Böcker, båtar och bokmakeri

Jomen det är lite mycket nu. Spännande och viktiga saker alltihop. Den där färgglada stiliga handleden tillhör en kamrat och kollega - Frida Arnqvist Engström på Kurbits. Vi har ju en del hyss ihop och nu får vi se om det inte kan bli lite extra hyss i höst.

Sedan har det varit Litteraturkryssning med Tidningen Vi. Vad säger du om programmet vi fick njuta av? Alldeles förträffligt. Är du det allra minsta intresserad av läsning, litteratur och livet i stort skulle jag säga så ÅK bara ÅK. 

Absolut bästa sortens påfyllning måste jag säga. Sedan hann jag träffa kära vänner, besöka Artipelag och njuta av god mat och fantastiska omgivningar när vintern kom tillbaka och sa hej. Åter på ön är det bokmakeri som gäller. För nu är det deadline, i helgen skall vi fotografera det som inte fotades i januari och i höst kommer boken - Sticka sjalar, halsdukar och lite till. Bara en sådan sak! 

Sedan växer det i såkrukorna här så att det knakar. Skall snart plantera om, men först ska jag bara... 

Oh my!

It has almost been a month since I last made an entry - and it has been a crazy month! School is over - I am no longer a student. Well, actually I am - since I am taking a summerclass: Embroidery at HV Skola. It is a three weeks class, and the last week starts tomorrow. But, first things first.

Some weeks ago I finally got to try the art of spinning flax! We had a two days class held by Stina Wåhlmark and I focused on trying everything I thought was hard about spinning. This is part of the result. The skein of 2ply to the right is a dishcloth nowadays. My best one ever.


This is a small greeting from Sätergläntan in Insjön, Dalarna, Sweden. Such a inpsiring enviroment! It was a good annualmeeting - I even got to go to a jobinterview.. I haven´t heard anything yet. And I will keep you posted!


New books and magazines! From the left: the new book "Okända mästare" (unknown masters) by Olle Nessle, "Quilting, patchwork & applique" from Thames & Hudson (- this is one of the most inspiring and beautiful books I have ever seen!) - and to the right the latest issue of Hemslöjden. A great read for everyone interested in crafts - in swedish though.


The day after. Enjoying some coffee and the calmness the days after the graduation day.


Valdar. Crumbs and elderberriemust.

One of my ink-sketches for the first exercise - a stitchexercise. I really liked putting the sketches together.

Embroidery inspiration. Skansens klädkammare, again. I LOVE going there! Look, just LOOK at this. Have you ever seen, could you ever imagine? Less is more and more is more. Beads, colours, more colours or just red stitches on linen cloth. Simple, complicated, serene or strong. Folk art at its best!

At the moment we are finishing up some exercises or projects using wool cloth and wool/silk thread. I am making a birdhandbag. I will show you some pictures later.

You will hear from me soon again - the coming month will hopefully be more sane, calm and normal - and less INsane, crazy and stressfull. And, about that good news? You will just have to wait! :-)

Och just det! Ett meddelande. Om du är intresserad av att köpa en materialsats till Grimslättvanten - alltså mönster och garn - ekologiskt och handfärgat, så finns det några färdiga! Maila mig om du är intresserad. Det går såklart att skicka, materialsatsen väger ca 160 g.

Är det förresten inte UNDERBART att det är sommar - med SOMMAR i P1 och allt?
Har ni inte sett vår, alltså Stockholms Handvävares, utställning på Skansen så gå dit! Du har några dagar på dig!

Natti!
/E

BOOKS!

BOOKS!
Originally uploaded by Wynja

These arrived today! Two GREAT books on crochet by Maria Gullberg and one by Elizabeth Zimmerman. So, I guess I don't have any excuse for not knitting the Tomten-jacket for Valdar.

As the two previous days, I really enjoy my week at Afroart. I am the MASTER of folding gorgeous quilts from Bangladesh. I want one. I want one in each colour. That makes ... eight.

