wool felting workshop

Yesterday I participated in a wool felting workshop at Lava, lead by Anna-Lena Rydberg (very nice and talanted textile artist, read about her at Fiber Art Sweden)

I've tried felting with water and soap before, so this time I tried needle felting. Working with wool was just what I needed - it's like therapy. Feeling the softness, the delightful deep colours, stabbing it with the needle over and over (repetion is good - at least until your shoulder starts aching), slowly acquiring a shape. Just like magic, I must do this more often!

I think Lava is becoming my new favourite place to hang out. So many possibilities, young dreams coming true, projects and ideas being put into reality... The atmosphere is creative and inspiring (at least on the upper floor, where the "studio" is), and most of the time I don't mind the noisy kids, (um teens - am I growing older or are they getting smaller and smaller?) running around.

The workshop was great, cause everyone really got to finish something. I must admit that I was mostly playing around with the wool. I think that's often the case with workshops. I prefer trying out the material and technique, but I don't get that creative (it's kind of intimidating with lots of talented people around you - and inspiring in the same time) until I get to try again at home by myself. I brought Lilla Lila (unfortunately some photos are kind of out of focus: we're still getting to know each other...) to remember all the lovely things that were made. These were my absolute favourites...

A girl needle felted this amazing bird.

This is a picture of Bagarmossen (Stockholm suburb)

art everywhere

Open your eyes... There is art everywhere. On every single traffic sign (the back of them), on lamp posts, on "elskåp" (electric thingies), on some walls... You just gotta know it's there, and bring your camera to capture it.

I saw all these on my way to the movies (Micaela and I saw The Queen, of which I don't know what to think). Most of them were on Magnus Ladulåsgatan, a few on Åsögatan and Tantogatan (all in Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden). Exploring these almost made me late for the film...

More Stockholm street art:
gatukonst.se
Masquerade (Swedish fans of Knitta)
a small Flickr group

lilla lila

Today I got myself a new camera. I call her Lilla Lila (Little Purple), and I'm very happy withhert, even though we're still getting to know each other.

What I like the most about it (apart from her being small, cute and purple) is the price. I was afraid that I couldn't afford a new camera, but this one was only 1000 kronor (about 100 euros). It used to be 3000, but the version is old and this one has been the demo ex in the store. So I got quite a lot of camera (well, it is kind of tiny, but that's a good thing, no?) for very little money.

Another nice thing is that the guy who sold me the camera forgot to remove the store's memory card in my camera when I bought it. I called the store right away when I came home and discovered it, but they said I could keep it. And there are some dorky photos on that card, taken by an unknown photographer with an unknown camera. Intriguing... I wish there was something juicier on it, though :)

Of course I still miss my old camera. Saying good bye after 2½ years of love is kind of hard :( And I hate the thought of all the moments during the past 3 weeks when I didn't have a camera.

Yesterday Micaela told me to "take a photo with my mind and memory" of the delicious sallad we prepared for ourselves. Not being able to take photos was sad, cause it was such a grand night (soirée francaise: kir royal - maybe a bit too much of it :), a nice sallad, cheese and bread - and then going to Je danse donc je suis at Carpe Noctem to ease our existential angst with some Cartesian dancing).

In the same time I wonder if taking photos (obsessive documentation?) prevents me from living it, being in the present and cherishing every moment.

Still, I know that having a camera with me permits me to see all the everyday beauty (and share it with others). I'm really looking forward to getting to know Lilla Lila and discovering the visual world around me with her. I'm starting tonight...

working, loosing and finishing

This is one of the things I'm working on right now.

Wristwarmers for Anna-Maria, I think she asked me to make them the night when that photo was taken (at Trädgården?). They have been almost finished for several months (I hate finishing projects, there are almost as many decisions to make as when starting making something). I'm not sure how to make the "bulbs" (what to call them? popcorns?). Maybe they should be smaller? Decisions, decisions, decisions...

I need to make myself a new one as well... This one was lost back in December , and that's not the first time it happens. I'm not supposed to bring them when going out (too small purse, too much drinking and dancing). But I really like how they warm me up on the lonely, freezing and frightening way home.

At least I finished one project, trosprojektet, which has been a long one. I still can't believe I held a workshop titled "Pimp your pants!" (I did NOT choose that name) at Lava. There weren't that many people (I guess I should have invited all of my friends...), but it was nice.

sum up?

I haven't created any mosaics for quite a while (missed December and January monthly mosaics). Right now everything seems too complicated, 36 tiny images is not enough to summarize a month, or even a week or a day. Still I have to try...

This one is from my trip to France; some of the best moments, memories and impressions.

I haven't created anything else, craftwise (what to call it?) that I can show here. I do make things, I just can't show them to you. I should, I will. I need to right now...

SPC: grey

Black and white often means grey to me, otherwise it would be black or white, and that's not how I perceive reality.

This is me in an apartment in Angers. Feeling little again, and a bit lost. The trip back to France, where I spent one year two years ago, was filled with colours (I tried to capture them, but I really missed my own camera), but also lots of greys, as in not knowing what to think or what to do. Being back home in Stockholm is kind of ambiguous, and grey. But I guess this is where I belong?

going back to France

I'm leaving in 15 minutes. Bus, plane, bus and train all day long. Then I'll be back in Angers. And maybe back two years ago as well. Nice and scary, what will happen? I'm very excited to see the people and places again. Bizarre...

That's the reason why I won't be here. I'll be back in a week (Monday night).

Nu.

February self-portrait challenge is black and white. Lovely theme, but kind of hard (it calls for stylish beautiful shots - can I do that?). And my camera just broke down (after three wonderful years :( ), so I had to borrow lillasyster Ellen's. I don't like it, mine took much brighter colour photos. The February theme should suit me fine then, but I didn't even get how to make Ellen's camera take B&W photos so I had to photoshop it.

Maybe we're supposed to do resolutions this week? But New Year was a month ago, I'm focusing on the moment (nu = now). I found another of my current favourite stencil, on the Årsta bridge (next to my house). Now, and next week, is all that I keep in mind.

I wonder where I'll end up though? (in Angers, France, and then in Paris - of course) Two years ago (when I spent a year there) or right now in the present? Or maybe both?