(more Fiona here) Recipe and yarn from Helga Isager.

Sarajo Frieden - genious hats and hairdos - wonderful!
Speaking of hats ... found this Ingemar Stenmark-hat at Purl Bee :-))
Sweet autum mood and fabulous light at forty-sixth at grace.
Wish you a pleasant Wednesday :)

Coffee Owls

These woolies are for a Christmas fair. Actually, I haven't found one yet, but I'm thinking it will come. Do you know of any? (in Copenhagen, preferably ;-).

Gabrielle Raaff makes awesome watercolors.
Via Skinny Laminx.

Building from Scraps Part II.b: More backgrounds

I think I'll be able to use top r and bottom l. I have an idea of the base-background, and the composition is starting to form as well. Something like this

this.
The little Lady here made her entrance as well. Dunno'f she'll stick around.

Building from scraps part I, and part II.a
Imgfave (-- careful—I spend hours there the other night. Endless wonders).

Building from Scraps Part II: Backgrounds

The light was in a hurry this afternoon, there really wasn't enough to make the shots :-) I think fall is here—the ouverture at least, is in midst play. It's beautiful. I'm ready to exhale.
I did a little work on some backgrounds for the "walk-along-collage". I'm not satisfied; I will continue tomorrow.

Great collages at Señorita Leona

Little shop of hand-mades

I have wanted to make a new shop for a while, and now it's here—with bright, happy colors for launch. I'd be happy to hear your opinion :-) Thanks.

Tomorrow I will post Part II of the Building from Scraps.
On Min Hjelm (My Helmet) you can design your very own biking helmet (in Danish only)
+ you can check out yummy eye-candies at Keetra's.

Building from Scraps Part I: Elements

In my life as graphic designer, I usually have rules to obey. Assignments where text should be readable (!), pictures be decodable, page no. 12 should follow 11, and so on.
I like this—but I also really like making stuff where I have to follow NO RULES. The Dear Diary-project is like this, and the collages too. Sometimes telling a little story, sometimes just a color, or emphera gathering. I love how I know nothing about the little piece before I begin (I rarely plan a collage). We just sort of take each other for a walk.
So today I thought about asking you to stroll along (if you'd like, and have the time?). I have no idea how it's gonna turn out, or if it'll be any good/pretty/interesting? (woup, felt the sligt sting of fear of not doing good for a sec there :) Anyhoo—stage one for this is some elements (which of course might be replaced, partly or alltogether—time will tell.
:-)Let's walk ...

A few links: I love this pair from Mrs. Eliot Books.
and four beautiful photo-collages from Fine Little Day: 1 2 3 4

Pre-order available now

Our book on collages, Scraps, from Lark Books is now available for pre-orders on Amazon.
I'm excited, happy and grateful, and I'm thinking a little giveaway, come release in November, might be the perfect way to share this grattitude :-)



In the meantime I will show you the cover, (the lady on the cover is my late aunt Ella), and tell you what Claudine Hellmuth from collageartist.com and Jenny Doh, editor-in-chief at Somerset Studio think about the book. (Thank you guys so much :-)) ThankyouThankyouThankyou :-)

»Scraps is overflowing with visual eye candy, inspiration, tips and tricks you can use in your collages right away! A perfect addition to any paper artists' library.«
Claudine Hellmuth, Collage Artist, Author and Illustrator

»Scraps is an enchanting book that illustrates the transformative nature of collage.«
Jenny Doh, Editor-in-Chief, Somerset Studio and Director of Publishing, Stampington & Company

You can see some of the images from the book in my portfolio, and more collages here.

Yellow Sponge Philosophy (in NaturesOwnColours™)

1. Dear Diary


2. Reminiscence of July


3. Everlasting Love of Hama. (Considering a little shop—this might make its way there)

This entire post was kindda inspired by an episode of Spongebob Squarepants.
The Idiot Box. Spongebob and Patrick buy a huge TV, only so they can use the giant cardboard box to play in, using their Imaginaaaation. Eleven minutes to be appreciated on many levels :)
Happy Monday. Please remember to enjoy it in Colour.

Take charts!

I hope you are well. I am working a lot these days—feeling very thankful.


A card I made earlier this summer. Do you remember the peacock?
Making the gif in Photoshop, the chart (below) appeared. Oh joy! More charts :)


If you have seen the movie Carne Tremula, you might know this track: Sufre como yo. It made such an impression on me. I hope you will like it too.
Lovely Cecilia Levy's: Constellations
and a cooool book jacket, via Things I Like About Today

One should defintately make more charts!

