So! I hope you all had a wonderful midsummer and that you have time to enjoy these beautiful summerdays! I had this week off, although I spent yesterday planning and shopping for Skogsbo. Two weeks left before I leave for about a month. Yay! Today I've spent cleaning and running errands. I managed to to some good shopping at home and did not need to go into town.


Thougt I'd just put up som pictures from our flat. Our new quilted bedspread and pillows. All from Afroart.


And my favourite place this time of the year. The red chair on the balcony. Perfect spot for reading, sketching, thinking, drinking tea, spinning, knitting and just resting.. What's your favourite spot?

Take care!

I don´t knit anymore. Or, I do some knitting - but not as I used to.. Lost my inspiration somewhere - and until I find it again I read wast amounts of almost anything. At first I vacuumed our local library for something new and interesting and stumbled upon two books by Anna Gavalda, also reread some of Selma Lagerlöf´s classic novels .

Here is a pile of some of the books I ended up ordering to always have something to read... And I'm more then halfway through it. Any suggestions? Care to swop?


Take care!

Still here! Just being really busy, getting the Fall-Programme finished and off to get printed. Little V is doing just fine, as usual and we are too. If you are in Stockholm, go visit Kulturhuset and the Crafts exhibition.

Little V enjoying cake and cake..

Detail of embroidery by Jennie McMillen is a part of the exhibtion at Kulturhuset.

Have a great Midsummer and take care - enjoy the rain AND the sun... (Wear wellies)

Its a beautiful day!

Oh, I have SO much to tell and show you. But since my back, left arm and neck are really sore, and I am only able to use my right hand to type - that will just have to wait. In short - life is wonderful and there are so many things to be thankful for. Work, family and friends. Health and spring. Hopefully I will soon be able to knit again. I am SO bored from not being able to knit/sew/paint or even write for almost a week.

Valdar turned five on the 19 of April. Strange and wonderful. My dear, beautiful boy. He is growing, learing and becoming more himself every minute. We had two great parties, the last one over at Överjärva Gård this past weekend. Cupcakes, coffee and play in the woods. Little V and his friends having a treasure hunt, looking at the sheep, eating cupcakes, gingercookies and enjoying the sunshine. Little V spent ten minutes explaining to his friends everything about sheep, lambs and tractors. He is quite an expert..

Studio Violet makes beautiful things; visit the blog and the shop ( - and shop, I sure will...). Also visit talented Irina Lindqvist and her exhibition at the Glassery later in May.

And: this friday I will spend the afternoon over at Manos. There is a circus visiting!

Take care, enjoy the sun and breathe!

A new comic!

This will be a post in swedish - but in short: a new comic and a new publishing company has been born! The comic is called "Tivoli med vänner" - "Tivoli and friends". My dear and utterly talented sister in law Camilla Nyman is one of the duo that owns and and manages the company and comic!
Picture from the Tivoli med Vänner website.

Jo! Nu i dagarna är det dags för en ny, helsvensk snäll och smart serietidning att se dagens ljus! Tidningen heter "Tivoli med vänner" och ges ut av det nystartade förlaget "Positiv förlag" som drivs av Jennie Warg och min kära svägerska Camilla Nyman. Den består av både längre serier och kortare gästserier. Visst ser omslagen lovande ut? Målgruppen är barn mellan 4 och 8 år.

Såhär står det på hemsidan:
"Genom levande berättelser och fantasifulla bilder vill Positiv Förlag öppna nya och spännande världar för barn. Vi vill erbjuda barnen inspirerande, starka och roliga karaktärer att spegla sig i. Vi vill locka till skratt, läsning, kreativitet och eftertanke."

Låter himla bra tycker jag, som ser fram emot första numret! Kanske en bra påskpresent till någon liten kompis? Annars finns den att köpa på ICA från den 3 april - nu på fredag alltså.

Rough lace, owls and Rosemary.

A while ago I wrote about flowerpots by Anna Broström. Maybe you also heard about our owl-ceramics? Last sunday I spotted a owl-flowerpot at Designtorget and here it is! Owls and Rosemary!
We love her owls and I hope to find some more owls. They fit in great with our 1940 and 1950´s flowerpots and porcelain.

More owls, a bird mug thrifted last autumn - Little V´s favourite and a beautiful faience bowl made in Stig Lindberg's studio at Gustavsberg. The flowerpots in the back are from Steneby and Upsala-Ekeby, made in the 1940´s. And yes, I collect flowerpots.

