Party, anyone?

I got these fantastic lights at a flee market in the fall. They are old but in mint condition. I love the picture on the box! It makes me want to throw a last minute party just to have an excuse to put them up :-)

Before and after - A tree makover

Frankie got the responsibility of buying the tree this year - for the first time. He came home with a really lush, but expensive one. The seller probably saw him coming.

I wonder if the top should be cut a bit more..? But then again I think it's OK that it's not too trimmed and perfect. I need to buy some more varied decorations for next years', though. The only interesting stuff I have on there are four birds at the top which used to belong to my grandmother. They are worn but still beautiful.

Lights

This is my hallway decorated for Christmas.(The lumpy cushion stuff at the end of the hall is not part of the decoration. It's the dog's bed.)

My winter wonderland

I am so happy to live right here! Especially when it looks like this. I took the dog out for a little walk and brought the camera along in order to try and capture some of the atmosphere in my immediate neighbourhood. What looks like christmas lights on the rooftops in the bottom photo, is actually the not-too-distant lights of Oslo by night, across the fjord.

Merry Christmas!

I used my Gocco to print my christmas cards and here's the result. I was quite pleased with it considering it was my first time printing on the machine. Very happy with the colours.

It's kind of typical in this neck of the woods to send christmas cards with a photo of the immediate family or at least the kids, so this is my spin on it. (Last year we went into a photo booth. Well, not the dog.)

To my foreign readers: you've probably guessed it already, but God Jul means Merry Christmas in Norwegian.

Christmas

I've been hanging christmas lights around the place and decided the dolls house needed some too..! The wiring is a bit messy, but it does the trick.

Cold outside

It's freezing here at the moment. No proper snow yet, but frost everywhere, which looks nice too. This was the view today from one of my living room windows. Snapped just before I had to rush out to the post office with some late presents and all the postcards (which I will post here on the blog at a later date).

I'm on Etsy!

I've finally set up my own Etsy shop and my first items are out there. More will follow soon.

Order

I got an order to make this cushion after last weekend's fair. It's made from a vintage Vera silk scarf. If it wasn't already ordered, I would be quite happy to keep it! Oh well, can't keep them all I guess...

I would like to make some more and put out on my web shop, but with only one week to go to Christmas and having a sick kid at home, it just won't happen. What I will try to do, is set up an Etsy shop with a few smaller items.

Happymeat's flowers

I had the pleasure of being situated next to Cecilie Ellefsen at the Designers' Christmas Fair over the weekend, and her items were really wonderful as always. There's no competition. Last year I bought the brooch to the left in the picture, and this year I fell completely in love with the metallic red ring to the right. I think she will put some others up for sale in her Etsy shop, so check it out. She makes lots of other great stuff too!

Sneak peek

I finally finished my products for the Designers Christmas Fair this weekend! What a relief... I'm quite pleased having managed to get it all done despite lots of delays due to sickness. (The latest being a one week tummy bug for both me and kiddo...) Just need to sort out the rest of the packaging and labels now. Here's a little preview on what I'll have to offer. (A little explanation for my International readers: the printed text on the baby onesies are little word plays on quotes made by certain Norwegians over the course of 2007.)

I should probably also mention that I recycle material in all my productions. I use vintage fabrics, old dishes and second hand or deadstock onesies.

Apropos the onesies - I've finally tested my Gocco printer. I actually did the silk screening manually, but I used the Gocco to make the screens. Now I can't wait to print on paper.

Designernes Eget Julemarked/Designer Christmas Fair

Time to advertise for next weekend's big do - the annual Designer's Christmas Fair here in Oslo. I will attend selling pocketbook covers made from vintage fabric, baby onesies with graphic prints and fridge magnets made from more vintage fabric. Possibly also some china brooches if I have time to get them done...

There will be lots of great stuff to buy at this fair! If you're in the area - come along! And remember to bring cash, as very few vendors have credit card machines. Hope to see you there!

Work in progress III

It's late, I'm knackered. Been making 80 fridge magnets (using vintage fabric) since yesterday. Another 50 to go...

Jonathan Adler purchases

I got the little horse and the birds salt and pepper shakers from Jonathan Adler's fantastic shop in Soho, New York. I could have bought so much there, but had to limit myself, unfortunately.

