Visiting Augusta: The Canal and more

2nd & Charles is a large store with mainly used books and other media. You can spend hours in here, looking for treasures. Or pretend you are a chipmunk.

I only made it to Goodwill once, but I got just what I wanted! A small leather purse, and a vintage Nina Ricci at that. My first designer bag has been well loved and worn already, but that's alright with me, and I consider 5$ a very good price.

Here are some more pictures from our holiday in Augusta. On New Years Day we went on a walk by The Savannah River and the Augusta Canal. There is a really long trail between these two waterways, and it seemed like half of the city was out there walking with us. The trail is basically flat, and perfect for biking or walking. 

Swampy waters and tall trees. It was fascinating to see lots of new species, and I really enjoyed a break from the neighborhoods and city streets. 

A hanging planter

Hanging planters are back folks! At least if you ask the bloggers and people I follow on pinterest. The idea started to grow on me, so last weekend I went to the biggest thrift store in town, Skrot Tor. The owner, Tor, has a huge warehouse full of "skrot" (trash), and if you are good at searching, you can find some real treasures, and he gives great prices too.

He probably had hundreds of planters, but few suitable for hanging, and none of the kind that I liked. I was set on getting one though, and settled for a nicely shaped planter in colors I disliked. I don´t have a before picture, but just try to imagine it wasn´t the prettiest. Once home (or a few days later), I spray-painted it with paint I already had, replaced the broken twine and hung it in my kitchen window. Cute or what?

Restyle: Patch him up!

This vintage thrifted Benetton sweater is a favorite. The softness and comfort is no surprise, since there is 22% angora in it. 

Unfortunately it had lots of tiny little holes, and with no shopping in addition to my love for this garment, mending was in place. I decided to add elbow patches (found in my sewing kit), and lots of stitches later, I am happy with the result. I am very grateful I know how to use a needle and some thread! 

PS. I added a category and page for all resolution related posts: Live Simply.

A pretty big resolution for 2013

The new year is right around the corner! 2012 has been a long year, so much has happened. Still, this is not a post about what was, but some thoughts for what is coming. 

Earlier this fall I read about some girls who made a "Shop-stop" resolution. Around the same time, there was a lot of publicity around a documentary about H&M and underpaid factory workers. Clothes, and all kinds of stuff for that matter, can be found at giveaway prices in some stores, and who pays the price for all our shopping? This has been in the back of my mind for a long while: How can I be an ethical consumer? I don´t think I am a raging shopaholic, but there is still room for some improvements. A friend of mine had a similar project  a couple of years ago, and I have wondered if I could do the same one day. 

Some reasons for this project:

- Contentment.

It is so easy to admire everyone else´s home, wardrobe and all their pretty things. Especially with so many blogs and pinterest, there are hundreds of opportunities for me to be discontent - every day! I want to learn to be more content.

- Use what I have. 

I have so much, and with everything from clothes, music and cups to hobby supplies, it is easy to forget what I actually have when I see something new and shiny. So I would like to focus on what I have, instead of all the things I could have.

- Be more conscious of my spending.

- Saving money. 

I think I will be surprised by how much I actually spend on all those little things. 

- Avoid impulse purchases. 

These usually don´t stand the test of time anyways, either because I really didn´t love that sweater I found on super-sale, or because cheap stuff just doesn´t last very long. 

- Deep cleaning.

My friend said she realized more of what she really liked, so I think I will be able to sort out a few things that mainly takes up space and gathers dust. 

- Free time.

Less things means less tidying up, which equals more time for other things :) 

Simpler living, but not so simple rules:

- I will by no new clothes, shoes, accessories, etc from 1st of January 2013 till 1st of January 2014.

- I can knit and sew/redesign clothes and buy used clothes.

- For every new thing I acquire, an old one will have to go. This rule is not just for clothes, but all new things that come through the door.

- Items that are worn out/broken can be replaced if truly necessary (socks, umbrella and other needed things).

- Gifts are exempt from the rules. 

It was easy to talk about this some weeks ago, but with only a few days left of the year, I found myself buying t-shirts on impulse without even trying them on yesterday. Wish me luck! 

PS. "Live Simply" poster and many more prints by Shelli Dorfe.

Restyle: Sleek mirror

I can´t find any before pictures of this mirror, but trust me, it looked dull and tired and needed to freshen up a lot. I picked it up at a flea market for 30 kr, not bad for a solid wood frame. The weight of it scared me from hanging it without more professional help (my dad), and somehow, I think that testifies to its quality. Am I right? 

Well, some spray paint and the sacrifice of an old rug later...

I like it a lot. 

And the lights! I´ve been wanting cafe lights for a long time. This is the cheap LED kind from Clas Ohlson, and perhaps they will move outside to the balcony later, but for now, I think they are perfect here in the living room. 

Thrift store finds

The other day me and some friends checked out a second hand store that had recently been relocated. I made a pretty good deal I think:

A serving dish, coca cola colored tin and polka dot top. 

These mint green cups were too cute to pass up. I think they are made of glass, but Im not sure, does anyone know anything about cups like this?

A white cotton summer dress, a pyrex dish that has come in handy a couple of times already (how did I manage without that??)

And this darling little tin! 

In a couple of weeks there will even another thrift store opening in town, this one right next to my house. Skien is so great for thrifting, I love it!

The colors are coming!

I dont think I can express how much I LOVE spring!

All the flowers, the sun, light and longer days - it is simply lovely.

Last weekend I visited some friends in Østfold. We spent time in the sun with their cute baby girl, relaxed and thrifted a little. Im not quite sure what the little wooden figurine is for, but the graphic card it was attached to was screaming my name, and I had no choice but to bring it along. Happy colorful triangles from the 80s, who doesnt like that?

I couldnt pass up these glasses either. They were so cheerful and fit perfectly for the season we are in, and for 5 kr each, I will gladly take them home. 

Soon I will be off for a long Easter break in Oslo, Ålesund and Bergen with family and friends. Maybe I will see you there?? 

With a Copy of "A House of Pomegranates"

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...

Thrifted - gifted

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!!

2011: Some highlights

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.

ReStyle Sunday: Sister Winter Chair

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"

ReStyle: A plaid shirt

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

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.