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 :-)*

I Miss You

...
Remember; you can still participate in the big Scraps give-away.
*Monday will be last chance to enter*.
Thanks to all who have entered so far :)
...
On October 8th, Herta Müller received this year's Nobel Prize in Literature. I am reading her 1986 novel Der Mensch ist ein groβer Fasan auf der Welt (»Man is a great pheasant in the world«), in English published as The Passport, and I have a feeling I'll be reading it many times and again ...
I am overthrown by this poetic, quiet, amazing, frightening little book, so unlike anything I have read. An excerpt and a photo.

Last of the Three Siblings

No more gloomy photos for now :)
... ♫ I hear listening to Wagner is difficult for the untrained opera ear (do you have any views on this? do you have opera ears?). I have only made it to Lohengrin Vorspiel. It's beautiful and quiet and always make me stop what I'm doing. (Good thing I'm selfemployed — no boss to go: »cut that darn musiccrap off'n get to work«. Nope! Boss-lady lets me listen.
My dear friend at Berivippen has posted awesome book altering projects.

I hope your Sunday will be peaceful. A year ago I helped a dear friend bring a wonderful little person into the world, tomorrow I will go celebrate ♥ her

Strong!

Thank you for views on sibling. Next up. (It's a withered artichoke:).
I have been Knit-blogging last few days, and found equally strong links. Is it the season perhaps? The intensity of earthy autumn is a favourite, and we have had quite the storm today, with rain and tumbled trees. Things we cook -- broths and slowly simmering flavoury stews. In this pot of ever ruling synchronicity, intensity seems to strike the note around these parts.

Completely utterly in love! Must! Knit! This Pucci! (Have nooo idea how!) But oh -- deep sigh!

A piece of ♪, perhaps? why not. Blogger's chocolate. Today, I think Anita O'Day. I love the way she moves, performing Sweet Georgia Brown at Jazz on a Summer's Night in '58.
(if you are anything like me, and one piece isn't enough—here's one more ;-)
Have a savoury Thursday!

Self Centered

A bunch of pictures; the idea was to assemble into blue-light afternoon photo collage. They wouldn't fit! Each of the four pictures were too strong to collage. Brusque. Four only children, resisting to share. What can one do, but to let them have their way ...
I will show siblings later.

A little DIY project for those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving :)
Sandra Evertson, Mansuetude, Kelly Kilmer, Alexandra Hedberg, and Cecilia have linket to this page and our book and contest recently. Thank you so much for that :)
♫ Lisa Nilsson and NHØP

Please remember Scraps-contest runs throughout November :)

Book cover design

I did the cover for this, just out. "Climate Politics in Denmark"

Tamar Mogendorff (love the bird houses). She also has a blog.
Cutie from Bossies Feltwork on Etsy.
Have a delicious weekend :)

Looking back, over my shoulder

Before Elsebeth and I began creating illustrations for Scraps, we had ourselves a book altering adventure :) These are a few pages from one I did. In a way a bit like Dear Diary.
...
I adore this photo. Has an authentic feel to it. It is part of a set: Eyewear, which is ... no words for this. Please see it! :-)
...
*if you haven't entered the Scraps November Draw - please do. Runs straight through all of November*
Thanks to all of you who have already left comments :-)

Thank you

Thank you SO much for the overwhelming response to the book and the contest. And for all the sweet comments. This has made me so happy. Thank you so so much.

Meantime, I haven't been blogging in almost a week, all because I have been covered in work (still am, really shouldn't be here—can't help myself :-)
I rely on Florence here, to nurse me if it gets too hard ;o) She's wearing a part of one of the projects I'm working on as a hat, btw -- I figured that was the least I could offer in return.

A delightful side effect of being visited by all you sweet people, has been the chance to visit you back. Wonderful places—beautiful blogs. Thank you for that too.
Please feel free to dive into all the great links.

♪ Sea of Love by Cat Power
And a dreamy, chunky blanket at light locations. Yum.

Remember; you can still enter the Scraps' November Contest

*NOVEMBER CONTEST*

To celebrate the publication of Scraps, I’ll be hosting a contest here on my blog for the entire month of November. Please enter for a chance to win:

*· One original, framed collage featured in the book
*· A collection of collage materials
*· One complimentary copy of the book

Two lucky winners will be selected from the valid entries.

How to enter: Simply leave a comment to this specific post. Please link your comment to your blog or web site (and therefore to your contact information) or include your e-mail address (otherwise, I won’t be able to get in touch with you if you win).

Deadline: Midnight (EST) Monday, November 30, 2009.

How it works: Each contestant will be assigned a sequential number. The winning two numbers will be selected from a random number generator (random.org), so there’ll be no favorites, simply a game of chance.

I will contact the two winners by e-mail. The prize packages will be mailed directly to each winner once I get your mailing address. Selection of prize materials (who receives will which collage) is at my discretion. Odds of winning are dependant upon the number of entrants. No purchase is necessary to enter. The contest will begin November 1, 2009 and run until the end of day November 30, 2009.
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update · contest now closed. Thank you so much for participating ·*·.·
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Please visit my dear co-creator Elsebeth Gynther here.

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 :-)