2011 diary project

Work in progress

Some of you may remember the 2010 diary project, well there is a 2011 diary project this year.

If you have not reserved your spot do so at http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2011.html
This fantastic project run by the Lucy, where artists and designers around the world create one diary page each. Each person signs up for a different day / page, designs it in black and white. There is 208 pages, with 397 different designs in total. You have date pages, address pages, notes pages, months page, introduction page, and year pages. All put together to a great, inspiring and delightful piece of work. The 2011 diary/almanac comes in both a book for and on a CD. You'll be able to see your own piece of work along with many others - it's a great way to show off what you can do and see what others are doing too! There are spots still available so if you want to join, head over to http://www.fantazya.ca/diary2011.html and reserve your page. To design a page you need to have a web space from where you sell or promote your art, personal website, personal blog, Etsy, Flickr, etc. Participation is free.

Sketch and finished page

Here is what I made. It is based on a stamp I carved. I scanned it and traced it, voalà a page.

I am so excited to see how the pages are filled! I know there is a lot of creative people out! AND some of you read this blog :) it would be fun if you joined!

Movie Monday#13 Pringle of Scotland

...all my jumpers are made by old ladies (or my self) by hands...

peek a boo

Hi, it's been a while...

Not sure if it's the smell of spring or if it's the fact I said yes to many times and ended up with to much responsibility and a to large workload...

Medium used: permanent marker and watercolour.

Movie Monday#12 Sorry I'm late

A fun stop-motion film. What if life could have some of those fun and surprising elements. I sure would like to take a balloon ride...

Friday Night Art 12.03.2010

This is what I am working on Friday 12 of Mars, 2010.

I am making dresses for these girls. I am playing around with a homemade stamp. Stamped up some small canvases. I have not decided what to make of them, for now I am making some dresses. The first one turned out green with the keyword "høflig" = "polite".

February postcard from Kentin

The seventh card got a snowy welcome. My mailbox was full of snow. So these exotic animals got a cold start on there move to Norway. The card comes from Kentin in New Zealand. Kentin wrote a cute little story about these monkeys, telling they are quite nosy and entertaining. Kentin left no return or blog -address.

February postcard from Yolanda

The sixth card comes from Yolanda. It has a bit of texture to it, and it has mixed media elements to it, so lovely. She made videos explaining how she made the cards and a bit of the thoughts on her inspiration.

Part I


Part II


Yolandas YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/yoliebean

I have moose /elk in my garden

I have moose /elk in my garden right out side my studio window...

There are 3 of them. They have been sleeping in my garden this last week, I finally was home and could capture them on film...

Movie Monday#11 Red riding hood

I love fairytales!!!

We are not talking Disney's versions. Red riding hood is one of my favorite. This was new to me and I love it.

February postcard from B.Pugliese

The fifth card cones from U.S.A and the card is sign by B.Pugliese. There was no return or blog -address so I have no idea who this is. I enjoyed the card, and take the words Live, Love, Laugh with me today.

February postcard from Charlotta

Charlottas card was posted in Australia. The quote on the card says "look who's coming there, says Gun". Altho Charlotta is from Sweden she lives in Australia on the other side of the globe from me. I really love getting mail from around the world.

You can visit Charlotta's blog here: http://charlieupsidedown.blogspot.com

February postcard swap, card from Carlin

The third card comes from Carlin. The card was posted in the U.S.A. I love this knitted card. As some of you know I adore knitting and other woolen techniques. Funny thing reciving this card, my mailbox was filled with snow so it was a bit ironic to find knitted mail...

You can see her own blog post about making the card here: Blog: http://piscinamea.blogspot.com/2010/02/valentines.html

You can find Carlin on the web here: blog: http://piscinamea.blogspot.com and Flick: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37611681@N08/

Movie Monday#10 Toward the bare hill

"REACH", A marionette's quest for freedom.

Marionettes are so much fun to make, and this was a sweet film. I'll keep it in mind next time I make a doll.

Friday Night Art 26.02.2010

This is what I am working on Friday 26 of February, 2010.

Playing around with some home made stamps. Maybe I'll turn them in to ATC... or not...
Not sure yet what I'll do with them. So far just carving, stamping and playing.

On the picture you see the sketch, carving tools, stamp and some potential ATC.

