litchi7.

Make a knitted pillow/sea urchin pouf in about 2 seconds

2012-01-10T07:37:00.000-08:00

Yes, about 2 seconds is all it takes. No knitting required!You'll need: - a round inner cushion - a roomy old knitted hatStuff cushion into knitted hat. If you are feeling very crafty, gather the edge with woolen thread in a matching colour, pull tight and push knot inside to hide it. (Or just turn it over and use as is...I won't tell, promise.)And...tadah! You are done!Cute throw pillow/sea

Merry christmas!

2011-12-26T10:02:00.000-08:00

Christmas balls I knitted – Arne & Carlos' lovely book has over 50 patterns to choose from!Fake antlers I made out of clay (the knitted vase cozy is one of my old hats)Felted acorns to adorn our kitchen rosemaryOrnaments made from cinnamon and applesauce dough make the whole apartment smell like christmasHot chocolate on a stick as favours for a xmas partyOrange-cinnamon stars Details from our

Sorry for the lack of updates...

2010-06-27T04:25:00.000-07:00

...but the weather is much too good to stay inside. Every day for the past week I tried to finish my copy text and translating jobs early so I could travel down to the fräulein herz shop to keep my friend Tatiana company. We sit in front of her little gem of a shop, drink coffee and work. Berlin in summer is full of surprises - you never know what you will find behind the next corner. Friday

Vivienne Westwood Anglomania For Melissa

2010-06-16T11:20:00.000-07:00

(photo: asos.com)Vivienne Westwood once again collaborated with Melissa Shoes from Brazil to create an outrageous pair of shoes. I like them, even so I'm not sure if I'd actually dare to wear them. Did I mention they are made of rubber, just like this Westwood/Melissa creation which has become quite famous?

Best of Etsy: A Cup of Green Ginger.

2010-06-16T00:13:00.000-07:00

(photography: Carissa Gallo for A Cup Of Green Ginger and seller's own)When I saw the crocheted "Miroslava" earrings by A Cup Of Green Ginger on etsy, it was love at first sight. Doilies for your ears! I knew I had to have a pair. I ordered the light-grey ones and honestly - never before have people complemented me more on my ear-wear. They are quite large, but very light and super-flattering.

Pupa Puposka...

2010-06-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

...try to say this very fast and do a lot of repetitions. "Puposka" is the name of a Russian nesting doll by Italian make-up company Pupa. Yes - it IS kitschy and I declared the end of the matroyshka mania last November, but I'm still intrigued. Look what they managed to hide in that dolly! My late grandma once gave me a tiny Pupa make-up kit - oh such a long time ago - and I remember that the

Monday morning eye candy: By Nord.

2010-06-06T22:54:00.000-07:00

(all: By Nord)The product range from the Danish company By Nord could turn any city apartment into a (modern) cottage in the woods. Clean, simple, beautiful raw materials, bed spreads with digital animal prints, branches and trees. And it somehow makes you long for evenings by the fire...even so summer finally arrived over here. I was afraid we might grow gills and webs this year, but now people

Cocoon by Moroso

2010-06-01T01:58:00.000-07:00

(all: stylepark.com)I can so see myself sitting on our balcony in the "Cocoon" hanging chair from Moroso, designed by Patricia Urquiola. It's pricey, but ah...triangles and several beautiful colorways to choose from...did I mention it's a hanging chair? I loved those as a kid. Actually, i still do... And have you noticed the crocheted pillow in the first picture?

Braidshead revisited.

2010-05-31T14:24:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the incredibly bad pun, but I couldn't resist. And the the bad quality of the pictures, but they are actually screen shots from "Ugly Betty". Becki Newton aka Amanda wore an unbelievably intricate and stunning braided hairstyle in one of the last episodes. I wasn't too crazy about it from the front, but behold the back of her head:Wow. I'm in awe. Impossible to copy with only two

Sewing gifts.

2010-05-25T00:59:00.000-07:00

I call last week my "Dickensian week" - I was writing all day every day and sewing gifts all night every night until I dropped into my bed like an erratic boulder. My big writing assignment is wrapped up for the time being and last weekend I delivered my gifts - so now I'm able to post pictures of them here.This is a reversible fabric crown for an almost 3-year old, extremely funny little girl

Berlin street art.

2010-05-10T04:07:00.000-07:00

This life-sized stencil art pops up all over the city these days... Not quite legal, but absolutely amazing.I don't think this really qualifies as street art, but I liked the neon...especially on the metal.(And it did make me smile.)

This summer...

