Ragnhilds cubicle

"The world is a book..."

2012-02-16T12:30:00.000+01:00

"The world is a book,

and those who do not travel

only read a page."

St.Augustine

Looking forward to a (long) weekend of coffee, friends, talking and walking and hopefully some good shopping! I will be mostly offline, but hope to give you good reports when I am back next week.

PS. This was my Valentines Day

PPS. A good resolution (and pretty picture too)

1. Picture source: tumblr.com via Steven on Pinterest

With a Copy of "A House of Pomegranates"

2012-02-15T18:46:00.000+01:00

Go, little book,
To him who, on a lute with horns of pearl,
Sang of the white feet of the Golden Girl:
And bid him look
Into thy pages: it may hap that he
May find that golden maidens dance through thee.

Oscar Wilde

I got the complete works of Oscar Wilde at a thrift store this weekend. it was t he sage colored, aged cover that drew me in, but I think I will learn to love the content of the pages as well. Oh, the magic of words...

A handmade giveaway winner!

2012-02-13T22:49:00.001+01:00

Thank you so much for entering my giveaway! And welcome if you are a new follower :) I was honestly a little surprised to read your raw, honest and heartfelt wishes for the year. I hope and pray they all come true!

And now, the winner. I used random.org, and number 2 (one of my favorite numbers in fact) was chosen. Congratulations Ingrid! I have read her blog (well, she has several) a little on and off, but finally I subscribed and can enjoy her everyday descriptions more regularly. She makes me smile, and I hope she will smile as well when she reads this :) E-mail me your address and you will have a package coming your way very soon.

What would life be without coffee?

2012-02-12T11:00:00.000+01:00

Those who know me know that I love coffee. A lot.

A friend came by my apartment for the first time the other day,

and brought this print as a house warming gift - so sweet!

I posted about a giveaway of this print at the Lidyll blog on facebook,

and she picked it up and ordered one for me! The artist, Jan Skacelik, has an etsy store where you can do some shopping of your own if you like the style.

PS. I chose this picture intentionally.

What you see in the bottom left corner is not glare from my camera flash,

but real sun rays, and I am super-excited to have them in my house again!

PPS. My giveaway is open till Monday, so it is not too late to sign up.

Thrifted - gifted

2012-02-09T22:50:00.000+01:00

You might say it is a little late for Christmas, but last year we exchanged gifts on Valentines Day, so we were actually a little early this year. My roommate of two years, Lyndee, moved back to the States last fall, but is gracing us with a winter visit for the month of February. She brought back gifts, and technically, this was a Christmas gift.

These little bells brought some Christmas feelings,

but I think I will save them for next winter´s projects...

A vintage 1940s table runner, and a pretty green clutch.

I love it when people know what I like, thank you so much Lyndee!!

The Art of Deduction

2012-02-08T23:08:00.002+01:00

Print by the Owl´s Love Nest

I think I am crushing on a detective. Today I brought the complete adventures of Sherlock Holmes back from the library (and mentally adding it to my wish list, but in the original language) and convinced some friends to watch an episode of the BBC series with a modern day Holmes and Watson. This consulting detective is highly fascinating, my first encounter with him can be read here, and my interest seems to grow, rather than diminish. And I am so glad NRK has the show available online and for free, I am liking the state channel more and more these days. And if you like books in general, you can check out my friend Mike´s blog, for posts on novels, book covers, poetry and the like.

The Sherlock print can be bought here on etsy. Speaking of prints, I have a stack of them ready to be framed, and can´t wait to hang them around the house! I promise to share the result when I am done.

Promises of spring

2012-02-03T16:24:00.000+01:00

I like this months challenge from NIB: Style a wall for spring.

I dont have any smart panel in my house, but the bathroom has proper wood panel walls. The sea foam/mint colored walls give a feeling of perpetual spring and it is a great color for a bathroom since it is calming, and matches my Clinique products...

The mirror, shelf and the hooks all came with the bathroom,

so I dont know where they are from.

Vintage jar with a branch.

I am crushing on fresh flowers lately,

and will have to get some for the weekend!

Pablo Picasso "Child with dove" postcard.

The dutch style box was a gift, bought in Orange City, Iowa.

Viktor and Rolf "Flowerbomb" and earrings ordered from China.

Laundry detergent in a jar (gifted) and old soda bottles from a flea market.

Hope is a great word for spring.

There are lots of other great submissions for this challenge at NIB for more inspiration.

And a spring colored giveaway here on my blog!

February: Sleeping at last

2012-02-01T16:50:00.001+01:00

Sleeping At Last "Land or Sea" from their February EP

Working for Mot Målet, YWAM Norway´s magazine, can be stressful because of deadlines and the struggle to find the right words, especially when translating. I seem to be chronically late, does anyone know a cure??

But there are mostly advantages to this job. I get to read great articles, learn graphic design, listen to and transcribe good teaching, and search for recommendable music and movies with other like-minded. Today I started listening to Sleeping At Last and their "Yearbook", and decided to share a sample with you all. The song above is from their February EP, so it should fit perfectly on this first and cold February day.

Welcome to all new followers, and thanks for entering my giveaway! All you need to do to qualify is to tell me a dream for the year ahead. I really like hearing about your goals, and hope they all become reality! I hope I get to know myself better. If you need a daily reminder of the same, there is a free downloadable desktop calendar at Our Paper Shops blog. They make adorable paper goods, so you should definitely check them out.

A handmade giveaway

2012-01-30T17:00:00.000+01:00

This is my 300th post, lets celebrate! I have had winners luck lately, and thought it would be fun to give something away too. Both winning and giving is real fun, especially when things arrive in the mail! If you know me you will probably have noticed that I appreciate things that are crafted, recycled and made by hand. I think this giveaway represents me: thrifted yarn and a handmade, useful product. Two of these knitted dish cloths can be yours. Maybe they will make kitchen chores a little easier? I cant guarantee that though...

How to enter:

- Leave a comment telling me a dream or a wish you have for 2012.
- 1 extra entry for being/becoming a follower my blog.
- 1 extra entry for telling your friends about the giveaway on facebook/twitter/a postcard/link on your blog

You can have three entries in total, just write how many you have.

~~Anyone in the world can enter, leave your email in the comment if you dont have your own blog, and I will draw a random winner in two weeks, Monday February 13th.~~ Giveaway closed.

Good luck!

Mmmushroom soup

2012-01-29T13:35:00.000+01:00

With a friend coming over for dinner last night, I searched pinterest for soups, and one in particular caught my eye. I chose it partly because of the pretty picture, partly because I didnt have to buy a ton of ingredients. It can be risky to cook something new from a random online recipe, but boy, this one did not disappoint! So tasty, creamy and yummy I regretted not doubling the recipe. On the other hand, we agreed we would probably have finished it all, no matter the size of the batch. I think I had forgotten how amazing food can be, and I hope I will never stop trying new recipes!