Something to blog about?

I haven't posted anything much recently due to being over my head in preparation for the annual Christmas design fair in two weeks. I was desperately searching my folders for an interesting picture to post, and this was the best I could come up with. I got this royal memorial plate at a flee market some weeks ago and haven't got a clue what to do with it... What was I thinking of? A decoration for the toilet wall?

The royal lady pictured on the plate is the first Princess Märtha, so I thought that made some kind of link to my last post. Now that I see the pictures together, I quite like it.

I *Heart* Happymeat

Cecilie at happymeat is a great talent. Here's a book cover illustration she did for Princess Märtha Louise's latest fairy tale collection out in the shops now.

More Brooklyn purchases

I love this salt and pepper shaker set shaped as kid's alphabet blocks. I was also very happy to find the lovely address book and label kit from Sukie.

Eames flip book

I found this little gem of a flip book at a great bookstore in Brooklyn. (I apologize for the poor film quality...) How to put together an Eames lounge chair.

New York photos II

From top: Funky window display in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
Brooklyn Bridge seen from taxi cab window.
The Burger Joint.
Soho shop front.
Homeless in Central Park.

New York photos

I got back this morning from a great long weekend in New York. I am rather jet-lagged at the moment but I thought I should post a few snaps before turning in to catch up on some much needed sleep.

Favorite film clip

I love this sequence of the film The Hudsucker Proxy.

New York

I'm going to New York for an inspirational trip over the weekend, leaving tomorrow. Will be back blogging early next week, I hope. I'll leave you with some more of my favorite New York movies (in no particular order):

1. The Hudsucker Proxy
2. Annie Hall
3. Rosemary's Baby
4. The Way We Were
5. Klute
6. When Harry Met Sally
7. Ghostbusters
8. 25th Hour
9. Being Jon Malcovic
10. De-lovely (which is all over the place, including NY)

New cushions

These two cushions (and more) will soon be in my web shop.

Almedahls II

Here's a little something I picked up at Designtorget yesterday. Paper napkins from Almedahls.

Sugarloop print II

I finally got around to framing this beautiful gold Gocco-print by Sugarloop. It was a birthday present from my good friend Randi over in New Zealand. Thank you so much!

Mum's little helpers

First the dog came along, saw the fabric on the floor, and just HAD to sit on it. A little later kiddo came into the room and squealed with delight when he discovered the fabric. They probably both had the same idea - that I had put it there for them. Well, how were they to know I was cutting fabric for cushions?

Production line

So much to do, so little time... I'm getting a bit stressed about getting my products done in time for the annual Designers Christmas Fair here in early December. This is the first lot of my pocket book covers that I'm making from vintage fabrics. I'll also be making (and hopefully selling) broaches, baby onesies with graphic prints and fridge magnets.

A Sweet Dog

My friend Paul has just launched a new blog called A Sweet Dog. 'A fun blog for doglovers with food, treats, tips and craft.' I love these cute cards.

Cathrineholm (again)

Seeing as I was on this track, I thought I'd finally post my collection of Cathrineholm pots and pans. Never in use - they are just on display on the shelf, as they are not the best to cook with, unfortunately. They're decorative, though!

Goodnight

Bless him.

Fondue

This fondue set was a bargain on ebay. I'd been wanting one for a long time, and there it was - a complete Cathrineholm set. The only problem is - I've never tried fondue before... If anyone reading this have any tips, bring them on!

Wish list

I just discovered Society for Rational Dress. These 3 items are on my wish list.

Another talented Swede

Sweden seems to be where great design is happening at the moment. So much talent! I just discovered this talented graphic designer/illustrator who is crossing over into interiors and also setting up a shop and webshop soon. Her name is Frida Eklund Ekman and she has a lovely blog called Fridas Fina .

This is an illustration of how her living room might look after the current renovation. I love the bold combination of colors!

Petra Börner

Sometimes I wonder where I've been. Why have I only just now discovered this creative woman, for instance? Petra Börner is a swedish artist living in London, and her style is just fantastic. I was looking through her web yesterday, finding one amazing illustration after another - and suddenly I found one that looked familiar. It turns out I have a dress in one of her patterns! And I never knew about her...