Thursday 30 September 2010

My New Knitting Project

I´m not a complete person without a knitting project. After my sweater with a fish shoal I´m keeping up the knitting. So I needed a new project and went to my old patterns to get inspired. I never buy womens magazines. Only if there´s  good recipes on chocolate cake and knitting patterns.

So in 1992 - gosh that´s some wrinkles ago - I actually bought a magazine where I saw this knitting pattern designed by Birte Aaartun. I´ve kept it with all the other ones from the 80s (with mohair sweaters). Before it get´s antique I decided to give the pattern a go. So the yarn is in place and I´ve already started it.

Going for seahorse
Horses are really great. But I´m not a horse-girl. So i found a lovely pattern made of the norwegian designer Tori Seierstad of a seahorse meant for mittens. So, I must be a seahorse-girl. Without ever meating one of them...

I´m always very excited about starting a new knitting project. It gives so much joy and pleasure. Finding the pattern, the yarn and the colors.

This is going to take some time. So who knows when it will be finished. But it´s all about the small steps.

I chose white and turquise for this project. I love knitting sweaters and it amazes me what you can do with some yarn and knitting needles. I never take anything for granted and the fact that I´m able to knit is so dear to me.

When appreciating the little things one always get happier. Even if it is so small that nobody else can see it.

The main thing is that you see it - and that you can appreciate it. That´s what makes us rich.

What did you appreciate lately?

Monday 27 September 2010

Take A Look At My Fish

Yes. It´s done. I finally finished my wollen sweater with the fish shoal. Not that it was a difficult pattern. But it took a lot of time counting and counting stitches to make the fishes swim along in harmony.

I can´t say how happy I am now. To put this on for the first time - well, that´s even better than chocolate. Hm, let me think a little about that...

This project started when I discovered the pattern from the danish designer Hanne Thorsen. It´s actually a childrens pattern. I´m never growing up...

I found some of my old patterns to make the stitches and everything else right with these fishes.

It´s knitted with norwegian yarn of wool (Pt2 and Rauma) and it´s just lovely to wear.

So now I don´t need to find Nemo. His right there - can you see him?

Creating is mostly about a finished project. But to me it´s in the end all about the way to it. All the thinking, working and playing.


And to finally realize that I can - just exactly whatever I want to do.

This took a lot of time - but it was worth it. Stitch by stitch. Or step by step.

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step
Lao Tzu

Thursday 23 September 2010

A Squirrel Forever


This jewelry is very special to me. Last year I was in London and went to Kensington garden to feed the squirrels with nuts. And it was such a happy moment. I could have stayed there forever with these wonderful creatures. They just came and took the nut from our hands. And they stayed right beside us to eat our treats.


We took a lot of photos of them. And one of the squirrels became my jewelry. I took one of the photos and minimized it, and cut the squirrel out. Then I glued it on a digital sheet from Etsy. I took a vintage chandelier prism and glued the whole thing on.

In addition I bought a charm with a squirrel from Hint just to make it a bit more personal.

I cherish the memories of that moment and now I can wear it as well. And it hits me: It´s always the little things that really matter. And they are often free of charge. And it´s those moments that makes us rich and happy.

Here are the squirrel you see inside the chandelier. He´s eating one of the nuts I gave him.

And this is my hand (with my polymer bracelet) feeding a squirrel.

Monday 20 September 2010

Salt Of The Jewelry

The story about this necklace starts with a back issue of Belle Armoire Jewelry from 2009. When I first saw the tutorial for these salt shakers I just knew I had to give it a try.

So I went online to find some vintage salt shakers in silver. I ended up on eBay and found these. I was so pleased with the shape of them.

Little did I know what a challenge I gave myself. It seem easy to cut a window in a salt shaker. But there was no photos and it said to use metal shears. I didn´t know what that was. The photos online made me more confused.

I considered pulling my hair off (and save money on shampo). But instead of going bald I found that a proper tool hunt was more appealing.

I went to all the hardware stores I could think of. When I told them about my project they were shaking their heads and had that little smile in their face: She is crazy.

I even called stores in other parts of the country. No one could help me.

I also sent an email to the artist, but she never answered. I´m very determined about jewelry projects so I never ever give up anything unless it´s totally impossible. Not even then...