Are you hungry now?? Here is the recipe, with a few small tweaks of my own.

Delicious mushroom soup
Serves 2 (only barely though, and with a lot of bread on the side)

Ingredients:
300g mushrooms - finely chopped. I used a mix of fresh champignon and dried funnel chanterelle
1 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic - chopped
1-2 tbsp butter
1 tsp dried thyme (or 1 tbsp fresh if you have any)
1 - 2 bay leaf
1 tsp soy sauce (substituting the Worcestershire sauce in the original recipe)
1 cup vegetable stock
2 tbsp flour dissolved in 2 tbsp water
Salt to taste
1/2 cup cream
1 1/2 cup milk
Dash of nutmeg
Freshly ground black pepper to taste

How:
1. Heat olive oil in a sauce pan. Add butter and lightly sauté garlic on medium heat.
2. Add mushrooms, thyme, bay leaf and soy sauce. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
3. Add broth. Stir occasionally until broth boils, then reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes.
4. Add diluted flour, and stir constantly (while simmering) until the mixture thickens.
5. Add milk and heavy cream, and bring to a simmer. Season with salt and nutmeg. Taste and adjust seasoning.
6. Serve hot in your soup bowl. Add freshly ground black pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley or thyme if you have a herb garden. (Maybe this spring??)

Recipe found at Season with Spice.

PS. My next post will be my 300th, and includes a giveaway!

Grimerud-days

2012-01-26T23:14:00.000+01:00

The past days have been spent at Grimerud, YWAM Norway´s main center. I have realized that it can be a lot more effective and fruitful to be in the same room as the people I work with, and so I we did. The result: Planning logistics and marketing for GOfest, translating, brain storming and writing for Mot Målet, and other communication work for YWAM Norway. Good times in the office.

I have always wondered what the people here do on their spare time. Of course there is the prayer room that never closes, but what else is there do on the country side? With some spare time to kill I joined the girls for an unexpected road trip all over Hamar, which we all enjoyed.

Yesterday we watched the Norwegian short film Tuba Atlantic. An old man hears from his doctor that he will day in a few days, and together with a young girl who wants to be his "death angel", he waits for the winds to turn so the sound of his giant tuba can reach his brother on the other side of the Atlantic. The film is nominated for the Oscars this year, which is pretty impressive for a student film. You can rent and watch the Tuba Atlantic trailer or movie at filmarkivet.no. I recommend it!

Striped delight

2012-01-23T17:30:00.000+01:00

I was really lucky in December, and have been enjoying lots of mail in the new year (and still waiting on some) and I have been thinking its about time for this blog to have a giveaway too. Since I am close to 300 posts I thought that could be a nice occasion, so stay tuned!

These cute earrings came in the mail after winning a giveaway at the AdaLou blog

Love the ribbon!

Mandy and her shop Butter up, Buttercup (cute name, huh?) makes pretty earrings and accesories, and I certainly got a lot for my 20$ credit. Thank you so much ladies!

IKEA adventures

2012-01-21T13:00:00.000+01:00

One early winter morning three YWAM Skien ladies drive to IKEA on an interior mission. Some of the new rooms at the base needed furniture, and we were more than happy to go on a little road trip. Of course we found time for some shopping of our own, but let me tell you, there wasn´t room for one more thing in that car! I loved jigsaw puzzles when I was a child, and that skill still comes in handy sometimes.

Even though I got almost what I had a on my list, some new things were added. We bought a couple of the Poäng chairs in black for the base, and I started liking this chair. I think it would fit in my living room, so I will put it on the wish list.

One of these wouldn´t hurt in the kitchen.

And you can never get enough storage, right?

My purchases will have to wait, most of them are going towards my new guestroom/office when my roommate moves out in February. We also found time to stop by Stoff og Stil (fabric store) where I got leather needles. I have some projects in my head, and now I´ve got everything I need to start!

Thank you Mr. Postman

2012-01-20T18:07:00.001+01:00

The prettiest tulips were delivered on the door the other day,

such a nice surprise!

And the interior magazine Bolig Pluss is a prize I won at Ginas blog Gledene i livet! It is weekend, and I am thrilled that many of my close friends who have been here, there and everywhere the past weeks, are back in town. This weekend we plan to go skiing for the first time this season.

Finally winter!?

Beautiful people

2012-01-18T22:42:00.001+01:00

Today I leave you with this little video of beautiful people and nature.

My IKEA adventures will have to wait for another day.

Afghanistan – touch down in flight from Augustin Pictures on Vimeo.

Stargazing

2012-01-16T20:07:00.000+01:00

Picture by Petter Almgren.

2012-01-15T19:24:00.001+01:00

That is part of the beauty of all literature.

You discover that your longings are universal

longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated

from anyone.

You belong.

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Life at home

2012-01-14T20:27:00.000+01:00

Inspiration from the Swedish IKEA blog.

I will be going to the warehouse next week,

and have spent some time browsing their catalogue and website

so I can compile a shopping list for things I need.

Want and need, there can be a fine line sometimes....

PS. My book page is up!

The Year of the Hare

2012-01-11T19:00:00.000+01:00

An absurd Finnish tale of a man and a hare.
On recommendation from my sister, I read this short novel over Christmas, and loved it. You can read a review here, or just go ahead and order it from your local library, or walk into a book store and purchase your very own copy.

I plan on documenting my reads for the coming year. I tried backtracking for 2011, and it was quite hard. If only the library had archived all my loans... Anyways, a blog usually helps for the archiving part, so perhaps there will be a page dedicated to books. Sounds like a good idea to me.

Any reading suggestions for the new year??

Organic Mocca

2012-01-10T22:30:00.001+01:00

In December I was very lucky to win in Epla´s advent calendar. The organic store Grønn Såpe gave me two handmade soaps of my choice (plus an extra one - so kind!) and this cute wooden soap holder.

This Mocca soap has coffee, cardamon and vanilla in it, ingredients who help against stinky fish/garlic fingers. In other words - the perfect kitchen soap! Ive used it a lot already, and love how soft my hands are. Thank you so much to Kathrin and Epla.

Oh, and I just ordered some art from 20x200. Cant wait for it to get here!

Global chic: Wanderlust

2012-01-09T17:30:00.000+01:00

I wish I was an author when the world was still an undiscovered place.

I love reading travel literature and dream of places far away.

Vintage suitcases from my grandma (on the tiny little picture) and flea markets. Coffee maker from Israel, clay jar from Ethiopia, poster from Spain.

Anywhere warm would be great right now.

Passport, notebooks and sunglasses. Im ready to go.

An entry in the "Global chic" challenge at NIB.

A new year

2012-01-04T01:40:00.000+01:00

A fresh start: an empty calender, blank notebooks, new goals and the promise of a whole year of unused days ahead.
And just like this Banksy print says: There is always hope.