February postcard swap, card from Sheila

The second card comes from Sheila. Also her card was posted in Kingdom of Great Britain. She left left her blog address www.sheilasteaandtoast.blogspot.com . I hopped over to her blogged, and discovered she had had a sweet blog inspired by all the conversations between her and her family over tea and toast.

These days I open my mailbox with anticipation. It is so much fun getting mail!

Movie Monday#9 Where do the children play?

It is only about 5 yeas ago I encountered the world of Dr.Sues. Now I have discovered some of the books with the fun word play and playful humor. It truly have a unique illustration style. This little film make me appreciate us living in the woods.

February postcard swap, card from Lynn

I got the first card in the swap from Lynn, her card is post stamped in England. No return or blog -address so I have no idea who she is. There are 160 participants and it is only the organizer that have the full over view. Never the less, I love getting mail and her card be a nice contribution to my postcard collection.


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Want to see the cards I made? Read this blog post February postcard swap

February postcard swap

I joined up with a postcard swap at iHanna. My motive is a February winter night. Do you see the pail northern light dancing over the sky?

I started up with watercolour, thin layers upon each other. Wanted to get a little northern light effect. Then came the houses in a mix of watercolour and acrylic, with the iridescent snow. A touch of snow in the sky and finally an embossed heart to guide you through the night. So much fun to make.

It is so nice "meeting" people from around the world and getting a glimpse of there life through there creativity and art. I am so looking forward to the cards that will be delivered to my mail box. I'll post them up here as I get them.

Movie Monday#8 Laughing With

Regina Spektor - Laughing With


You can also see it at Youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pxRXP3w-sQ&p=017B292F3F2A1DFB&playnext=1&index=23
Pay attention to the back ground. There is a lot of refrains to art pieces, wonderful. I really like this song, it has been stuck on my mind for a while... Makes you think...

Art journal - Happy mother's day

Happy mother's day! The second Sunday in February is mother's day in Norway. Alto is is on the same day as Shrovetide (Carnival) and Valentine, Mother's day thump them both in our family. Celebrating Valentine's day is a recent tradition only pushed forward by the commercial industry. The Shrovetide is for the most part celebrate on Saturday when we making Shrovetide-birch and making and eating Shrovetide-buns.

One of my cozy everyday memory from my childhood is helping my Mother with the laundry. So what is more suitable for Mother's day than making an art journal entry with a dearly everyday memory.




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I tried auto posting must have done something wrong... As this was to be posted Sunday...

Movie Monday#7 A fish with a smile

Sometimes joy and friendship comes to you in strange ways.

Movie Monday#6 La Linea

La Linea ("The Line") is one of my childhood memorys. Due to its short duration, usually 2 - 4 minutes, it was and still is used as an interstitial program.

La linea is an Italian animated series of about 100 episodes created by Osvaldo Cavandoli in 1969. The cartoon features a man, known as Mr. Linea, also known as Balou, Linus and streken, drawn as a single outline around his silhouette, walking on an infinite line of which he is a part. The character encounters obstacles and often turns to the cartoonist to draw him a solution, with various degrees of success. One reoccurring obstacle was an abrupt end of line. The character would often almost fall off the edge into oblivion and get angry with the cartoonist and complain about it. He was voiced by Carlo Bonomi in Italian gibberish, giving the cartoon the possibility to be easily exported without dubbing.

EDM#16 - Draw a favorite tool

The EDM challenge#16 said: "Draw a favourite tool". The tweezers is my favourite tool. I know no other tool to replace it with. A hammer you can replace wit a rock, an axe or a crowbar. Knitting needles can be replaced with twigs, not that great to work with, but it will do the job. The tweezers, I have not found no other thing/tool that will do the job. I think I have 20 different ones, this one I got from my sister.

Medium used:2B pencil

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Previous challenges: http://ewian.blogspot.com/search/label/EDM

Movie Monday#5 Winter Song

I really like this song and alto is was released on a Christmas album I consider it a winter song. It is snowing out side so I thought it would be appropriate.
This song is by Ingrid Michaelson and Sara Beth Bareilles. The titled "Winter Song" was released off the compilation The Hotel Cafe Presents Winter Songs in December 2008.

I like it when animation gets an entry to music videos. Think this one is sweet.

IF - clumsy

It wasn't that he was nervous and had misplaced his glasses that made him clumsy, but the fact he was wearing a tie for his first date...

This weeks word for illustration Friday is clumsy.


Medium used: watercolours, watercolour pencil, watersoluble waxpastel, permanent marker and acrylic on watercolour paper.