Well, I took my boyfriend with me - who also had gone through both his and my toolbox - to another town to look for some attachment for the Dremel.

We finally found something that could work. And IT DID! Together with some other tools, metal files and sand paper. I can´t say how happy I was to have made windows in my shakers.

Inside this one there is a polymer clay bead. I printed out some text that means a lot to me, and added a bird from a digital sheet from Etsy.

Then I did some wirework. Well, I need to work on that...

But I´m so pleased with this idea of making jewelry out of something that isn´t suppose to be jewelry.

It gives a whole new dimension and surprises.

 So the motto of this project must be: Never ever give up anything.


Not even when things looks completely hopeless.

Saturday 18 September 2010

The Winner Is

Congratulations to Debbie on Craftymoose who won the birthday giveaway. Please contact me as soon as possible with your name and adress. Mr Purple has found his giftbox and he will be sent to you as soon as I hear from you. I hope you´ll like him and that he makes you smile.

I had actually said that the winner would be announced sunday - but I was too excited to wait. I printed out and cut out all the comments and folded them to tiny pieces. And my boyfriend picked the one from Debbie.

And thank you all so very much for your lovely comments and for joining my giveaway. You all made me very happy.

I never expected so many to post comments. A giveaway is much more giving than I thougt. It was so much joy making the mouse and thinking that a person somewhere in the world would recieve it. I got so excited about all this. It´s not my last giveaway!!

Sunday 12 September 2010

GIVEAWAY For My Birthday

It´s my birthday, so I decided to celebrate with my very first giveaway. I feel so happy to have met so many lovely bloggers since I started mine, so I would love to give something back.

This is a purple polymer clay mouse, my very own design. The mouse is hand sanded and hand buffed. It´s stringed on a purple nylon mesh which is about 42 cm before you wear it.

Since the nylon mesh stretch, due to the weight of the mouse, it will be about 45 cm long wearing. You can make it longer by the little chain added.

If you would like to win this you´ll just have to post a comment on this article. The giveaway is of course open internationally.

The giweaway will close the 18th of September at 4 pm CET.



The winner will be announced the 19th of September.

Thank you so much for reading this - and for your comments.

Thursday 9 September 2010

Colors For A Friend

This bracelet is made for a dear friend for her birthday. She has the biggest heart and always spread a lot of it in my life. So, she deserves all the colors in the rainbow. At least, these are some of them put together in a bracelet. The bracelet is made of polymer clay. Attatched you see a Moo minicard.

Since she is such an angel I made a giftbox with decoupage and angels on.

Inside the lid there´s a personal message for her.

I feel rich to have such a friend. She makes me smile, give me faith and hope for the future. Thank you dear.

For just beeing there with your big heart and smile.

This is the box for an angel - with angels on.

Wednesday 8 September 2010

Purple Heart In Faux Bone

This fellow moved into my head, and I had to make him. Sometimes the ideas just come - mostly late in the evening. I actually like the way he came out. Made of polymer clay as faux bone with tiny watch parts on the stamped love letter on it.

Making faux techniques in polymer clay is some of my favorites. It´s so amazing that you can make the clay look like something else. I love these possibilities.

I hope to make a ring and earrings to go with this mouse. Polymer clay is a medium that shows us that everything is possible.

That you can make whatever you want. Just like it is in real life: You can become whatever you want. It may be a lot of work, but see the possibilities and go for it.

Don´t let anyone tell you that you can´t. If your heart says you can - it´s always right.

So find your real heart and show your true color.

Wednesday 1 September 2010

Maries Gift To Your Heart

You meet them everywhere. The everyday angels. I found one of them in blogland: Marie Segal. She has a way to let people know that they are loved. That they mean something in this world.

She gives from her heart to so many people. I´ve been so fortunate to recieve a gift from her which you can see here.

Marie has a lot of giveaways - and they´re all spectacular. It´s not only a jewelry. It´s a bit of the love she has to other people and to her to art. Now she has posted a new one of her polymer clay hearts. And if you don´t have made a visit to it, you must. This heart is so wonderful, creative and special.

Go visit her giveaway An Angel Inside and hope to win this. It ends the 8th of September, so hurry!!

Thank you Marie, for beeing so kind and for making this world a better place. Bless you and big hugs!!!