Print by Davey Knew.

Happy New Year!!

2011-12-31T15:49:00.002+01:00

Picture found here.

2011: Some highlights

2011-12-30T16:00:00.000+01:00

2011 was the first year I blogged from beginning to end. It is so much fun to have memories recorded this way. Looking back on the year, here are some of the highlights:

January:

5 years in YWAM and the start of a year of restyles

One of the before´s

February:

A sisterly weekend in the city and dancing snowflakes

March:

Discovering Sherlock Holmes

(I was intrigued again this Christmas by the recent movie)

and my first cape

April:

Visiting Latvia and my first (?) Easter skirt

May:

My very own home! (not much time for blogging...) and seeing Sufjan

Picture by Jordan Sanchez

June:

Family fun on the west coast and home made stairs

July:

Of mountains and stars and a look at my loft

August:

A good month for restyling and festivals

Restyled table

September:

Moving in party and a trip to Poland

October:

Risk all over Europe and a wonderful birthday party

Teammates in Macedonia

November:

Thrift store shopping and a "new" dress

December:

A white chair and fun with the family

Thank you so much to all of you who follow, read and comment here on this little blog, I am grateful that you take time reading my stories! What about you, what are some of your highlights this year?

PS. If this wasnt enough, the full archives can be found on your right hand side, where you can browse by date or category.

Joy to the world

2011-12-29T18:47:00.000+01:00

Picture by Angela Hardison. You can go here to download your own print if you want this piece to grace your mantelpiece or wall. I am ready to print out mine at least. A large portion of today has been spent on geography duels - fun!

You can also check out this give away with focus on the Salvation Army by Thea. Ive had some winners luck lately, and will show you the result when it arrives in my mailbox.

Put the lights on the tree

2011-12-23T16:00:00.000+01:00

We got a couple of days of winter wonderland and I made sure I took in the sight. I wish it would stay like this, but that would take a miracle.

It is time to decorate the tree. In this house we wait till the 23rd with the Christmas decoration, and I will not let it happen before! And with that I can finally say:

Merry Christmas my friends!!

On a slightly different note;

here is an obscure Christmas cartoon by mr. Stevens.

Soundtrack: Sufjan Stevens "Put the lights on the tree"

For auld lang syne, my dear

2011-12-22T22:43:00.000+01:00

Paper scrap ribbon and bows - genius!

Im still working on the Christmas cards.

Ive got one more day, right, so why be done before I have to?

At least I made it to the post office today with the ones who need to travel far, and if I am very lucky, it will reach my dear friends far away before the new year is upon us.

I wonder if I will ever throw scrap paper away again...

Soundtrack: Beta Radio "Auld lang syne"

Snow day

2011-12-19T20:03:00.002+01:00

Sneen dalte lett og fin, og strøk blidt mot ruten min
i morgens da jeg drømte på min pute.
Vi tok skjerf og votter på, hastet veldig med å gå,
snart var det tusen barnespor der ute.

(Norwegian winter song)

You never know when you get another snow day around here, so yesterday we put on whatever we could find of hats, mittens, jackets and shoes, and headed out in the snow to play some games. Today its a totally different (wet) story, so we did the right thing.

Six feet, three hands

Three feet, four hands

Anyone better?

What I wore:

Hat, Noa Noa

Jacket, Vivikes

Mittens, from my mom

Ski pants, vintage (from a closet)

Snow boots, a store in Skien

PS. The striped jacket is from Azerbaijan, in case you wanted to get one too...

"Winter" wonderland

2011-12-18T14:00:00.000+01:00

In the woods, two days ago.

It felt like spring was right around the corner!

Oh well, pretty weather like this in Bergen should be appreciated no matter the season.

Update: Everything is covered in white by now, and the afternoon was spent throwing snowballs at my siblings... You cant really rely on the weather here on the west coast.

Let there be light

2011-12-17T18:15:00.000+01:00

The other day I got some more of these in the house, and I am quite excited about it! It is great to know electricians - thank you so much Christer!!

More outlets means many new options for decorating with light and rearranging, and I look forward to trying new things around the house. Im very happy to cross this off my to-do list, now if only I knew a plumber...

Music: Gungor "Let there be"

Longing for light

2011-12-13T15:21:00.001+01:00

The weather is grey, dreary and rainy, and when I ventured outside the house, it felt like being in a small storm. Im glad I can stay inside, but keep looking around the web for some more light. I love industrial lamps, like these from Swedish In My House.

This issue of Studio magazine has a special focus on lamps as well. You can check them out here, but will have to go to the store to get the full stories. In Norwegian only, but everyone can enjoy pictures, right?

Ribbon, Paper, Scissor

2011-12-11T15:23:00.001+01:00

Pretty ribbon, pretty paper, add a pair of scissors and glue = some of my favorite things.

Here are the supplies for this year´s Christmas cards.

I think I have to leave the mess on my kitchen table as a constant reminder to get it done...

Yesterday´s advent workshop was good, but as far as effectivity goes it was more like the humble start of a lot of crafting. The goal for today is to have at least one card written and ready for the mailbox tomorrow so it can find the way to a friend far away.

Snow whiteish

2011-12-09T13:43:00.001+01:00

Well, the snow didnt last long.

Yesterday the rain came and washed it all away.

Sigh...

Well, there is nothing I can do but accept it.

But I have embraced the latest addition to the house:

New rugs!

I might sew them together later, like this DIY.

The space is so much brighter and cozier.

(but still not bright enough for good pictures)

Now I only (?) want a nice rug for the couch area, and it will be all good.

Oh, and add a good lamp to that list.

Tomorrow: advent workshop with a bunch of great girls!

Rugs from Home and Cottage.

29. The first snowfall of the winter

2011-12-07T13:00:00.001+01:00

Yesterday evening I stepped out the front door as the first snowflakes fell. It felt a little magical.

Rerun: a short video I made last winter

And other little things to brighten your day.

Unfortunately, I cant find the original source for the photo, I could only track it back to here.

Chestnuts and pine cones: Finds from the forest

2011-12-06T16:08:00.000+01:00

Welcome to my Christmas home!

A little bird from Africa flew over for the holidays.

Moss and pine cones from the forest - I love to pick stuff up and bring it home...

And this guy and his music is always welcome!

I am not too crazy about a lot of red in my home, so I have a muted color palette also for Christmas, with just a tiny hint of gold. Technically, it is only advent, but I won´t be in my home for Christmas, so this is a good mix of both.

And at the end: a star of hope and an improvised Christmas tree with hearts.

Secrets

2011-12-05T19:04:00.000+01:00

This weekend was spent with good friends and a very pretty baby girl. A nice, relaxing trip to the other side of the fjord. I forgot to take pictures, but here is a little sneak peek at what I worked on. I can´t show you the finished result, since we are in the season of secrets, and it just wouldn´t be as much fun if I spoiled all the surprises. A healthy dose of curiosity is good for us, isn´t it? So, do you have any good projects these days, or is everything too secret to share?