Yesterday I finished my Trellis scarf! Yay! Blocked it and left it to dry and block over night. I really like the way it turned out. Lace-y enough, soft, warm and yellowish/green. Just the thing to brighten my grey and/or black coats.

Trellis scarf
Pattern by Evelyn A Clark, pattern source IK Spring 2006.
Needles: 5 mm
Yarn: Gotlandsull from Fjällbete

After casting off, there was about 20 cm left of the yarn... Skill? Luck?

Time to update the Skogsbo-blog. Trip to Ikea anyone? I really need to go there, but don't seem to find the time. Or the interest.

And, speaking of Owls! How I would LOVE the Owls-sweater!

So, it is snowing outside. Again. I am tired. Tired of being tired, but on the other hand - happy about getting better and better. However, this is a not-so-good-day and I had almost forgot about them. Instead of being frustrated about not having the energy to clean, sew and work today I should have curled up in the sofa several hours ago. Maybe knitting, maybe having a cup of tea and planning next week at Skogsbo and being happy about getting better. Today reminded me.

Concering knitting. I am still working on my Trellis scarf. I still love how the shawl is coming along. Love the pattern, the yarn and can't wait to wear it. Some weeks ago I went through all my WIPs, frogged some and found some I had forgot. Now, they are all sorted - laying in individual bags i a huge Ghanan basket waiting to be FOs. And some day I think they will. I am looking forward to some tvåändsstickning and some inspiration.

I also ordered some new knitting books earlier today - haven't done that in a while but I realised that "A fine fleece" and "Knitted Lace of Estonia" is just what I need!

A couple of days ago Easter arrived at Afroart and it did in a very colourful and inspiring way - just look at these! I tell you; several have moved in at Skebokvarnsvägen 324!


Have a nice evening. Time for tea.

The sun is shining today - spring is not only in the air, but inside - outside and in-between. Wish I had brought my knitting for some outdoor-knitting during my lunchbreak today. Maybe I will take a walk down by the water instead.

Anyhow, the Skogsboblogg is now up and running. Some of you will not be able to read it since it is all in swedish, but on the other hand - I hope that you will enjoy the pictures. I also hope that you come by and visit. Just let me know.

Take care, and enjoy the sunshine - I sure will!

Yet another week

This week, winter returned to Stockholm. Some of us (Little V) highly enjoys this, some of us don't. Monday, I had cup of coffee outside at Skogsbo, sitting at the stairs - listening to the birds and the silence. When I arrived there tuesday morning it was like arriving in a christmas card.

I also wanted to show you some random pictures from this past week at Skogsbo; weaving-, upholstery- and paintingcircles and the sleeping herbgarden . A ordinary Tuesday at Skogsbo - I will launch the blog soon. This weekend!


Yesterday I went to the opening of a very exciting collaboration between swedish and slovakian craftspeople called "Sloverige" at Svensk Slöjd. Andrea Filová told us about her beautiful perforated and painted eggs - who are a part of this exhibition which will travel Sweden and Slovakia. Showing the similarities in traditions and tecnique, rather than the differences. It is well worth a visit! The pictures are taken from the Svensk Slöjd website!

Eggs by Andrea Filová and wooden birds by Miloslav Jaros.

I also FINALLY met Frida Engström, the author of design/slöjd/craftblog "Kurbits". She is also one the editors of Tidskriften Hemslöjden.

Nest week I will finally get along to see a very interesting exhibition at Nordiska Museet: Fair fashion?. Every wednesdayevening there is a debate on sustainable fashion at the museum, see you there this upcoming wednesday? I'll be there.

Valdar has bulit some WONDERFUL robots this past week - and I asked him if I could show the to you. And I could; may I present - Little V and the Robots!

I just LOVE them, and him of course!

So, what else? I am still knitting at my Trellis scarf, and since the pattern will not show properly until finished and blocked I don't have any pictures for you. What I do have is BEAUTIFUL pics of blankets from The Great English Outdoors. All these wonderful blankets and woven loveliness comes from their website, where you also can purchase them... *sigh*

Pictures, Tapestries and Blankets from The Great English Outdoor.

If you are in Sweden, I do hope that you have not missed out on the premiere episode on one of the best tv-programme on SVT for a long time ... "Från trädgård till tallrik" or "From the Garden to the Table: Growing, Cooking, and Eating Your Own Food ".

