peek inside

This is a sneak peek of two of my bowls for the group exhibition Papper at Dalslands Konstmuseum. There will be more. Name of the piece will be Every day Contemplations (Betraktelser Hvar Dag), and these two measure 26 - 27 cm ø and 15 - 17 cm high. The material for this whole piece - the actual book -  was given to me by one of my closest friends, Lena O. Which gives it an extra dimension for me.

boots to Bulgaria

These two paper boots, Hobo and Junior, have (hopefully!) arrived safely in Sofia, Bulgaria, to take part in the Sofia Paper Art Biennial, from today, April 24th – June 2nd. 

I wish I had the possibility to go to Bulgaria myself – I've never been there – but this time it's not possible, I'm loaded with work. The Sofia Paper Art Biennial is part of the SOFIA PAPER ART FEST 2013, with activities all around Sofia, so there's a lot going on these coming weeks. There will be exhibitions showing all sizes of paper art in 2D and 3D organized in galleries, museums and open spaces, workshops, lectures, a paper theatre etc. 

It was a delicate business to package these two "hairy" pieces... They hardly weigh anything, but the paper fringes are a bit brittle. I used lots of bubble wrap and tissue paper and hope they arrive there and back home again in the same shape as when I sent them...

Below you can watch a very short film I made of the making of the Hobo boots. They are also participating in Nordic Art Insight, a new Nordic art prize that focuses on sustainable consumption. I had fun making it – hope you enjoy it!

more thistles to Flow

Runeberg Cult

Comrade by Accident

Here are two additional thistles, sent off (a while ago now!) to Flow Gallery in London, to complement the remaining two (Desert Crucial and Russian Connection) in the Forming Words exhibition. These two are slightly smaller, measuring approximately 13 - 14 cm ø compared to the larger siblings that measure 17 - 18 cm ø. 

My daughters and I have been away to Teneriffe for a weeks vacation. Wonderful, relaxing and great to spend time with my two teenagers I don't see very much of at home - but of course work piles up when you're away...

Mount Teide

Happy easter!

Happy easter to all!

Going with my girls to Teneriffe for a week, to enjoy some sun and warmth after this long cold winter...

come fly with me

Sigtuna by air. Our house is somewhere right in the middle of the photo, below the dark green woods.
The large white plains are Lake Mälaren, covered in ice, still...

Eva Skarbäck at Sintra Arts & Craft

happy me (foto by Marie Kalmnäs)

paper art in the shop's window by Angelica Solander

Back to Göteborg last weekend, this time I flew. I usually prefer to go by train, but it's so unsure this time of year, the trains are often late due to snow or ice etc. This happened last time I went - not so fun after a long workday. But flying proved to be no better - we were also late going back home. But arriving in Sigtuna at 11 pm turned out to be rewarding in a way: the sky above our house was a strange bright green - it was Aurora Borealis, northern lights! Quite unusual this far south.

I popped in at Sintra Arts & Craft while in Göteborg. There was a ceramics exhibition by Eva Skarbäck that I wanted to see. Love those jars (Nonstop) and bowls...

Box making workshop at Rum för Papper went fine. Small group, cosy atmosphere, good results.

baby booties and boxes

What I'm working on right now: baby boots. They will be adorned with fringes, just like these. I will be sending off three pairs of boots to Bulgaria, later in april; Mama, Papa and Baby :) They will take part in the Sofia Paper Art Biennial. Not much time... workworkwork...

There's a nice feature by Tiger Wallman Hellström over at Swedish Elle Decor, on their blog DIY or DIE. I'm the third one out in their interview series on paper art :) 

Oh, don't forget to sign up for the box workshop on Sunday at Rum för Papper in Göteborg! Be there and be square!

solemn Saturday

the future looks bright!

Coy, Ludvig Ödman

Museum director Tomas Järliden, author Leif Zern and the artist herself Ulla Fries

Ulla Fries, Rockaägg, bronze 2010

Saturday offered brilliant weather and amazing art experiences.  

First I went to Kaleido to attend the annual awarding of Kaleido's grant to a promising young crafter. This year it went to metalsmith Ludvig Ödman for his tender reflections of our perishable material world. Flanked by Kaleido curators Sigrid Ingela Blom and Elisabet Berg, Ludvig checks out the kaleidoscope awarded to him according to Kaleido traditions.

Next, I tagged along colleagues Ebba and Lisa to the grand opening of artist Ulla Fries exhibition at Bror Hjorts Hus. She depicts objects from nature and fantasy creatures with huge tenderness and sensitivity. I heard that she's a very slow worker, completing two etchings per year.

These two artistic expressions, however different, felt closely related somehow. Showing affection and respect for the world around them.

to us all

Happy International Women's Day!

A bunch of flowers to us all, today and every day.

Have a nice weekend!

happy workshopping Sunday

I spent the last 3 days in Göteborg. Had my eldest daughter Olivia with me, she stayed at her friends house for two nights while I met with friends and relatives, saw a couple of art exhibitions and last but definately not least, held a bookbinding workshop at Rum för Papper yesterday with a lovely bunch of people. The beautiful shop filled with interesting paper goods. It's small and cosy, there's not a lot of room for the particapants to work in, but everyone always manages to make their own small collection of notebooks in varying techniques.

In two weeks I'll be back for the box workshop. There is still room for a couple of participants - why don't you join us? Check out the type of box we're making here :)