I have had a lot of visitors here the past days, and some new followers too, and I wanted to welcome you! It is great to have new people stopping by at this little blog of mine :)

If you look carefully, you can see that I have added a few things to the top and side bar - some direct links to posts related to YWAM life and my home, plus the most popular posts. Check it out if you´d like! Still thinking about the header. Clean is nice, but is it too boring??

Dear Santa

2011-12-04T17:29:00.001+01:00

I love my new white chair, but I would love to add a rocking chair to my seating arrangement as well. Today I stumbled upon this amazing giveaway of two of these pretty ones:

The Eames name should be enough to want this in my living room, and I must say I like it a lot.

For a chance to win yourself, check out Studio magazine here.

ReStyle Sunday: Sister Winter Chair

2011-12-04T13:12:00.000+01:00

I hope this lives up to the expectations I have built up, haha.

Before: This chair was ugly, and I dont understand how I let it stay in my living room for so long... I had good intentions, but all I did was to hang a blanket over it for some of the time, and that sure didnt hide the small (big) imperfections.

After covering a stool with some thrifted wool fabric I looked over at this chair and wondered if I could manage to give that one a makeover too. I thought about it for a couple of days, measured the fabric and thought I would have just about enough of it, and one day I jumped into it, head first.

I think I was a little surprised by how complicated it was, and I had to dig in drawers for various tools to tackle screws and nails.

Armed with staples, nails and a needle and thread it started to come together - piece for piece, corner by corner. And many hours and some blisters later, this was the result.

After: Wintery, white and pretty, she looks a whole lot prettier, dont you think?

Soundtrack: Sufjan Stevens "Sister Winter"

Joy

2011-12-03T13:57:00.000+01:00

Chocolate creates joy.

Freia - you got it right.

ReStyle preview

2011-12-02T17:00:00.000+01:00

Coming up - one of my most extensive restyles so far!

As you can see, I switched back to a normal blogger template. The dynamic view was fun, but as many others with me, it was frustrating that things didnt work. Perhaps I will get back to it later, when those computer geniuses have had time to develop it into a good product. The blog looks a little plain now, but thats all I had time for.

Have a happy weekend everyone!

ReStyle: A plaid shirt

2011-12-01T16:42:00.001+01:00

This shirt has lovely fabric, but was not quite my size...

Before: What?? No, Im never awkward, especially in oversized mens shirts!

After a lot of tweaking, taking the arms off, recutting them and putting them back (on the wrong side, but I discovered that too late, and no one will ever notice. I think...), taking in the sides and shortening it, its all good. I did iron it, but wearing it for a whole day put new wrinkles in - sorry about that.

PS. I have had some feedback from people struggling to read my blog and to comment. I had a friend test it, so it should all work, but Im wondering if this dynamic view doesnt work well in all browser. Anyone else have these problems/solutions?? Im thankful for all feedback, and not sure if I will continue with this layout or not, especially if it makes my blog hard to access.

ReStyle: Plaid woolen delight

2011-11-29T18:00:00.000+01:00

Ingredients: A vintage stool and fabric thrifted last week plus a staple gun

The before: A velvety rust colored fabric.

I kinda liked it, but at the same time not, and I felt the need to change things up a little.

Taking of the first layer, I unveiled this plaid orange beauty.

Cool? Maybe, but a little too much for this gal.

A whiter shade of pale fits the mood and the season much better.

This probably took me half an hour from start to finish - definitely worth the time.

And this is just part one of a much bigger restyle project, so check in later this week for an update.

The holidays are coming

2011-11-28T19:31:00.001+01:00

and I really, really want all things sparkly and golden. I am surprising myself, but cant stop drooling over glitter and sequins these days.

Image from The Disco Pony Girl via Creature Comforts

The loot

2011-11-27T22:24:00.001+01:00

Last weekend we went thrifting,

and the result combined with the price qualifies this as booty (the pirate kind)

A shirt, hat, amazing alarm clock, table cloth, basket - everything in a pretty suitcase :)

Dutch (!) Boggle and Rummy. Im excited to play

Lots of fabric and yarn = many projects

A couple of these things have already played the main part of some restyle projects, but I will have to share those another day, as well as my advent decorations. Christmas is getting closer, and I think I will enjoy the waiting time a lot!

A look at RISK

2011-11-17T21:55:00.001+01:00

Yesterday we had a celebration at the base. The reason: the accomplishment of sending teams to every nation in Europe at the same time, with the same purpose. Here is a little peek into what it looked like.

A big thank you to Jaanika and Mike who put this little video together!

The Time

2011-11-17T17:47:00.001+01:00

"The time is always right

to do the right thing."

Martin Luther King Jr

Thank you Ane for this lovely watch!! I won her giveaway, and now I can think of her every time I tell the time (to do the right thing).

I exercised today, and let me tell you, that is an accomplishment around here! Definitely one of those right things... Almost weekend now, and I look forward to relaxing and some thrift store shopping with wonderful people!

Change of season

2011-11-16T19:14:00.001+01:00

Winter suddenly showed up yesterday, and what is better than a good and hearty stew on a cold day?

I found this recipe in the fall issue of Sweet Paul Magazine, but there is also a fresh holiday/winter issue out. Read, enjoy and be inspired to craft and cook for the next months!

FALL STEW

Serves 6

Ingredients:

Oil/butter for frying

1 red chili

1 white onion

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tsp ground coriander

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp cumin

1 tsp turmeric

2 potatoes

1 can chopped tomatoes

1 can mixed beans

2-3 dl vegetable stock

1 small butternut squash, in small cubes

some chopped fresh spinach

chopped cashews

How to:

Heat butter/oil and cook onion, garlic and chili for 3-4 minutes, till soft

Add the spices and potatoes, cook for another minute

Add tomatoes and stock and let it all simmer for 10 minutes

Add beans and squash and simmer for another 10 minutes, till vegetables are tender.

Salt and pepper to taste

Serve with spinach and cashews.

Really easy, really good, and really good for you!!

Fathers Day

2011-11-13T13:56:00.001+01:00

A post dedicated to my dad.

This is the sight that met me when I came to my parents house last weekend:

rocks upon rocks!

My dad loves rocks and building things with them, like these steps.

I like it.

And I like my dad - he rocks!!

Man about town

2011-11-12T10:00:00.000+01:00

I didnt think I would post a skateboard video on my blog, but I couldnt resist this one:

The music, the style, the colors of his socks and of course, his skills.

Well, what do I know? All I can say is that this is beautiful, indeed, I think I will call it dance-like...

Found here.

Have a happy weekend!!

2011-11-11T14:15:00.001+01:00

The perfect card for a dear friend.

