Spring...wonderful !

We've been enjoying our first couple of warm, Spring days . Snowdrops and crocuses are growing in the garden. It's wonderful !

I have been painting these wooden hens, Jan kindly cut out the wooden triangular shapes, and I have painted them. They are for a Spring / Easter market that is coming up soon.






Bought some mini daffs and tulips, have been doing some colourful acrylic sketches from them.

Went for a healthy walk with a friend today while our daughters were at their dance class. We walked straight into a cafe though ! Woops! We ate a cream bun each called "Semla" and then felt very slightly guilty afterwards !
Don't tell anyone !!

Snow melting, Spring on the horizon !

Searching for colour, I bought a sweet little collection of primulas and did a large acrylic study of them.

I also started an acrylic of my youngest asleep with the cat on the sofa ! They often snuggle up together ( his name is Snuggles !)

I feel happier this week, I think it's the painting therapy ! Also the fact that we've had + degrees and

the snow is melting. It does my heart good to see green grass poking through the white snow !

Snow still here, I'm longing for colour !

Snow is still here. Good thing the Swedes painted many of their houses red, they stand out and are a cheery colour click amid all the white. These two photo's show how pretty it can look when the sun shines...and how dull it can look when it doesn't !

I have to say, I long for colour, I always do this time of year. This week I will buy some little pots of primulas to paint.

Another Birthday, my youngest is now nine. Time goes by so fast !

She had a lovely day with lots of presents and cake !!

I had to take a photo of these beautiful shiny parcels before she tore them open !

The "Birthday tree"!! Which had some little parcels underneath.

The girls have been enjoying cross country skiing, sledging and ice skating. I'm afraid I have done very little by way of winter sports. I have been out walking as often as possible, still trying to loose those Christmas kilo's !! Not easy when people keep having birthdays and I keep eating cake !!

More terrible blurry images of windows painted with acrylics...just to show I am working...but not very hard !!

and I have been sewing more little dolls," Swedish forrest folk" on my new sewing machine, using vintage fabrics.

Winter trees and my birthday

We have been having some very cold days, around - 15 degrees c, but sunny with it, so a beautiful landscape to be inspired by !

I have been trying to do some acrylic sketches of the lovely colours in the winter skies through the trees. Working quite quickly so as to catch the light before it changes !

These are horrible photo's, but you get a vague idea of what I'm trying to do !

I'm going to do more, hope the weather continues to be so beautiful this week. These sketches give me something to work from anyway.

I had a lovely birthday. My daughters made me a cake and decorated it with smarties and a paint brush to make it look like an artists palette ! They are so sweet, and growing up so fast ! Making birthday cakes for me now !

My kind, generous Dad bought me a new sewing machine for my birthday. Mine broke down ( probably in tears !) some time ago and I have been borrowing a friends. So I now have a lovely Husqvarna, Viking Emerald . Thanks Dad XXXX

The girls and a friend had a great time sledging down a hill on the farm yesterday. The snow was quite compacted and icy so they went zooming !

I went to inspect the barn that J is renovating for me ( inbetween all his other jobs !) to become studio, shop, gallery, and all the other ideas I have going around in my crazy head ! He says he's GOT to have it finished by Feb' hmmm ? He works so hard bless him.

Had to think of six weird things about myself !

1. Like anything to do with ghosts and spookiness !!

2. Would like a pet pig !

3. Still have a crush on Harrison Ford !

4. Love the smell of timber...lucky I married a carpenter !

5. Love stairways

6. Have a terror of maths ( probably due to nasty maths teacher Mr H !!!!)

Don't know why there's a huge gap between this and the previous post ! Sorry !

We actually had some snow !

We had some snow ! My youngest just had to make a snowman, a little one, as it wasn't much snow !

It's all blown away now, we've had some horrid storms, and damage up and down the country. I lay awake listening to the lightbulb rattling in it's fittings the other night, I hate the wind !!

Took some arty shots while we were visiting the horse ! I love trees in winter.

Happy New Year !

Happy New Year to you !

We've had a good Christmas, if you ignore the coughs and colds that everyone seems to have had !

So lovely to be given gifts from the girls, things that they have made in school and hidden away until Christmas !