2010-05-04T22:21:00.000-07:00

...I want to exchange my whole wardrobe for any piece from the Gat Rimon collection...(all: gatrimon.com)...and put my hair up in braids...(So sorry - I don't know where I found these two. If one of them is yours, please contact me so I can give you credit.)...and wear bracelets designed by Louise Kragh or a necklace from Helena Rohner. (Not at the same time though.)(both: ankerliving.dk)

alessi "lily pond" sushi set

2010-05-02T03:12:00.000-07:00

(all: alessi.de)Remember the beginning of the 90s when every household featured the egg shaped magnetic salt and pepper shakers by alessi? Or the sugar dispenser that looked like a little alien? Shorty after I really grew tired of alessi's designs...each one of their household items was shaped like a character from a comic book and it just became too much. After all - who wants to live in "Beauty

muuto.

2010-04-30T03:18:00.000-07:00

If I had the means, I would redecorate the whole appartment with products by the Danish design brand Muuto (the name Muuto is inspired by the Finnish word "muutos", which means "new perspective"). Every detail is just so very clever and every item on their site oh so stylish.As an avid Moomin fan, I especially love the "Mhy" lamp, inspired by the character from Tove Janssons books.See what I

I ♥ fräulein herz.

2010-04-26T00:44:00.000-07:00

Meet fräulein herz, the cutest shop in Berlin. Ever. Sadly the photos I took don't really do it justice (it was a little dark that day). Trust me - the owner of fräulein herz (Miss Heart), Tatiana, is just as pretty and adorable as her shop. If you tell her I sent you she will probably invite you to stay for a cup of coffee and a cookie. Apart from her wonderful colorful cosmetic bags, pillows,

If my inner child would furnish a room...part 2

2010-04-12T11:48:00.000-07:00

My inner child would also love to live in a tree house, overlooking a lush green forest. At night, it would count shooting stars lying on the roof. ...and before falling asleep, it would crochet a pink rope ladder, while "Granny" by Pudelskern casts a soft light on its fingers.(Photo: pudelskern.at)It would wake up every day and happily look at the "Daisy Face" ply wood print by Alexander Girard.

If my inner child would furnish a room...part I

2010-04-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

...it would probably use some of these items. I would lie on the floor and spend hours to create my perfect Persian rug from 1225 natural and synthetic rubber puzzle pieces. "PuzzlePerser" by Katrin Sonnleitner. (Photo: katrin-sonnleitner.com)A chair and a chandelier made of bricks for my dining room, where I would serve french fries every day. "The Brick Series" by Pepe Heykoop.(Photo:

Katherine May for Liberty

2010-04-08T08:09:00.000-07:00

(photo: Liberty of London)Liberty commissioned textile designer Kathrine May to create a charity quilt made from Liberty fabrics and garments donated by the Liberty staff. If you would like to own a bit of "Liberty history", you can place your bid on ebay until April 16, 2010. I love almost everything Liberty, sadly this is just a liiiittle too pricey for me...but what a beautiful quilt.

Happy Easter!

2010-04-02T10:11:00.000-07:00

I actually wanted to post a tutorial and a more inspired Easter photoshoot, but as always right before the holidays, time ran out. So here are just a few pictures that will hopefully get you into Easter egg hunting mood anyway. This year I found cute vintage wooden Easter decorations (2. photo) on ebay and scattered kitschy white bunnies all over the apartment...it's true, bunnies do proliferate

Recycling crafts - paper reed box

2010-03-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

(One awed Easter bunny.)I had an old IKEA cardboard box in our living room in which I kept yards and yards of fabric. It is actually a magic box - I'm amazed how much fabric fits in this thing. Over the years it has become a bit unsightly and bend out of shape. So I wanted to make it pretty and sturdy again using a technique I always wanted to try - by covering it with paper reeds.I'm not going

Spring!

2010-03-18T06:29:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about spring - tulips! (The vase is actually a champagne cooler from Habitat.)Yes, it seems that spring has finally sprung over here and all my windows are wide open to welcome the fresh air and light (my windows are in dire need of cleaning). We have also updated the look of our kitchen and opted for new chairs after two of the old ones came apart. These are surprisingly

Graumann.

2010-03-14T05:03:00.000-07:00

(Photos: all graumanndesign.dk)Sorry for this picture heavy post, but I couldn't pick only a few favourites...I love Graumann's whole collection. Graumann is the brand of Danish designer Hanne Graumann and I would gladly wear every item they make...if they would ditch the real fur for a synthetic alternative, I'd love them even more.****Tonight I will read short stories from my German blog to a

Busy, busy.