And some other lovely things for the weekend:

Pretty slippers for cold days.
A felt animation music video that put a smile on my face.
Win a candle holder for advent that works for other times of the year as well.

ReStyle Sunday: A grey dress on a sunny day

2011-11-06T17:58:00.001+01:00

Before: A rather large dress

After: a few adjustments and alterations later and it actually fits me

I love it!

Hemming a dress/skirt like this is not done in a second. I will think twice before I do that again... There was a lot of ironing and folding involved, but I am happy with the result.

Lucy and I on a very pretty Sunday stroll.

Thanks for being my photographer!

What I wore:

Dress, thrifted and restyled

Cape, thrifted and restyled

Scarf, from my great-grandmother

Tights, who knows?

Shoes, Converse

Smile?

2011-11-05T17:05:00.003+01:00

A priceless photography depicting my mom, two of her older siblings and her dad on a camping holiday.
Oh the fun of family pictures!

So far it has been a nice and relaxing weekend, a walk in the woods in the rain to Krokatjørn (we are in Bergen, so a little rain wont stop us of course), jazz on the radio and looking through old family photos.

Music for the weekend

2011-11-04T14:45:00.003+01:00

My friend Danny Klaver makes music and finally his work is available online.

This is one of many songs written for short films, and I think they are all delightful!

Check out more of his music here or on facebook.

I flew in to Bergen this morning, and will enjoy a long weekend with my family.

Its great to have a little fall break and (literally) put my feet on the table.

I hope you have a beautiful weekend!

Friends around the world

2011-11-03T17:30:00.000+01:00

Excited for 2012 and this wonderful calendar from Lyndee

Fun vintage buttons from Erika

Pretty tea bags, pretty earrings and the cutest card from Irene

I dont have an uncle in America, but I have some dear friends, and these are some wonderful gifts that came in the mail this week. I love mail!

Only in Paris?

2011-11-03T08:01:00.000+01:00

Fresh pastries for breakfast, from my own kitchen!

How - the backward way

4. Cook for about 20 minutes at 200 C

3. Fold and pinch with a fork

2. Place a spoon of apple jam and a pinch of cinnamon in the middle of a square

1. Thaw pastry

So easy!

They might look a little funny, but that doesnt matter when the taste is superb.

I will certainly get that (so easy to use it feels like Im cheating) frozen pastry again.

As the rain and snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth

2011-11-02T20:57:00.000+01:00

Next year I hope to have a herb garden on my balcony.
For now, I will work on tending the plants I have inside, and hope they survive the long winter.

Source: haus-therapy.tumblr.com via SFgirlbybay

Color me happy

2011-11-01T18:21:00.003+01:00

We had a nerdy moment in the office today, exploring colorcombos.com.
Here at YWAM Skien we are planning to update our website, and we need all the inspiration we can get.

This is the combination I am using for my next newsletter. Pretty, no?

In other news: I finally got a vacuum cleaner.
I dont think I have ever been so genuinely excited about vacuuming...
And I got a really good deal as well. Nothing beats a good bargain, especially for a Sunnmøring like me :)

Where I belong

2011-10-31T18:00:00.000+01:00

At church yesterday we had the very talented and beautiful Birgitte Karlsen playing some of her music for us. Her myspace page has more music if you like what you hear.

And judging by the numbers, you like my new blog layout too.

Thank you so much for reading and commenting :)

Semi-restyle: New lamp

2011-10-30T11:09:00.001+01:00

A new giant light bulb paired with this old thrifted lamp is now my favorite little corner!

And I might wear my hat more, now that it is right there, by the entrance.

Happy Sunday!

Constant change

2011-10-30T00:02:00.001+02:00

I have made some (major) changes to the blog. Change sounded nice, and if I dont like it, I can change it back to the non-dynamic view.

New features:
- Use the search box to you right to find posts of your interest
- View the blog the way you prefer: snapshots, time slide or the more classic version
- Some of my daily reads are found on the main menu

What do you think?

Picture found here.

When death dies

2011-10-26T13:28:00.001+02:00

I am doing research for an article for Mot Målet, and this, my friends, is beautiful research.

I love their song "Brother Moon" as well, check it out!

Produce: before the party

2011-10-24T20:00:00.000+02:00

I told you about my birthday some days ago,

and this is what cooking for a dinner party looks like:

Bread in an early stage.

I love cutting, cooking and eating vegetables.

Here with carrots, turnips, beet, garlic and thyme.

"See, THIS is a rosemary twig. Now what about that twine..."

Tie a pretty bow and repeat.

(I actually really like the colors going on in the picture above.)

Sadly, I have no pictures of the finished result, and we ate it all.

What I wore:

Vintage dress, some store in Oslo

Apron, vintage fabric, made by me

Bracelet, from my grandma

Matching orange knife, a gift

More updates on my life over at Kristins blog.

(I guess thats what happens when you live together)

Not your grandmas embroidery

2011-10-23T22:45:00.002+02:00

Not mine either, since I dont know how to (though I wish I did), but from an art exhibition here in Skien! Various Scandinavian contemporary artists have contributed to "Sting!", the main exhibition at Telemark Kunsnersenter. It closes on Friday, so if you hurry up, you can still see it.

Love the details.

With love by Ane

2011-10-21T17:10:00.001+02:00

Would you like a fun, handmade wristwatch?

My friend Ane has a give away on her blog, and you can win one!

I would like the blue watch with a flower pattern, which one would you like?

Im crossing my fingers and hoping for winners luck :)

I will

2011-10-20T22:23:00.000+02:00

Fennel and Rosemary baked lamb, Pizza Bianca, honey baked fall vegetables

and a Chocolate cake with (whats according to Jae) the most delicious frosting in the whole world.

These were the things we ate at my wonderful birthday dinner yesterday.

(All recipes are tested and approved, and can be found in this Sweet Paul magazine.
But I have to tell you my extra magic trick for the frosting: add some coffee!)

I am so grateful to all my friends who gave me lots of encouragement,
gave me lots of extra attention and showed me love
- thank you!!

Picture source: weheartit.com via Ragnhild on Pinterest

Food from the forest: Time for a celebration

2011-10-18T18:46:00.002+02:00

Finally I could put turnips and beets on my shopping list and know what to use them for.

Tomorrow is my birthday, and I look forward to a night with good friends and good food.

Thank you Sweet Paul for providing me with (hopefully) delicious recipes for a fall birthday dinner.

Picture ource: design-shimmer.blogspot.com via Sara on Pinterest

So grateful

2011-10-11T19:09:00.000+02:00

The past week seems a little like a dream:

I have been a part of sending a team to every single nation in Europe, and all in one weekend!!