Eaten too much and I am full of remorse and promises of being good from now on ! You get some idea of my self discipline when I tell you that I was watching a tv program on dieting last night, and I opened a box of chocolates left over from Christmas to keep me company while I watched ! Comfort eating because I've eaten too much hmmm ?

My daughter had a nice morning ride on Rabello the pony she helps out with yesterday. He's a sweet natured New Forest. I know nothing about horses, but have learnt to muck out !

She has a friend here today, I am making cottage pie for lunch, a good old British dish that her friend has never eaten before. I hope she wont be too disappointed with mince and mashed potatoes !!

Merry Christmas !

Wishing anyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas , and the warmest of wishes for a healthy and happy new year ! XXXX

From Chutney the sloppy cat too !

Second Advent, Lucia and a Julbock (Xmas goat !)

Another busy week, Christmas market all weekend, fun, but exhausting at the same time.

My kitchen is full of candles and childrens Christmas crafts at the moment, probably a terrible fire hazzard ! Cosy though.

A good friend came and helped me make a traditional Julbock, or Christmas he- goat out of a wooden frame covered in spruce twigs. I think he looks great, if not a little fierce ! I think he may be meant to ward off evil, so he shouldn't look all too sweet !! Took a photo, he keeps getting blown over, we are having very strong winds.

On the 13th Dec´Sweden celebrates Lucia, she arrives early in the morning in a white shift with a red band around her waist, a crown of candles on her head and her maids, who have tinsel in their hair. It´s very beautiful, and they sing lovely songs. It is very magical ! My girls dressed up and went in to their Grandpa´s house to sing to him this morning. They took with them Lucia buns that we made yesterday, saffron bread formed into traditional shapes and decorated with raisons.

Before !

And after !!

On Friday this week I am going to talk to my daughter´s class ( eleven year olds ) about Christmas traditions in Britain ! I´ve been trying to work out what to say, making a word list in the shape of a stocking, and a word search. Cutting out pictures from my treasured Country Living Christmas magazines, ahhhh ! I´m really nervous about it, not knowing how much they will understand etc . Anyway, what´s the worst that could happen....I make a complete idiot of myself !!!? Roll on the weekend !!

Take care XXX

Advent already !

November went by so fast, and suddenly December 1st was looming !

A few Christmases ago I was not well and had extra time on my hands, so in a flash of inspiration I made the girls advent calenders with pockets, to be filled with a small something for each day. Was that a mistake !!! Every year I have to shop around for cheap, cheerful things to fill these 48 pockets with ! But, the girls love it....and so do I really.

This weekend was my first Christmas fair this year. Held in a lovely old hall surrounded by old Swedish buildings. I stood in the baking heat with about thirty other crafts people selling all sorts of crafts, Christmas cheeses, cakes etc.

There were alot of visitors on the Saturday, not so many on Sunday, but all in all a success. Managed to sell a good few lavender bags, wheat bags, Christmas cards and painted bits and pieces. It was fun, although my smile muscle was aching on Sunday evening ! I was really lucky to have my eldest daughter with me to help out, take over for coffee breaks and loo visits etc.

Alot of people are complaining because we have no snow yet. This time last year we were deep in it ! I'm enjoying this mild weather, but I have to keep quiet about it !

Another one to go this weekend.

I love Christmas !!

Making Swedish Pepparkakor ( Christmas biscuits)

It's become a tradition that my girls and me meet up with some good friends and make Pepparkakor before Christmas. It's a sort of gingery biscuit, yummy, and a must for a Swedish Christmas. We'll see if ours last past the first Advent !!

As you can see among the shapes an Easter bunny has bounced it's way in...never mind, no rules that say there can't be a Christmas bunny !

We had a lovely time !

Fresh out of the oven, ready to decorate with some icing...if they survive that long !

My eldest daughter and I go to Falun Gong each week. It's a form of meditation from China. For some reason people are thrown into prisons and tortured for doing it in China, it's hard to understand why this should be. It promotes truth, goodness and patience, I guess it's the truth bit that doesn't go down so well ? Anyway, it's so calming, peaceful and lovely, we enjoy it.

The lotus flower is the symbol for Falun Gong and this week we learnt how to fold them out of paper.

