Happiness

We returned from my fathers house in the evening of the 25th after having spent an absolutely wonderful christmas there.

The following day we had no plans, no to-do-list, it was great.

I went out for brunch with these two men.


They look very serious, but who said that brunch isn't a serious matter!


A lady sitting nearby us stopped by our table as she was leaving, and said that the little one was an extraordinarily cute little boy.


I couldn't agree more. Even though he might have spent half the time there drinking.


And even though his face was covered in food!

Afterwards we did this. Can we call it a service project for the ducks?


Sun shining.


Cold fingers.


Much excitement.

Pure happiness! I hope you all had such a day too.

I'm dreaming of a white christmas

I took these pictures a few days ago. It was one of those quiet nights and snowflakes had been falling half the day! It was as if you could almost hear the quietness. A really amazing evening.

My better half was running from window to window looking at the snow, with the excitement of a 5-year old. And that is a lot of excitement!

The little one was sleeping in his bed, but the following day he was introduced to the snow and spend quite a while playing with the snow, bowls, spoons and cups in the kitchen and later on out in the garden. He was in heaven!

Now, I am just crossing my fingers that it will stay till christmas! Wouldn't that be magic?

Christmas cards

Tomorrow I am sending off packages to my better halfs family in Germany and Spain. They contain homemade treats and christmas cards with the highlights from the year. It is exciting, exciting stuff, I tell you!

We wanted to use some art work (sounds a lot better than just drawings, right?) from the little one, but still have a christmas feel too it.

The little one is not one to take instructions on his art work, and so his art is always more in the category "doodles" than "christmas". And if we wanted to christmafy it, certain things would have to change.

My better half cut out a christmas tree from the little ones art and glued them onto a colored piece of cardstock.




So simple, but I think it looks fun and cool!

Aren't children great? We don't even have to make our christmas cards, we can just use his drawings. Ahh, the possibilities are endless!

More felt decorations

And one lovely blog ...

A few days ago I stumbled upon this great blog. I love her style, and I had to laugh as I saw a lot of similarities between the things we make. And she also love felt - a true kindred spirit!

Oh, and look at some of her christmas decorations. I love the pom pom garland. You better believe I am wanting to get some white yarn and produce my own.


I've been meaning to make some decorations in the shape of a christmas tree. But I was not sure how to make the ornaments, and I spent a while discussing with myself how to proceed.

But then I saw some cool ones MrsCraftyFish had made for her etsy shop, and so these little babies was quickly made.


I made them for a gift for a friend, so I am hoping she is okay with me getting heavily inspired by her ornaments.

Anyway, check out her blog and her etsy stores. She has some amazing things for sale. I could spend quite a few dollars there.

Just FELT like it

The weekly crafting night is over. The girls just left, and I have put away my crafting supplies. I am not going to post any of the things we made tonight, since it is all christmas gifts for other people. And you never know who reads your blog!

Instead I am going to show you some of the things I would like to have for christmas. This year I spent quite a while on etsy, checking out some of the wonderful things that are just waiting to be bought by me or for me!

Like this amazing broch.


From Pretty in Posies. You should go check out her shop, as there are loads of cool accessories - and yes, they are all in felt. Funny you should ask.

And then we have these girls, Lou and Lee.


I am pretty much smitten with this one, even though I am not too sure about the headband idea. But on a hair clip or broch or ...

And then there is this seller, PaperPumpkin:






Their things are so cute it almost makes me a little bit dizzy. I pretty much want every single item from that store.

And finally, I want this headband from CatieB Designs:


I think it looks so cool, stylish, pretty and everything nice. And let me admit, if it doesn't find it's way to me this christmas, I am buying it for myself. I love it!

I am amazed and impressed by all the talent out there. Such pretty things!

Hope you all had a great weekend and are looking forward to a week of exciting projects and activities! I know I am ...

Happy crafting!

Sweet holly decorations

These here are the usual suspects. Well, at least for these holly decorations.