2010-03-09T05:54:00.000-08:00

(photo: hm.com)Just a short post so you know I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. I'm busy with work and life in general...sometimes everything just happens at the same time. I wanted to show you the things I'm working on at the moment, but that will have to wait until next week. Let me show you something else instead - an awesome teatowel! I ordered it from H&M Home and when it arrives,

Konstantin Slawinski

2010-02-17T00:02:00.000-08:00

Why hasn't anyone thought of this before?Finally, everyone gets the right-sized piece of cake, thanks to the "S-XL" silicone cake mold. Cut a large piece for me, thanks!Add more glamour to your table with the "Perle" trivet. Love this. (A bit pricey though.)(all: konstantinslawinski.com)

Joy Pillow by Moroso

2010-02-16T00:31:00.000-08:00

(photos: stylepark.com)How beautiful and fun are these? "Joy Pillows" - giant fabric balls for your living room, designed by Edward van Vliet for Moroso. I made this fabric ball - tiny in comparison - for a friend's baby last year:Now...if I blow up the pattern just a bit and buy enormous amounts of fiber fill...and use non-baby related fabric...ah...a girl can dream.

I totally forgot...

2010-02-14T23:05:00.000-08:00

...about this photo when I wrote my Valentine's post yesterday. There is so much excellent graffiti in Berlin, that for a while I used to take walks with my camera and took pictures on almost every street corner. Some of them are stenciled on paper and stuck to the buildings with wallpaper paste, so they are only temporary.S.'s birthday party was lovely - it was scheduled until 3 PM...but

Happy Valentine's Day!

2010-02-14T00:00:00.000-08:00

(photo: Spools by papersparrow on flickr.)I'll be off soon to my friend S.'s birthday "ladies lunch" - no men allowed, even so it's Valentine's Day. :) I'm sure it will be fun, if I make it there in one piece...the amount of snow here is unreal. Something to smile about not only on Valentine's - "Tales Of Mere Existence - My Darling?". Cute!

Karen by Simonsen

2010-02-12T07:12:00.000-08:00

(photo: karenbysimonsen.com)I just found the Danish brand Karen by Simonsen and I'm already hooked. Pretty much everything is wearable and affordable without being boring...love the top/blouse in the picture above. I also like the geometric prints and cuts. -----The template is almost back to normal (ha, even better than before!). I could never have done it without Merliny from the German Blogger

Inspiration can strike anywhere, anytime.

2010-02-11T00:27:00.000-08:00

Even if you are only setting the table for breakfast and grab a handful of plastic spoons (we have them in almost every color of the rainbow). I really like this totally random combination of colors, even so dark blue is usually not one of my favourites.----The template still isn't back to normal, since I busted the old one anyway (and couldn't remember what parts I had changed...or how...), I

I just killed my blog.

2010-02-09T03:05:00.000-08:00

Or at least the template...I tried to update my links and suddenly the whole design was gone. It might take a few days until the links and the old look - at least in parts - is back. Yikes!

Assemblage Tricot by Seletti...

2010-02-08T23:53:00.000-08:00

(Photo: Seletti.com)...is a set of ten modular wooden boxes with starched lace backing. You can arrange them however you want. Very pretty, but I wouldn't put anything in them...it would probably spoil the whole dainty effect.

Be my Valentine.

2010-02-08T01:59:00.000-08:00

I usually don't decorate especially for Valentine's Day, but this pattern for a crocheted heart garland was just too cute to pass up. (And even I was able to figure it out...with my limited crochet pattern reading skills.) It also gives me the chance to show off our new Panton "Topan" pendant light that my in-laws gave us for christmas. (If you look closely, you can see part of our kitchen and

Beating the cold.

2010-02-02T00:46:00.000-08:00

It is still extremely cold in Berlin, it might well be the coldest and longest winter since I moved here. So I started to knit hats...in November...and with all the christmas crafting, preparations and the like going on, I only finished them this week.I used the "Headigan" pattern I found on Ravelry and added my own embellishments (like sewing Liberty "Strawberry thief" on the overlapping parts).

house doctor "Everyday 2010"

2010-01-28T03:28:00.000-08:00

How could I have missed this? The pdf catalogue for the new house doctor collection "Everyday 2010" is online!And...oh...it is pretty...as always. The perfect mix of old and new.(all: housedoctor.dk)

Great tutorial site: BYM Selbermacher.

2010-01-28T00:15:00.000-08:00

Are you as obsessed with tutorials as I am? One site I keep coming back to for years is the craft section of BYM.de called "Selbermacher". They have free tutorials for numerous "fresh" projects and usually you don't need to buy a truckload of expensive supplies to make them. Look......a tea pot trivet from felted beads......and they even have a diy version of Ingo Maurer's famous (and insanely

If the shoe fits...

