Winter Draws On (Again)

Swedish Trolls and Springerle Biscuit molds

When you hear the word Troll these days it is usually in connection with malicious web attacks in unexpected places, but this little Bergdala Troll is much more charming. 

I found this little Troll at a local flea market, and he sums up how I feel at present. Even the super new fleecy boots aren't keeping the cold or snow out, but while the extremities may be cold, the heart is warm.  The wee troll is on my desk trying to be a paperweight, but really too small to cope with my in-tray, maybe more are needed! 

Fantastic Cookie Molds

I made a great discovery last week - German Springerle Molds. One of these truly lovely things arrived in the post last week, another belated Birthday present. Thanks to the sender for introducing me to these beautifully made cookie moulds. Here is just one example... 

The moulds are traditionally used to make really hard biscuits that are quite hard and none too tasty, but I think there is scope to use them with other doughs or even dare I think of it chocolate. Ken Hamilton has some great recipes and history of the things, really quite inspiring.  So, tea, cookies and sketching it is then until the snow goes away...

Warmest Winter Boots!

Swedish Curling Boots

I just wanted to say how much I love my new winter boots. I have wanted a pair ever since the first chilling winter here four years ago, and this year I got a pair, and I am so pleased! As far as I know they are special to Sweden, you don't see them anywhere else, people say because they are thought a bit ugly, made of raw rubber sole and lined with soft fleecy fur. Great for cold and damp studio floors, walking, everything really this time of year. They are sort of like Scandinavian Uggs for up here. If you are curious to see a more informative photo and maybe dip your toe in, take a look at Put Feet First.  What I really like is the fact that every year the shoe shops just start selling them, without a nod to the fashion world, they just keep on selling them, because they do the job. They are unisex too, so warm toes for all! 

    

Winter Harbour and a great Recycled Hound

Who would be a fisherman in these months....... The winter chill is coming no doubt about it.... 

A Hound with a (re)purpose !   

I just found this repurposed hound, and many others in the Etsy Shop of Willy Wagenaar, a professional artist based in Florida. I found it hard to choose just one one forthis page, but finally setlled on Marsha. Love it. 

Windy Weather, Reupholstering an Occasional Armchair and the joy of making double piping

After the Storm

Yes, it was very windy here on Monday. The bridge between Copenhagen and us over here was closed, no trains, nothing, Mr C was stranded, the other side of the water for the night. Walking the dogs back home in the afternoon wasn't a picture either. They with their ears flapping in the air, eyes screwed shut against the wind, and me head down trying to make forward progress. It was great to get indoors. But.. we had nothing damaged by the storm and can be glad for that. 

It did offer the perfect excuse to take myself to the workroom and catch up with a few projects....

From Swedish retro to 

Shabby Chic ! 

It might be that every magazine I read these days has articles about "mid century modern" and the wonders of Scandinavian design, or more likely that living in Sweden, where every shop and home oozes with design uber cool stuff, but in the last few months I have been obsessed by Danish and Swedish furniture and ceramics. I can't go into a junk shop without bringing a piece home, and the workroom upstairs has become a meeting place for a motley collection of singular armchairs that sit, uneasily eyeing each other, wondering who will be next for my wondering attention..... 

             

                               

Surprising then that not one but TWO Victorian style nursing chairs made their appearance through a friend who wanted something done with them....  

I said I was sure that I could do "something" to bring them up to date and to fit into a Scandi decor, and this is the result for number one... 

                     

You can see that the original version had a metal strip of faux studs that I thought could be reused, but when it came to it, the strip was so old and fragile that it broke into pieces as soon as I showed it the staple gun! Panic, and a quick rethink was needed. After much "umming" and "arhhing",  I decided to make a decorative edge from double piping using the same fabric. The tutorial written by WhatsUrHomestory  gives some great instructions if you need them, and shows that you don't need a special foot for your  sewing machine to get the job done... Thank you  Vidya ! I think they work better without the studs too.     

The semi matt warm grey paint finish completed the job.  

Just one to go then, and as the winds still howls around the house after the storm on Monday, what better occupation could there be ? 

Dogs on the Beach

Dog Days of Summer... 

I walk the dogs on the beach most days, come rain or shine, whatever. As summer arrives and it warms up in the sea, literally everyone and their dog is out in the sand.... 

The Yummy Mummies with their young, and perfectly behaved pedigree dogs surveying the chaos in front of their eyes... 

 The Keep Fit enthusiast, running, their eyes fixed in the middle distance, just like their big, lopping dogs, on a mission. Blissfully ignored by the Syd Svenskan" reader who is also unaware of the chaos just about to break out with their dog and the new arrival....   

 An not forgetting the Sun Adverse walker, kitted out in black cotton gear and adoring Westies. She keeps walking on collision course with the runner, but somehow they miss each other and sail by. 

My Two believe that it is truly Doggy Paradise.  

 

Swedish Summer Craft Fairs and Papier Mache Dogs

Papier  Mache Dog 

Dog Obsessed as I am, imagine my delight when a friend turned her eye from painting landscapes to making Papier Mache animals and posted them on her facebook page. You can see more at her facebook page. This chap is a Cocker Spaniel, and he is looking for a home. I can see him ending up in our house    (no food needs, no vet bills, just a go over with the vacuum cleaner every now and then, sounds ideal!), I will keep him away from the real Cocker though. 

It set me looking for ways to make my own hounds, and there are loads of tutorials on the web, but I could see me ending up in a glue-ey messy heap, so better to leave to those that can I think. I did come across this lovely Irish Wolf Hound by Lorraine Corrigan at Hounds of Bath . A different style, but still pleasing. 

Swedish Summer Craft Fairs

There is a saying here... " Ah yes, Swedish Summer, the best day of the year". Usually that is true, but this year we have basked in the clear blue skies of Sweden for, oh at least three weeks ! And that means it has been great to get out to the Handmade Craft Fairs without wellies or waterproofs. Last weekend it was the 

Falsterbo Handmade Craft Fair  and being local we could cycle there - Brilliant! 

Here are a few of the gems I spied. 

    

Beautifully made and crafted folk art dolls and marionettes by Christina Meisolle Hoi who is from Denmark, but who lives in Skane now. 

Needle Felted animals, including, you guessed it, a dog....  by Annemarie Horve of Filterier who runs courses too.  

  

Heavenly bodies, in female form, and ceramic birds were found  at  Maria Thorlund and you can see more at her facebook page

 

Finally, the trend of the moment, Text based work by Mellow Design this one is called "Friends are like stars.. you don't always seem them, but you know that they are always there..." aah. 

So thank you makers who showed there, you made a great show ! 

  

Fasterbo Handmade Craft Fair

   What a wonderful Saturday.... the sun was out and about all the day, and the ever present breeze was taking a vacation too, or s it seemed. To top it all, the creative folk in Fasterbo organised the first summer craft fair on the green by the old Station. The only criteria for entry was that all items for sale had to be hand made by the stall holders themselves, so no scope for commercial mass production here. (Mr C helped with these shots as ever)... 

Paintings inspired by the beach....

Hand made clothes.. I used that material to make a skirt last year, but think this coat and hat set looks the best!

Traditional Skane clogs

Here's hoping that the organisers and stall holders get together again for another event next year....

And finally, not at the fair, but at the near by Second Hand clothes shop... I couldn't resist snapping these shoes and boots....

The only down point on an otherwise wonderful day was that as we left the scenic and pretty  village of Fasterbo, the car exhaust chose to drop off the old Volvo landing us back to earth  and reality with a bump. 
                 Coming soon. my slowest upholstery project...