Painting, sewing and singing !

I've been trying to paint Swedish winter windows. During Dec' and Jan' people have beautiful windows. Candles, decorative lamps, Christmas curtains and ornaments. Really brightens up the dark months.

These three aren't quite finished. Sorry it's rather blurry, must try to scan !!

The cats are a challenge. They would dissagree !! They are beautiful though, and they would

agree with that ! These aren't finished either, but I thought I'd show what I'm trying to do !!

Driving to my daughter's theatre class yesterday, the three of us ( my other daughter came too ) were singing along to "Don't you want me" by Human League. The days of" Old McDonald had a farm"...have gone !! Time goes fast when you've got children, make the most of every second !

I am sewing wheat bags and still making elves. I'm having a hard time concentrating on one thing and finishing it off, as you can see !
Take care xxx

Playing with ideas

I've been trying to sketch my cats, in various poses. I want to do a few Christmasy pictures of them, lying on wrapping paper,exploring a Santa hat etc. We shall see if I get many finished ones done before December. I thought I could have some in mounts dotted about at Christmas sales that I'm taking part in this year.

This one started as a pen sketch, but I added a few colour washes. I had at first planned to do a black pen sketch with just a wash of colour on the wrapping paper, but that looked rather empty, so I coloured it all in. I don't have a scanner so this was taken with my camera and looks rather pale !

The weather has gone very rainy, and rather dull. Further north they have snow. I'll be happy if the snow stays away for as long as possible !

Went to our village pub evening last night. It happens in the local hall once a month, it's nice. I miss the British pubs, being able to walk down to the local !

Chutney with apples and Chutney the cat !

My apple chutney seems to have turned out ok ! I now have grand ideas of making loads to try and sell ( always trying to make money ! This time next year we'll be millionairs etc ) I also made mint sauce ( had loads of mint, it spread, as it does ) I love mint with lamb.

The cat Chutney didn't seem impressed ! He and Snuggles have just been eating, sleeping and sometimes hunting. I think they are eating in readiness for winter. Good idea !

It's hunting season here. Lots of blood thirsty men, and women, out looking for elks (poor things) to shoot, and deer. Lots of elk hiding behind trees and trying to keep a low profile ! It's not the time of year to go walking in the forrest in a fur coat anyway !

Here's a picture of some lovely wooden dolls. I help the 8 year olds class from our local school make them each autumn. They have a day making and doing things as they were done many years ago. This is at a local historical farm museum. It's always fun, and the kids appreciate it.

October

We are having those lovely bright, crisp autumn days, I wish they could last all winter ! The colours are beautiful, and we have apples in abundance ! There is something about this time of year that brings out the "earth mother" in me, pie making, chutney, bread, fruit drinks, I want to get it all done before the winter destroys it all !!

My watercolour classes have started up again, so I am once more walking around muttering in Swedish to myself in readiness for Wed' evenings and trying to explain how to lay a wash in Swedish !

I am busily trying to get things made for the Christmas markets, and (I hope) our barn project. I know the next few weeks will fly. I have had a go at a Shaker style, Swedish rag doll. Will change bits for the next one, but I'm quite pleased. She is wearing her Christmas best ! (the photo isn't so good I'm afraid )

September

My goodness ! The summer has come and gone. I have been very bad and not written ANYTHING new on my blog spot !!
My excuse is that we have had such a wonderful summer that I haven't been indoors, days by the lake and in the garden. Bliss !! I will have lots of happy memories to think back on during the winter brrrr !!
As usual I haven't done as much painting as I planned. I'm currently working on views of the golden fields around our home. It's a beautiful time of year, harvest.
The cranes have arrived, to eat what they can find in the fields before heading off south. They are amazing, so big, and noisey !
We are working on a barn convertion, to be a farm shop / gallery. I hope it will work out ! I am packing loads of logs in 40 litre sacks to sell as firewood...fun !! We will also sell oats for horses and other bits and pieces from the farm. Crafts too will be on sale, mine and others. I'm felting lots of Swedish elves to sell in the shop and on ebay. My life is lots of little and big projects, and none of them seem to get finished !! Wishes and Blessings XXXXX