Book inspiration

Two new books arrived; Save 7the Date (a book on calendar design) and 1000 Artist Journal Pages. Both gorgeous and hugely inspiring.

I am warming up to do some more journal pages. I miss the ol' Dear Diary days, and I've been thinking how to make time to get started again with something similar. My (work)life was pretty different back then—I had a 9 to 3 job, which gave me plenty of time to do other stuff in the afternoons and on weekends. Now, running my own business, I work way more hours, and differently; with less structure, and weekends often included.

So more structure would be one way to give myself time to art journal. Say, I stopped working Friday at noon, and journalled. Hmm, I wonder if that would work ...

How do you make time on a regular basis to make stuff?

(love all these different expressions. So personal. Yum)

Calendars:




There's Flora! In fact I learned about Save 7he Date on her blog, since she was featured. I like Floras work very much.

...

Painted cardboard easter egg at Clemmensen&Brok :-)
Are you making easter-stuff this year?

Sweet felted easter eggs (and other crafty things)
Pretty egg print

Does this mean ....

What a weekend! No. First things first -- been sick all last week. It was bad, but it was good. I regularly need to remind myself that too much work is (way) too much, and that I should respect time to relax and un-work. Used to think this was a decision I had to make once, and go with it -- turns out I need to make this decision regularly.
My body helped me this time, by making me unable to work. And this is good. Felt bad, but sick does that I s'pose, and I'm fine now, so
:-)))
Anyway. Didn't work this weekend, which brings me back to the beginning; WHAT a weekend! Sooo much sun, and chirping birds and more sun. Absolutely wonderful. Dare I ask...? Does this mean end of winter for now?? Man, I hope so

:-))
This made me laugh today
and this is so beautiful
Hope you are well ·.·*·

...followed by Working Sunday

What have you been up to today?

Fancy a pull-apart cinnamon roll?? From Joy the Baker, via Slagt en hellig ko.
Mmmmnnnn... :)

Friendly Friday

I've been working on some illustrations on yoga and mindfulness, the next couple of days I'll post some of them. I was inspired to change my header, seemed like time for a change. Dunno ...
Been listening to this guy: Thomas Holm

Please see Barbara-Rose Pierre Paul's Pins. I love ALL of her boards! Flawless taste. Amazed.
...
Ran 5 km today, and had liqourice icecream. Such a friendly Friday; hope yours was too.

DAY window display

These pictures are from the windows in Day Birger Mikkelsen's flagstore in Copenhagen.
I made the inks :-) Christine Rudolph designed the whole window display; her idea was to create the windows with 2D models with a twist, and she asked me if I wanted to draw faces, arms and legs. (would I ever!).
Thank you Christine, for an awesome experience!

You can see all the windows here
And Christine's portfolio here

So Soft (Sunday)

This weekend I finished a little skirt and sleeveless pullover for my Sister-in-law's beautiful daughter. I went there (to bring it) and because I'd been invited to our monthly handy-crafty day.
Except--we don't really meet every month, but more ... randomly. And sometimes we don't handycraft s'much, but chat instead. But it's great fun, often counting lots of sweet yarnies, and it has a name; Primo Jovis (First Thursday) since, initially we met every first Thursday of the month. But yesterday was Sunday. So.
Quess it's not the strickt rules of it that keep us going ... ;-) Must be something else ...
I hope your Sunday was soft as well. And that your Monday is gentle
:)

Simple beauty at Neëst
Sara Lov sings New York

the Coffee Owl featured in BoligMagasinet

My Mr. handycrafted CoffeeOwl is happy to announce his first feature in the Danish home and living magazine BoligMagasinet.


Days later another Danish magazine asked to bring a feature. I feel very greatful. First orders have already been shipped.

Thank you so very much :-)
...
John Kenn draws monsters on Post-It notes. Wanted to buy one of his pieces, but —alas— all were sold out. (Congrats, Kenn, please draw more!)

Mail from afar

Received a gorgeous package from the Aussie wonder-team Gracia & Louise. Absolutely adore their But I Just Got Here A Minute Ago!

LOVE the way your minds work, you guys :)

Thank you - for the book, and for all the yummy goodies :-))

...
Have you seen these masters of disassemblys? Wow!

Love this:

Inwards and Upwards

How do you stay connected with yourself?


This morning I took a walk along the lakes of the City. It was mild. Soft drizzle and a few birds chiming their readiness for spring, and I had a pretty good feeling of being here.



Love Camilla Engman's envelope houses. She did more here.

Sad Passing Of A Wonderful Soul

I’ve been a little quiet for a few weeks now, and for a sad sad reason.
My dear friend, creative colleague, and co-author of Scraps, Elsebeth, passed away last Monday. Her passing came after 6 months agressive illness. I miss her dearly, and send my love to her family and her many many friends in this very difficult time.
Above a little tribute. Thing she made, things (of many) I made inspired by her, and things we made together. A tiny bit of all that we shared.
But beyond this, we shared the things you cannot take pictures of. Things of the Soul and of the Heart. These things I will keep with me forever.
I miss you; sweet, wise, wonderful Friend.

Cold!

A few weeks ago I watched a telly show with Joanna Lumley who travelled the North Pole in hopes to see the Northern Lights.

Have you got 3minutes, 43sec to spare? ...wanna see f'she found it?
:) (I can watch this over and over and over and over...)

Mini Love Part II

Thanks for your words on the minis. Love how you see candy and quilts. I do too :))


More work came flowing my way, I was so glad I'd spend the weekend unwinding.
Here are two more from the weekend.