2010-01-22T01:59:00.000-08:00

...don't throw away the box. (Or: "The why I rarely post tutorials-tutorial". Or: "Recycling craft no.1").I couldn't write a crochet or knitting tutorial if my life depended on it and I'm in constant awe of people who can (especially when they offer charts for different sizes as well - it seems like rocket science to me). I tried, believe me. That's why I usually describe what I did and not even

Wow.

2010-01-19T22:37:00.001-08:00

warm.Originally uploaded by The Small ObjectThis vintage quilt that Sarah of "The Small Object" fame found, would fit right into our appartment. This is exactly our colour scheme (which developed purely by accident). Georgeous. I think I have a little quilt envy. You absolutely have to check out the fantastic pillows she made to go with it, too.

Cuddle, cuddle.

2010-01-19T00:29:00.000-08:00

About a week ago I finally made something I wanted to sew for a long time...a hot water bottle cozy. Previously I made one from an old and holey cashmere sweater, but it was too thin and didn't keep its shape. This one is nice and cuddly, more like a warm pillow.One side looks like this......and the other looks like this.(...it's a bit crumpled because I already slept on it. Oh - and I had to

"Drawings" by Naoko Ogawa

2010-01-17T23:32:00.000-08:00

I love each and every one of the necklaces from Japanese designer Naoko Ogawa's "Drawing" collection. "Drawing" as in drawing on the body with jewelry - and the pieces really look like that. Lovely.(photos: all naokoogawa.com)I tried - I couldn't pick a favourite...and there are even more than the ones pictured here.

In spite of everything...you are allowed to smile.

2010-01-15T23:19:00.000-08:00

(photo: isak.co.uk)Sometimes you see a product and you just have to laugh out loud...this is what happened when I saw the "Blossom&Bill" tray by ISAK, a company specializing in Scandinavian home accessories. They offer kitchen ware, prints, wallpaper and clothing - among other things - all designed to make your day a little brighter.-----Even in the aftermath of a tragedy like Haiti, I am a firm

Christmas leftovers.

2010-01-15T01:12:00.000-08:00

This garland was supposed to be part of my christmas décor, but it wasn't finished in time. The colours are not very christmassy, so I put it up anyway, even so I stowed away everything else.I even tried to incorporate it in my new blog header (still a work in progress). :)If you want to make your own (for a child's room or to get a super early head start on this year's christmas crafting)- I

Waiting for spring.

2010-01-14T12:38:00.000-08:00

I don't know about you, but as much as I love snow...enough is enough. I long for colour and flowers, I don't want wet trouser legs up to my knees whenever I go out. So there...I made my own little spring. All it took was wool, paper balls, a crochet hook and twigs. Easy peasy. Best of all - they will never fade.P.S.: Crochet around a paper ball, try to keep track of the hole in the ball while

Twenty-Ten.

2009-12-31T05:56:00.000-08:00

I know I haven't been the most reliable of bloggers during the second part of 2009, so thanks to all of you who still come by and check on me. I'll try to be better in 2010 (don't we all?). On the other hand - less blogging usually means I have more "real" work to do (which after all pays the bills) and I'm grateful for that, too. 2009 was - in all - a good year, I think. It was pretty hard until

waste not...

2009-12-14T04:42:00.000-08:00

Today, I saved my favourite scented candle.A couple of weeks ago I splurged on a L'Occitane Cinnamon/Orange candle. The scent is devine but I was a little bummed when the candle burned out but almost half of the wax was still left! This probably happens because the container is too wide for the wick. Anyway. I removed the remaining wax from the container, broke it in little pieces and removed the

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas.

2009-12-11T01:41:00.000-08:00

Christmas and christmas decor especially is always a big deal for me. If it was up to me, I would start decorating in early October. However, I try to wait until the first Sunday of Advent - and then the fun begins. I like to make at least one new ornament every year (it is usually more...) and as a little present to you, I added the links to the tutorials for the things I made this year. The

Labour of love.

2009-11-25T09:11:00.000-08:00

My mother mother had an...well...impotant birthday a little over a week ago, so this year a special gift was called for...something lasting....something handmade. I opted for a pattern by the French company Phildar after seeing a finished example on flickr. They have a huge range of contemporary crochet and knitting patterns (you can also order the supplies needed from their online shop, very

matryoshka mania.

2009-11-18T08:55:00.000-08:00

To be honest - I was a little fed up with matryoshkas for a while. They kept popping up in every shop, on every tshirt... Now christmas is almost upon us and I realized I do like those little Russian nesting dolls after all...as holiday decoration...they have a special cozy charm...I don't like every matryoschka though...only the very special ones.I came across the fabulous M-CUPS™ a while ago

the gift making machine

2009-11-12T06:10:00.000-08:00

Hi there,I know it's been a while, but i was really, really busy with my "real" job and didn't get any crafting done...well until recently. My best friend just had her second child and i'm going to be the godmother - need i say more? What better opportunity to whip out my supplies...Since the mom is very very fond of white-on-red ploka dots and mushrooms, I made this my theme...and here is what I

Sock Lion

2009-07-02T06:01:00.000-07:00

Sorry, no - I didn't fall off the face of the earth, I'm just so busy with nonblog-related things. I also got a special request for a sock lion...my first one...it was a lot of fun! I especially enjoyed crocheting the mane...a lot of tiny curls.I hope you are all well. XO

The most adorable thing I've seen in a long time...

