float

I call my large paper ball "Float" - for the summer group exhibition at Kaleido called "Under lupp" which means "Under the microscope".

Initially inspired by pumice stones my children found a couple of summers ago. At that time I did several ink drawings, with many, many circles one beside the other. Now I used cut out paper circles and glued them side by side. The final form reminds me also of that of a hornet's nest or dandelions...

What do you see?

dog days

With a dog you don't have to feel alone. Especially if it's sitting in your cup of coffee.
For my birthday a few weeks ago, Mattias got me the adorable cup we had seen at Blås & Knåda in Stockholm, made by ceramist Eleonor Boström, check out her blog here. We love it. Almost as much as our Asta!

Other loveable animals can be seen here at elsewhere, by Louise Jennison- amazing in line and detail.

sidestepping

Yesterday evening Mattias and I went to the Concert Hall in Stockholm to attend the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award ceremony! The amazing illustrator Shaun Tan received this years award out of the hands of Crown Princess Victoria. Every year an illustrator and a calligrapher are assigned to execute the diploma. Mattias was this years chosen illustrator (!) and beside him (in the lousy shot) is Marianne Pettersson Soold, the calligrapher. They had done a fabulous job, a beautiful - huge - cooperation (Mattias made a very large image). Too bad I can't post any photos of it or the rest of the evening - photographing was prohibited.

At last I got to wear my "new" highheels - my secondhand shop bargain (30 kr!). Feet hurt but it was worth it :)

shop day

Yesterday was a Kaleido-day from early morning 'til late evening. First a boardmeeting in the morning (I'm the secretary since a couple of weeks). Then attending the shop, which we take turns in doing 3 days each per month, and which I enjoy very much. But it was so QUIET. Maybe because of the construction site outdoors, they're building a brand new Central Station and we're their closest neighbour. Fences are put up to prevent people from getting hurt in the mess - but it also prevents them from finding our entrance!
In the spare time between customers I stocked up on my Coffee Constellations, cards with envelopes. I usually bring along some material, so I can occupy myself if the going gets slow.


One of the other members of Kaleido, Lotta "Kraka" Persson is exhibiting in the gallery. A beautiful arrangement of christening clothes for babies. The hats are amazing in detail and so sweet, being so tiny. One visitor was actually moved to tears having seen these small garments. Lotta is a textile artist and sells mostly knitted wear in the shop.

byebye changchang

During my stay in Göteborg I spent the night at my brothers place. I love cats, and they have two. But now they were all upset, having lost their oldest cat, Chang, a few days earlier. He was a brown Oriental shorthair with great personality and a special voice. They still have Dixie, a Cornish Rex. Full of life and extremely talkative. Hope she'll be ok on her own, now that he's gone.

hot heidelberg

I traveled to Göteborg on Wednesday and had such a nice evening at Rum för Papper! In their backyard they presented their latest collaboration with HDK's 1st year Design students and printing company Göteborgstryckeriet. The students had illustrated 3 cards each and two lucky winners got their threesome printed, right then and there, by the Original Heidelberg letterpress, brought over only for this occasion! Nothing compares to the beauty of letterpress printing... My photos don't do the cards justice, you can't see the imprint really. Anyway, I had a great time, meeting many old friends and acquaintances, and it's always great to see Ulrica, Tove and Mia from the shop - and who so generously treated us all to this.

Thursday was spent at HDK, teaching a bookbinding workshop to 25 very attentive 2nd year Design students. I love doing those workshops, I really get a kick each time. So I was happy and content on the train back home to Stockholm and didn't get all worked up when the train ran a bit late so I missed my connection for Sigtuna...

kaboom

Been working on a large piece lately. I was so happy when I found giant balloons in a toyshop to use as a mould. Even though I actually hate balloons. Don't like the smell, texture or the thought of it bursting. I got my daughter to inflate it for me - I wouldn't do it myself. But I wish someone had secretely filmed me when the darn thing exploded in my face! I had to start all over again... this time on my pilates ball, which is made of sturdier stuff.

It's not finished and things can still go wrong... but if all goes well this time it will be exhibited together with some smaller pieces at our summer show Under lupp (under the microscope) at Kaleido.