The whole thing started of with a kick off meeting in Skien. with the teams in Tromsø on skype in the back. As I called out the nations and had teams stand up and cheer I must admit I felt Eurovision vibes. Though we had no points to hand out, these are the numbers:

240 people on 51 teams to 46 nations plus 3 territories

We even got a team to Montenegro the day before we started! This adventurous group of YWAMers spent a lot of time in a car to get to their destination, and made it safely there and back again after long travels. I guess I will give them a pretty high score for their willingness to take on this challenge and for good spirits!

Yesterday most of the teams came back to Skien, here I am translating a girl from my home town Langevåg! She is 15 years old and joined my roommate on her team to Bratislava, Slovakia. It was so cool to hear her share about how God had used her. She was not the only one sharing, there were so many stories of healing, salvation and God speaking through very ordinary people to give hope and encouragement.

This project can look like a stunt from the outside, but my prayer is that our efforts will have lasting effect: both for the people we met all over Europe, and in our own lives. I know God spoke to me about Macedonia, the Balkans and our continent, and I am sure he touched other peoples hearts as well. I hope there will be long term missionaries after RISK, and that this short week has mobilized some for missions in Europe.

A big thank you to Kristin for her pictures. You can read about her trip to Slovakia on her blog, and while you wait for my Macedonia stories you can also check out our facebook page, where all the teams posted updates during the outreach.

This stuff....

2011-10-04T22:16:00.004+02:00

.... is completely amazing! It does not relate to RISK or anything else I am doing at the moment, but I found it one designesponge.com and was amazed. Watch and you will understand.

Tomorrow: RISK
Wish me luck!!

Have a seat!

2011-10-03T21:04:00.001+02:00

Before: Chair no 1. From a previous restyle.

I had plans for the seat all along, I just needed to get my hands on one of those amazing staple guns.

After: A blue corduroy update

I love my staple gun!

Before: Chair no 2, a blank canvas

After: A crazy patterned vintage thrifted skirt got a new life in my living room.

The chair might get a few new coats of paint, but that will have to be for a later occasion.

Oh, and it seems like I had no ability to hold the camera steady this day...

In other news: RISK is happening right now, and things are a little crazy around these parts. Follow this adventure on facebook: RISK - Jesus to all of Europe and our blog ywamskien.wordpress.com if you would like to stay updated!

A glass of sunshine

2011-10-01T13:07:00.000+02:00

Long weekend breakfasts are the best!
Pictured: Orange juice, coffee (lots of it), yogurt and American pancakes with bananas, butter and syrup.

I am feeling a little under the weather, and with RISK right around the corner, it looks like I will spend my weekend in bed/on the couch watching tv shows, finding new blogs to read and entering a few giveaways, for example one for Tretti.no, nordens største nettbutikk for hvitevarer.

It is a perfect sunny fall day outside, so I might get dressed and soak up some sun a little later.

Have a great weekend everyone!

ALL of Europe

2011-09-30T21:40:00.001+02:00

I have never been backpacking in Europe, but is sounds like a great adventure. Being in YWAM has the potenitial of bringing you into situations you never really thought you would be in, like this one:

Yesterday I went over to the Methodist church next door to pick up a key, since we are using their facilities for an event next week. After giving me the extended tour of the building, one of the older gentlemen asked me:
"So, what are you doing next week? Teaching?"
"Well, yes", I replied, " we will have teaching Monday through Wednesday, and then we go on teams to all of Europe."
"Really? Where in Europe are you going?" he said.

I am thinking to myself that this must sound a little crazy, but it is true, so I reply:

"We are going to every nation in Europe."

I am sure he was a little taken aback from my answer, but we proceeded to talk about his missions trips to Eastern Europe, and Moldova in particular, which is the poorest country on our continent. And when I told him we would end it all with a big celebration to share what God had done, he was really eager to join, and I gladly welcomed him to our party.

ALL of Europe.
I can hardly believe it...

Picture source: internationalposter.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Moroccan meatballs: a food post

2011-09-28T18:00:00.000+02:00

One of the dishes I return to again and again is Moroccan Meatballs. They are simple to make, super tasty, and you can serve them with what your taste buds desire (or whatever your fridge contains)

Recipe:

1 pound meat

1/4 finely chopped onion

1/2 ts cinnamon

1 ts cumin

1 ts allspice

1 ts salt

3 ts semolina (I use potemjøl)

1 egg

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl, and dont be afraid to use your hands, just wash them well afterwards, its a part of the experience! If you have time, let it sit in the fridge for an hour or two or three, or just go ahead and shape them into small meatballs. I use a tablespoon to help me out here. Fry them in butter on medium heat till they are done.

Dont you love my very specific instructions here?

On the picture: served on spinach, tomatoes, yellow peppers with a hint of lime, fresh basil and salt and pepper. They are also great with couscous, perhaps a tomato sauce or in a soup (hm... I havent tried that last one, but I certainly might.) Do you have any other suggestions?

A cry from the East

2011-09-26T21:51:00.000+02:00

Macedonia

I cant believe I will be going to Macedonia next week! Today I read these ancient words about someone else traveling, though he traveled west with his company.

"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
Acts 16:8-10

I am planning RISK - an outreach to all of Europe at the same time. Over 200 YWAM students and staff will spread across the continent for a few days of prayer and sharing Jesus. It will be a great adventure, thats for sure!

Even if you are not going with us, you can follow us on facebook and on our blog ywamskien.wordpress.com

Also: some great and entertaining tips on how to be an adult.
Perhaps one tip can be to start tweeting? I just joined, and you can follow me here.

Picture source: google.com via Alicia on Pinterest

Monday mornings

2011-09-26T08:00:00.000+02:00

These gifted roses from our moving in party still look great.

I just wanted to wish you a great week!

ReStyle Sunday: A welcoming mat

2011-09-25T21:40:00.004+02:00

Before: Plain and boring

After: Hei!

Welcome in :)

Spray paint is fun, but a little hard to manage, so this project is not really perfect.

But it makes me smile, and I hope that all those who enter my door will do it with a smile as well!

Door mat from IKEA.

A party in sepia

2011-09-18T14:05:00.002+02:00

Welcome to our party!

The apartment dressed in the appropriate colors

The menu: olives, popcorn, cheese and crackers, pretzels,
chocolate chip cookies, marshmallows and cinnamon rolls.

Beautiful people

Lovely Jae

Great company!

And good times on the balcony

A big thank you to everyone who came and made this a sparkling and magical night!

All pictures by Kristin, my wonderful roommate.

Welcome in!

2011-09-15T21:17:00.000+02:00

Tomorrow we have our Black-White-and-Brown-Move-in-Party!

The planning committee is excited about the food, the colors and the guests,

and ready to welcome our friends to our new home.

Resting place

2011-09-12T18:00:00.000+02:00

Look what I found!

1. Pretty flowers

2. The perfect place to rest my feet,

or a place to sit when I put my shoes on,

or an extra chair?

I will take all of the above!