2009-06-08T00:58:00.000-07:00

(Teeth taking a bath! All: My Milk Toof by Inhae)Have your ever wondered where your milk teeth disappeared to after the tooth fairy took them? Well, so did artist Inhae and created a whole photostory blog in honor of these little teeth. My Milk Toof is so incredibly sweet, you might develop cavities in your molars.*Link is fixed.* :)

Liberty Mania continues...

2009-06-04T00:27:00.000-07:00

By now it shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone that I love Liberty fabric...(I'm still working on my Liberty fabric hexagon cushion cover btw.) I don't know how I missed the Nike WMNS Dunk - Liberty Fabric Pack sneakers! I'm not a fan of high tops or blue shoe laces, but I love the concept. It's almost like a patchwork quilt for your feet. Wouldn't it be fantastic if you could design you own

Lolly's Laundry

2009-05-04T07:40:00.000-07:00

Sorry...I've been mia so long I couldn't believe it myself. Spring is here in full force now and I'm craving new clothes. I went on a shopping spree last week and bought precisely...nothing. There was nothing remotely interesting or worth splurging on. But online I found yet another cute Danish clothing brand...behold...Lolly's Laundry:(all: lolly's laundry)Yes, I think I'd much rather do Lolly's

Freakishly busy.

2009-03-24T05:29:00.000-07:00

(photo: tactodivino)Sometimes there is only little to do, sometimes I don't really know where to start... These days it's actually the later. I'm very grateful for every job that comes my way, so I'm not complaining. When I'm not working, I get extremely nervous and start to doubt the meaning of my existence...sad, really. And with my husband out of town for a couple of weeks, I'm happy to have

Studio Violet Sale!

2009-03-18T01:13:00.000-07:00

(photo: studio violet)One of my favourite blogs/shops/sources of inspiration Studio Violet (a colaboration of Camilla Engman and Elisabeth Dunker) is having a one week sale, starting today. Head on over, before everything is gone! Can't wait for their spring collection.

tulips

2009-03-17T01:21:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty busy today...a lot of writing and translating is waiting for me. This is what I'm looking at (when I manage to lift my eyes from the keyboard). Have a wonderful Tuesday.

pillow talk...

2009-03-16T07:24:00.000-07:00

(front)(...back...or the other way around...)...sorry, couldn't resist the pun. I finished making my Liberty fabric pillow and for once everything worked out as planned. Even putting in the zipper didn't take more than one try. It's plump and cuddly. And since March is Mending Month at Craft Magazine - I did my bit and recycled/upcycled two old flat down pillow inserts and made them into a

Adding modern flair to your room - on a limited budget.

2009-03-11T01:09:00.000-07:00

We’re all trying to pinch pennies these days, and this causing some people to think about scaling back efforts to modernize their décor - which is understandable given that a lot of designer modern furniture pieces can be quite expensive. The good news is there are ways to create a contemporary theme without having to spend much, so let's take a look at a couple of ways how you can redesign on a

More Liberty love.

2009-03-11T00:58:00.000-07:00

I'm seriously becoming addicted to Liberty fabrics. So versatile. I wish I could cover every surface with it, so I started by making bobby pins.

Kontur...

2009-03-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

(photo: normann-copenhagen.com)...is the name of this pretty vase designed by Mette Kargo Hvid for Normann Copenhagen. Even so it looks like china, it's actually made from silicone. Absolutely love this, it's so delicate. It would probably make a cute penholder, too. Or maybe I could store my powder brushes in it...hm...might be pretty in a bathroom as well...ah, endless possibilities!I bought

spring

2009-03-09T00:52:00.000-07:00

(Photo "sunshine" by sitasoup on flickr.)Today finally feels like spring over here in Berlin. I woke up with a start in the middle on the night - I thought I heard steps in the hall (really creepy when you know you are home alone) - but it was in fact heavy rain pounding on our skylights. But this morning is supersunny, so I have to get outside fast.To celebrate spring (or to lure it out at last)

What a hoot!

2009-03-06T02:21:00.000-08:00

Seriously - how cute is this owl? (lionbrand.com)I'll definitely add her to my ever growing to-craft-list. This would make an awesome gift for a new baby (you could also add a rattle with the stuffing).Get the free pattern here.Have a nice weekend!