There was another parcel arriving in the mail today. the Hairy Lady towel by Camilla Engman, Lovely. I will frame it.

TACK Camilla. (Om du av någon anledning skulle se detta :-) )

I also received the wonderful news that me and B are going to a concert next week. It is the wonderful Sofia Karlsson at Rival.

Looking forward to this weekends knitting-related-events: The textilefair - Syfestivalen - and the "Knit Out" at the Museum of Stockholm. And all in one day! This will require a great deal of logistics. The knitting-bag has to include at least one bottle of water, two wips, lunch, camera, sketchbook and well, money - should I find something...

Tjilevippen, as Nils Karlsson Pyssling aka Simon Small says.

So! Today we made cards for St. Valentines day at Slöjdhuset! Fourteen children. They made cards and pencils. Cards from paper, wool, broadcloth and more paper and pencils from fresh twigs - given we have No Snow At All in Stockholm -perhaps due to global warming.

I really look forward to every wednesday at Slöjdhuset. Love the way the children immidiately gets to work, how they encourage eachother and the discussions. Today we talked about God, the swedish Royal family, the spanishlessons at school, footballpractise and whether you should write your name at the Valentine-card or keep it a secret.

These are some of the cards I made. I thought about showing you the sketches I wrote about, but I am just to tired to fix that today.

Comicstrip by one of my favourite illustrators Nina Hemmingsson.

Woolly heart. A classical Lord Byron poem: "She walks in beauty like the night..." Made another one with a poem by Karin Boye, a personal favourite.

A piece of Morris-pattern and one of my terriers cut in the front.
____

I really enjoyed making cards! I liked used the sewingmachine and paper. As always it is my happiest moment when I get to work in mixed medias.. paper and textile, wool and paper, paper and thread.

More books on my wishlist!
Simple Sewing by Lotta Jansdotter. Found her webpage with ALOT of desireable things via Shash at Mecozy. Lotta Jansdotter is soon to release a book on printing fabric. I am excited!

I actually knitted a couple of rows today at my third Lace leaf scarf. I will TRY to finish this before I start my next laceproject - the one i pirrka-lanka I blogged about the other day. Guess I've got the startitusbug aswell...

Now, I will have a cup of tea and some of Björns freshly baked bread.

In my lunchbox tomorrow:
Baked salmon and wholegrain basmatirice, broccoli and onion fried with some soy and honey.

Follow this link to see the original photos and the artists behind them!

Todays inspiration. I am really looking forward to the papercut workshop. I am also getting more and more convinced I not only need to spend some time exploring the art of patchwork, I also really need to make some stamps.. But how?

I am indulging in some new books:

"Last-Minute Patchwork + Quilted gifts"
by Joelle Hoverson

I really really like this book. It is a beautiful book, lots and lots of inspiring projects, tips and also photos by the super-talented Anna Wiliams. There is several patterns that makes me want to get to sewing right away and I know I will try some of them.

I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of another book from the same series: "Last-Minute Fabric Gifts".

"Om Konsten att Trycka tyg"
by Anna Häggblom

This is a swedish book, written in swedish about the art of textile printing.
Yet another modern, graphically winning book which manages to balance the content between inspiring views over classical prints, techniques and artists, such as Viola Gråsten, Marimekko, William Morris, Josef Frank and Astrid Sampe.
I have heard from others, much more experienced people that the author might make the reader think that the process of screen-printing is much easier than it really is. On the other hand, that might de-dramatize it all - and maybe beginners like myself will be less intimidated. But then again: these eager beginners may fail hopelessly, but isn't that always the challenge and the risk of trying and conquer new skills and techniques?
...

Anyhow, I am planning a tag - or rather a series of them depicting a fox, a terrier and an oakleaf. I really would like to print something on these tags - which will be made from broadcloth. I will put these on the tweedies - should anyone want one. And on the scarfs.

I will try to get some pictures up here - showing you some of my sketches. I could use your opinions.

This was a book I stumbled over this evening, over at author Amy Karols blog angry chicken.. Maybe next month...!