Movie Monday#4 Creature Comforts - Art

What can I say? This is great animation. Putting the words in the mouth of animals makes it all much more fun.

Sinus inflammation, again

This is the second time in only a short while I have had this illness, I had one before Christmas. It has never been a problem before. I have no idea what it causing it. I have been to work three days this week, but today I capitulated and stayed home. To much pain...

So, guess what is making this girl unhappy? Do you think it might be sinus trouble/sinusitis? That is what I think...

Medium used: watercolours, watercolour pencil, watersoluble wax pastel, permanent marker and acrylic on watercolour paper.

Movie Monday#3 Simon's Cat "Hot Spot"

I have a cat, Boris, he does this too, except for ringing the doorbell... His favorite spot in my studio, when not on the middle of the workspace, is the window frame. Another hot spot...

IF - confined

This weeks word for illustration Friday is confined. This girl is confined in a jar...

2010 diary project

Remember the 2010 diary project


I was late ordering my copy. I now got my copy of the diary. Super fas delivery by the way. I decorated the cover.

My theme for the cover is "knowledges is the key"!

I completed the page that I made the sketch for and made another one. On both pages I made a faint background pattern. However they are not showing very well.

I also added a bookmark.

If you like my diary covers and bookmarks and you want one, you can download them here:

Front cover: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4259715365_800f2424dc_b_d.jpg

Back cover: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4259720993_27120ec62b_b_d.jpg

Bookmark front: http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4259715903_36a44ef596_o_d.png

Bookmark back:http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4002/4260471812_28c117b2a7_o_d.png

Movie Monday#2 The last knit

When knitting becomes an obsession.

I love knitting, both to knit and all the wonderful things one can make. But I am not this obsessed. Great film directed by Laura Neuvonen from Finland.

Art journal - piece of the puzzle

Sometimes you are given a piece, but dont know here to put it.

It can be life that gives you a piece. Even though you like the piece, it is hard to find the right place for it. You don't know how or where to fit it in.

There have been some questions/inquiry about me selling things I have made on line, and although I like the idea, I don't know how to fit that in to my life... I want to do it in a good and professional way... When you meet your customer/client face to face there is so easy to find good solution...

Medium used: watercolours, watercolour pencil, watersoluble wax pastel and permanent marker, ink pencil, puzzle pieces and acrylic.

Movie Monday#1 Carpenter Andersen

Unfortunately I could not find a English version of the story, however I hope you enjoy it. You can buy the book in English at Amazon, but there is a different illustrator. The author is Alf Prøysen and you can find it under the title Christmas Eve at Santa's.

Summary:
One Christmas eve, Carpenter Anderson decides to surprise his family by dressing up like Santa Clause and presenting his family with a sled full of gifts. After dressing as Santa in his woodshed, he slips on ice and falls right onto his sled and sack of presents. The sled carries him down a slope towards the main road. On the main road Carpenter Andersen collides with the real Santa Claus. The two men talk and Santa suggest that he will go and visit Carpenter Anderson's family, and deliver them gifts if in return Carpenter Anderson visits his family. Santa explains that his children see Santa Clause every year, but they have never seen a real carpenter. The two men agree on the plan, and head off to each others homes. Both families are very happy about the surprise visit...

The 2009 Christmas postcards

The cards arrived form print today. I was worried that I had to buy store made cards or not send any at all. But now the card are here, now I just have to writ them all. I have already started. I must say there is alot of just Merry Christmas and not all the personal stuff I usually squish in to the little writing spot on the cards. All of the cards that is going abroad probably will not make it there until new year. Do you want one of these cards? I'll send out five, so that the first five that reply to this blog post AND mail me (ewianblog (at) gmailDOTcom) there snail mail address will get one in the mail, brought to you by the nice mail man. I usually write about 100 Christmas postcards, and then I am not counting cards which I send as email. How many cards do you send?

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21 December:
still one cart left

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Happy St.Lucia day

A little St.Lucia parade.

Happy St.Lucia day! I love the Lucia celebrating, it is not about what am I going to get, but what can I do for others.

It is a Scandinavian tradition, alto non of the Scandinavian country's are catholic any more, but Lutheran, it is a custom and tradition that have survived from way back when we where.

For those of you that did not read last years post about how the Lucia day is celebrated, here in Norway, here is a reminder.