Tomorrow I'm off to Gothenburg to teach bookbinding to students at HDK on Thursday. But first I'll pop in at Rum för Papper, to check out their letterpress collab with students from - HDK!

spiderman for tea

Some commission work is more enjoyable than other. This cup is made for the municipality of Uppsala. It will will tour the preschools there together with several other art pieces made of recycled material. Each piece will be placed in a small box measuring 20 x 20 cm. These will in turn be placed in a suitcase before being sent out on it's art mission. Hope the kids will enjoy my little cup!

For this one I used Spiderman obviously, but I've bought a cheap heap of dated comics - they lie in a pile awaiting my clip-clip-clipping... More cups will come :)

booked husband

My husband, Mattias' first personal book is finally out! It's called "First in line" and was presented at the book fair SPX 2011 in Stockholm on Saturday. It's a beautiful book, designed by Jens Andersson at Sanatorium publishing house. He did an amazing job with the heaps and heaps of drawings and sketchbooks he collected from the house a few months ago. Check out Mattias' blog for more pics. And to get your own copy :)


A favorite spread - one of many of course (yes, I am a wife - a proud one!)


Busy man. Jens in the middle, daughters to the left (asking for money to buy a comic book).

Day 6. Antlife

Last fall (I think it was) we discovered there was a huge hole in one of the large anthills we pass on our dogwalk. The hill was almost destroyed, one side had completely caved in - we stood there appalled, all that work... We couldn't understand who the vandal could be. Human or animal? Which animals eat ants? This was the doing of something larger than a bird. We never got any answers, and the hill seemed almost abandoned. But today we saw intense activity, they were working like crazy, I've never seen such an amount of ants! They have already managed to cover up the cave-in. So we can relax now :)

Day 5. Medusa

On top of the steep hill in our forrest, lies a lot of rubbish. A part from the usual numerous beer cans, we found a smashed machine of some sort, the remains of an electric supply device and traces of a large lamp - we believe there may have been a ski-lift here once upon a time.

The result of my findings this day became a metal nettlefish.
Gunilla Poignants' colored jellyfish float in the room - the reflection is magical. She's exhibiting at Kaleido in Uppsala currently.

Day 4. Fuzz

Day 4. Found moss in the woods. I often put some in my pocket, were it usually dries up and crumbles. The forms never stop to fascinate me, looking closely, it's like a miniature forrest in there.

Day 3. Return journey book

Day 3. Took the day off and went to visit my parents. Passing through Stockholm to buy a few necessities - flowers, german specialities, a cast iron pan, a digital watch, a spatula, blueberry soup...

Don't throw anything away - make art with it, like El Anatsui. Thank you Annika Ekdahl (one of the intitiators of th Broke and Brave project) for the tip!

Day 2. Hints of spring

Day 2. Hints of spring. Roadside findings during hunt for owner of run-away dog.

Day 1. Found and bound.

Day 1. Found: beer cans in the forest. My first contribution to the

BROKE & BRAVE or The Not Just Another Ordinary Week Project (a Facebook project initiated by Annika Ekdahl and Birgitta Nordström).

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BROKE & BRAVE or The Not Just Another Ordinary Week Project.

From April 11th to April 17th, we invite you to take part in an art activity that doesn’t cost anything and doesn’t leave behind a pile of transformed materials.

You can chose 2 levels – or maybe try them both.

The BROKE level:Browse around the area where you live/stay/work or a place you temporary visit until you find something. Make something of that item. Take a photo. Upload it to Facebook*.

The BRAVE level:Browse around the area where you live/stay/work or a place you temporary visit. Approach a stranger. Ask: ”Hi, I wonder if you can give me something?” If you get something as a gift (don´t accept money!), make something of that item. Take a photo. Upload it on Facebook.

DO THIS ONCE A DAY!

*Look up Annika Ekdahl, Kyrkhult, on Facebook. Go to the Broke & Brave group and ask to be a member. Upload your image – with info about date & place & level (broke or brave) – every day during the week.

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I like the way Maria Lewis deals with tins and cans and other overlooked materials.