We got our green and off-white felt, textile glue, templates for leaves and a cup to use as template too. Am I the only one who does that? Then we got needle, our embrodery thread in red and some ordinary white sowing thread, some filling and finally red glittery balls.

Where would we be without red glittery balls? The world is a better place because of them, that is for sure.

And we use all these lovlies to make these:


Holly decorations!

Again, they are super simple to make which is almost my favorite part. I started by glueing two pieces of the green felt to make a extra thick piece from where I could cut my holly leaves. While the glue dried, I cut out two round pieces of the off-white felt.

On the one side I stitched a line with red thread all the way across. I then sowed the two sides together with some white thread. I started next to where the string would be and worked my way around the circle, making sure I would end by stitching the string and leaves on.

When I had sown 3/4 of the circle together, I then added the filling and finished by adding a piece of string to hang it in. I got out my green felt and cut two holly leaves which I also sowed onto the ball. Almost finished!

I finally took one of the red glittery balls, cut it in half and glued the two sides onto the felt leaves, using textile glue. Voila! Finished project!

I am so excited about the result : ) I just love crafting.

Have a happy, happy weekend!

Felt garland

Lately I have had a crazy felt-feast of some sort, and it seems that the idea of making anything using any other materials is impossible.

I even put "felt" on my christmas wish list.

But why not, when you can make funky, colourful, things like this:





I remember making these out of colored paper strips when I was a child, but they didn't keep that well. When you got them out the following year, they were headed straight for the bin. But these babies are going to keep year after year!

They are, like their paper-friends, super easy to make.

I cut out strips in different colors (approximately 15 x 2,5 cm - 6 x 1 inch) and glued the first strip together at the one end using textile glue. I then glued the next strip together, making it interlink with the circle I created with the first strip. Because I wanted a little extra color I also added fun, colored buttons to each circle. I sowed those on where I had glued the strips together.

I am quite satisfied with the result. I like that it is traditional, but in a new version.

Anyway, tomorrow there will be more felt ornaments. These ones are my new favorites! HURRAY FOR FELT!

Christmas decorations - the final chapter!

This is the final post about the christmas decorations. And if you are thinking that we have a big house to have room for all of them, then you are wrong. They are just, well, pretty much all over the place.

This one is in the little ones room. The purple baubles are made of plastic, so if he should feel tempted to throw them around, then there is no harm done.



This big one stands outside our door, welcoming all our guests. I am not sure why, but I kinda like the Santa on the sign, so he has been allowed to be a part of our christmas decoration.



The little one don't care that much for the decorations, but he was extremely interested in opening and closing the door. As long as he is happy, I guess!



Even though this is the last post on the christmas pine-decoration, then there are more christmas decorations to come. And they are made in felt. I know, I know, that is not really a big surprise, is it? But none the less it is cool stuff!

Have a great day!

I love christmas, I really do!

Along with the homemade decorations, I also added a few new things to the collection of christmas decoration. We try not to have Santas, elfs and so forth as part of our christmas decoration, seeing as how they really have nothing to do with christmas. We're celebrating the birth of Christ, remember.

How I then justify filling my house with pine branches, glass baubles and candles and so much more is another story : ) For me that is more a celebration of nature, of the season and creating a warm and inviting asmosphere at home. In our church we believe that one of the most holy places on earth is - or at least - can be the home. So I am trying my best to make our home holy and inviting.

Are you still with me? Hmm, if nothing else, then I just like the look of it. That must be reason enough.

First, here are this years new additions to the ever-growing collection:

It is a wreath, but it is heart shaped, made out of small branches. I love it. I got it at a store called Notre Dame, where they have some fantastic things.



At Notre Dame I also got some metal hearts. I attached some thin metalwire with leafs on the heart and added a gold star to the top. I love the little bell at the end of the star. Not sure why, just think it is so cute. It was super simple to do, took me about 5 minutes and didn't cost very much. They are now hanging in each of my windows in the living room. I had some bad lighting on that picture, but hopefully you will trust me, when I say they look super.