Barbie & Ken & Karl Lagerfeld

2009-03-05T23:12:00.000-08:00

I have a confession to make - when I was little, I was a Barbie addict. I had a lot of Barbies (and Skippers, Todds,...), a horse, a bike and an afghan hound. All Barbie-sized of course. I also owned a Ken doll, but I was never really into him, he looked a bit dorky and had an ape-like grin. His dark blue velvet tux with the burgundy neckcloth only made matters worse (not even talking about his

IMM Cologne

2009-03-05T00:29:00.000-08:00

A little while ago, my friends Ilona, Pamela and I visited the IMM Cologne, a furniture and interior design fair. While we enjoyed the whole show, I think the [d³] design talents exhibition was our absolute favourite. This was really pretty...the sofa is covered with pieces made from felt that can be attached to each other to form a larger structure. If you are a fan of jigsaw puzzles you can

works in progress.

2009-03-04T01:43:00.000-08:00

I'm feeling like a little Victorian lady these days. Sewing by hand and hand quilting are my crafts of choice while listening to audiobooks on my ipod...well maybe not so Victorian after all.... I'm currently working on two pillow cases at the same time using all my Liberty lawn fabric scraps. Everything might look a little too busy right now, but somehow all the patterns come together nicely in

Remember...

2009-03-01T09:57:00.000-08:00

...this? I'm sure she found it here. :)

bread love.

2009-02-24T02:17:00.000-08:00

Many moons ago, when I was an au-pair in NYC for a year, my mother called me to ask if there was anything she could send me from Germany that I missed in the Big Apple. I missed my family terribly, but they were obviously too large to fit in a package, so I opted for the next best thing on my list: bread. German sourdough or wholegrain bread. I never thought I would miss real bread as much as I

Why, Kirsten, why???

2009-02-19T00:25:00.000-08:00

Don't worry, this blog is not going to change into a celebrity bashing site, in fact I've thought long and hard if I should post about this. But sometimes...I just can't help myself - especially if some kind of craft is involved. So look at it from the knitters point of view...if you dare.Hollywood stars have great bodies, money to burn and often get designer gear for free. So why why why why why

random acts of beauty.

2009-02-18T02:10:00.000-08:00

...stop...wait......go!(Traffic light in our neighbourhood in Berlin.)

this just in.

2009-02-17T02:34:00.000-08:00

Remember when a couple of weeks ago I contemplated crocheting a vest for myself? Well - it seems Jennifer Love Hewitt not only beat me to it, she also cured me instantly:(photo: FlynetOnline.com)What she's wearing appears to be a crocheted rug with armholes AND a turtleneck. I will call it the "SHrug". - Or maybe it's the hand-made version of the Slanket?We will probably never know.

Happy Valentines Day!

2009-02-14T02:52:00.000-08:00

Wherever you are.

Copenhagen.

2009-02-11T01:22:00.000-08:00

Last December I got the best birthday present ever - my husband took me to Copenhagen.We stayed at Hotel Fox, where every room was created by another designer. Very quirky and right in the city centre. From there walked a lot...Copenhagen is ideal for walking....light object in the entrance of the Hotel Fox...so beautiful......the lobby......loved the carpet......door to our room: "Japanese

Raggamuffin.

2009-02-07T01:27:00.000-08:00

(celebrity-babies.com)I'm not really a fan of Gwen Stefani (but I don't have anything against her either) and I'm not sure if a kid named Zuma Nesta Rock will have a lot of fun in school...but hey...that crochet baby hat the little guy is wearing in almost every picture is absolutely adorable! It's almost as famous as this hat. :)I did a little research - they are made by Li'l Sprout. Crocheted

Daisy.

2009-02-06T02:11:00.000-08:00

I've discovered a new Danish (what else?) brand I really like. Daisy.Their pretty website looks just like a moodboard:They have a small range of different products and use Liberty fabrics in their designs, which are my current favourites as well. Everything is very quirky and colorful. Behold......a patchwork quilt I absolutely adore, made from Liberty fabrics......lovely yoga (?) pants - also

Introducing: Nelly, the sock giraffe.

2009-02-05T00:25:00.000-08:00

For years now I've been planning to stock my much neglected etsy shop. Currently I'm working on sock monkeys and other sock critters which will be available soon. So this is Nelly, the first sock giraffe I made. The idea just appeared in my head and I had to try if it would work. The Argyle pattern was pefect, it looks a bit like a modern take on giraffe spots.

magic.