Francesco Mugnai posted a bunch of cool and interactive business cards.

... Woah ... tomorrow's Friday! Which makes it weekend again already!! Issit me, or was this week just super-fast??

Relaxing

A couple of busy busy weeks have passed. A lot on my plate, and much on my mind. So this Saturday, with nothing to do and no-where to go was just what the doctor ordered.

And what better way to spend the day, than to dive into a pool of mini-beads :-)
... and listening to Agnes Obel:

For you

Tina & I met a little while ago, to whip up sweets and roses for you for Valentine's. At Clemmensen & Brok you can find pink champagne, accompanied by rosewater-lemoncurd vanilla macarons sprinkled with rose pepper, meringues, and a free Valentine's card in matching colours (pink-ish, of course ;-)


Playing with the illustration for the card, I couldn't stop (of course), so here's two more variations for you. Totally free, ready to download and print. For private use only (of course :-)





click image to see bigger. Right-click and save to desktop to print from your own computer.

I hope you have a sweet day on Monday. Hope your mailbox is stuffed with words of kindness and love, and that your heart be likewise.
xo

Martha Stewart Beauuutiful IPad app magazine cover. Press "play video" to see the flower unfold. Ouuuhh...

I Am Here...

Very busy with work these days.
I hope you are well, and that the first month of the year has treated you well.
...
Mrs. Ekelund was sweet to give me an award. Thank you for this.


I am to pass it on to three wonderful bloggers, and post three random facts about myself.
So here's to Tracey, Monica and Valerie. Thank you for your words and images of inspiration :)

Three random facts:
#1 I have been to the movies once this year (saw Winter's Bone - and highly recommend it)
#2 The single most played tune on my ITunes list is this! (which surprised me a little, but numbers don't lie ;-)
#3 My all time favourite candy is Reese's Peanutbutter Cups – no question. )I know of only one place in Copenhagen which carry them.)

Gotta get back to work! Have a great Tuesday :)

Copenhagen on my mind

On my way to a meeting Friday morning, the city was once again covered in a thick damp blanket, and I took a couple of pictures of downtown towers reaching for the sky. Originally I just wanted to post them as they were, but then this little collage, with a reject ink from last week, almost made itself.
I find myself in love with this coral color lately. Want to color the whole world coral :)

Awesome documentary on Annie Leibovitz: parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 —the whole thing lasts an hour. And left this little blogger speechless with admiration!

Whatta week

I hope your Sunday is soooothing :-)
Mine is. I have slow food cooking in the oven, and have made rosewater-lemon-filling for the macarons I will go make in a couple of minutes. A cuppa Joe is within my reach, and I have just enjoyed a slice of oat-wheat bread, fresh from the oven. Ahh-yes, a soothing Sunday indeed.


On top of a busy busy week. A week in which I received this wonderful gift from sweet Aimee, and didn't have the minutes to share it! Busybusybusy. In the good way, fortunately, and not the can't-feel-my-toes-way. Don't like that kind of busy!

Tomorrow Tina and I will meet, and take pictures and laugh and play. Valentines is coming up, and I have a feeling those rose-lemony macarons-yet-to-be-made will have a role to play ...

Mrs Eliot's Valentines Cards
Sweet Valentines bags via Black Eiffel (I miss MS Kids too)
Valentines Gummy heart (a little bit icky :-)

Time Traveling

Went to a great flee market yesterday. The building that held it is an old shipyard building, with so much atmosphere—even without the fog! But as an extra treat, it was wrapped in thick, grey fog. There were hardly anyone there, and standing next to the old walls, holding my breath in the damp morning, I could almost hear the singing of steel, and the yellin' of workers.








A couple of hours later, I went home, my head buzzing with history, carrying a small nightstand I'd bought at a ridiculously low price :-)

Wiki: Burmeister & Wain Shipyard
Image: 1885 painting from inside the building

Have illustrations featured in

... this month. I so love this magazine. On top of being full of interesting articles and inspiring recepies, it's absolutely beautiful!
I'm very grateful to be a part of this.




I know I've posted links to these guys before, but have to again —there's new stuff on their pages, and one shouldn't miss it :-)
Christine Rudolph
Ditte Isager

Saturday, You Are Sweet

Today we went to town for a little shopping trip, and among other places, we went to the old Copenhagen bon bon factory Sømods Bolcher. Situated in a backyard, behind the facades of the city, this little old shop and factory, where you can watch the candy makers make the bon bons, is a little view into ancient Copenhagen. The atmosphere is incredible, and the bon bons are magnifiscent! :-)



Cool graphic design at Bobby McKennas :)

Happy weekend!

W.I.P.

Stayin' in the crafty department to make more Coffee Owls. Have a wonderful Coffee Owl-opportunity comin up, but can't say more until March ;o)

I've been so eager to share these newly purchased glass eyes. It's been quite the pursuit, I have seen many many many glass eyes, and there they were—just the right ones (and in great many sizes and colors), and my heart jumped with joy. Not to mention when they arrived, purchased glass eyes being even prettier in real life.

Found the sweetest sea mobile on Pinterest
Sol Linero says use less plastic in her animation Oceans. Linero's www.

Soft

First hand crafted item of 2011 :)

I hope you had a wonderful New Year. Did you make wishes for the year to come?
My former colleague Clara Bryld sent out her debut album On Your Wall — oh so wonderful. Congratulations Clara!
Gorgeous poster: 24 hours in NY