ReStyle Sunday: 1-2-3 Table Cloth

2011-09-11T21:38:00.000+02:00

Before: Here is a picture of the curtains we hung last weekend. Since I only have one big window, I had an extra pair of curtains leftover. This is not the actual before picture, but this is what they used to look like. My flea market dining table is not a very pretty sight, and I try to cover it with prettier tablecloths at all times. The problem is my very limited collection of large tablecloths combined with my great ability to spill food and drinks... This was one of the easiest restyles I have ever done. All that was needed was a pair of scissors and about 2 minutes.

After: In 1-2-3 I had not only 1, but 2 tablecloths!

I see now that I didnt think about getting out the iron for this one...

Oh, and I managed to spill coffee on this one approximately 5 minutes after putting it on.

GOfest in retrospect

2011-09-07T18:00:00.000+02:00

GOfest... It seems hard to sum up something that long (a whole month!) ago. Instead I will give you one of my highlights.

Marie Hognestad is an amazing worship leader, and at GOfest I heard her with her band for the first time. It made such an impact on me that I had no choice but to buy her record afterwards. It has been playing non stop in the apartment the last weeks, and we dont get tired of it. The lyrics are from the Bible and her voice is just beautiful.

You can check out her music on myspace, and you should, cause this is divine!

Destination: Krakow, Poland

2011-09-06T20:06:00.000+02:00

In the end of August the staff of YWAM Skien went on our annual staff trip, and this year our destination was Krakow in Poland. (You might remember I wrote a brief recap of our trip there with the leaders of YWAM Norway in April.)

I have been a terrible photographer the past months, and all I have to offer you from the trip is the view from our hostel kitchen where we gathered for breakfast, teaching and meetings. During our time together we met some of the locals - commited, radical Catholics with a successful ministry focused on Alpa course among the 200.000 students in the city. YWAM is currently not operating in Poland, but we got to hear the history from one of the ladies who pioneered YWAM in the 1980s. Who knows what the future will bring, but it looks like YWAM Skien will keep coming back to Krakow!

The art history student in me was very happy to be in this city of historic buildings, churches, museums and art galleries. Britt Solveig and I walked the city, behind is you see the Juliusz Slowacki theater from 1893. I also got to see some Polish fine art from the 18th and 19th century, and it was good for my soul.

Faith, fun and fellowship

2011-09-05T21:49:00.001+02:00

The mantra for this year....

Well, today we tackled a couple of minor challenges in our little household, like this one:

This, my dear friends, is not a challenge, this is a problem!

We had already discussed it and had a master plan that included at least one tall man.

But then something came over us, the tools came out of various drawers and shelves and for a little while there was a lot of activity going on.

Kristin rocked the ladder and ladle, braver than most people I know!

I had the ungrateful task of catching the mess she made before it dropped onto the courtyard a couple of floors down. A little skeptical at first...

But oh, so happy to get this job done!!

And that was not the end of it. After hosing down the courtyard (my job wasnt as easy as it looks...) we finally hung curtains and even a lamp found its right place in the kitchen.

What a wonderful day of practical work in Prinsessegata!

What I wore:

Thrifted and restyled sweater

Jeans, Bik Bok

Apron by myself

(I came right from the kitchen, and an apron seemed like the right thing to wear at the time.

It will go straight in the wash, I promise)

A new bird in the house

2011-09-05T08:00:00.000+02:00

I have a glue gun!! I have yet to name it, so if you have any suggestions, let me know.

I have a feeling there is a whole world of craft projects just a small step and little glue away.

Do you have any good ideas or projects you have done?

With this dreadful rainy weather I better embrace as many crafty hobbies as I can!

ReStyle Sunday: Funky candle holder

2011-09-04T18:14:00.002+02:00

Before: A found object, a little tattered and worn.

After: A whole different look!

I have discovered spray paint!

This is my first attempt, so bear with me, since I dont really know what I am doing.

I must admit that I didnt use a primer, so we will see how long this lasts...

At least it was fun :)

Weekend

2011-09-03T13:33:00.002+02:00

Spiced peach pancakes

I feel like I have neglected this little blog lately.

Things have been all over busy, and it seems like too much work to post something here.

So perhaps I will try to make it easier for myself by having shorter posts.

Pancakes for breakfast is one of my favorite things.

Today I tried this delicious recipe from Une-deux senses.

This lady never stops coming up with tasty recipes and mouth watering pictures like the one above. Mine didnt look quite as good, and I wasnt patient enough to bring out my camera either.

The taste did not disappoint though, so if you are looking for a twist to your Sunday morning pancakes - here is my suggestion.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

ReStyle Sunday: Baking accessories

2011-08-28T09:45:00.001+02:00

No before pictures this time, but this apron was attached to a skirt. I thought it was cute when I bought it, but it looks a little odd to wear an apron in public, so I took it off and used the skirt as it was. Meanwhile, the apron part was sitting nicely in a box, waiting for some lining.

A square piece of fabric and some straight seams was all that was needed for a fully functional apron - hooray! I look forward to spending more time cooking and baking at home, things have been very busy lately, and kitchen time has not been on the top of my list. But first: Staff trip to Krakow!

You cant have your cake and eat it too

2011-08-23T22:08:00.000+02:00

Spice cake in a bundt pan

After living with Americans for three years, there is a small part of me that feels a little American.

This part of me can eat cake for breakfast, and I am not afraid to admit it. It is a little harder to admit that some people are leaving, especially when I have no idea when I will see them again. Sigh...

ReStyle Sunday: Ready to go

2011-08-21T22:38:00.000+02:00

Before: a small piece of fabric from who knows where

After: A luggage tag! My suitcase will always find its way home from now.

I got the idea here, check it out for complete instructions.

Ready to go!

First destination: Krakow, Poland for our staff trip next weekend.

ReStyle Monday: A white chair

2011-08-15T14:30:00.000+02:00

Before: Wooden chair.

My previous landlords were so very kind to give me four of these dining chairs when I moved out.

But there are a lot of different types of wood for my one room kitchen/dining room/living room, so I decided to experiment a little. This first one got a few coats of white paint (the same that was used for home projects here and here) and I like it.

After: Clean, white and bright!

I am thinking of reupholstering the seat as well, the plant is just a temporary accessory...

It is Monday and GOfest is over and my schedule for today reads "laziness" with capital letters, but I will be back later with more on the festival.

Have a great week everyone!!

ReStyle Monday: GOfest style

2011-08-08T22:45:00.000+02:00

Before: Last years registration t-shirts.

I thought it was too sad to let this pass...

After: The shirt still reads GOfest in the front.

But the back has a lot more style!

Go GOfest!

Only 2 days left....

Hush....