Finally some great music;
Jenny Wilson and the equally talented Yael Naim - especially love the line "How can you stay outside - there is a beautiful mess inside" from the song "Far far".

Have a great weekend!

EDIT: Frida just put up a video of Andrea Filová over at Kurbits!

Saturday

Yesterday I finished my first week at my new job. Everything is exciting, new, a bit confusing at times but on the whole almost to good to be true. I am very happy, to say the least. I spent a couple of hours at Skogsbo today aswell and realised that even though it is a beautiful place during winter, spring will be even more beautiful this year. I so enjoy the walk from the tram, among the sleeping gardens and houses, the woods and all the birdsong and then arriving at Skogsbo. Such a silent and kind place..! Valdar visited Skogsbo for the first time ever today and his first statement was "It is beautiful". We raised him well :-)

After spening an hour or two at Skogsbo we visited my grandmother who lives close by. Valdar and Farmor enjoys eachothers company a great deal, and it also feels great for me to be able to be closer to her at least a couple of days a week. After all, she turns 85 years this August.

This evening I have been replanting all our indoor plants - there are quite a few - and I got to use some of the 1950´s flowerpots I thrifted this wednesday, visiting Heléne in Täby. I have got a softspot for beautiful flowerpots you see, so I have alse fallen in love with pots by Anna Broström.

The one to the right is made by Anna Broström.

And then I painted my fingernails. It is Saturday, after all...

My knitting at the moment is going very well thank you. I bought some lovely, soft green/yellowish 2ply pälsull by Fjällbete at a craftfair in Östersund 1,5 years ago. I am knitting a kind of rustic version of the Trellis scarf by the talented Evelyn A. Clark. Lovely and fast knit, since I am using a thick-er and thick-er needles, although the rows where I have to knit seven stitches together no less then three times gets me inventing new profanities . Have to finish it soon though, in order to wear it a s a p ...

And so I finally got to visit one of the more impressive on-line shops I have ever seen! I bet you have been there before, but I had not. Such a impressive and tasteful collection of great products. Do visit Cosas, and if you don't have time I will show you some of the thing that left me speachless, impressed and longing.. Pictures are taken from the Cosas website.

All these pictures comes from the Cosas website

So, how are you? Have you noticed that it smells of spring outside? Even on the cold and gloomy days, something has shifted - and I always enjoy the shift. And I celebrate it by replanting flowers, cleaning, sorting out messy cupboards, piles of fabric and linen, by taking baths and long walks. By trying to take time to breath and enjoy - and sometimes succeding. By planting seeds to later plant outside on the balcony. Little V enjoys planting, and he also enjoys the idea of an aquarium of his own. In a couple of weeks that will be a reality. He can't wait. He wakes up every morning, asking about the water, the fishes and the aquarium. We will see, it is great seeing him this engaged. It is actually very nice to come home earlier aswell, to spend more time with Little V, B and by myself.

Take care, and have a lovely sunday!

Studio Violet
morkarin
manos
Afroart - do notice the new Etiopian stools!

Here I am!

Yes, here I am. Behind the mittens :-) This past months has been interesting ones to say the least! We´ve been celebrating christmas, driven about 1500 km - visiting friends and family all around the country - we spent little more than a week at Grimslätt. Knitting, cooking, baking, going for long walks and spending time with friends and the sheep..!

Little V got skiis for christmas and he LOVES them. So there was alot of skiing. Back in Stockholm we are still waiting for winter; as in snow.

The Grimslätt-sheep :-) One got away!

The main reason for me being so happy these days is, besides health and great family/friends, the fact that I start my new Very Exciting job on the 1st of March :-) I will tell you more about this, of course - but in short I will take care of and be in charge of a beautiful house; craft workshop and school. There are workshops in weaving, ceramics, fusing, painting, embroidery painting furniture and beyond. AND there is a wonderful garden...

May I present- Hantverksgården Skogsbo, which is a part of Studieförbundet Vuxenskolan; SV Stockholm. There will be a blog soon!

The glass veranda

Re-planting geraniums in the kitchen.

Different furniture, during their re-make

Needless to say; I love it. I will tell you more and show you more. At the moment I am just trying to take it all in. That it is for real, that this wonderful place is for real and that I will be working here, developing the workshops, taking care of the visitors and the house - for a long time.

I am SO happy!

Take care!

A note: there is ONE Grimslättmitten-kit left, the pattern is in swedish and if you are interested, send me an email asap. There will be more Grimslätt-patterns out this spring!