2009-02-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

New shops just keep popping up in Berlin...it seems you turn your back and "bang!" - there's another one! While strolling in Mitte a couple of days ago, I came across a brand spanking new iittala shop. I repeat: Berlin now has its very own iittala shop! Yay! They even carry the famous Moomin mugs that I started to collect a while back.Another design that caught my eye is Taika, which is Finnish

more crafting, less writing.

2009-02-01T12:02:00.000-08:00

It seems I'm always apologizing for the lack of updates...so here it goes: I'm sorry. Again. Truth is, time just seems to fly by and there are so many things I want to blog about but totally forget to do so in the everyday swing of things. Pictures from our trip to Copenhagen. Pictures of sock critters. New products or designers I'm coveting. But there are also so many things I want to make and

First monkey in 2009.

2009-01-12T23:13:00.000-08:00

It's been a while since I was comissioned to make a sock monkey. I enjoyed making this one a lot, especially since I was doing the "hard work" (stuffing, hand sewing the tail and attaching the limbs) when I had coffee with friends who were also working on projects. Fräulein Herz, Fröken Skicklig and I try to meet every Friday in a café in our neighbourhood. We chat, we sew, crochet, knit...we

Last christmas related post...until December. Promise.

2009-01-12T07:32:00.000-08:00

I just finished these a couple of days ago, much much too late for christmas. But we will use them this year. I love to crochet granny squares, they are a fun way to use the last scraps of yarn. They are quite big - a looooooot of room for treats. :)

before I put everything away for good...

2009-01-07T02:03:00.000-08:00

...some random shots of our christmas 2008 decorations....for some reason I never got around to unpack the christmas lights.I hope you all had a wonderful holiday. Happy new year!!!

Merry christmas!

2008-12-21T11:08:00.000-08:00

Happy holidays!!!I finally managed to take a picture of our tree. Still busy - until the very last minute.(All shots are slightly out of focus, sorry about that...I was in such a hurry this morning... )See you next year!

Sorry for the lack of updates...

2008-12-04T12:24:00.001-08:00

...I'm really busy and a little sick. While I'm away have fun watching the sleeping dachshund baby. I just can't get enough of the short chubby legs and the wide spread ears. Too cute.

Dansk Plakatmuseum.

2008-11-27T06:58:00.000-08:00

Before we can hang more art on the walls of our appartment, we would actually have to move. Not because we have so much stuff already, but we only have very limited wall space. This did not keep me from buying two new posters when I stumbled upon the Dansk Plakatmuseum. I couldn't resist. Wow, what a collection! And - the posters are all very well priced and they only charge the actual shipping

Don't you wish...

2008-11-26T06:34:00.000-08:00

...you could make your hair look like this?(blushpretty.com)Isn't this fabulous? I've never really mastered the art of braiding my own hair (it looks a bit lumpy when I'm done), even so I wear it long so I can 'play with it'. (I never do, it looks pretty much the same every day.)Youtube has a couple of videos that teach you how to braid your own hair.

Christmas will be full of color this year.

2008-11-25T01:56:00.000-08:00

(Soft trees made with the great tutorial by little birds handmade.)I'm in full christmas mode (as you might have guessed by now, I'm in full christmas mode since the end of September). And who can blame me? It's freezing over here and actually snowing today.You just want to stay inside and make everything around you cozy and sparkly. I'll haul out my christmas boxes this weekend, just in time for

Fröbel stars

2008-11-12T07:07:00.000-08:00

...seem to be on everybody's mind today. Well okay, on the mind of two people. We even used the same wrapping paper by house doctor! It has a pattern on both sides, so it's ideal for making Fröbel stars, sometimes also refered to as Nordic stars. There are a gazillion of tutorials out there, even a video one, but I couldn't figure out how to fold these (especially the peaks in the middle...)

I bet a monkey could do it.

2008-11-11T06:17:00.000-08:00

I was asked to send in a current snapshot of myself for a job thing, so I tried to take a self portrait...not as easy as I thought. In fact, it didn't work at all.

Argh...

2008-11-06T04:55:00.000-08:00

I can't access my flickr account because I can't to log into yahoo...it's driving me crazy, but I hope things will return to normal soon...fingers crossed.

Inspiration: Rie Elise Larsen

2008-11-02T01:26:00.000-07:00

Sometimes you read a new word or name and it keeps popping up again and again in different places. This happened to me with Rie Elise Larsen, a stylist and designer from Denmark. She works for interior design magazines such as Bo Bedre or Boligmagasinet and has recently launched her own line of all things pretty. Her website is absolutely beautiful (be sure to check it out) and I love the

moving swiftly on to...xmas!