2011-08-05T17:45:00.000+02:00

It is quiet before the storm. Well, actually, the rain is pouring down buckets outside, and the poor girl with a band on the little town square stage has a miserable audience of two (plus the two tech guys...). The printer is working overtime today, but other than that, I am in a quiet office, not really realizing that over the weekend there will be dozens of staff all over the place. Sweet reunions and new friends, plus we will miss people who moved away, and all of it while we prepare for GOfest, which feels like the event of the year right now. So much of my time and energy go into these days of celebration and I must admit I am a little nervous. But not so nervous I didnt go to Oslo last night to celebrate a friend moving with her family to Boston for a year or two. It was wonderful to see friends and hang out in the city, and strange to say goodbye.

Last years GOfest

It is still not too late to sign up for a week of Faith, Fun and Fellowship with me, YWAM Norway and our friends in Stavern, it would be great to see you there!

And I have an extra special GOfest restyle project planned for the weekend, so stay tuned!

Photo by Kristianne Marøy.

ReStyle: Up-beat side table

2011-08-03T22:13:00.000+02:00

Before: This little side table looked like it had taken a beating or two.

I found it and brought it home and didnt treat it too well myself.

(It was placed on the balcony to endure all kinds of weather... dont tell anyone!)

Preparing: Sanding is smart before a few coats of paint.

After: A fresh and clean look.

I liked the idea of bare legs, especially since the weather is really hot around here these days,

and it gives the table a more up-beat look, dont you think?

Most of my time off is spent out on this balcony lately:

talking, eating, drinking iced coffee and/or painting.

Its the best place to hang out with friends!

ReStyle: House edition no. 2 - The Loft

2011-07-28T21:25:00.001+02:00

The loft before: Beware or you will fall into the closet downstairs!

There was certainly room for improvement in the attic room when I moved in.

After: Well, you dont really see all the work thats been done by my wonderful dad,

but I assure you, there are no more holes, no loose wires and...

...lots of new storage behind vintage curtains.

And it is messy back there, so I wont let you see it either.

I found some old curtains that I hemmed

(my little part in this restyle project)

and hung with curtain wire.

This is a very easy solution for some extra closet space if you have a free corner in your home.

The only thing this my bedroom is missing is light,

so the picture quality isn´t the best,

but I hope you will bear with me.

The lovely lamp was found at a flea market here in Skien,

and though it isn´t connected to any power source quite yet,

I think it deserves to be hung for its decorative value.

The blanket is also from a flea market,

and the dress from a vintage store in Oklahoma.

Vintage angel picture and pretty wooden structures.

This dresser came with me from a previous apartment, a hand me down from a friend.

Pillows from Kremmerhuset and Ane Havnegjerde Design.

The entrance has proved to be a little scary for some visitors,

but I like it, and the bird perspective on the apartment.

I also have a new roommate! Welcome Kristin!!

On her blog you can see pictures from our trip to Ål a couple of weeks ago :)

Home again

2011-07-24T20:53:00.000+02:00

My vacation was good, but it is good to be home in my apartment in Skien. I think I am ready to go back to work now, and the short walking distance to the office is great in this rain... But today was spent organizing, moving things, hanging pictures and making curtains. Pictures will come soon.

One of the great things about getting a new place is house warming gifts!

This one came in the mail from Ane, a friend who has a store where she sells many of the beautiful, fun and practical things she makes. This pillowcase has a restyled shirt in the back and a vintage fabric in front (I assume this, since she mostly uses thrifted/vintage for her sewing projects, she is definitely a pro restyler, and because it reminds me of some curtains my mom had, only in blue). Plus, really cute rose earrings! Check out her blog and shop here for bow ties, make up bags, jewelry, watches and more. Ane and I ventured into the world of sewing when we were 14, and now she makes a living out of it. It has been fun to see her talent develop and admire her creative projects. If only we lived a little closer... Thank you so much Ane, I love it!

By grace we have hope

2011-07-23T10:44:00.000+02:00

There seems to be no words on a day like this, and what was important yesterday has lost its meaning. On the train home to Skien on this sad day I find comfort in these ancient prayers:

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

encourage your hearts in every good deed and word.

May the Lord direct your hearts into God´s love and Christ´s perseverance.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.

The Lord be with you all.

2.Thessalonians 2:16-17, 3:5.16

ReStyle Sunday: Denim shorts

2011-07-17T14:11:00.001+02:00

Take one pair of old jeans.

A circle shaped object, pencil and scissors (these are horribly rusty, I know!)

Draw, cut and in 1-2-3 you have a new pair of shorts!

I made a very similar pair this winter, so I am repeating myself a little here.

Favorites

2011-07-13T21:42:00.000+02:00

Blueberry pancakes with fresh blueberries from the forest/garden on a pretty blue plate.

Blue moleskine on my blue bible

Breakfast symphony in blue and yellow

Blue skies and daisies. Finally some sun around here!

Summer postcard: Greetings from Bergen!

2011-07-12T14:15:00.000+02:00

ReStyle Sunday: Hippie headband

2011-07-10T22:58:00.000+02:00

Restyle #21 and today I have a DIY for my hippie headband!

First step: Gather your supplies: Some elastic,

you will need some yarn or ribbon,

a few needles (a sewing machine is optional),

and the main ingredient: your favorite trim.

Mine is vintage and I used about 40 cm.

Step two: Place the elastic and yarn on the back of the trim,

wrap the trim around it and sew it all together.

Well, with this type of woven trim it is hard to finish well,

therefore another step is in order:

Three: Start wrapping the yarn around the edge.

Four: Secure with some stitches.

The main challenge here is to thread the needle...

Five: Measure the headband around your head and make sure you have the right length of elastic,

then repeat the process on the other side.

Voila - ready to wear!

I walked, cause you walked

2011-07-09T14:53:00.001+02:00

The other day I read a book by the Norwegian author Thomas Espedal. The title "gå. eller kunsten å leve et vilt og poetisk liv" could be translated "walk. or the art of living a wild and poetic life". It is a book about some of his journeys, but he also explores the art of walking and its influence on writing, like he, Rousseau and many other poets before him have written about.

"I can only meditate when I am walking. When I stop,

I cease to think; my mind works only with my legs."

- Jean Jacques Rousseau, Confessions

Yesterday I did just that - walk. Some friends had planned to walk across Vidden. A trip between Ulriken and Fløyen, two of the seven mountains surrounding Bergen. This is a rather long trip, but we had decided to do it, regardless of the weather forecast that said rain in the evening. We took the cable cars up Ulriken and admired the view for a little while before we started. Light rain (yr) accompanied us for the first part of the trip, but after a while it started raining for real, and we put our not so waterproof jackets on. For the most part the terrain is rather flat, but 5 hours of walking in the rain is a challenge regardless of weather, and when we finally stood at the foot of Fløyen we were wet, tired and relieved to have reached our goal. If the weather is nice I can recommend this trip. If its raining I would recommend something else, or better clothes than ours...

On a slightly different note: here is a great walking song for you - and you can even download it for free if you want.

<a href="http://music.sufjan.com/track/i-walked">I Walked by Sufjan Stevens</a>