Wouldn't that be cool. "Mood-chart of the day". "Efficiency-chart of monthly dairy intake". Ok. Maybe not.
Did you ever play The Sims? The characters' "plumbob" turn green when he or she is happy (and red when they're upset). I sometimes think "if I was a Sim—my plumbob'd be completely green right now" :-D . Not a bad idea, though—could be helpful in numerous situations. (why did-I...? Oh yeah -- mood charts).

So. Ok. Charts. And doodles.
Please meet Fiona (trust the chart—not the photo).

Fell in love with enchanting ceramist le petit atelier de paris. She also has a blog. (via dear oly). ummnm. so beautiful. Have a great day :)

a Moment

(a little holiday sketch)


Friday. Wonderful, Sunny, Soothing Friday.
Will you take a moment with me? Five minutes (well 5:25 to be exact). To lean back, listen, and let the world around you -- simply be!
I hope you will join me. And have a wonderful weekend.
F/style via HunterGatherer.

♥

Yesterday at the gym, I all of a sudden sensed the smell of Autumn. Do you get that too? Sometimes it's the earthy smell of outside, sometimes the rain, sometimes that hard-to-put-your-finger-on smell, when you instantaneously think: Sweaters. Knitting. Tea. Forestwalks. Soup. Candles. Bam! All at once, in a smell.
I love the Autumn. Love-love-love. If I was to choose a favourite season, Autumn would be it.
Which one is yours?
Loveliness for both eye and ear at Par3rgon.
Have a sweet Tuesday :)

Working days—knitty nights

Finished a little neckwarmer. Modified Cherry by Helga Isager.
Have you seen The Pearce Sisters? You can watch it here. Very beautiful. And a little scary :-)
Great blog Dear Oly. Via Eddy and Edwina (who, luckily for us, is posting again after a break)

Thankful

Nothing to do, and Momma's working aaaall the time. Come lunchtime, we decided to grab a quick bite, standing. Suggestion: Rye bread with fig spread. Sure. And remoulade ...?! Yddrr, we both said. —should we try? Reaction: Ummnn ... good. (!)
Down went 3 fig-spread-remoulade. (I must admit I stuck to my potato-mayo-bites) and we took out the fancy glasses to drink pommegranate juice from, pretending it was a very fine red wine. Did you know?! This kindda wine is absolutely best enjoyed with a snip of parsley. Yep!

Colours_B

Last colour post for now
♥+peace to all.

Colours_E(arth)

Andrew Bannecker. And blog (sadly a while since he posted)

Colours_G

Michael van Ofen Images

Colours_W

Creative Suite pillow collection
via BumBumBum

Colours_P

One more. (I just love her work)
Delicious dishes.

Colours_Y

Thank you so much for your sweet and wise and wonderful comments:)
For the ears: Bon Iver : Flume
For the eyes: Wolf in Sheep's Clothing
For the smile: Knitwear for Life (says it all :)

Dear Diary

The Dear Diary project is so much about process. It is so important for me that I challenge myself, and the Diary is a playground in which I can feel free.
However, ambition and everlasting judging play here too, and sometimes, when a Diary page goes -- since there's no wrong here, then -- off!, dark skies gather over the premises :-) I liked this spread better a good three or four stages ago. But then green paint entered, and ... well—Process.

Flipping back through the book, shows me exactly when I have been feeling creatively relaxed, and when I've been struggeling. There are days when I'd had liked all pages to be perfect, but that's no Diary. My book is, in this way, very honest, raw and tells the story of a process. Ups and downs. Flow and no. And green paint where there should have been none ...
Best of weekends to you.
Before you go :·) Great stuff at Poppytalk Handmade (via LeiLiLaLoo)

Above

Being busy with wonderful, fun design jobs. Managed to do half a Diary page too :-)
These photos are from 3 evenings this week










1. Thunder, Tuesday July 7th. 2. Sunny day bright evening, Monday July 6th, 3. Cracked, Sunday July 5th

Dreamy photography by Erin Tyner
via Small Mag, Spring ed.
Have a sweet mid-week.

Stages

Heather Smith Jones, Jane Austin in Japaneese, and Rosemarie Fiore (very much her waffle iron paintings).

Wou-hoo

Books arriving! Oh joy. A Year of Mornings; been wanting that for so long. Lena Corwins: Printing By Hand; yum. Murakami + Rushdie—gotta see what the fuss is about, and poems selected, sending warm thoughts to Mansuetude for inspiration. Thanks :-)

Made elderflower syrop. Not much this year–just this bottle, and allready much of it is gone :-) As it should be. Been experimenting with jam of the leftover lemons. It might go well with cheese, or simply morning toast.

Small Magazine Summer issue is out, with lots and lots of yumminess.
Have a sweet weekend