And finally I got two stars covered in tiny little glittery beads. They sparkle a little bit and they look so amazing. This picture definitly doesn't do them justice.



nd finally, at our last crafting night at my house I made this wreath, and it is huge. I was planning on a more streamlined look, but now that is hanging there I find myself liking the little chaotic look of the branches poking out here and there. Inside I put three glittery gold stars. I love stars. I think they look amazing, simple and yet they are a powerful symbol.



Okay, next post will be the last of our christmas decoration ... yes, there is more. But only a tiny bit!

I hope everyone is having a great time making things for themselves, the house or loved ones. I know that I am.

Hope you had a GREAT weekend!

Christmas, christmas, christmas

In Denmark we have a tradition for making christmas pine centerpieces with candles, pine cones, baubles and so forth.

In my childhood home the whole family gathered around and made those one of the days in the beginning of December. My sister and my mother created some amazing things out of clay, ribbon, brances, and things found in nature. Me - not so much!

I am not getting much better, but I actually like it anyway. Mine are simple - because I am not cabable of anything beyond that. But I love the natural decorations and the smell of the pine in the house. It smells soo, soo good!






See, simple, simple stuff. In some cases I am not even bothered with the clay. Who needs that anyway!

And out Advent wreath, which is technically not a wreath, but that is none the less the name, so I will stick to that!


This is a Northeuropean tradition. The wreath always have four candles, and we light one each of the four Sundays before christmas. As you can tell, we already lighted ours last Sunday since that was the first advent (or first of the four Sundays).

And finally, what to do with all the left-over branches? Chok your better half and make a massive decoration for your new, big, table! His argument is: Just because you have a big basket and a lot of pine left doesn't mean that you make a massive decoration. My argument is as follows: That is exactly what it means!

Finally ... YAY!

Christmas decorations!

As I mentioned earlier my friend Mrs. Nathalie made some super cool owls. I fell head over heals in love with them, but still I haven't managed to get to the point where I actually reproduced them. Maybe I just have to realise that I am just not funky enough for them.

Instead these one from her "owl post" lingered in the back of my mind.


Don't they look sweet? She has so many great and fun ideas!

With that idea in my mind I made these.




Ahh, sparkly beads. They make me happy, happy, happy!


A little heart in pastel colors, all soft and fluffy. Sigh!


Notice the ribbon. I think it must be one of the coolest ribbons I have ever seen.

Soft, yummy felt. Nothing like it on earth ... should I maybe consider some sort of treatment for this felt/wool addiction I seem to have?

They are super easy to make and you can easily do it while watching a good documentary, hanging out with your great friends at a craft night or watching your child demolish the house. Trust me, I've done all three!

I used a cup for the circles and a wooden shape for the heart and the star as a template. Then I cut out two pieces of felt in the desired shape and decorated them with beads, embroidery, or buttons that I sowed on.

I naturally used felt, but I am sure people without a raging felt-obsession could just as easily use other types of fabric.

The ribbon on the heart. I first glued it onto the fabric using textile glue, though you could probably use normal glue. Afterwards I then made some stitches on each side of it, to really secure it and because I like the look of it.

When both sides were decorated (or just the one side if you're feeling lazy) I sowed the sides and a piece of ribbon together with some "fancy stitching". When I had sown 3/4 of it, I put a little bit of stuffing inside them and then stitched the rest.

We were planning on giving some of the decorations away, but to be honest I am not sure I can do it. I quite like all of them!

Next item on the list: Get fire alarm

I have been busy the last few weeks, even though I haven't any pictures or blog posts to show for it.

But I do have one "after"-shot that you can see. But I better explain what happened otherwise the picture might be a little confusing.

The little one and me were sitting on the couch having a philosophical discussion when I heard a "pop" from the kitchen that is situated right behind us. I didn't take much notice as I am very busy discussing the meaning of life and death with my son.

After a while I did however wonder why the washing machine have gone quiet and since our discussion have come to a halt anyway I decide to get up and investigate the lack of sound from the washing machine and the probably related "pop" I heard.