2008-10-23T10:02:00.000-07:00

Each year I tend to go a little overboard with christmas decorations. No, no - no fairy light deer and santa in the yard...but just because we don't have a yard. The last time I had to force myself away from making more glittery things - it was actually already the middle of January and I was still making bottle trees and ornaments...By the end of September or whenever it starts to get colder (

Definitely autumn, the leaves are turning yummy.

2008-10-16T05:47:00.000-07:00

(Hokkaido pumpkin soup - with puff pasty leaves - that I made last weekend.)It's cold and rainy over here and I have to force myself to leave the house. Just the kind of weather that makes you want to stay inside. There is so much to do!I want to continue knitting this cabled scarf.And maybe start this one.I have mastered the art of cutting a bell pepper and will never look back. Genius!For over

Pa rum pum pum pum.

2008-10-07T09:54:00.000-07:00

I think I REALLY need a little drummer boy jacket and sequin top :Like...RIGHT now. The more I look at these pictures, the more I fall in love with this outfit. Perfect.(all: stella-nova.dk)Or an oversized woolen hat?(whiite.com)I'm SO ready for fall. And even so I'm repeating myself - Danish designers make the most beautiful clothes.--------Guilty pleasures revealed...I'm strangely attracted to

bad hair day?

2008-10-06T08:31:00.000-07:00

Why not try on a...dog???...or an elephant?These creations by designer Nagi Noda are pretty bizarre, but just imagine the face of your date when he picks you up for Ascot!(via whiite.com)-----Sorry I've been MIA the last couple of days, but I had a huge project to finish, which actually had to do with writing about animals. Maybe that's why my subconscience found these hats so strangely appealing

Lucky me.

2008-09-29T07:47:00.000-07:00

When I wrote about the DaWanda event in Berlin I told you that I made a new friend there - Juliane who is originally from Berlin and still has an appartment here in my neighbourhood, but lives in Sweden most of the time. She is a puppeteer (!) but also makes Waldorf-style dolls and all kinds of other pretty things. Like this cute little crocheted mushroom she gave to me last week! I was awestruck

Nie Nie Benefit Sale

2008-09-22T23:25:00.000-07:00

(photo: Morgan Moore...sorry, I tried to scale it down in size and now it's a little fuzzy...better visit Morgans blog for the pretty version)Tuesday Sept. 23rd and Wednesday Sept. 24th Morgan is hosting a Nie Nie Benefit Sale on Etsy. Here is a direct link to the shop, she did fantastic job. The Etsy sale will start at 10:00 a.m PST (I think that's about 7pm CET), Tuesday, Sept. 23rd. I donated

Re-doing the dishes.

2008-09-22T02:38:00.000-07:00

Look what I found! These insanely cute dishwasher safe decals from Kirsch Interior might be a solution for all of you who have a truckload of mismatched white tableware (like me).Dutch couple kissing...*le sigh*......cross stitch...(all: kirsch-interior.de)There are also multicolor animal stickers if "African lodge" or "A day at the zoo" is the look you are going for. They come with a detailed

Longest post ever.

2008-09-22T01:08:00.000-07:00

Here a two photos (the only two photos I took - I totally forgot I had the camera in my bag, even so it weighs tons) from the DaWanda "Make it! Shop it! Blog it!" event on Saturday. It was so much fun and so well organized - dear DaWanda team if you should read this - well done, thank you!Holly spoke first and was very charming, warm, entertaining and inspiring that I'm sure every crafter who

Improvising.

2008-09-20T01:27:00.000-07:00

I'm almost off to DaWanda's "make it, shop it, blog it!" event with Holly Becker of decor8 fame and a couple of other creative blog "celebrities". How exiting!On Tuesday I realized I still don't have business cards...to my horror... My friend Solveig recommended these blank business cards (made by ma blanche) to me and they are perfect. I filled in the blanks on about 10 cards (wish my

I think this household needs a baby...

2008-09-19T01:12:00.000-07:00

...badly. I keep making or thinking up baby things, like this crochet microphone rattle (washable, chewable, rattles softly, perfect for lullabies). Would parents actually buy something like this? I'm planning to restock my etsy store...I never sold anything...the socktopus and sock monkey I put up on etsy ages ago I gave away as baby gifts before someone could actually buy them...hm...I'm afraid

Louise Campbell - the Prince Chair

2008-09-17T22:15:00.000-07:00

(louisecampbell.dk)It took me a while to figure out the name and designer of this chair. Louise Campbell designed it in 2001 for a competition to design a chair for His Royal Highness Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark. The chair didn’t win the competition but was later produced by HAY and seems to be almost a classic now. I love the "doilyness" (is that even a word?) of it, which contrasts

Sia | Soon We'll Be Found

2008-09-17T00:17:00.001-07:00

You have to watch this...the song is beautiful, but the video is totally mesmerizing...