Brrr

It is winter again. Cold and dark mornings, and I kind of wonder where autumn went? I haven´t had any, or at least to few, long walks enjoying the colours, cripsness and fragrance of fall.

But, I do enjoy the cold. I do. I´ve even started to knit socks, although I am no sockknitter. Now and then I forget this and I try, but I almost always fail. Hopelessly. Anyways; I´ve started a striped pair of "Sargents" from "Noro: Family" by Jane Ellison, using two skeins Noro Kureyon Sock - of different colourways. They will be kneehigh, striped socks and I need to finish them soon.. Wearing a skirt today was freezing I tell you...


The ribbed and striped beginning.

All three of us had some calm and cozy evenings together, Valdar practising his A´s and V´s - he tend to draw the A´s upside down. Otherwise they look great.





And me, making collages, knitting or just enjoying the cardemomcake B and V made earlier.

Some weeks ago there was a Autumn-celebration at Valdars preschool; a Lanternfestival where there are grilled apples, hot soup outside and then - when it gets dark - the beautifully decorated paperlanterns are lit, songs about light in the dark sung and the children takes the lanterns and the light for a walk.

All of this demanded a lantern. So, I made one and Valdar wanted his to have foxes and dogs, so it had.







One thing I really enjoy about this flat is how our diningplace is such a nice and calm workspace. Look at my beautiful cut-work pillow from work...! :-)

At the moment I am dreaming about going to Mali. To visit Hotel Djenne Djenno and take a Bogolan course with Swedish artist Sophie Sarin. Maybe one day I will.

And I have to show you what came in to the shop today. Mrs Hippo! She was part of the result of a campaign for "Save the Children"-Sweden and several swedish designers and was designed by Gunilla Lundberg - who is one of the owners of AfroArt and handstitched at a Fairtrade cooperative in Bangladesh. The Hippo is sold at the AfroArt shops and over at "Save the Children"´s website. Go shop!

Take care!

Jam and links

1,5 kg of apples - peel and cut in slices
about 500 g of crude sugar - unless you will freeze the jam
3 teaspoons of pestled cardemom
the juice of two lemons
1 dl of water

Pour the water into a saucepan and add the apples as they are peeled and sliced. Add the lemonjuice and put the heat on. Bring the water and apples to a boil as you add the cardemom and sugar. Continue to let the apples simmer as you stir. As the apples get softer you decide how chunky this jam will be - I like it quite chunky. After about 15 minutes, as the jam sets you turn the heat off an let it rest.

Put the clean glass jars in the oven at 100 degrees celsius for about 15 minutes. Put the lids in boiling water. Pour the jam into the cans and - if it is a can with a loose lid put the can upside down while the jam cools down - this way the preasure builds up in the can and makes the jam lat longer.

Enjoy.

I used Åkerö and Melon-apples but Signe tilisch or Gravensteiner will do aswell - as long as it is a apple on the sour-side.

And some links, some of them in swedish:
asfaltsblomman - the guide to eniviromentally friendly and fairtrade shopping and living
A new issue of Lines & Shapes-magazine "Ljus"- featuring great swedish artists and artisans.
Anjah and Ardalanish- an exciting collaboration
Ekovaruhuset: Lovely shop in Stocholm, New York and soon Paris. I would LOVE to shop there - if they made clothes in my size...
Vamlingbolaget

Have a nice friday!

Staying at home

Valdar woke up last night with a fever. So today I stayed at home with him. We are having a calm day - drawing, making apple/cardemom jam, soup and Valdar decided he wanted to sew. Or rather he started sewing earlier this morning, using a thread, needle and cloth that he found laying around - not the perfect combination though, so later he got some broadcloth and the threads of his choice. Off course I had to take some pictures! And he really seems to enjoy it, as he sat still - concentrating and asking for help when needed.


This, his first embroidery. will turn into a small sewing pouch or a pin cushion - he has not decided yet. Needless to say I am very happy about him enjoying to sew..

I also wanted to show you how the refurbishment in Högdalen is going along. This is our new kitchenfloor. B put it in this weekend. It is linoleum tiles from Ikea and I think that we are very content wih the result. Now, we are awaiting entry hall to be finished before we can move back home.

Now, it is time for some coffee before Little V wakes up from his rest. But I do want to congratulate Katarina and Stefan on their wedding this past Saturday, and Heléne on her birthday today!

Take care!