When I come into the kitchen I notice flames behind the washing machine. That is never ever a good sign. I quickly realise that the little box where the cable to the washing machine have been extended is now burning. I just can't get to it since it is not only behind my washing machine, but also halfway behind my fridge.

Slight panic breaks out at this point. Panic rises when I realise that I will have to move the washing machine out to kill the fire and that the washing machine is pretty darn heavy.

Fortunately I managed to get it moved out from the wall so I could get to the burning box. Never underestimate a desperate pregnant woman! I got two kilos of flour which I poured out over the extension. It killed the fire and left the whole area covered in white powder. It had a slight christmas feel to it, if you ignored the heavy smell of burning plastic.

Afterwards I turned off the main power to the washing machine, pulled the plug, cut of the cable and the box and made sure the fire was completely out. And then I opened the window to get some fresh air in. It was greatly needed.

The little one had witnessed this whole event, and had heard me utter words I normally never use, and even though he didn't understand what had happened, he was still affected by the situation. So we went back to the couch, and talked a little, cuddled a little and sang a few songs and I then put him to bed for his naptime.

Then I called my better half to share the drama, and afterwards I called a friend of mine who is a genius with electronic stuff. And finally I ate some ice cream. That seemed like the only right thing to do right at that time.

The washing machine is fine now. And there shouldn't be any risk of any fires breaking out again.

However, a few days later we were woken up early in the morning by our fire alarm. I got out of bed the fastest I have ever done - even as a non-pregnant womn - and went through the house checking for fire. I then checked the doors and the hallway but there was no fire in sight. Fortunately.

I had refilled my cupboard with flour but I am not sure 2 kilos of flour can fix a bigger fire.

We finally got our firealarm down from the ceiling and took out the batteries. Something must have been wrong with it since there was no fire or smell of smoke anywhere.

Anyway the morale of the story is that we are getting a new fire alarm - actually two new fire alarms cause it could be that we might need them some day. And I am very grateful that the washing machine cable caught fire on a day where I was home and in the room right next door. And ice cream is needed after panicky situations.

Oh, and we are also getting a fire insurance. Just in case!




The box that caught fire. Can you almost feel the drama ... I guess the flowered table cloth on the one picture makes it hard to feel any drama, but it was there. Trust me, it was there.

You got to start them young ...

Making christmas cards and decorations






It has been a while, but I am back now. It feels good. It might be a bit infrequent in the future seeing as how I am PREGNANT! Only a month left, but who is counting ... me, that's who!

Christmas decorations!

I've started on my christmas decoration, but haven't got anything to show yet. It also doesn't help when you are making decorations for a party, sowing pants for a baby, and making a stacker ring at the same time. Maybe I need more focus!

Fortunately the lovely Mrs. Nathalie got plenty of focus - and finished christmas decorations. Check out her site for some inspiration ... I've already called her to ask for the pattern for these lovelies:



Have fun with the christmas crafting! There is nothing like it as far as I am concerned.

How can you not laugh?

I was looking through my "favorites" on my laptop and I found this gem that made me laugh the first time I saw it.

And tell me honestly, how can you not laugh when you see this?


I found it here. Unfortunately it is sold out, but I am sure you can find something as charming if you check out the shop!

That is good stuff!

And on the creative side - I looked at my project to do list and where there once upon a time was 10 items written, now only 3 remains. Yay! I am so glad I finished so many things, and I really like the outcome of most of my projects. It is great.
Of the three items remaining I crossed out one; a dress for a friends daughter. I had already cut the fabric but when my friend and her daughters were visiting last weekend I realised that her daughter had grown and would not be able to fit into the dress.

The second item on the list is a t-shirt with elephants on for the little one. I don't know why I keep postponing making that. It shouldn't be that difficult. Right now I am undecided as to whether I am going to finish it.

The last item on the list is the Happy Stacker ring that I was going to make for the little ones birthday.


I think it is just one of the coolest things I have seen in a long time.