Santa Lucia is celebrated on December 13th. It is usually celebrated with a girl dressed in a white gown with a red sash or glitter belt, wearing an evergreen wreath with candles on her head. She is followed by a number of girl attendants, also dressed in white with one candle in there hand. The boys, "star-boys", also participate in the ceremony. They too are dressed in white gowns and they wear pointed hats and a stick with a star on or a light in there hand.

At home:
The Lucia (the oldest girl in the family) wakes up her family by bringing a tray of coffee/tea and sweet-buns called "lussekatter"- translates to Lucia’s Cats. It is also custom to share lussekatter with the closes neighbours if they don’t have children.

Kindergarten:
The oldest children in the kindergarten 5-6 years old have a candlelight parade. They sing carols and give away lussekatter. The younger children and all the parents are invited to come and look at the parade. The parade then goes of to a retirement home, where they sing and give away some more lussekatter. The people there thank the Queen of Light, Lucia, for bringing hope during the darkest time of the year.

Schools:
The youngest children at the school have a candlelight parade. They sing carols and give away lussekatter to the other students.

In some towns:
Offices and communities sponsor candlelight parades in the evening, in which carols are sung.

Hotels
There is often an early Lucia breakfast this day.

Medium used: pencil, watercolour, watersoluble wax pastel, acrylic paint, permanent marker and ink pencil

Star gazing

This couple is out on a winter day, looking at the stars.

I live in a wonderful place! There is not much light-pollution, so whenever it is not a clouded sky, or the sun shines to brightly, I can see the stars. I love it! Living in a city for many years, make me appreciate it even more. I am actually able to see the stars lying in my bed. Today I was out side looking at the stars, it is so much fun to challenges oneself to see if one recognise the stars and the constellation.

Star gazing detail

If you want to see how the sky is where you live you can go to this page:
http://www.heavens-above.com/skychart.aspx?SL=1&SN=1&lat=0&lng=0&loc=Unspecified&alt=0&tz=CET

This couple is out on a winter day, looking at the stars.

Medium used: ink, ink pencil, watersoluble wax pastel and gesso.

No Christmas postcards

My workspace

I have this large green book that help me organize Christmas. I write who gets postcards, flowers and presents and what the present is. I also write down the menu for the holly days and other things that I need to remember from year to year. I started this year list over presents, postcards and flowers, when I realised I have no postcards. I have not made anyone this fall or ordered prints...

This means I need to buy store made cards or not send... Or maybe I'll just have to make some and people will get them as January cards...

I started making one card that I can send of to print, just have to find a place that can print them...

Advent calendar

Look at our wonderful advent calendar! The Norwegian tradition is to have an advent calender and do the count down to Christmas eve, 24 days. Christmas eve is the day we open our presents and celebrate the birth of Jesus. Our calendar is for the whole family, the children have there own in addition to this.

The calendar hearts was made by Zack and me. It was so much fun doing this together! On the backside of the hearts it is an activity for the whole family to do this day. December is a busy time for our family and the activity is to get a little fun time together. Doing things with people you love is our favourite thing to do in the whole world.

Here is what the hearts says:

1 - Give the family a hug and play your favourite Christmas song.

2 - Play a game of UNO.

3-

4 - Call someone you love.

5 - Writhe and send postcards

6 - Make a list of at least 10 things you are grateful of.

7 - Make Christmas cozy for Boris, our cat.

8 - Make dessert for tomorrow.

9 - Make one big Christmas picture.

10 - Play a game of "ticket to ride" - Nordic addition

11 - Learn a new Christmas song and sing all the ones youknow, sing all that your heart
desire.

12 - Bake "lussekatter"- translates to Lucia’s Cats, sweet-buns.

13 - Give the neighbours "lussekatter" and sing the song of St.Lucia

14 - Hang titmouse-buns, made of fat and seeds AND the "julenek" Christmas sheaf, of oats, hung out for the birds to feed on.

15 - Read the book: "Carpenter Andersen and Santa" also known as "Christmas Eve at Santa's" by Alf Prøysen

16 - Find at least 10 things/toys to give away to the jumble marked.

17 - Watch a Christmas film.

18 - The children tell and show pictures from Tallin

19 - Time to get the Christmas tree, shower it and decorate it.

20 - Read about the birth of Jesus.

21 - Try a new recipe for dinner.

22 - Take a drive in the neighbourhood and look at the Christmas decorations.

23 - Read the book about "the district that forgot that it was Christmas".

24 - Make a family Christmas breakfast.