I think he might be too old for it now, but fortunately I am producing a tiny baby who can play with it. So that have been moved onto my new project list. And today my sister and I went through my fabric cupboard and even picked out fabrics for it

On the new project list are a lot of fun, exciting projects that I am really thrilled about. Some are even just rough ideas that I have to think some more about. Like the advent christmas calender I want to make for the little one and the future little brother. I have no pattern, no fabric, nothing other than an idea that I would like it to be a christmas tree with decoration on it and some rings to hang the packages.

This new project list is quite a difference from the old one, where I had already more or less bought all the materials and patterns and were just waiting to actually finish it. I am curious and excited to be starting a little earlier in the creative process.

Oh, I really love creating things. It makes me happy!


Have a happy, creative weekend!

Yesterday ...

Yesterday was a strange day, one of those days of extremes, of weirdness. It even included a gold crown, a chocolate milk shake and a guy on a bike who I didn't drive into.

My alarm went off at 5.25 am. I stumbled out of bed, got myself ready and jumped into the clothes I had put out the night before. It was black outside and I could hear the wind blowing.

At 6 am my driving teacher picked me up and we then drove off into the dark morning.

I was home at 8.20. The house was completely still. Both the men were safe asleep. I got undressed and crawled under my duvet. My better half woke up and I told him that I had passed my driving test - and then the tears started.

The relief, the stress, the worry, the money we have spent on driving classes, the first test I failed, the time I have spent on theory lessons and driving lessons, the weight off my shoulders, and again - the relief. It all came crashing down on me. I felt free.

At 11.20 the three of us had lunch. My better half leaves the table mid-sentence and comes back with a gold crown with the word "Bilist" (cardriver) written on it. I got it for my birthday together with all things a woman with a driving licence needs*. Now I could finally wear it.

In the afternoon I lost track of time. We went out for sandwiches. My better half had a hot cocoa and I had a milkshake while we watched big white snowflakes falling outside the window. The little one figured out how to use a straw. That milkshake must have looked really tasty. We talked for a long time at the cafe. We went grocery shopping and walked back home in the rain. The little one started crying and we rushed home. Soon the little one was in his bed and I was getting ready to meet a friend for some church project.

"How about we do something fancy this weekend? We can make a big celebration for you. Do something special" my better half says. I shake my head. I don't need anything else.

Yesterday I had the perfect day!



* For those of you who wonders what a woman with a driving license needs.
She needs snacks for the trip (roasted, salted almonds), she needs a map of the region (Denmark is so small, so in this case a map of the entire country), she needs to take care of her clutchfoot and her acceleratorfoot (UGG slippers and amazingly yummy footlotion), she needs to know about cars (a book about 501 must drive cars) and she needs to look pretty (an awesome necklace with a rainbow, a dove and a blue glass bead) and naturally she also needs a gold crown with the word "Bilist" on.

I also got a muffin mold, but we are still trying to fit it into the whole car-theme. My better half got a little carried away with the shopping - not that I will ever blame him for that.

I would post pictures of me, my temporary driving license and the gold crown if my camera battery hadn't died on me. Not to worry. I will certainly wear that crown again another day.

Birthday wishes

It was my birthday a few days ago. I love birthdays. It is the ultimative celebration of a person being here on earth! And what is really better than that?

On my birthday I slept. The little one slept, and my better half slept. Yes, it really was a crazy week. But the day after my family came by and celebrated me being here on earth. And who better to celebrate with you, than the ones who have known you all your life?

They also brought gifts. I love gifts almost as much as I love celebrating! Birthdays are really a great invention!

One of my gifts were fabric. Yummy, yummy fabric.


How cool is that?


Now I am all ready for christmas.


Perfect fabric for the little one or the his brother who is being produced. Notice the red fabric with robots on. Robots! Does it get any cooler? I just need to figure out what to make. Maybe a stacking ring - which is actually on my project-to-do list!

And speaking of fabrics. I got these two lovely ones while I was visiting Nathalie. They have their own local branch of Fabric Heaven. Yummy!


And finally. Just because it makes me smile and makes the little man wonder. This little white flower.



Hmmm. Sigh! Hello, my name is Lene, and I am a fabric-o-holic!